Explainers News - Page 3

Finance ministry deputy secretary killed after BMW rams into his bike: Here’s what happened

Navjot Singh, deputy secretary in the Ministry of Finance, died after a BMW hit his motorcycle near Delhi Cantt. His wife, Sandeep Kaur, is critically injured. The couple’s son has alleged that the woman driver, Gaganpreet, took his parents to a hospital nearly 20 km away instead of a nearby medical facility, causing a delay that may have cost his father’s life

After Poland, Russian drones enter Romania: Is Putin testing Nato?

Back-to-back Russian drone incursions — first in Poland, then Romania — have escalated tensions on Nato’s eastern border. Romania scrambled F-16s as a Russian drone crossed its airspace during strikes on Ukraine, days after Poland shot down drones with Nato support

Why Tyler Robinson’s trans ‘partner’ is in spotlight after Charlie Kirk’s killing

Tyler Robinson, who is accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk, was living with Lance Twiggs, his transgender ‘partner’, who is transitioning from male to female. Utah Governor Spencer Cox said Robinson was in a relationship with Twiggs. Notably, Twiggs helped in Robinson’s arrest by providing authorities with texts in which Tyler talked about hiding the gun used to kill Kirk, who had anti-LGBTQ views

Is anti-immigrant sentiment growing in UK? What London protests indicate

It was billed as ‘Britain’s largest free speech festival’, but remarks at the ‘Unite the Kingdom’ rally on Saturday carried largely anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim sentiments. Led by far-right activist Tommy Robinson, thousands of protesters chanted slogans such as ‘we want our country back’ and ‘send them home’. Later, the demonstrations turned violent with some of the supporters viciously attacking the police present at the site, injuring 26 of them

History Today: How Doordarshan's launch revolutionised broadcasting in India

Doordarshan was launched in India on September 15, 1959 and remained iconic for generations. The modest beginning featured a small transmitter and black-and-white broadcasts that reached only a handful of households. On this day in 1955, Vladimir Nabokov's controversial novel 'Lolita' was published in Paris by Olympia Press. It went on to become one of the greatest literary controversies of the 20th century

FirstUp: Last day to file I-T returns, PM Modi in Bengal, Bihar... Today’s big stories

Today (September 15) is the last day to file Income Tax Returns. After his visit to the Northeast, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in West Bengal and Bihar today. Argentinian President Javier Milei will undertake a two-day visit to Paraguay. China is likely to release its data for retail sales, industrial production and unemployment figures for August

Is your house heating up and making you miserable? Paint it white

White surfaces reflect sunlight rather than absorb it, and studies show that painting roofs white or adding some other type of reflective coating can reduce the internal temperatures

How ChatGPT is becoming everyone’s BFF and why that’s dangerous

An increasing number of people, adults and children alike, are making bots their besties: choosing AI-powered chatbots over humans. Is this a green flag or a red flag?

This Week in Explainers: How recovering from Gen-Z protests is a Himalayan task for Nepal

Days after the Gen-Z protests that burned down Nepal’s parliament and led to the resignation of its prime minister, the country is trying to get its act together. The losses are expected to be massive; trade and tourism are taking a hit. In our weekly wrap, we talk about the Nepal unrest, Charlie Kirk’s assassination and more

How Tanzania’s ‘hero rats’ are saving lives by sniffing out landmines, tuberculosis

‘Hero rats’ in Africa’s Tanzania are playing an unusual but crucial role as they help to detect landmines and identify tuberculosis. Using their sharp sense of smell, the rats find TB infections that were earlier labelled as negative. Since 2003, they have been used to locate landmines and, in recent years, have also been trained to search for people trapped after earthquakes

History Today: When the first man-made object landed on the Moon in 1959

On September 14, 1959, the Soviet Union’s Luna 2 spacecraft became the first man-made object to reach the Moon. The mission, a major milestone for humanity, also was an inflection point in the space race between the US and the USSR

Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar

Mossad reportedly refused to use its agents on the ground to assassinate Hamas leaders in Qatar. The head of the Israeli external intelligence agency is said to have rejected the plan, leaving PM Benjamin Netanyahu with the alternative option to order an airstrike in Doha. But why was the spy agency not in favour of the attack, which has been widely condemned across the world?

Giorgio Armani will: Who will get the inheritance? What happens to his fashion empire?

Italian designer Giorgio Armani, who passed away last week at the age of 91, has mentioned gradually selling off the luxury fashion brand that he built 50 years ago. The will states that priority should be given to French luxury giant LVMH, French cosmetics group L’Oréal, and Italian eyewear company EssilorLuxottica. This has come as a surprise to many in the industry

‘Bella Ciao’: What do engravings on bullet casings of Charlie Kirk shooting suspect mean?

After Maga activist Charlie Kirk was shot dead allegedly by 22-year-old Tyler Robinson at a university in Utah this week, police found a bolt-action rifle left in a wooded area near the campus. Bullet casings in the rifle were engraved with anti-fascist and taunting messages, according to Utah Governor Spencer Cox. What did they say?

This Week in Explainers: Will your food orders via Zomato, Swiggy cost more?

As the GST reforms come into effect from September 22, food delivery through Zomato or Swiggy could cost more than ordering directly from restaurants and food outlets. This comes as these companies will have to pay 18 per cent GST on behalf of delivery workers. Here’s all this and more in our weekly wrap

Who is Erika Kirk, widow of slain Trump ally and Maga activist Charlie Kirk?

Erika Kirk, the grieving widow of Maga activist Charlie Kirk, in a tearful goodbye, vowed that her husband’s ‘voice will remain’. Her first public remarks since Charlie was shot dead at a university in Utah on Wednesday came during a livestream. Who is the former beauty queen who has warned ‘evil-doers’ that her cries will ‘echo around the world like a battle cry’?

History Today: What are the Oslo Accords that Israel and Palestine signed in 1993?

Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) Chairman Yasser Arafat signed the famous Oslo Peace Treaty on September 13, 1993. The signing occurred in the presence of then-US President Bill Clinton at the White House. On this day, in 2004, Oprah Winfrey gave away nearly 300 new cars to the audience present at 'The Oprah Winfrey Show'

Why PM Modi's first visit to Manipur since unrest matters

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Manipur today (13 September). This will be his first visit to the state since ethnic violence broke out in 2023, leaving over 250 dead and thousands displaced. The PM is expected to unveil projects worth Rs 8,500 crore and meet victims of the violence

Who is Tyler Robinson, 22-year-old from Utah, who killed Charlie Kirk?

FBI officials at a press conference on Thursday said Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old college student from Utah, has been identified as the suspect in the killing of Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old conservative and staunch ally of US President Donald Trump. Robinson spoke negatively about the victim, a family member told investigators. He had become more political in recent years

Nepal: When Sushila Karki's husband hijacked plane carrying Indian actor Mala Sinha

Nepal’s former Supreme Court Chief Justice Sushila Karki will lead the interim government in the Himalayan nation. As her legal career and personal life come into focus, we take a look at her husband, Durga Prasad Subedi, who carried out Nepal’s first hijacking in 1973. Here’s what happened

How the masks you disposed of during Covid are now becoming an environmental disaster

Masks were critical in fighting Covid-19, but billions of them are now causing an environmental crisis. Studies show discarded masks are releasing microplastics and toxic chemicals like bisphenol B into land and water, threatening ecosystems, wildlife and human health. Experts warn that urgent policies and sustainable alternatives are needed to prevent lasting damage

Charlie Kirk killing: How relaxed are Utah’s gun laws?

Investigations are underway after a right-wing activist and Trump ally, Charlie Kirk, was shot dead while giving a speech at Utah Valley University. Now, experts say that the gun laws in the state made it easier for the suspect to carry the firearm around freely

Ghaziabad woman dead, pilgrims attacked in bus… How Nepal’s Gen-Z protests turned into a living hell for Indian tourists

A 55-year-old woman from Ghaziabad died as protesters in Nepal set fire to a hotel. A bus carrying pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh was attacked by miscreants in Kathmandu… These are just a few instances of how the unrest triggered by Gen-Z protests in the Himalayan nation turned holidays into ordeals for tourists

Leaders abroad, losing at home: Can Macron, Starmer, and Merz survive their domestic crises?

As Europe unites against Russia’s war in Ukraine, leaders Emmanuel Macron, Keir Starmer, and Friedrich Merz face mounting domestic turmoil. From mass protests in France and political scandals in the UK to Germany’s coalition struggles, their crises at home threaten their ability to lead abroad and maintain Europe’s united front

Operations halted, work from home orders…How Nepal’s Gen Z-led protests have hit Indian companies

Several major Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) firms, including Hindustan Unilever, Britannia, Dabur, and Marico, have confirmed that the Gen Z-led protests in Nepal have affected their operations. But how are these companies dealing with the unrest? And what could be the impact on Indian trade with Nepal?

Inside Sheikh Hasina’s ‘secret’ locker found in Dhaka

A long-rumoured ‘secret locker’ linked to former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been discovered at a bank in Dhaka and seized by the country’s revenue authorities. Social media has been buzzing with questions about whether it contains money, gold jewellery or sensitive documents. Officials also found two bank accounts in her name at the same bank

Was Indian-origin motel manager beheaded in Dallas over a washing machine spat?

Chandra Mouli 'Bob' Nagamallaiah, an Indian-origin motel manager in Dallas, Texas, was beheaded in front of his family by a hotel employee, Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, after an argument over a broken washing machine spiralled out of control. Martinez has been arrested and charged with capital murder

Suicide or murder? Why Sam Altman and Elon Musk are clashing over Suchir Balaji's death

In an interview with Tucker Carlson, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman spoke publicly for the first time about Indian-origin whistleblower Suchir Balaji’s death, describing it as a ‘suicide’. However, Carlson repeatedly suggested it appeared to be a murder. Soon after, Elon Musk backed the murder claims. Notably, Balaji was found dead in his apartment weeks after accusing the company of copyright violations

Were bodyguards involved in Charlie Kirk’s shooting? The many conspiracies surrounding the killing

Who killed Charlie Kirk? While authorities continue their manhunt, social media is flooded with theories about the death of the influential right-wing American activist

Will robots run governments? Albania has an ‘AI minister’ of public procurement

In a first, Albania has launched an AI-created 'minister' to take charge of the public tenders in which the government contracts private companies for various projects. The country has been the hub for gangs seeking to launder their money from trafficking drugs and weapons across the world