Two soldiers killed during military operation in Pakistan’s northwest: Army
An explosive-laden motorcycle rammed vehicle in security forces convoy, military says. Listen to this article Listen to this article | 2 mins info Published On 21 Feb 202621 Feb 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share Two soldiers, including a lieutenant colonel, have been killed during a military operation when a fighter driving an explosive-laden motorcycle rammed a security convoy vehicle in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province near the border with Afghanistan, according to the country’s army. The deadly clash took place on Saturday in KP’s Bannu district, with the Pakistani military saying at least five armed fighters, including one it described as “a suicide bomber” were also killed during the operation. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list The military said that the bomber was stopped by the leading security team, preventing his attempt to attack civilians and law enforcement personnel and averting “a major catastrophe”. The army referred to the fighters as “khawarij” – the term it uses for banned groups, including the Pakistan Taliban, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Islamabad has repeatedly accused the Taliban administration in Kabul of providing refuge to the TTP, a banned Pakistani group separate from but linked to the Afghan Taliban, though Kabul has denied the allegations. The two countries had previously clashed in a brief border conflict in October last year. “Pakistan will not exercise any restrain and operations would continue against the perpetrators of this heinous and cowardly act for justified retribution against khwarij, irrespective of their location,” the statement said. “Such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further reinforce our unwavering commitment to safeguarding our nation at all costs,” it said. Advertisement Repeated attacks Bannu has long been a frequent flashpoint for armed violence, with repeated attacks on security forces and police checkpoints in recent years. Security officials have reported strikes on police installations, suicide bombings and armed assaults in the district, part of a broader surge in armed rebel group activity across KP after the TTP ended a ceasefire with the government in late 2022. Earlier this week, two bomb attacks and a gun battle between police and rebel fighters killed more than a dozen people in the province. One child and 11 security personnel were killed in an attack in Bajaur district, the Pakistani military said, while seven others, including women and children, were injured in the incident. Adblock test (Why?)
Russian attack on Kharkiv kills two, Ukraine hits missile plant
Kharkiv regional administration head, Oleh Syniehubov, reported that 175 ‘combat clashes’ were recorded over the past 24 hours. Listen to this article Listen to this article | 3 mins info Published On 21 Feb 202621 Feb 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share A Russian attack on the Kharkiv region killed two police officers Saturday during an evacuation in the village of Seredniy Burlyk, as Moscow and Kyiv continue trading attacks. The head of Kharkiv’s regional administration, Oleh Syniehubov, reported that the city and 10 populated areas had been subjected to Russian attacks over the past 24 hours. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list In Seredniy Burlyk, five people were also wounded by shelling. “Over the past 24 hours, 175 combat clashes were recorded. On the South-Slobozhansky direction, the enemy four times stormed the positions of our units in the areas of the populated settlements of Staritsa, Lyman, Vovchansky Khutory, and Krugle,” Syniehubov wrote. Moreover, three people were injured, including a woman, after a Russian air strike targeted one of the private sectors of Sumy, the National Police of Sumy Oblast reported. According to the police, the Russian attack destroyed two residential buildings and damaged at least 10 neighbouring houses and a gas pipe. It added that three people who were injured included two children aged five and 17, as well as a 70-year-old woman who was hospitalised. Attack on an industrial site Ukrainian drones targeted an industrial site in Russia’s Udmurt Republic, injuring 11 people, three of whom were hospitalised, according to the local health minister, Sergei Bagin, who issued an update on Telegram. The head of the Udmurt Republic, Alexander Brechalov, also wrote in a Telegram post that “one of the republic’s facilities was attacked by drones”, adding that injuries and damage were reported. Advertisement Brechalov did not elaborate on what the targeted facility was responsible for. However, an unofficial Russian Telegram channel, ASTRA, reported after analysing footage from residents that the strike targeted the Votkinsk Machine Building Plant, a major state defence enterprise. The Votkinsk factory produces Iskander ballistic missiles, which are often used against Ukraine, as well as nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles. Ukraine’s military confirmed the attack on the Votkinsk factory and said in a post on Facebook that a “fire was recorded on the territory of the object. The results are getting real.” The army added that its troops hit a Russian gas processing plant in the Samara region, which caused a fire. Separately, Russia’s TASS state news agency reported that Ukrainian drones were attempting to attack production facilities in Almetyevsk in Russia’s Tatarstan region, citing the head of the city as saying that defence systems were operating. Russia’s RIA news agency also reported, citing the defence ministry, that Moscow’s forces took control of the village of Karpivka in the eastern Donetsk region of Ukraine. Adblock test (Why?)
India vs South Africa: T20 World Cup Super Eights – teams, start, lineups
Who: India vs South AfricaWhat: T20 World Cup Super EightsWhere: Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, IndiaWhen: Sunday, February 22, at 7pm (13:30 GMT)How to follow: We’ll have all the buildup on Al Jazeera Sport from 10:30 GMT in advance of our text commentary stream. Defending champions and tournament co-hosts India begin their Super Eights phase on Sunday against the team they defeated in the 2024 final, South Africa. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list Both sides stormed through the group stage of the 2026 edition and look heavy favourites to at least reach the semifinals, with the Indians clear favourites to lift the trophy once again. Al Jazeera Sport takes a look at the most mouth-watering match-up of two of the heavy contenders for the crown so far at the tournament. India gunning for South Africa’s top order India’s bowlers will target early wickets against South Africa, said bowling coach Morne Morkel on Friday. “We know that their top order gives them that momentum, with Quinton (de Kock) and Aiden (Markram) up front in good form and hitting the ball very well,” said the former South Africa quick bowler Morkel. “We will definitely put our best foot forward to try and get those early wickets.” How did India reach the T20 World Cup Super Eights? India stormed their group to claim top spot with four wins from four. A slightly nervous start against USA was followed by a thumping 93-run win against Namibia. The game everyone had their eyes on was the latest pairing with rivals Pakistan, which resulted in a 61-run win, while the final game saw the Netherlands fall only 17 runs short of their 194 target. Advertisement How did South Africa reach the T20 World Cup Super Eights? South Africa opened their tournament with a 57-run win against Canada, but needed a Super Over to confirm their win against Afghanistan in their second match. New Zealand were given a thumping by the Proteas, who claimed a seven-wicket win to confirm their passage to the Super Eights with a game to spare, before completing the group with a six-wicket win against the UAE. India expect Abhishek to return to form soon While Markram’s South Africa have looked strong in all departments, tournament favourites India have not enjoyed batting consistency, with opener Abhishek Sharma out of form. Morkel, though, predicts he will be back among the runs soon. Morkel said the left-hander, who has recorded three consecutive ducks, was just one innings away from getting back in the zone. “Absolutely no discussion in our team group about that,” said Morkel about Abhishek’s failure to score in any of the matches yet. “He is a world-class player. We are going to a very important phase of the World Cup now and I am sure he is going to deliver. “I am pretty sure he is hitting the ball in the nets. “It is just a matter of getting the start and getting the innings going.” Can South Africa be the team to stop India at the T20 World Cup? Morkel acknowledged South Africa have been one of the form teams of the T20 World Cup so far. “They are a team that’s full of confidence,” said Morkel. “They have got guys at the top who are in form. In terms of weaknesses, there aren’t many.” South Africa have also shown guts when needed, coming out victorious after two nerve-shredding super overs against Afghanistan. “For us it comes down, on the day, to how well we execute with the bat and the ball,” said Morkel of defending champions India. “It’s going to be world-class players against each other. It is going to be a mouth-watering thing.” South Africa’s De Kock says handling pressure key in India clash Who “deals with the pressure better” will decide the India-South Africa Super Eights match, said Quinton de Kock on Saturday. The two unbeaten teams are familiar foes, and Markram’s South Africa toured India late last year, losing 3-1 in a T20 series. “I think that’s what’s going to make for quite a good game, because we’ve played against each other quite a bit over the last two months,” said South Africa opener De Kock. “And to be honest, the teams haven’t really changed much. “So, I think it’s more when you’re out there on the pressure side, who deals with the pressure better and wins the small moments in the game.” Advertisement While South Africa looked strong in all departments in the group phase, the batting of the defending champions, India, has been inconsistent. Opener Abhishek Sharma has recorded three consecutive ducks, but De Kock did not read too much into it. “He’s the number one T20 batsman in the world at the moment, according to the rankings, so he must keep doing what he’s doing,” said de Kock of the 25-year-old Abhishek. “He’s obviously quite young; he’s bound to fail. So I’m sure at some point he’s going to play an important knock.” (Al Jazeera) What is India’s record in T20 World Cup cricket? Not only are India the defending champions after their victory against South Africa at the 2024 edition, but they are also the joint-record winners of the T20 World Cup. The Indian side won their inaugural event in 2007, beating Pakistan in the final, but that made for a long wait for their second win at the last edition. England and the West Indies have both also recorded two tournament wins. What is South Africa’s record in T20 World Cup cricket? South Africa still await their first T20 World Cup title. In fact, the wait goes on for the Proteas to lift any trophy at a major ICC tournament. Their seven-run defeat at the hands of India in the 2024 edition was their first appearance in a final of either a T20 World Cup or a 50-over Cricket World Cup. South Africa make surprise wholesale T20 changes for future tour South Africa have named a much-changed squad that
High Alert in Delhi: Pakistan’s Lashkar-e-Taiba plotting massive blast near Red Fort, Temples; Intel issues warning
Delhi put on high alert as Pakistan’s Lashkar-e-Taiba is plotting massive blast near Red Fortand target temples. Intel issues major warning.
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta to launch women empowerment schemes soon, check what’s planned
Delhi government will launch women-focused initiatives on March 2, including free LPG cylinders, pending Ladli Yojana dues, Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana, pink Saheli smart cards for free travel, and the CM Jansunwai Portal to streamline grievance redressal and citizen services.
Jharkhand Ashamed: Woman, infant burnt alive on witchcraft allegations, horrifying details emerge
Police have arrested four people after a woman and her 10-month-old son were burnt alive on Tuesday, February 17. The horrific incident took place after they were suspected of practising witchcraft. The woman’s husband was also attacked.
Beware of these fake universities: UGC releases list with this city at top
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has released a list of 32 educational institutions across India pretending to be accredited universities but are fake. The statutory body has also warned students that their degrees are not eligible for employment and higher education.
Ganga Expressway launch date announced; 594 km route to halve travel time between Meerut-Prayagraj, check route
The 594-km-long Ganga Expressway will be inaugurated soon as the construction work has been completed. It will connect Meerut in West UP with Prayagraj in East UP and cut the travel time to half. An airstrip is also constructed for emergency landing of IAF aircrafts.
Delhi govt under CM Rekha Gupta approves 12 New STPs worth Rs 7,200 crore to accelerate Yamuna cleaning project
The Delhi government is set to build 12 new sewage treatment plants at an approximate cost of Rs 7,200 crore, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said. She said that it has allocated Rs 9,000 crore for the rejuvenation of the Yamuna during this time.
Buckley | Bell, Keith | Metcalf | Landgraf | Wilson
Relating to public school accountability and transparency, including the implementation of an instructionally supportive assessment program and the adoption and administration of assessment instruments in public schools, indicators of achievement, public school performance ratings, and interventions and sanctions under the public school accountability system, a grant program for school district local accountability plans, and actions challenging Texas Education Agency decisions related to public school accountability.