For 150 tribal students from Arts, Commerce and Science College, Onde, in Maharashtra’s Palghar district, Mumbai became more than just a distant city—it became a classroom beyond textbooks. Organised by the KAASH Foundation, Mumbai, the one-day educational and exposure tour was designed to broaden perspectives and introduce students to academic, cultural, and civic spaces rarely accessible to them. Travelling from Palghar aboard the Flying Ranee Express, the students began their day with a visit to Girgaon Chowpatty, where Mumbai’s coastline offered lessons in history, culture, and urban life. The experience set the tone for a day focused on learning through observation and interaction. A key highlight was their participation in the 20th National Workshop on "Inclusiveness" at the Xavier Institute of Management and Research (XIMR). Discussions on leadership, higher education, and career pathways were led by academic leaders, while interactions with postgraduate students gave participants a relatable view of life beyond undergraduate studies. In the afternoon, the students attended the 21st International Symposium, “Tribal to Global: Connecting Communities and Creating Change”, at the National Gallery of Modern Art. Exposure to international diplomats and senior Indian administrators underscored how local communities connect to global conversations. Speakers encouraged students to pursue education, creativity, and responsible citizenship. The day also featured a cultural performance by the students, warmly received by the audience, reinforcing pride in their identity. A visit to the Gateway of India concluded the tour, leaving students with a lasting impression of Mumbai’s historical legacy. Through initiatives like this, KAASH Foundation continues its work in education, health, skill development, and self-reliance in the Vikramgad region, using exposure as a powerful tool to inspire confidence and ambition among tribal youth.
15 December,2025 09:25 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentCreepy, zany and demonstrably fake content is often called 'slop'. The word's proliferation online, in part thanks to the widespread availability of generative artificial intelligence, landed it Merriam-Webster's 2025 word of the year. "It's such an illustrative word," said Greg Barlow, Merriam-Webster's president, in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press ahead of Monday's announcement. It's part of a transformative technology, AI, and it's something that people have found fascinating, annoying and a little bit ridiculous. 'Slop' was first used in the 1700s to mean soft mud, but it evolved more generally to mean something of little value. The definition has since expanded to mean "digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence". In other words, "you know, absurd videos, weird advertising images, cheesy propaganda, fake news that looks real, junky AI-written digital books," Barlow said.AI video generators like Sora have wowed with their ability to quickly create realistic clips based merely on text prompts. But a flood of these images on social media, including clips depicting celebrities and deceased public figures, has raised worries about misinformation, deepfakes and copyright. Such content has existed online for years, but the tools are more accessible now, and used to political ends by, among other figures, the head of the Pentagon. Last month, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth posted a manipulated image of a beloved cartoon turtle, reimagined as a grenade-wielding fighter, to defend US military actions in Venezuela. The Canadian animated show 'Franklin' teaches preschoolers about kindness, empathy and inclusivity, but in Hegseth's hands, its 6-year-old main character became a tool to promote violence. The word 'slop' evokes unpleasant images of mud-caked pigs crowding around a dirty trough, or perhaps a bucket of steaming, fetid stew. Or AI amalgamations of algorithmic biases laden with offensive or nonsensical imagery. For some, the word induces dread. But to Barlow, it brings a sense of hope. The dictionary's president says the spike in searches for the word reflects that people have grown more aware of fake or shoddy content, and desire the inverse. "They want things that are real, they want things that are genuine," he said. "It's almost a defiant word when it comes to AI. When it comes to replacing human creativity, sometimes AI actually doesn't seem so intelligent." To select the word of the year, the dictionary's editors review data about which words have risen in search results and usage. Then they come to a consensus about which word best reflects the span of the year. "We like to think that we are a mirror for people," Barlow said. Over the years, there are words that are consistently looked up, but they're filtered out as the dictionary's editors pick the one that best defines the year at hand.Words like ubiquitous,' paradigm,' albeit,' irregardless,' these are always top lookups because they're words that are on the edge of our lexicon," Barlow said. 'Irregardless' is a word in the dictionary for one reason: It's used. It's been used for decades to mean regardless.' The dictionary has selected one word every year since 2003 to capture and make sense of the current moment. Last year, shortly after the US presidential election and amid the shifting national mood, Merriam-Webster chose the word 'polarisation'. A fresh edition came out last month that adds over 5,000 new words, a rare step that involves fully revising and reimagining one of its most popular dictionaries. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
15 December,2025 12:39 PM IST | Washington | APA two-day music festival will be organised on December 14 and 15 to commemorate the first death anniversary of legendary tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain. The tribute event, titled ‘Maestro Forever – A Tribute to Zakir Hussain’, will be hosted at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), Nariman Point, and will feature performances and discussions involving over 50 eminent artistes from India and abroad. The festival will take place on December 14 and 15, 2025, from 9 am to 9 pm at the NCPA. Live screenings will be held on both days from 6 pm to 9 pm. Besides the main venue at Nariman Point, live screenings will be arranged at three locations across Mumbai—Prabodhankar Keshav Sitaram Thackeray Theatre in Borivali (West), Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Olympic Swimming Pool in Dadar (West), and Anna Bhau Sathe Theatre in Byculla (East). Over 50 acclaimed musicians and collaborators associated with Ustad Zakir Hussain will take part. The list features leading Indian and international artistes such as John McLaughlin, Shankar Mahadevan, Amjad Ali Khan, Rakesh Chaurasia, Louis Banks, Ajay Chakrabarty, Ranjit Barot, V. Selvaganesh, Ganesh Rajagopalan, Sanjay Divecha and Chris Potter, among others. Members of Ustad Zakir Hussain’s family, including his wife Antonia and daughters Anisa and Isabella, will also attend. The programme will feature music concerts, panel discussions, interactive sessions, documentary screenings and a photographic exhibition showcasing key moments from the maestro’s life and career. Civic authorities have extended logistical support for live screenings to facilitate public access to the tribute across multiple locations in Mumbai.
14 December,2025 03:04 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIndian singer-songwriter Prateek Kuhad captivated thousands of Mumbaikars and fans from all over with a spellbinding performance in the city on Friday, December 12, in the city. Mumbaikars welcomed him with palpable excitement, transforming the night into a heartfelt celebration of emotions, melodies and cherished moments. Taking the stage to thunderous applause, Kuhad delivered his signature mix of tender ballads, indie favourites and crowd-pleasing anthems. With beloved tracks like ‘CO2’, ‘Mulaqat’, ‘All I need’, ‘Teri Hi Hum’, the atmosphere evolved into a sea of swaying lights, soulful sing-alongs and shared nostalgia. Shoven Shah, founder & CEO, TribeVibe Entertainment, added, “Prateek is an artist who can command an entire arena with nothing more than his voice and a guitar that’s the power of his artistry. Mumbai showing up in such impressive numbers reflects both his remarkable reach and the growing appetite for independent music.” After Mumbai, House of McDowell’s Soda Yaari Jam, produced and promoted by TribeVibe Entertainment, will continue its journey across Jaipur, Bhubaneswar and Guwahati, inviting fans to immerse themselves in an experience of music, food and more. Tickets for all the shows are exclusively available on BookMyShow.
13 December,2025 04:16 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentRenowned author Ruskin Bond has been admitted to a hospital in Dehradun due to discomfort in his leg. He is currently undergoing treatment under medical supervision. Bond's family members said that one of Ruskin Bond's legs has weakened, causing difficulty in walking. They added that he is expected to be discharged from the hospital in the next few days. Born on May 19, 1934, in Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh, Ruskin Bond is known for his captivating stories. Over several decades, he has written many novels, short stories, essays, and children's books. His writing often reflects the peaceful landscapes of his early years in the hills. Bond published his first novel, titled "The Room on the Roof" at the very young age of 17. The novel won the prestigious John Llewellyn Rhys Prize in 1957. He is known for his love for nature, small towns, and children. His work collection expands to over 500 short stories, novels, essays, and poems. His style of writing is focused on telling stories of life in small towns, feel-good stories with deep meaning hidden between the lines, evoking nostalgia, etc. Some of Ruskin Bond's most significant works include novels such as "Vagrants in the Valley", "A Flight of Pigeons", "The Blue Umbrella," and, of course, his award-winning debut novel, "The Room on the Roof." He has written countless heartwarming short stories, including "The Night Train at Deoli," "Time Stops at Shamli," and "Delhi Is Not Far." His poems and essays, such as "Rain in the Mountains" and "A Book of Simple Living," have also earned him global recognition. 91-year-old Ruskin Bond has charmed readers of all ages with his beloved characters. His writing is simple, nostalgic, and deeply evocative. He has received many awards, including the Sahitya Akademi Award, the Padma Bhushan, the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize, and the Padma Shri. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
13 December,2025 12:09 PM IST | Dehradun (Uttarakhand) | ANIArchaeologists in Turkey have uncovered one of the most important finds from Anatolia's early Christian era: a fresco of a Roman-looking Jesus as the "Good Shepherd." The painting was discovered in August in an underground tomb near Iznik, a town in northwestern Turkey that secured its place in Christian history as the place where the Nicene Creed was adopted in AD 325. Pope Leo XIV recently visited the town as part of his first overseas trip. At the time, the region was part of the Roman Empire, and the tomb in the village of Hisardere is believed to date to the third century, a time when Christians still faced widespread persecution. The Good Shepherd fresco depicts a youthful, clean-shaven Jesus dressed in a toga and carrying a goat across his shoulders. Researchers say it is one of the rare instances in Anatolia where Jesus is portrayed with distinctly Roman attributes. Before the cross was widely adopted as Christianity's universal symbol, the Good Shepherd motif played a key role in expressing faith, indicating protection, salvation and divine guidance. Despite its central role in early Christianity, however, only a few examples of the Good Shepherd have been found in Anatolia and the one in Hisardere is the best preserved. Lead archaeologist Gulsen Kutbay described the artwork as possibly the "only example of its kind in Anatolia." The walls and ceiling of the cramped tomb are decorated with bird and plant motifs. Portraits of noble men and women, accompanied by slave attendants, also decorate the walls. Eren Erten Ertem, an archaeologist from Iznik Museum, said the frescoes showed "a transition from late paganism to early Christianity, depicting the deceased being sent off to the afterlife in a positive and fitting manner." The excavation uncovered the skeletons of five individuals, anthropologist Ruken Zeynep Kose said. Because of poor preservation, it was impossible to determine the ages of two of them, but the others were two young adults and a six-month-old infant. Pope Leo XIV visited Iznik last month to mark the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea that produced a creed, or statement of faith, that is still recited by millions of Christians today. Joined by patriarchs and priests from the Eastern and Western churches, Leo prayed that Christians might once again be united. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, presented a tile painting of the Good Shepherd discovery to Leo during his visit. Anatolia witnessed pivotal moments in Christian history: St Paul was born in Tarsus, St John spent his final years in Ephesus and the Virgin Mary may have lived her last days near the same city.
13 December,2025 09:10 AM IST | Iznik (Turkey) | APIran's art of mirror-work in Persian architecture, UAE's traditional art form that blends performing arts with oral tradition and Switzerland's yodelling -- a vocal technique involving the use of different registers -- were on Thursday inscribed on the UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list. A total of 67 cultural elements, including India's Deepavali, have been added to UNESCO's various intangible heritage lists over the period of December 9-11. These include 11 elements put on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding, and over 50 inscriptions on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The new inscriptions also include Al Sadu, traditional weaving skills in the United Arab Emirates, and Hezhen Yimakan storytelling from China, both of which have been moved from the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The decision was taken during the 20th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) being hosted at the Red Fort in Delhi from December 8-13. The phase-wise examination of the 67 nominations submitted by nearly 80 countries had begun on Tuesday, and it was completed on Thursday. This is the first time that India is hosting a session of the intergovernmental committee for the safeguarding of ICH. 'Deepavali', Italian cooking, and Al-Muhaibis: social practices and traditions associated with it, from Iraq, among others were inscribed on the UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. "A total of 67 living heritage elements have been added to UNESCO's lists," a senior official said. On Thursday, Ayeneh-Kari, the art of mirror-work in Persian architecture from Iran was added to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Ayeneh-Kari, or mirror-work, refers to the handcrafted art of decorating architectural surfaces such as ceilings, walls, domes, columns and panels using cut pieces of mirrors, the UNESCO said. India at UNECSO in a post on X said Ali Darabi, Vice-Minister and Deputy for Cultural Heritage of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts of the Islamic Republic of Iran, gifted India's Ambassador and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, Vishal V Sharma, an Ayeneh-Kari art depicting the 'Indian emblem', adding that it was "handed over to the Ministry of Culture for display". Cobza, traditional knowledge, skills and music, a joint nomination by the Republic of Moldova and Romania was also accorded a UNESCO tag on Wednesday. The cobza is a pear-shaped string instrument with a short neck and wooden body, traditionally used to provide rhythm and harmony in folk music. It can be played solo or in groups and is usually strummed with a folded goose feather, the world body said. Corina Calugaru, Ambassador of Moldova to France and the country's Ambassador and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO said, "Moldova and Romania share a border and share a culture, whether it is our language or clothing". "We two countries are like sisters, and have fondness for each other. We both have a few other joint elements already inscribed on the UNESCO list such as the art of 'Ia', the traditional blouse with embroidery on the shoulder, inscribed in 2022," Calugaru told PTI on Thursday. She said she was wearing an 'Ia' blouse while attending the UNESCO session in Delhi. The two countries share a border and incidentally, the desk of the members of the Romanian delegation is placed next to the one of Moldova, separated by an aisle. On Tuesday, the traditional saree weaving art of Tangail from Bangladesh and Behzad's style of miniature painting from Afghanistan were among the elements inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The skills and practices of making 'Bisht' (men's Abaa or gown), a transnational nomination, were also inscribed on this list. Besides, 'Lastovo Poklad' carnival custom of Croatia, UAE's Al Sadu and China's Hezhen Yimakan storytelling and have been selected for the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices of Intangible Heritage. The joy among the members of the UAE delegation was double as Al Ahalla -- a traditional art form that blends performing arts with oral tradition -- was included in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, while Al Sadu, traditional weaving skills, was moved to this list from the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. Abu Dhabi-based Walid Al Halani, a member of the UAE delegation at the session, told PTI, "First or ultimate goal of such meetings is to safeguard the memories of the people, memories of the place, soul of the place... amid rapid urbanisation, we are trying to save what we can, before it's too late." This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
12 December,2025 05:53 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIWeeks after announcing the dates for the upcoming edition, Mahindra Blues Festival, which is set to take place on February 14 and 15 in 2026, has now announced an interesting lineup for the two-day blues music festival in Mumbai. This year’s lineup marks the reunion of several of the festival's legends, along with artists who have captivated audiences with their distinct interpretations of the genre at the iconic Mehboob Studios in Bandra. It spans generations and geographies. From multi-award-winning artists to homegrown acts, to young voices defining blues in the new era. Across both evenings, the audience will witness soul-stirring music, gritty basslines, soaring trumpets, and defiant pulsing through every performance. Matt Schofield, one of the prominent names in the British blues scene, performs on Day 1 of the festival. With over 30 years of experience commanding stages, including 20 years of his solo act, his artistry lies in channelling deep emotion through every note, his improvisational brilliance leaving the audience spellbound. He is the first guitarist inducted into the British Blues Awards Hall of Fame, marking his return after his first appearance in the first edition of the festival. All the way from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the dynamic quintet, Altered Five Blues Band, has been dominating charts and ruling hearts since 2002. The collective’s frontman and singer, Jeff Taylor, may remind you of legends like Howlin’ Wolf and B.B. King, but his smooth, buttery voice remains authentic and unmistakably his own. The group has remained at the forefront of contemporary blues for over a decade, and now the band is all set to make the audience groove to its tunes on day one of the festival. Multi-Grammy Award nominee, Shemekia Copeland, will grace the Mahindra Blues Festival’s stage again. Daughter of the legendary blues artist Johnny Copeland, Shemekia’s music is shaping the soundtrack of modern America—powerful, ferocious, and hopeful. The Harlem-born artist established herself as a powerful blues and R&B artist at the age of 18 with debut album Turn The Heat Up. After mesmerizing the blues fans with her acts in 2011 and 2017, she is bringing back her deeply soulful roots voice which will be a perfect end to the power-packed first day. India’s original blues-rock pioneers, Blackstratblues, returns to the festival. Founded by Warren Mendonsa, the collective made instrumental blues cool. Composed of drummer Jai Row Kavi, bassist Adil Mistry, and keyboardist Beven Fonseca, this quartet has seamlessly infused electronic and psychedelic influences, while also drawing heavily from ‘60s and ‘70s blues-based melodic rock. The collective’s inspirational work led to the Soulstrat Saloon, a stage named as a tribute to them at the festival. Amidst this wave of a renewed interest in blues, young voices like D.K. Harrell are taking the baton forward. His debut album Talkin’ Heavy has already made him the defining voice of this generation. The 27-year-old's musicality is adventurous, exploratory, and a fusion of traditional music and contemporary compositions. The 14th Edition marks his debut at Asia's biggest celebration of blues. Central to this resurgence, we must acknowledge Eric Gales, who has become a driving force in this new era. With a unique style and a genre-defying grunge sound, the Grammy-nominated artist has easily become a favourite in the blues circuit. Recently, he was featured on the soundtrack of Ryan Coogler’s globally acclaimed and smash-hit horror film Sinners. This isn't his first rodeo at the festival. In 2017, he was a guest feature with the headliner Supersonic Blues Machine. Now, the Memphis blue-rocker is all set to bring the house down with his act, transporting the audience in a musical trance. Talking about the 14th edition of the festival, Jay Shah, who is the vice president, Cultural Outreach at the Mahindra Group, said, “We are witnessing a growing interest in blues. This cultural shift is significant, as there are so many talented individuals and pioneers who are striving to preserve and propel the magic of this genre. This year’s line-up is as diverse as it can get, an act from the homeland, a British act, along with veterans and the future voices. This gives us hope that through our efforts, the globe is becoming a unified village, basking in the glory of the blues.” VG Jairam, founder of Hyperlink Solutions, said, “The world is rediscovering the resilience, love, and power that blues holds. Blues has been one of the genres that told diverse and authentic stories in the most audacious ways. Like every edition, we have an ensemble of the best talents across the world coming together for evenings filled with love, hope, and everything Blues.” Like the past two editions, the Mahindra Blues Festival will continue its tradition of giving a platform to the young artists through the Kanakia Beatz Crew and Nanhi Kali Choir. The girls performing are part of one of the company’s philanthropic endeavours called the Nanhi Kali Project, a programme helping the underprivileged girls to continue their education. While empowering young girls, the festival also nurtures and promotes young artists through The Big Blues Band Hunt competition. The winning band performs at the Garden Stage during the festival.
12 December,2025 01:45 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA new bill has been introduced in the Indian Parliament that grants employees the power to ignore work calls, emails, and other communication beyond official working hours. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP Supriya Sule introduced the Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025 in the Lok Sabha on December 5 as a private member’s bill, meaning it has not yet been debated or passed. The proposal directly addresses the rising culture of constant connectivity that increasingly blurs the boundaries between professional responsibilities and personal time. The primary aim of the bill is to promote healthier work–life balance across India’s corporate and private sectors. It recognises an employee’s right to disengage after working hours as a legitimate and legally protected boundary. At the same time, the bill offers companies the space to negotiate terms suited to their operational needs and work culture. It seeks to bring more structure to modern workplace expectations by addressing unpaid overtime, setting clear policies for remote and hybrid work, and introducing counselling services along with digital detox initiatives to mitigate the growing effects of hyper-connectivity and burnout. Under the proposed framework, the Right to Disconnect will apply to private-sector employees, ensuring that workers can switch off from official communication without fear of disciplinary action. To oversee the enforcement of these provisions, the bill proposes the establishment of an Employees’ Welfare Authority, a collaborative body involving the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, the Ministry of Communications, and the Ministry of Labour and Employment. Its role would include monitoring compliance, ensuring dispute resolution, and guiding organisations as they adapt to the new norms. Although the bill is still at the introductory stage, it has already sparked active conversation online. With hustle culture and the glorification of always being available becoming increasingly common in the past decade, many people view this proposal as a step toward prioritising mental well-being, reducing burnout, and restoring personal time. Globally, the right to disconnect is not new. In 2017, France became the first country to formally recognise this protection in labour laws. Since then, countries such as Portugal, Italy, Australia, and others have passed similar legislation to safeguard workers from incessant digital demands and to reinforce the importance of rest in a hyper-connected world. If passed, India’s Right to Disconnect Bill could mark a significant shift in the country’s work culture—one that acknowledges the need for healthier boundaries in an increasingly digital economy.
11 December,2025 04:41 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentLegendary English rock band Def Leppard is all set to perform in India on a three-city tour in March 2026. They will perform in Shillong on March 25 at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Polo Grounds), Mumbai on March 27 at Jio World Garden and Bengaluru on March 29 at NICE Grounds. The band's lead singer, Joe Elliott says, “We’re excited to announce our India tour dates in 2026. Playing for our fans in India is thrilling for us. We can’t wait to see you soon!” Phil Collen, who is the co-lead guitarist, adds, “We are delighted to finally make it to India next year. It’s going to be an incredible night for all the fans!” Def Leppard’s three-city India Tour continues the series of defining rock live shows under the banner of Bandland On Tour, an extension of Bandland, the rock and alternative music Intellectual Property (IP) of BookMyShow Live, as it scales its footprint across the country. Naman Pugalia, chief business officer - Live Events, BookMyShow, said, “This tour marks a significant moment for rock culture in India. Def Leppard have shaped the soundtrack of millions of lives around the world, and bringing their first full-scale headliner tour to India is a shared celebration of music history, fan devotion and the power of live experiences. India is entering a new chapter in live entertainment, one where legendary global acts are returning to our stages and rock music is finding a renewed, passionate audience.” For over four decades, Def Leppard have stood at the forefront of rock’s global evolution, crafting a catalogue that defined an era and continues to inspire generations. Their unmistakable blend of soaring harmonies, precision-driven riffs and stadium-sized emotion has made them icons of the genre, a status cemented by their induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. For India, the band’s arrival marks their first full-scale headliner tour in the country, long awaited by a thriving and increasingly vocal community of rock loyalists. Their concerts are renowned for powerful visual storytelling, intricate musicianship and a level of touring excellence that continues to set global benchmarks, making this tour a landmark moment for both fans and the country’s live music landscape. With more than 110 million albums sold worldwide and two prestigious Diamond Awards in the U.S., Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees Def Leppard has produced a series of classic ground-breaking albums that set the bar for generations of music fans and artists alike. The group’s spectacular live shows and arsenal of hits have become synonymous with their name. Def Leppard’s influential career includes numerous hit singles and multi-platinum albums, including two of the best-selling albums of all time, Pyromania and Hysteria capturing the group’s legendary tracks such as ‘Rock of Ages’, ‘Pour Some Sugar on Me’, ‘Animal’ and ‘Foolin’. Testament to Def Leppard’s enduring and ever growing appeal is their 20 million followers across social media platforms. The 2023 tour saw the band headline venues across Europe including selling out the iconic Wembley Stadium. That tour was part of a two year run that saw Def Leppard & Mötley Crüe selling over 2.1 million tickets across the globe while performing in 27 countries and on five continents. In 2023, the band release their innovative last studio album, 'Drastic Symphonies' alongside the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The critically acclaimed album charted at No 4 in the UK – the band highest UK chart position in 32 years. Recorded at the iconic Abbey Road Studios it led to the band performing a stunning set on BBC Radio 2’s Piano Rooms – their version of ‘Pour Some Sugar On Me’ featuring Emm Gryner and the BBC Concert Orchestra. The General On-Sale tickets for the tour, which is supported by Meghalaya Tourism in Shillong with The Circus as event partner, goes live at 12 noon on Saturday, December 13, exclusively on BookMyShow.
11 December,2025 01:45 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentScientists in Britain say ancient humans may have learned to make fire far earlier than previously believed, after uncovering evidence that deliberate fire-setting took place in what is now eastern England around 400,000 years ago. The findings, described in the journal Nature, push back the earliest known date for controlled fire-making by roughly 350,000 years. Until now, the oldest confirmed evidence had come from Neanderthal sites in what is now northern France dating to about 50,000 years ago. The discovery was made at Barnham, a Paleolithic site in Suffolk that has been excavated for decades. A team led by the British Museum identified a patch of baked clay, flint hand axes fractured by intense heat and two fragments of iron pyrite, a mineral that produces sparks when struck against flint. Researchers spent four years analysing to rule out natural wildfires. Geochemical tests showed temperatures had exceeded 700 degrees Celsius (1,292 Fahrenheit), with evidence of repeated burning in the same location. That pattern, they say, is consistent with a constructed hearth rather than a lightning strike. Rob Davis, a Paleolithic archaeologist at the British Museum, said the combination of high temperatures, controlled burning and pyrite fragments shows 'how they were actually making the fire and the fact they were making it.' Iron pyrite does not occur naturally at Barnham. Its presence suggests the people who lived there deliberately collected it because they understood its properties and could use it to ignite tinder. Deliberate fire-making is rarely preserved in the archaeological record. Ash is easily dispersed, charcoal decays and heat-altered sediments can be eroded. At Barnham, however, the burned deposits were sealed within ancient pond sediments, allowing scientists to reconstruct how early people used the site. Researchers say the implications for human evolution are substantial. Fire allowed early populations to survive colder environments, deter predators and cook food. Cooking breaks down toxins in roots and tubers and kills pathogens in meat, improving digestion and releasing more energy to support larger brains. Chris Stringer, a human evolution specialist at the Natural History Museum, said fossils from Britain and Spain suggest the inhabitants of Barnham were early Neanderthals whose cranial features and DNA point to growing cognitive and technological sophistication. Fire also enabled new forms of social life. Evening gatherings around a hearth would have provided time for planning, storytelling and strengthening group relationships, which are behaviours often associated with the development of language and more organized societies. Archaeologists say the Barnham site fits a wider pattern across Britain and continental Europe between 500,000 and 400,000 years ago, when brain size in early humans began to approach modern levels and when evidence for increasingly complex behavior becomes more visible. Nick Ashton, curator of Paleolithic collections at the British Museum, described it as "the most exciting discovery of my long 40-year career." For archaeologists, the find helps address a long-standing question: When humans stopped relying on lightning strikes and wildfires and instead learned to create flame wherever and whenever they needed it. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
11 December,2025 12:45 PM IST | London | APADVERTISEMENT
