Explainers News - Page 30

Could Pakistan’s Imran Khan lose vision because of eye condition?

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is warning that former prime minister Imran Khan is suffering from a serious eye ailment and that he could permanently lose his vision. Here’s what we know

The Learjet 45, the plane that crashed with Ajit Pawar on board in Baramati

The plane carrying Maharashtra’s Ajit Pawar crash-landed at Baramati, turning into a fireball and killing all five on board. Now, the spotlight has turned to the aircraft, a Learjet 45 that is manufactured by Canada’s Bombardier Aerospace, and its safety record

Why Ajit Pawar was fondly called the ‘dada of Maharashtra politics’

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died after his plane crashed at the Baramati airport on Wednesday (January 28) morning. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief was one of the most powerful politicians in the state. Known as ‘dada’ (big brother) among his supporters, he emerged from his uncle Sharad Pawar’s shadow to shape the political landscape of the western state

Amid Nipah cases in India, which countries are screening for the deadly virus?

Thailand and Nepal have ramped up travel screening while Taiwan has tightened health surveillance following cases of the Nipah virus in India. So far, two confirmed cases have been detected in West Bengal

How Trump is pushing the world closer to India, China

US President Donald Trump’s tariffs, diplomatic threats and unilateral actions have unsettled allies, forcing countries across Europe and beyond to recalibrate ties. From the India-EU trade deal to fresh Western engagement with China, global powers are diversifying partnerships

Technical error or bad weather? What caused Ajit Pawar’s plane to crash in Baramati?

Ajit Pawar, Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister, has died after a plane carrying him from Mumbai crash-landed at Baramati. What caused the tragedy? Preliminary investigations suggest that the aircraft may have suffered technical errors

Doomsday Clock moved closer to midnight than ever before: What does this indicate?

The Doomsday Clock has been moved to 85 seconds before midnight, the closest to global catastrophe. Nuclear escalation, collapsing arms control, climate breakdown, artificial intelligence risks, and rising geopolitical conflicts pushed atomic scientists to issue their starkest warning yet

UP, Maharashtra, Kerala and more… How these states stand to gain from India-EU trade deal

India and the European Union have concluded negotiations on the historic free trade agreement (FTA) that is expected to deliver a Rs 6.4-lakh-crore boost to Indian exports to the European Union. The trade deal is especially poised to benefit 12 Indian states — from Uttar Pradesh to Kerala

How video evidence is revealing the false claims made by Trump’s officials over ICE shootings

Amid the outrage over the two shootings by ICE agents in Minneapolis, US President Donald Trump’s immigration officials have often painted those shot dead as aggressors. However, evidence in the Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti shootings contrast these allegations. Moreover, a pattern has emerged in which authorities rushed to defend officers without waiting for key facts to emerge

FirstUp: UK PM Keir Starmer in China and other big headlines today

Keir Starmer begins his four-day official visit to China today ((January 28) marking it a first visit by a British PM in eight years. In the US, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will testify before the Senate panel on the capture of former Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro

How Taliban's new criminal code legalises slavery, grants clerics immunity

The Taliban’s new criminal code in Afghanistan has legalised slavery and granted mullahs legal immunity. Here is more about the ‘Criminal Procedure Code for Courts’

Should China be concerned about Nipah virus outbreak in India?

The resurgence of Nipah virus cases in West Bengal has sparked concerns in China ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, which sees a spike in travel. Five healthcare workers in the state are reported to have been infected with the highly fatal virus. Airports across Asia have tightened screening measures amid the outbreak

Suella Braverman joins Reform UK. Is the party attracting too many Tories?

Former UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman has become the latest prominent Conservative Party member to join Nigel Farage's right-wing Reform UK. As Braverman jumps ship, some say that the Reform party is at the risk of becoming the establishment it denounces

What to expect as UK PM Keir Starmer visits China

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer is all set to visit China in a bid to renew bilateral ties between the two nations. This marks the first visit by a UK PM to China in the last eight years. But, experts say that the two nations are neither allies nor enemies

EU Council chief Antonio Costa and the Goa connection

European Council President António Costa’s referred to his Goan roots during the India-EU free trade agreement announcement on Tuesday. From holding an OCI card to tracing family ties to Margao, Costa’s connection to India runs deep

Why Germany is cracking down on 'lifestyle part-time' work

Germany’s ruling party is divided over part-time employment. The business wing of the leading Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has proposed a ban on the legal right to work part-time with some exceptions. In Germany, three in 10 people work part-time. But why is there opposition to side jobs?

India-EU agree on FTA, but the deal isn’t signed yet. Here’s why

India and the European Union have announced the conclusion of negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). Here’s why the pact, which has been dubbed the ‘mother of all trade deals’, will bring India and the bloc closer together, has not yet been signed

Did Elon Musk’s Grok mistranslate PM Modi’s Maldives post?

A fresh controversy erupted after Grok, the AI assistant platform on X, mistranslated Prime Minister Narendra Modi's reply to Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu’s Republic Day greetings. However, Grok later updated the translation after users pointed out the error

‘Biggest FTA’: What gets cheaper in India, how will Europe benefit?

After years of negotiations, India and the European Union have finally sealed the deal on the ‘biggest ever FTA’. Tariffs on 97 per cent of European products will be slashed, making items such as chocolates, olive oil and even luxury cars cheaper for Indians. Meanwhile, the 27-member bloc will get access to one of the world’s fastest-growing markets

‘Discombobulator’: The secret weapon Trump says US used to capture Maduro

US President Donald Trump has claimed American forces used a mysterious weapon called the 'Discombobulator' during the January operation to capture Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro. US officials and experts say the term likely refers to a mix of cyber, electronic, and acoustic military systems rather than a single weapon

She is sentenced to 10 years for calling Pakistan a terrorist state. Who is Imaan Mazari?

Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir, a Pakistani human rights lawyer, and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, were arrested on Friday and given lengthy prison sentences by an Islamabad court. The daughter of former minister Shireen Mazari, she is a vocal critic of the government and the army

Trump deploys his ‘border czar’ to Minneapolis amid protests: Who is Tom Homan?

‘Border czar’ Tom Homan will travel to Minneapolis this week following the killing of another US citizen, Alex Jeffrey Pretti, by ICE agents. He will report directly to US President Donald Trump, as the city reels from two back-to-back killings

How China’s military purge could hurt its Taiwan ambitions

China has ordered for an investigation into the army’s top general, General Zhang Youxia. According to some experts, this will reverberate in Beijing's next move on Taiwan. Here's how

China purges highest-ranking military general. Did he sell nuclear secrets to US?

The Chinese military is in disarray after its top general, Zhang Youxia, was placed under investigation for ‘serious violations of discipline and law’. He has been accused of selling nuclear secrets to the US. But is there more to this than what meets the eye?

How will the ‘mother of all trade deals’ with the EU benefit India?

India and the European Union are set to announce a landmark free trade agreement aimed at boosting exports, cutting tariffs and deepening value-chain integration. From automobiles and EVs to textiles, electronics and pharmaceuticals, the deal could significantly reshape India-EU trade amid a volatile global trade environment

Why are public banks in India closed today? The employee strike, explained

Public sector banks across India are on a nationwide strike today (January 27), impacting operations like cash withdrawals and deposits. Employees are refusing to work as their demand of a five-day workweek has gone unheard by the government

Has Gregory Bovino, Trump’s Border Patrol chief, been fired after second Minneapolis shooting?

Gregory Bovino, a senior US Border Patrol commander and key face of Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, has come under the lens after a series of fatal shootings in Minneapolis, with some reports suggesting he has been fired. Border czar Tom Homan is now in charge, while Bovino is among federal officials expected to leave the city

FTA, defence deal and mobility pact… What to expect from India-EU summit

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi sits down for talks with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the main focus would be concluding negotiations on the ‘mother of all trade deals’. However, that’s not the only item on the agenda — the two sides are expected to sign defence and mobility pacts

FirstUp: India-EU FTA talks to be finalised and other big headlines

Negotiations for the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) are set to conclude today (January 27), according to reports. Among the key announcements expected are cuts in tariffs on European cars and wine, as well as on Indian electronics and textiles. In Japan, the election campaign is set to begin after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi dissolved the lower house of Parliament on Friday (January 23)

Ursula von der Leyen in India: How powerful is the European Commission?

European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are in India as New Delhi and the European Union (EU) seem set to announce a ‘historic’ free trade agreement. The Commission is the sole EU body to propose laws for member states and oversee their enforcement