Former India batter Navjot Singh Sidhu said that the upcoming Champions Trophy clash between India and Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday is going to be the "mother of all battles".

The veteran commentator added the team that will perform better under pressure has the chance of winning the blockbuster encounter.

"It is the mother of all battles. There’s nothing bigger than this. I think it's the tension that holds everybody together. When 150 crore people expect a win from you, they will never swallow a defeat. There is a culture of retribution. This game is played more between the ears than between the hands - it's a psychological battle. There’s plenty of nervous energy floating around, but the side that converts it into positive energy is the side that will win," Sidhu said on a special episode of JioHotstar’s Greatest Rivalry Returns.

In yet another sign of thawing ties between the two countries, a Chinese diplomat on Thursday hailed India's ascent in the Asia Power Index that was released last year.

"India has become the 3rd most powerful and influential country in Asia, after the US and China," Yu Jing, spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in India, posted on X citing the 2024 Asia Power Index by Australia's Sydney-based Lowy Institute.

The report released in September 2024 had placed India as the third-most powerful nation in Asia, behind only the United States and China, highlighting India's remarkable improvement in various categories, particularly in Diplomatic Influence, which surged due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's increased international engagements.

As India overtook Japan to grab the third spot in the Asia Power Index, several leaders attributed the country's ascent to PM Modi's visionary leadership and global strategy.

Pakistan have been fined five percent of their match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate during their opening encounter against New Zealand in the tournament opener at the National Stadium in Karachi on Wednesday. The penalty was imposed after Mohammad Rizwan’s side was found to be one over short of the required rate despite time allowances being considered.

"Pakistan have been fined 5 percent of their match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate against New Zealand in the opening match of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 on Wednesday," ICC said in a statement.

Andy Pycroft, a member of the ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, handed down the sanction under Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel. As per ICC regulations, players are fined five percent of their match fee for each over their team fails to bowl within the allotted time.

Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday hit out at the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh for presenting a “directionless” Budget bereft of a road map for the development of the state and a document silent on fulfilling the ruling BJP’s manifesto promises.

The SP chief accused the “double engine" governments of the BJP in UP and at the Centre of committing a “double blunder” and leaving sugarcane growers frustrated despite their long wait for a hike in the procurement price.

Accusing UP's Budget 2025-26 of lacking “clarity”, Akhilesh Yadav said, “It’s a hollow Budget which is high on noise and gimmickry… but they call it the biggest Budget each time they present the figures.”

“The Budget bag is empty, offering nothing for the public who don’t even know that it has been presented,” he said, addressing media persons.

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has announced that potato growers will now benefit from the Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana.

An official spokesperson said on Thursday that an outstanding Rs 46.34 crore for 2023-24 has been disbursed among farmers under the scheme.

In addition, farmers have been advised that if potato prices fall, they should consider storing their crops in cold storage to safeguard their produce and income.

The government introduced the Bhavantar Bharpai scheme, an initiative aimed at making farmers in the state risk-free.

The primary objective of the scheme is to protect farmers from financial losses due to a decline in selling prices in the wholesale markets.

Afghanistan will make their Champion Trophy debut against South Africa at the renovated National Stadium in Karachi on Wednesday. Led by Hashmatullah Shahidi, Afghanistan has developed a reputation for being the surprise package in global tournaments, having impressed in the 2023 ODI World Cup and the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Meanwhile, South Africa, captained by Temba Bavuma, boasts a powerful and dynamic batting lineup, making them strong contenders for the title despite recent inconsistencies in form.

Afghanistan and South Africa have faced each other five times in ODIs, with the Proteas leading the head-to-head 3-2. However, Afghanistan made history last year by securing their maiden ODI series win over South Africa, clinching a 2-1 victory in Sharjah.

Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Engineering College (BBSBEC) organized a special lecture on the occasion of International Mother Language Day, where renowned language expert Dr. Rajesh Sharma emphasized the vital role of languages in shaping identities, cultures, and societies.Dr. Sharma highlighted that languages are not merely a means of communication but serve as a reflection of ethos and traditions. He stressed the significance of preserving native languages to maintain cultural diversity and foster inclusivity.The event witnessed active participation from students and faculty members, who engaged in an insightful discussion on the relevance of languages in today’s globalized world.The program commenced with a formal welcome by Principal Dr. Lakhvir Singh, who also presented a token of gratitude to Dr. Sharma on behalf of the BBSBEC family. Dr. Amritbir Singh, Head of the Department of Applied Sciences, played a key role in organizing the event.Dr. J.S. Oberoi, Head of the Training and Placement Cell, also graced the occasion, while Dr. Mohinderpal Kaur conducted the stage proceedings.The lecture was attended by esteemed faculty members, including Dr. Bikramjit Singh, Dr. Arishu Kaushik, Prof. Gagandeep Singh, Dr. Sarbjeet Kaur, Dr. Harleen Kaur, Prof. Sonia, Prof. Manpreet Kaur, and Prof. Parneet Kaur.The event successfully underscored the importance of linguistic heritage and its preservation for future generations.

In a further push to the local manufacturing, the entire iPhone 16 lineup, including the newly-launched iPhone 16e, is now being assembled in India for domestic market as well as for exports, as industry experts on Thursday cleared the air around the new device being compared to now-retired iPhone SE.

The new Apple device, with A18 chip, breakthrough battery life, Apple Intelligence, and a 48MP 2-in-1 camera system, is being manufactured/assembled for local consumption as well as for export to select countries.

According to experts, iPhone 16e is not iPhone SE4 and the whole “comparison is futile”.

The Morena police of Madhya Pradesh have apprehended the main accused responsible for shooting a five-year-old child thereby “intentionally” claiming his life in Jaura police station area of the district. The child was attending a relative's wedding with his parents and grandparents when he was shot.

According to the official, the suspect committed the crime over a trivial matter -- the child's grandfather had asked him not to brandish the country-made firearm since the children were playing and the wedding procession was about to arrive. Reacting to the grandfather's admonishment, the accused initially left but later returned and fired shots at the child.

India's domestic benchmark indices ended lower for the third consecutive session on Thursday as selling was seen in the IT, pharma and financial services sectors.

Sensex ended at 75,735.96 down by 203.22 points or 0.27 per cent. The index had touched an intra-day high of 75,794.15 but also saw a low of 75,463.01 before closing.

The Nifty index ended almost unchanged at 22,913.15, slipping by 19.75 points or 0.09 per cent. The broader index traded between 22,923.85 and 22,812.75 during the session.

According to experts, another day passed with Nifty remaining confined within a narrow range, failing to break beyond a defined level.