Explainers News - Page 29

What are Iran’s options if Donald Trump attacks?

As Donald Trump continues to issue warnings and threats to Iran, the Islamic Republic also has a few options in case the US president orders a strike. Tehran could retaliate with missiles, attacks on American allies such as Israel or mobilise its proxies. However, it faces risks with any kind of response

FirstUp: National Shutdown Day in US, Trump to announce Fed chief... Today's big headlines

Activists across the United States will be observing National Shutdown Day to protest the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal officers. US President Donald Trump is also expected to announce his his nominee to replace Jerome Powell as Federal Reserve chair

How Iranian drones are powering Russia’s war in Ukraine

Tehran’s role in supplying Russia with hundreds of long-range, kamikaze-style drones is long known. But what has gone largely unnoticed outside Ukraine is Iran’s central role in teaching Russia to produce these drones itself

Visa-free travel, pharma investment: What UK PM Keir Starmer got from China visit

Keir Starmer is making the first such trip to China by a UK leader in nearly a decade. The UK Prime Minister has claimed that the meeting with Xi Jinping has resulted in ‘real concrete outcomes’. But what do we know?

India is retrieving its stolen artefacts and relics. Here's how

After retrieving the sacred Piprahwa relics last year, the Indian government has now secured the return of three cast-bronze sculptures from the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Asian Art (NMAA)

In Graphics | Key facts and figures of India's Union Budget

All eyes are on the 2026 Union Budget, set to be presented on Sunday (February 1). From why it's called a Budget to why February 1 became Budget Day, a look at all the key facts and figures you need to know

Will Pakistan use IMF money to join Trump’s Board of Peace?

US President Donald Trump is asking nations that want to remain on the Board of Peace permanently to fork over $1 billion (Rs 0.92 lakh crore) in cash for the privilege. But can Pakistan really afford it?

How a pregnant Delhi Police commando was murdered with a dumbbell by her husband

Kajal Chaudhary, a SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) commando posted with the Delhi Police Special Cell, died on January 27 (Tuesday), five days after being brutally beaten with a dumbbell by her husband, Ankur Chaudhary, over financial matters. Family members have alleged that Kajal was four months pregnant at the time of her death

What are Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez doing at Paris Couture Week? Is it business or...

Many celebrities have been spotted at the ongoing Paris Couture Week. The most notable, however, has been Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and wife, Lauren Sanchez. Many believe the presence of the billionaire couple suggests a possible buyover of fashion house Schiaparelli or even Conde Nast, the parent company of Vogue

Did the IAF bomb Pakistan’s Kirana Hills during Op Sindoor? A video suggests…

Pakistan’s Kirana Hills is once again in the spotlight. This time, the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) video on X, posted on Republic Day, has raised speculations about whether India struck the mountain range, which is believed to house a nuclear missile storage facility. Here’s why the site is strategically important

Why are Americans deleting TikTok now?

TikTok is facing a fresh backlash in the United States after restructuring its ownership under a new US-led joint venture. Concerns over censorship, data collection, political influence and technical outages have driven a surge in app deletions, even as overall user activity remains largely stable

Who is Madhu Gottumukkala, the Indian-origin US cyber chief who uploaded sensitive files onto ChatGPT?

The acting director of the United States Cyber Defence Agency, Madhu Gottumukkala, has come under fire after he reportedly uploaded sensitive documents to the public version of ChatGPT. The incident triggered multiple automated security alerts and an internal security review

A nurse, a mother, a father… The heartbreaking stories of Americans killed in US immigration crackdown

2026 seems to be on track to be the year dominated by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement atrocities. Apart from the killings of Minneapolis residents Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good, six others have died in the custody of the federal agency. Who were they? What led to their deaths?

How Amazon accidentally sent an email to employees before laying off 16,000 people

A day before Amazon announced it was axing 16,000 corporate roles, the company accidentally sent an email to some Amazon Web Services staff about the layoff plan. Titled ‘Project Dawn’, it was an apparent reference to the US tech giant's code name for the job redundancies. But who was behind the leak?

What new videos reveal about Alex Pretti’s clash with US agents days before he was killed

New videos show that ICU nurse Alex Pretti was taken to the ground by immigration agents after kicking out the taillight of their vehicle during a Minneapolis protest on January 13. In the video, Pretti can be seen with a handgun strapped to his waist when his winter coat comes off, but at no point during the tussle did he reach for it

Was Ilhan Omar’s town hall attack staged? Inside the Maga conspiracy storm

Democratic lawmaker Ilhan Omar was sprayed with a foul-smelling liquid during a Minneapolis town hall, triggering Maga conspiracy theories. As police arrested the attacker and charged him with assault, Donald Trump and far-right influencers cast doubt on the incident

How a wristwatch helped in identifying Ajit Pawar’s body after plane crash

Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash in Pune's Baramati district on Wednesday (January 28) along with four others. It was difficult for authorities to identify his body, but they were able to complete the task using his personal belongings. Here's how it was done

Is a US-Iran conflict imminent as Trump issues nuclear ultimatum?

Tensions between the United States and Iran have escalated sharply after President Donald Trump warned Tehran to accept a nuclear deal or face harsher military action. As US warships move into West Asia and the Islamic Republic threatens retaliation, Iranians fear a deadly conflict on the brink

Tilting to left and then crash… The moments before Ajit Pawar’s plane crashed and turned into a fireball

After taking off from Mumbai at 8:10 am on Wednesday, the plane ferrying Ajit Pawar to Baramati contacted air officials at 8:18 am. Twenty-six minutes later at 8.44 am, visuals show the aircraft crashing near the airstrip. We retrace what happened in the minutes before it all went wrong

FirstUp: UK PM Starmer to meet Xi, India’s Economic Survey to be tabled... News today

Keir Starmer, the first British PM to visit China in eight years, is set to meet Xi Jinping in Beijing today as the two sides look to improve bilateral ties. Meanwhile, in India, the Economic Survey will be presented in Parliament today, ahead of the Union Budget

Can Iran take out the powerful US battleship Abraham Lincoln deployed to West Asia?

Washington has sent the USS Abraham Lincoln, a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, as well as three accompanying warships under Carrier Strike Group 3 (CSG-3) to West Asia. Can Iran take down the vessel?

Ajit Pawar plane crash: Who were the 2 pilots killed in the mishap?

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash in Baramati along with four others, including the crew. The pilots are identified as Captain Sumit Kapur and Captain Shambhavi Pathak. Here is what we know about them

Can a Chinese drug help India tackle Nipah virus?

As the Nipah cases in India raise worries across Asia, a new study by Chinese researchers has claimed that an existing oral antiviral medication can help prevent the spread of the deadly virus. VV116, a nucleoside drug, was originally developed to treat Covid-19. How does it work against the Nipah virus?

In Graphics | Remembering Ajit Pawar, Maharashtra's deputy chief minister and 'dada'

Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has died after a Baramati-bound plane crash-landed. The 66-year-old leader's funeral will be held on January 29 (Thursday). Here are some interesting facts to know about the political veteran

Love for luxury and scandals… The life of South Korea’s former first lady Kim Keon Hee

South Korea’s Kim Keon Hee has been sentenced to 20 months in prison on corruption charges. This marks the ultimate downfall from grace for the former first lady, who has weathered many controversies, including the Dior handbag scandal

Why has the euro crossed $1.20 against the US dollar? Why does it matter?

The euro has surged past the $1.20 mark against the US dollar for the first time since 2021, driven by a weakening greenback, European fiscal stimulus and shifting global sentiment. Here’s what’s powering the rally and why markets are watching closely

Ajit Pawar’s death shakes Maharashtra politics. What could be the fallout?

With Ajit Pawar’s death, one of the posts of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister has fallen vacant. It raises questions about both the potential future of the Mahayuti alliance and the NCP factions in the state

Ajit Pawar and parivaar: Who's who in Maharashtra’s powerful political family?

Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s death in a plane crash in Baramati has shocked the country. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief is survived by his wife, Sunetra, and their two sons – Parth and Jay. Who else makes up the prominent Pawar family?

India-EU FTA deal: How have ties with the bloc evolved?

India and the European Union have finalised a landmark free trade agreement that slashes tariffs on most goods, opens up guarded sectors, and aims to double EU exports to India by 2032. India-EU relations have evolved from a 1960s trade-and-aid framework into a sophisticated Strategic Partnership formalised in 2004

Why Bangladesh’s China-backed drone factory is raising alarm bells in India

Bangladesh’s decision to manufacture drones with Chinese support marks a strategic shift in South Asia’s defence. With technology transfer, MALE UAV production, and Chinese involvement near India’s borders, the deal raises critical questions about Beijing’s expanding military footprint inside a neighbour of New Delhi