Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq struck an optimistic note on Tuesday, insisting the side can recover from their heavy T20 World Cup loss to India and still secure a place in the next stage of the tournament.India’s emphatic 61-run victory has left Pakistan in a must-win situation. They now need to defeat Namibia in their final Group A fixture in Colombo on Wednesday to book a berth in the Super Eights. A loss would end their campaign, with Pakistan currently sitting third in the group behind the USA on net run rate.

There remains a slim mathematical possibility for the Netherlands to advance as well, but that would require a substantial victory over co-hosts India in Ahmedabad on the same day.“Lifting the team is only difficult when you don’t work on your mistakes committed in the last game,” Tariq told reporters.“We have worked on our mistakes so I think it will not be a tough task.“We have a resolve not to commit the same mistakes again.”Pakistan drew criticism for opting to field first against India and then collapsing to 114 all out in 18 overs while chasing 176.“We can feel their (fans’) disappointment because the match is watched by the whole nation,” Tariq said.“So we feel their pain but I am sure when we play them (India) next we will put up a better show.”He also brushed aside speculation that Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi might be dropped for the Namibia clash after underwhelming displays.“Both Azam and Shaheen have won many matches for Pakistan so if they did not perform well in one game we should not write them off,” said Tariq.Pakistan have met Namibia just once before in a T20 international. Namibia, meanwhile, have lost all three of their group matches.“Whoever we play we have the confidence to beat them and our goal is to play the final and win the cup which we will try our best to achieve.”

NEW DELHI: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said his government has decided to make a reservation of 3 per cent for tea tribes and Adivasi people in the Grade I & II jobs in the poll-bound state.The Assam CM had announced a 3 per cent reservation for youths from tea gardens in Grade I and Grade II government jobs in October last year during the 19th biennial general conference of the Assam Tea Tribe Students’ Association (ATTSA) and the central biennial general conference of the Assam Tea Tribe Women’s Association. The event was held at Mariani College playground in Jorhat district.“If we cannot bring the 40 lakh people of the tea community into the mainstream of society, Assam as a whole will never progress. Therefore, we are continuously working towards this goal,” Assam CM had said. As part of this effort, the government will now extend 3 per cent reservation to tea garden youths in Class I and II jobs, including the Assam Civil Service (ACS) and Assam Police Service (APS).The state government has already initiated a 3 per cent reservation for tea and Adivasi communities under the OBC quota in Grade III and IV government jobs.CM Himanta also said the state Cabinet approved Rs 335 crore to establish the second Sainik School of Assam at Langvoku area in Karbi Anglong.As the northeastern state gears up for the big battle for the new legislative, the Assam CM said he would be visiting the house of disgruntled Congress leader Bhupen Kumar Borah, who resigned as Assam unit chief on Monday.“I will visit Bhupen Kumar Borah’s residence between 6:30 pm and 7 pm today. I already talked with him over the telephone,” CM Himanta said.The BJP leader on Monday had also invited Borah to join the ruling party, hours after he submitted his resignation from the Congress, triggering political upheaval in the poll-bound state.Sarma said the BJP’s doors were open for Borah and promised to help him get elected from a “safe seat” if he joined. He also announced that he would visit Borah’s residence to discuss his future plans.“If he wants to join the BJP, we will welcome him, but even if he does not want to do so, we extend our best wishes to him,” Sarma told reporters.Sarma described Borah as the “last Hindu leader” in the Congress without a family background holding ministerial or legislative posts and said his resignation sent a larger message about internal democracy in the party.Meanwhile, recognised national and state political parties of Assam, during their meetings with the election commission on Tuesday, asked for holding the assembly polls in either a single or a maximum of two phases in Assam, officials told news agency PTI.The full bench of the poll body, led by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, is on a visit to Assam to review preparedness for the forthcoming assembly elections in the state.

Gold prices declined more than 1 per cent in the futures trade on Tuesday amid easing safe-haven demand, improving geopolitical sentiment and a firm US dollar.On the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), gold for April delivery fell by Rs 2,228, or 1.44 per cent, to Rs 1,52,532 per 10 grams in a business turnover of 7,553 lots.“Gold traded on a softer note on Tuesday, consolidating after recent volatility as investors booked profits and reacted to a firmer US dollar and shifting interest-rate expectations from the Federal Reserve,” Gaurav Garg, research analyst at Lemonn Markets Desk, said, as quoted by news agency PTI.He added that safe-haven demand due to weakness in global equities and continued central bank buying helped limit the downside.Garg noted that in 2026, precious metals are witnessing a volatile corrective phase following last year’s strong rally, although the broader multi-year bullish trend remains intact. MCX gold is currently consolidating in the Rs 1.55–1.58 lakh per 10 grams range, below earlier peaks.“The current weakness is largely seen as consolidation rather than a trend reversal. Investors may consider holding and rebalancing on dips, while fresh allocations should be staggered amid choppy market conditions,” he said.In the global markets, Comex gold futures for April delivery dropped $119.6, or 2.37 per cent, to $4,926.7 per ounce.“Gold slipped below $4,970 per ounce amid thin trading volumes as several Asian markets, including China, remained closed for the Lunar New Year following a US market holiday,” Jigar Trivedi, senior research analyst at IndusInd Securities, said.Renisha Chainani, head – research at Augmont, said safe-haven demand eased as geopolitical tensions moderated and the US dollar strengthened.She noted that comments from President Donald Trump indicating indirect US involvement in upcoming nuclear discussions with Iran raised hopes of diplomatic progress. Fresh Ukraine-Russia talks also reduced immediate geopolitical tensions, improving overall risk appetite.“As risk sentiment improved, some investors reduced defensive positions in precious metals,” Chainani said, adding that market focus has now shifted to the Federal Reserve’s January meeting minutes for guidance on the interest-rate outlook.

City-wise gold rates today

Gold rate in Bengaluru today:

Bengaluru’s 24K gold price stands at Rs 15,491 per gram, while 22K gold costs Rs 14,200 and 18K gold is priced at Rs 11,618 per gram. Compared to yesterday, 24K gold declined by Rs 153, 22K fell by Rs 140, and 18K dropped by Rs 115.

Gold rate in Delhi today:

Delhi’s 24K gold price is Rs 15,506 per gram, with 22K at Rs 14,215 and 18K at Rs 11,633 per gram. Since yesterday, 24K gold decreased by Rs 153, 22K fell by Rs 140, and 18K declined by Rs 115.

Gold rate in Mumbai today:

Mumbai’s 24K gold price stands at Rs 15,491 per gram, while 22K gold is Rs 14,200 and 18K gold is priced at Rs 11,618 per gram. Compared to yesterday, 24K fell by Rs 153, 22K declined by Rs 140, and 18K dropped by Rs 115.

Gold rate in Chennai today:

Chennai’s 24K gold is trading at Rs 15,622 per gram, with 22K at Rs 14,320 and 18K at Rs 12,250 per gram. Since yesterday, 24K gold decreased by Rs 131, 22K fell by Rs 120, and 18K declined by Rs 100.

Gold rate in Kolkata today:

Kolkata’s 24K gold price is Rs 15,491 per gram, while 22K gold stands at Rs 14,200 and 18K gold at Rs 11,618 per gram. Compared to yesterday, 24K declined by Rs 153, 22K fell by Rs 140, and 18K dropped by Rs 115.

Gold rate in Hyderabad today:

Hyderabad’s 24K gold rate stands at Rs 15,491 per gram, with 22K at Rs 14,200 and 18K at Rs 11,618 per gram. Since yesterday, 24K fell by Rs 153, 22K declined by Rs 140, and 18K dropped by Rs 115.

Gold rate in Ahmedabad today:

Ahmedabad’s 24K gold price stands at Rs 15,496 per gram, while 22K is priced at Rs 14,205 and 18K at Rs 11,623 per gram. Compared to yesterday, 24K decreased by Rs 153, 22K fell by Rs 140, and 18K declined by Rs 115.

Gold rate in Jaipur today:

Jaipur’s 24K gold price is Rs 15,506 per gram, with 22K at Rs 14,215 and 18K gold at Rs 11,633 per gram. Since yesterday, 24K declined by Rs 153, 22K fell by Rs 140, and 18K dropped by Rs 115.

Gold rate in Bhubaneswar today:

Bhubaneswar’s 24K gold is priced at Rs 15,491 per gram, with 22K at Rs 14,200 and 18K at Rs 11,618 per gram. Compared to yesterday, 24K decreased by Rs 153, 22K fell by Rs 140, and 18K declined by Rs 115.

Gold rate in Pune today:

Pune’s 24K gold rate stands at Rs 15,491 per gram, while 22K is Rs 14,200 and 18K is Rs 11,618 per gram. Since yesterday, 24K declined by Rs 153, 22K fell by Rs 140, and 18K dropped by Rs 115.

Gold rate in Kanpur today:

Kanpur’s 24K gold price stands at Rs 15,506 per gram, with 22K at Rs 14,215 and 18K gold at Rs 11,633 per gram. Compared to yesterday, 24K decreased by Rs 153, 22K fell by Rs 140, and 18K declined by Rs 115.

The MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai bore witness to a high-octane encounter in the 31st Match of Group D during the T20 World Cup 2026 on February 17. While the narrative was expected to favour the Black Caps, the cricketing world was momentarily stunned by a masterful batting display from Canada’s rising star, Yuvraj Samra. Despite a historic century that pushed the Associate nation to a competitive total, the sheer firepower of New Zealand’s middle order, led by a marauding Glenn Phillips, ensured the Kiwis chased down the target with clinical efficiency.

Yuvraj Samra scripts history with blistering century against New Zealand in Chennai

Opting to bat first, Canada showed no signs of intimidation against a world-class New Zealand pace attack. The opening duo of Samra and skipper Dilpreet Bajwa (36 off 39) provided a solid platform, putting on a 116-run stand for the first wicket. Samra was the primary aggressor, navigating the Powerplay with elegance and brute force to guide Canada to 50/0 within the first six overs.

Samra’s innings was a masterclass in timing and placement. He reached his half-century in just 36 balls, but it was his acceleration in the latter half that caught the Kiwis off guard. He dismantled the likes of Kyle Jamieson and James Neesham, reaching the 100-run milestone in 58 deliveries. By the time he was eventually caught by Phillips off Jacob Duffy’s bowling in the final over, Samra had amassed a magnificent 110 off 65 balls, laced with 9 boundaries and 6 towering sixes. His efforts propelled Canada to a respectable 173/4, a total that gave the underdogs a genuine glimmer of hope.

Also READ: Top 5 youngest centurions in T20 World Cup history ft. Yuvraj Samra

Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra crush Canadian dreams in T20 World Cup 2026 encounter

The hope sparked by Samra’s ton was quickly extinguished by a New Zealand side that seemed to be playing on a different surface. Despite an early wobble that saw both Tim Seifert (6) and Finn Allen (21) depart within the first 3.1 overs—leaving the Kiwis at 30/2—the chase never looked in doubt once the pair of Rachin Ravindra and Phillips joined forces.

Phillips, in particular, was in a destructive mood. He treated the Canadian bowling attack with disdain, reaching a 50-ball half-century in just 22 deliveries. His ability to clear the ropes at will meant the required run rate remained an afterthought. At the other end, Ravindra played the perfect foil, rotating the strike before finding his own rhythm to finish with an unbeaten 59 off 39 balls.

The duo put on an unbroken 146-run partnership for the third wicket, characterized by aggressive running and 15 combined boundaries. New Zealand reached the target of 174 in just 15.1 overs, finishing at 176/2. Phillips remained unbeaten on a staggering 76 off 36 balls, striking at over 211. This 8-wicket victory with 29 balls to spare not only solidified New Zealand’s standing in Group D but also served as a reminder of the gap between the top-tier nations and the emerging challengers, even on a day when the latter produces a centurion.

New Zealand have booked their place in the Super Eights 🙌#NZvsCAN #T20WorldCup2026 #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/ec0sM4kxvS

— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) February 17, 2026

Player of the Match for a reason 🙌#GlennPhillips #T20WorldCup2026 #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/Vrr522DPhk

— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) February 17, 2026

Also READ: Fans go crazy as Canada’s Yuvraj Samra hammers a stunning century against New Zealand in T20 World Cup 2026

Veteran screenwriter Salim Khan, one-half of the iconic duo Salim-Javed, has been admitted to Mumbai’s Lilavati Hospital. His elder son, Salman Khan, along with daughters Alvira Khan Agnihotri, Arpita Khan, and actor Aayush Sharma, were spotted arriving at the hospital.

Aayush Sharma in paparazzi video

A paparazzi video saw Aayush Sharma arriving at the hospital in his car before rushing inside to meet his father-in-law, Salim Khan.

Salman Khan leaves Madh Island shoot

Reportedly, Salman Khan paused his Madh Island shoot in a hurry to visit his father at Lilavati Hospital. Salim Khan had reportedly been admitted after experiencing swelling issues.

Salim Khan’s early career

The veteran screenwriter celebrated his 90th birthday in November last year. He came to Mumbai in the 1950s and worked as an extra and small actor in Hindi films. He did not act much, but it helped him start writing scripts. In the late 1960s, he joined Javed Akhtar to form Salim-Javed. This duo wrote many big hit films from 1971 to 1982, like ‘Andaz’, ‘Seeta Aur Geeta’, ‘Zanjeer’, ‘Yaadon Ki Baaraat’, ‘Deewaar’, ‘Sholay’, ‘Trishul’, ‘Don’, and ‘Kaala Patthar’.

Salim Khan family and awards

Salim Khan is the father of actors Salman Khan, Arbaaz Khan, and Sohail Khan, while his daughter Alvira Khan Agnihotri is a film producer. Salim Khan has won many awards for his lifetime work in Hindi cinema for Salim-Javed’s films.See More: Salim Khan hospitalised: Salman Khan spotted at Lilavati- Check video

India’s mutual fund industry began 2026 on an optimistic note, with total assets under management (AUM) rising to Rs 81.01 lakh crore in January, up 20.5% from Rs 67.25 lakh crore a year earlier. Over the past 12 months alone, the industry has added more than Rs 13.8 lakh crore to its asset base.The long-term growth trend remains intact. Industry AUM has expanded at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22% over five years and 20% over the past decade that ended in January 2026.

Equity-led expansion

Equity-oriented schemes continued to anchor growth, making 87% of individual investors assets. Their AUM rose to Rs 58.02 lakh crore from Rs 48.13 lakh crore a year ago, marking a 20.6% increase. Fixed income-oriented AUM also climbed 20.2% year-on-year to Rs 23 lakh crore.Equity’s share in total industry assets stood at 59.8% in January this year, hinging near the 59.7% recorded a year ago. Over the past year, equity AUM increased from around Rs 40.2 lakh crore to nearly Rs 48.5 lakh crore.Equity net sales have remained positive for 59 consecutive months. Net sales excluding SIPs and new fund offers (NFOs) also stayed in positive territory in January 2026 according to a recent report by Franklin Templeton.

SIPs continue momentum

Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) inflows reached Rs 31,002 crore in January 2026, up 17% from Rs 26,400 crore in January 2025. Meanwhile, monthly SIP flows have doubled in less than three years.SIP AUM rose to Rs 16.36 lakh crore, compared with Rs 13.20 lakh crore a year ago, reflecting 24% growth. SIP assets now account for 28.2% of total equity AUM, up from 27.4% last year.Total SIP accounts stood at 10.29 crore in January 2026. During the month, 74.11 lakh new SIP accounts were registered, an all-time high. Discontinued SIP accounts numbered 55.46 lakh, with discontinued SIPs as a percentage of registrations falling to 75% in January 2026 from 109% a year ago. The rise in discontinuations has been attributed to reconciliation of inactive SIP accounts between RTAs and exchanges.Over the last 12 months, aggregate SIP flows reached Rs 3.40 lakh crore, up from Rs 2.76 lakh crore in the previous year. Since FY17, aggregate SIP contributions have grown nearly seven times at a 24% CAGR. The average SIP ticket size increased to Rs 3,012 per month from Rs 2,571 a year earlier.

Investor base expands

The number of unique investor accounts rose to 6.02 crore in January 2026 from 5.33 crore a year ago, reflecting 12.8% growth. Around 12.14 lakh investors were added during January alone. Over the past year, 68 lakh new investors joined the fold, compared with 103 lakh in the same period last year.Individuals accounted for 60% of total AUM, while institutions held 40%. Direct plans represented 49% of total AUM, up from 46% a year ago. Direct individual investments comprised 29% of total individual AUM, compared with 27% last year.

Passive assets achieve record levels

Passive fund AUM reached Rs 15.02 lakh crore in January 2026, up 38% from Rs 10.91 lakh crore a year earlier. Passive strategies now form 19% of total AUM, compared with 16% last year and 12% in January 2022.Within passive funds, domestic equity passives accounted for 64.3% of passive AUM in January 2026, debt passives 13.3%, commodity passives 19.9%, international passives 2.2% and other index funds 0.3%.Equity-oriented ETFs made up 79% of domestic equity passive AUM, with index funds comprising 21%. In debt passives, target maturity index funds accounted for 48%, debt-oriented ETFs 49% and other categories 3%, the report said.

NFO flows and category trends

Aggregate NFO collections over the past year totalled Rs 65,100 crore. Equity funds contributed 61% of this amount, or Rs 39,433 crore. Among equity categories, flexi cap funds recorded the highest net sales over the last 12 months. Small cap, mid cap and large & mid cap funds also saw substantial inflows. Most equity categories posted positive net sales in January 2026.Debt categories witnessed positive net flows during the month, led by money market-oriented funds. Total net sales across open-ended debt categories stood at Rs 74,827 crore in January. Hybrid schemes saw strong activity as well, with arbitrage funds recording the highest gross and net sales over the past year.

Bank deposits on a rise

Mutual fund AUM as a percentage of bank deposits rose to 32.6% in January 2026, up from 30.4% a year earlier. Over the past decade, this ratio has tripled. While mutual fund AUM has grown at a 22% CAGR over five years, bank deposits have expanded at 11% over the same period.Geographically, assets continue to broaden beyond the largest cities. The share of B30 cities in industry AUM increased to 18% in January 2026 from 16% in December 2020, with B30 AUM growing at a 24% CAGR over five years compared with 20% for the top 30 cities.Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru remained the top three contributors to industry AUM as of December 2025.

The Adani Group has unveiled an ambitious plan to invest $100 billion over the next decade to build renewable-energy-powered, hyperscale AI-ready data centres across India, targeting completion by 2035. Announcing the move on Tuesday, the conglomerate described the proposal as one of the largest integrated commitments globally in energy and computing. It said the initiative is intended to create a sovereign energy and compute platform that will anchor India’s role in what it called the emerging Intelligence Revolution. It stated, “The Adani Group today announced one of the world’s largest integrated energy-compute commitments, a direct investment of $100 billion to develop renewable-energy-powered, hyperscale AI-ready data centres by 2035”. The Group said the direct investment is expected to stimulate a further $150 billion in adjacent sectors such as server manufacturing, advanced electrical systems, sovereign cloud platforms and other supporting industries by 2035. Combined, this is projected to result in a $250 billion AI infrastructure ecosystem in India over the coming decade. Chairman Gautam Adani also highlighted the scale of change. He said, “The world is entering an Intelligence Revolution more profound than any previous Industrial Revolution. Nations that master the symmetry between energy and compute will shape the next decade. India is uniquely positioned to lead. At Adani, we are building on our foundation in data centres and green energy to expand into the complete five-layer AI stack focused on India’s technological sovereignty. India will not be a mere consumer in the AI age. We will be the creators, the builders and the exporters of intelligence and we are proud to be able to participate in that future.” The plan is an expansion of AdaniConnex’s existing 2 GW data centre network and outlines a pathway to scale capacity up to 5 GW. Among the key projects is a gigawatt-scale AI data centre campus in Visakhapatnam, being developed in partnership with Google. Additional campuses are planned in Noida, while collaborations with Microsoft will extend across Hyderabad and Pune. The company said it is also in talks with other global technology players to establish further large-scale campuses nationwide. Alongside this, it will deepen its engagement with Flipkart through the development of a second AI-focused data centre aimed at supporting advanced digital commerce, high-performance computing and large-scale AI workloads. According to the Group, the proposed 5 GW rollout would create an integrated platform combining renewable energy generation, transmission networks and hyperscale AI computing within a single system. The facilities will be designed for high-density AI processing, supported by advanced cooling technologies and efficient power infrastructure. Dedicated computing capacity will be allocated for Indian Large Language Models and national data initiatives. To support the infrastructure build-out, the Group plans to invest in domestic manufacturing of critical components such as transformers, power electronics, grid systems and thermal management solutions. The objective is to reinforce India’s supply chains and reduce dependence on global sources.

Zimbabwe: Ben Curran, Clive Madande, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Dion Myers, Sikandar Raza, Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Brad Evans, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Graeme Cremer, Tinotenda Maposa, Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava.

Ireland: Lorcan Tucker, Ross Adair, Ben Calitz, Harry Tector, Tim Tector, Sam Topping, Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Matthew Humphreys, Josh Little, Barry McCarthy, Ben White, Craig Young.

NOIDA: Guddi has quit two cooking jobs so she can be home at Sarfabad early each afternoon. Her six-year-old son walks back from school, and the fear of what might happen on the way has become overwhelming.“Once children leave the school gate, the school authorities say that they are not responsible,” she said. “That scared many of us. We can’t take chances.”

Guddi’s decision was driven by panic as rumours of girls going missing swirled through village pockets across Noida, with unverified claims of child lifters spreading rapidly in recent weeks. Neighbourhood conversations and social media forwards have triggered panic among parents despite repeated assurances from police and NGOs that there is no evidence to support them.

The latest rumours, similar to the pre-Covid hysteria about children going missing — which led to several lynchings and WhatsApp enforcing curbs on forwards — have been triggered by a report circulating on social media in Jan about girls going missing in Delhi, police said.Senior police officers told TOI that no complaint or verified report of a child abduction had been received. “These appear to be hoaxes, possibly triggered by misleading social media messages,” an officer said, urging residents to avoid spreading unverified information.Fear has nonetheless reshaped daily routines. Several women have quit jobs, men have changed shifts, children are not being sent to school, and locals are putting up watches for child lifters. “We rush back every day to be with our children,” said another domestic staffer from Sarfabad, who works in a nearby high-rise society. “Even if this turns out to be false, the fear is real.”Several non-profits and schools reported a visible impact. Mala Bhandari, founder of a Noida-based NGO, said attendance dropped sharply in centres operating in Nagla, Tugalpur and Haldoni. “Parents stopped sending children altogether,” she said. “When our team did field visits, we found no incidents.”Another NGO temporarily shut operations after first hearing the rumour from children. “We closed for a few days because attendance dropped,” the owner said. “When we cross-checked with families, no one had seen or knew a victim. It was unverified talk, but the panic had already spread.”Primary schools in nearby villages reported similar disruptions. A teacher in Harola said attendance dropped as rumours intensified, though follow-ups revealed no abduction cases. “Some absences were also for personal reasons, like family weddings,” she said.In some schools, the response was precautionary. Sunita, a teacher at a private school in one of the villages, said the management circulated consent forms asking parents to pre-declare how children would commute and who would collect them. “Students are released only to authorised guardians,” she said. “There are no such cases here that we know of, but awareness feels necessary.”A police officer said such episodes are not new. Similar rumours have surfaced in the past, briefly fuelling fear before being debunked. The concern, they added, is that misinformation, especially when amplified online, can quickly disrupt community life and strain trust.The panic echoes 2018 and 2019, when India witnessed a spate of mob violence sparked by suspicions of child lifting, many of them triggered by viral WhatsApp messages. According to data compiled by Centre for Study of Society and Secularism, there were 41 reported incidents of mob violence in 2018 linked to such rumours, making child-lifting fears the leading trigger that year. Though National Crime Records Bureau does not maintain data for mob lynching, making comprehensive tracking difficult, at least 20 people were killed in the mob attack during the period.