Human Interest

Scientists found evidence of deliberate fire-making 400,000 years ago at Barnham in eastern England, pushing back controlled fire use by 350,000 years. Heat-altered sediments, pyrite fragments and repeated burning indicate early Neanderthals intentionally created fire, revealing major evolutionary, cognitive and social implications 

Rajinikanth’s 75th birthday and 50 years in cinema sparked massive celebrations across Tamil Nadu and worldwide, with 4K re-releases, concerts and themed parties. Political leaders and fans paid tributes as theatres filled with festive crowds honouring the superstar’s unparalleled cultural impact and enduring legacy

A male leopard roaming Pune Airport since April was safely captured after a coordinated multi-agency operation. Using tunnels and low-footfall areas, it evaded traps for months before being tranquilised in an underground tunnel. The leopard has recovered and is under observation in Pune 

The heirs of Suzanne Adams sued OpenAI and Microsoft, alleging ChatGPT intensified her son’s paranoid delusions, contributing to her death. The lawsuit claims safety failures in GPT-4o encouraged harmful content, marking the first AI-related wrongful death case involving a homicide

The Indian government clarified in Parliament that global air quality rankings by organisations like IQAir and WHO are not official. WHO guidelines are advisory, while India enforces National Ambient Air Quality Standards and ranks cities under the Swachh Vayu Survekshan

Sensex and Nifty recovered from early losses in late morning trade, led by banking and auto stocks. Kotak Mahindra, HDFC Bank, and Reliance gained, while FIIs sold equities. US Fed rate cut had limited impact on Indian markets

Pallas's Gull, a rare migratory bird, has been sighted after nearly a decade at Udhwa Bird Sanctuary in Jharkhand, signaling positive biodiversity. Officials highlighted protection under the Wildlife Protection Act and ongoing conservation measures against threats

The Calcutta High Court upheld a life sentence for a man who had a consensual physical relationship with a 14-year-old minor, ruling it inexcusable. The court also directed compensation totaling Rs 3.8 lakh to the victim

Satya Nadella announced Microsoft’s US$ 17.5 billion investment to expand India’s AI and cloud infrastructure, including a new sustainable data centre by 2026. He emphasized digital sovereignty, cybersecurity, talent skilling and India’s rising global developer influence during the company’s Bengaluru event

The Environment Ministry’s Expert Appraisal Committee has cleared Andhra Pradesh to prepare Terms of Reference for seven proposed water aerodromes, including Visakhapatnam. The state must obtain multiple NoCs, including from Defence, before seeking environmental clearance, with public hearings planned within a month

Priyanka Chopra made a whirlwind 12-hour visit to Mumbai to shoot for 'The Great Indian Kapil Show' season 4, sharing behind-the-scenes moments online before returning to New York. She now continues filming SSMB29 and prepping for upcoming projects including 'Krrish 4' and 'The Bluff'

IndiGo cancelled 60 Bengaluru flights as DGCA intensified scrutiny amid major disruptions linked to staffing shortages and new crew duty norms. With declining pilot strength and planning lapses, regulators have deployed oversight teams while IndiGo leadership attributes the crisis to multiple “unanticipated” internal and external factors

A Utah judge is weighing media access in Tyler Robinson’s high-profile murder case amid concerns about pretrial prejudice. Prosecutors seek the death penalty, while news organizations push for transparency and defense attorneys argue that extensive coverage threatens Robinson’s right to a fair trial

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Mahakavi Subramania Bharati, praising his empowering writings, commitment to social justice, and contributions to Tamil literature. Bharati’s vision of equality, linguistic pride, women’s empowerment, and inclusive nationalism continues to inspire India’s cultural and social consciousness

A dazzling exhibition of royal and historic jewels opens at Paris’ Hôtel de la Marine, showcasing centuries-old treasures from global collections. The display unfolds shortly after the Louvre crown-jewel heist, highlighting security concerns and public fascination with gems and history.

Archaeologists in Jerusalem uncovered the longest intact Hasmonean wall foundations, revealing possible evidence of a 2,100-year-old ceasefire with King Antiochus VII. The 50-metre wall, partially dismantled, may also have served as King Herod’s palace foundation, linking archaeology with ancient historical accounts 

A sack of voter ID cards was found abandoned near NH-12 in Nadia, prompting police investigation. Local TMC leaders accused BJP workers of dumping the EPICs, while the BJP denied involvement, alleging misuse for bogus voting amid ongoing electoral roll revision

Satya Nadella announced Microsoft’s US$ 17.5-billion India investment to expand AI and data-centre infrastructure, including a new Hyderabad cloud region by 2026. After meeting PM Modi, he highlighted sovereign cloud offerings aligned with India’s data-protection regime and stressed strong cybersecurity and resilience

Relatives of two brain-dead persons donated the organs of the deceased under Jeevandan organ donation initiative

Following a National Guard shooting by an Afghan national, ICE has increased arrests of Afghan immigrants across the US, including asylum seekers and Operation Allies Welcome arrivals, causing fear among families and raising concerns over collective punishment of a vulnerable population 

Actor Tamannaah Bhatia will star opposite Siddhant Chaturvedi in the biographical drama 'V Shantaram', portraying Jayashree, the legendary filmmaker’s second wife and collaborator, tracing Shantaram’s cinematic journey from silent films to color, under director Abhijeet Shirish Deshpande

Priyanka Chopra Jonas reflected on her 25-year journey from Miss World to Bollywood and Hollywood, highlighting hard work, sacrifices, and resilience. She stressed creating opportunities, learning from failures, valuing family, and advising youth to protect their mental health amid challenges 

Scientists documented 16,600 theropod dinosaur footprints in Toro Toro, Bolivia, the largest collection worldwide. Tracks reveal behavior, herd dynamics, and swimming attempts, while human activity threatens preservation. Research continues to uncover insights into dinosaurs’ lives during the late Cretaceous

Bollywood actor Kartik Aaryan clicked a fun selfie with Hollywood star Johnny Depp at the Red Sea Film Festival. Kartik, known for his role as Rooh Baba, is promoting upcoming films including Tu Meri Main Tera and Naagzilla