Explainers News - Page 29
From 'Taco' to 'Nacho': Why Wall Street has a new acronym for Donald Trump
A new acronym, ‘Nacho’ (Not a Chance Hormuz Opens), is gaining traction among Wall Street traders as tensions between the US and Iran keep the Strait shut. Replacing the earlier ‘Taco’ (Trump Always Chickens Out) label, it reflects rising scepticism over Donald Trump’s ability to resolve the crisis and stabilise global oil markets
$25 billion or $50 billion? How much is the US spending on the Iran war?
The Pentagon says the US has spent $25 billion (Rs 2.38 lakh crore) on the Iran war. However, experts believe the real cost could be much higher, possibly as much as $50 billion (Rs 4.76 lakh crore) already
‘My little brown boy’… Who is the JPMorgan female executive sued for sexual harassment by junior?
A JPMorgan executive, identified as Lorna Hajdini, has been named in a sexual harassment and racial abuse lawsuit by her junior male employee. The lawsuit alleges that, besides the sexual advances, she drugged him with date-rape drugs. The plaintiff has also complained that the American banking giant enabled the abuse
Why Israel will pay a ‘heavy price’ if Iran’s nuclear programme doesn’t end | Israel’s ex-deputy NSA decodes
In an exclusive conversation with Firstpost's Shiksha Dev, Israel's former deputy national security advisor (NSA), Chuck Freilich, says that the US-Israel war on Iran has been a military success, but a strategic failure. He also stresses the need to end Iran’s nuclear programme
Pakistan opens land routes to Iran: How this move exposes Islamabad's double-game with the US
Pakistan’s decision to open six overland trade routes to Iran amid a US naval blockade has raised questions about where Islamabad's priorities lie. The move offers Tehran a critical economic lifeline while exposing Islamabad’s strategic balancing between Washington, Beijing, and regional interests
Didi hatao? Does Bengal’s record voter turnout of nearly 93% mean an upset for Mamata Banerjee?
West Bengal has recorded the highest voter turnout in two phases of polling since Independence, reaching nearly 93 per cent. With more electors exercising their franchise, many exit polls have predicted an advantage for the opposition BJP in the eastern state as the TMC seeks to retain power
Why the British are not going to return the Kohinoor to India
Before his meeting with King Charles III, New York City's Indian-origin Mayor Zohran Mamdani said that he would ‘probably encourage the royal to return the Kohinoor’. The diamond has long been a point of contention between the two nations, with New Delhi demanding its return on several occasions and Britain refusing to do so
Body bag and chainsaws: How US singer D4vd hacked, dismembered a teen girl’s body
Horrifying details have emerged about how American singer D4vd, aka David Anthony Burke, killed and eventually dismembered 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, before her body was found in the trunk of his Tesla. The singer has reportedly not pleaded guilty to all charges. Burke's preliminary hearing is set to start Friday (May 1)
US Supreme Court limits Voting Rights Act: What does it mean for minorities?
The US Supreme Court has narrowed a key provision of the Voting Rights Act, making it harder to challenge racial discrimination in electoral maps. The ruling in Louisiana v Callais shifts legal standards and could reshape redistricting battles, minority representation, and the balance of power in upcoming elections
HAYI: The Iran-linked group claiming responsibility for stabbing of 2 Jewish men in London
After two Jewish men were stabbed by a 45-year-old in north London’s Golders Green area, the Iran-linked HAYI group (Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia) has claimed responsibility for the attack. Recently, the collective has earned a reputation by attacking Jewish sites across Europe
Have Iran-backed hackers leaked personal data of over 2,000 US Marines?
Iran-linked group, Handala Hack, has claimed that it has released personal information of US Marines deployed in the Persian Gulf. The group asserted it published the names and personal details of 2,379 personnel, according to a post on its Telegram channel. The US War Department has launched a probe into the leak
News18 exit polls: BJP favoured in Bengal, TVK surge in Tamil Nadu, UDF ahead in Kerala
The CNN-News18 Vote Tracker survey by VoteVibe favours the BJP in West Bengal and Assam. It predicts that the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could topple the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu and shows that the Congress-led UDF is ahead of the ruling LDF in Kerala
Why are courtroom sketches still used in US trials?
As Elon Musk’s legal battle with OpenAI unfolds, courtroom sketches — not cameras — continue to document proceedings. Rooted in legal restrictions, privacy concerns, and tradition, this decades-old practice remains central to how high-profile US trials are visually reported
Why JD Vance is on a social media detox and what it means for his political future
Two people close to US Vice President JD Vance have said that he deleted the X app from his phone for Lent. Vance may be trying to keep himself out of the public eye ahead of his new book, slated for release in June. But is there something more to this?
With face on passport, why Trump is going where no other world leader has
Banners on government buildings? Yes. Photo on a passport? Yes. The American president is indulging in an overenthusiastic branding exercise, placing his name and face everywhere. Until now, no other leader, not even North Korea’s Kim Jong-un, has placed their face on the travel document
Typo proves costly: How an error led to court granting bail to Meghalaya honeymoon murder accused
Sonam Raghuvanshi, the accused in the murder of her newlywed husband while on their honeymoon in Meghalaya, was granted bail by the court. Instead of mentioning Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the arrest memo stated Section 403, which doesn’t exist
Why UAE exiting Opec is a big win for Trump
The UAE is exiting the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) cartel, which it joined in 1967. The decision will reshape global energy dynamics, weaken the cartel, and hand US President Donald Trump greater leverage
Make Pluto a planet again! Could Nasa chief make this possible?
Nasa chief Jared Isaacman wants to restore Pluto to its former glory. On Tuesday (April 28), the US space agency chief said he is very much in the camp of 'make Pluto a planet again.' But experts say the ultimate authority regarding Pluto's status lies with the International Astronomical Union (IAU)
How King Charles delivered a masterclass in diplomacy (and history) via dry wit in the US
During his four-day State visit to the US, King Charles III referenced events like the Seven Years’ War, the War of 1812, the Boston Tea Party, and the Suez Crisis in speeches to Congress and at a White House dinner. He also presented a WWII-era HMS Trump bell to US President Donald Trump. We decode the addresses and the history lessons they offer
Is a ‘super’ El Niño bad news for India’s monsoon?
While an El Niño is often linked to weaker monsoons, it is not always the case. According to the Ministry of Earth Sciences, since 1950, there have been 16 El Niño years, but only seven of them saw below-normal monsoon rainfall in India
The tale of Pablo Escobar’s ‘cocaine hippos’ that Anant Ambani wants to save
Following Colombia’s decision to cull 80 ‘cocaine hippos’, Indian billionaire Anant Ambani has announced that he is willing to care for them at his private wildlife sanctuary, Vantara. These animals are part of drug kingpin Pablo Escobar’s legacy; he had imported them from the US in the 1980s. Over the years, the population of these hippos has exploded, posing an environmental threat
Former FBI chief James Comey charged over ‘8647’ seashell post. What does it mean?
Former FBI director James Comey faces fresh criminal charges over a viral '8647' seashell post allegedly interpreted as a threat to US President Donald Trump. The case raises key questions around free speech, political messaging, and how US law defines a 'true threat' in the digital age
The shocking tale of Indian ‘illegal’ who attacked woman and bit her 3-year-old daughter in US
US authorities have arrested 24-year-old Atharva Vyas, an Indian man, for assaulting a mother and biting her three-year-old daughter in a San Antonio park in Texas. Officials note that Vyas’ student visa had been revoked last year for a past attack
Advantage India? How New Delhi stands to gain from UAE’s withdrawal from Opec
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced that it is quitting the 12-member Opec and its larger cousin, Opec+ from May 1. While this move hurts the oil cartel, it could be good news for India, as it will eventually lead to higher crude production and help lower New Delhi’s crude import bill
How 89-year-old pensioner went on shooting rampage in Athens, injuring 5
An elderly gunman, reportedly aged 89, wounded five people in two separate shooting incidents in central Athens, Greece, on Tuesday (April 28 ), according to police. The suspect first reportedly opened fire at a branch of Greece’s social security agency, and then at a court building. Authorities are yet to confirm the motive of the shooting; however, local reports suggest that he lost a pension case in court
How Strait of Hormuz crisis threatens subsea cables critical to India's internet
The fibre-optic cables laid across the seabed of the Strait of Hormuz connect India and other Asian countries to Europe via the Gulf and Egypt. These cables carry most global internet traffic and are vital for communication, finance, and cloud services. Experts say the Iran war could put them at risk
Hands and feet tied, wearing only diapers: Inside Indonesia's childcare abuse scandal
A raid at a daycare centre in Yogyakarta on Java island has exposed years of child abuse. The matter came to light after a former employee complained to the police about the inhumane treatment meted out to children, who were as young as under two years old
‘No place for Prince Harry’: Why King Charles is not meeting his son during US visit
UK’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla are on a four-day visit to the United States as they seek to mend London’s frayed ties with Washington. The British monarch has a busy schedule during the trip and is not meeting Prince Harry. But why?
Who is Alexey Mordashov, Russia’s richest man, who owns superyacht that sailed through Hormuz?
Alexey Mordashov is a Russian oligarch said to be close to President Vladimir Putin. He is in the spotlight after his $500- million (Rs 4,731-crore) superyacht Nord sailed through the conflict-hit Strait of Hormuz. Here is what we know about the billionaire and the luxury ship
Will decline in snow cover at Hindu Kush Himalaya lead to water shortages in India, Pakistan?
A new report has found that snow cover across the Hindu Kush Himalaya region declined 27.8 per cent below the long-term average for the winter season from November 2025 to March 2026. This has stoked concerns about water security for nearly 200 crore people in eight Asian countries, including India and Pakistan, where the mountain stretch lies