Explainers News - Page 25

History Today: How Hyderabad was merged with India after 'Operation Polo'

Operation Polo, a swift military action authorised by the Indian government to make Hyderabad a part of India, came to an end on September 17, 1948. With this, Hyderabad became a part of the country. On this day in 1978, Israel and Egypt signed the Camp David Accords, bringing relative peace in West Asia

Meet Laxmanrao Inamdar, the father-figure who shaped PM Modi’s early life

Prime Minister Narendra Modi turns 75 today. For years, PM Modi has been dedicated to serving India. But does he have any heroes? Who inspired him to commit his life to the country? It’s RSS leader — Laxmanrao Inamdar, whom the PM first met at the young age of eight

From welfare schemes to cheetahs, PM Modi gives India a birthday gift every year

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 75th birthday on September 17 will feature a massive nationwide celebration under Seva Pakhwada, including health camps, fitness events, and the launch of new welfare schemes. Over the past decade, the PM’s birthdays have seen developmental milestones, from releasing cheetahs to empowering women and artisans

FirstUp: Trumps to meet British royals, PM Modi’s 75th birthday… The headlines today

US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will meet King Charles III, Queen Camilla, and the Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Kate, during their state visit to the UK. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will celebrate his 75th birthday by launching a major campaign to improve healthcare and nutrition services for women, adolescent girls, and children, among other events scheduled for today

What’s the latest on Charlie Kirk killing? What’s the fallout been?

Tyler Robinson, the suspect in the Charlie Kirk killing, could face the death penalty if prosecutors charge him with aggravated murder. After charges are filed against Robinson today (September 16), he will participate in an in-camera court hearing. Robinson has not received bail since his arrest. It remains unclear whether he is represented by counsel

How should India see increased US military activity in Bangladesh's Chittagong?

A US Air Force C-130J Super Hercules recently touched down at the Shah Amanat International Airport in Chittagong. It is a tactical transport aeroplane normally based at the US Air Force's Yokota station in Japan. This comes in the backdrop of the US, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka launching the ‘Pacific Angel 25-3’ exercises at Bangladesh Air Force Zahurul Haque base in Chittagong. Here's what we know

‘Gaza is burning’: How Israel’s ground assault on Gaza City unfolds

Israel launched its long-threatened ground assault on Gaza City on Tuesday (September 16), with hospitals reporting at least 69 deaths as airstrikes hit the city from all four sides overnight and into the day. The Israeli military has instructed Palestinians to flee the city, which houses 10 lakh people

Could the world’s oldest mummies have come from Asia?

Archaeologists have uncovered evidence suggesting the world’s oldest mummies may have been created in Southeast Asia, dating back up to 14,000 years. The discovery reveals that ancient hunter-gatherers smoke-dried their dead thousands of years before Egypt or South America practised mummification

What overseas trips by world leaders since the end of the Cold War tell us

Donald Trump’s second term has seen a flurry of diplomatic activity, from billion-dollar deals abroad to summits with world leaders like Vladimir Putin. With Trump set to visit King Charles III in the UK, a new dataset tracking 35 years of over 100,000 leader trips offers insights into shifting global priorities

Inside Windsor Castle, which will host Trump during UK state visit

The staff at Windsor Castle are taking painstaking efforts to ensure that Donald Trump’s second state visit is a roaring success. From polishing the silverware for the banquet to ensuring that the gardens are beautifully mowed, no stone is being left unturned at the royal residence where King Charles, Queen Camilla and Prince William and Princess Catherine will welcome the First Couple

Why closure of Poland-Belarus border is hurting China

Poland has closed its border with Belarus amid large-scale military exercises between Moscow and Minsk and rising tensions with its neighbour. It also comes in the aftermath of the Nato nation shooting down Russian drones that crossed into its airspace. Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the decision on the border closure was made due to ’national security reasons’. So why is China upset?

Why India revoked patent of Novartis’ cardiac drug and why it matters

The Indian Patent Office (IPO) has revoked the patent on Novartis' cardiac drug Entresto, sold as Vymada in India, which is used for hypertension and heart failure. It said in its order last week that the Swiss drug company’s drug lacks novelty. There is a possibility that the prices of such medicines could come down. Here’s how

‘Tinder Swindler’ arrested in Georgia: How Shimon Hayut conned women out of $10 million

Shimon Yehuda Hayut, infamously known as the 'Tinder Swindler', has been arrested in Georgia after years of international scams that defrauded women of millions. Famous for posing as diamond mogul Lev Leviev’s son, his story was chronicled in Netflix’s hit documentary

Who is Nupur Bora, the Assam bureaucrat arrested after Rs 2 crore worth cash, gold seized?

Nupur Bora, an Assam Civil Service (ACS) officer, was arrested on Monday after police recovered nearly Rs 2 crore in cash and jewellery from her residences. Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said she had been under investigation for allegedly taking money to help transfer government and Satra land into the names of suspected illegal settlers

Doom in Dehradun: Uttarakhand city goes under water after cloudburst

A cloudburst on late Monday night triggered massive flash floods in Uttarakhand's Dehradun, leaving a trail of destruction. Several restaurants, shops and homes in Tapovan have been submerged, and key routes linking the city have been washed away. There is severe waterlogging in Sahastradhara and at the IT Park. CM Pushkar Singh Dhami visited the disaster-struck areas, assuring support

The shocking story of UK aristocrat and her partner, jailed for 14 years for killing their newborn

Constance Marten and Mark Gordon, who went on the run from authorities for months with their fifth child, Victoria, have been each sentenced to 14 years in prison in the UK. The newborn’s body was found in a rubbish bin in Brighton in 2023. Here’s what you need to know about their shocking tale

First a $100 million, now $15 billion: Trump sues NYT a second time, will he win this one?

US President Donald Trump has announced a $15 billion lawsuit against The New York Times, accusing it of defamation over a report linking him to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This latest case adds to Trump’s long history of legal battles with major media outlets, including ABC News, CBS, CNN, and The Wall Street Journal

Google Gemini’s Nano Banana: What is the viral AI saree trend? And is it safe?

Instagram is now filled with chiffon sarees, soft flowing drapes and warm golden light as millions take part in a new trend using Gemini Nano by Google, known as the ‘Nano Banana’ trend. The tool enables users to transform regular photos into portraits with smooth skin and a cartoon-like appearance. Many women are using it to create retro-style images in traditional sarees with a cinematic touch

Who is Gaganpreet Makkad, BMW driver who hit finance ministry official, leading to his death?

Gaganpreet Makkad, the driver of the BMW that killed Navjot Singh, deputy secretary in the Ministry of Finance, has been arrested and sent to judicial custody in Tihar Jail. On Sunday, her speeding vehicle rammed into Singh's motorcycle, critically injuring his wife, Sandeep Kaur. She now alleges Makkad of deliberately delaying medical help

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari tours China’s military complex. Should India pay attention?

As part of his 10-day visit to China, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari visited the state-owned aerospace and defence giant, Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), in Chengdu. This is significant, as it is the first time a foreign leader has toured the sprawling complex, where J-10C fighter jets are produced. But why is Beijing showing Zardari its secret military complex? What does this mean for India?

Did Netanyahu warn Trump before Doha strike on Hamas? 2 leaders, 2 different stories

Israel’s airstrike in Doha targeting Hamas leaders has resulted in two narratives between allies. While Donald Trump insists he was not informed beforehand, multiple Israeli officials claim Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu alerted him minutes before the attack. The strike strained US-Qatar ties and has disrupted Gaza ceasefire talks

How American presidents have got it wrong with British royals

Keeping up with the British royal family and its various traditions can be tough. In the past, US presidents have missed a step to create an awkward situation with the royals. From Jimmy Carter's alleged kiss with the Queen Mother to Donald Trump walking ahead of Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle, here are some of the most awkward moments

What is ‘furry fixation’ linked to Charlie Kirk’s ‘killer’, Tyler Robinson?

Tyler Robinson, who is accused of killing American right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, is being linked to a ‘furry fixation’. Reports say the 22-year-old student allegedly had an account on a website that shared unusual sexual content. The words engraved on the bullet casing that killed Kirk are also said to be linked to ‘furry’ subcultures. For those who are not chronically online, the furry subculture is a community built around anthropomorphic animal characters

Meet Brendan Lynch, the US negotiator tasked with bringing India-US trade talks back on track

India and the United States are back at the negotiating table with the arrival of a US trade delegation in New Delhi. The American team is led by Brendan Lynch, who has over a decade of experience in trade negotiations. But will he be able to convince New Delhi to agree to US demands?

History Today: How Mahsa Amini’s death triggered historic protest by Iranian women

On September 16, 2022, Jina Mahsa Amini, a young woman from Iran, died while in the custody of the country’s ‘morality police’ over what they called ‘improper’ clothing. Her death led to massive outrage in the Islamic Republic and sparked protests across the country, which soon spread across the world

FirstUp: Trump to begin second state visit to the UK, India-US trade negotiations to resume... Today's headlines

US President Donald Trump, accompanied by his wife, Melania Trump, is set to begin his state visit to the United Kingdom. During the visit, the two countries are expected to announce agreements on technology and civil nuclear energy. Today, trade negotiations are set to take place between India and the United States of America following the arrival of US chief negotiator Brendan Lynch in New Delhi

Has the world had enough of Labubu dolls?

Shares of Pop Mart fell by as much as nine per cent on Monday, its steepest single-day drop since April. The stock eventually closed 6.5 per cent lower after JP Morgan downgraded the company’s rating from 'overweight' to 'neutral' and cut its target price by 25 per cent. But why is this happening? Has the world finally had enough of Labubu dolls?

Dozens of people have been fired in the US since Charlie Kirk's assassination. Here's why

Republicans, including elected officials and prominent online figures, are making lists of people they want fired for criticising Charlie Kirk in the aftermath of his killing. Dozens of people have been fired or suspended for social media posts responding to the death of Kirk, who was himself often accused of making racist and demeaning comments about women, Black people, and minorities, as well as displaying transphobia

How toxic fumes aboard planes are giving pilots and passengers brain, nerve injuries

A Wall Street Journal investigation has found that dozens of pilots, flight attendants and passengers have developed brain and nerve injuries strikingly similar to those seen in battered football players, after being exposed to toxic fumes leaking into aircraft cockpits and cabins. While regulators and manufacturers continue to downplay the threat, the growing number of medical cases tells a different story

How a 31-year-old Palestinian escaped from Gaza using a jet ski

Muhammad Abu Dakha is one of those people who managed to leave Gaza, as it continues to burn from the constant attacks by Israel. The Palestinian man went to Libya, where thousands of others from the region arrive in hopes of securing a spot on a boat to Europe. But Dakha had other plans: He used a jet ski to reach his destination