Eleven-year-old Maya Neelakantan made history on ‘America’s Got Talent’ by performing Metallica’s ‘Master of Puppets,’ marking the first time the band’s music has been featured on the show. Maya, blending her classical Indian music background with Metallica's heavy riffs, impressed the audience and judges. Metallica granted permission for the performance, which Maya described as an honor. Judge Simon Cowell praised her talent, while Maya thanked the band and Cliff Burton’s family for the opportunity. Her unique rendition has captivated viewers and showcases her remarkable skill.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is preparing for a historic visit to Brunei, the first-ever by an Indian head of state, despite 40 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Modi's visit aims to enhance cooperation in defence, trade, energy, and space technology. Following Brunei, he will head to Singapore from September 4-5 for talks with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. His agenda includes discussions on digitization, sustainability, and advanced manufacturing. This trip aligns with India’s 'Act East' Policy, aimed at boosting relations with Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific region.

India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar addressed the Ambassadors Conference of the Austrian Foreign Ministry, sharing the Indian perspective on global issues and the prospects for bilateral relations and cooperation with the European Union. Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg praised Jaishankar’s engagement, stressing the importance of foreign policy collaboration beyond Europe. This virtual address follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Austria, which aimed to elevate bilateral relations, focusing on technology, security, and climate change. Both nations committed to deepening cooperation for global stability and supporting multilateralism.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Singapore on September 4-5 to strengthen bilateral ties. The Ministry of External Affairs stated that this visit will elevate India-Singapore cooperation to new heights, with a significant focus on the semiconductor sector. Singapore is India’s largest trade partner in ASEAN and a major source of Foreign Direct Investment, contributing $11.77 billion in 2023. PM Modi will address CEOs during the visit, highlighting India's growth story. The visit also coincides with the upcoming 60th anniversary of India-Singapore diplomatic relations in 2025.

Gunfire was reported near Punjabi singer AP Dhillon's home on Victoria Island, Canada. The Lawrence Bishnoi-Rohit Godara gang claimed responsibility for the shooting. The attack comes weeks after Dhillon released a music video featuring Salman Khan. The gang's viral post threatened Dhillon, warning him to "stay within his limits" due to his connections with Khan. Canadian authorities are investigating the authenticity of the threats and shootings. This incident follows previous attacks linked to the Bishnoi gang, including shootings at Gippy Grewal's residence and outside Salman Khan's Mumbai home.

Two people, including a woman, were killed, and nine others injured in a gun-and-bomb attack by suspected militants in Manipur's Imphal West district. The assailants fired from hilltop positions onto the low-lying areas of Koutruk and Kadangband, causing widespread panic. The attack, which involved drone and sophisticated weapons, left several houses damaged. The deceased woman has been identified as 31-year-old Ngangbam Surbala Devi. Security forces have been deployed, and the state government condemned the act, calling it an attempt to derail peace efforts. Hospital officials confirmed five victims sustained bullet wounds.

Pro-Khalistan groups in Canada held a rally on Saturday, displaying floats that glorified the 1995 assassination of Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh. The floats depicted the bombing, complete with blood-splattered cars and photos of Singh. They honored Dilawar Singh Babbar, the suicide bomber responsible. The floats were taken to the Indian Consulate in Vancouver. A similar rally was held in Toronto, led by Inderjeet Singh Gosal, who praised Babbar as a hero. These actions have heightened tensions between India and Canada, with Canadian officials condemning the promotion of violence.

The search for Vijaya Lakshmi Gali, a 48-year-old Indian tourist from Andhra Pradesh who fell into a 26-foot-deep sinkhole in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on August 23, has been called off after nine days. Malaysian authorities, citing extremely challenging conditions and the emergence of a second sinkhole, halted the operation. Despite this, efforts to locate her will continue. The Indian ambassador to Malaysia thanked authorities, and Gali's family’s visas have been extended. The sinkhole collapsed suddenly as Gali walked through the Dang Wangi area, triggering the search.

Shreyovi Mehta, a 9-year-old from Faridabad, has won runner-up in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2024 contest. Her photo of peahens, taken during a morning stroll at Keoladev National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, was recognized in the “10 Years and Under” category. Out of nearly 60,000 entries from 117 countries, Mehta's “In the Spotlight” stood out. The award ceremony will be held at the Natural History Museum, London, on October 8. Mehta aims to capture India's national animal, the tiger, next.

Former Singapore diplomat Kishore Mahbubani urged reforms in the United Nations, suggesting India deserves a permanent seat at the UN Security Council (UNSC). He emphasized India’s growing global power, ranking third after the US and China. Mahbubani criticized the UK for not using its veto power for decades and called for the UK to relinquish its seat to India. He argued that the UNSC needs representation from today’s great powers, not those of the past. The diplomat also highlighted the importance of allowing nations like the UK to act independently without their UNSC obligations.