Explainers News - Page 20

This Week in Explainers: Was Trump a victim of triple sabotage at UNGA?

A malfunctioning escalator, a glitchy teleprompter and no sound… Donald Trump was hit by these three ‘sinister events’ at the United Nations General Assembly, claiming sabotage. We discuss this and more in our weekly roundup

History Today: The story behind the first flight around the world

The first successful flight around the world took place on September 28, 1924, by the United States Army Air Service. The ambitious mission began on April 6, 1924, when four specially designed Douglas World Cruisers took off from Seattle, Washington. On this day in 2008, SpaceX achieved a historic breakthrough when its Falcon 1 rocket became the first privately developed liquid-fuelled launch vehicle to successfully reach Earth’s orbit

Iran nuclear programme: What are ‘snapback’ sanctions that UN is reimposing?

UN sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme will be reimposed on Sunday (September 28), further raising tensions between Tehran and the West. This comes after the Islamic Republic’s diplomatic push to halt the sanctions failed. Last month, the UK, Germany and France triggered a ‘snapback’ process. But what is it?

Why BSNL’s indigenous 4G stack launched by PM Modi matters

PM Narendra Modi launched BSNL's 'Swadeshi' 4G stack on Saturday (September 27) in Odisha. More than 97,500 mobile towers built with the state-owned telecom operator’s indigenous technology stack were commissioned across the country. With this, India has entered the league of a select few nations that manufacture telecom equipment

Trump waves his finger at Melania on Marine One. Were they having a spat?

A video of US President Donald Trump fervently waving his finger at First Lady Melania Trump on board Marine One outside the White House earlier this week has gone viral. The clip has raised speculations about what the couple was discussing so intensely. Was it a fight? Or was it about ‘escalator-gate? Here’s what we know

This Week in Explainers: Why Ladakh erupted in violent protests, leading to Sonam Wangchuk's arrest

Ladakh’s Leh witnessed deadly protests as the clashes between police and demonstrators left four people dead and more than 70 injured. The spotlight has now turned to climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who spearheaded the agitation for statehood. Here’s all this and more in our weekly roundup

Petal Gahlot calls out Pakistan’s Shehbaz Sharif for ‘glorifying terrorism’ at UN: Who is the Indian diplomat?

Indian diplomat Petal Gahlot accused Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif of ‘glorifying terrorism’ while dismissing his remarks at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) as ‘absurd theatrics’. Underlining how Islamabad ‘pleaded’ for a ceasefire during Operation Sindoor in May, she said terrorism is ‘central to their foreign policy’. Her sharp rebuke has gained traction back home. But who is she?

History Today: How Taliban seized Kabul and took control of Afghanistan

On September 27, 1996, the Taliban captured Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital, taking control of nearly two-thirds of the country. By 2001, they had seized almost the entire nation. However, after the September 11, 2001, attacks in the United States, American and allied forces invaded Afghanistan and overthrew the Taliban. The group regained power in 2021, 20 years after being ousted

How H-1B visa chaos in US could benefit some workers

Big tech companies such as Meta, Google and Amazon asked employees to quickly return to the United States after US President Donald Trump’s announcement about a $100,000 (Rs 88.7 lakh) fee on H-1B visas. However, after the White House clarified its position, experts say some H-1B visa holders are now sitting pretty

8 jets, multiple palaces & more: How rich is Abu Dhabi royal family, set to take stake in TikTok US?

The Abu Dhabi royal family will reportedly take a 15 per cent stake in TikTok’s US business under a deal brokered by American President Donald Trump. Led by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the royal family’s net worth is estimated at $323.9 billion. From jets to palaces to an English football team, the Nahyan dynasty’s riches are diverse

Indian-origin doctor, who treated 9/11 patients in US, jailed for 14 years. Who is Neil Anand?

Neil K Anand was convicted of committing fraud on the US healthcare system. He has now been sentenced to 14 years in prison and ordered to pay a $2 million (Rs 17.74 crore) fine as restitution and another $2 million in forfeiture. But what do we know about Anand?

Done with OTPs? Payments minus these passwords are coming soon

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has said it wants to move away from relying solely on OTPs for securing digital transactions from April 2026. Instead, it is opening the door to newer two-factor authentication methods that may let you pay without entering a digital pin every time

Do New York rats really have their own secret language?

New York City’s three million rats are far more complex than just pests. A new study reveals they communicate using ultrasonic squeaks inaudible to humans, adapt their 'speech' to noisy surroundings like subway stations, and display intricate social behaviours

A US government shutdown looms as talks stall: How would it unfold?

With Republicans and Democrats at an impasse over health care funding and Medicaid cuts, the US faces a looming government shutdown. Essential services like the military, Social Security, and air traffic control would continue, but thousands of federal employees could face unpaid furloughs, and key agencies, museums, and parks may close if no deal is reached

In Graphics | H-1B vs L-1 vs O-1: What's the difference?

The United States increased the fee for the H-1B visa by $100,000 on September 21. Amid the chaos, there's buzz around the L-1 and O-1 visa. We explain all of the different visas in graphics

Is Pentagon planning to fire up America's generals or fire them in coming week?

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has summoned America’s generals to a meeting next week in Virginia’s Quantico. Rumours about why the meeting is being called have sent speculation into overdrive, with many left bewildered and alarmed. Here is what we can possibly expect

Why former British PM Tony Blair could end up governing Palestine

Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair is being considered to head a new international body to govern Gaza once the war ends. Backed by US President Donald Trump, the plan proposes a Gaza International Transitional Authority to oversee reconstruction and security, but Blair’s controversial legacy among Palestinians could spark resistance

How the discovery of a million-year-old human skull in China can rewrite evolution

A new study claims that Yunxian-2, a human skull found decades ago in China, suggests that our species, Homo sapiens, began to emerge at least half a million years earlier than we thought. It also shows that we co-existed with other sister species, including Neanderthals, for much longer than we've come to believe

UK to introduce compulsory digital ID for adults. How will it work?

The UK government has announced it will introduce a digital ID to tackle illegal immigration. The government said the ‘Brit Card’ will make it harder to work illegally in the UK and make the country’s borders more secure. But what do we know about it?

Kashmir, economics or... What did Donald Trump discuss with Pakistan’s Sharif and Munir at White House?

United States President Donald Trump hosted Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir at the Oval Office on Thursday (September 25), in a latest sign of warming ties between the two countries. Before the talks, Trump described the Pakistani leaders as ‘great guys’

How Ukraine’s drone strikes have resulted in Russia’s biggest fuel crisis yet

Ukraine’s escalating drone attacks on Russian oil refineries have crippled production, resulting in widespread fuel shortages, forcing Moscow to impose sweeping export bans. With half of Crimea’s gas stations shut, soaring prices, and exports falling to their lowest since 2020, Russia’s fuel crisis is threatening its economy

Why the odds are stacked against Trump for Nobel Peace Prize

US President Donald Trump has his eyes set on the Nobel Peace Prize this year. But, experts believe that he may not be able to win it. The reason — his dismantling of the international world order. Many believe that it is because of his decisions that parts of the world are under a humanitarian crisis

MiG-21 sets off into the sunset: What happens to military aircraft after they retire?

India has bid a fond farewell to the MiG-21, the warhorse of the Indian Air Force. But have you wondered what awaits the Soviet-era aircraft?

'Handcuffed, made to sleep on floor': The harrowing deportation of 73-year-old Sikh grandma from US

Harjit Kaur, a 73-year-old Sikh grandmother who had been living in the US for the last 30 years, was deported to India. Her lawyer said that she was placed on a chartered flight without any prior notice, was given no chance to say goodbye, and was subjected to harsh conditions during the journey. Kaur's sudden detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had earlier sparked protests, with signs reading ‘Hands off our grandma’ & ‘Bring grandma home’

What are the charges against former FBI chief James Comey? What happens next?

Former FBI Director James Comey has been indicted on two felony charges of lying to Congress and obstructing a congressional investigation. The indictment stems from his 2020 testimony about authorising leaks during the FBI’s 2016 investigations

Why Netanyahu’s flight to US took unusual route, an extended detour of 600 km

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s flight to the United States on Thursday took an unusual route as his plane avoided European airspace on the way to New York for the United Nations General Assembly. Normally, Israeli aircraft heading to the US take a shorter, direct path over central Europe. This time, however, the diversion added nearly 600 kilometres to the journey

Did Iran just test-fire an intercontinental ballistic missile?

In a bid to maintain its weapons programme even after its war with Israel, Iran reportedly carried out an undeclared missile test at its Imam Khomeini spaceport. This has raised concerns that Tehran may be trying to expand the reach of its missiles as tensions remain high

History Today: What happened at the first televised US presidential debate

The first presidential debate to be televised took place between Richard Nixon and John F Kennedy on September 26, 1960. Since then, it has become a ritual to hold one-on-one debates between the candidates. Roughly 70 million viewers tuned in to the discussion, making it one of the most-watched events in US history at that time

Trump announces 100% tariff on pharmaceuticals. Would this hurt India’s drug makers?

The tariff blitz continues. Donald Trump has now imposed a 100 per cent duty on pharmaceutical drugs from October 1. This could hurt India’s drug makers, as America is one of their largest markets, earning $8.7 billion from pharma exports to the US in 2024 alone

MiG‑21 retires: The chequered history of IAF’s ‘warhorse’ that soared Indian skies for over 60 years

The Indian Air Force is bidding adieu to its iconic MiG‑21 fighter jets. The Soviet-origin aircraft were first inducted into the IAF in 1963. India’s first supersonic fighter played a critical role in several conflicts, including the 1965 and 1971 wars, the 1999 Kargil conflict, and the 2019 Balakot air strikes. However, over the years, it came to be known as the ‘flying coffin’. Here’s a look back at the highs and lows of the MiG‑21s