Gemini AI Paywall: Google Restricts Free Users To Flash-Lite Model From October 9

Google is reworking which Gemini models are available on each of its plans. Starting October 9, users on the free tier and the AI Plus plan will lose access to some models, while AI Pro subscribers are set to gain a feature that was previously exclusive to the top tier. The company also appears to be working on new reasoning controls for the Gemini app.

What Changes for Free and AI Plus Users

According to an updated Google support document, people without a Google AI subscription will be left with only Flash-Lite from October 9. Flash and Pro will no longer be part of the free plan.

AI Plus, which costs $4.99 (roughly Rs 500) a month, will keep Flash-Lite and Flash but drop the Pro model. Google said affected AI Plus users will get an email telling them when their accounts will switch over.

AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers keep all three models: Flash-Lite, Flash and Pro.

ALSO READ | Gemini 4 Argon: Google Unveils New Frontier AI Model — Prices, Features And Key Things Explained

Why Usage Limits Matter More Now

The changes come after Google started measuring Gemini usage earlier this year based on how much computing power each request requires. This means that heavier requests, such as tricky questions, long back-and-forth chats or the more advanced models, draw down a user's quota more quickly.

Deep Think Arrives on AI Pro

Until now, Deep Think was available only to AI Ultra subscribers. It is now coming to the AI Pro plan, priced at $19.99 (roughly Rs 1,900) a month. AI Ultra users, on either the $99.99 (roughly Rs 9,600) or $199.99 (roughly Rs 19,300) monthly plan, will still have it. Deep Think tackles complex tasks using parallel reasoning and works only with the Pro model.

ALSO READ | Google Photos Gets An AI Boost With Redact Tool, 'Vintage' Moods And Expanded AI Wardrobe

New Thinking Levels May Be On The Way

Gemini could let users pick from Low, Medium and High thinking settings to decide how much effort the chatbot puts into a response. Choosing a higher level could use up more of a user's allowance. Right now, the Gemini app has an Extended Thinking option for harder problems. Google AI Studio and Antigravity already give users comparable controls.

Gemini 4 Argon Testing Continues

Google is also preparing to roll out Gemini 4 Argon more widely. The model is currently being tested by trusted cybersecurity professionals under the company's Fairwind programme. AI Ultra subscribers and paying API customers will get access at a later stage. It's still unclear whether Argon will sit within the Pro tier or in a separate, higher tier.

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Abhinav Bindra After Asian Games: "Los Angeles Less Than Two Years Away"

Olympic champion shooter Abhinav Bindra on Sunday congratulated Indian athletes for their Asian Games campaign but called for greater urgency in strengthening the country's high-performance ecosystem with the Los Angeles Olympics less than two years away. India finished at the fourth place on the medal table with 85 medals, including 21 gold, 27 silver and 37 bronze. "Congratulations to every Indian athlete and to Team India on the Asian Games. A Games campaign is never just the few days we see on television. It is years of early mornings, injuries, doubts, missed occasions and countless hours of work.

"So first and foremost, enormous respect to our athletes and also to their families who live this journey with them and make sacrifices that are rarely seen. To the coaches, support staff, federations, SAI, the Government and everyone working behind the scenes, THANK YOU !," Bindra wrote on 'X'.

"There have been some terrific breakthrough performances at these Games. Young athletes have announced themselves, others have stepped up to a new level and there have been moments that give us a lot to be excited about."

Congratulations to every Indian athlete and to Team India on the Asian Games. A Games campaign is never just the few days we see on television. It is years of early mornings, injuries, doubts, missed occasions and countless hours of work. So first and foremost, enormous respect to our athletes and also to their families who live this journey with them and make sacrifices that are rarely seen. To the coaches, support staff, federations, SAI, the Government and everyone working behind the scenes, THANK YOU ! There have been some terrific breakthrough performances at these Games. Young athletes have announced themselves, others have stepped up to a new level and there have been moments that give us a lot to be excited about. There have also been disappointments. That is sport and every Games will have them. What matters now is how honestly we learn from them. High performance cannot only be about reacting when an athlete is close to a medal. We have to keep building systems that understand the athlete over several years. Systems that spot gaps early, use science and data intelligently, get coaching and competition planning right, manage training load and recovery, reduce preventable injuries and build athletes who are physically and mentally resilient when the pressure is greatest. Most importantly, the right expertise has to reach the athlete at the right stage of their career, not when it is already too late. LA is less than two years away. In Olympic sport that is not a long time. The athletes who will stand on the podium there are already deep into their preparation today. So this is the moment to celebrate what went well, be honest about what did not and get back to work with urgency and purpose. Congratulations again to our athletes and to everyone who stood behind them. Be proud of what has been achieved. Learn from these Games and keep moving forward. Wishing Team India everything good on the road to LA.

— Abhinav A. Bindra OLY (@Abhinav_Bindra) October 4, 2026

India's medal tally was 21 medals and seven golds fewer than the 106-medal haul, achieved in the last edition at Hangzhou, China.

China topped the table for the 12th consecutive edition, finishing with 169 gold, 89 silver and 83 bronze for a total of 341 medals, its best haul at an overseas Asian Games. Host Japan ended second with 269 medals (83 gold, 95 silver and 91 bronze), followed by South Korea with 39 gold, 43 silver and 68 bronze.

"There have also been disappointments. That is sport and every Games will have them. What matters now is how honestly we learn from them. High performance cannot only be about reacting when an athlete is close to a medal. We have to keep building systems that understand the athlete over several years," he said.

"Systems that spot gaps early, use science and data intelligently, get coaching and competition planning right, manage training load and recovery, reduce preventable injuries and build athletes who are physically and mentally resilient when the pressure is greatest. Most importantly, the right expertise has to reach the athlete at the right stage of their career, not when it is already too late."

Looking ahead to the Los Angeles Olympics, Bindra said the next phase of preparation needs to begin with urgency.

"LA is less than two years away. In Olympic sport that is not a long time. The athletes who will stand on the podium there are already deep into their preparation today. So this is the moment to celebrate what went well, be honest about what did not and get back to work with urgency and purpose.

"Congratulations again to our athletes and to everyone who stood behind them. Be proud of what has been achieved. Learn from these Games and keep moving forward. Wishing Team India everything good on the road to LA."

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Congress Falls Back On A Fullback: Where Pargat Singh Fits In Punjab Poll Play

Perth, 1985. India were trailing West Germany 1-5 at hockey's Champions Trophy with about eight minutes left when a 20-year-old fullback picked up the ball near the halfway line, ran at the defence, skipped past four defenders, and lifted it over the goalkeeper. It sparked a comeback still counted among Indian hockey's greatest. India scored four times in that spell to draw 5-5.

Forty-one years later, the Congress has handed him the ball in Punjab with lots to defend against, and everything to play for.

"It all happened so fast. Maybe the Germans did not expect it from me," Pargat Singh recalled about that match in Australia in a 1991 interview.

On Friday, the party named the former Olympic captain its state unit chief, two days after Amarinder Singh Raja Warring resigned and months before the 2027 Assembly elections.

Picking Pargat was a fallback, though not purely defensive. Former minister Vijay Inder Singla, a Hindu from the Bania (trader) community who heads the party's election management committee, was reportedly the frontrunner in two rounds of deliberation. Instead, the high command replaced one Jat Sikh with another, keeping the community equation intact and bringing a measured, issue-driven skipper to the top.

Lokniti-CSDS survey data from the last few elections shows why the Congress is worried about the numbers. The same data, read against Punjab's history, shows that arithmetic rarely decides the final score, least of all in a contest that's five-cornered this time.

READ | Hockey Legend Pargat Singh Named Punjab Congress Chief After Raja Warring Quits

Pargat Singh, 61, is seen as a measured speaker, unlike the more irreverent Raja Warring whom he replaces.
Photo: FB/@pargatsofficial

Holding The Line

Sikhs make up around 58 per cent of Punjab's population, and every chief minister since the state's reorganisation in 1966 has been a Sikh. Most have been Jat Sikhs, a largely rural, landowning community estimated at 22 per cent of the population. The incumbent, Aam Aadmi Party's Bhagwant Mann, is one.

Not all, though. Giani Zail Singh in the 1970s came from a Ramgarhia Sikh background, of traditional artisans, and Charanjit Singh Channi, who served briefly before the Congress lost in 2022, is a Dalit Sikh.

The Jat Sikh vote is where the Congress is weakest. Only 16 per cent of Jat Sikhs voted for it in 2022, down from 29 per cent in 2017, according to the Lokniti-CSDS post-poll survey. AAP took 46 per cent.

The state chief of every major party is a Jat Sikh this time, except AAP, which has a Hindu state unit chief and a Jat Sikh chief minister. Sections of the Congress are learnt to have argued that dropping the community from the top would have left it the odd one out. The poll field still carries Sikh issues, such as the alleged inaction by the then SAD-BJP government over sacrilege incidents in the mid-2010s.

Flank That Remains Open

The party has to, however, tackle how to give representation to Hindus, about 39 per cent of the population and the majority in most towns and cities. They have been a Congress stronghold in the not-so-distant past.

Pargat Singh started his innings by visiting prominent religious places of both Hindus and Sikhs in Delhi, where he was at the time of his appointment.

Among upper-caste Hindus, the Congress got 49 per cent of the votes in 2017, which halved by 2022, while the BJP's share tripled to reach 20 per cent, Lokniti-CSDS data showed. AAP was the main gainer across Hindu groups in 2022. Still, the Congress held on to more of its Hindu vote than its Sikh vote.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the Hindutva-focused BJP, contesting without the traditionally Sikh party Shiromani Akali Dal, took 18.56 per cent of the vote, its highest ever.

The Congress has had Hindu faces at the top before. Sunil Jakhar, state chief from 2017 to 2021, was even in the reckoning for chief minister when the party replaced Captain Amarinder Singh in 2021, before it made Channi the state's first Dalit chief minister. Jakhar later said advisers in Delhi had made his candidacy a Hindu-Sikh issue, and he quit the party in 2022 and went on to lead the BJP's state unit. The BJP recently replaced him with Kewal Singh Dhillon, its first Jat Sikh state president.

AAP has paired a Jat Sikh, Bhagwant Mann, with Aman Arora, a Hindu, as its state unit chief. The Congress has yet to find that balance.

Voters, however, may be more open than the parties. In the 2022 Lokniti-CSDS survey, 73.7 per cent of respondents said Punjab's chief minister can also be a non-Sikh.

Who's The Playmaker?

Dalits, from both Sikh and Hindu Scheduled Castes, make up about a third of Punjab's population, the highest such share in any state; 34 of the 117 Assembly seats are reserved for them. But making Channi chief minister in 2021, months before the polls, did not bring the Congress their votes. The party's share among Dalit Sikhs fell from 42 per cent in 2017 to 27 per cent in 2022, while AAP's rose from 21 to 46 per cent, Lokniti-CSDS found.

AAP won 28 of the 34 reserved seats, and Channi lost both seats he contested.

Channi, now the Jalandhar MP, remains the party's most prominent face, and his camp led the push to remove Warring. "Channi saheb has won," Warring said after his removal.

Channi served briefly as CM, the first Dalit to hold the post in Punjab, before the 2022 debacle of the Congress. Photo: IANS

READ | 'Charanjit Channi Saheb Has Won': Raja Warring Meets Rahul Gandhi After Exit As Punjab Congress Chief

Formally, the party has no chief ministerial face, but Channi is its campaign committee chief. The Congress has had a tradition of the campaign committee chief becoming chief minister in several states. "When we get the majority, the high command will decide," Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, another Jat Sikh contender, has said. Tradition dictates that the high command in Delhi decides.

As it stands today, the Congress has a Dalit Sikh as the de facto face and a Jat Sikh running the organisation, covering the state's two largest Sikh groups.

Geography adds another layer. Malwa, with 69 of the 117 seats, has traditionally decided who governs Punjab. The AAP won 66 of those seats in 2022. With Warring gone, none of the Congress's three most prominent leaders is from Malwa. Pargat and Channi are Jalandhar-based in Doaba, and Bajwa represents Qadian in Majha.

Does A Formula Work?

"Caste and community in Punjab is a current, not a container," historian and political commentator Harjeshwar Pal Singh said, however.

"Leaders win by riding moods, not by filling quotas," he opined.

AAP's 2022 victory cut across groups, described as "a bouquet of support from all castes and communities". In the Lokniti survey, 46 per cent said a candidate's caste mattered "not at all" to their vote.

Clear, rooted, and firm leadership is what matters, according to Harjeshwar. "In a multi-cornered fight, anti-incumbency does not automatically land in the challenger's lap; it has to be harvested, and that needs a sickle in one firm hand," he said.

In 2022, AAP declared Bhagwant Mann its CM face and won by a landslide. The Congress won in 2017 with Captain Amarinder Singh firmly in the saddle; it removed him before the 2022 elections and ended up presenting a fragmented leadership to voters.

In 2024, the vote splintered as the Congress and AAP were level at about 26 per cent, the BJP rose to 18.56, and two independents who campaigned on hardline Sikh platforms, including a jailed Amritpal Singh, won seats.

The 2027 field remains fragmented; it includes the AAP, Congress, SAD, BJP, and Amritpal's Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De). A SAD-BJP alliance remains under discussion. Calculating vote banks too minutely, thus, may end up confusing not just the voters but the leaders themselves.

For the Congress, presenting a united face remains the challenge. Pargat was a part of the Channi camp, though his public statements kept up with his calm but firm demeanour. He is known to write formal letters on specific issues to governments, and gives interviews focused on the public and not on factionalism.

READ | From Badals To Captain: How Pargat Singh's Dissent May Have Scored It For Him

Pargat's Long Game

The hockey champ's political journey has been winding yet moving forward, like that historic goal run in Perth. He served in the Punjab Police before entering politics to win the Jalandhar Cantonment seat for the SAD in 2012. Suspended by that party in 2016 after questioning some of its actions, he joined cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu to form a group that weighed AAP versus Congress. They moved to the Congress, which won. Pargat stayed in Sidhu's corner through the Amarinder years, became a party general secretary when Sidhu rebelled and took over the state unit in 2021. Pargat served in Channi's cabinet.

In the 2022 AAP sweep, Pargat was one of only 18 Congress candidates to win. Sidhu, the six-hitting opening batter, has since drifted away. The long-run defender has stayed.

"Hockey has changed now... Everyone must learn to play in every position, to attack, defend, everything," Pargat Singh said in an interview three decades ago. That's the job he has now.

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Vijay Shekhar Sharma Calls Ather's Lethal' Scooter Testing Idea Brilliant

Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma has praised Ather Energy's intense vehicle-testing regime, calling the Bengaluru-based electric scooter maker's approach a “lethal idea” for building vehicles suited to Indian roads.

Sharma reacted to a post by Tarun Mehta, co-founder and CEO of Ather Energy, who shared a glimpse of the company's testing laboratory and the extreme conditions its electric scooters are subjected to before reaching customers.

“That's a lethal idea for scooter testing on Indian roads by @atherenergy 😅 Too good, @tarunsmehta 👌🏼👌🏼 Wonder if buyers know it yet,” Sharma wrote on X on October 1.

That's a lethal idea for scooter testing on Indian roads by @atherenergy 😅 Too good, @tarunsmehta 👌🏼👌🏼
Wonder if buyers know it yet. pic.twitter.com/nYjqidWofH

— Vijay Shekhar Sharma (@vijayshekhar) October 2, 2026

ALSO READ: Ather Energy Stock Climbs Nearly 4% On JPMorgan Target Hike, Konarc Launch

Mehta's post showed a scooter being put through a series of punishing tests, with the caption: “making a scooter for indian roads.”

The video highlights three stages of testing, “Drop It”, “Add Mud” and “Push It”, demonstrating how Ather attempts to replicate the abuse an electric scooter could face on Indian roads and in varying weather conditions.

In the footage, Ather says that after dropping the “poor scooter” for the 40,000th time, it is subjected to a mud test.

“You've got to make sure your electric scooter can work reliably in all kinds of conditions,” the company says in the video.

The testing forms part of Ather's broader vehicle-validation programme, which uses specialised machines to accelerate years of wear and tear into controlled laboratory cycles.

One such machine, known as Goliath, has been showcased by Ather for repeatedly dropping a scooter from a height of 400 mm. The company says the rig can subject a scooter to 40,000 drops, simulating prolonged exposure to potholes and harsh road conditions.

Another machine, dubbed the “Button Masher”, is designed to repeatedly operate switches and buttons to test their durability over thousands of cycles.

ALSO READ: Ather Energy Share Price Rallies 4% After Nomura Raises Target, Maintains Bullish View

Ather also conducts environmental tests, including exposure to dust and high-pressure water, as well as water-submersion tests designed to assess how its electric scooters perform under severe weather conditions.

The company's testing philosophy is aimed at replicating the realities of Indian roads rather than relying solely on conventional laboratory conditions.

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LG Electronics Shares May Rally 22%, Says Motilal Oswal - Check Target Price

According to the brokerage, LG Electronics is well placed to benefit from structural premiumisation across TVs, refrigerators, washing machines and ACs, while the expanding LG Essential portfolio provides an additional growth factor by broadening its addressable market. Over the medium term, Motilal Oswal expects Sri City capacity expansion, deeper localisation and increasing exports to further strengthen the growth and profitability profile.

NDTV Profit's special research section collates quality and in-depth equity and economy research reports from across India's top brokerages, asset managers and research agencies. These reports offer NDTV Profit's subscribers an opportunity to expand their understanding of companies, sectors and the economy.

Motilal Oswal Report

Domestic brokerage firm Motilal Oswal values LG Electronics Ltd. at 45 times Sep'28E earnings per share to arrive at a target price of Rs 2,080 and has reiterated Buy rating implying a potential upside of 22% from the reports current market price of Rs 1,711.

The brokerage's positive view on LG Electronics is supported by its diversified product portfolio, strong brand franchise, multiple avenues for sustainable revenue growth and better margin profile vs peers.

The company is well placed to benefit from structural premiumisation across TVs, refrigerators, washing machines and ACs, while the expanding LG Essential portfolio provides an additional growth factor by broadening its addressable market.

ALSO READ: Azad Engineering Gets Rating Upgrade From ICICI Securities On Higher-For-Longer Growth Visibility — Check Revised Target Price

Recent trends across large-screen TVs, French-door refrigerators and fully automatic washing machines highlight LG Electronics's ability to drive value growth even in a mixed demand environment. Over the medium term, Motilal Oswal expects Sri City capacity expansion, deeper localisation and increasing exports to further strengthen the growth and profitability profile.

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This report is authored by an external party. NDTV Profit does not vouch for the accuracy of its contents nor is responsible for them in any way. The contents of this section do not constitute investment advice. For that you must always consult an expert based on your individual needs. The views expressed in the report are that of the author entity and do not represent the views of NDTV Profit.

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"Concerning Sign": Gambhir And Co. Sent Clear Message After WI Notch 405/7

The fans at Barsapara Stadium witnessed one of the most stunning ODI batting displays from the West Indies as, for the first time ever, three Caribbean batters scored centuries in a single ODI innings. From an explosive, no-holds-barred assault by opener John Campbell to a measured, quintessential ODI-style century from skipper Shai Hope and a classy yet merciless ton from rising star Amir Jangoo, the Indian fans experienced Caribbean cricket in different flavours and tempos. As the two-time champions eye a spot in the 2027 ODI World Cup through the qualifiers, they showcased a level of ruthlessness that fans had rarely seen from them in recent years.

India conceded 405/7 in 50 overs, the third-highest total ever conceded by the side in ODIs.

Highest ODI totals against India

438/4 South Africa, Wankhede, 2015

411/8 Sri Lanka, Rajkot, 2009

405/7 West Indies, Guwahati, 2026

389/4 Australia, Sydney, 2020

387/3 England, Lord's, 2026

"If West Indies, who didn't even qualify for the previous ODI World Cup, can consistently take our bowlers to the cleaners, then it's a concerning sign heading into the 2027 World Cup. #INDvWI," domestic cricket stalwart Priyank Panchal wrote on X.

If West Indies, who didn't even qualify for the previous ODI World Cup, can consistently take our bowlers to the cleaners.. then it's a concerning sign heading into the World Cup 2027. #INDvWI

— Priyank Panchal (@PKpanchal09) September 30, 2026

The first century was a 68-ball 101 from John Campbell, comprising nine fours and five sixes at a strike rate of over 148. He surpassed the legendary Viv Richards' record for the fastest ODI century by a West Indies batter against India, reaching the milestone in just 65 balls compared to the 72 balls Richards took in 1983.

The explosive opener had also reached his half-century in just 29 balls, eclipsing 'Universe Boss' Chris Gayle's 30-ball fifty against India in 2002, achieved long before the advent of T20 cricket.

Campbell's century remains the fifth-fastest by a West Indies batter in ODI cricket. Brian Lara's 45-ball marvel against Bangladesh in Dhaka in 1999 continues to top the list.

Then came skipper Shai Hope's 20th ODI century, crafted in a much more measured fashion. He finished with 104 off 94 balls, including eight fours and three sixes, at a strike rate of over 110.

While Lara's 45-ball century against Bangladesh remains iconic, the West Indies legend slipped to third on the list of most ODI centuries by a West Indies batter after Hope registered his 20th ton in just 157 ODIs. Gayle leads the chart with 25 centuries, while Hope is now second.

Then came a 70-ball masterclass from 29-year-old Trinidadian Amir Jangoo, who scored 114 off 77 balls, hitting nine fours and three sixes at a strike rate of over 148. In a T20-flavoured innings, Jangoo played several exceptional shots that would have delighted even the most traditional connoisseurs of the sport.

Never before had the West Indies scored three centuries in a single ODI innings. This was only the sixth such instance in ODI history, with South Africa having achieved the feat three times.

Their collective effort also propelled the West Indies to their highest ODI total ever, surpassing the 389 they scored against England in St George's in 2019. At the end of 50 overs, the visitors had amassed 405/7, with Gurnoor Brar (2/96 in 10 overs), debutant Auqib Nabi (0/84 in 8.5 overs), and Ravindra Jadeja (2/75) enduring a tough outing.

After South Africa's 438/4 at Wankhede in 2015 and Sri Lanka's 411/8 at Rajkot in 2009, this marked only the third time India had conceded 400-plus runs on home soil.

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Mumbai Weather Alert: IMD Issues Three-Hour Warning; IndiGo, Akasa, Other Flights Affected

Mumbai Weather Update: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a three-hour weather warning for Mumbai, forecasting thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds of 30-40 kmph across the city.

The warning comes after Mumbai experienced a spell of heavy rainfall, which affected movement across the city and disrupted flight operations. Rainfall has eased in several parts of Mumbai, with weather conditions currently relatively calm. However, the latest IMD alert indicates the possibility of another spell of intense weather during the warning period.

The combination of thunderstorms, lightning and strong winds could lead to temporary disruptions to road and air traffic, particularly if rainfall intensifies again.  Airline operations have also been affected by the weather conditions in Mumbai.

IndiGo issued an advisory for passengers travelling through the city, warning that heavy rainfall was currently affecting flight operations at Mumbai. “Heavy rainfall is currently affecting the flight operations in #Mumbai,” IndiGo said in a post on X. The airline said extended wait times could cause inconvenience to passengers and advised travellers to check their flight status on its website or app before leaving for the airport.

IndiGo also asked passengers to allow additional travel time, citing potentially slower road conditions due to the rainfall.

“We value your time and are doing everything we can to help you get on your way as soon as possible,” the airline said.

ALSO READ: Jaishankar Warns Of 'Major Food Crisis' In Coming Months Amid Disrupted Grain Shipments, Fertilizers Shortage, Super El Nino

Other airlines, including Akasa Air, have also been affected by the weather conditions, with passengers facing potential delays as heavy rain and thunderstorms impact airport operations.

Passengers travelling from or to Mumbai airport are advised to check their flight status before starting their journey and keep additional time for travel to the airport.

With the IMD warning in place, weather conditions could change quickly. Thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds may temporarily affect flight schedules and airport operations even if conditions appear calm at the time of departure.

Motorists and commuters should also remain cautious, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall and gusty winds, as waterlogging and slower traffic can increase travel time.

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"Get A Life": Dakota's Blunt Message To Trolls Questioning Her Love Life

Dakota Johnson is once again at the centre of dating rumours, this time with rapper Machine Gun Kelly. The Fifty Shades Of Grey star, though, isn't interested in explaining or correcting every story about her personal life.

Johnson has spoken about how quickly rumours can spread online, saying that even a simple dinner with people from her professional life can lead to stories about a mystery man. She said she does not feel the need to respond to every report about who she may or may not be dating.

For Johnson, trying to correct every rumour will only bring more attention. People will believe what they choose and she does not want to spend her time trying to change their minds, she said. 

On Vogue's The Run Through podcast, Dakota Johnson said, “Even if I go to dinner with my manager or my lawyer, it's like, ‘Seen with mystery man.' It's just like, I also don't care. I think it's just kind of futile.”

“People are gonna believe what they wanna believe and I don't have the energy to fight for that. I like would much rather focus on other things in my life. Every day, there's something on the internet that's ridiculous and true or not true, and I don't care. Like get a life.”

Dating rumours about Dakota Johnson and Machine Gun Kelly surfaced after they attended Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding at Madison Square Garden in New York. The speculation gained more attention when an insider later told People that Johnson and MGK “have been hanging out and seeing each other under the radar for months now.”

According to the insider, Dakota and MGK already knew each other before attending the July wedding. The source claimed that they became closer during the event and developed a stronger connection. 

The two reportedly began as friends and stayed in touch through messages. More recently, they have allegedly started spending more time together.

The source also claimed that Machine Gun Kelly is interested in Dakota Johnson. He has spoken positively about her to his friends and described the Madame Web actor as an amazing person.

Also Read: Dakota Johnson's Famous LA Home Finds Buyer Just Days After Listing

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Ind vs WI 1st ODI Live Streaming: When And Where To Watch Live Telecast

India vs West Indies 1st ODI Live Streaming: The highly anticipated day has arrived, with India set to face West Indies in the first ODI of the three-match series on Sunday in Thiruvananthapuram. Stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will be in action as India begin their preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup. The series marks the start of a long journey in the 50-over format for skipper Shubman Gill and his team as they build towards next year's World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. However, while the team management continues to grapple with the absence of several players due to injuries and the ongoing Asian Games in Japan, the public narrative remains firmly centred on the two greats, Rohit and Kohli.

On the other hand, for Shai Hope's West Indies squad, coming off tight series losses to New Zealand and Sri Lanka, the series offers a fresh opportunity for them to test an Indian team missing several core match-winners, especially with them set to play ODI World Cup qualifiers next year.

When will the India vs West Indies 1st ODI be played?

The India vs West Indies 1st ODI will be played on Sunday, September 27.

Where will the India vs West Indies 1st ODI be played?

The India vs West Indies 1st ODI will be played at Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram.

What time will the India vs West Indies 1st ODI start?

The India vs West Indies 1st ODI will start at 2:00 PM IST. The toss will take place 30 minutes before.

Which TV channels will telecast the India vs West Indies 1st ODI?

The India vs West Indies 1st ODI will be telecast live on the Star Sports Network.

Where to follow the live streaming of the India vs West Indies 1st ODI?

The India vs West Indies 1st ODI will be streamed live on the JioHotstar app and website.

(All the details are as per the information provided by the broadcaster.)

(With Agency inputs)

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UFC Fight Night Preview: How To Watch Raul Rosas Jr vs Raoni Barcelos

UFC returns tonight with a stacked Fight Night card headlined by a pivotal lightweight clash that could reshape the division's top 10. The main event sees Raul Rosas Jr. taking on Raoni Barcelos in a bout with major title-implication stakes, while the co-main features a dangerous striker against a surging grappler in what promises to be a stylistic chess match. The card also features prelims packed with ranked contenders, regional standouts, and fighters looking to bounce back from recent losses. For viewers watching from home, the event will stream live on Paramount+.

"I felt like I just look like I belong there." Raul Rosas Jr. (@RaulRosasJr8) is ready to fully make his transition from prospect to legitimate contender when he competes in his first main event assignment on September 26. #UFCVegas121 Read more ⤵️: https://t.co/QPDfjght6L

— UFC News (@UFCNews) September 26, 2026

What Matches Are On Tomorrow's UFC Fight Night Card?

Main Card

• Raul Rosas Jr. vs. Raoni Barcelos: Bantamweight

• Norma Dumont vs. Ailin Perez: Women's Bantamweight

• Luis Hernandez vs. Sedriques Dumas: Light Heavyweight

• Mahammadali Osmanli vs. Ilimbek Akylbek: Bantamweight

• Melissa Amaya vs. Tina Black: Women's strawweight 

Prelims

• Inya Nakamura vs. Brady Hiestand: Bantamweight

• Montel Jackson vs. Ricky Simon: bantamweight

• John Castaneda vs. Alatengheili: bantamweight

• Vanessa Demopoulos vs. Yazmin Jauregui: women's strawweight

• Elves Brener vs. Josiah Harrel: lightweight

• Rodolfo Bellato vs. Christian Edwards: light heavyweight

• Rodolfo Vieira vs. Robert Bryczek: middleweight

When Does UFC Fight Night Start On September 27? 

The main card is scheduled to begin on Sun, Sep 27, at 5:30 AM from Meta APEX, Las Vegas, United States, with prelims and early prelims running earlier in the evening. Exact start times vary by region:

• United States: Main Card - 8:00 PM ET; Prelims - 5:00 PM ET.

• Canada: Main Card - 8:00 PM ET; Prelims - 5:00 PM ET.

• Mexico: Main Card - 6:00 PM CST; Prelims - 3:00 PM CST.

• Ireland: Main Card - 1:00 AM IST, Sunday, September 27; Prelims - 10:00 PM IST, Saturday, September 26.

• United Kingdom: Main Card - 12:00 AM BST, Sunday, September 27; Prelims - 9:00 PM BST, Saturday, September 26.

• India: Main Card - 5:30 AM IST, Sunday, September 27; Prelims - 2:30 AM IST, Sunday, September 27.

• Australia: Main Card - 10:00 AM AEDT, Sunday, September 27; Prelims - 7:00 AM AEDT, Sunday, September 27.

• France: Main Card - 1:00 AM CEST, Sunday, September 27; Prelims - 10:00 PM CEST, Saturday, September 26.

• Japan: Main Card - 9:00 AM JST, Sunday, September 27; Prelims - 6:00 AM JST, Sunday, September 27.

• Saudi Arabia: Main Card - 3:00 AM AST, Sunday, September 27; Prelims - 12:00 AM AST, Sunday, September 27.

How to Watch UFC Fight Night Live? 

Paramount+ is the official home of this UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas, United States, so viewers can stream the event live from home. In many markets, the event is available via pay-per-view or as part of a subscription bundle, depending on local rights deals.

For fans attending in person, the event is taking place at Meta APEX, located in Las Vegas, United States. Doors usually open around 1-2 hours before the first bout, with the prelims starting at approximately 2:00 PM local time.

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Patriots' Christian Gonzalez Sparks Romance Buzz With Juliana Alvarado

Christian Gonzalez may have just given fans their biggest clue yet about his relationship status. The New England Patriots cornerback reacted to influencer Juliana Alvarado's latest Patriots post, and her reply added more fuel to the speculation. Alvarado shared photos from the Patriots' win over the Pittsburgh Steelers while wearing a custom jacket featuring Gonzalez's No. 0. Gonzalez then commented, “HER!” and Alvarado replied, “mwah” with a heart emoji. The exchange has led to reports that the pair are dating, although neither has publicly made a formal relationship announcement. 

Christian Gonzalez And Juliana Alvarado Fuel Dating Reports

The exchange came after Alvarado attended New England's 20-3 win over Pittsburgh on September 20. She posted several pictures from the Patriots sideline, including one showing her in a custom jacket with Gonzalez's number on it. That caught attention before the cornerback joined the conversation himself. 

Gonzalez's “HER!” comment stood out because Alvarado answered with “mwah” and a heart emoji. The interaction does not amount to a formal confirmation, but it is the clearest public exchange linking the two. The Daily Mail reported the pair appeared to have gone public with their relationship on September 24. 

Alvarado has a large social media following, with the report noting nearly seven million TikTok likes. Her appearance at the Patriots game also came during an important stretch for Gonzalez, who had recently secured a record-setting contract with New England after months of negotiations.

Christian Gonzalez Signed Patriots' Record $135M Contract

Gonzalez's major career news arrived earlier this month when the Patriots agreed to a four-year, $135 million extension. The contract includes $102 million in guaranteed money and made Gonzalez the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history at the time of the agreement. 

The deal was confirmed by the Patriots after reports from NFL Network and ESPN. The NFL reported that the contract carries an average annual value of $33.75 million and includes a $33 million signing bonus. Gonzalez had entered the season after a long offseason contract situation with the team. 

Gonzalez was selected No. 17 overall by New England in the 2023 NFL Draft and has since earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro honours. Now, with his future in New England secured and his personal life drawing attention, his interaction with Alvarado has added another talking point around the Patriots star. 

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IRDAI Takes An Axe To Commissions, Unveils Expense Cuts For Insurers: Key Winners & Losers

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has issued a sweeping two-part consultation paper on distribution regulations and expense of management (EoM) caps, sending shockwaves across the financial services landscape. The proposals seek to clamp down on inflated distributor payouts, reduce friction costs for end-policyholders, and transition the industry from an aggressive "push" model to an effort-based and pull-oriented distribution ecosystem.

Global brokerage assessments from Jefferies, Macquarie, Bernstein, and HSBC indicate the proposed measures will deliver a significant near-term hit to distributor unit economics — most notably for PB Fintech (Policybazaar) — while leaving low-cost, agency-backed underwriters like Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) and SBI Life relatively insulated.

ALSO READ: IRDAI Eyes 5-Year Glide Path To Cut EoM Caps To 20% For General Insurers, 12.5% For Life Insurers

The Proposed Regulatory Overhaul

Earlier, IRDAI required general and health insurers to submit monthly information on gross direct premiums, claims paid and investment income from July 2026 onwards. The national insurance regulator's paper now proposes several systemic modifications slated for implementation from FY28, with public and stakeholder feedback open until Oct. 25, 2026:

Tighter EoM Limits: For life insurers, the EoM ceiling is set to tighten from current levels (where peers range between 10% and 39%) to 15% within two years and 12.5% within five years. Players operating below this benchmark will be expected to glide down to 10%. For general insurers, the current 30% gross written premium (GWP) limit shifts to domestic gross direct premium income (GDPI), gliding down to 25% within two years and 20% within five years. Reinsurance inward is excluded.

Deep Commission Slashes: Pure-term first-year life commissions are proposed to be capped at 25% for open distribution entities (banks, brokers, aggregators) and 30% for agents, down from an industry average of 51%. New-business health commissions would fall to 15-20% (down from >30%), while health renewal commissions are halved to 5-10%. In motor own damage (OD), commissions drop to 5-10%, while new-vehicle motor third-party (TP) payouts are proposed at zero to 2.5%.

Shift to Effort-Based Remuneration: Distribution channels are consolidated into insurance distribution entities (IDEs), insurance distribution persons (IDPs), and market infrastructure institutions (MIIs, such as Bima Sugam). Traditional tied agents receive higher commission caps than open-architecture corporate entities to reward direct selling effort over corporate leverage. Crop insurance will be counted at only one-third of gross premiums, in terms of EoMs.

Plugging Loopholes and Banning Coercion: All forms of compensation-including marketing support, brand fees, rewards, and travel-will be subsumed directly under statutory commission caps. The framework explicitly bans compulsory bundling of insurance with credit facilities and outlaws "dark patterns" like requiring customer phone numbers merely to view digital quotes.

ALSO READ: Reading Between The Lines: IRDAI Eyes Credit Data For Insurance Scores. Where Are The Guardrails?

Web Aggregators and Open Brokers Bear the Brunt

Global research desks view digital aggregators and corporate intermediaries as the primary casualties of the draft framework.

Bernstein offered a stark critique saying,  "The proposed cuts are ugly, and we were wrong... PB Fin's unit-economics unravels at the proposed take-rate caps." Bernstein noted that Policybazaar's call-center-heavy cost model cannot easily survive halved health take-rates, deep deferrals in pure-term payouts, and zeroed-out third-party motor commissions. The proposed ban on collecting customer contact details prior to quoting strikes directly at digital acquisition funnels.

Macquarie noted that PB Fintech appears the most exposed under the coverage, adding that a 200 bps compression in take-rates could erode EBITDA by 25%, all else equal. Jefferies reiterated this downside vulnerability, noting that a 10% cut in new business commission rates translates into a 10%-12% drop in earnings for PB Fintech and peer Turtlemint, leaving limited leeway for insurers to cushion the blow via operating expenses. Corporate agents and lenders reliant on group credit-life partnerships also face significant fee contraction.

Macquarie and HSBC flagged that private lenders such as Axis Bank and HDFC Bank — where insurance fee income forms a material share of non-interest revenue and PBT — are noticeably more vulnerable than State Bank of India (SBI), ICICI Bank, or Kotak Mahindra Bank. Non-banking financial corporate agents like L&T Finance could also see pressure from the 2.5% cap proposed on loan-bundled credit life policies, where historical effective payouts hovered much higher.

Global brokerages assess IRDAI's paper on insurance aggregators
Photo Credit: Echion

Divergence Among Underwriters: Low-Cost Incumbents Shielded

While near-term sales velocity may face headwinds as intermediaries lose aggressive selling incentives, underwriters with lean operating expense structures and high proprietary agency networks are positioned to gain market share. SBI Life and LIC emerge as consensus defensives across all four brokerages. Both operate with EoM ratios already near or below the proposed 10-12.5% five-year glide path (SBI Life at 10.6% and LIC at 11.9%). LIC's traditional tied-agency base benefits from preferential regulatory caps relative to corporate aggregators.

Coming to general and standalone health insurers: Jefferies and HSBC noted that Star Health is shielded by its 85% agency network mix, while lower renewal commission ceilings provide margin relief. For the other multi-line general insurers such as ICICI Lombard General Life and Go Digit, motor own-damage volumes may see transient friction, but insurer's overall acquisition expenses should eventually stabilize underwriting margins and temper irrational price competition.

ALSO READ: General Insurance Premiums Rise 10% In August; Acko, Niva Bupa, Star Health Lead Growth

The Road Ahead: Structural Maturation

Analysts drew direct parallels between IRDAI's proposed shift and the Securities and Exchange Board of India's (SEBI) 2018-2019 mutual fund expense ratio overhauls, which eliminated upfront commissions in favor of trail models. The transition is expected to cause near-term dislocation in premium growth as distribution partners lose high-margin push incentives.

However, the structural intent is clear that the ower friction costs, enhanced pricing transparency, and the elimination of commission-driven mis-selling. With substantial supporting data published alongside the IRDAI draft, global brokerages caution that the likelihood of a material regulatory rollback remains low. The IRDAI paper is at the proposal stage as of now.

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Ayushmann Khurrana's Ultimate Act Of Kindness, Sponsors Indian Shooter's Rifle

Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana, famous for the film 'Vicky Donor', has stepped in to sponsor a rifle for current Asian Championship gold medallist Meghana Sajjanar after learning about her challenges with the equipment. Khurrana had not met Sajjanar or known her personally, yet offered to sponsor her rifle after learning about her circumstances. The support gave the athlete access to world-class equipment and allowed her to train and compete without having to compromise on her preparation.

"He didn't know me. We had never met. He just wanted to see an Indian athlete win on the global stage. That rifle levelled the playing field for me, allowing me to train without compromise, take on the best in the world, and achieve what I have today," Sajjanar posted on social media.

Recently she won gold in team event and an individual bronze in 10m Air Rifle category at the Asian Championship here at the Karni Singh Range. She won couple of bronze medals at 2022 and 2025 World Championship in Cairo.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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India's Medal Tally At Asian Games 2026: Full List Of Medal Winners After Day 3

India's medal tally rose to seven at the end of the third day at Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya. The major successes of Day 3 came in cricket as the women's team beat Sri Lanka to deliver the first gold medal. Earlier on Day 2, Himanshu Dhillon clinched silver and Rudrankksh Patil secured bronze in the men's 10m air rifle individual event. India also won silver in the men's 10m air rifle team event, as Dhillon and Patil teamed up with 18-year-old Parth Mane. Mixed martial arts (MMA) star Suchika Taryal added the other medal of the day, settling for bronze after losing her women's Traditional -60kg semi-final.

So far, Indian shooters have won five out of the nation's seven medals.

Full list of India's medal-winners at Asian Games 2026 so far:

Shooting

Elavenil Valarivan, Sonam Maskar and Vidarsa Vinod - women's 10m air rifle team event - Silver

Elavenil Valarivan - women's 10m air rifle individual event - Silver

Himanshu Dhillon - men's 10m air rifle individual event - Silver

Rudrankksh Patil - men's 10m air rifle individual event - Bronze

Himanshu Dhillon, Rudrankksh Patil and Parth Mane - men's 10m air rifle team event - Silver

MMA

Suchika Taryal - women's Traditional -60kg - Bronze

Cricket

Indian Women's Cricket Team - Gold

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Trade Setup For Sept 22: Nifty Bulls Eye 23,550 Breakout As Sub-$100 Oil Flips Sentiment

Indian equity markets could remain range-bound in Tuesday's session as the Nifty faces a crucial resistance zone around 23,520-23,550 amid persistent geopolitical uncertainty and elevated energy prices. This comes as GIFT Nifty rises 0.34% to 23,519.50 after Brent crude fell below $100.

According to Sudeep Shah, Head - Technical and Derivatives Research at SBI Securities, the 23,520-23,550 zone is likely to act as an important resistance area for the Nifty in the near term. "A sustained move above 23,550 could extend the ongoing pullback rally towards the 23,700 mark in the short term," Shah said.

On the downside, the 23,330-23,300 zone is expected to provide crucial support. Shah said a breach below 23,300 could weaken the near-term structure and potentially result in the index resuming its corrective trend.

Market participants are also keeping a close watch on crude oil prices and geopolitical developments, which could influence the sustainability of the recent recovery in Indian equities.

ALSO READ: What Happens If US Imposes 100% Tariff On Russian Oil Buyers? IOCL, BPCL & HPCL Face Risk

"While Indian equities ended on a firmer note, persistent geopolitical uncertainty and still-elevated energy prices continue to warrant a cautious approach. The durability of the recent recovery is likely to depend on sustained stability in crude oil prices and greater clarity on the geopolitical front," said Ponmudi R, CEO of Enrich Money.

Hariselvan Radhakrishnan, Founder and CEO of HST Wealth, said softer oil prices and contained volatility could provide room for the recovery to extend. He added that investors would focus on core-sector data, crude oil prices and global bond yields ahead of Tuesday's session to assess whether the recent rebound can gather further momentum.

Bank Nifty Outlook

Bank Nifty ended higher after opening on a flat note and remaining in consolidation for most of the session. The index gradually moved higher during the second half, approaching the 56,700 mark before closing near 56,470, according to Enrich Money's Ponmudi R.

For Tuesday's trade, immediate resistance for Bank Nifty is placed at 56,700-56,800. A sustained move above 57,000 could strengthen the near-term technical structure.

On the downside, immediate support is seen at 56,000-56,100. A failure to sustain this zone could extend weakness towards the next support level of 55,700-55,800, Ponmudi said.

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India 'Not Consulted' For New Zealand Tour, New Scheduling Chaos Engulfs Team

Scheduling congestion could force the Indian team to rest some of their players for the final two of their five ODIs against New Zealand later this year, according to a report. India are scheduled to play five T20Is, five ODIs and two Tests during a gruelling two-month tour of New Zealand. However, concerns have been raised over the scheduling of the series, with the Test leg set to begin just four days after the fifth and final ODI on November 15.

According to a report in Dainik Jagran, the likes of Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj could be rested for the final two ODIs in Mount Maunganui to prepare for the subsequent Test series.

The aforementioned players are expected to be part of both the ODI and Test squads, which could force the team management to prioritise their workload and availability for the red-ball leg of the tour.

The report further claimed that India's coaching staff could be split into two groups to manage the demanding schedule. Two members from the quartet of head coach Gautam Gambhir, bowling coach Morne Morkel, assistant coach Sitanshu Kotak and fielding coach Subhadeep Ghosh are likely to remain in Mount Maunganui with the ODI squad, while the other two could travel with the Test-bound players to Wellington and oversee preparations for the opening Test.

The move would allow the team management to simultaneously prepare for the final two ODIs and the start of the Test series, which begins just four days after the conclusion of the 50-over leg.

The report also claimed that the Indian team was not consulted during the scheduling of the series, which has led to concerns over player workload and preparation time ahead of the Test matches.

India's white-ball tour of New Zealand, comprising five T20Is and five ODIs, begins on October 22 and runs until November 15. The Test series will then begin with the opening match in Wellington from November 19 to 23, followed by the second Test in Christchurch from November 27 to December 1.

The two-Test series will also carry significance in the ongoing World Test Championship cycle. New Zealand are currently third in the standings, while India occupy fifth position.

(With ANI Inputs)

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Asian Games Forced To Apologise After Anthem Blunder In South Korea Match

Asian Games organisers offered "deepest apologies" on Saturday for playing the North Korean national anthem for the South Korean men's hockey team. South Korean officials were left angered by the latest mishap to hit the Nagoya-Aichi Games, which officially opened after a troubled build-up. At their Friday contest against Bangladesh, South Korea's players lined up for the traditional playing of the anthems, only to look bemused as North Korea's song rang out. Organisers then played Bangladesh's anthem and later the South Korean one, the South's Yonhap news agency said. South Korea went on to win 5-0.

"During the men's hockey match between (South) Korea and Bangladesh on September 18, an incorrect national anthem was mistakenly played before the match," the Asian Games organising committee told AFP on Saturday.

The statement said that, on Friday, "officials responsible for (National Olympic Committee) relations visited the delegation of the Republic of Korea and offered their sincere apologies for the incident".

"We will also work to prevent a recurrence and would like to express our deepest apologies to all those affected by this matter."

A stadium announcer apologised for the blunder but Min Tae-seok, coach of South Korea, was unimpressed.

"This is a really serious problem. When we protested, they said, 'We're sorry. It wasn't that it wasn't prepared, there was a mistake on the part of those responsible for playing it'," he said.

"But this is something that simply should never happen."

The build-up to the Games has been overshadowed by complaints from teams about the quality and amount of accommodation.

Some teams were also stranded at the airport for up to six hours when they landed this week.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Toxic Vs Hanuman Ansh Box Office Collection: Spiritual Drama Scores Big In Week 6

Hanuman Ansh continues its phenomenal box-office run, with the devotional drama earning significantly more than Yash-starrer Toxic on Thursday. While Hanuman Ansh collected Rs 6.25 crore on Day 42, Toxic raked in Rs 14 lakh on Day 23 in India.

The devotional film earned a staggering Rs 6.11 crore more than the Yash starrer, highlighting its extraordinary staying power at the box office.

Hanuman Ansh Shows Sixth-Week Momentum

Hanuman Ansh collected Rs 6.25 crore net on Day 42, across 9,160 shows in India. The film's India net collection has now reached Rs 243.38 crore, while its India gross collection stands at Rs 287.40 crore.

The Day 42 collection represents a 4.2% jump from the previous day's Rs 6 crore, underlining the film's strong momentum even in its sixth week. With this the spiritual film raked an overall Rs 80. 25 crore on week sixth.

ALSO READ | Hanuman Ansh Crosses Rs 300 Crore Worldwide: Can It Overtake Yash's Toxic?

Overseas, the film collected Rs 1.50 crore on Day 42, taking its total overseas gross to Rs 21.75 crore so far. This pushes the worldwide gross collection to Rs 309.15 crore.

Hanuman Ansh recorded an overall occupancy of 19% on Day 42. Morning shows registered 7.92% occupancy, which increased to 17.46% in the afternoon and 22.08% in the evening. Night shows witnessed occupancy reaching an impressive 20.69%.

The film's performance is particularly noteworthy given its reported budget of around Rs 2 crore. Hanuman Ansh opened to just Rs 10 lakh on its first day but gradually gained momentum through positive word of mouth.

Toxic Day 23 Collection

According to Sacnilk, Toxic collected Rs 14 lakh net in India on Day 23, across 219 shows. The figure represents a decline from the Rs 13 lakh earned on Day 22. With this the film raked in Rs 1.39 crore in its third week.

With its Day 23 collection, Toxic's India net collection has reached Rs 249.63 crore, while its India gross collection stands at Rs 297.92 crore. The film's total overseas gross collection stands at Rs 341.67 crore.

The Hindi and Kannada versions continued to drive Toxic's domestic performance. The Hindi version earned Rs 4 lakh crore from 42 shows, meanwhile the Kannada version collected Rs 10 lakh from 177 shows.

Hanuman Ansh's Strong Run Despite Smaller Release

The comparison becomes more notable when the scale of the two releases is taken into account. Toxic was released across multiple languages and had a significantly wider theatrical footprint, while Hanuman Ansh built its box-office run gradually despite a much smaller initial release.

The trend was visible earlier in their theatrical runs as well. On Day 7, Toxic earned Rs 7.85 crore net from 12,894 shows. On the same calendar day, Hanuman Ansh, then on Day 26, collected Rs 8.50 crore from 7,008 shows, almost half the number of shows. Earlier comparisons also showed Hanuman Ansh posting higher daily collections than Toxic despite having fewer shows on their respective days.

ALSO READ | Hanuman Ansh Box Office Success: Meet Anupriya Nagar, The Young Producer Who Invested Her Savings

Directed by Geethu Mohandas, Toxic stars Yash, Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Tara Sutaria, Huma Qureshi, Rukmini Vasanth, Akshay Oberoi and Sudev Nair. The film, set in post-independence Goa, was reportedly made on a budget of around Rs 500 crore.

Toxic released in Kannada, English, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam, opened strongly at the box office, but its daily collections declined considerably after its opening week. Meanwhile, Hanuman Ansh, has continued to benefit from its extended theatrical run, with its Day 42 collection pushing its worldwide gross to Rs 309.15 crore.

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Multi-Decade Runway To Full Stack Control: Inside Lenskart's Global Playbook

Eyewear unicorn Lenskart is doubling down on rapid volume expansion and end-to-end supply chain integration, confident that a massive structural penetration deficit in emerging markets offers a multi-decade growth runway. Speaking at the Jefferies India Forum 2026, the eyewear's Founder and Chief Executive Officer Peyush Bansal reiterated that the company's priority remains solving vision correction at scale rather than optimizing for short-term profitability.

According to Bansal, Lenskart's primary market opportunity extends well beyond the current eyewear consumers to an estimated 700 million to 800 million individuals who require corrective lenses but remain undiagnosed or underserved.

ALSO READ: Lenskart Q1 Results: Profit Soars Nearly 4x As Margins Expand; Revenue Up 43%

The Structural Penetration Gap

Eyewear adoption in India and Southeast Asia continues to lag developed nations. In US, roughly 88% of people requiring corrective lenses wear them, compared to 35% in India and 40% across several Southeast Asian nations. Rising screen time, lifestyle shifts, and heightened eye-health awareness are expected to expand the addressable market well beyond conventional projections.

Given India's stark shortage of optical retail infrastructure relative to other retail sectors, the management plans to open thousands of additional retail outlets domestically. The brand's pricing architecture ranges from $5 entry-level frames to $500 premium offerings, positioning it to capture demand across diverse income brackets, according to the brokerage.

ALSO READ: Lenskart Has 10,000-Store Headroom, Global Expansion In Sight; Nomura Initiates With 'Buy'

Moats Built on Full-Stack Control

Bansal attributed Lenskart's defensive moat to a vertically integrated, full-stack model paired with aggressive technology deployment. By controlling design, manufacturing, testing infrastructure, and omni-channel distribution, the company maintains pricing flexibility while preserving product gross margins of approximately 70%, according to the brokerage.

Global expansion into mature and organized markets like Singapore and Japan is serving as both a top-line driver and an operational sandbox. Insights gained overseas in retail design, premium trends, and vision-care models are being channeled back into India, reinforcing the core domestic operation through localized, market-tailored formats.

ALSO READ: Lenskart Block Deal: Alpha Wave Ventures Likely To Sell Rs 1,313-Crore Stake, Floor Price Fixed

Margin Expansion to Follow Scale

Addressing profitability, management emphasized that operating leverage will follow scale. While near-term investments prioritize rapid store expansion and brand footprint, Lenskart maintains a long-term EBITDA margin target of 25%. Incremental catalysts, such as emerging insurance-backed vision-care coverage, are also projected to bolster adoption rates over time.

Following the discussion, brokerage Jefferies maintained an upbeat stance on Lenskart Solutions Ltd, assigning a price target of Rs 680 based on a 50x September 2028 estimated pre-Ind AS EBITDA multiple. The global brokerage cited slower broader industry expansion and intensifying retail competition as primary downside risks to watch.

ALSO READ: Lenskart's Bull vs Bear Case Comes Down To One Question: Is Its Growth Worth The Valuation?

Lenskart Q1 Results

Lenskart Solutions Ltd.'s net profit saw a 270% leap or 4x jump in its net profit to Rs 222 crore, according to financial results data for the first quarter of fiscal 2026-27. The firm's profit for the previous year was at Rs 60 crore.  The company's revenue was up 43% to Rs 2,714 crore, compared to Rs 1,894 crore in the year-ago period. The Ebitda (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation) saw a 76% jump to Rs 588 crore, compared to Rs 335 crore in the year prior. The Ebitda margin expanded to 21.7% to 17.7%. The first quarter of fiscal 2026 saw a one-time loss of Rs 10.4 crore.

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Flipkart Big Billion Days 2026 Dates Are Out: Bank Discounts, Deals Teased

Flipkart Big Billion Days Sale 2026 will commence in the second week of October, the e-commerce giant announced on Wednesday. Apart from this, a dedicated microsite for the sale event is now live in the country, teasing the bank discounts, special deals, and offers that will be available to customers when the sale begins. Additionally, the company has confirmed that the Flipkart Big Billion Days Sale 2026 will offer early access to Flipkart Plus, Flipkart Black, and Flipkart Credit Card members. The upcoming Flipkart sale event is expected to offer various electronics at relatively low prices from reputable global brands.

Flipkart Big Billion Days Sale 2026 to Begin on October 9

A dedicated microsite for the Flipkart Big Billion Days Sale 2026 is now live in India, which confirms that the sale event will begin on October 9. However, the e-commerce giant will offer early access to Flipkart Plus, Flipkart Black, and Flipkart Credit Card members, allowing them to get their hands on the deals on October 8. On top of this, the company has confirmed that the sale event will offer an instant discount of up to 10 percent with Axis Bank and ICICI Bank cards.

Apart from this, customers will be able to save 10 percent with the Flipkart Axis Bank credit card. During the upcoming Flipkart Big Billion Days 2026 sale, Super Money by Flipkart will offer a cashback of 10 percent on the first transaction. However, buyers will also be able to make payments via UPI and other payment gateways.

The Flipkart Big Billion Days 2026 sale will also offer special deals and discounts to customers. The sale will feature multiple events, including “Price Crash”, “BBD Specials”, “Tick Tock Deals”, “Brand Hours”, “Double Discount”, and “Rush Hours. More details are expected to be revealed as the commencement date of the sale event draws close.

While the e-commerce giant has yet to reveal the deals, the Flipkart Big Billion Days 2026 sale is expected to offer a number of electronics in different categories, smartphones, PCs, laptops, true wireless stereo (TWS), washing machines, smart home appliances, refrigerators, and smartwatches, at relatively low prices. The sale event is expected to compete with Amazon's upcoming sale event.

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