"Pathetic Drainage System": Pak Slammed After Afghanistan-Australia Washout

It was a poor drainage system at Pakistan's Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore that saw the Afghanistan vs Australia 2025 Champions Trophy match being washed out on Friday. Rain arrived during Australia's chase at the venue and continued for around 30 minutes. Even that proved to be a lot for the ground's poor drainage system as the match was forced to be called off despite a wait of more than one hour. The ground staff tried a lot but failed to keep the umpires hopeful about the safe resumption of the game. They even used mops and sponges, but the surface was still left with a lot of water after an hour of action by the staff on the ground.

No surprise, the fans on social media lashed out at hosts Pakistan for its poor drainage system at the venue. Notably, this was the third match out of 10 that got washed out due to rain at the ongoing tournament -

This is so embarrassing
You are hosting a tournament after so many times, and this is just stupidly
Where are the ones who troll India for that, and now this is how we are doing shamefull #ChampionsTrophy2025#AFGvsAUS

pic.twitter.com/DYOjDzjMXN

— Hanan (@MalikSahaab_001) February 28, 2025

Such a pathetic drainage system.

Pakistan is hosting an ICC tournament and their premium ground couldn't handle 30 mins rainfall.

How is it acceptable?

Disgusting.#AUSvsAFG

— Classic Mojito (@classic_mojito) February 28, 2025

When you have covers but don't have brain and still wants to host ICC events #AFGvsAUS #ChampionsTrophy2025 #MSDhoni #IPL2025 #PakistanCricket pic.twitter.com/BvxaYjWAs7

— Aaliya (@Aaliyaarehman) February 28, 2025

Play could not start at Pakistan's Gaddafi Stadium after just 30 minutes of rain. #AFGvsAUS

Efforts were being made to dry the field with sponges at Pakistan's Gaddafi Stadium, but the Afghanistan vs Australia match was cancelled due to rain as the field did not dry.

Australia... pic.twitter.com/9ckthUtpOd

— CricVipez (@CricVipezAP) February 28, 2025

Australia made it to the semi-finals of Champions Trophy 2025 after their last Group B match against Afghanistan in Lahore got washed out.

It started raining during Australia's chase and by the time it stopped, the ground got so wet that the staff failed to keep the umpires hopeful. The abandonment saw Steve Smith and co. share points with Afghanistan and move to four points, a mark that took them to the next round.

On the other hand, Afghanistan just have an outside chance. They will need England to beat South Africa by a huge margin to make it to the semi-finals.

Before the rain arrived, Travis Head had scored a quickfire fifty (59 not out off 40) as Australia reached 109 for 1 in 12.5 overs in their chase of 274. Earlier, Sediqullah Atal (85) and Azmatullah Omarzai (67) scored fighting fifties as Afghanistan posted 273 all-out in 50 overs after opting to bat first. Ben Dwarshuis picked three wickets for 47 runs while Spencer Johnson and Adam Zampa also accounted for two wickets each.

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/3T8I4Nz

"Wife Only Turns 40 Once": Zuckerberg On Stage In Benson Boone Jumpsuit

Mark Zuckerberg dressed up as a pop star to celebrate his wife Priscilla Chan's 40th birthday. The billionaire wore musician Benson Boone's famous sequined jumpsuit for his wife's birthday bash.

In a video shared on Instagram, Mr Zuckerberg, dressed in a finely tailored tuxedo, enters the grand birthday party. He then walks up to the stage, much to everyone's surprise. A few seconds later, the Meta CEO stretches his arms (a cue to rip his tuxedo).  

What we see next is Mr Zuckerberg dressed in the iconic Benson Boone jumpsuit. FYI: Mr Boone wore it during his 2025 Grammy performance of Beautiful Things.

Mr Zuckerberg then jumps off a piano with a mic in his hand. Don't miss Priscilla Chan's reaction. 

We can hear Benson Boone's latest track, 'Sorry I'm Here for Someone Else', playing in the background 

“Your wife only turns 40 once! Shout out to Benson Boone for the jumpsuit and new single,” Mr Zuckerberg wrote at the time of sharing the clip. 

Replying to the post, Benson Boone said, “I can't believe my eyes.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mark Zuckerberg (@zuck)

Several fans and followers left their comments on the wild video, with many rejoicing at Zuckerberg's latest performance.

A person said, “Zuck vibing with the rebels.”

Another added, “Your commitment to the bit is unmatched.”

“Zuck 2.0 hits different,” a user added, 

Mark Zuckerberg has also shared a picture of himself and Priscilla Chan on Instagram and said, “Celebrating the most important person in my life. You are a great partner, mother, and friend, and I'm grateful to share this life with you,  Priscilla Chan.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mark Zuckerberg (@zuck)

Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan are parents to three daughters - Maxima (7), August (5), and Aurelia, who was born in March 2023.

from NDTV News-World-news https://ift.tt/xmbhcqo

Why US Stocks, Bitcoin Are Struggling In Trump's First Few Weeks In Office

Since US President Donald Trump took office on January 20, 2025, the country's stock markets and Bitcoin's price have plunged. Despite the initial optimism surrounding Trump's business and crypto-friendly agenda, the first couple of months of 2025 have not delivered the expected results. 

Since Trump's inauguration, all major US stock indexes have been in the red, with the Nasdaq down over 1 per cent so far in 2025, reported CNN.

A key factor driving the market's struggles is worry over inflation. The Conference Board's consumer confidence index, a major economic indicator, showed its largest monthly decline in February since August 2021, fuelling fears about rising inflation.

Apart from this, a concerning consumer confidence survey further dampened investor sentiment, pushing the Fear & Greed Index into the extreme fear zone for the first time since December 2024, reported CNN.

This shift towards caution is evident in the performance of Bitcoin, which was riding high during Trump's inauguration. After reaching a peak of $1,06,000, the cryptocurrency has plunged by around 16 per cent in the past month and is now trading around $88,000.

With investors wary of market volatility, many are opting for safer investments like government bonds.

At the same time, last week, retail giant Walmart rattled the market by warning of slower sales growth in 2025, giving rise to fears of an economic slowdown.

In stark contrast, global markets have shown resilience. Europe's STOXX 600 Index has risen nearly 10 per cent in 2025 while Chinese equities have outperformed the US.

According to the CNN report, analysts from Goldman Sachs said that China's tech sector, particularly after the launch of DeepSeek's LLM, has seen good growth. European tech companies, boosted by the ongoing developments in Ukraine, are also seeing improved performance.

Technology stocks, which have led the charge in recent years, have shown signs of vulnerability. Stocks like Nvidia, Palantir and even Elon Musk's Tesla were among the hardest hit in a recent selloff a few days ago, with Tesla's market value dipping below $1 trillion after an 8.4 per cent drop.

from NDTV News-World-news https://ift.tt/TN4bSt0

Texas Schoolgirl Who Killed Self Had Flagged Sexual Abuse By Family

The school in the US has confirmed that 11-year-old Jocelynn Rojo Carranza, who allegedly died by suicide last month, was sexually abused by a family member. The investigation by the Gainesville Independent School District began after there were reports of her being bullied by her schoolmates over her immigration status.

Jocelynn's mother, however, denied the findings.

"Nothing about that is true," said Marbella Carranza.

Ms Carranza said that she had always talked with her daughter about the topic of sexual abuse and told the 11-year-old that no one could touch her body. Ms Carranza mentioned that she has hired a lawyer and is waiting for the district's response.

Earlier, Ms Carranza claimed that her daughter took her life because she was being mocked in her school because of the family's immigration status. Her classmates had threatened to call the Immigration and Customs Department (ICE).

Ms Carranza informed the principal that a student on her school bus made comments about ICE and deportation to a group of Hispanic children, which was confirmed by the bus driver. He said Jocelynn Rojo wasn't part of the discussion but was close enough to hear.

Later, on February 4, Jocelynn Rojo was admitted to the hospital and died a few days later. Ms Carranza blamed the school for her daughter's death. She said she wanted justice because the school was negligent in not informing her about what was happening with her daughter.

It was then that students came forward and told school officials that Jocelynn Rojo and one of her brothers had been sexually abused by a family member. She had requested secrecy from them.

Superintendent DesMontes Stewart said, "Multiple students reported it that [Jocelynn Rojo] told them that she had been inappropriately touched by a family member and wished to keep this a secret to avoid getting them in trouble."

Additionally, the district found out that Jocelynn Rojo had previously told her cousin about her intentions of harming herself.

However, Ms Carranza stated that she was not informed that her daughter was getting therapy.

Jocelynn Rojo died by suicide on February 8, five days after her mother found her unresponsive at their home.

(Disclaimer: New Delhi Television is a subsidiary of AMG Media Networks Limited, an Adani Group Company.)

from NDTV News-World-news https://ift.tt/sf8e49k

Rare Photo Captures Earth And 7 Planets For The First Time Ever

In a groundbreaking feat, photographer Josh Dury, 27, also known as the "Starman", is believed to have captured the first-ever image of all seven planets, plus Earth, in a single frame. This rare opportunity arose due to a rare celestial event known as the "great planetary parade", which occurs when all eight planets align – a phenomenon that hasn't happened since 1982. Mr Dury, an award-winning astronomical photographer, snapped the panoramic photo from Somerset's Mendip Hills on February 22, potentially making history with this extraordinary image.

Watch the images here:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by JOSH DURY PHOTO-MEDIA B.A. FRAS | ‘STARMAN' (@josh_dury_photomedia)

How did he capture it?

To capture the elusive trio of Mercury, Saturn, and Neptune, Mr Dury employed a meticulous technique. He created a panoramic image by stitching together multiple "panes". For the specific pane featuring these three planets, he used a dual-exposure approach: one base exposure and another with increased exposure and ISO to coax out the faint light from the dimmer planets.

To verify their positions, he cross-referenced the image with plain sphere maps. Dury's equipment of choice for this remarkable shot included a Sony A7S II camera paired with a Sigma 15mm Diagonal Fisheye lens.

Mr Dury told The Telegraph: "I managed to capture a panorama image of the seven planets, AKA - the planetary parade. It is made of nine images, revealing Saturn, Mercury and Neptune. They were very tricky to spot. I used multiple image analysis and astronomy apps to confirm their location As this was taken with a wide-angle lens, the nine images stitched to a panorama and a HDR blend of one of the frames to reveal Saturn, Neptune and Mercury. These three planets are not easy to see at all."

"Being close to the sun and in the attempt to photograph them as soon as they were readily visible, the relative positions of these three planets are slightly misaligned due to their approximate visibility from the imaging location and low western cloud," Mr Dury explained.

All About the Planetary Parade

Notably, the celestial spectacle known as the "planetary parade" is nearing its climax.

Astronomers define planetary alignment as the phenomenon where multiple planets converge on one side of the Sun simultaneously. This alignment can involve anywhere from three to eight planets. While smaller alignments are relatively common, larger ones are more rare. Specifically, five-planet alignments are more frequent than six-planet alignments, but the rarest and most extraordinary occurrence is when all seven planets align, making it a truly exceptional celestial event.

On February 28, a rare and fleeting moment will occur when all planets in our solar system will be visible in the night sky. Following the alignment of Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune between January 21-29, this event will mark the last time until 2040 that all seven planets, including Mercury, will converge to create a breathtaking night sky display.

Planetary Parade: Visibility in India 

The planetary alignment will be visible across India. Most cities will be able to witness this rare event. Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Uranus will be visible to the naked eye. However, you will need a telescope to see Mercury, Saturn and Neptune, as they will be faint. 

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/C8XbEcI

'Largest Crypto Heist In History': North Korea Behind $1.5 Billion Theft

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday accused North Korea of being behind the theft of $1.5 billion worth of digital assets last week, the largest crypto heist in history.

"(North Korea) was responsible for the theft of approximately $1.5 billion USD in virtual assets from cryptocurrency exchange, Bybit," the FBI said in a public service announcement.

The bureau said a group called TraderTraitor, also known as the Lazarus Group, was behind the theft.

It said they were "proceeding rapidly and have converted some of the stolen assets to Bitcoin and other virtual assets dispersed across thousands of addresses on multiple blockchains".

"It is expected these assets will be further laundered and eventually converted to fiat currency," the FBI added.

Lazarus Group gained notoriety a decade ago when it was accused of hacking into Sony Pictures as revenge for "The Interview," a film that mocked North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

North Korea's cyber-warfare program dates back to at least the mid-1990s.

It has since grown to a 6,000-strong cyber-warfare unit known as Bureau 121 that operates from several countries, according to a 2020 US military report.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

from NDTV News- Topstories https://ift.tt/vxSy205

Elon Musk's Net Worth Dips $22 Billion Amid Market Scare Over DOGE, Tariffs

Elon Musk's net worth fell by $22.2 billion Tuesday - his fourth-largest one-day loss - as stock markets faltered on skepticism about potential tariffs and ongoing federal cost-cutting efforts.

Tesla Inc, which makes up more than half of Musk's fortune, was particularly hard hit after reports that its sales in Europe - where Musk's favorability has tumbled as he's inserted himself into domestic politics - plunged by almost half in January. Shares of the electric carmaker fell by 8.4% in New York, sending its market value below $1 trillion for the first time since November 7.

The Trump administration's most prominent policies - including federal budget cuts and tariffs - haven't yet generated the booming stock market the president promised on the campaign trail. The S&P 500 Index has dropped 3.1% over the last four trading days, and the Magnificent 7 Index, which tracks seven megacap tech companies, tumbled into a correction on Tuesday.

Musk has spearheaded the effort to cut government spending through the Department of Government Efficiency. Its website shows the department has saved an estimated $65 billion, or slightly less than 1% of the 2024 federal budget, though data shows less.

Those efforts have roiled Washington, sparking over a dozen lawsuits and leaving federal workers unclear about their job security. Earlier Tuesday, 21 DOGE workers resigned, saying in a joint letter that they would no longer "dismantle critical public services."

Trump's renewed commitment to enact tariffs on Canada and Mexico and reciprocal tariffs on other trading partners also contributed to the market selloff. Inflation expectations over the coming year increased to the highest in almost two years, while US consumer confidence fell this month by the most since August 2021.

Even with Tuesday's decline to a net worth of $358 billion, Musk is still about $100 billion richer than he was before Trump won the election in November, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Thanks to record-high funding rounds for his private companies and a blistering Tesla rally that saw it reach a record before its recent selloff, Musk's net worth reached an all-time high of $486.4 billion on December 17.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

from NDTV News-World-news https://ift.tt/ls9kYNW