A woman in Nagpur died by suicide on the night of September 19 after initiating a video call with her boyfriend. Before taking the drastic step, she informed him during the call that she intended to end her life. The video call remained connected for approximately 23 minutes. Authorities are investigating the circumstances that led to the incident.
Simon Cowell will be absent from the America's Got Talent Season 21 finale as he continues to recover from surgery. His seat on the judging panel will be temporarily filled by YouTuber and internet personality KSI. KSI will join regular judges Howie Mandel, Sofia Vergara, and Mel B for both the performances and results episodes. This is not the first time guest judges have stepped in this season, as Cowell's health issues have caused him to miss multiple episodes.
Engineers India Ltd. (EIL), a majority Indian government-owned firm, has signed a $450 million contract with Dangote, the company owned by Africa's richest man. The deal tasks EIL with overseeing the construction of a planned greenfield refinery and petrochemical plant. The facility is projected to have a processing capacity of 700,000 barrels per day. The overall project is valued at approximately $16 billion and is set to be built in Kenya.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to meet US President Donald Trump in Washington, with talks scheduled for Thursday. Unlike previous diplomatic visits where business leaders accompanied Chinese delegations, Xi is unlikely to bring CEOs to this summit. Trump, known for pursuing business deals alongside diplomatic negotiations, had reportedly hoped for corporate participation. The meeting will also feature a formal state dinner, signaling the high-profile nature of the engagement.
A major fire broke out at a Mercedes service workshop in Jaipur, destroying at least 8 luxury vehicles. The blaze spread through a facility where more than 50 cars, both new and old, were parked at the time. The incident resulted in significant damage to the vehicles on the premises. Firefighting teams were deployed to bring the situation under control.
Leading banks including NatWest and Bank of America have issued warnings about the growing risks associated with AI-powered shopping assistants. The concerns center on potential scams, financial fraud, and consumer data privacy breaches. A recent report highlights a widening gap between consumer enthusiasm for AI shopping tools and the protective safeguards currently in place. Experts suggest that as adoption of these bots accelerates, regulatory and security frameworks have not kept pace with the technology.
The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has urged Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to roll back proposed charges on UPI transactions. The trade body claims the move has disappointed approximately 6 crore traders across the country. CAIT warned that imposing a Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on higher-value UPI payments could push businesses and consumers back toward cash transactions. The federation has formally requested the Finance Ministry to reconsider the decision, citing concerns over the impact on India's digital payments ecosystem.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is reportedly planning a visit to the United States to attend the G20 Summit. A bilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump is also being considered as part of the trip. The tour is expected to begin with a stop in Berlin, where Modi may participate in the India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC). The multi-nation visit would underscore India's active diplomatic engagement with key global partners.
Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba is expanding its cloud infrastructure into Europe and the Middle East as part of a broader push into artificial intelligence. The company will establish its first cloud regions in Turkey, Finland, and the Netherlands within the next 12 months. The announcement was made by Alibaba executive Li Feifei. The expansion signals Alibaba's ambition to grow its global cloud footprint and compete more aggressively in international AI-driven markets.
Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff has revealed that his company was unable to invest in OpenAI due to Microsoft's existing stake in the ChatGPT maker. Speaking on the Sources podcast hosted by Alex Heath, Benioff said OpenAI CEO Sam Altman turned down Salesforce's investment interest. This led Salesforce to back rival AI firm Anthropic in early 2023 instead. That investment is now reportedly valued at around $5 billion. With Anthropic gearing up for a potential public listing, Benioff believes the stake could eventually be worth tens of billions for Salesforce.
The Trump administration has asserted its authority to limit journalists' access to the White House, framing such access as a privilege rather than a legal right. The Justice Department argued that the First Amendment does not guarantee media entry to the White House complex. National security concerns were cited as part of the justification for imposing these restrictions. In response, major news outlets including CNN, MSNBC, and Politico have filed a legal challenge against the restrictions in federal court.
A ship sinking in Indonesia's Java Sea has left at least 20 people dead as of Wednesday, ten days after the vessel went down. Search and rescue operations are ongoing, with 115 individuals still unaccounted for. A total of 108 people have been confirmed as survivors of the disaster. The incident highlights the ongoing dangers of maritime travel in Indonesian waters.
India's ODI squad is set to assemble in Thiruvananthapuram by September 24 for a three-match series against West Indies. The series will mark the return of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to ODI cricket. Ravindra Jadeja will also make a comeback to the format after being left out following the ODI series against New Zealand earlier this year. Several key players, including vice-captain Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, Jasprit Bumrah, and Axar Patel, are currently unavailable as they are representing India at the Asian Games.
A mass shooting in Durban, South Africa has left at least 11 people dead. An unidentified gunman carried out the attack, though further details about the suspect remain unclear. The location and exact circumstances of the shooting have not been fully disclosed in available reports. Authorities are believed to be investigating the incident, though no official statements have been cited. The motive behind the attack is currently unknown.
Mexico has introduced a nationwide ban on cellphones and tablets in primary and secondary schools across its public education system. The restriction applies to all students within these school levels and is set to take effect on November 3. The policy aims to regulate device usage during school hours, limiting potential distractions in the classroom. The measure marks a significant step by Mexican authorities to reshape the digital environment within public schools.
Bank unions have announced a three-day nationwide strike from September 28 to 30, which could bring most banking services to a halt. Combined with the preceding weekend holiday, customers may face an uninterrupted five-day disruption to in-branch banking. The timing is particularly significant as it overlaps with half-yearly closing activities, raising concerns about financial accessibility. Customers are advised to complete any essential branch transactions in advance and rely on digital banking services during the strike period.
