The term "artificial intelligence" was coined by American computer scientist John McCarthy in 1955. He, along with Marvin Minsky, Nathaniel Rochester, and Claude Shannon, used the term in a proposal for the Dartmouth Summer Research Project on Artificial Intelligence held in 1956, which is considered the founding event of AI as a scientific discipline. McCarthy is widely recognized as the father of artificial intelligence, and he also developed the Lisp programming language, which became closely associated with AI research.
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The first PhD in artificial intelligence was awarded to Jonathan Slagle in 1961. His dissertation, which developed one of the first AI expert systems called SAINT, marked a key academic milestone for a field that had been formally founded just five years earlier at the 1956 Dartmouth Conference.
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Following recent terror incidents in India, the Quad is bolstering its counter-terrorism cooperation ahead of its upcoming summit. The group's Foreign Ministers have condemned the April 2025 attack in Pahalgam, committing to holding perpetrators of cross-border terrorism accountable.
In a key step, India is hosting workshops this month to counter the misuse of drones and combat terrorist exploitation of emerging technologies, including AI, deepfakes, and cryptocurrencies. The Quad is also deepening cooperation on intelligence sharing and coordinated maritime law enforcement.
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New Delhi and Mizoram are now directly connected by rail for the first time with the inauguration of a new Rajdhani Express.
The Sairang–Anand Vihar Terminal Rajdhani Express was flagged off on September 13, marking Mizoram's first-ever direct premium rail link to the national capital. The weekly service, which covers over 2,500 km in approximately 42 hours, is expected to be a "lifeline of change," boosting access for students and professionals while promoting tourism and national integration.
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Venus and Earth are considered geological "sister planets" due to their similar size, mass, and surface features like mountains and volcanoes. Recent research suggests that Venus's highlands may have formed by mechanisms similar to Earth's ancient cratons, making it a potential analogue for studying our planet's early geological history. Despite Venus lacking Earth-like plate tectonics, these findings reinforce the idea of shared geological roots despite their divergent evolutionary paths.
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Agatha Christie's grandson, Mathew Prichard, has confirmed that the author visited India twice, ending decades of speculation. He provided proof through personal memorabilia, including passport stamps, showing she traveled through Mumbai, Chennai, and Delhi in early 1960. The visit was private, during her husband's lecture tour. This revelation adds to her legacy, which was already indirectly tied to India as a real-life murder case in Mussoorie inspired her very first novel.
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Anupam Mishra's book, "Aaj Bhi Khare Hain Talab (The Ponds Are Still Relevant)," has sparked a grassroots revolution in water conservation across India. Published discreetly and encouraging free use, the book revives traditional knowledge of pond regeneration, inspiring communities to restore these vital water bodies. Now translated into multiple languages and considered a "holy book" by activists, it has helped transform dry areas into flourishing ecosystems, playing a key role in ensuring rural water security and livelihoods.
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Kerala has achieved a significant milestone by reducing its infant mortality rate (IMR) to 5 per 1,000 live births, a figure lower than the United States. This breakthrough, reported by the latest Sample Registration System, comes after the state's IMR had remained stagnant for two decades.
The success is attributed to a sustained, equity-focused healthcare system that eliminated the urban-rural divide in access to care. Key factors include data-driven health interventions, a strong focus on neonatal care, and the widespread availability of intensive care units and newborn screening, leading to a near-universal rate of institutional deliveries.
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Tyler Robinson, a former scholarship student with a promising background, has been arrested for the alleged shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk from a Utah Valley University rooftop. After a 33-hour search, Robinson was apprehended with the assistance of his father. Investigators found a rifle with anti-fascist inscriptions, suggesting a political motive behind the crime, which stands in stark contrast to Robinson's academic past.
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The first non-founder CEO of Infosys is Vishal Sikka. He took over as CEO and Managing Director on August 1, 2014, succeeding S. D. Shibulal, who was one of the company's seven founders. Vishal Sikka was an outsider hired from outside the company, with a background as a technology executive at SAP. His appointment marked a significant shift for Infosys, as he was the first CEO not among the original founders, bringing fresh leadership to the company.
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Marvin Minsky was a pioneering figure in artificial intelligence and cognitive science. He co-founded the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1959, which later became a central hub for AI research. Minsky made groundbreaking contributions to AI, robotics, and cognitive psychology throughout his career.
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Anuparna Roy, a director from a remote village in West Bengal, has made history by becoming the first Indian to win the Best Director Award in the Orizzonti section at the Venice International Film Festival.
She received the award for her debut feature film, Songs of Forgotten Trees, which explores the struggles of two migrant women. Her win is a major milestone for Indian cinema, as her remarkable journey saw her sell her TV and leave a stable IT job to pursue filmmaking without any formal training.
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Pothula Padmavathi, also known as Sujatha and wife of slain senior Maoist leader Kishenji, surrendered to the Telangana police on September 13, 2025, after being underground for over 40 years. She was the only woman member of the CPI (Maoist) Central Committee and carried a bounty of ₹1 crore, including ₹25 lakh from the Telangana government.
Her surrender is linked to deteriorating health concerns and disillusionment with internal power struggles within the banned Maoist outfit. The police described her surrender as a "moral victory" and noted that over 400 Maoist cadres have surrendered in 2025 alone. She will receive ₹25 lakh as part of the government rehabilitation package along with other benefits.
Padmavathi joined the Maoist movement in 1982, inspired by family members involved in the struggle. She worked in various leadership roles and was a key figure in the south sub-zonal bureau of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee. Kishenji, her husband, was killed in a police encounter in 2011. Her surrender marks a significant blow to Maoist leadership and morale.
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According to the Sustainable Development Report 2025, India ranked 99th out of 167 countries in progress towards the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), marking its first time inside the top 100 and showing steady improvement from ranks 112 in 2023 and 109 in 2024. However, major challenges remain, especially for SDG 11, which focuses on making cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. For instance, only about 65% of urban households in India have access to piped water, and many urban poor living in slums face severe shortages and inadequate access to basic services.
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In September 2025, Nepal experienced massive anti-government protests led predominantly by Generation Z youth, sparked by a government ban on 26 social media platforms and widespread anger over corruption and nepotism. The protests escalated violently in Kathmandu, resulting in over 50 deaths and the storming and torching of the Federal Parliament and other government buildings. Following the unrest, Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli resigned, and former Chief Justice Sushila Karki was appointed as Nepal's first female interim Prime Minister. The protests highlighted deep political instability and demands for transparent governance and new leadership in Nepal.
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Iguazu Falls is the largest waterfall system in the world, consisting of over 275 individual waterfalls. It straddles the border between Argentina and Brazil, spanning nearly 3 kilometers wide and plunging about 82 meters high. The falls lie on the Iguazu River, which forms part of the international boundary between the Argentine province of Misiones and the Brazilian state of Paraná. The site is renowned for its breathtaking views and biodiversity, and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2013.
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The richest minister in India as per the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) 2025 report is Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP). He is a Minister of State in the Ministry of Rural Development and the Ministry of Communications, representing Guntur in Andhra Pradesh, with declared assets worth over ₹5,705 crore. Following him, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar is the second richest with assets exceeding ₹1,413 crore. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is also among the wealthiest, with assets worth over ₹931 crore.
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India defeated Switzerland 3-1 in the Davis Cup 2025 World Group I tie held in Biel, Switzerland. This victory marked the first time since 1993 that India beat a European nation on their soil in a Davis Cup match. This win also qualified India for the 2026 Davis Cup Qualifiers, highlighting a significant achievement in Indian tennis history.
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Charlie Kirk was a prominent American conservative political activist and founder of Turning Point USA, known for his strong support of Donald Trump and his influential role in mobilizing youth for conservative causes. Although he never held an official government or Republican Party position, he was widely recognized as a key figure in right-wing activism, advocating for conservative values on college campuses and through media platforms. Kirk was fatally shot at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025, an event that shocked many across political spectrums and sparked discussions on political violence in the U.S. He was posthumously honored by Donald Trump with the Presidential Medal, America's highest civilian award.
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In September 2025, following youth-led protests against corruption and misrule in Nepal, former Chief Justice Sushila Karki was appointed as Nepal's first woman interim Prime Minister. Her appointment was supported by the Gen Z protesters who demanded an end to corruption and economic inequality. Tasked with restoring law and order and overseeing fresh elections scheduled for March 2026, Karki's leadership marked a significant moment in Nepal's political history, with high expectations for transparency and reform.
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September is a special month in Indian cinema history, as it marks the birthdays of several legendary figures including Uttam Kumar (Sep 3), Asha Bhosle (Sep 8), Akshay Kumar (Sep 9), GP Sippy (Sep 14), Shabana Azmi (Sep 18), Kareena Kapoor (Sep 21), Dev Anand (Sep 26), Yash Chopra (Sep 27), Lata Mangeshkar (Sep 28), and Ranbir Kapoor (Sep 28).
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Global military expenditure has surged to an all-time high of $2.7 trillion in 2024 (2.3% of world GDP), raising concerns that rising defense budgets—especially in Europe—may echo the rearmament patterns of the 1930s, while the UN warns such spending risks crowding out resources needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals
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In May 1914, Rabindranath Tagore wrote a deeply personal letter from Ramgarh in the Kumaon Hills to G. Apparao, a noted literary figure from Vizianagaram, reflecting the strong cultural and intellectual exchange between Bengal and Andhra during that era.
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A newly discovered work by Pulitzer Prize–winning author Harper Lee is among the highlights of the upcoming autumn book season, featured alongside releases from writers like Nicholas Sparks, Ken Follett, and Mick Herron.
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In colonial India, railway stations played a unique social role with their Vegetarian Light Refreshment (VLR) stalls, where passengers—especially in arranged marriage families—often met and exchanged conversations, while regional sweets like Bardhaman’s mihidana or Chandannagar’s jalebi gained national fame after being sold at these stations.
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