Lakshya Sen delivered a gritty performance to book his place in the final of the All England Open Badminton Championships, becoming only the second Indian shuttler to reach the title clash twice after defeating Canada’s Victor Lai in a demanding semifinal on Saturday. The 24 year old, who had previously reached the final in 2022, battled both a determined opponent and painful blisters on his right toe to seal a 21-16, 18-21, 21-15 victory in a contest that lasted one hour and 37 minutes. Sen’s achievement puts him in rare company alongside his mentor Prakash Padukone. The legendary Indian had reached the final in 1980 and 1981, famously winning the title in his first appearance in the championship match. Saturday’s semifinal turned into a test of stamina and resilience for both players. Sen and Lai were involved in several exhausting rallies, some stretching beyond 50 shots, as neither competitor was willing to give ground. The opening game remained closely contested until the score stood at 17-16 in Sen’s favour. The Indian then shifted gears, reeling off four consecutive points to take the first game. Lai responded strongly in the second game. The Canadian, who holds the distinction of being the first player from Canada to win a medal at the BWF World Championships, moved ahead 11-7 at the mid game interval and maintained his advantage despite Sen drawing level at 16-16 while dealing with blisters. Lai eventually forced the match into a deciding game. In the final game, Sen’s experience began to show. Mixing patience with calculated attacking shots, he built a healthy 15-9 lead. Lai continued to fight back and reduced the deficit to 17-15, but Sen finished strongly, claiming four points in a row to seal his place in the final. In the championship match, Sen will face Lin Chun-Yi of Chinese Taipei. The left handed shuttler, who recently won the India Open, advanced to the final after defeating Thailand’s second seed Kunlavut Vitidsarn 21-14, 18-21, 21-16 in a semifinal that lasted one hour and 18 minutes.

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Mumbai: A developer who has been receiving death threats and extortion demands in the name of gangster Chhota Shakeel got another message on Friday where a handwritten note and a live cartridge were left on his car at Versova. The note in Hindi, signed in the name of Chhota Shakeel, warned the next bullet would be fired at his chest if he failed to comply.The developer has also claimed that the threats are linked to a 12-acre redevelopment project in the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) area where construction work is currently underway. He has been receiving threats asking him to pay Rs 50 crore as extortion.

The Versova police and the anti-extortion cell (AEC) of the city crime branch that has been looking into his earlier complaint, are investigating the fresh threat. Friday’s threat assumes significance as it was made immediately after his police protection was withdrawn following an assessment by the police.In the fresh incident, the developer alleged while visiting a project site at Model Town in Andheri West, a note with a live cartridge wrapped inside a chit was found hanging near the rear number plate of his car. The caller has been issuing threats in the name of gangster Chhota Shakeel which is unheard of in recent times, police said. Crime branch officials suspect someone is trying to scare the victim in the name of Shakeel.In a detailed representation addressed to the commissioner of police, the developer has alleged that in Feb 2024 after he received the first threat message, he was granted paid police protection. The protection was granted after a case was registered by the AEC.According to the victim, the protection was discontinued last year, after which he allegedly began receiving fresh threats from international numbers claiming to be associates of Chhota Shakeel. The caller allegedly demanded Rs 50 crore, warning that he and his family would be killed if the amount was not paid.The complainant said he received threatening calls and messages on Dec 27, 2025. On Jan 22, 2026, the caller demanded that he travel to Dubai and pay the extortion amount.Despite the repeated complaints, he alleged that no arrests have been made. An officer has denied that this threat is from Shakeel and said they would soon arrest the culprits behind the threats.

United States’ multi-million radar system was destroyed after Iran struck Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan in the opening days of the war, news agency Bloomberg reported.RTX Corp. AN/TPY-2 radar and support equipment — used by US THAAD missile defence systems — is crucial to directing US missile defence batteries.According to the report, data compiled by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies shows two reported Iranian strikes in Jordan — on February 28 and March 3 — both of which were intercepted.

“If successful, an Iranian strike on a THAAD radar would mark one of Iran’s most successful attacks so far,” said Ryan Brobst, deputy director of the Center on Military and Political Power at the think tank.However, he added that the US military and its partners operate other radars capable of sustaining air and missile defence coverage, limiting the impact of losing any single system.The US Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) system is designed to destroy ballistic missiles at the edge of the atmosphere, allowing it to intercept more complex threats than shorter-range Patriot missile system batteries.With the AN/TPY-2 radar reportedly out of commission, interception duties would shift to Patriot batteries — where PAC-3 interceptor missile stocks are already in limited supply.

The US operates eight THAAD systems worldwide, including deployments in South Korea and Guam. Each battery costs about $1 billion, with the radar alone accounting for roughly $300 million, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies.“These are scarce strategic resources and its loss is a huge blow,” said Tom Karako of the think tank. He noted that the US Army’s eight-battery THAAD force remains below the nine-battery requirement set in 2012, leaving little redundancy.A typical THAAD battery includes:

“If you want integrated air and missile defence, this is just one of the systems you would deploy in the theatre,” said William Alberque of the Pacific Forum.Earlier in the war, an AN/FPS-132 radar in Qatar — a fixed installation unlike the mobile THAAD radar — was also damaged during an Iranian attack, according to research from the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies in Monterey, California.The system functions as an early-warning radar, capable of detecting threats at extreme distances but lacking the precision required to guide interceptors.Air and missile defence networks across the Gulf region have been heavily strained by waves of Iranian drones and ballistic missiles, raising concerns that stockpiles of advanced interceptors such as THAAD and PAC-3 could soon run dangerously low.On Friday, defence contractors including Lockheed Martin and RTX Corporation met at the White House as the Pentagon pushes to accelerate weapons production.

Thane: A chase in the narrow and crowded lanes of Mumbra’s Shil Daighar area in the early hours of Saturday saw two civilians suffer gunshot injuries after a fleeing suspect allegedly opened fire indiscriminately while trying to escape from a police team.Mumbra police later arrested the accused, identified as Shahabad alias Shambhu Qureshi (28), a resident of Mahape Road. Police said he was the prime suspect in a firing incident outside the Kausa residence of local businessman and social media influencer Nadeem Khan (45), popularly known as Baba Khan, barely an hour earlier.The preliminary probe showed Qureshi reached Khan’s residence around 5 am and allegedly fired two rounds at his parked car and another in the air. Soon after, Khan uploaded a video on social media challenging the unknown attackers to face him. He claimed to alert senior police officials about a possible attack, which he said went unheeded. Meanwhile, Mumbra police rushed to the spot and, based on intelligence inputs, identified Qureshi as the main suspect and tracked him to the Achari Galli area in the nearby Daighar area. Spotting the police closing in, Qureshi allegedly attempted to flee and opened fire at the team, unmindful of the crowd of onlookers that gathered. The police team comprising PSI Tejas Sawant, Anil Sonawane, constables Ankush Shinde, Aziz Tadvi and others, though, refrained from retaliatory firing to avoid endangering residents, said Subhash Burse, DCP, Zone 1, Thane. “During the chase, the accused fired a few rounds, injuring two” bystanders—Rahim Sayyed and Faroque Shaikh—who were rushed to a nearby hospital with gunshot wounds to their finger and stomach. Our teams overpowered Qureshi and took him into custody and recovered an unlicensed firearm and four magazines from his possession, said Anil Shinde, senior inspector at Mumbra police station. After the police team managed to pin him down, a few irate locals apparently charged at the accused following the firing, but the police teams managed to frisk him away in time.It is learned that Qureshi, a native of Delhi, migrated to Mumbra some time back and had an altercation with Khan recently. A few cases were reportedly registered agsinst him in Delhi. Police said they are yet to probe the motive behind Saturday’s attack and whether he was assisted by someone. A local court remanded him to police custody till March 11. Security was tightened outside Khan’s residence.

The stage is perfectly set for a thrilling showdown as India prepare to face New Zealand in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on March 8. With thousands of fans expected to fill the stadium and millions watching around the world, the summit clash promises to be one of the most electrifying contests of the tournament.

India have enjoyed a dominant run throughout the competition under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav. The defending champions have displayed impressive balance with both bat and ball, overcoming strong opponents on their way to the final. Several players have delivered crucial performances, making India one of the most formidable sides in the competition.

New Zealand, however, are no strangers to high-pressure matches. The Black Caps have once again shown remarkable composure during the tournament, progressing steadily with disciplined performances. Known for their calm approach and tactical awareness, they have built a reputation for upsetting big teams on major stages.

As anticipation builds ahead of the final, the psychological battle between the two teams has already begun. With a massive home crowd expected to support India in Ahmedabad, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner has made it clear that his team is ready to embrace the challenge.

Mitchell Santner aims to quiet the massive Indian crowd

Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Santner issued a bold statement about his team’s intentions for the final. The New Zealand skipper said one of their key goals will be to silence the crowd at the Narendra Modi Stadium by delivering a strong performance on the field.

“That is the goal to silence the ground. T20 is fickle. It comes down to little moments. England were close, RSA were playing very well. There is lot of pressure for India to win WC at home. If we put the added pressure on them, it will be great,” Santner said.

Santner emphasized that in T20 cricket, the difference between victory and defeat often lies in small moments during the game. According to him, teams across the tournament have been closely matched, and one decisive spell or crucial innings could determine the outcome of the final.

“Yeah, I guess that’s the goal, isn’t it? Is to silence the crowd… we’ve seen throughout the whole World Cup that a lot of teams are on similar pages, and it comes down to some little moments. We can upset another big team, and I think there’s obviously a lot of pressure on India to win this World Cup at home,” he added.

Also READ: India or New Zealand? Brad Haddin picks the winner of T20 World Cup 2026

Memories of the 2023 ODI World Cup final resurface

Santner’s statement has also drawn comparisons with a famous remark made by Australian captain Pat Cummins during the 2023 ODI World Cup final. Ahead of that match, Cummins had famously said that the best thing in cricket is silencing a huge crowd.

Australia eventually backed those words with a stunning performance, defeating India in Ahmedabad to lift the ODI World Cup trophy. The moment remains fresh in the minds of Indian fans, who had witnessed their team fall short despite an outstanding campaign.

This time, Santner appears to be employing a similar psychological approach before the final. His comments have already sparked discussions among fans, with many hoping that history will not repeat itself. For Indian supporters, the expectation is clear — they want their team to overcome the challenge and defend the T20 World Cup title in front of the home crowd.

Also READ: Ahead of T20 World Cup 2026 final, a look at India vs New Zealand record in the tournament

Clouds of sorrow are looming over the families of Canadian fitness YouTuber Jeff Nippard and his fiancée, Stephanie Buttermore. According to a social media statement issued by Jeff, his fiancée, Stephanie Buttermore, is no more. Reportedly, the two were planning to get married soon, but their happily ever after was left incomplete with the untimely demise of Stephanie. Jeff’s post that announced the passing of Buttermore received several tributes. Amid all this, old pictures of Jeff and Stephanie have been resurfacing on social media, especially their Valentine’s Day post, which is the last one that features the two together.

Jeff Nippard and Stephanie Buttermore’s last Valentine’s Day photo resurfaces after her untimely demise

February 14, 2026, was the last Valentine’s Day that Jeff Nippard and Stephanie Buttermore celebrated together as a couple. Expressing his love towards his special lady, Jeff, on Valentine’s Day 2026, shared an all-smiles picture of the two, and in the caption, he mentioned, “Relationshipmaxxing with tea time to lower cortisol levels,” Nippard wrote in the caption of the photo, as both of them could be seen sporting a broad smile.

See the last picture of Jeff Nippard and Stephanie Buttermore together:

Jeff Nippard and Stephanie Buttermore, who announced their relationship on November 20, 2022, reportedly met via social media. Their common interest in fitness and science helped them bond; as a matter of fact, their first date was a workout session, which they revealed through their vlog.

Jeff Nippard’s statement on Stephanie Buttermore’s demise

“It is with profound sorrow that we share the sudden passing of Jeff’s fiancée and partner of ten years, Stephanie. As many of you know, Stephanie meant the world to Jeff,” shared the social media team of Jeff.The statement added, “She will be remembered for her warmth and compassion, her love for her family, and her PhD research on ovarian cancer. We kindly ask for privacy as we navigate this tragic loss.” “Thank you for your understanding and support during this difficult time,” concluded the post.