University of South Florida and Florida Atlantic University researchers have solved a 1,500-year-old mystery of the world’s first pandemic, the Plague of Justinian in Eastern Mediterranean. For the first time, researchers found direct genetic evidence of the bacterium (Yersinia pestis) responsible for the plague. They discovered the microbe in a mass grave at the ancient city of Jerash, Jordan.

A viral video by Cuffed Together is winning hearts, showing a Hindu husband and his Catholic wife celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi. Despite different faiths, she joyfully joins in rituals each year, proving love and togetherness go beyond religion. Their journey since 2018 reflects how Ganpati Bappa symbolises gratitude, courage, and unity, inspiring many across social media.

Lollapalooza India 2026 returns to Mumbai on January 24 and 25 with its biggest line-up yet. Linkin Park will make their long-awaited India debut, joined by Playboi Carti, YUNGBLUD, and Kehlani. The festival also spotlights rising Indian indie talent across four stages, with immersive art, global cuisines, and #LollaForChange initiatives.

Actress Rakul Preet Singh was recently spotted at Mumbai airport with a visible wellness patch on her neck, sparking fan curiosity. The patch is designed to boost energy, stamina, and overall health without drugs. Applied daily on clean skin, it supports an active lifestyle. Common areas include the neck, shoulder, or wrist.

A 45-year-old HIV-positive man has been arrested in Chhattisgarh's Durg for robbing several temples. The accused told police that he lost faith in religion after contracting the virus while serving a jail term for assault in 2012. He called his infection an "act of god" and decided to target temples as a form of "revenge against God", NewsBytes reported.

India’s pickleball boom is unstoppable, courts jumped from 200 in 2024 to 1,200 in 2025, growing at 26% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR). With setup costs of just ₹3-5 lakh, each court earns ₹3-4 lakh monthly, paying back in only 2-3 months. By 2028, players are expected to cross 1 million, and the market could reach ₹7,500 crore by 2030.

A monkey attacked by stray dogs in Dhule's Balde village, Maharashtra, died without receiving treatment, leaving villagers deeply grief-stricken. They cremated it with full dignity, beginning rituals with the Hanuman Chalisa. Nearly 2,500 villagers joined the funeral; men shaved their heads, women observed 'sutak,' and the entire village declared five days of mourning to honour the monkey's death.

Sanket Balkawade, a youth from Pune's Narayan Peth, has recreated the historic Lal Mahal at his home for Ganeshotsav. The 2.5 by 3 feet replica, crafted with wood and laser-cut sheets, showcases key moments from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's life, including the Shaista Khan episode. Balkawade plans to donate the model to Lal Mahal after the festival.

BBA student named Shraddha Tiwari from Indore ran away from home to marry her boyfriend Sarthak, but returned home a week later as another man's bride. Shraddha reached railway station last week but Sarthak refused to come and marry her. She deboarded the train at Ratlam, where she met Karandeep who worked as electrician at her college and married him.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited Mumbai's most famous Ganesh pandal, Lalbaugcha Raja, today as part of his two-day tour to participate in the Ganeshotsav festivities. Shah was accompanied by his family during the visit. Shah is expected to visit other popular Ganesh Mandals in the Bandra and Andheri areas during his stay.

A female leopard, estimated to be around 2 to 2.5 years old, was found dead on the Gurugram-Faridabad road, which cuts through the Aravallis, on Friday night. A local NGO alerted wildlife authorities, following which officials reached the spot and took the body into custody for postmortem examination.

A teacher has been arrested for allegedly pressuring a Class 7 girl to accompany him to an OYO hotel in Uttar Pradesh's Parikshitgarh. The teacher threatened to fail her in class when she refused, according to reports. The girl's father reported the matter to senior police officials, after which a case was filed against the teacher under POCSO Act.

Satish Deshmukh, a 40-year-old activist travelling with Maratha quota leader Manoj Jarange for a protest at Mumbai's Azad Maidan, died of a heart attack near Junnar in Pune district on Thursday morning. He complained of chest pain near Lenyadri and was rushed to a hospital in Narayangaon, where he was declared dead. Jarange termed the death "unfortunate."

In Pune, a shocking case of animal cruelty surfaced after a biker was caught on camera dragging his pet dog along the road. The video shows the dog's leash tied to the bike's handle as the helpless animal struggles to keep up. At one point, the biker stops, yanks the leash forcefully and rides ahead again despite resistance.

A 29-year-old man allegedly raped and assaulted his sister twice as he objected to her relationship with a man from their village in Gujarat's Bhavnagar district. According to police, the man raped his sister at knifepoint and also burned her with cigarettes. The assaults reportedly happened on July 13 and August 22, both times when his wife was away.

In Pune's Chakan, a 25-year-old married woman filed a complaint against a man she met on Instagram. The accused, identified as Datta Bhaurao Kumbhargave from Nanded, allegedly blackmailed and raped her on Tuesday night. A case has been registered under multiple sections of the BNS. Police said the accused is absconding, and an investigation is underway.

A 39-year-old cardiac surgeon, Dr Gradlin Roy, collapsed and died after a heart attack during rounds at a Chennai hospital. A doctor pointed out Dr Roy's death isn't an isolated incident and there's a disturbing trend of young doctors suffering from sudden cardiac events. Experts said prolonged working hours is one of the key reasons for such deaths.

A 19-year-old NEET aspirant in Jaipur attempted to jump from the terrace of a three-storey coaching institute on Friday. The student had climbed the terrace wall, reportedly stressed after her family visited the institute to inquire about her academic progress. While onlookers and teachers repeatedly urged her to stop, a teacher came from behind and pulled her down to safety.

A video from Pune shows a two-wheeler rider attacking a car and smashing its rear window after falling due to his own mistake. The rider had cut sharply into the car's lane, causing a minor accident, but later abused the driver and broke the window. The incident was shared on X (formerly Twitter) by a user with dashcam footage.

A man in Uttar Pradesh's Kannauj climbed an electricity tower demanding marriage with his sister-in-law. Raj Saxena had married a woman in 2021, who died a year later, after which he married her sister. On Thursday, he demanded to marry another sister. Police and his family persuaded him for seven hours before rescuing him safely.

A woman from Gujarat was sexually harassed by a man claiming to be an L&T employee. The woman shared messages she received from the man on LinkedIn. "It began with 'I need biological help' turning into a sexual innuendo about 'biological needs'. I reported him to LinkedIn, and I also reached out to colleagues from his organisation," she wrote.

Employees of a Canara Bank branch in Kerala's Kochi staged protest with 'beef fest' after their regional manager, a Bihar native, banned beef in the canteen. "Food is a personal choice. In India, every individual has the right to choose their food. We aren't forcing anyone to eat beef," Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI) leader SS Anil said.

A Spanish visitor to Kenya was placed under investigation after a video emerged showing him pouring beer into the trunk of an elephant at a private wildlife conservancy. The footage, which has since been removed from social media, was originally posted by the man. The incident occurred last year but came to public attention recently after Kenyans condemned the action.

A video surfaced online showing an SUV running over a drunk man lying on road in Gurugram. The incident allegedly occurred on Thursday in Gurugram's Bhuteshwar Mandir Chowk. The drunk man survived with minor injuries and can be seen sitting on the road after the accident. "A deliberate act...This is life for homeless people in India," an X user said.

A video circulating online showed a hospital patient, still attached to an IV drip, being taken out for a bike ride by friends in MP's Gwalior. In the video, the three men can be seen on a motorcycle with their ailing friend wedged between them. "Maybe he got bored in hospital and wanted a little outing," an X user said.