NEW DELHI: Mexican authorities have announced that robot dogs will be deployed to assist police operations during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as part of enhanced security measures for the tournament.The four-legged robotic units are built to venture into high-risk zones and relay live video footage to law enforcement teams, allowing officers to assess situations remotely before moving in during World Cup-related operations.

The month-long global event, scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19, will be jointly hosted by Mexico, the United States and Canada.The robot dogs were purchased by the Guadalupe city council — located in the Monterrey metropolitan region, one of the World Cup host areas — at a cost of 2.5 million pesos (approximately $145,000). Monterrey is set to stage matches at BBVA Stadium, which will be temporarily renamed Estadio Monterrey for the tournament.Footage released by local authorities shows one of the robots navigating an abandoned structure, walking up staircases with measured precision while transmitting real-time visuals back to police officers following at a distance.During the demonstration, the robotic canine confronts an armed individual and uses a built-in loudspeaker to instruct him to drop his weapon, showcasing its role in frontline assessment and de-escalation.Guadalupe mayor Hector Garcia said the robots are intended to assist officers during initial interventions, reducing direct exposure to potential threats. “The objective is to protect the physical integrity of our police,” he said, adding that the machines will be deployed whenever disturbances or confrontations arise.Estadio Monterrey is scheduled to host four World Cup matches during the tournament.

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Asian stocks inched higher on Tuesday, as Japanese equities rose after investors reacted to the emphatic election result that ushered in the country’s first female prime minister. Hong Kong’s HSI jumped 120 points or 0.45% to reach 27,147. South Korea’s Kospi also traded in green, up 5 points to 5,303 at 9:30 am IST. Nikkei also rose, reaching 57,677, up 1,313 or 2.33%. The move came after the index had already leapt 3.9% on Monday to reach a fresh record close, in the immediate aftermath of Sanae Takaichi’s party securing a landslide in the parliamentary vote. Market participants are optimistic that her leadership will bring reforms viewed as favourable for growth and for share prices. Across the Pacific, US stocks had just wrapped up their strongest session since May at the end of last week. Yet caution has not disappeared, with some investors arguing valuations look stretched after markets’ run towards record highs. On Monday, the S&P 500 added 0.5% to 6,964.82, bringing it closer to the peak reached two weeks earlier. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was little changed, inching up by less than 0.1% to 50,135.87. The Nasdaq composite outperformed with a rise of 0.9% to 23,238.67.Meanwhile, there are concerns about the heavy outlays being made by large technology firms and others in the race to develop artificial-intelligence capabilities, and whether those investments will translate into profits big enough to justify the spending. The figures could alter assumptions about the Federal Reserve’s path for interest rates. Policymakers have paused their rate reductions for now. Precious metals continued to swing. Gold gained 2% to finish at $5,079.40 per ounce. After almost doubling over the past 12 months, it has been moving sharply, fluctuating between $4,500 and nearly $5,600. Silver, which has proved even more volatile, surged 6.9% on Monday. In cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin traded just shy of $71,000. It had briefly moved above that level during the weekend but had slumped towards $60,000 last week, leaving it more than halfway below the all-time high recorded in October. Oil prices were little changed early Tuesday. US crude slipped by 4 cents to $64.32 a barrel, while Brent crude edged down 2 cents to $69.02. On currency markets, the dollar dipped to 155.75 yen from 155.83 yen. The euro also weakened slightly, buying $1.1909 compared with $1.1916 previously.

MUMBAI: Observing that there were serious allegations that the accused procured and used a fake birth certificate to falsely claim he was an Indian citizen, a special court rejected the second bail plea of Armen Garun Ataian, a Ukrainian national and actor in the Rs 148.89 crore money laundering case related to the Torres Jewellery investment fraud case. The special Judge noted that economic offences require a more stringent approach compared to other crimes. Special Judge RB Rote stated, “An economic offence is committed with cool calculation and deliberate design with an eye on personal profit, regardless of the consequence to the community. A disregard for the interest of the community can be manifested only at the cost of forfeiting the trust and faith of the community in the system to administer justice in an even-handed manner.”Ataian (48) allegedly introduced co-accused Tausif Riyaz alias John Carter to the absconding foreign national accused and helped in opening the company’s showrooms in India. “The offence is a serious economic offence of large magnitude. In the present crime, there are about 14,964 investors who suffered a loss of Rs 148.89 crore. There are three other similar crimes registered against the company in other police stations. The main accused are still absconding, and the investigation is in progress,” the Judge said. The Judge further said that the value of the misappropriated amount was about Rs 148.89 crore, while property worth only Rs 32 crore was attached. “Therefore, considering the nature, gravity, seriousness, large magnitude of the offence, and the larger interest of society at this stage, it is not just and proper to exercise discretion and grant bail to the accused. There is every possibility of fleeing and tampering with the prosecution evidence,” the Judge said.Ataian, who was in custody for a year, sought release because the investigation was complete and the chargesheet had been filed. The defence argued that the actor was neither a director nor a shareholder of the company and that the allegations against him were based on hearsay. However, the prosecution strongly opposed the plea.The Judge observed that the accused was allegedly instrumental in introducing the key accused to local associates and remained in close contact with them until they fled India. The Judge also took note of a separate criminal case registered against the actor for allegedly procuring a fake birth certificate to claim Indian citizenship, noting that he was residing in the country without a valid passport or visa.“The economic offences having deep-rooted conspiracies and involving huge loss of public funds need to be viewed seriously and considered as grave offences affecting the economy of the country as a whole and thereby posing a serious threat to the financial health of the country,” the Judge said.

Ravi Chopra’s 2003 family drama Baghban has long occupied a special place in popular culture. For years, the Hema Malini–Amitabh Bachchan film has been widely viewed as a defining portrayal of ageing parents neglected by their children. Centered on an elderly retired couple treated as a burden by their four sons, the film struck an emotional nerve—especially with Amitabh Bachchan’s climactic monologue, which became iconic for calling out an ungrateful younger generation.But two decades later, audiences are beginning to reassess the film, viewing it through a more contemporary and critical lens.Actor Samir Soni, who played Sanjay Malhotra, the second son of Raj (Amitabh Bachchan) and Pooja Malhotra (Hema Malini)—recently shared a viral Instagram reel that reflects this shift in perspective. In the video, a Gen-Z content creator questions Baghban’s moral framework, describing it as “boomer propaganda,” and argues that Sanjay’s character was unfairly portrayed as the antagonist.

Focusing on scenes between Raj Malhotra and Sanjay, the influencer suggests that Sanjay’s expectations were practical rather than cruel. She praises the character for being disciplined and empathetic toward his wife’s concerns, while also highlighting his financial reasoning. “He’s also an intellectual because he asks his father why he doesn’t have any FDs, gratuity or savings. But then a very emotional song plays in the background and the son is turned into a villain. Bro, your son is right. Why do you not have savings? It’s not like you worked at a bad place. You worked at a very reputed bank,” she says.The reel also revisits the much-discussed typewriter scene. Here, Sanjay’s wife requests that her father-in-law avoid using the typewriter late at night because the noise disrupts her sleep—especially since she is a working woman who needs to wake up early. Sanjay calmly relays this request, suggesting his father use the machine in his own room, limit its use to mornings, or consider a laptop. Despite the reasonable tone, Raj Malhotra takes offence, with background music once again framing the son and daughter-in-law as insensitive.Another moment dissected in the reel is the Karva Chauth sequence. After fasting all day, Sanjay’s wife proposes going out for dinner, assuming her father-in-law will eat at his usual café. However, Raj declines the café owner’s repeated offers and returns home to find no food waiting, an episode presented as yet another emotional slight against him.Sharing the reel on his own Instagram account, Samir Soni responded with a touch of irony and appreciation for the changing times. In his caption, he wrote, “Finally some redemption after 20 years. Just love the new generation.”

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 moves to Match 11 as New Zealand takes on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. New Zealand enters this contest with high confidence after a clinical 5-wicket victory over Afghanistan in their opener. For the UAE, this marks their first game of the tournament, and they face the daunting task of upsetting a Black Caps side that is perfectly balanced for Chennai’s spin-friendly conditions.

NZ vs UAE, T20 World Cup 2026: Match Details

• Date and Time: February 10 (Tuesday); 3:00 pm IST / 9:30 am GMT / 10:30 pm NZDT
• Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium (Chepauk), Chennai

Head-to-Head Record (T20Is):

Matches played: 3 | New Zealand won: 2 | UAE won: 1

MA Chidambaram Stadium (Chepauk) Pitch Report

The Chepauk surface is traditionally a spin-bowling haven and early games in the 2026 World Cup have reinforced this reputation. The pitch offers significant grip and turn for slow bowlers, which will play directly into the hands of Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi. While the track has played slightly better for batters this season, with an average score of around 165-170, the slow nature of the outfield makes boundaries hard to come by if the ball is soft. Given it’s an afternoon start, dew will not be a factor, making the toss slightly less critical, though most captains prefer to bat first and put runs on the board before the surface tires.

Team Dynamics and Key Players

New Zealand: Led by Mitchell Santner, the Kiwis are tailor-made for subcontinental conditions. Tim Seifert is the man in form, coming off a string of high scores, while Glenn Phillips provides the necessary middle-order aggression. Their bowling is their greatest asset at this venue; Santner’s discipline combined with Matt Henry’s ability to bowl effective cutters makes them incredibly difficult to score against.

United Arab Emirates: Under the guidance of coach Lalchand Rajput, the UAE has become a fearless unit. Captain Muhammad Waseem is the lynchpin of their batting; his ability to dominate the Powerplay will be crucial. The UAE will rely heavily on their lead pacer Junaid Siddique for early breakthroughs and the young spinner Aayan Afzal Khan, who has a history of troubling New Zealand batters (taking 3/20 in their 2023 victory).

Also READ: T20 World Cup 2026: Broadcast, Live Streaming details: When and where to watch in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, USA, UK & other countries

Squads

New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (captain), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi

UAE: Muhammad Waseem (captain), Alishan Sharafu, Aryansh Sharma, Dhruv Parashar, Haider Ali, Harshit Kaushik, Junaid Siddique, Mayank Kumar, Muhammad Arfan, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Zohaib, Rohid Khan, Sohaib Khan, Simranjeet Singh.

NZ vs UAE, T20 World Cup 2026: Today’s Match Prediction

Case 1:

• New Zealand wins the toss and bats first
• New Zealand powerplay score: 45–55 (6 overs)
• New Zealand total score: 175–190

Case 2:

• UAE wins the toss and bats first
• UAE powerplay score: 38–48 (6 overs)
• UAE total score: 135–150

Match result: New Zealand to win the contest.

Also READ: T20 World Cup 2026: Donald Trump sends morale-boosting message to Team USA after India defeat

NEW DELHI: At a time when India is working on its 2035 climate action targets, the govt’s think tank, Niti Aayog, on Monday released a roadmap to achieve the country’s ‘net zero’ emission goal by 2070, noting that the transition will need cumulative investment requirements of $22.7 trillion, around $500 billion annually, to finance several “high-level actions” to meet the twin objectives of ‘Viksit Bharat’ (developed India) and long-term carbon neutrality. It said at least $6 trillion out of the total investment requirement needs to come from external sources.The govt think tank also underlined that India’s coal consumption will continue to rise till 2047, giving enough hint of what India’s updated climate action – Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) – for 2035 would look like. The roadmap – Scenarios Towards ‘Viksit Bharat’ and Net Zero: An Overview – emphasised India’s vision of becoming a developed economy by 2047 and achieving ‘net zero’ emissions by 2070, saying it will require a “delicate balancing act”.“Many of the technologies needed for net zero have yet to reach commercial maturity, while mature low-carbon technologies often demand large up-front investments,” the report said, referring to challenges.Noting a scenario of transition to clean energy in India, the report flagged that the non-fossil fuel power generation (including captive) share is expected to increase from 23% in 2025 to 65% in the current policy scenario and 80% in the ‘net zero’ scenario by 2050. “It is further expected to rise above 80% by 2070 in the current policy scenario, and to 100% in the ‘net zero’ scenario, it said.“The ‘net zero’ strategy is simple – first, electrify energy use. Two, green and clean electricity. Three, control demand through Mission LiFE. Four, focus on circularity and efficiency. Last, cheaper external finance is needed. Clearly stated, India’s coal consumption will go up till 2047 even as energy intensity decreases and efficiency goes up, while meeting ‘net zero’ goals. India can leapfrog to be a global leader in clean technologies. 85% of India of 2047 is yet to be built and can be built to be climate-friendly,” said B.V.R Subrahmanyam, CEO, NITI Aayog, on the occasion of the release of the report. Besides focus on clean energy, the roadmap’s high-level actions for India’s ‘net zero’ transition include focus on circularity, urban mobility, efficient buildings, proper land use, critical minerals, and robust data for monitoring, reporting & verification (MRV) systems as core infrastructure.On financing the transition, it noted that the power sector alone accounts for over half of total needs ($22.7 trillion), reflecting its central role in enabling economy-wide electrification and the expansion of low-carbon generation.“On an annualised basis, this cumulative requirement translates into average flows of approximately $500 billion per year, compared with actual annual investment of around $135 billion in 2024, of which only $70–80 billion currently supports clean energy,” the report said.Of this total, approximately $8 trillion must be front-loaded by 2050, including nearly $5 trillion in the power sector, given the capital-intensive nature of most low-carbon technologies, it added.The think tank noted that the financing gap of $6.5 trillion remains, as an estimated aggregate flow of only $16.2 trillion is expected against the ‘net zero’ scenario investment requirement of $22.7 trillion, and suggested having a “National Green Finance Institution” in the country to take care of the needs.It, at the same time, expressed confidence in India’s approach, saying India’s ‘net zero’ transition will create a new ‘Indian Development Model’ combining economic vitality, technological leadership, and sustainability. “The pathways India shows will be a lighthouse for the developing world. The Indian Development Model will set the trend for others,” said the think tank.“NITI Aayog has undertaken a comprehensive and rigorous exercise that will serve as a benchmark – a starting point for future discussions on ‘Viksit Bharat’ and ‘net zero’. The reports are a great resource for policymakers and researchers on charting India’s course to these twin objectives,” said V Anantha Nageswaran, Chief Economic Advisor to the government. The report has come out with 11 reports that detail the findings of India’s first government-led, multi-sectoral, integrated study to assess development scenarios that deliver on the Viksit Bharat 2047 while simultaneously reducing net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to zero by 2070.The study entails a “scenario-based analytic modelling exercise” that integrates economic growth, India’s development priorities, and climate commitments. It has been prepared by 10 inter-ministerial working groups that examined long-term transition scenarios across key domains like macroeconomic aspects of the transition, sectoral low-carbon transition in power, transport, industry, buildings, and agriculture; financing for climate action; critical minerals; R&D and manufacturing; and the social implications of the transition.