Notorious gangster Kakathope Balaji, wanted in more than 50 criminal cases including murder, was killed in an encounter with the police in Chennai.

The encounter occurred in the wee hours of Wednesday.

A team of cops had gone to Vyasarpadi in Greater Chennai to arrest Balaji in a pending case. According to the Greater Chennai Police, the gangster attacked the cops with deadly weapons and police had to resort to firing which led to the death of the gangster.

Kakathope Balaji was earlier attacked by a rival gang led by Sambo Senthil, a wanted criminal in the murder of BSP state president K. Armstrong, in the busy Anna Salai in Chennai in March 2020. Bombs were hurled at Balaji and another gangster CD Mani but the duo had escaped unhurt.

E-commerce giant Amazon on Wednesday appointed Samir Kumar as the country manager for India after the abrupt exit of Manish Tiwary.

Kumar, an Amazon veteran since 1999, is expected to assume operational responsibilities for India starting October 1, according to a company update today.

"Amazon's 25-year veteran Samir Kumar will oversee Amazon's India consumer business as Manish Tiwary, current Country Manager for Amazon India, has decided to explore an opportunity outside Amazon," the update said.

Tiwary, who has been leading India operations since July 2020, resigned on August 6 reportedly after several differences with Amit Agarwal, Amazon's senior Vice President for Emerging Markets.

At least five people were killed and 28 others injured after two buses collided in north Peru's La Libertad region, the National Police of Peru (PNP) said.

The accident occurred on a road in the Chicama District, Ascope Province, involving a passenger bus travelling between the Gran Chimu and Trujillo provinces, and another vehicle transporting workers from an agro-industrial company on Tuesday, according to news agency.

"We have a report of 28 wounded," PNP Commander Carlos Odria told a local media outlet. "Personnel from two mobile units are at the scene, providing support and assistance to the wounded."

Russia reserves the right to take asymmetric measures in response to US sanctions targeting Russian journalists, Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov said on Wednesday.

"We reserve the right to respond asymmetrically, strictly in line with Russia's national interests," he said.

Antonov said Russia would thoroughly assess the US sanctions, including undisclosed visa restrictions imposed by the State Department, reports news agency.

According to the figures released by the Election Commission of India (ECI), 11.11 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the first two hours of voting in J&K.

Inderwal Assembly constituency in Kishtwar district recorded the highest of 16 per cent so far.

Anantnag constituency recorded 6 per cent, Anantnag West 8.55 per cent, Banihal 11 per cent, Bhaderwah 12.52, D.H.Pora 11.10, Devsar 10.25, Doda 12.80, Doda West 13.56, Dooru 10.42, Inderwal 16.01, Kishtwar 15.02, Kokernag (ST) 12, Kulgam 10.98, Paddar-Nagseni 12.62, Pahalgam 12.56, Pampore 8.81, Pulwama 10.60, Rajpora 9.97, Ramban 13.08, Shangus-Anantnag East 10.28, Shopian 13, Srigufwara-Bijbehara 11.60, Tral 7.33 and Zainpora 10 per cent.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will depart for New York on Sunday to attend and deliver a speech at the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 79), the official news agency.

His speech is scheduled for September 24, the first day of the high-level General Debate, during which he will expound on the Iranian people's viewpoints, reports news agency, quoting IRNA.

During his stay in New York, Pezeshkian is expected to meet with Iranian nationals living in the United States, media and think tank directors, high-ranking officials from other countries, and religious leaders.

Wildfires are continuing to ravage central and northern Portugal while at least seven people have been killed and more than 40 injured, local authorities reported.

The fires also destroyed dozens of homes and forced the closure of major roads and highways on Tuesday, reports news agency.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority is coordinating efforts to control four significant fire outbreaks in the Aveiro district. The fires have spread over an area with a perimeter of approximately 100 km.

In yet another groundbreaking invention, brain-computer interface company Neuralink has developed a Blindsight implant that can restore vision to people who lost both eyes, said founder Elon Musk on Wednesday.

The experimental implant received the US Food and Drug Administration's "breakthrough device" designation on Tuesday.

“Much appreciated, US FDA!” Musk said in a post on X, adding that the device “will enable even those who have lost both eyes and their optic nerve to see”.

Musk noted that the device can also help people blind since birth to see for the first time, if “the visual cortex is intact”.

US semiconductor manufacturer Intel may lose its third spot in terms of sales for the first time in the third quarter (Q3) to SK hynix, a major South Korean chipmaker, a report showed on Wednesday.

SK hynix is expected to post a fresh high of $12.8 billion in revenue in the July-September period to outstrip Intel to become the third-largest chipmaker in the world, according to market analyst Omdia.

It will mark the first time SK hynix delivers stronger performance than Intel since Omdia began tracking the global semiconductor industry's revenue in 2002, reports news agency.

Liverpool opened up their Champions League campaign with an impressive 3-1 victory over AC Milan at San Siro under Arne Slot in style on the Dutchman's 46th birthday.

A goal apiece from central defensive pairing Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk gave the Reds a half-time lead, having overcome an earlier Christian Pulisic opener.

Liverpool began well after the break and immediately saw a chance fall to Jota inside the box after the restart.

Milan attempted to find a way back into the match and wanted a penalty after Gakpo and Alvaro Morata tangled in the box, but protests were swiftly waved away by the match officials.