AI advances dominate tech, from space to automation. India's Budget 2026 shapes economy and welfare. US politics sees gun shifts, wiretap debates. Plus sports and entertainment updates.

A ‘bizarro world’: How Trump’s words have scrambled America’s gun politics On February 01, 2026, ABC17News.com reported that former President Donald Trump's shifting rhetoric on gun control has created a "bizarro world" in American gun politics, often putting him at odds with pro-gun groups. Despite his administration's largely pro-gun record, Trump's recent comments, particularly concerning gun carrying during protests, have drawn swift rebukes from gun-rights advocates. This dynamic highlights the National Rifle Association's weakened influence, stemming from financial scandals and internal conflicts, making it less of a lobbying powerhouse than in previous years, yet the issue still galvanizes Trump's base. Source

Jon Rahm Has the Last Laugh as DP World Tour Decides on LIV Golf Fines - Insider Essentially Sports reported on February 01, 2026, that Jon Rahm appears to have the last laugh as the DP World Tour reportedly plans to drop fines for members participating in LIV Golf events starting in 2026. This decision would allow Rahm to compete in DPWT events without paying his multi-million dollar fine, safeguarding his eligibility for the 2027 Ryder Cup. While players must still settle outstanding fines until 2025 and seek releases for future LIV events, this move represents a significant shift, despite Rory McIlroy's earlier insistence that fines should be paid. Source

Trump’s control of the Panama Canal will cement US dominance over China The Telegraph reported on February 01, 2026, under the title "Trump’s control of the Panama Canal will cement US dominance over China." However, the provided full article text is extremely brief, stating only, "The City is abuzz with the little miracles that could double your money," and offers no further details or elaboration on the stated topic of Trump or the Panama Canal. Source

Budet 2026: Bittersweet rollout for realty stakeholders; here's what real estate sector is saying The Times of India reported on February 01, 2026, that India's Budget 2026 elicited a mixed reaction from the real estate sector. While the industry welcomed continued infrastructure development and its potential to open new growth corridors beyond saturated urban cores, apex realtor CREDAI expressed deep disappointment over the absence of concrete incentives for affordable housing. This omission, they warned, could significantly reduce affordable housing's market share, raising concerns for the lower and middle classes despite the budget's broader focus on long-term growth and enhanced capital markets. Source

Hampden County DA’s offices conducts the most wiretapping in the state, analysis finds MassLive reported on February 01, 2026, that an analysis revealed the Hampden District Attorney’s Office conducts the most wiretapping in Massachusetts, filing 83 applications between 2021 and 2024, nearly matching all other DA offices combined. DA Anthony Gulluni defends this as a vital tool against drug trafficking and gun violence, but civil liberties groups like the ACLU express concern about privacy and potential misuse, especially as legislators push to loosen the state's strict wiretapping laws, which currently require a connection to organized crime. Source

Budget 2026 Highlights: Sharp Focus On Divyangjan And Senior Care Through Skills, Assistive Devices And Health Infrastructure Outlook Money reported on February 01, 2026, that India's Budget 2026 places a significant focus on Divyangjan (persons with disabilities) and senior care, emphasizing skills, assistive devices, and health infrastructure. Key initiatives include expanding Emergency and Trauma Care Centres in district hospitals, aiming for a 50% capacity increase. The budget explicitly acknowledges geriatric care, proposing a structured ecosystem and formalizing caregiving through NSQF-aligned training. This focus is anticipated to expand senior living and care infrastructure, particularly in Tier II and III cities. Source

No Big Reveal, Just Big Appeal: Raashii Khanna Shares BTS from Her Upcoming Film Lokmat Times reported on February 01, 2026, that Pan-India star Raashii Khanna has subtly captivated audiences by sharing behind-the-scenes glimpses from her upcoming film. Her effortless beauty and understated styling hint at a character rooted in realism, allowing her natural charm to shine through. These candid moments have sparked speculation among fans and industry insiders about a potential film starring Akshay Kumar and Vidya Balan. Khanna is also busy with "Ustaad Bhagat Singh," "Talakhon Mein Ek," the second season of "Farzi," and a rumored project with R. Madhavan. Source

Orange Economy: Nirmala's big bet on gaming, concerts and the creative sector Malayala Manorama reported on February 01, 2026, that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlighted the "Orange Economy" in the Union Budget, emphasizing the significant economic and employment potential of India's creative sectors like gaming, animation, concerts, and visual effects. These industries are projected to require over 2 million professionals by 2030. The budget proposes supporting the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies and establishing AVGC Content Creator Labs in schools and colleges, alongside considering a single-window clearance system for live events to attract investment and foster growth. Source

Ted Lasso season 4 hits Apple TV in the summer The Verge reported on January 28, 2026, that Ted Lasso season 4 will premiere on Apple TV this summer, marking the return of one of the streaming service’s most popular series after a hiatus. The new season will feature a mix of returning cast members, including Jason Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, and Juno Temple, along with new faces. Jack Burditt, known for his work on sitcoms like 30 Rock and Modern Family, is joining as an executive producer under a new overall deal with Apple TV. Source

Yahoo Scout looks like a more web-friendly take on AI search The Verge reported on January 27, 2026, that Yahoo has introduced "Scout," an AI-powered "answer engine" designed to act as a web guide, akin to Yahoo's origins. Scout, built on Anthropic's Claude model and integrating Yahoo's extensive content, aims to be a web-friendly AI search tool that more prominently displays links compared to competitors. Yahoo CEO Jim Lanzone intends for Scout to become the core of Yahoo Search, monetizing through affiliate links and ads, unburdened by the need to protect a massive existing search-ads business. Source

This soft humanoid robot is designed to be ‘physically safe and socially approachable’ The Verge reported on January 28, 2026, that Fauna Robotics has unveiled Sprout, a 3.5-foot-tall humanoid robot designed for physical safety and social approachability, drawing inspiration from friendly sci-fi robots. Featuring a soft, padded exterior and expressive elements, Sprout is initially marketed to other robot developers, researchers, and universities. Priced at $50,000, it offers a ready-to-use platform with pre-configured movement, perception, navigation, and expression, enabling developers to concentrate on creating unique applications rather than building basic functionalities from scratch. Source

Astronomers used AI to find 1,400 ‘anomalous objects’ from Hubble archives The Verge reported on January 28, 2026, that European Space Agency astronomers David O’Ryan and Pablo Gómez used an AI model, AnomalyMatch, to identify nearly 1,400 "astrophysical anomalies" within the Hubble Space Telescope's 35-year archive. The AI efficiently processed almost 100 million image cutouts in two and a half days, flagging unusual objects such as merging galaxies, gravitational lenses, and jellyfish galaxies. Notably, several dozen objects defied immediate classification, underscoring AI's potent capability to uncover significant discoveries within vast astronomical datasets that might otherwise go unnoticed. Source

HigherDose Red Light Hat Review: Scalp Savior (2026) Wired reviewed the HigherDose Red Light Hat on January 30, 2026, describing it as a discreet, baseball cap-like device designed to stimulate hair growth and improve scalp health. Utilizing 120 medical-grade LED bulbs, the hat operates at 600-nm wavelengths and is FDA-cleared, though not FDA-approved. The reviewer observed positive results after several weeks of use, noting visible improvements in hair thickness, reduction of patches, and smoother overall hair texture, effectively labeling it a "Scalp Savior" for its efficacy. Source

Moltbot, the AI agent that ‘actually does things,’ is tech’s new obsession The Verge reported on January 27, 2026, that Moltbot, an open-source AI agent, is rapidly gaining traction for its ability to automate tasks like managing reminders and client communications, operating locally and interacting via messaging apps. While users praise its efficiency, cybersecurity experts warn of significant risks, including prompt injection vulnerabilities and the potential exposure of private data, especially if granted admin access. The developers themselves caution users about the "sharp edges" of this powerful software, urging careful security practices. Source