Business
Amazon Plans To Use Robots To Replace More Than Half-a-Million US jobs: Report
Amazon.com Inc., America’s second-largest employer, is gearing up for a major workplace shift by planning to replace more than half a million U.S. jobs with robots, according to the New York Times. The report, based on internal documents and executive interviews, suggests the e-commerce giant is moving toward a more automated future.//
Automation Set to Transform Amazon’s Workforce
Since 2018, Amazon’s U.S. workforce has nearly tripled to around 1.2 million. But the company’s automation team predicts that robots could eliminate the need to hire more than 160,000 employees by 2027. According to the report, this shift could save roughly 30 cents per item in processing costs—from picking and packing to delivery—and slash up to $12.6 billion in operational expenses between 2025 and 2027.
Robots Could Slow Hiring Growth
Last year, Amazon executives told the company’s board that robotic automation could help manage hiring needs, even as sales are expected to double by 2033. With this strategy, the company may avoid hiring more than 600,000 additional employees, the report added.
Amazon’s Push Toward High-Tech Warehouses
Amazon is working to design warehouses that rely very little on human workers. Internal documents reveal that the company’s robotics team aims to automate up to 75 per cent of operations. Interestingly, the documents avoid terms like “automation” or “artificial intelligence,” instead using phrases like “advanced technology” or “cobot,” a term that suggests robots working alongside humans.
Amazon Responds to Report
In response to the New York Times report, Amazon spokeswoman Kelly Nantel said the leaked documents were incomplete and didn’t represent the company’s overall hiring plans. She noted that Amazon still intends to hire 250,000 people for the upcoming holiday season, though the number of permanent roles wasn’t disclosed. The company also denied directing executives to avoid certain terms and clarified that its community programs are unrelated to automation.
The Rise of Amazon Robotics
Amazon’s push for automation started in 2012 with its $775 million acquisition of robotics company Kiva Systems, transforming the way its warehouses operate. Its newest robotic facility in Shreveport, Louisiana, serves as a model for future fulfillment centers, where human involvement is kept to a minimum once packaging begins, according to the report.
Business
Bank Holiday Bhai Dooj: Are Branches Closed Or Open In Your City Today? Check State-Wise List
New Delhi: As per RBI holiday list, bank branches will be closed for certain days on account of Diwali and related festivities like kali puja, kati bihu, Bhai dooj, across the nation. Bank branches in several cities will be closed on account of Bhai Dooj today, 23 October 2025.
When will bank branches be closed over the next few days?
Bank branches will be closed on various accounts in different parts of the country on various days between 21 and 23 October for Diwali festivities. Here’s the detailed list.
Banks will be closed in Gujarat, Sikkim, Manipur, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Himachal Pradesh on account of Bhai Bij/Bhaidooj/Chitragupt Jayanti/Laxmi Puja (Deepawali)/Bhratridwitiya/Ningol Chakkouba on October 23.
Banks were closed for Diwali (Bali Pratipada)/Vikram Samvant New Year Day/Govardhan Pooja/Balipadyami, Laxmi Puja (Deepawali) on October 22 in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar. Banks were closed in Assam for Kati Bihu on october 18. In several cities –Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim, Manipur, Jammu & Kashmir–banks were also closed for Diwali Amavasya (Laxmi Pujan)/Deepawali/Govardhan Pooja on October 21
In the remaining days of October, banks will be closed for the following festivities
Chath Puja (Evening Puja): October 27
Chath Puja (Morning Puja): October 28
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s Birthday: October 31
Apart from the above bank holidays, the second and fourth Saturdays, Sundays of the month are falling on the following dates:
Sunday: October19
Fourth Saturday: October 25
Sunday: October 26
Holidays of the mentioned days will be observed in various regions according to the state declared holidays, however for the gazetted holidays, banks will be closed all over the country.
If you keep a track of these holidays, you would be able to plan bank transaction activities in a better way. For long weekends, you can even plan your holidays well.
Business
Key economic indicators will see major revamp in early 2026 – The Times of India
NEW DELHI: India’s economic dashboard is getting a long-overdue makeover in early 2026. From GDP and retail inflation to industrial output, several major measures of economic activity will be updated to reflect how people live, earn and spend today. A new index to track the booming services sector — from logistics to digital platforms — will also make its debut, offering a sharper picture of what drives the country’s growth.First off the block will be the GDP data, with 2022-23 prices, which will be unveiled on Feb 27 when advance estimates are released. This means that the budget-making exercise, which depends on the first advance estimates released Jan 7, will use the existing series. In Feb, the ministry of statistics and programme implementation will put out the updated retail inflation data, with 2023-24 base, measuring price rise for Jan.

And, in April, the new index of industrial production with a 2022-23 base will be released. This will be followed by the services sector index, estimating the largest component in India’s economy for the first time. The index has been in the making for close to two decades and seen to be crucial, especially as the role of new sectors, such as the digital economy and logistics, increases in everyday life.The new data line-up is seen to be the biggest upgrade in recent years with the base year set to be changed after over a decade. Currently, official estimates are based on 2011-12 prices and the consumption basket has also seen a massive change in these years, with the share of food coming down and products such as smartphones becoming mass-used items, replacing feature phones.Besides, it seeks to tackle crucial gaps in the current data, where products such as food offered through the public distribution system, do not carry any expenditure share since there is no out of pocket spend by households. The ministry is currently undertaking a revision of the consumer price index (CPI) with the objective of updating item weights, revising the consumption basket and incorporating methodological improvements to strengthen the index.
Business
Southwest beats earnings estimates, forecasts record revenue for current quarter
A Southwest Airlines jet approaches Midway Airport on Dec. 15, 2023, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
John J. Kim | Chicago Tribune | Getty Images
Southwest Airlines on Wednesday posted a surprise profit for the third quarter and said it expects to generate record sales in the last three months of the year thanks to better travel demand and higher fares.
The carrier said it expects unit revenue to rise between 1% and 3% for the fourth quarter, with capacity up 6% over the same period last year.
“This guidance range assumes demand strength remains at current levels through the end of the quarter,” Southwest said.
Here’s how Southwest performed in the period ended September 30 compared with Wall Street expectations, according to consensus estimates from LSEG:
- Earnings per share: 11 cents adjusted vs. loss of 3 cents expected
- Revenue: $6.95 billion vs. $6.92 billion expected
In July, Southwest joined other airlines in cutting its 2025 profit forecast. The Dallas carrier said it expected full-year earnings before taxes of $600 million to $800 million, down from an earlier forecast of $1.7 billion. It reaffirmed that earnings outlook on Wednesday.
The carrier has been working to better compete with rivals and increase sales, abandoning longtime policies like open seating and two free checked bags for each traveler.
Southwest CFO Tom Doxey told CNBC in an interview that increased sales from selling seat assignments would show up in the first quarter, when the first flights without open seating begin.
Southwest’s third-quarter profit fell more than 19% year over year to $54 million from $67 million. On a per-share basis, Southwest’s earnings fell to 10 cents from 11 cents a year earlier.
Adjusting for one-time items, Southwest reported $58 million in earnings for the third-quarter, or 11 cents a share.
Revenue rose 1% to $6.95 billion from the year-earlier period.
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