Human Interest

Kashmir’s higher reaches saw overnight snowfall, raising night temperatures above freezing in Srinagar for the first time this December. Pulwama remained the coldest at –2.7°C, while fog enveloped the valley as the region approaches the 40-day ‘Chillai Kalan’ winter

Bollywood actor Arjun Rampal announced his engagement to long-time partner Gabriella Demetriades during Rhea Chakraborty’s podcast. The couple, dating since 2018, has two sons, Arik and Arav, while Rampal was previously married to Mehr Jesia

The Thailand–Cambodia border conflict, reignited on December 7, has killed over 20 civilians and displaced half a million. Domestic political pressures, nationalism, and economic distractions are driving renewed hostilities, with both countries leveraging the crisis for internal political gain

IATA warns of rising GPS spoofing and jamming incidents affecting global aviation, including India, with reported cases nearly doubling since 2022. Pilots are urged to remain vigilant, while authorities emphasize better coordination and awareness to mitigate risks

Former Karnataka MLA and doctor Anjali Nimbalkar saved an American passenger’s life by performing CPR during a Goa to New Delhi flight after the woman suffered a medical emergency mid air, earning praise from passengers, crew, and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah 

A parliamentary committee praised the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives in Ladakh for exemplary experiential education and urged the University Grants Commission to grant long pending recognition, while recommending replication of its model nationwide despite recent controversies involving founder Sonam Wangchuk

The CBI filed a chargesheet against 17 individuals, including four Chinese nationals, and 58 companies for running a transnational cyber fraud network that used shell firms and digital scams to siphon over Rs 1,000 crore, officials said  

Severe flooding swamped Washington communities as an atmospheric river drenched the Pacific Northwest, forcing mass evacuations and dramatic water rescues, while arctic air spread across the United States, bringing dangerous cold, wind chills, power risks, and warnings of more rain 

Pradeep Ghadi Amonkar, claiming to be the original owner of land where the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub burned, alleges unauthorized conversion of his property from salt pan to settlement zone, amid a 21-year legal battle over ownership in North Goa

The Delhi High Court directed social media intermediaries to act within seven days on Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan’s plea to protect his personality rights, covering AI videos, impersonation, and unauthorized use of his name and images online

Priyanka Chopra Jonas says embracing vulnerability is key to her personal growth, as she works on being emotionally honest rather than always portraying toughness. Motherhood and self-reflection have reshaped her perspective, allowing her to balance strength with openness and authenticity

The Delhi High Court directed social media intermediaries to act within seven days on Sunil Gavaskar’s plea to protect his personality rights, treating his suit as a complaint under IT Rules, 2021. Gavaskar seeks removal of unauthorised online use of his name and likeness

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