Explainers News - Page 19

History Today: How music festival at Vegas become one of America's deadliest mass shooting

On October 1, 2017, the deadliest mass shooting in recent US history took place when a gunman fired into a crowd of 22,000 people at a country music festival in Las Vegas. Fifty-eight people were killed, and over 800 others were injured during the final night of the show. Sixty-four-year-old Stephen Paddock was identified as the shooter

FirstUp: Trump's pharma tariffs come into effect, EU leaders meet in Denmark... Big news today

US President Donald Trump’s tariffs on foreign pharmaceutical products will kick in today. Meanwhile, EU leaders gather in Copenhagen to discuss key defence initiatives. In India, the RBI is set to announce its interest rate decision, and PM Modi will take part in the RSS centenary celebrations

Can a 'super’ golden week pull China's economy out of its hole?

China has seen its economic growth slow in recent months as consumer demand remains weak. Meanwhile, its real estate giants have been sinking, local governments have been left struggling for cash, and President Xi Jinping continues cracking down on officials. Now, with the golden week set to start tomorrow, Beijing is hoping consumers will spend big to boost the economy

From lack of trust to no mention of West Bank: Trump’s Gaza peace plan has these 5 major loopholes

US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have unveiled a 20-point plan to bring lasting peace in Gaza. However, there are many outstanding questions about the feasibility of the plan and the extent to which it is likely to be successful

How Trump's social media ban became a million-dollar penalty for tech companies

YouTube has agreed to pay a $24 million (Rs 213 crore) settlement to Trump after it banned his account in the aftermath of the January 6 riot in the US Capitol in 2021. Meta, which owns Facebook, has also agreed to pay Trump $25 million (Rs 222 crore) to settle a lawsuit, while X gave Trump $10 million (Rs 89 crore) for the same. Paramount and ABC News have also paid Trump millions of dollars to settle cases out of court. But why?

'Betrayal': Why Kash Patel's handshake with Asim Munir has upset the Indian diaspora

Indian-origin FBI Director Kash Patel’s handshake with Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir during a recent White House meeting sparked backlash from Indians. Critics pointed out the contrast between Patel’s image as a devout Hindu and the controversial legacy of Munir, who has made statements considered 'anti-India' and 'anti-Hindu'

ChatGPT rolls out parental controls: Do these restrictions work?

OpenAI has rolled out parental controls for the popular artificial intelligence (AI) app ChatGPT. The tech firm said this has been done to provide younger users of the platform with a safer and more 'age-appropriate' experience. Do such restrictions work? What have other tech firms done?

Trump’s 100% tariff on foreign-made films: What could it mean for Bollywood, Hollywood?

Donald Trump has revived his threat to slap a 100 per cent tax on movies made outside the United States, claiming that movie production 'has been stolen' from Hollywood and America. Any such move will have a significant impact on the revenue of Indian films in the US market. Questions also remain whether this will bring production back to Hollywood

Taliban cut off internet in Afghanistan: Why women will be the most impacted

Afghanistan is facing a near-total digital blackout as the Taliban cut both wired and mobile internet services nationwide. The shutdown, aimed at stopping 'immoral activities', has disrupted businesses, education, and communication. Women, already under strict Taliban restrictions, face the harshest consequences

What is MrBeast’s ‘death trap’ challenge that has sparked outrage?

Popular YouTuber MrBeast is facing massive backlash after a video showed him paying a stuntman $500,000 (Rs 4.43 crore) to escape from a burning building, in what he called a 'death trap' challenge. While the 27-year-old content creator has assured that the video was filmed safely, many are questioning whether his challenges are going too far

Decoding Trump’s plan for Gaza: Why peace may still not be close at hand

The White House has released an ambitious 20-point proposal to bring peace to Gaza, which has been ravaged by war. It calls for the end of fighting immediately after Israel and Hamas agree to the plan. The proposal also mentions the prospect of Palestinian statehood. But is peace really near?

What will happen if the US government shuts down tonight?

The US faces a looming government shutdown as Donald Trump and Democrats clash over healthcare funding and federal spending. Without a deal by midnight, millions could be affected, from unpaid federal workers to disrupted services and national park closures. Here’s why this shutdown is different and what it means for Americans

History Today: How a Danish newspaper stirred a row with Prophet Muhammad cartoons

On September 30, 2005, Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten published a series of controversial cartoons depicting Prophet Muhammad. This angered Muslims the world over, leading to a wave of protests, especially in West Asian countries. On this day in 1954, the USS Nautilus, the world’s first nuclear-powered submarine, was officially commissioned into the US Navy

FirstUp: Top US generals to meet at Quantico, US govt shutdown deadline today....The big news

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will convene a meeting of senior military officers at Quantico, a Marine Corps base near Washington. US President Donald Trump is also expected to attend the gathering. On the other hand, funding for US federal agencies runs out today, raising the prospect of a government shutdown

Why Canada designating Lawrence Bishnoi gang a terrorist entity is a big deal

Canada has declared the Lawrence Bishnoi gang a terrorist group under the country’s Criminal Code. Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said the Bishnoi gang is a transnational criminal group that is active in parts of Canada and creates a climate of insecurity and generates terror. But what do we know about the group? What does this designation mean for ties with India?

Will US supply Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine? Could this change course of the war?

The United States is discussing whether or not to give Ukraine its Tomahawk cruise missiles. This comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations. But what do we know about the missile? Could it change the course of the war?

Zero income, luxury lifestyle: Can Pakistan fix its broken tax system?

Pakistan’s tax system is facing intense criticism as millions file zero-income returns while flaunting immense wealth online and offline. With only two per cent of citizens paying income tax and nearly half of 2024’s returns declaring no earnings, the Federal Board of Revenue is cracking down through social media tracking and whistleblower rewards

How Oracle's Larry Ellison and his son are becoming the new power players in the US

Larry Ellison, 81, a titan of Silicon Valley, is said to have US President Donald Trump’s ear behind the scenes. He and his son David, a Hollywood producer, are also poised to take over a number of media platforms including TikTok that could influence what millions of people watch in the United States and around the world

What’s the ‘medbed’ conspiracy theory that Trump shared, then deleted?

Donald Trump shared an AI-generated video about 'medbed', a supposed futuristic technology that conspiracy theorists claim can cure every disease. The US president deleted the video soon. However, it sparked curiosity all over the internet. Here's what we know about this ‘cure-all bed’

Why India’s discovery of natural gas in the Andaman basin is an ‘ocean of opportunity’

India may have hit the energy jackpot. It has discovered the presence of natural gas in the Andaman Sea, with Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri noting that initial testing indicated 87 per cent methane. This is a crucial milestone in India’s exploration efforts and could help in the country’s goal of self-reliance in energy security

Has Trump been disqualified from the Nobel Peace Prize?

A widely shared press release claimed that US President Donald Trump has been permanently barred from the Nobel Peace Prize, citing his 'controversial comments in his UN speech' and his decision to rename the US Department of Defense as the 'Department of War'. However, is this true?

Eric Adams drops out of NYC mayor race. Does this help Zohran Mamdani?

New York Mayor Eric Adams was in a four-way race against ex-New York governor Andrew Cuomo, leftist Zohran Mamdani, and Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa. Adams made the announcement on social media on Sunday after months of speculation about his political future. But will this move hurt or help Mamdani’s chances?

Who is Amir Amiry, the American freed by the Taliban?

After months of secret negotiations, the Taliban has released US citizen Amir Amiry, who had been held in Afghanistan since December 2024. His release, brokered by Qatar, comes amid growing tensions between Washington and Kabul and marks the fifth American freed this year

A 2-year-old, a couple days away from wedding: The heartbreaking stories of those who died in Karur stampede

A deadly stampede broke out at actor-turned-politician Vijay's campaign rally on Saturday, tragically killing at least 40 and injuring hundreds in Tamil Nadu's Karur on Saturday. Among the dead were at least 10 children and fans, mostly in their 20s and 30s, who had gathered to catch a glimpse of the superstar. The catastrophe has left families in shock and disbelief

How massive protests in PoK have put Pakistan on edge

Tensions are rising in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Thousands, led by the Awami Action Committee, are out on the streets, demanding structural reforms, including subsidies on flour and electricity, as well as the abolition of 12 legislative seats in the PoK assembly reserved for Kashmiri refugees living in Pakistan

Why is the US facing a massive government shutdown? Can Trump stop it?

The US is on the brink of a government shutdown as President Donald Trump and Democrats clash over healthcare, federal workforce cuts, and funding priorities. With a September 30 deadline looming, hundreds of thousands of federal jobs are at risk, and essential services could be disrupted nationwide unless a last-minute deal is reached

Who was Thomas Jacob Sanford, the US military veteran behind the Michigan church shooting?

As attendees of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Michigan reel from the shooting and arson during Sunday service, authorities are trying to determine the motive behind the attack that saw four dead and eight injured. Officials have identified the suspect to be Thomas Jacob Sanford, a 40-year-old veteran from the US Marines, who also served in the Iraq war

History Today: When the world's largest research laboratory came into being

On September 29, 1954, European nations came together to create Cern, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, marking a new era for the field of particle physics. The facility, which serves as a hub for scientists worldwide, also houses the Large Hadron Collider, the world's largest machine. It was also the day in 1829, Scotland Yard, the headquarters of the newly created Metropolitan Police, was established in London

FirstUp: Trial hearing of Charlie Kirk's 'killer' and other top news today

The 22-year-old suspect in the killing of Charlie Kirk, Tyler Robinson, will be presented in court for his waiver appearance. On September 16, he was charged with seven counts. Meanwhile, the inauguration of the Delhi BJP's new office building on DDU Marg is likely to be held today in the national capital. According to reports, preparations are underway for the inaugural function

Are public toilet seats really as dirty as we fear?

Public toilets may seem like germ hotspots, but are toilet seats the real danger? While bacteria like E. coli and viruses such as norovirus lurk in bathrooms, most infections actually spread through dirty hands, door handles, and toilet plumes after flushing