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
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?
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
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
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
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?
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
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
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
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?
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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?
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’
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
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
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?
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’
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
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
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
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
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
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
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will address the United Nations General Assembly in New York today. Before departing for the US, he said he would ‘denounce’ Western leaders who have recognised a Palestinian state. Meanwhile, thousands are expected to gather in New York City to call for sanctions on Israel and an end to the war in Gaza