MUMBAI: Amid shifting global capital flows driven by geopolitical turbulence, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis used the IGF Mumbai 2026 Leaders Dinner to make a strong pitch for the city’s future, saying Mumbai is in the midst of a transformation with its most significant changes still to come.Speaking at the IGF Mumbai 2026 Leaders Dinner hosted by Hero FinCorp, the chief minister outlined an ambitious seven-year transformation roadmap for India’s financial capital and positioned Maharashtra as a key destination for global investment in an increasingly fragmented world.“What you see in Mumbai today is just a trailer; the picture is yet to come,” the chief minister told senior figures from India’s financial and business community assembled at the dinner. “We are going to change the entire city in the next seven years — on how Mumbaikars commute, how they live, and how we can create new spaces. Redevelopment with sustainability is the real mantra.”Speaking in conversation with IGF Chairman Manoj Ladwa, the chief minister framed Maharashtra’s case squarely in the context of global dislocation: military tensions in West Asia, disruptions to energy supply through the Strait of Hormuz, tightening liquidity, and widening geopolitical fragmentation. Against that backdrop, he argued, India — and Maharashtra above all — offers investors something increasingly scarce: scale, stability, and policy clarity.“The world looks at India as one place where they can actually do their business, where they can innovate, where they can take it to scale,” said Chief Minister Fadnavis. “And when they look at India, they know that Maharashtra is the best place to do their business. In this geopolitical situation, and all the disruptions which are happening, India and particularly Maharashtra offer an immense opportunity.”Abhimanyu Munjal, Managing Director of Hero FinCorp, opened the dinner session by highlighting the firm’s growth alongside India’s broader economic expansion before formally welcoming the Chief Minister.IGF MUMBAI 2026 OPENS AT THE NATIONAL STOCK EXCHANGEThe third edition of IGF Mumbai: Catalysing Capital began earlier in the day at the National Stock Exchange with a ceremonial bell ringing, followed by a fireside chat between IGF Chairman Manoj Ladwa and NSE MD & CEO Ashish Chauhan. The discussion focused on market development, regulatory priorities, and India’s expanding role in global capital allocation.Chauhan pointed to the scale of India’s retail investor revolution: “India now has 127 million retail investors. What once seemed unimaginable when the exchange was founded has become reality. Capital markets in India have moved from being an elite corner of the economy to a platform for mass participation.”A closed-door roundtable examined the structural implications of the domestic institutional buying that absorbed record FII selling in 2025, when foreign portfolio investors withdrew over INR 1.4 trillion from Indian equities while indices held near highs. Participants considered whether that resilience marks a permanent shift in India’s capital architecture — and what it means for the country’s ability to insulate itself from external shocks.The Forum continues on 10 March at the Quorum Club, with plenary sessions on venture capital, AI infrastructure, banking resilience, policy credibility, and India’s geopolitical leverage. The day culminates in the IGF Mumbai 2030 Capital Outlook — a forward assessment of the allocation priorities and structural shifts likely to define India’s position in global capital markets over the next five years.India Global Forum is the world’s leading convening platform for the India opportunity. Bringing together heads of government, global CEOs, institutional investors, and policymakers across London, New York, Dubai, and Mumbai, IGF connects the people and capital shaping India’s place in the global economy.(ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)(With inputs from ANI)

Source: Hyundai Official Brochure

Hyundai has launched the 2026 Verna in India with updates to both the exterior and interior. The car features a dual LED projector headlamp setup and a black chrome radiator grille at the front. At the rear, the bumper design has been modified, and an aerodynamic spoiler is present. Alloy wheels are R16 diamond-cut design. Interior updates include dual 10.25-inch integrated displays for the infotainment system and digital cluster.The 2026 Hyundai Verna provides a combination of engine options, transmissions, interior layouts, exterior updates, and safety and technology features. The specifications reflect the available choices across variants, engines, and transmissions without additional commentary or evaluation.Check out the complete specifications below, covering everything in detail from the engine to safety features.

Hyundai Verna Facelift: Exterior design, colour variants, and interior features

The car comes with dual LED projector headlamps and a black chrome radiator grille. The rear features a modified bumper design and an aerodynamic spoiler. R16 diamond-cut alloys are standard. LED tail lamps and connected LED positioning lamps are part of the package. Satin chrome is used for the window belt line and outside door handles. New colour options include Titan Grey Matte and Classy Blue. Inside, the Verna has leatherette seat upholstery. The steering wheel is a D-cut design. The gear knob is leatherette-wrapped. A sliding front centre armrest with storage is included.Turbo variants come with metal pedals. Smart key with push-button start is standard. The cabin has dual 10.25-inch integrated displays, one for infotainment and the other for the digital cluster.

Source: Hyundai Official Brochure

New 2026 Hyundai Verna: Engine and transmission options

The 2026 Verna offers two petrol engines.

Transmission options include a 6-speed manual, iVT, and a 7-speed DCT, depending on engine and variant. The model is available in six variants.

PC: Hyundai Official Brochure

Safety and driver protection features

Safety features include seven airbags and all four disc brakes. Electronic parking brake with auto hold is standard. Front park assist sensors and rain-sensing wipers are included. Tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) is provided in Highline variants. ISOFIX child seat mounts, hill-start assist control, headlamp escort function, seatbelt reminders for all seats, and emergency stop signal are included. Electronic stability control with vehicle stability management is part of the system.

Technology and driver assistance features

The Verna includes a three-year Bluelink subscription with over 70 connected features. Surround-view monitor (SVM) and blind-spot view monitor (BVM) are available. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are supported. The system supports multiple languages for both cluster and infotainment. Voice commands cover more than 350 functions. Ambient sounds of nature are also part of the features.The car has Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist for vehicles, pedestrians, cycles, and junction turns. Forward Collision Warning, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist and more.

NEW DELHi: India’s commanding win in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final has sparked strong reactions worldwide, especially from neighbours Pakistan. Former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar controversially said that India’s dominance has “ruined cricket.”India dominated New Zealand in the final at Narendra Modi Stadium, winning by 96 runs to claim their third T20 World Cup title. While most cricket experts praised India’s flawless performance, Shoaib Akhtar criticised the team on the Tapmad show Game On Hai, saying India was like a “rich kid” dominating a neighborhood game.

“It’s like when there’s one rich kid in a neighbourhood who calls all the poor kids and says, ‘Come, let’s play cricket.’ That’s exactly what India is doing with us. Out of eight teams, they keep four, and out of those four they call three again and move forward, and then they say, ‘See, I’ve won.’ They have ruined cricket entirely,” Akhtar said.

Interestingly, Akhtar had spoken differently before the final. While calling India the favourites, he said he hoped New Zealand would win “for cricket’s sake.”“I feel New Zealand might be bogged down in front of India, but India also have the pressure of 1.5 billion people. They have already lost a match in the World Cup final to Australia in Ahmedabad. I see India as the winner out of all this, but for cricket’s sake, it’s high time New Zealand won this World Cup,” he had said earlier.Despite his criticism, Akhtar admitted one reason for India’s success. He praised coach Gautam Gambhir for supporting players during tough times, saying that this kind of trust can make a big difference in major tournaments.India made cricket history on Sunday by beating New Zealand by 96 runs at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. They became the first team to defend the Men’s T20 World Cup title, the first to win three T20 World Cups, and the first to lift the trophy on home soil.

Australia Women have unveiled their squad for the upcoming white-ball tour of the West Indies, with wicketkeeper-batter Tahlia Wilson receiving her maiden international call-up. The 15-player squad will be led by Sophie Molineux, who is set to captain the side in both the T20I and ODI series during the Caribbean tour scheduled from March 19 to April 2.

The tour will feature three T20 Internationals followed by three One-Day Internationals, with matches to be played in St Vincent and St Kitts. Notably, the ODI leg of the tour will form part of the ICC Women’s Championship, adding extra significance to the series as teams continue their qualification race for the next Women’s World Cup.

Tahlia Wilson rewarded for consistent domestic performances

Wilson’s selection marks a major milestone in her cricketing journey. The young wicketkeeper-batter has impressed consistently in domestic competitions and now gets the opportunity to step onto the international stage with one of the strongest teams in women’s cricket.

Her inclusion adds depth to Australia’s wicketkeeping options alongside experienced campaigner Beth Mooney. Selectors believe Wilson’s recent performances and ability to contribute with both bat and gloves made her a deserving candidate for the Caribbean tour.

This call-up also highlights Australia’s continued focus on grooming new talent while maintaining their strong core of senior players.

Sophie Molineux set to lead Australia across formats

Molineux will captain the side for the full tour, marking her first series as Australia’s leader across both limited-overs formats. The left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder previously stepped in as captain during the T20I leg of Australia’s recent series against India.

Although Molineux missed the final two ODIs of that series due to a back issue, selectors confirmed that she has made encouraging progress in her recovery. While she is expected to lead the side, the management may monitor her workload carefully and allow her to choose the matches she participates in if required.

Her leadership will be supported by several experienced names including Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner and Megan Schutt, giving the squad a strong balance of youth and experience.

Also WATCH: Ashleigh Gardner and Ellyse Perry lift Alyssa Healy on their shoulders as Australia legend bids farewell to international cricket

Annabel Sutherland rested as Grace Harris misses T20 selection

One of the most notable absentees from the squad is all-rounder Annabel Sutherland, who will miss the tour as part of Cricket Australia’s workload management plan. Sutherland has been a key figure across formats in recent seasons, but the team management has opted to provide her with a break amid a packed international schedule.

Grace Harris is another big name missing from the squad. The powerful batter was part of the T20I team that recently faced India, but she has not been included for the West Indies tour.

Meanwhile, Lucy Hamilton and Nicola Carey have retained their places after being involved in the India series, indicating the selectors’ confidence in their recent performances.

Australia women squad for West Indies: Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Lucy Hamilton, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham, Tahlia Wilson.

Also READ: Australia hand Alyssa Healy a winning farewell with 10 wickets win over India in the one-off Test

This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.

For over four decades, Shiamak Davar has shaped the language of contemporary dance in India, blending global techniques with theatrical storytelling. His latest production, Tesseract – The Geometry of Truth , brought to audiences by The Times of India , is among his most ambitious theatrical explorations yet. The visually immersive musical play merges dance, theatre, music, dialogue and artificial intelligence, inviting audiences to reflect not on where humanity has been, but on what kind of future we are choosing to build.Mounted on a scale reminiscent of grand Broadway and West End spectacles, the production brings together lead performers Megan Murray and Pia Sutaria alongside nearly a hundred dancers, weaving movement, narrative and technology into a sweeping stage experience. As Shiamak Davar takes on the dual role of director and choreographer, he reflects on the challenge of translating an abstract, philosophical idea into rhythm, movement and visual spectacle – while continuing to push the boundaries of what Indian dance theatre can be.To begin with, tell us about your collaboration with The Times of India for Tesseract .I love the fact that this is literally like a tribute to The Times Of India . Being the director and the choreographer, I have tried to keep the script alive. What I really enjoyed was the process. I also thoroughly enjoyed designing the costumes and props, because that’s my forte for all my shows. For me, it’s been a wonderful climb.

The show is anchored by lead performers Megan Murray and Pia Sutaria along with 100 dancers that will bring the narrative to life. The production blends movement, dialogue and storytelling at a scale associated with major Broadway and West End spectacles. As a director and choreographer, what excited and intimidated you about mounting a production of this magnitude?I’m always daunted. I cannot be content or look at projects and think that I’ve arrived. I’m always pushing – pushing myself, the crew, the dancers and choreography. I believe that I am always a work in progress. Every project is as important to me – whether it’s a small project with eight dancers or a thousand dancers for big events. There’s always a lot of work to be done. I’m never really satisfied till the production is entirely done.Read Also | Interstellar, Einstein and the strange elasticity of timeThe theme itself – moving from humanity to science and AI – is philosophical and layered. How do you choreograph something like that?That was the difficult part, to direct and choreograph it because the script weaves into the songs and the songs weave into the script with the audio visuals. My associate director Anahita Oberoi worked with me a lot in blending the scenes with the actors. The script by Zaveri is unusual. It’s literally like another fourth-dimensional script. I like to push boundaries. I want the audience to think, ‘What is this and what are we talking about?’ It’s not a usual love story. It’s something really different from our space. Tesseract will put you on a quest to find the purpose of truth.How did you approach creating choreography which is fluid and simple and connects with the audience,while making it visually dynamic?I had to keep the choreography simple but effective and powerful visually. Since I love designing my costumes and props, I try to blend that with the whole theme of each song. Everything has to become one – the visuals, theme, costumes, acting and the songs. The violin will tell me what to do, the drums will tell me what to do, the script will tell me what to do. You’ve also incorporated ballet and tap – forms that are not as widely explored in India.I have flown in two dancers from LA – Matisse and Aaron – because one does tap dance and the other does ballet. So, there’s ballet, tap, jazz, funk, Shiamak style and contemporary. The script required all of this. Do you see ballet as a dance form growing in India?Ballet is key for all dancers. If there’s no ballet training, it’s very difficult for dancers to push their potential. Even if you’re doing hip-hop, jazz, funk, house – any form requires ballet. When Timothée Chalamet said ballet and opera are not his thing, I think he’s misinformed about the arts. Without ballet, opera and the arts, you won’t understand the discipline. The arts are something else. It’s like God comes within you. Dance, song, acting, poetry, painting – the arts are alive, far more than before.“Tesseract: The Geometry of Truth” is produced by The Times of India, with concept and visualisation by Meera Jain.Experience “Tesseract: The Geometry of Truth”, running from 16 to 22 March 2026 at NCPA Mumbai. Book here

US President Donald Trump has warned Cuba of a potential “not friendly takeover” of its government, contingent on a deal with the United States. He highlighted the island’s severe economic and humanitarian crisis, stating it’s “running on fumes” due to dwindling resources and the loss of Venezuelan support. Discussions are reportedly underway to avert conflict

US President Donald Trump said Monday (local time) that Cuba could face a “friendly takeover” of its communist government, but warned that it could also happen in a less friendly way if the island did not make a deal with the United States.Speaking at a news conference that largely focused on the ongoing US military campaign against Iran, Trump said, “It may be a friendly takeover, it may not be a friendly takeover.” Trump said Cuba’s leadership was under pressure because the country was facing a serious economic and humanitarian crisis.“They’re really, they’re down to, as I say, fumes. They have no energy. They have no money. They’re in deep trouble on a humanitarian basis,” Trump said.Trump further argued that Cuba had depended for years on support from Venezuela. That support, he said, has weakened after the United States captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro earlier this year on charges related to drug trafficking and terrorism.“Venezuela sends them no energy, no fuel, no oil, no money, no nothing. Without Venezuela, they couldn’t have made it,” Trump said, adding that the United States had also increased economic pressure on the island. “We cut them off from everything else. So yeah, they’re going to make either a deal or we’ll do it just as easy anyway,” he said.According to Trump, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was handling discussions with Cuba’s leadership in an effort to avoid military confrontation.Reports suggest that talks may involve areas such as ports, energy and tourism. Discussions have also included possible arrangements for Cuban President Miguel Diaz‑Canel and members of the Castro family if political changes took place in the country.After the news conference, Trump visited a Venezuelan restaurant in the area where he met an elderly man who said he hoped to travel to a free Cuba with him. Trump replied that they would go to Cuba together.Relations between the United States and Cuba have remained tense since Fidel Castro overthrew a US-backed government in 1959 and established a communist regime. Some efforts were made to improve ties, especially during the presidency of Barack Obama, when diplomatic relations were partly restored. However, many of those steps were later rolled back under Donald Trump. Soon after beginning his second term, Trump reinstated Cuba on the US list of state sponsors of terrorism.