Ahlawat and Sharma make cut as Sandhu misses out in Kenya

Nairobi, Feb 21, 2026

Veer Ahlawat and Shubhankar Sharma made the halfway cut in the 2026 Magical Kenya Open.

Ahlawat, who played the full season last year, shott 67-67 and was 6-under for two rounds to be well placed at T-28th. Sharma had to produce a super second with six birdies against one bogey for a 5-under 65 to squeeze into the cut line at 4-under after two days. He was T-55. Ahlawat in his second round had five birdies against two bogeys.

Yuvraj Sandhu, however, missed out on the cut with 69-71.

Frederic Lacroix shot a second-round 62 to share the halfway lead with Casey Jarvis. At 13 under par, the pair held a two-shot lead over the field as they attempted to wrestle the limelight from Kenya’s Njoroge Kibugu, who delighted the home crowd by making the cut with an eagle at the last.

Jarvis’ fellow South African Hennie Du Plessis fired a stunning 61, which would have been a course record had preferred lies not been in play at Karen Country Club, to share third place with Spain’s Angel Ayora and Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia.

After finishing his opening 65 with an eagle to build momentum, Lacroix had four birdies before the turn and the same again afterwards for a brilliant 62.

Gouveia shot a bogey-free 65 while Ayora fired seven birdies to match that score. The Spaniard said: “I’m feeling very good, my putting is good and from the tee I’m hitting very good.

Meanwhile, all three players of Indian origin made the halfway cut at the Genesis Invitational, the second Signature event of the season on the PGA Tour. Aaron Rai, whose first round 66 put him in Top-10, shot a second round 70 and was Tied-12th, while Akshay Bhatia (68-71) was T-21 and Sahith Theegala, who is playing this week on a Charlie Sifford exemption from tournament host Tiger Woods, with 70-71 was Tied-33rd.

Rai had five birdies against four bogeys while Bhatia had three birdies and three bogeys and Theegala had three birdies against two bogeys.

Marco Penge and Jacob Bridgeman had superb finishes at The Riviera Country Club, each with a 7-under 64 that left them tied for the lead at The Genesis Invitational with Rory McIlroy right on their heels.

For Scottie Scheffler, there a grind before he made a 7-foot par to make the cut.

Penge, the leading player from the DP World Tour to secure a PGA TOUR card for this year, pulled away with five birdies over his final seven holes and was the first to post at 12-under 130. More remarkable than his score was keeping his mind on golf – his wife is moving into their new home in Florida and expecting their second child next week.

Bridgeman birdied his last three holes, finishing with a 5-iron into a cool breeze to 8 feet to join Penge.

McIlroy has opened 66-65, and he has only one bogey on his card through 36 holes, quite a change from last week at Pebble Beach, when he had three double bogeys and a triple bogey that ruined his chances to contend.

This is one of three Signature Events that has a 36-hole cut to top 50 and ties, and anyone within 10 shots of the lead. Scheffler, who had to rally Friday morning for a 74 to complete the rain-delayed first round, was well aware where he stood. He was on the ropes, 4-over par for the tournament, 10 holes to play, figuring he needed to get to even par. He did with 74-68 at even par, which was the cut line.

It was the third straight week he failed to break par in the opening round.(Agency)

‘Gotten not better at all, bro’: Gauff vents out at coach after loss to Svitolina

Dubai, Feb 21, 2026

Tensions flared for Coco Gauff during a dramatic semifinal defeat at the Dubai Tennis Championships, as the World No. 4 appeared to vent her frustration toward her coaching team in the midst of a gruelling contest.

Gauff lost 4-6, 7-6, 4-6 to Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina in a marathon match that lasted three hours. The game was full of momentum shifts, but a key moment in the middle of the second set drew as much focus as the tennis itself.

After striking one of her 12 double faults on the afternoon, the 20-year-old American visibly bristled. Turning away from the court, Gauff could be heard expressing her exasperation, saying, “I’ve been doing everything you’ve wanted for the last six months…” She then appeared to lower her voice before adding, “And it’s gotten not better at all, bro.”

Many people saw the comments as aimed at her serving coach, Gavin MacMillan, who joined her team before last year’s US Open.

MacMillan, a biomechanics expert with experience in various sports, notably collaborated with Aryna Sabalenka in 2022 to help improve her serve. Gauff brought him in to tackle ongoing serving issues, as she led the WTA Tour in double faults last season with over 300.

Despite making technical adjustments to her service motion, the problem reemerged during crucial moments against Svitolina. Gauff succeeded in saving four match points in a tense second-set tie-break to push the match to a deciding set, but she couldn’t stop Svitolina’s momentum.

The Ukrainian player, now 31, reached her first Dubai final in nearly a decade, where she will compete against American Jessica Pegula. Pegula earned her spot in the final by coming from behind to defeat her fellow American, Amanda Anisimova, 1-6, 6-4, 6-3.

For Gauff, the defeat was a bitter end to an otherwise strong week, underscored by visible frustration as she continues to search for greater consistency on serve.(Agency)

Soha Ali Khan gives peep into Jeh’s Naruto-themed b’day, calls Kareena Kapoor ‘cool as cucumber’

Mumbai, Feb 21, 2026

Actress Soha Ali Khan gave a candid peek into the Naruto-themed birthday celebrations of her nephew Jeh, revealing that the cake-cutting ceremony was nothing short of delightful chaos.

Soha took to Instagram to share a string of images from the birthday party. The pictures featured Soha, Saif Ali Khan, Kareena, Karisma Kapoor, Saba Ali Khan, Neha Dhupia, several children, and Jeh, who seemed to be at the centre of the cheerful mayhem, even if he wasn’t clearly visible in the frames.

Taking to social media, Soha shared snapshots from the celebration and wrote, “Blink and he’s five. Cake cutting photos have to be chaos. Can see the cake – birthday boy, not so much! (But we could hear him) And through it all is Bebo looking as cool as a cucumber – how??!!”

Kareena married Saif Ali Khan in 2012, in an intimate ceremony in Mumbai, following a five-year courtship. The couple welcomed their second child, Jehangir Ali Khan, on February 21, 2021. The two had welcomed their first son, Taimur, in 2016.

On the work front, Soha, who is married to actor-filmmaker Kunal Kemmu, was last seen in the horror drama “Chhorii 2,” where she played an impactful portrayal of Daasi Maa. Directed by Vishal Furia, the film is a sequel to the 2021 thriller Chhorii.

Starring Nushrratt Bharuccha in the lead, the sequel also featured key performances by Gashmeer Mahajani and Saurabh Goyal, among others. The film, produced by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, and Vikram Malhotra, was released on 11 April 2025. She is set to star in the upcoming film Bridge.

Soha started her acting career with the romantic comedy film Dil Maange More in 2004, and is best known for her role in the drama film Rang De Basanti and the romance film Ahista Ahista. In 2017, she authored a book The Perils of Being Moderately Famous.(Agency)

Big B says ‘considerate partner’ Abhishek Bachchan’s surprise visit washed away his anxiety

Mumbai, Feb 21, 2026

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan shared an emotional note about son Abhishek Bachchan, saying the actor’s unexpected visit brought him comfort during a moment of distress.

The cinema icon took to his blog and reflected on feelings of “dislocation” and “displacement,” admitting he was weighed down by worry and anxiousness when Abhishek walked into his room unannounced.

“And in the distress of dislocation of disconnection of just the futility of displacement .. comes a welcome breath .. the SON .. walks into my room unannounced .. in a surprise .. simply washed away all the negativity the worry the anxiousness (sic)..” Amitabh wrote.

The thespian expressed gratitude for the warmth and reassurance his son brought him in that quiet moment.

“Abhishek is a beautiful, considerate partner, friend and more (sic),” he added.

The octogenarian married veteran actress and politician Jaya Bachchan in June 1973, and together they have two children; Shweta, and Abhishek.

Big B was last seen on screen in Vettaiyan,a Tamil-language action drama film directed by T. J. Gnanavel. Rajinikanth, Fahadh Faasil, Rana Daggubati, Manju Warrier, Ritika Singh, Dushara Vijayan, Rohini, Rao Ramesh, Abhirami and Ramesh Thilak also star in the film.

The film follows a senior police officer who accidentally shoots an innocent person during an encounter killing, while investigating the murder of a teacher.

Talking about Abhishek, he was last seen in Kaalidhar Laapata. Madhumita directs the drama film. The story follows Kaalidhar, a middle-aged man experiencing memory loss and a sense of abandonment after overhearing his family’s plan to leave him behind during a religious gathering. Choosing to leave on his own, Kaalidhar embarks on a journey that leads him to meet Ballu, an eight-year-old orphan.

He will next be seen in Raja Shivaji directed by Riteish Deshmukh. The film is based on the life of Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha Empire.

It features an ensemble cast led by Riteish Deshmukh in the title role, alongside Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sachin Khedekar, Bhagyashree, Fardeen Khan, Jitendra Joshi, Amole Gupte, and Genelia Deshmukh.(Agency)

Suspected IED detected in J&K’s Ganderbal district, BDS pressed into service

Srinagar, Feb 21, 2026

Security forces on Saturday detected a suspected improvised explosive device (IED) on the Ganderbal-Safapora road in Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir, prompting authorities to cordon off the area and suspend traffic as a precautionary measure.

Officials said a suspected IED was detected on the Ganderbal-Safapora road in J&K’s Ganderbal district.

“Security forces immediately cordoned off the area, and traffic on the road was suspended. Bomb disposal squad has reached the spot, and the suspected IED is being disposed of,” officials said.

Terrorists have been targeting VIPs, security forces, local police and the army by planting IEDs along roads and highways used by the VIPs, army and security force convoys.

These IEDs are also used to target the cavalcades of VIPs and senior security force officials. In many IED explosions in the past, huge damage has been done to the security forces.

In one rare case, however, a suicide bomber loaded his car with high explosives and rammed the car to a vehicle in the CRPF convoy at Lethpora in Pulwama district on February 14, 2019. Forty brave jawans of the CRPF were martyred in that attack. The attack brought India and Pakistan to the brink of war as extreme tension gripped the relationship between the two South Asian nuclear-powered countries.

To check the threat of IEDs, Patrols of army and paramilitary forces are regularly moved out with the first light on roads and highways in J&K to ensure that there are no IEDs planted by the terrorists.

IEDs are a significant concern for global security forces and humanitarian organizations. These devices are typically constructed from a variety of components, often utilizing non-military materials, which makes them difficult to track and detect.

The design and deployment of these devices can vary greatly depending on the available materials and the intended target, ranging from small packages to large vehicle-based threats.

As these IEDs often use common industrial chemicals or repurposed electronics, they can be difficult to identify by using standard military explosive detection equipment.(Agency)

Major high-speed infra push in Meerut tomorrow by PM Modi

New Delhi, Feb 21, 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Meerut in western Uttar Pradesh on Sunday to inaugurate and dedicate to the nation a series of major infrastructure projects worth about Rs 12,930 crore, aimed at transforming regional connectivity and urban mobility in the National Capital Region (NCR).

During the visit, the Prime Minister will flag off the Meerut Metro and the Namo Bharat train at Shatabdi Nagar Namo Bharat Station at around 12:30 PM on Sunday. He will then undertake a Metro ride to Meerut South Station before addressing a public gathering at about 1 PM, according to an official statement.

A key highlight of the visit will be the dedication of the entire 82-km Delhi–Meerut Namo Bharat Corridor — India’s first Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) — to the nation. The Prime Minister will also inaugurate the remaining operational sections, including the 5-km stretch between Sarai Kale Khan and New Ashok Nagar in Delhi and the 21-km stretch between Meerut South and Modipuram in Uttar Pradesh.

Designed for speeds of up to 180 kmph, the Namo Bharat system is expected to significantly cut travel time between Delhi and major urban centres such as Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Modinagar and Meerut.

Sarai Kale Khan station, the originating point of the corridor, has been developed as a major multimodal hub, linking Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station, the Delhi Metro’s Pink Line, Veer Haqeeqat Rai ISBT and Ring Road. Three additional stations — Shatabdi Nagar, Begumpul and Modipuram — located in Meerut will also be commissioned.

The Prime Minister will additionally inaugurate Meerut Metro services between Meerut South and Modipuram. In a first-of-its-kind initiative in India, the Metro will operate on the same infrastructure as the Namo Bharat RRTS. With a maximum operational speed of around 120 kmph, it will be the country’s fastest Metro system, covering the stretch in about 30 minutes with all scheduled stops.

Officials said the integrated operation of regional rapid transit and urban Metro services on shared infrastructure sets a new benchmark for multimodal public transport. The projects are expected to decongest road traffic, reduce vehicular emissions and provide faster, sustainable mobility across the region.

The initiatives are part of the government’s broader push to modernise public transport and enhance ease of living through efficient, environmentally-sustainable infrastructure.(Agency)

Gold surges 0.23 pc during week due to rising safe haven demand

Mumbai, Feb 21, 2026

Gold prices surged 0.23 per cent during the week, amid renewed buying interest due to global macro-economic factors, safe haven demand and lack of directional cues from the US Federal Reserve.

On Friday, MCX gold February futures surged 0.07 per cent while MCX silver March futures added 4.41 per cent. Currently gold futures stand at Rs 1,56,993, while silver futures at Rs 2,52,042 per kg.

The price of 10 grams of 24-carat gold was at Rs 1,54,080 on Friday down from Rs 1,54,483 seen on Monday, according to data published by the India Bullion and Jewellers Association (IBJA).

The removal of additional margins in futures markets in domestic exchanges spurred higher speculative participation in the market and increased intraday activity, pushing prices higher.

The MCX and the NSE have withdrawn the additional margin of 3 per cent levied in Gold Futures and 7 per cent levied in Silver Futures in all contracts of all variants with effect from Thursday.

Analysts said that the commodities entered the week in a phase of controlled consolidation following sharp directional moves across energy and metals. Structurally, metals continue to trade within rising channel frameworks, and market internals indicate absorption at higher levels in metals, they said, adding that the broader medium-term structure remains constructive.

Resistance is now firmly placed near Rs 1,55,000 levels and Rs 1,52,000– Rs 1,53,000 zone has transitioned into a short-term demand zone following repeated absorption, an analyst said.

Analysts said that structural supply deficits and industrial demand from green energy, EVs, AI and electronics for silver continue to underpin its bullish bias, also noting relentless gold accumulation by the central bank.

Analysts said the volatility in silver stems from a demand‑supply mismatch and profit‑booking after steep gains over the past year, even as gold remains elevated compared with recent weeks.

A stronger dollar and constant change in interest-rate expectations from the US Federal Reserve may act as headwind to precious metals, persistent geo-political tensions are likely to keep risk-averse flows elevated, causing a rally in gold and silver prices in the coming days, they forecasted.

A recent report noted that gold and silver have entered a 3-5 year bull run, supported by favourable macroeconomic conditions and structural demand trends.(Agency)

JeM plots international-scale attacks on Indian-owned bars and nightclubs

New Delhi, Feb 21, 2026

The Jaish-e-Mohammed is on overdrive mode where its women’s wing is concerned. The outfit has been recruiting young women, who in turn will be deployed in nightclubs, bars, and pubs that are owned by Indians in different parts of the world, the agencies have learnt.

These women are being trained to carry out attacks in these places that are owned by Indians. While bars, pubs and nightclubs in India are being identified, Jaish-e-Mohammed is in the process of zeroing in on these places in other countries as well. The idea is to recruit young and pretty women and get them jobs in these places. Their job would be to work there and understand the place. This is basically a reconnaissance mission, an official said.

Once the process is completed, the plan will be set in motion to carry out an attack. The attack would be carried out by the same women who are working in these places, the official also added.

Currently, with the help of the ISI, the Jaish-e-Mohammed has been looking for targets in the United States, United Kingdom, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines and Dubai. The number of women from Pakistan to undertake this operation would be minimal. The bulk of the recruits would be from Uzbekistan, Indonesia and the Philippines.

The idea to recruit more foreign nationals is to make sure that the Pakistani link does not crop up. Once recruited, they would be given a new identification, following which they would commence work at these places, an Intelligence Bureau official said.

The Jaish-e-Mohammed is planning to make this operation a spectacular one. It has directed its handlers to plan the operation in such a manner that attacks at all the identified places take place simultaneously. It wants to execute the attacks in one shot rather than spacing them out. The chance of scrutiny is higher if attacks are carried out in a phased manner, the official also added.

In addition to this, the Jaish-e-Mohammed is also planning on targeting Indian nationals and those of Indian origin living abroad. The idea is to send India a message by targeting its nationals living both inside the country as well as outside, officials say.

The Indian agencies are aware of this massive plot that the Jaish-e-Mohammed plans to carry out across the world to hurt Indians and Indian interests. The funds are being collected on a large scale, and this is an indication of the magnitude of the operation that is being planned.

Pakistan has set up centres to collect donations in the name of Gaza relief. Campaigns have been ongoing for the last four months in Gulf nations and Pakistan as well. The Jaish-e-Mohammed is aware that this is a touchy subject and hence is exploiting the Gaza issue to raise money for this international operation that it is planning.

An operation of such a large scale would require a lot of funds. Hence, the outfit is using everything at its disposal to gather a large sum of money to execute this operation. Even the women recruits that the Jaish-e-Mohammed is bringing in are paid large sums of money. The outfit is looking for women who have undergone personal losses or faced abuse. Some of the women who feel wronged by the system, too, are being roped in.

The Jaish-e-Mohammed is basically looking for women whose vulnerability can be exploited. Counterterrorism experts say that such women make better suicide bombers. The chances of them getting detected are low, and they get the job done better. The LTTE’s recruitment of women as suicide bombers is a classic example of this, the experts also say.(Agency)

70 million people in Pakistan living in extreme poverty, income inequality reaches 27-year high: Report

Islamabad, Feb 21, 2026

Pakistan’s poverty rate has climbed to an 11-year high of 29 per cent, while income inequality has touched its highest level in 27 years, amid a steep decline in real incomes and consumption over the last seven years, local media reported, citing an official survey released by the country’s Planning Ministry.

As per the findings, shared by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, nearly 70 million people in Pakistan are now living in abject poverty based on the monthly poverty line of Rs 8,484 — a minimum expenditure required to meet the basic needs of life.

According to the preliminary poverty assessment for the fiscal year 2024-25, there was a 32 per cent increase in poverty since 2018-19 when the last Pakistan’s poverty survey was conducted.

The findings indicated that in 2019 the poverty ratio stood at 21.9 per cent, but rose to 28.9 per cent in the first year of the Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led government.

This marked the highest level since 2014, when the poverty rate was recorded at 29.5 per cent.

The survey highlighted a sharp rise in income inequality in Pakistan, which jumped to 32.7, the highest ratio since 1998, when it stood at 31.1.

Pakistan recorded the highest unemployment rate in 21 years at 7.1 per cent, along with the highest poverty rate in 11 years and the widest income inequality in 27 years — the outcomes described as the poor policy choices by the ruling class, leading Pakistani daily The Express Tribune reported.

The poverty in rural areas rose disproportionately, increasing from 28.2 per cent to 36.2 per cent, while urban poverty rose from 11 per cent to 17.4 per cent.

Iqbal noted that poverty increased across provinces, with Punjab rising from 16.5 to 23.3 per cent, a 41 per cent jump in seven years, and in Sindh, poverty jumped from 24.5 per cent to 32.6 per cent, marking a one-third surge over the same period.

In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the poverty rate increased from 28.7 per cent to 35.3 per cent, reflecting nearly a one-fourth rise within a year.

Balochistan remains the hardest hit province, where almost every second person lives in poverty. The poverty ratio in the conflict-hit province increased from 42 per cent to 47 per cent — a rise of 12.4 per cent.

The report attributed the rise in poverty in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan to the persistent security challenges that have disrupted livelihoods, constrained access to markets and essential services, and increased household vulnerability, disproportionately impacting the most vulnerable segments of society in these provinces.

The income inequality also increased across Pakistan, with Punjab rising from 28.4 to 32 per cent, Sindh from 29.7 to 35.9 per cent, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from 24.8 to 29.4 per cent, and Balochistan from 21 to 26.5 per cent.(Agency)

Seven CRPF personnel injured in road accident in J&K’s Srinagar

Srinagar, Feb 21, 2026

Seven Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were injured on Saturday in a road accident in Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar district.

Officials said that seven CRPF jawans were injured in Dagpora area of Srinagar district in a road accident.

“The accident occurred at Dagpora in Ahmad Nagar area when a bulletproof Bunker vehicle of the CRPF went out of the driver’s control and skidded off the road plunging into a water canal. The injured have been shifted to SKIMS for treatment,” the officials added.

Doctors attending on the injured jawans said they were stable.

“The injured have been identified as Naginder Singh (36), Ajit Kumar Ram (36), Raj Kishore Rai (40), Amit Kumar Yadav (38), Rajdhan Ram (55), Mankar Kumar (40) and Neeraj Kumar (45),” the officials said.

Road accidents often cause fatalities in Jammu and Kashmir and are mostly attributed to rash and negligent driving, road rage, over-loading, over-speeding and by the two wheeler drivers not wearing crash helmets.

Traffic Department has deployed special squads to check these offences and petrol pumps have been directed not to give fuel to motorcycle drivers reporting without wearing the crash helmets.

Roadside counselling is also held by the traffic department officials to educate drivers about traffic rules and the dangers caused by violating the traffic rules.

RTOs have been advertising strict action against offences like driving vehicles without a driving licence or a vehicle being driven by a minor and those indulging in stunts on the road.

Cancellation of vehicle registration and imprisonment to parents is one provision of the law in case a vehicle is fought being driven by a minor.

The menace of motorcycle drivers doing stunts on the road has spread to many areas in the Valley although originally a few cases were reported from Srinagar district only.

Even a female youth has been caught doing stunts on her motorcycle in south Kashmir districts.(Agency)

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