Kolkata: At a time when the FIFA World Cup is expanding its football map, Kolkata-based notaphilist Anindya Kar has created a paper trail of the tournament through currency.The tax collection brings together banknotes representing all 48 participating nations of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, turning the expanded tournament into a compact collection of national identity, history, art and economy. To them, each note is more than a collector’s item; It is a cultural document containing images, monuments, wildlife, scripts, symbols and political memories of the nations that will appear on football’s biggest stage.

The 2026 edition is historic in many ways. For the first time, the World Cup is being hosted by three countries – the United States, Canada and Mexico. The only previous multi-nation hosting arrangement was in 2002, when South Korea and Japan jointly hosted the tournament. The number of participating teams has also increased from 32 to 48, taking the total number of matches to 104.

The expanded structure has added a round of 32 before the subsequent knockout stages. The eventual champions will now have to play eight matches instead of seven, making the path to the trophy longer and more challenging.Tax collection reflects that sheer scale. Notes of football legends are placed next to the currencies of countries making rare or first appearances on the global football stage. The presence of countries such as Curaçao, Cape Verde, Uzbekistan and Jordan gives added value to the collection, as their banknotes represent not only economies but also football milestones.

He said, “A distinctive feature of the display are the European countries that now use the euro. The euro was introduced into circulation on January 1, 2002. 21 of the 27 countries of the European Union currently use the euro. For the 12 countries that use the euro at the World Cup, I have avoided regular euro notes and instead used earlier national currencies to give the collection an ancient character.”Belgium is represented by the original Belgian 100 franc banknote of 1943, denominated as 20 Belgas, featuring intricate World War II-era artwork and the watermark of King Leopold I. Germany is represented by a 20 Reichsmark note issued during the Weimar Republic on January 22, 1929, featuring Werner von Siemens. The Netherlands is represented by the 25 gulden note of 10 April 1955, which bears the portrait of astronomer Christiaan Huygens.

Austria’s place in the display comes via a 1916 krone note with the overprint “DEUTSCHÖSTERREICH” issued by the Austro-Hungarian Bank. Curaçao, one of the highlights of the collection, is represented by a Gulden Muntbilljet issued between 1942 and 1947, featuring Mercury and the ship, and printed by the American Bank Note Company.Notaphilist said, “The notes tell stories beyond the pitch. Some feature photos of writers, engineers and kings; others feature rivers, bridges, birds, architecture and national symbols. The car’s extensive collection includes a Bosnia and Herzegovina 200 Convertible Mark note featuring Nobel Prize-winning writer Ivo Andrić and the famous bridge over the Drina River.”For tax sake, it’s not a World Cup album of stickers, jerseys or stamps. This is a tournament told through money – a display where football meets geography, diplomacy, design and memory.

Hyderabad faces serious fire safety crisis due to 50% increase in incidents and acute shortage of fire stations

Hyderabad: There has been an alarming 50% increase in fire accidents in the city over the last three years, from 1,711 in 2023 to 2,633 in 2025, yet Hyderabad has only 20% of the fire stations required under central norms. Due to this reduction, the response time has increased to an average of 20 to 30 minutes, which is six times more than the prescribed limit of five minutes.As per the recommendations of the Permanent Fire Advisory Council under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA), there should be at least one fire station for every 10 sq km in urban areas. However, despite the urban expansion in Hyderabad almost tripling to about 2,000 sq km, the three municipal corporations (Hyderabad, Cyberabad and Malkajgiri) collectively operate only about 40 fire stations. Actually, there are around 150 fire stations across Telangana.

Types of premises

fatal outcome

Based on MoHA guidelines, there is a requirement of 200 (approximately) fire stations in Hyderabad metropolitan area alone. The consequences of this infrastructure gap were clearly felt during the massive fire that broke out at the Sigachi industrial unit on June 30, 2025, which claimed more than 50 lives. It is said that the first fire tender reached the accident site from Patancheru in about 30 minutes after traveling a distance of about 14 km. This was the nearest available station to the unit.In another incident reported in November last year, a man was burnt to death inside his car on the Outer Ring Road near Shamirpet, even though the fire tender arrived about 30 – 45 minutes later. It was to be flagged off from Cherlapally, about 20 km away.Nevertheless, large sections remain unserved along the ORR. At many places, the nearest fire stations are more than 10 km away, requiring tenders to take at least 15 minutes to reach the accident site. The existing stations serving the ORR corridor are at Gachibowli, Shameerpet, Kukatpally, Rajendranagar, Hayatnagar, Patancheru, Jeedimetla, Madhapur and Maheshwaram.Even in emerging areas like Kokapet, Tellapur, Kollur, Kompally and parts of Shamshabad, the situation is almost the same. Although each of these areas has seen a proliferation of gated communities, office complexes and educational institutions, they lack a network of fire stations, with the nearest location being at least 15 km (30 – 40 minutes) away from any location.

District wise fire in 2026

Apart from inadequate infrastructure, fire officials claim that acquiring land for new stations is an additional layer of challenge. According to him, rising land prices and ownership disputes have made it difficult to identify strategic sites and secure land in rapidly developing areas.

land acquisition challenge

Experts have urged the state government to conduct a comprehensive assessment of fire-prone areas and densely populated areas across Hyderabad to identify infrastructure deficiencies and prioritize the establishment of new fire stations. He stressed that expansion of fire services would require substantial investment in land, fire fighting equipment, emergency vehicles and trained personnel.Telangana Fire Service Narayana Director GV Narayana Rao said that to strengthen the fire fighting capabilities, the department has ordered Bronto Skylift from Finland, a fire fighting platform capable of extinguishing fires at heights of up to 104 metres.

GV Narayan Rao

Want exclusive corridor

“The government should create a dedicated emergency response mechanism on city roads. Whenever a fire emergency is reported, the traffic authorities should immediately facilitate a clear emergency corridor exclusively for fire tenders and rescue vehicles, enabling them to reach the incident site in the shortest possible time. Such systems can significantly reduce response times and help save lives,” said fire safety auditor C Andrew.The pressure on fire services is not limited to infrastructure alone. Parallel enforcement data shows that a large number of establishments across Telangana are violating mandatory fire safety norms, increasing the risk scenario.

40% units across Telangana violate fire safety norms

Despite regular awareness campaigns and enforcement efforts by the fire department, nearly 40% of the units inspected across the state this year were found violating safety norms.Fire incidents have increased by 30% in Telangana this year compared to 2025, the department has conducted 6,137 fire safety inspections and awareness campaigns in schools, hospitals, apartments, hotels, industries and other public establishments so far this year as a part of a 99-day action plan.According to officials, the inspection covered 1,439 schools, 1,708 hospitals, 654 apartment buildings, 501 hotels, 326 public places including bus stands and railway facilities and 1,509 industries and warehouses. The findings revealed widespread non-compliance with mandatory fire safety measures, raising concerns over the ability of many establishments to respond effectively during emergencies.Common violations include blocked or closed emergency exits, encroached basement areas, inadequate stair access, expired fire extinguishers, non-functional sprinkler systems and poor maintenance of fire detection and alarm networks. Inspection teams also assessed water storage facilities and drainage systems, including emergency stairs and lifts.Officials said the violations occurred in various areas. “In a private school, emergency exit doors were found closed during working hours and several fire extinguishers had expired. In an industrial unit, the sprinkler system was non-functional and flammable materials were stored on evacuation routes, posing a serious fire hazard. Notices have been issued to establishments violating the norms and corrective measures have been mandated,” said a senior fire official.Data from the Telangana State Fire and Rescue Repository shows that since 2012, the department has responded to 53,392 calls. During this period, more than 200 people lost their lives and property worth Rs 4,732.42 crore was damaged.Among all the districts, Hyderabad recorded the highest number of fire and rescue calls at 7,564, followed by Nalgonda (3,557), Rangareddy (3,538), Medchal-Malkajgiri (3,533) and Khammam (3,433).

Bill Gates and Jeffrey Epstein (Images/Agencies)

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates told the US House panel investigating Jeffrey Epstein that his meeting with the disgraced financier was a ‘serious error in judgment’, as lawmakers reviewed his past relationship with the convicted sex offender.In a written initial statement released to reporters, Gates said he ‘should never have met Epstein’ and acknowledged that any contact that might have provided legitimacy to Epstein’s image was deeply regrettable.“Now I see that he tried to create an image of legitimacy around himself, using connections with prominent and powerful people to dodge investigation and attempt to rehabilitate his reputation. “If the time I spent with Epstein gave him any credibility, I am deeply sorry,” Gatz said.Gates also told lawmakers that after ending contact with Epstein, the financier allegedly used ‘sensitive information about my personal life’ to pressure him into contacting him again, Bloomberg reported, though he said he never saw any evidence of Epstein’s involvement in ongoing criminal conduct.The House Oversight Committee is investigating Epstein’s extensive networks with powerful figures, following the release of Justice Department files detailing his ties to politics, finance and technology.Lawmakers questioned Gates about the meetings between 2011 and 2014, years after Epstein pleaded guilty to procuring a minor for prostitution in Florida. Epstein later died in a New York prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.Committee members referenced unverified claims made by Epstein about Gates’ personal and financial affairs, as well as emails, calendar entries and documents suggesting discussions on philanthropy.Gates told the panel that he believed Epstein often ‘wrote emails that were false’ and denied any knowledge of criminal activity involving him.Gates said he was introduced to Epstein through professional and philanthropic networks and initially engaged with him on global health funding ideas, later ending contact when those proposals did not materialize.He has previously said that he never visited Epstein’s private island or properties and did not interact with any of his victims.Lawmakers said Gates voluntarily appeared before the committee, which is investigating how Epstein maintained access to influential figures despite his criminal record and prior convictions.The investigation is also part of a broader review of potential failures in federal oversight related to Epstein’s activities.Epstein was arrested in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges involving minors and died in custody that same year. He previously pleaded guilty in 2008 to charges related to the trafficking of a minor for prostitution.The Justice Department released several batches of documents last year outlining Epstein’s contacts in specific networks, with all of the individuals named denying wrongdoing.Gates’ former wife, Melinda French Gates, has said that her relationship with Epstein caused strain in their marriage. Gates had previously called his dealings with Epstein a “big mistake” and said he regretted ever meeting him.

TMC MP with Vice President

New Delhi: After resigning from the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, Trinamool Congress MP Prakash Chik Baraik said he quit after coming to the conclusion that the mandate in West Bengal was in favor of the BJP.Baraik, the third TMC MP to resign this week, also said he would “do as the CM (Suvendu Adhikari) says” and insisted that he was “not being pressured by the BJP”.His resignation is another blow to the Mamata Banerjee-led party, which is grappling with growing signs of rebellion within its ranks.Speaking to reporters after submitting his resignation, Badaik said, “I resigned after considering the mandate of the people of Bengal. Now, I will do whatever the CM (Suvendu Adhikari) tells me…I am not being pressured by the BJP.Explaining his decision, he said that the election verdict in West Bengal has convinced him that it is no longer appropriate to continue in his post.He said, “It can be seen that TMC does not have a mandate and in a democracy if people want one party to win then we should respect it. That is why I have resigned.”Elaborating on this, Barak said, “The mandate in West Bengal…in whose favor was the decision of the people in this democratic country?” Bharatiya Janata PartyAnd the party formed the government there. In my own constituency, we could not win even a single seat. The results were not good in North Bengal also. In view of this mandate, I felt that it is no longer appropriate for me to continue in my post. Therefore, I resigned from both my post and the party.”He said, “What happens next, please wait and see. Things will come to light in time. Look, I am not old. Time will decide what I will do in politics in the future. Please wait and let time tell the answer.”Sources said Badaik met Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan and submitted his resignation.In his resignation letter, the West Bengal MP wrote, “I am resigning from the membership of Rajya Sabha, which please be accepted with immediate effect.”He also thanked the Chairman, Deputy Chairman and officials of the Rajya Sabha Secretariat for their support and cooperation during his tenure.A tribal leader from West Bengal, Baraik served on the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and the Consultative Committee on Tribal Affairs.Third TMC MP to resign this weekBadaik’s resignation comes amid the exit of several high-profile people from the Trinamool Congress.On Wednesday, former Union Minister and Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev resigned from both the party and the Upper House. Explaining her decision she said that she did not want to be “in two boats at the same time”.“I don’t want to be in a situation where I’m in two boats at the same time. That’s not the right way to do it… Because of my family background and upbringing, I have never stayed in one party and served the other party,” he said.When asked about the news of joining BJP, Dev said, ‘When I take any decision, I will let you know.’His subsequent meeting with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma further fueled speculation about his next political move.Earlier this week, Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Shekhar Ray also resigned from the Upper House and later left the Trinamool Congress citing differences with the party leadership.The rebellion within TMC has deepenedWith Badaik’s resignation, TMC has now lost three Rajya Sabha MPs in a matter of days, increasing the challenges faced by the party after its defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections.The party is also battling internal rebellion that has weakened its parliamentary and organizational structure.Sources in the rebel camp claim that they have secured the support of at least 19 Lok Sabha MPs – more than two-thirds of the party’s strength in the House – and are preparing to stake claim to the parliamentary wing of the party.The move mirrors developments in the West Bengal Assembly, where most of the rebel MLAs have already taken control of the party’s legislature party.The rebel group is expected to join forces with the BJP-led NDA at the Centre. The names associated with the group include several prominent TMC MPs including Sayoni Ghosh and Mala Roy, both of whom are considered close to Mamata Banerjee.Rebel MP Shatabdi Roy said, “I don’t know whether Sayoni has signed (the letter written by the rebel group to the Speaker) or not, but others have.”Sources also indicated that the rebel MPs and MLAs may jointly stake a claim on the Trinamool Congress, a strategy similar to the one adopted by breakaway factions of the Shiv Sena and the NCP in Maharashtra, both of which were recognized by the Election Commission as parent parties and later formed an alliance with the BJP.This version removes duplication, tightens the narrative, and places the rebellion angle in a separate section for cleaner news flow.

Charles Barkley addressed his ESPN future after reaction to Cardi B’s joke during the NBA Finals (Getty)

Charles Barclay Controversy is nothing new, but the most recent controversy came midway through the NBA Finals. a joke involving cardi b It spread rapidly online during halftime, with some viewers criticizing it and others supporting it. As the debate over the comment intensified, attention shifted to another question. Could the backlash affect Barkley’s future at ESPN?Barkley finally addressed this speculation himself, and his answer sounded exactly like what sports fans have seen for years: blunt, nonchalant and completely unfazed.

Charles Barkley laughs off ESPN speculation as Cardi B joke sparks debate during NBA Finals

The controversy began during halftime coverage of the NBA Finals. As the crew discussed Cardi B’s appearance, Barkley made a joke about the rapper’s stage name.Barkley said during the broadcast, “I don’t know if they’re B. They could be Cardi D. I’m pretty sure they’re not B. Her initials are wrong.”The comment immediately attracted attention online. Critics argued that the joke crossed a line and seemed inappropriate for a national broadcast. Others defended Barkley, saying that his unfiltered humor has always been part of his appeal and that audiences know what to expect from him.As clips of the exchange continued to air, Barkley addressed the backlash during an appearance on The Dan Patrick Show. Instead of being concerned about the possible consequences, he turned the discussion into another joke.Barkley discussed questions about his ESPN future on The Dan Patrick Show, saying, “I’m hoping they fire me. I have six or seven years left on my contract, even though they know I have no chance to do that. I would love for them to fire me and pay me for the next six or seven years.”The comment directly responded to growing speculation regarding his job status. Barkley made it clear that he is not losing sleep over criticism or fear of disciplinary action.Additionally, ESPN has given no indication it plans to punish the Hall of Famer. The network has not commented publicly on the matter. Cardi B has also not publicly criticized Barkley. For Barkley, the story ultimately became less about the joke and more about his reaction to the fallout. Facing questions about his future at ESPN, he showed no signs of backing down. Whether fans see this as refreshing honesty or unnecessary controversy, one thing is for sure. Barkley remains one of the most unpredictable voices in sports television

Morgan Stanley has overweight rating on ONGC with a target price of Rs 345. According to analysts, over the past two decades, ONGC has paid out about $33 billion in dividends, roughly equal to its current market capitalization, while generating an average after-tax Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) of 12%. Over the next 20 years of 2P’s reserved life, analysts expect dividends to double the historical rate. Production’s 3% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over FY26-FY29, with growth driven by gas production domestically and turnaround in profitability in international operations, drives 14% earnings CAGR.HSBC has initiated coverage of Max Financial Services with a buy rating and a target price of Rs 2,120. Axis Max Life Insurance (AMLI), the principal operating subsidiary of Max Financial, is one of the fastest growing life insurance companies in India. Analysts believe its focus on diversifying distribution and products will drive sustainable, predictable growth with stable margins. He also believes that continued operating performance and progress on a potential merger are key catalysts for the company. The sector’s valuations have declined over the past few years due to regulatory constraints, but I believe Max Financial’s resilience is reflected in its fundamentals. Analysts also flagged some key downside risks for the stock including delays, regulatory hurdles, or adverse outcomes in the reverse merger; possible introduction of bancassurance limits; And any lack of focus by Axis Bank on selling insurance products.Jefferies has initiated coverage of Meesho with a target price of Rs 225. Analysts said Meesho is building a scale-based value commerce platform based on affordability, discovery and logistics efficiency. A loyal user base, supported by a deep MSME supply network, is driving a strong flywheel. A growth-led approach should keep monetization back-end, with rates increasing over time. The company’s balance sheet is net cash with negative working capital, supporting capital-efficient growth.DAM Capital has initiated coverage on Physicswala with a target price of Rs 140. Analysts said this is an Indian ed-tech story where scale did not come at the expense of P&L. He expects the company to achieve 24% revenue CAGR and 71% EBITDA CAGR during FY26-FY28. Driven by near-zero-cost range online expansion (civil services, CA, state boards), maturing academic clusters offline, and operations benefit from an approximately 2,500-strong centralized content and faculty base serving both channels. Analysts believe it is the only major Indian ed-tech player to come close to profitability, a direct result of the industry’s lowest customer acquisition costs. Also, the refusal to pay salaries to star-teachers left every partner broke.CLSA has outperform rating on SBI with a target price of Rs 1,275. Analysts looked at the lender’s annual reports. He said FY26 was a good year for the bank. On the deposit side, the focus was on ‘retailisation’ of deposits, with retail savings and term deposits (TDs) growing 12-15% year on year (YoY). Corporate salary accounts grew 11% to cross 2 crore in FY26. There was significant improvement in Priority Sector Lending (PSL) compliance despite a sharp decline in PSL certificate purchases. Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) assets are also stable since FY24, which means less pressure on net interest margin (NIM). During the year, SBI initiated a complete operational process re-engineering exercise, which is ongoing. Variants of business loan products were also launched during the year, he said. (Disclaimer: The recommendations and views given by experts on the stock market, other asset classes or personal finance management are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)

It seems that a new chapter is about to come in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. AstraZeneca is set to launch a new oral GLP-1 pill that could bring diabetes and obesity treatments out of the needle era.If you’re living with type 2 diabetes, or simply struggling with your weight, the story isn’t just about blood sugar. It’s about the stubborn pounds that make everything difficult. Over the past few years, injectable GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, Vegovy, and Monzaro have turned the diabetes world upside down. People lost weight, managed their blood sugar better, and sometimes saw their health risks drop. However, if we’re being honest, the shots are a dealbreaker for a lot of people.Now, AstraZeneca thinks it has cracked the code: a pill instead of a needle.

What is happening?

According to Reuters, at the 2026 American Diabetes Association conference, they released new data showing their oral GLP-1 candidate, alecoglypron, helped people lose weight and control blood sugar. It’s becoming a topic of discussion because, suddenly, the future looks like a bottle of pills instead of a fridge full of injections.

Now what is elecroglypron?

It is an oral GLP-1 receptor agonist that AstraZeneca acquired last year from Accogene, a Chinese biotechnology company. GLP-1 drugs mimic the hormone your gut uses to suppress appetite, slow digestion, increase insulin, and keep blood sugar under control. Hence they help in both weight loss and diabetes. Most of the big winners in this area are injectables, but scientists have been chasing the pill for centuries, because tablets are easier to take, and most people hate injections.If AstraZeneca gets it right, it could compete with giants like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly.

Weight Loss: The Numbers Everyone Is Talking About

Their Phase IIb VISTA trial looked at adults struggling with obesity or excess weight. Big headline: People taking higher doses of elecampane lost about 10.5% of their body weight over 26 weeks. Now, that’s nothing. Some kept losing, reaching 11.8% at 36 weeks. About nine out of ten people taking the highest dose had at least a 5% loss, which is a number that doctors pay attention to.Simply put: If you weigh 100 kg, you are looking to lose more than 10 kg.What matters is that it all happened with one bullet. Typically, people think that injections are more powerful because pills are not always absorbed as well. Elecoglipron is closing the gap.

Diabetes: what do the results say?

Their SOLSTICE trial zoomed in on people with type 2 diabetes. This disease means that your body either ignores insulin or does not make enough insulin. The sugar piled up; Over time, serious complications began to emerge. Elecoglipron did more than just lower blood sugar. People taking the higher dose lost about 7.7% of their body weight over 26 weeks, while also improving their cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors.This is a big deal: GLP-1 drugs aren’t just pursuing lower blood sugar; They deal with basic things like weight, heart risk, kidney problems, and things like that. People are getting broader health benefits, not just the number on the glucose meter.

Side Effects: Usual Suspects

As with other GLP-1 drugs, intestinal problems have been reported. Some people had nausea, vomiting, constipation or stomach upset. But most side effects were mild to moderate — about the same as you see with existing GLP-1 drugs. AstraZeneca says these side effects did not cause many people to drop out of the study and there were no major liver safety events.Still, if you’re dreaming about a magical weight loss pill with zero belly drama, you’ll have to wait until science waves its wand.

How does it stack up against Ozempic, Wegovi and the rest?

Elecoglypron’s 10.5% average weight loss puts it in the top tier for oral drugs, but it lags behind some of the bigger injectable names. For example, Wegovi has achieved rates of 14% or more, and the latest Lilly drugs sometimes perform better. The main advantage here is simplicity: just one pill per day. If later trials show that elecampane is safe and continue distribution, many people (and doctors) may prefer it.A better oral GLP-1 could make these treatments available to more people.

What will happen next?

Phase 2 trials look promising, but this is only the beginning. AstraZeneca plans a larger Phase 3 study. They will test elekaglipron in larger groups and look at long-term safety. Only then can regulators consider approval.This tablet is a big milestone. Although it is not final, its importance cannot be denied. With diabetes and obesity rates rising everywhere, treatments that are both effective and simple matter more than ever. If these results hold true, elecroglypron may signal a paradigm shift: There is no need to choose between real weight loss and the convenience of a pill. For those who are balancing diabetes every day, this is about as reassuring as the statistics can get.