Star Cast: Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson, Josh Hartnett Director: Michael Showalter Verity Movie Review Synopsis: VERITY is the story of an aspiring writer who forms an unconventional bond with a bestselling author. Lowen Ashleigh (Dakota Johnson) lives in New York and has published a couple of books. However, her books have barely found any readership. Her mother passed away due to cancer just a week ago and, to make matters worse, she is on the verge of being evicted by her landlord. At this point, Hachette Book Group approaches Lowen with an unusual assignment to help bestselling author Verity Crawford (Anne Hathaway) complete her next book, the much-awaited The Nobel Features. Veritys husband, Jeremy Crawford (Josh Hartnett), is also present at the meeting. He charms Lowen and convinces her to take up the assignment in return for a handsome fee. Lowen agrees and moves to Verity and Jeremys remote lake house in Vermont. The couple lives there with their son, Crew (Brady Wagner). Their daughter, and Crews twin sister, Harper, died in a boating accident a year ago. Jeremy is grieving not only Harpers death but also the fact that Verity is now in a comatose condition. Lowen, meanwhile, had not been informed beforehand about the severity of Veritys condition. Lowen is tasked with going through Veritys notes and completing the novel in her style. The process gradually consumes her, especially since Veritys characters and writings are extremely dark. While going through Veritys study, Lowen also comes across a tell-all manuscript written by the author about her marital life. Its shocking revelations disturb Lowen even further. What happens next forms the rest of the film. Verity Movie Story Review: VERITY is based on Colleen Hoover's novel of the same name. The story is unconventional but also gets complicated. Nick Antosca's screenplay keeps one hooked as the goings-on are pretty intense. At the same time, the happenings are difficult to digest and often gets disturbing. The dialogues are simple and effective. Michael Showalter's direction is average. To give credit where its due, the setting is eerie and captivates the audience. To see two popular actresses playing such difficult roles also adds to the fun. One constantly wonders what must have happened in the past and whos guilty. The runtime is just 117 minutes, which is apt. On the flipside, the initial portions often give a dj vu of THE HOUSEMAID [2025], as here too, an unsuspecting woman arrives at a remote mansion, shares a cold equation with the wife and finds herself attracted to the dashing yet troubled husband. Thankfully, the film soon switches tracks and establishes an identity of its own. Even then, the proceedings get increasingly disturbing, and a few sequences are certainly not for the faint-hearted. The finale is not entirely convincing and, moreover, the film ends on an ambiguous note that is bound to leave even the elite viewers scratching their heads. As a result, VERITY is likely to appeal only to a niche section of the multiplex audience. Verity Movie Review Performances: The performances are very strong. Anne Hathaway is on a roll and, yet again, delivers a performance that stays with you long after the credits roll. Even in the scenes where she is in a coma, she makes her presence felt and comes across as suitably unsettling, as required by the part. Dakota Johnson, too, puts her best foot forward, and her deadpan expressions work well for the character. Josh Hartnett gets slightly overshadowed by the two leading ladies but still manages to register a strong impact. He is especially impressive in the first two sequences. Irina Dvorovenko (Anna) is decent, though her character is underdeveloped. Brady Wagner is endearing, while Ismael Cruz Cordova (Corey) is passable. Verity movie music and other technical aspects: Volker Bertelmanns music adds considerably to the eerie atmosphere. Jim Frohnas cinematography is breathtaking, especially in the Vermont portions. Amy Williams production design is classy and distinctive. Jacqueline Demeterios costumes are elegant and regal, particularly those worn by Anne Hathaway, while the costumes of the other characters are realistic. Jay Cassidys editing is slick and keeps the narrative moving at a brisk pace. Verity Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, VERITY suffers due to its disturbing treatment, unconvincing finale and ambiguous ending. At the box office, it will face an uphill task, especially with stiff competition from DRISHYAM THE CONCLUSION and THE DIGGER.
Avalon Tech block deal: Promoters divest 6% stake worth Rs 871 crore
Avalon Technologies saw an Rs 870.6 crore bulk deal as three promoter entities sold 40.08 lakh shares, representing 6% equity. Kotak Mahindra Mutual Fund bought 24.02 lakh shares, while Nomura retained its Buy rating and raised its target price.
TikTok couple Dakota Harper and Felicity Eatmon are charged with first-degree arson and conspiracy after a fire destroyed an abandoned Charleston home.
Kristi Noem and Bryon Noem have announced their split after 34 years together, citing irreconcilable differences. The couple shares three children and multiple grandchildren, signaling a significant personal transition. Bryon, known for his work as an insurance professional away from public life, has faced scrutiny and allegations that reportedly contributed to the marital rift. They now enter legal proceedings in South Dakota as they navigate this challenging chapter.
Promoters dilute 6% stake in Avalon Technologies for Rs 871 crore
Avalon Technologies saw three of its promoter entities divest a collective 6% stake for a substantial Rs 871 crore via bulk deals, bringing their ownership down from 44.39% to 38.4%. In this strategic move, Kotak Mahindra Mutual Fund bought 24.01 lakh shares priced around Rs 2,171. The deal was struck with share prices fluctuating between Rs 2,171.03 and Rs 2,173.35, while Avalon Technologies closed slightly lower at Rs 2,294.
BKS honours women farmers, highlights their role in agriculture
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 30 (IANS) The Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) on Wednesday organised its first women farmers conference at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium here, with speakers stressing this often unsung section's contribution and the need to change the conventional image of women farmers. During the sessions, participants openly discussed challenges in the agricultural sector. They urged the government to pay immediate attention, according to a statement issued by the BKS, a farmers organisation aligned with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Addressing the inaugural session, Vice-Chancellor of Kota Agriculture University, Prof. Vimla Dunkwal, the Chief Guest, said Indias women's power can create and nurture simultaneously. She said women embody Annapurna and Durga, prioritising duties over rights. While introducing the conference, All India Womens Convener and Womens Coordinator Manju Dixit stressed the need to change the conventional image of women farmers in India. She said that today, equipped with modern technology and energy, women farmers are making significant contributions to their families' and the nation's growth. The organizations President K. Sai Reddy, Vice-President Sushila Bishnoi, and Secretary Veena Satish also addressed the session. In the valedictory session, BKS General Secretary Mohini Mohan Mishra said a developed and healthy India by 2047 was unattainable without Gau-Krishi-Vanijyam and organic farming. He called upon the government to formulate policies focused on poison-free farming, a disease-free society and food with nectar-like nutrition. BKS Organising Secretary Dinesh Kulkarni remarked that dignity for self-reliant and independent women farmers would naturally elevate the pride of villages, society and families. Thousands of women farmers from various states and villages across the country participated in the conference, the statement said. The event commenced with guests performing Gau-Pujan, Lord Balaram Pujan and flag hoisting, accompanied by the resounding chant: We, the women of India, shall bring glory. Also present were RSS National Sampark Pramukh Ramlal, Sah-Sampark Pramukh of Rashtra Sevika Samiti Ritu Sharma, and several senior office-bearers of the BKS. Women farmers with outstanding performance were also honoured from among entries received from across the country. The participants wore their respective traditional regional attire, sang folk songs in regional languages and performed cultural dances. A highlight of the conference was that the women farmers who participated met all costs on their own, including travel and related expenses, the statement added. Incidentally, the organisation held its first-ever such event in the year the United Nations declared the International Year of the Woman Farmer.
SO PROUD OF HER: Dakota Johnson Praises Taylor Swift After Patient Zero Premiere
Dakota Johnson opens up about watching Patient Zero at its world premiere, revealing how surreal it was to finally see the film on a huge screen alongside fans. Johnson said she was so proud of Taylor Swift and described seeing the audience react to the movie as a special and joyful experience.
CAI sees FTAs opening new markets, boosting demand for Indian textiles and cotton
Improving cotton productivity, quality, contamination control, traceability, sustainability, price discovery and risk management would be critical to enhancing the competitiveness of Indian cotton, says CAI Chairman Vinay N Kotak
Verity movie review: Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson stumble through a corny thriller
Forget a dark, twisted, erotic drama, whats hiding beneath Verity is an unrealised parody
Macquarie sees strong earnings recovery for banks, picks 5 stocks to outperform
Macquarie expects Indian banks to deliver 18% EPS growth in FY28, supported by higher margins, stronger loan demand, easing liquidity pressures and stable asset quality. The brokerage upgraded Bank of Baroda, Kotak Mahindra Bank and select financial stocks.
Indian equities extended their decline on Wednesday, with Nifty slipping below 22,650 as selling pressure persisted at higher levels. Healthcare stocks led the losses, while banks and realty stocks outperformed. Kotak Mahindra Bank, InterGlobe and ICICI Bank were among the top gainers, while Apollo Hospitals and Max Healthcare led the decliners.
At the MTV Video Music Awards, Taylor Swift unveiled her latest music video for 'Patient Zero,' a captivating narrative of a toxic romance featuring Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell. Centered around a striking Brutalist mansion, the video symbolizes the icy relationship between the characters. With elements of gothic storytelling and psychological thrills, the visuals deeply engage viewers in a multifaceted emotional experience.
Highlights Dakota Johnson opened up about filming intimate scenes with Anne Hathaway for Verity . Johnson said: I would kiss Annie for the rest of my life. Every day. The actors improvised one of the films intimate scenes with director Michael Showalter. Josh Hartnett described the casts chemistry as coming from mutual respect and understanding. Dakota Johnson has opened up about filming intimate scenes with Anne Hathaway in Verity , the upcoming adaptation of Colleen Hoovers bestselling novel. Johnson plays Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling writer who is hired to complete the final book in the series of injured author Verity Crawford, played by Hathaway. Dakota Johnson on kissing Anne Hathaway Johnson spoke enthusiastically about her on-screen chemistry with Hathaway, telling Extra TV: I would kiss Annie for the rest of my life. Every day. If you need me, Im there. The actor also discussed their intimate scenes in an interview with Out magazine, joking about the experience and describing the scenes as very technical but incredibly enjoyable. Johnson explained that she spent several hours filming intimate scenes with both Hathaway and Josh Hartnett, who plays Jeremy Crawford. She described the process as highly choreographed, but said she enjoyed working with both actors. Hartnett also spoke about the scenes, saying the cast had great chemistry as friends on set. He added that the intimate scenes could feel a little bit goofy when the cameras were not rolling, but said the chemistry in the finished film came from mutual respect and understanding. The steamy scene was improvised Director Michael Showalter revealed that Johnson and Hathaway improvised one of the films intimate moments. The scene was originally based on a moment in Hoovers novel where Lowen and Jeremy share a hug, but Showalter felt there was an opportunity to introduce more sexual tension. The sequence eventually developed into a more unexpected encounter involving Hathaways character. Showalter said the idea emerged during discussions with the actors about how the scene could evolve, with Johnson and Hathaway helping shape the moment. Anne Hathaway had to get the headboard bite right Another memorable detail from Hoovers novel was recreated for the film when Hathaways character bites a headboard. Hathaway told E! News: I never thought Id bite a headboard on camera in my life. But that was just Tuesday. The scene required several rehearsals and tests before filming. Hathaway explained that the production could make changes to certain details of Veritys appearance, but the headboard bite was too distinctive to get wrong. She later recalled laughing while working out how to make the unusual moment look convincing on camera. Verity will leave audiences debating The film is also expected to leave audiences with an ambiguous ending. Hartnett said it was unusual for a major studio film to deliberately leave room for viewers to debate what they had seen. He said he hoped audiences would be able to argue about something thats as fun as this after watching the film. Based on Hoovers 2018 novel, Verity follows Lowen as she moves into the Crawford family home to ghostwrite Veritys unfinished book series. Her stay takes a darker turn when she discovers a disturbing manuscript that makes her question what really happened to Verity and her family.
Kotak MF, Abakkus lead 830-cr buying in Axiscades stake sale; stock jumps over 7%
All the buyers acquired the shares at the same price of 1,824 apiece
Re-rating on cards for HAL shares as Tejas Mk1A aircraft deliveries near: Jefferies
Tejas Mk1A accounts for 43% of HALs order book and could emerge as a key re-rating trigger as deliveries gain visibility, Jefferies said. HAL CMD Ravi Kota expects to deliver 10 aircraft this year, ahead of Jefferies earlier estimate of five. The brokerage retained its Buy rating with a Rs 6,800 target.
Crude Oil at crossroads as supply recovery meets geopolitical risk in Oct
Kaynat Chainwala of Kotak Securities reckons that the MCX Crude Oil is showing a cautious-to-bearish setup on the 4-hour chart after facing resistance near 9,280-9,300 levels.
Axiscades Technologies rises 5% as Sunil Singhania's Abakkus buys 3.03% stake
Axiscades Technologies shares rose on Wednesday after Abakkus Asset Manager bought a 3.03% stake for around Rs 235 crore through a block deal. Kotak Mahindra Mutual Fund also picked up a 4.89% stake. Promoter Jupiter Capital sold a 10.69% stake for Rs 829.72 crore in the transaction.
Rajasthan panchayat polls: BJP, Congress recalibrating strategies after civic election lessons
Digital Desk | Jaipur, Sep 30 (IANS) After the civic body elections, the BJP and Congress are now recalibrating their strategies for the upcoming Panchayat polls in Rajasthan. For the BJP, the focus is on improving vote share and plugging organisational gaps, despite the party forming boards in around two-thirds of the state's civic bodies. The party organisation has intensified its grassroots preparations, with a focus on booth management, local caste equations, candidate selection and coordination between the government and the organisation. For the Congress, the challenge extends beyond winning seats to converting electoral gains into control of Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishads. The party is reviewing the factionalism, ticket disputes and floor-management issues that affected board formation in several civic bodies. It is now weighing greater state-level intervention in candidate selection and post-election management, along with a wider network of observers, to keep its elected members together and prevent internal divisions from undermining its prospects in the Panchayat polls. For the BJP, the immediate focus is not just on the number of urban local bodies where it managed to form boards, but also on its vote share and the organisational gaps exposed during the civic elections. Despite securing boards in around two-thirds of the state's civic bodies, the party's central leadership is reviewing areas where its electoral performance fell short of expectations. The BJP has consequently intensified preparations at the grassroots level, with particular attention to booth management, local caste equations, candidate selection and coordination between the government and the party organisation. Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma has emerged as an active part of this organisational exercise. During his recent district tours, Sharma has combined government programmes with meetings involving party workers and local leaders. Feedback on Panchayat election preparations, possible candidates and booth-level mobilisation is being gathered during these interactions. State BJP president Madan Rathore has also increased his organisational outreach, including engagement with younger sections of the electorate. The Panchayat elections are expected to put the BJP's rural organisational network to another test. The party's strategy involves leveraging the government's development and welfare initiatives while simultaneously strengthening its booth-level machinery. Recently, BJP National General Secretary and Rajasthan State In-charge Sanjay Bhatia held an organisational meeting at the party's state office with state office-bearers, district presidents and in-charges of various organisational wings and departments. The meeting was Bhatia's first organisational review since taking charge as the party's Rajasthan in-charge. Addressing party leaders, he attributed the results of the recent local body elections to the hard work of BJP workers and the performance of the party-led government. Bhatia said the party's strategy for the upcoming Panchayat elections should build on the coordination between the government and the organisation demonstrated during the local body polls. He stressed the need to replicate this organisational synergy at the grassroots level. Now, the challenge is to translate government schemes and the party's organisational presence into support at the grassroots, where local issues, caste combinations and candidate equations can significantly influence electoral outcomes. Sharma's recent tour schedule reflects the BJP's effort to intensify organisational engagement. He visited Pratapgarh and Udaipur on September 26, Sri Ganganagar and Suratgarh on September 27, followed by Alwar-Khairthal Tijara, Kota-Jhalawar and Kishangarh. His upcoming visits to Barmer, Jodhpur and Pali are also expected to include organisational meetings. The Congress, meanwhile, is drawing lessons from the difficulties it faced while forming boards in several urban local bodies. Although the party had a substantial number of councillors in several civic bodies, it was unable to translate that strength into board formation everywhere. The issue of floor management has therefore emerged as a key concern for the party ahead of the Panchayat elections. The Congress is now considering greater involvement of the state organisation in the electoral process, including ticket distribution and the subsequent formation of Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishads. The debate within the party centres on how much control should remain with district-level leadership and how much coordination should come from the state organisation. The Congress's experience in the civic elections has also raised concerns over factionalism and coordination among local leaders. Ticket-related disputes surfaced in several districts, while cross-voting was reported during the formation of some boards. Against this backdrop, the party is examining whether greater state-level supervision could help prevent similar problems during the Panchayat elections. The political challenge for the Congress will extend beyond winning individual seats. The party will also need to maintain cohesion among its elected members to secure control of Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishads. As part of its preparations, the Congress is considering deploying observers not only at the Assembly constituency level but also at the Panchayat Samiti level. The proposal is aimed at strengthening coordination between the state organisation and local units, particularly during candidate selection and the post-election process of forming Panchayat bodies. Swarnim Chaturvedi, Media Chairperson of the Rajasthan Congress, said the party is considering appointing observers at the Panchayat Samiti level in addition to Assembly constituencies. With both parties now recalibrating their organisational strategies, the Panchayat elections are set to become a test of their grassroots networks, candidate management and ability to keep local factions aligned through the electoral and board-formation processes.
Hollywood actress Anne Hathaway attended the New York premiere of Verity on Tuesday, September 29, where she proudly flaunted her baby bump on the red carpet. She arrived at the event with her co-stars Dakota...
Devotees Flock to Maa Kuteti Devi Temple in Uttarkashi for Blessings
The Maa Kuteti Devi Temple in Uttarkashi attracts devotees seeking blessings, with a rich history tied to the Kota royal family. Devotees Flock to Maa Kuteti Devi Temple in Uttarkashi for Blessings
IT stocks rally: Coforge, Mphasis, TCS, Persistent Systems gain up to 5%, Kotak sees muted Q2 growth
Kotak expects margins to remain stable, although underlying pressure is becoming increasingly visible in operating metrics
Josh Hartnett says his 12-year-old goddaughter couldnt picture him as Jeremy in Verity
Digital Desk | Mumbai, Sep 30 (IANS) Actor Josh Hartnett has revealed that his goddaughter initially struggled to imagine him playing Jeremy in the upcoming film Verity, saying that he was like a thousand years old for the role. During an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Hartnett spoke about how his then 12-year-old goddaughter told him he was too old to play Jeremy. The actor said: My goddaughter, who was 12 at the time, she's a very mature 12-year-old, she read the book. It's not really for 12-year-olds, but she'd read it. She's now almost 14. Hartnett added: She absolutely could not see me in that role. She was like, you can't be Jeremy. You know, the character's name is Jeremy. You can't be Jeremy. You're like a thousand years old. She wanted, like, she wanted, like, Timothee Chalamet or somebody to play. However, Hartnett, who became known as a teen idol through starring in films such as Halloween H20: 20 Years Later, The Faculty, The Virgin Suicides and Pearl Harbor said that the character was written in his 40s. To which, Fallon said: It's you. It is all you. I guess. It's all you. Verity is a 2026 American psychological erotic thriller film directed by Michael Showalter, written by Nick Antosca, and based on Colleen Hoover's novel of the same name. The film stars Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson, and Josh Hartnett. It is scheduled to be released by Amazon MGM Studios in the United States and Canada on October 2, 2026. The story follows Lowen Ashleigh, who is a writer in need of work when she is contacted by Jeremy Crawford, the husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford. Due to a mysterious accident, Verity is unable to finish her successful book series, and Jeremy asks Lowen to complete the series. While working on it, Lowen discovers another manuscript, raising questions regarding Verity's psychological well-being and possible links to her publications.
Trump pitches an AI 'golden age' as safety fears grip Washington
After weeks of Washington being gripped by a new wave of fear about artificial intelligence gone awry, the Trump administration will take a sharply different take Tuesday, seeking to convince a skeptical public that the nation is instead about to embark on a tech-powered golden age. President Donald Trump will deliver a speech launching America.gov, a new AI-powered portal for accessing public services, part of a day-long event featuring members of his Cabinet and tech executives. AI company leaders are also set to meet with the president and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana). Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. The events come at a pivotal moment for the technology. AI firms say their latest systems have become increasingly powerful, showing signs of being able to design their own more-potent successors. But companies have struggled to keep control of the technology, as rogue AI agents have hacked into company and government systems, and a roster of top industry figures have warned that the end result could be catastrophic for humanity. Last week, it was disclosed that the federal government itself had been a victim, with a handful of websites probed by AI agents deployed by ChatGPT maker OpenAI. (The Washington Post has a content partnership with OpenAI.) Yet even as the publics concerns have grown and Democrats in Congress have pressed for regulation, Trump has largely dismissed the risk, calling it a hoax. Tuesdays events are a chance for the administration to focus on the upsides of the technology, propelling a different narrative than the warnings introduced by company CEOs in recent weeks. AIs many boosters expect it will invigorate the economy, push the boundaries of science and help cure diseases. But that message has found only limited traction with a public worried about job losses and rogue bots sowing chaos online. The U.S. government is unveiling AI tools amid growing concerns about the ways that chatbots store and share data. Last week, OpenAI announced that ChatGPT leaked 53 user-provided images to image-hosting providers. The website will be rolled out at a conference in the gilded Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, which was set up to evoke a tech company product release stage. Music played as staff members distributed cans of La Colombe iced coffee to attendees, while a sleek Hello, America logo was projected on a large screen at the front of the room. Joe Gebbia, the chief design officer of the United States and architect of America.gov, described the website, a partnership with Googles Gemini and SpaceXAIs Grok, as a concierge to navigate government. Dont think of it as a website, its more of a conversation that you start with the government to try to get access to the answers you need, he said on Fox News on Monday. The website will initially enable users to search for information across government websites, providing access to job postings or the files that the Trump administration has released about UFOs, he said. But in the coming months, the goal is for the chatbot to help people enroll in government programs such as Medicare or complete tasks such as passport renewals. After the rollout of the website, CEOs including Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang will have lunch with the president at the White House. Johnson said Monday that his goal for the meeting is to find a balance. We want to keep Americas lead over China and all of our other competitors, but we want to make sure that its being done in a safe way, Johnson said in an interview with Fox Business. So, a little oversight, a little transparency, I think would go a long way here. As the industry has tried to navigate those concerns, the private summit between tech CEOs, the president and the speaker could be the most consequential part of the day, giving officials and executives a chance to discuss a common vision. Amodei led the industry this month in issuing a call to slow the pace of development to better focus on safety. But the idea has divided his peers and has not been endorsed by the White House. Amodei, who previously clashed with the administration over the use of his companys technology by the military, dined with the president late Sunday in their first one-on-one meeting. He is expected back at the White House Tuesday to attend the private meeting. Amodei will be joined by Huang and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, according to people familiar with their plans who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a private meeting. Both have resisted calls for any coordinated slowdown, saying it is up to individual companies to ensure that their products are safe. Sundar Pichai, the chief executive of Google, is also expected to attend, according to a person familiar with his plans who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a private meeting. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota) said Monday he would not attend but will meet with some of the participants. Trump recently said he plans to name a new AI czar and create an AI Force, although its role is unclear. The president made clear at a speech to the United Nations General Assembly last week that he wants to see the United States continue to race ahead - rebranding the technology as super intelligence. Im not going to stifle growth of something that will be bigger than the Industrial Revolution, he said. Trumps AI push comes as his administration has cultivated relationships with Silicon Valley executives and investors. Gebbia, the co-founder of Airbnb who joined the Trump administration through the U.S. DOGE Service, is among a group of tech leaders who argue they can improve Washington by applying Silicon Valley principles. During the Obama administration, healthcare.gov crashed amid the rollout of the Affordable Care Act, sparking criticisms of the governments technological prowess. Despite years of efforts to modernize government technology, it has continued to lag behind the corporate sector. Other government tech initiatives have fueled privacy and surveillance concerns. In 2022, the government abandoned a plan to require Americans to submit to a facial recognition scan in order to access their tax information following fierce criticism. Gebbia pushed back on concerns that the new website would collect Americans data, describing it as private by design to Fox News. He said the website does not store chats and that people do not need to login to use it. Fears about AI took on new urgency in Washington in early September, when a researcher quit Anthropic and said the technology could bring about human extinction. Many lawmakers said they wanted to take action to impose guardrails, but Congress is set to leave ahead of the midterm elections without advancing any legislation. In the absence of formal federal leadership, OpenAI, Anthropic and Google - the companies at the cutting-edge - have discussed creating their own group to set standards for the industry. In the meantime, OpenAI said it was pausing training of its powerful systems until it was confident it had more safeguards in place and also announced Monday it will cancel a planned model release because of safety concerns. The decision to pause training was announced Friday, when the company also confirmed that its agents accessed information from the Census Bureau using a log-in found online and copied information from the Securities and Exchange Commission. Transluce, an AI research organization, said agents had also tried to hack into an Education Department civil rights website. People want to know AI is being developed safely, and that starts with what companies like ours do ourselves, said OpenAI spokesperson Drew Pusateri, adding that the company will resume training only when we are confident that we have additional safeguards in place. But on Monday, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier (R) asked a court to step in and force the company to pause development work, in a sign of how Republicans are split on their approach to the technology. Uthmeier, whose office has sued OpenAI, alleging it has put children at risk, said he was inviting company chief executive Sam Altman to join his request. If he will not, we ask the court to do what OpenAI will not do for itself - protect Florida families, Uthmeier said in a video posted Monday to social media. Theodoric Meyer contributed to this report. Related Content This article originally appeared on Washington Post at https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/white-house-trump-pitch-ai-121339265.html
Why Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce Might Not Share Their Wedding Photos
Dakota Johnson opened up about her friendship with Taylor Swift and shared her prediction on whether Swift and Travis Kelce will ever release photos from their private July wedding.
Dakota Johnson Reveals Why Taylor Swift And Travis Kelce May Never Release Their Wedding Photos
Dakota Johnson opened up about her friendship with Taylor Swift and shared her prediction on whether Swift and Travis Kelce will ever release photos from their private July wedding.
NITI Aayog workshop focuses on strengthening panchayats for Viksit Bharat
Digital Desk | Guwahati, Sep 29 (IANS) NITI Aayog, in collaboration with the Golap Borbora State Institute of Panchayat and Rural Development (GBSIPRD), organised a national workshop titled Viksit Panchayat: Connecting People, Places, Resources and Opportunities, bringing together policymakers, administrators and rural development experts to deliberate on strengthening Panchayats as engines of grassroots development, it was announced on Tuesday. The one-day workshop focused on building capable and empowered Panchayats that can drive inclusive growth, improve public service delivery and support sustainable development in line with the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047. The event was inaugurated by Assam Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Atul Bora, while NITI Aayog Member Dr R. Balasubramaniam attended as the Guest of Honour. Assam Chief Secretary Dr Ravi Kota and Rural Development Secretary Rohit Kansal were also present. During the inaugural session, speakers underscored the importance of decentralised governance, spatial planning, digitalisation, convergence of government schemes and capacity building for creating Viksit Gram Panchayats. Discussions centred on four key themes: decentralised and spatial planning, grassroots capacity development, spatial planning for priority sectors, and the integration of spatial planning into the Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) process. The deliberations highlighted the constitutional foundation of Panchayati Raj institutions under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment and emphasised the need for clearer activity mapping, adequate financial resources, appropriate staffing and greater decision-making authority at the local level. Participants also stressed the importance of active Gram Sabha participation and stronger institutional accountability mechanisms. A major focus of the workshop was the shift from a sector-specific approach to a spatial and integrated model of local development. Experts discussed the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), geospatial data, village master plans and digital platforms to identify local resources, infrastructure gaps, land-use patterns and emerging development opportunities. Integrating spatial data with GPDP, eGramSwaraj and the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) was seen as a way to strengthen evidence-based planning and improve convergence across schemes and departments. Capacity development emerged as another key theme, with participants highlighting the need to equip elected representatives and Panchayat functionaries with skills in data analysis, investment prioritisation, resource mobilisation, convergence planning and outcome monitoring. Discussions also covered issues related to devolution of powers, activity mapping, District Planning Committees, digital and hybrid learning systems, competency development and last-mile technical support.
Ensure BJPs victory in Panchayat elections: Rajasthan CM
Digital Desk | Jaipur, Sep 29 (IANS) Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on Tuesday urged Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers to contest the upcoming Panchayat elections with the same resolve and organisational strength that ensured the partys victory in the recent civic body polls. Addressing BJP workers from Kota and Bundi at the Allen Auditorium in Kota, Sharma said the partys greatest strength, whether in Panchayat or Parliamentary elections, lies in its dedicated workforce. He credited BJP workers' hard work, spirit of service, and commitment for the partys growth. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sharma said the Prime Minister believes elections are won not by leaders but by booth-level workers. He noted that the BJPs performance in the urban local body elections resulted from the dedication and service-oriented approach of its workers. The BJP, he said, had formed boards in 204 of Rajasthans 309 urban local bodies. In Kota district, the party won five of six local bodies, while a BJP-supported candidate won in Itawa. Sharma described the results as a clear indication of public support for the party. The Chief Minister said holding an organisational position in the BJP is a formal arrangement, but serving the organisation is a lifelong responsibility. He urged elected representatives to discharge their duties with integrity and to follow the principle of service to the nation through service to the people. Sharma called on BJP workers to prepare for the Panchayati Raj elections and strengthen the organisation at the Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad levels. He emphasised the need for extensive public outreach, including visits to villages and hamlets, and greater engagement with new voters and women. He also urged party workers to make effective use of social media to communicate information about government schemes and convey the partys message to the public.
Will fans ever see Taylor Swift's wedding pictures? Dakota Johnson has bad news
Swift and Kelce tied the knot at Madison Square Garden in New York City on July 3, 2026. The singers publicist later confirmed the marriage. Adam Sandler officiated the ceremony. Swift chose her brother, Austin, as her man of honor, while Jason Kelce served as best man.
Antim, Aman, Sujeet: India's wrestling gold hunt begins
India's wrestling campaign at the Asian Games will be spearheaded by Sujeet Kalkal, Antim Panghal, and Aman Sehrawat, all of whom face challenging draws. Sujeet is in red-hot form but could meet Olympic champion Kotaro Kiyooka, while Antim Panghal eyes a strong performance against Zhang Jin. Olympic medallist Aman Sehrawat also has a tough path, potentially facing another Olympic medallist early on. The wider Indian contingent also features medal hopefuls across freestyle, women's, and Greco-Roman categories.
Pushpak Pujari lost his father in Class 10; how he secured AIR 183 and IIT Delhi
Pushpak Pujari improved his IIT entrance rank from AIR 2,790 to 183 after choosing to prepare largely from home rather than move to Kota for coaching. Having lost his father in Class 10, Pujari stayed with his family, while his mother supported his late-night study sessions. After his first attempt, he balanced college with another year of preparation, sacrificing trips and festivals. His second attempt earned him admission to IIT Delhis Electrical Engineering programme.
Stock markets tumble in early trade dragged by elevated crude oil prices, foreign fund outflows
Mumbai, Sep 29 (PTI) Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty tumbled in early trade on Tuesday as elevated crude oil prices due to uncertainty over the West Asia situation and foreign fund outflows weighed on investors sentiment. The 30-share BSE Sensex dropped 503 points to 72,260.09 in early trade. The 50-share NSE Nifty tumbled 151 points to 22,626.50. From the 30 Sensex firms, Bajaj Finance, HDFC Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Reliance Industries, Asian Paints and Infosys were among the major laggards. Sun Pharma, InterGlobe Aviation, Adani Ports were the winners. Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, traded 1,74 per cent
Best dynamic bond funds to invest in September 2026
If you are planning to invest for three to five years, but dont want to take a call on interest rates, you can bet on dynamic bond funds. Kotak Dynamic Bond Fund, one of the recommended schemes, has been in the third quartile for the last 30 months. ICICI Prudential All Seasons Bond Fund has been in the second quartile for the last 30 months. Please follow our monthly updates to keep track of your investments.
Kotak Bank Share Price Live Updates: Kotak Bank Stock Details
Ujjivan SFB, Cello: Here's why Kotak Securities is upbeat on these 2 stocks
Shrikant Chouhan of Kotak Securities believes that Ujjivan Small Finance Bank has navigated the stress cycle better than most, and the shift to secured lending broadens the earnings base.
CISF constable dies in Kota hosp after falling ill aboard train
ER introduces tech at weighbridges to prevent accidents
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 28 (IANS) To ensure safe and efficient freight movement, Eastern Railway (ER) has begun introducing technology at weighbridges. Officials said this would help reduce derailments, prevent accidents, and protect tracks, calling it a significant technological leap forward in ensuring the safety and punctuality of freight train movements and maintaining uninterrupted supply chains across the network. As part of this ongoing modernisation drive, ER is installing advanced Wheel-wise Load Imbalance Detection Systems at strategic weighbridges. This technology is designed to detect deviations from safe load limits before service interruption, enabling proactive maintenance and preventing potential transit hazards, a senior official said. Under the system, sensors collect load data and send it to a central controller. Software then determines static and dynamic wheel loads, left-to-right load ratios and impact load factors to flag uneven loading, overloaded axles or flat spots. Real-time alerts are passed directly to officials, who can take corrective measures. The first Wheel-wise Load Imbalance Detection System on ER was successfully commissioned at the Pakur In-Motion Weigh Bridge recently. Initial trial results have been encouraging. The system will be made fully operational following final certification from the state government. Installation work for a similar weighbridge is underway at Kotalpukur. This forms part of ERs broader roadmap to extend the safety installation to other critical freight handling locations across the zone. Pakur, a major freight hub in Jharkhand, moves large quantities of coal from the West Bengal Power Development Corporation Ltd (WBPDCL) siding and Gati Shakti Terminal to power plants in West Bengal and Punjab. Pakur is also known for its stone quarries, with ER transporting large volumes of crushed stone chips, aggregates and track ballast in specialised wagons.
Kasturirangan report: BJP MP Kota Srinivas Poojary urges expert commission for land survey
Kasturirangan report: BJP MP Kota Srinivas Poojary urges expert commission for land survey Bengaluru: BJP MP Kota Srinivas Poojary on Monday urged the Karnataka government to form an expert commission to conduct a detailed land survey in the state under the Kasturirangan report, similar to the exercise undertaken in Kerala. Poojary represents the Udupi-Chikkamagaluru Lok [] The post Kasturirangan report: BJP MP Kota Srinivas Poojary urges expert commission for land survey appeared first on Mangalorean.com .
Kasturirangan report: BJP MP urges expert commission for land survey
Digital Desk | Bengaluru, Sep 28 (IANS) BJP MP Kota Srinivas Poojary on Monday urged the Karnataka government to form an expert commission to conduct a detailed land survey in the state under the Kasturirangan report, similar to the exercise undertaken in Kerala. Poojary represents the Udupi-Chikkamagaluru Lok Sabha constituency, where concerns over the report remain high. Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Poojary said the commission should be given six months to one year to complete the survey and submit its report to the Centre. He emphasised that the exercise should clearly demarcate forest and non-forest areas and recommend measures to prevent hardships to farmers and affected communities. He noted that the BJP would stand with the state government on behalf of the people of Karnataka. If there were shortcomings in the Kasturirangan and Madhav Gadgil reports, he said, the role of decisions taken by the then Central government should also be mentioned. Poojary explained that the Centre had issued the notification in view of directions and proceedings before the Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal. He recalled urging both previous and incumbent chief ministers to constitute a commission to address concerns arising from the proposed implementation of the recommendations. There should be no politics over the Kasturirangan report. Do not create confusion. If protecting the interests of farmers is the governments position, we will fully support it, he said. On the drought situation in Karnataka, Poojary urged political parties not to politicise the issue and called for equal treatment of farmers and constituencies. He stressed that measures should protect cattle and assist people forced to migrate in search of work. He suggested incorporating the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) into drought-relief measures to provide employment and support to affected people. The BJP, he said, would cooperate with the government in resolving peoples problems. On the controversy surrounding Vande Mataram, Poojary accused Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president and the Congress government of opposing the national song for political and electoral reasons. He urged Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to ensure that Vande Mataram is respected instead of confronting the Union government. Reacting to the Election Commission controversy, Poojary said the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners had clarified that the Commission had no internal confusion. He alleged that the clarification had left Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and the Congress in an awkward position. He also criticised what he described as inconsistent positions on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), alleging that the Congress accepts EVMs when it wins in Karnataka and Kerala but questions them when the BJP wins in West Bengal. Poojary said such allegations and complaints should be assessed on factual grounds rather than being made without considering the relevant facts.
Colleen Hoover Praises Anne Hathaways Verity Performance: She Nailed It
Adapted from Colleen Hoover's best-selling novel, this seductive, psychological thriller follows renowned author Verity Crawford (Anne Hathaway) and Lowen Ashleigh (Dakota Johnson), a struggling writer who relocates to the remote Crawford estate to ghostwrite for Verity.
Dakota Johnson's Patient Zero video isn't on YouTube yet, here's why
Highlights Dakota Johnson stars alongside Colin Farrell in Taylor Swift's new Patient Zero music video, which premiered at the 2026 MTV VMAs on September 27 The full video is currently only on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music, not YouTube Taylor Nation has confirmed the video will land on Swift's YouTube channel on Tuesday, September 29 Johnson also presented Swift with the VMAs' inaugural Artist-Director Honors, the same night the video debuted If you've been searching YouTube for the full Patient Zero video and only finding the lyric version, you're not missing anything it genuinely isn't there yet. Here's what's actually going on, and when that changes. Dakota Johnson's role in the video Johnson plays a woman trapped in a deteriorating relationship with a man played by Colin Farrell, who gaslights her and appears to poison her over the course of the video. Swift plays his previous partner, now a ghost, who mirrors Johnson throughout matching outfits, matching movements, even meeting her in a mirror's reflection as a warning of where the relationship is heading. The video ends at Swift's own grave, where Johnson's character leaves flowers, the twist finally landing: Swift's character was murdered by the same man, and has spent the whole video trying to save the woman who came after her. Johnson and Swift are longtime friends off-screen, and it was Johnson herself who presented Swift with the VMAs' first-ever Artist-Director Honors on the same night the video premiered an award recognising Swift's work directing her own music videos. Dakota Johnson makes surprise appearance at the MTV VMAs to present the Artist Director Honors to her BFF Taylor Swift. Head to Just Jared now for full coverage of the show. #DakotaJohnson #VMAs #MTVVMas Photos: Getty pic.twitter.com/ckak3ZocO8 JustJared.com (@JustJared) September 28, 2026 We cant take our eyes off of Taylor Swift and Dakota Johnson reacting to the debut of the Patient Zero music video at the #VMAs . pic.twitter.com/b0Udt2ZJvN Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) September 28, 2026 Where to watch Patient Zero right now The full video is currently available to stream on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music. It also aired during the VMAs broadcast itself, so it can still be seen in replays of the ceremony on MTV, CBS and Paramount+. Swift's official YouTube channel currently has only the lyric video, not the full cinematic version. Why it isn't on YouTube yet Taylor Nation, Swift's official promotional team, confirmed by email that the full video will arrive on YouTube on Tuesday, September 29 two days after its VMAs premiere. Neither Swift nor her team has publicly explained the reason for the delay, though she'd previously said on set that she wanted to find a way to give the video's cinematic scale a proper big-screen moment before its wider release, which is likely why the VMAs premiere came first. The team behind it Swift directed Patient Zero herself, with cinematography by Oscar winner Emmanuel Lubezki, known for his work on The Revenant, Birdman and Gravity. It's Lubezki's first time shooting a Swift video. The song comes from The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore, an expanded reissue of Swift's album with three additional new tracks. Swift has said the song itself was inspired by a real conversation among friends, after one of them was contacted by her ex's new girlfriend asking whether she'd experienced the same troubling behaviour. Frequently asked questions Where can I watch the full Patient Zero video right now? On Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music. It's not yet on YouTube. When will Patient Zero be on YouTube? Taylor Nation has confirmed it will be uploaded on Tuesday, September 29, 2026. Who stars in the Patient Zero video besides Taylor Swift? Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell, with Swift directing. What happens in the Patient Zero video? Johnson's character is in a toxic relationship with a man played by Farrell, who is revealed to have poisoned and killed his previous partner, played by Swift, whose ghost has been trying to warn Johnson throughout the video. Why did Taylor Swift premiere the video at the VMAs instead of releasing it online first? She was being honoured with the VMAs' inaugural Artist-Director Award that night, and chose the ceremony as the video's world premiere before its wider streaming and YouTube rollout.
Get A Life: Dakota Johnson's Blunt Message To Trolls Questioning Her Love Life
Dakota Johnson isn't interested in explaining or correcting every story about her personal life.
Sensex tanks 730 points amid surging crude oil prices, geopolitical uncertainties
Mumbai, Sep 28 (PTI) Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty tumbled in early trade on Monday amid surging crude oil prices, geopolitical uncertainties and a weak trend in Asian markets. Foreign fund outflows also hit investors sentiment during the initial trading. The 30-share BSE Sensex tanked 730 points to 73,170.12 in early trade. The 50-share NSE Nifty dropped 231.50 points to 22,908.95. All the 30 Sensex firms were trading lower. Bajaj Finance, Kotak Mahindra Bank, HDFC Bank, Bajaj Finserv, Hindustan Unilever, Mahindra & Mahindra, Larsen & Toubro and Bharat Electronics were the major laggards. Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, traded
Dakota Johnson reacts to constant dating speculation: Its just futile
Dakota Johnson has responded to the intense scrutiny around her romantic life, saying she wont waste energy correcting dating rumours. The actor also revealed she is stepping back from social media because she dislikes the constant documentation of peoples lives
Taylor Swift calls working with Dakota Johnson on Patient Zero a dream sequence
Digital Desk | Mumbai, Sep 28 (IANS) Grammy winner Taylor Swift described working with Dakota Johnson on the Patient Zero music video as a dream sequence and praised the actress's talent. Swift unveiled the music video of Patient Zero starring the her along with Johnson, Collin Farrell and a cameo from Cara Delevingne, during the 2026 VMAs. She took to Instagram to talk about her latest project. The Patient Zero video is finally out in the world! Getting to work with @chivexp was something out of a dream sequence, and I learned so much from getting to watch his genius in action, Swift wrote in the caption. She went on to thank the Johnson and Farell for trusting the Blank Space hitmaker. I want to thank @dakotajohnson and Colin for trusting me with their time, taste, and talent (Giggling with your friend because youre twinning for an entire shoot was a new and truly delightful experience). She added: And Colins turn as a villain is even more impressive when you get to be around him. Hes an absolute light and as kind as they come. @caradelevingne, thank you for agreeing to play the lusty other woman. Thats what friends are for? The video brings to life Swifts vision of two women with a shared romantic flame, with one ultimately passing on wisdom after dealing with her now-former beau. Farrell plays the man in question while Johnson and Swift essay his lovers. Swift is the highest-grossing live music artist, the wealthiest female musician, and one of the best-selling music artists of all time. Her singles Teardrops on My Guitar, Love Story, and You Belong with Me found crossover success on country and pop radio formats. She gained the Billboard Hot 100 in 2010s with number-one singles We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together, Shake It Off, Blank Space, Bad Blood, and Look What You Made Me Do.
Sensex, Nifty open lower as global headwinds weigh on sentiment
Digital Desk | Mumbai, Sep 28 (IANS) Domestic equity benchmarks opened lower on Monday weighed down by persistent external headwinds with financial, realty and auto stocks leading declines in early trade. Nifty opened 75.60 points, or 0.33 per cent, lower at 23,064.90, while Sensex fell more than 150 points, or 0.22 per cent, to 73,734.83. Among Nifty stocks, Hindalco Industries, Bajaj Finance, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Grasim Industries and Shriram Finance were top losers declining up to 1.76 per cent. Broader sectoral weakness was led by realty stocks with Nifty Realty down over 1 per cent. Meanwhile, cement, financial services, private banks, auto and FMCG indices also fell nearly 1 per cent each. However, Nifty Pharma was among the few gainers which was up inches higher. Market analysts said domestic economic resilience and improving corporate earnings were being overshadowed by external pressures, including elevated crude oil prices and US bond yields. Brent crude at $106 and the US 10-year yield at 5.2 per cent are strong headwinds that are weighing on markets, the analysts said. Foreign portfolio investors had turned sellers again in September after buying in July and August, according to them. They further noted that the broader market continued to show momentum as foreign investors appeared to be buying midcap and smallcap stocks despite elevated valuations, while selling largecaps. For the Nifty, immediate support is seen at 22,900-23,000, while resistance is placed at 23,250-23,300. The index is likely to remain volatile as traders watch these levels for signs of stability, as per market experts. On the commodities front, international benchmark Brent crude rose more than 2 per cent to $106.69, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained over 1 per cent to $93.82. In Asia, markets showed a mostly negative trend. Japans Nikkei, Hong Kongs Hang Seng and Jakarta Composite declined up to 2 per cent. Overnight in the US, Wall Street ended higher, with the S&P 500 up 0.51 per cent and the Nasdaq up 0.48 per cent.
HSBC makes big push for affluent clients in India to drive growth
The growth drive puts HSBC in more direct competition with larger local rivals including ICICI Bank Ltd. and Kotak Mahindra Ltd. for a slice of India's fast-expanding wealth pool
HSBC makes big push for affluent clients in India to fuel growth
HSBCs growth drive pits it against larger local rivals like ICICI Bank and Kotak Mahindra for Indias fast-expanding wealth pool
40-year-old demand for road to Scheduled Caste village causes communal rift in Nilgiris
As many as 40 Sri Lankan-repatriate Scheduled Caste families in Ambal Colony, Kil Kotagiri, were set to benefit from a short road near their hamlet. However, the road laying project approved on September 3 has now sparked communal tensions.
Kotamreddys Gen Z connect expected to yield four NMC seats for youth
Of the 72 divisions under NMC, 36 fall under Nellore Rural constituency, and as such, Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy has a considerable say in choosing the candidates
ETMarkets Smart Talk: RBI may hike 50-75 bps; Archit Shah on whats next for bonds
Archit Shah, CIO at Zurich Kotak General Insurance, expects the RBI to hike repo rates by 50-75 bps towards 5.75-6% if inflation, crude, and global yields remain under pressure. Advising patience on duration, Shah recommends carry and roll-down strategies while navigating rising correlation and liquidity risks in portfolios.
Sitanshu Kotak expressed confidence in Ravindra Jadeja's potential for the upcoming 2027 ODI World Cup. He highlighted Jadeja's experience and all-round skills, which can significantly benefit the Indian team. Kotak emphasized the importance of competition within the squad, particularly regarding player selection for upcoming matches. Despite recent injuries, the team is preparing diligently for the ODI series against West Indies.
2,500 delegates set to converge on Mangaluru for Kotadavara Habba
Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota dy mayor posts go to BJP
Experience of Rohit, Virat invaluable to youngsters for ODI World Cup prep, says Kotak
Digital Desk | Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 26 (IANS) India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak highlighted the indispensable role played by senior batting stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in mentoring the next generation of players, adding that their vast knowledge pool is invaluable to youngsters in preparation for next years ODI World Cup. Shubman Gill-led India are embarking on an extensive 50-over workload leading up to the global showpiece event, starting with the three-match series against the West Indies, with the first game to happen at the Greenfield International Stadium on Sunday. See, it is all about sharing experience. They always do that. Whenever I have seen all the experienced players, even Gautam, because he has played at that level, whatever they have experienced, when they see that some player is going in a similar condition or similar situation, they always talk to them. I think sharing experience or whatever you have learnt is a great thing to do because it's adding knowledge or refreshing your knowledge as well. So, I think it is for anyone - a lot of youngsters are there. I always see them talking to senior players or Gautam. They do talk to me, and also to Morne (Morkel) and Sairaj (Bahutule). Actually, the team environment from the inside is feeling brilliant because everyone knows there is one year to the World Cup. Everyone knows each series is important. Everyone wants to settle in the Indian team; the youngsters are coming, and they have been performing outstandingly; they are not just coming, they have been performing so well. So, it is a process where, obviously, with Indians being an emotional people, I always see that our players, senior players, they always share what they feel like. So, that's a great thing to have. I know that the outside public or social media sometimes may not see that. But as part of the team and support staff, I always see that, Kotak told reporters in the pre-match press conference. Delving into Indias tactical planning and preparation strategy for the mega event, Kotak detailed that they are aware of conditions and the immediate challenge presented by the West Indies. See, I think West Indies is a team which has skills. They have some very good batters and bowlers. So, it is a good series for us. For us, looking one year ahead, we approximately have about 30-31 one-dayers, as far as I am aware. There may be 25-30 games, but yes. So, what we discuss and try to do, obviously Gautam is there, and Virat, Rohit, Shubman, obviously are there. In our preparation, mainly I am talking from a batting point of view; we take advice, and everybody is thinking about how we will go about it, how we need to start preparing if we bat or bowl first. For example, it is South Africa, so what kind of wickets can we get? Here, with overcast skies, what can be the challenges and like that; we prepare in that way and with one new ball after 33 overs. So, the last 10 overs may not be as many runs as we used to get in all that we plan, and then obviously all the senior players or anyone else also have some opinions. Throwing further light on the team processes, Kotak explained, We discuss it, and we plan. So, from now on, that is what our plan is: to go series by series. Luckily, we have the New Zealand series, where obviously it is outside Asia, and there will be some different conditions. There might be moisture and grass. In South Africa, again, there will be some wickets which will be similar to ours also, and there will be some wickets that will be challenging also. So, we have to plan both ways, and we do all that anyway, and that is the process we do, and we are quite looking forward to that. Every series, whether it is West Indies, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe or New Zealand, all games are important for us because we want to execute things. So, forget the opposition and if we can successfully do that, within a year, we should be ready for any challenges, any different wickets or any different bowling attacks. Addressing the delicate act of balancing squad rotation with match outcomes, a struggle evident during the recent series loss in England, Kotak admitted, It is very difficult. There is a very thin line between trying new players and trying to get the results also. So, somewhere you see that the result may get affected sometimes. But again, whoever plays for India, they all have been performing. But it does make a difference when a new guy is coming in, trying to settle in the team, and the experienced guy is playing. Like in England also, the Lords game we have seen, they got a lot of runs, and we had a lot of young fast bowlers playing. So, sometimes you do suffer setbacks like that. But eventually, again, it's obviously the captain and head coach; they plan, and they try to give opportunities. But I think we have to do that also. At the same time, we have to see that we get the desired results also. Kotak also welcomed new fielding coach Subhadeep Ghosh, who has taken over the role from T Dilip and the interesting drills hes brought on board. See, he has been working for a long time. He was part of CoE also, and he is a very quiet but very hardworking guy. We are all fortunate to get this opportunity to work for the Indian team as support staff, and he is also fortunate to get this job now. Dilip was also very good and has done a wonderful job. All of us know someday, there will be a change. So, there is nothing like it, but I think Subhadeep is also very good. He comes with his ideas. Every coach has their own ideas, drills, and plans. Obviously, when the new guy comes, there is a variety for players also. I also thought it was quite a busy and good session yesterday. Reflecting on the team's workload management during tight international schedules, Kotak pointed out that every available training session is critical. In all the practice sessions, we try to make sure that whether it is batting, bowling, or fielding, it has to be more interesting. Most of the time, you see batters don't get so much time to have an off-season. I mean, players don't have an off-season. IPL, they play. So, we don't get too many long camps. Whenever we have like 3 days, 4 days in practice, we try to utilise it like a camp. We try to give a lot of volume to fielding practice. It's like that is part of planning anyway. So, we try to utilise the maximum time. Even for today, it's been hot, and people, like all the players, wanted to rest, and it was an optional session. Still, (Auqib) Nabi felt that he, obviously, had his bowling loads done; he wanted to bat. He just came to bat, and why not when there are good practice bowlers and good facilities. So, we just try and utilise as much as we can.
BJP sweeps deputy mayor elections in Jaipur, Jodhpur and Kota
In a significant political shift, BJP candidates clinched deputy mayor positions across Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Kota. Vijay Singh Panwar triumphed over Congresss Abdul Karim in Jodhpur by just four votes, while Saroj Kanwar defeated Salman Mansuri in Jaipur. Notably, Vivek Rajvanshi was elected unopposed in Kota as the Congress party opted out.
Gill good to play first ODI against West Indies despite elbow blow, confirms Kotak
Digital Desk | Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 26 (IANS) India captain Shubman Gill has been cleared of any major injury concern and is fine to play in the first ODI against the West Indies, to be played at the Greenfield International Stadium on Sunday, confirmed batting coach Sitanshu Kotak. Gill had suffered a sharp blow on his right elbow from a rising delivery bowled by fast bowler Mohammed Siraj during a practice session on Friday. The right-hander required treatment on the ground for nearly 20 minutes before returning to hit throwdowns in the nets. I think he is fine and good to go, Kotak told reporters during a pre-match press conference. Kotak also addressed the continuous selection dilemmas facing the Indian team management, particularly regarding talented opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has often found himself on the sidelines despite boasting strong numbers across formats. With Gill and Rohit Sharma around, Jaiswal has been relegated to spending time on the sidelines. See, I think it is due to so much of competition and so many players are performing. Jaiswal is obviously, we all know he is one of the best and whenever he gets an opportunity, he performs. He is a part of the team and as support staff, obviously, we look after his skills, his practice and his mindset and Gautam also talks to him a lot. But sometimes, you see, say if there are three very good wicket keepers, only one will play. So, it is not that it has been unfair to him. I just think it is part of the game. He should keep working hard and waiting for his opportunities. So far, whenever team needed him, he got an opportunity, he has performed. So, I mean, I don't know what exactly you want to ask me. But I think we do look after his skills, his practice. We follow where he is, how he is doing and when he is with the team. That's all we can do and that's what we do, added Kotak. Kotak also weighed in on veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja's role in the white-ball setup, as he returns to the ODI team due to Axar Patel present in the T20I team for the Asian Games happening in Japan. I think he is obviously in the mix. In South Africa series, Jadeja played when Axar was rested. Then after that, I mean, obviously, I am not part of selection panel. So, I don't know what their thinking is. I just think if whoever is coming and playing for India, they are obviously part of that 20-25 players who possibly can be in the team. Jadeja is an outstanding all-rounder. We all know - you see his records. I mean, how the team will set up and what kind of combination selectors and captain and head coach will go with, that is the second thing. There is a time for that, but Jadeja, to me, is one of the best fielders still we have over on a world level as well. He bowls, bats and the experience he has, because I actually firmly believe that experience is something you cannot beat. So, like we see Rohit, Virat, Jadeja, they all brings a lot of that to the team. So, Jadeja is also one of them and he is obviously a very useful member of the team, concluded Kotak.
Rajasthan Weather Today: Light Rain Possible in Jaipur, Kota and Bharatpur, West Likely to Stay Dry
The monsoon appears to be nearing the end of its seasonal presence across much of Rajasthan, but completely dry weather may not return everywhere just yet. Parts of eastern Rajasthan could still experience isolated light rain, thunderstorms and gusty winds, while western districts are expected to re...
Beyond the Wallet: Why Reservation is about Representation
By Vivek Kalikotay Introduction In recent times, as India embarks on unleashing its massive potential to achieve the status of Vishwa Guru (a prosperous global guiding light); a stark internal contradiction is emerging. This contradiction is evident in the pushback by critics (primarily from the Savarnas categories) against caste-based reservation. While this resistance is not [] The post Beyond the Wallet: Why Reservation is about Representation first appeared on Highland Post .
BJP wins mayor elections at three municipal corporations in Rajasthan
Prasanna Chand Mehta was elected Mayor of Jodhpur, while Anusuiya Goswami was elected to the position in Kota
BJP wins mayoral elections in Jaipur, Jodhpur and Kota
BJPs Goswami elected Kota mayor with 65 votes; video sparks political row
Prakash Kunder's body reaches Karnataka two months after murder in Sharjah
Digital Desk | Udupi (Karnataka), Sep 25 (IANS) The body of Alvin Prakash Kunder, a native of Kundapur in Karnataka's Udupi district who was allegedly brutally murdered in Sharjah in July, arrived in Karnataka on Friday, nearly two months after his death. His body, which was allegedly dismembered into nine pieces and dumped in the boot of a car, was brought to his native place amid the grief of his family members. Kunder, who had reportedly been living in the UAE for several years and worked at Sharjah Airport for around 14 years, was allegedly murdered in late July. His body was recovered on August 12 from the boot of his Toyota car, which had been abandoned in an isolated area near Al Nahda Commercial Area, according to details cited by his family. His identity was subsequently confirmed through DNA matching. The forensic and post-mortem findings reportedly revealed the brutal manner in which the body had been dismembered. According to the forensic report, the body had been cut into nine parts after death. The head, neck, torso, arms and legs had been separated, with the bones reportedly cut using a saw and the soft tissues severed around the joints. The body parts were allegedly packed into two bags and placed in the car's boot. One green bag reportedly contained the torso, while a blue bag contained the head and parts of the arms and legs. The head was wrapped in a black plastic bag, while other body parts were packed in transparent plastic. The post-mortem examination reportedly found two penetrating injuries on the left side of the chest, between the seventh and eighth ribs. The injuries had entered the chest cavity, where bleeding was detected. The body was in an advanced state of decomposition, making examination of the internal organs difficult. A blood sample reportedly showed an alcohol level of 25.77 mg/dl. Kunder's family became concerned after he stopped responding to calls around July 20. According to his brother Anil Prashanth Kunder, the family received a text message from his phone saying that he was fine, despite the absence of his usual voice messages. Initial information that Kunder had returned to India was later questioned after passport records reportedly indicated that he remained in the UAE. His family subsequently approached the authorities and sought assistance in tracing him. His wife Tina, who was reportedly working as a schoolteacher in the UAE, and their Class 10 son have remained untraceable since the incident. The family has expressed suspicion over their disappearance and urged authorities to establish their whereabouts and determine whether they had any role in the murder. However, no official confirmation has been reported establishing their involvement. CCTV footage reportedly available with Sharjah Police is said to show a woman and two men carrying two bags believed to contain the body. The family has urged the authorities to identify and arrest those responsible for the murder. Former minister and BJP MP, Kota Srinivas Poojary, visited the bereaved family today, paid final respects to the dead body and offered his condolences. The family had earlier approached the Udupi Superintendent of Police's office seeking the early repatriation of Kunder's body and assistance in tracing his wife and son. Poojary reportedly contacted the Indian diplomatic authorities in Sharjah and said he was also in touch with the Union External Affairs Ministry regarding the case. He assured the family that efforts would be made to trace Tina and her son and assist in bringing the investigation to a conclusion. The family is now seeking an early investigation into the circumstances surrounding Kunder's death and the disappearance of his wife and son. Sharjah authorities are continuing to investigate the murder, while the motive and identities of all those involved have not yet been officially established. The alleged role of a Pakistani national is also suspected in the case.
Dakota Johnsons Brown Sugar Espresso nails are the cozy fall trend taking over social media
At Milan Fashion Week, Dakota Johnson flaunted her striking brown sugar espresso nails, a perfect emblem of the autumn aesthetic. This deep-hued manicure stands out against her usual lighter shades, aligning beautifully with this season's trends. Celebrities like Anne Hathaway are also embracing the darker palette. Experts agree that brown polish serves as a sophisticated nude alternative, evoking the warmth of coffee and the coziness of fall.
Rajasthan civic polls: BJP wins Kota and Jaipur, Jodhpur result awaited
BJPs Anusuiya Goswami was elected Kota mayor with 65 votes against Congress candidate Sunita Sumans 35. Sunil Kothari won Jaipur, while voting in Jodhpur was underway. Protests were reported outside Jaipur Municipal Corporation over alleged irregularities during the voting process.
How Kotak Education Foundation Empowers Young Women Through
Kotak Kanya Scholarship empowers meritorious young women with financial aid, mentorship, and professional career readiness.
BJP's Prasann Chand Mehta wins Jodhpur mayor poll, Sunil Kothari and Ansuya Goswami win Jaipur, Kota
In a significant development, Sunil Kothari from Bharatiya Janata Party was on Friday elected as the Mayor of Jaipur Municipal Corporation. According to the available information, BJP has got 89 votes. On the other hand, Congress got 60 votes. Voting was held in 150 wards for the Mayor election of Jaipur Municipal Corporation. The counting of votes took place on September 15. Now the councillors have voted and elected their mayor. The councillors have elected BJP's Sunil Kothari as the Mayor of Jaipur Municipal Corporation with a huge majority.
India's gold imports fall sharply: Kotak sees 'good, bad and ugly' outcomes
Is demand falling or imports going unofficial?
Voting Underway for Mayor Positions in Rajasthans Major Municipalities
Voting is taking place for mayoral positions in Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Kota, with results expected later today. Voting Underway for Mayor Positions in Rajasthans Major Municipalities
Kota health team seals Cong councillors clinic ahead of mayoral polls
FIR Registered After Plaint Alleging Unauthorised Medical practice At His Clinic In Kota
Rs 1.19 Lakh cyber fraud racket busted in Delhi; four posing as Axis Bank officials arrested
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 24 (IANS) The Delhi Police have busted a cyber fraud racket involving impersonation as Axis Bank customer-care officials and arrested four people in connection with a Rs 1.19 lakh fraud case, officials said on Thursday. According to police, the accused posed as bank officials and cheated a credit-card holder on the pretext of cancelling a fictitious annual maintenance charge plan and issuing a new credit card. The fraudsters allegedly used virtual phone numbers, fake service-request details and a third-party payment application to gain the victims confidence. The accused siphoned off Rs 1,19,837 through multiple UPI transactions routed through the CheQ application. Eight mobile phones were also recovered, while technical analysis of one of the devices reportedly linked it to 32 other complaints. The case came to light after complainant Yash Sharma received a call on July 16 from a person allegedly posing as an Axis Bank credit-card official. The caller informed him about an AMC charge of Rs 2,499 and, when Sharma sought its cancellation, told him that he would receive a call from the banks customer-care department. He subsequently received another call from a number allegedly used to impersonate Axis Bank customer care. The caller induced him to download the CheQ application, claiming it was required to cancel the AMC plan and issue a new credit card. The victim was allegedly directed to make three UPI payments of Rs 2,538.81, Rs 58,647.68 and Rs 58,647.68, totalling Rs 1,19,834.17. Police said the accused also provided a fake service-request number and assured the victim that his new card would be activated within four hours and delivered within two days. After the card did not arrive, the victim contacted genuine Axis Bank customer care on July 17 and was informed that no such request existed. He blocked his card and reported the matter through the Cyber Crime Portal. An e-FIR was subsequently registered at PS Cyber North under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. A dedicated team under the supervision of DCP North District Niharika Bhatt conducted technical and financial analysis of call-detail records, mobile numbers, Google account data, UPI transactions and beneficiary bank accounts. The investigation traced the transaction trail to a Kotak Mahindra Bank account linked to Prince Kumar. Police said the account showed suspicious transactions exceeding Rs 12 lakh within five to seven days. Prince Kumar, 20, was arrested from Aligarh on September 15. His interrogation led police to Vishal Tomar, 21, and Vishal Raghav, 27, both from Aligarh. Sanjay Verma, 40, of Uttam Nagar, was subsequently arrested. Police said Verma had previously worked at a call centre in Noida and allegedly learned the modus operandi of impersonating bank officials. Investigators suspect the accused used the Indy Number application to generate virtual numbers resembling bank customer-care numbers and used CheQ to route the allegedly fraudulent funds. Police said the network involved multiple roles, including arranging bank accounts, procuring SIM cards and withdrawing money through ATMs for commissions. The search for two other alleged associates, Bobby and Avtar, is underway. Further investigation is being conducted to trace the complete financial trail, identify additional victims and establish the role of other members of the alleged network.
UltraTech Cement commissions 4.6 mtpa cement capacity
UltraTech Cement has commissioned 3.6 mtpa greenfield integrated capacity at Petnikota, Andhra Pradesh and also commissioned 1.0 mtpa through debottlenecking at the Company's existing cement plants at Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), Patratu (Jharkhand) and Nathdwara (Rajasthan).
Rajasthan civil poll results: BJP wrests stronghold seats from Congress
Digital Desk | Jaipur, Sep 23 (IANS) The results of the Rajasthan civic elections have highlighted varying levels of regional influence among Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress Ministers and senior leaders. The BJP retained control in several Assembly constituencies of its Ministers, securing Chairman and Vice-Chairman posts in multiple urban local bodies. In some Assembly constituencies, however, the Congress mounted a challenge and managed to secure key positions. The results have also provided a picture of the regional influence of several Congress leaders who have been active in Rajasthan politics for years. The BJP won 20 seats in the Bharatpur Municipal Corporation, which is the Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma's home city, and relied on the support of Independents to strengthen its position. The BJP also succeeded in electing Mayors in all seven municipal bodies. While the Mayoral election for the Jaipur, Jodhpur and Kota Municipal Corporations is scheduled for September 25. The BJP formed boards in two of the three municipalities in the Assembly constituency. However, the BJP lost the Jhalawar Municipal Council, where both the President and Vice-President posts went to the Congress. In the Dudu Assembly constituency, the BJP failed to form boards in either municipality. In the Phagi and Dudu municipalities, both the President and Vice-President posts went to Congress and Congress-supported candidates. Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Prem Chand Bairwa, however, is also associated with the Sanganer Assembly constituency. In the Jodhpur Lok Sabha constituency, elections were held in the municipalities of Phalodi, Bap, Balesar and Pokaran. The BJP won in Phalodi, Bap and Balesar, while the Congress won in Pokaran. The Jodhpur Municipal Corporation election results are scheduled to be announced on September 25. There are two municipalities in the Srimadhopur Assembly constituency. The BJP won in Srimadhopur, while the Congress won in Ajitgarh. In the Sangod Assembly constituency, BJP candidates won both the President and Vice-President posts in the Sangod municipality. The BJP won both the President and Vice-President posts in the Sawai Madhopur Municipal Council, located in the Sawai Madhopur Assembly constituency. The BJP won both posts in Ramganj Mandi which is constituency of Rajasthan Education Minister Madan Dilawar. The BJP captured all four municipalities in the Malpura-Todaraisingh Assembly constituency: Malpura, Diggi, Lambaharisingh and Todaraisingh. The BJP led in nine of the 12 urban local bodies in the Alwar Parliamentary constituency. The BJP also performed successfully in the constituencies associated with Jawahar Singh Bedham, Minister of State for Home Affairs; Sumit Godara, Food Minister; Avinash Gehlot, Social Justice Minister; Suresh Rawat, Water Resources Minister; Jogaram Patel, Parliamentary Affairs Minister; and Gajendra Singh Khimsar, Health Minister. The BJP did not secure the top positions in the constituencies associated with Ministers of State Vijay Singh Chaudhary, Manju Baghmar and Otaram Dewasi, Cooperation Minister Gautam Kumar Dak, Revenue Minister Hemant Meena and Chief Whip Jogeshwar Garg. Of the seven urban local bodies in Bikaner, which falls within Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal's Lok Sabha constituency, the BJP secured the President's post in four, while the Congress won two and the CPI-M one. However, the BJP did not secure the Mayoral post in the Bikaner Municipal Corporation, one of the most prominent urban local bodies in the region. The Congress won the Mayoral post, while the BJP secured the Deputy Mayor's position. Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is the Congress MLA from Sardarpura, which falls within the Jodhpur Municipal Corporation area. Of the 100 wards, the BJP won 45 and the Congress 44. Former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot is the Congress MLA from Tonk. The Congress secured a majority in the civic body and elected its candidates as Chairman and Deputy Chairman. Elections were held in 59 of the 60 wards, with the Congress winning 32 and the BJP 19. Rajasthan Congress President Govind Singh Dotasra is the Congress MLA from Laxmangarh. Of the 45 wards in the Municipal Council, the Congress won 20, the BJP 15 and Independents 10. The Congress subsequently took control of the municipality. Rajasthan Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully is the Congress MLA from Alwar Rural. In Malakhera Municipality, of the 20 wards, the Congress won nine, the BJP two and independents nine.
Kota: FIR against Cong MLA, 20 others for obstructing official duty on election day
Kotamreddy Seeks Public Support For Alliance In Civic Polls
Nellore Rural MLA Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy appealed to voters to support coalition candidates in all 72 divisions, citing 857 crore in development works.
Kotak Alts closes 5,000-crore fund, raised entirely from domestic investors
It will invest across private credit, real assets and selective growth opportunities, focusing on cash-flow-generating businesses and mid-to-large-sized enterprises
ONGC lags Oil India as mid-cap rally drives stock divergence: Kotak
The brokerage attributed OINL's stronger stock performance in part to the broader preference for mid-cap stocks over large-caps.
Uday Kotak emphasized India's heavy dependence on gold imports, estimating a rise to $90 billion by FY27. He highlighted that excluding gold from the current account deficit would strengthen India's external position significantly. Kotak called for a committee to address gold demand alongside capital account challenges while proposing tighter fiscal policies. He noted that global economic uncertainties could be opportunities for India to accelerate reforms and improve domestic production.
Kotamreddy Performs Drishti Ritual For Coalition Leaders
Sridhar Reddy said attracting investments and creating employment opportunities for the younger generation was another priority, with Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and minister Lokesh making efforts to bring new investments into the state.
Rashmika Heads to Milan Fashion Event
The actress is set to walk the exclusive red carpet alongside international stars including Michael B. Jordan, Dakota Johnson, Dua Lipa and Irina Shayk!
Students block Anantapur-Tirupati highway at Burakayalakota over APSRTC buses skipping stops
About 100 students who commute to colleges in Madanapalle, Punganur and B. Kothakota say a dozen buses skip their stop at peak hours, forcing them to pay 50 to 80 a day for autos
Midcap indices have limited utility for historical comparison: Kotak report
Several stocks from a popular sector can enter the index simultaneously, while sectors that are out of favour may become under-represented, the report said.
LIC, Axis Bank: Kotak Securities explains why they prefer these 2 stocks
Shrikant Chouhan, Head of Equity Research of Kotak Securities explains why the analyst is bullish on LIC and Axis Bank.
Rajasthan civic polls: BJP converts narrow vote edge into board control
Digital Desk | Jaipur, Sep 21 (IANS) The Rajasthan urban local body elections have produced a political paradox: the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress remained separated by less than one percentage point in overall vote share, yet the BJP emerged with a substantially larger number of elected councillors and subsequently converted that advantage into control of several urban bodies. The numbers raise a bigger question: was the difference created at the ballot box or after? The answer appears to lie in a mix of electoral arithmetic, organisational mobilisation, the fragmented independent vote, and parties' ability to negotiate support during the crucial process of forming municipal boards. The Congress, meanwhile, faces questions over internal coordination and its ability to retain the support of its own councillors. The BJP and Congress were separated by only around 0.94 percentage points in vote share. The BJP polled about 35.18 per cent of the vote, compared with 34.24 per cent for the Congress. Yet the BJP won 4,179 wards, compared with 3,613 for the Congress, while independents won 2,273 wards. That gap shows how vote distribution across individual wards can produce a very different result from the statewide vote-share comparison. Ward delimitation in Jaipur, Jodhpur and Kota showed that Congress received a slightly higher combined vote count than the BJP in those three corporations but won fewer wards. Analysts attributed this partly to the concentration of Congress votes in fewer wards, while BJP votes were more evenly distributed. Congress leaders, however, alleged that the delimitation process disadvantaged the party. The real political battle began after the ward results. The BJPs advantage became more significant in municipal board formation. In several urban bodies, neither major party secured an outright majority, leaving independent councillors in a pivotal position. The BJP was the largest party in several such bodies, while Congress led in places including Ajmer and Pali but remained short of a majority. This is where post-election political management became central. The contest was no longer simply about how many councillors each party had won. Parties had to secure the support of independents and maintain cohesion among their own councillors before the mayoral and chairperson elections. The outcome in Pali provides perhaps the clearest illustration. In Pali, Congress had 29 councillors, but BJP got the mayor. Pali Municipal Corporation has 65 councillors. Congress emerged as the largest group with 29 seats, followed by the BJP with 21 and independents with 15. The majority mark was 33. Yet in Monday's mayoral election, BJPs Namita Bubakia won with 33 votes. Congresss official candidate Sumitra Jain received only three votes, while Congress rebel Rajbala Hingad, contesting as an independent, received 29 votes. All 65 councillors voted. The result dramatically changed the political picture created by the ward election. The BJP entered the mayoral contest with 21 councillors and needed 12 additional votes to reach a majority. The final tally indicates that the party succeeded in attracting sufficient support from outside its elected bloc. Because the mayoral ballot was secret, however, the result alone cannot establish the individual identity of every councillor who supported each candidate. The Pali result therefore raises a pointed political question for Congress: how did a party with 29 elected councillors end up with its official mayoral candidate receiving just three votes? Across the 309 urban local bodies, independents won 2,273 wards, making them a significant force in board formation. In Bharatpur, independents won 36 of 65 wards and crossed the majority mark on their own. In cities such as Pali, Ajmer, Alwar and Jodhpur, their numbers were crucial to determining who would control the civic administration. This changed the traditional BJP-versus-Congress equation. Where neither party had the numbers, the ability to communicate with, negotiate with and retain the support of independent councillors became decisive. Congress raised allegations that the BJP used government power and resources to influence board formation in some places. Those allegations are political claims and should be distinguished from the confirmed election results. At the same time, Congress leaders pointed to other explanations, including delimitation. Rajasthan PCC president Govind Singh Dotasra argued that the delimitation process contributed to the partys losses, despite the narrow vote-share difference. The available numbers also support another explanation: the BJP was more successful in converting its councillor strength and outside support into control of municipal leadership posts in several closely contested bodies. The sequence of events shows that the political environment surrounding board formation mattered greatly, particularly where independents held the balance. The civic election results expose a distinction between electoral support and organisational conversion. Congress secured 34.24 per cent of the overall vote, almost matching the BJPs 35.18 per cent. Yet the BJP won substantially more wards and subsequently secured key mayoral and chairperson posts in several places. For Congress, therefore, the issue is not simply whether it retains its voter base. It is also whether it can maintain unity among elected councillors, manage competing local factions, prevent internal rebellions, build relationships with independents, and convert ward-level victories into control of municipal boards. Pali demonstrates the scale of that challenge in particularly stark terms. The BJPs success in securing municipal leadership positions gives the party an organisational advantage at the local-government level. But winning the mayoral post is only the beginning of the political test. BJP leader Madan Rathore said, Regarding organisational strength, consider that Dotasras candidate received zero votes in Sadri (Pali), while the official Congress candidate in Pali secured only three votes; how, then, can I possibly match him? We believe in the organisation. The new municipal boards will now be judged on issues that directly affect everyday life: roads, drainage, sanitation, street lighting, water supply, waste management and other civic services. The political story of Rajasthans 2026 urban elections, therefore, is not simply BJP versus Congress. It is a story of three layers of electoral politics, moving from vote share to ward strength to board formation. The first two stages produced a closely contested picture. The third stage demonstrated the importance of alliances, independent councillors, internal cohesion and post-election political management. And that is perhaps the most important lesson from Pali: winning the most wards and controlling the board are not necessarily the same thing.
Crude above $100 could push inflation to 6%; RBI may hike rates 50 bps: Kotak Securities
JMC Commissioner initiates redevelopment work at Parade Vegetable Market
Jammu, Sep 20: Commissioner, Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) and CEO, Jammu Smart City, Dr. Devansh Yadav on Sunday visited the Old Vegetable Market at Parade and initiated the redevelopment work, marking the beginning of a major infrastructure upgrade aimed at transforming the historic market into a cleaner, more organised and modern trading space. During his visit, the Vegetable Market Association welcomed the Commissioner and expressed its support for the redevelopment initiative. Interacting with traders and members of the association, Dr. Yadav assured those present that the work had commenced and would be completed as soon as possible. He said the redevelopment would provide improved facilities for vendors and visitors, enhance hygiene standards and create a more efficient and customer-friendly market environment. The redevelopment project, with an estimated DPR cost of 5.88 crore, aims to transform the existing mandi through modern infrastructure, upgraded civic amenities and a well-planned layout. The project is expected to improve market functionality, accessibility, sanitation and the overall shopping experience. As part of the redevelopment, a spacious Mild Steel (MS) covered shed will be constructed to provide weather-protected vending space for traders. The facility will accommodate 117 vendor platforms, each measuring 1.8 metres 2.1 metres, ensuring systematic and orderly market operations. The shed area will be developed with Kota stone flooring, while the vendor platforms will feature granite cladding and granite tops to ensure durability, hygiene and ease of maintenance. The project also envisages the construction of 44 permanent commercial shop blocks, each measuring 2.4 metres 2.7 metres, to support vegetable vendors and allied businesses in a structured retail setting. To improve sanitation and cleanliness, the existing drainage network will be strengthened and rehabilitated to minimise waterlogging and ensure efficient disposal of wastewater within the mandi premises. The redevelopment plan further includes a redesigned main entry gate with sandstone cladding, enhancing the visual appeal and identity of the market. Modern public amenities, including separate toilet blocks for men and women and drinking water cooler units, will also be installed for the convenience of traders and visitors. The internal movement and circulation areas will be developed using Pavement Quality Concrete (PQC) to withstand regular pedestrian movement and light vehicular traffic, ensuring long-term durability and reduced maintenance requirements. Dr. Yadav said the redevelopment had been conceived to improve market functionality through an organised layout, better accessibility, enhanced safety and efficient civic infrastructure. He added that the upgraded facilities would significantly improve hygiene standards and provide a cleaner, safer and more convenient environment for the handling and sale of fresh produce. The initiation of work at the Parade Vegetable Market marks an important step towards the planned modernisation of one of Jammus oldest and busiest markets, with the JMC committed to completing the redevelopment at the earliest possible time.
Andhra Pradesh: 70 Lakh Shadi Manzil Work Launched In Nellore Rural
Efforts were also under way to secure another 80 lakh for constructing the first floor of the facility: Nellore Rural MLA Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy
Uday Kotak lists 7 priorities for Viksit Bharat, warns against economic complacency
Uday Kotak lists 7 priorities for Viksit Bharat, warns against economic complacency
Uday Kotak: Indians and their gold is a puzzle we must solve
Indians and their gold - that is a puzzle we have to find a way to solve, he said. Kotak suggested that a committee could be considered to work out a solution that takes into account people's requirements while also addressing the country's capital and current account challenges.
In Kota its BJPs Anasuya Goswami vs Congs Sunita Suman for post of mayor
