Explainers News - Page 7
Why Yousuf Imran, a 41-year-old techie, quit a Rs 9.3 crore Google job
Yousuf Imran, a former Google account executive in the San Francisco Bay Area, resigned after working six years at the tech giant. He has launched a startup after he felt ‘FOMO around the AI boom’
How Nasa is trying to save its space telescope from falling back to Earth
Nasa is attempting an unprecedented mission to rescue its ageing Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory before it re-enters Earth's atmosphere. Using a commercial robotic spacecraft, the agency hopes to extend the telescope's life while demonstrating satellite-servicing technology that could influence the future of space exploration
What makes 43°C in Europe more unbearable than 43°C in India?
The heatwave in Europe has left residents struggling. The temperature in countries such as Poland, Slovakia and Germany has risen to anywhere between 41°C and 43°C. The hot conditions have left many wondering why the European summer seems more brutal than the Indian one. The answer, however, lies in geography, housing design, and weather patterns
Who is Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, India's new Chief of Army Staff?
Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth has assumed office today (June 30) as the 31st Chief of the Army Staff. Seth will be the seventh officer from the Armoured Corps to assume the post and has served as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff
‘Will cut off hands that…’: Why Indus Waters Treaty riles up Pakistan
A Pakistani minister has once again issued a threat to India, stating that Islamabad would ‘cut off the hands’ of those who sought claim to the country’s waters under the Indus Waters Treaty. These threats highlight just how important the water agreement is to the neighbouring country
Who is Gadi Eisenkot, the ex-IDF chief emerging as Netanyahu's biggest challenger?
Former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot has emerged as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's strongest political challenger ahead of the election in October. From his military career and the controversial Dahiyeh doctrine to personal tragedy and the rise of his Yashar party, here's everything you need to know
Did US Supreme Court just make Trump the most powerful president?
Monday (June 29) was a big day for Donald Trump in the US Supreme Court. The justices handed him a huge win by empowering him to fire officials of independent agencies, overturning 91 years of precedent. However, the top court did lay out one exception: the Federal Reserve. The court blocked the US president’s bid to fire the Fed’s board member Lisa Cook
Yasin Malik charged in Sarla Bhat case: How 27-year-old Kashmiri Pandit nurse was murdered
After reopening the case last August in the murder of Sarla Bhat, the State Investigation Agency (SIA) today (June 29) filed a charge sheet in the case. It has named the jailed JKLF chief Yasin Malik as the mastermind behind the 1990 abduction, torture, and killing of the Kashmiri Pandit nurse
Will Iran’s ‘missing’ Mojtaba Khamenei finally make a public appearance at his father’s funeral?
As Iran prepares for former Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's state funeral, attention is now shifting to his son and successor, Mojtaba Khamenei. Having disappeared since taking over as Supreme Leader, the younger Khamenei has made several statements, either read by state television anchors or published through official media
How India navigated the Strait of Hormuz crisis better than other import-dependent nations
As the Strait of Hormuz reopens, India has done well to insulate its population from the oil shocks. Every Indian kitchen received its cylinder, and the Indian consumer absorbed the smallest price impact among any major importing economy during the US-Iran conflict. Here’s how
China backs Bangladesh's Teesta project again. Why will India keep a close watch?
Following Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's China visit, Beijing agreed to accelerate a feasibility study for Bangladesh's Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project. India is monitoring the development because of the project's proximity to the Siliguri Corridor and China's expanding infrastructure role in Bangladesh
How Europe’s cruel summer will continue into July
The mercury in Europe continues to soar. Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic all reached record temperatures of more than 40 degrees Celsius over the weekend, with tramlines even melting in Leipzig. But there’s little respite for Europeans as weather experts note that another heat dome could envelope the region between July 7 and July 10
US turns 250: Who were America's Founding Fathers?
As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, we revisit the story of America's Founding Fathers. From their fierce political rivalries and roles in drafting the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, to the Hamilton-Jefferson ideological divide and the contradictions that shaped the early republic
Siya Goyal took Rs 1 crore from Ketan Agarwal: What the latest probe in Lohagad murder revealed
New details are emerging from the Ketan Agarwal murder probe. As part of the conspiracy, Siya Goyal reportedly obtained Rs 1 crore from Ketan under the pretext of wedding shopping, and then handed it to Chetan Chaudhary. Additionally, weeks before the February engagement, Siya and Chetan travelled to Udaipur with a group, the investigation reveals
From Afghan attack to arrest of Baloch activist, how Pakistan’s peacemaker status is exposed
On the global stage, Pakistan is celebrating its peacemaker status after it mediated between the US and Iran. But the strikes along the Afghan border that killed 29, the ban on Geo TV, and sentencing prominent activist, Mahrang Baloch, to life imprisonment, show that Islamabad still grapples with insurgency, terrorism, and state suppression
Who is S Muralidhar, former Indian judge behind the UN's explosive Gaza children report?
Retired Indian judge Justice Srinivasan Muralidhar is at the centre of a landmark UN inquiry accusing Israel of systematically targeting Palestinian children in Gaza. Who is the former Delhi High Court judge, and why has his report resulted in reactions across the globe?
What is Article 5 at the heart of the recent US-Iran crisis over the Strait of Hormuz?
Article 5 of the US-Iran memorandum became the focal point of a fresh crisis, triggering military exchanges, disrupting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and shaking global energy markets. Here's how a dispute over one clause could determine the future of the fragile peace agreement
50 kg of rat poison, 30,000 capsules… How Pune man planned mass killings during Muharram procession in Mumbai
The authorities in Mumbai have arrested a 39-year-old man, identified as Fayyaz Premji, for allegedly distributing capsules mixed with zinc phosphide — rat poison — during a Muharram procession on Friday. Investigations reveal that the resident of Pune wanted to ‘kill at least 15,000 people’ and take ‘revenge against the world’ after his wife left him
Earthquakes rock Venezuela, Japan, Afghanistan within days. Are they connected?
Since last Wednesday, the world has seen an increase in seismic activity — seven in five days. First, there were the powerful earthquakes in Venezuela, which have killed over 1,400 people. This was followed by temblors in US’ California, Japan, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Is the timing coincidental?
What would an alien diet look like?
There's no data to suggest that aliens exist. However, if we believed they existed and came to Earth, our planet would offer them a somewhat risky buffet. There is liquid water, as well as salts, organic carbon, sugars, fats, amino acids and minerals, but also potential toxins, pathogens, allergens and other incompatible molecules
How Paris’ dreamy rooftops could turn into death traps in the heatwave
Many of the Paris buildings that look so picturesque from the outside are proving to be hostile amid the unrelenting heat. According to one study, living in a room directly under the zinc roof increases the risk of death by more than fourfold
Inside the lavish mansions that tennis stars call home during Wimbledon
It’s Wimbledon time, and tennis stars are prepping for the grass courts. But have you ever wondered where they stay during the tournament? Most of them shun hotels, opting for local houses to get that homely vibe
Doublet is our Word of the Week. How rare are two back-to-back earthquakes that hit Venezuela?
Venezuela is left picking up the pieces after two powerful earthquakes, 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, hit the country on Wednesday, killing over 1,400 people and causing damage worth millions. It was a rare earthquake doublet, which last shook up Turkey and Syria in 2023
This Week in Explainers: Why Europe is battling its hottest June ever
It’s yet another cruel summer in Europe. Temperatures in several parts of France, Spain and the UK have touched 40 degrees Celsius, setting records. In our weekly roundup, we talk about the heatwave, the Venezuela earthquake, and more
US to supply engines for Turkey's KAAN fighter: Where does India's fifth-gen aircraft plan stand?
The United States is set to supply GE F110 engines for Turkey's indigenous KAAN stealth fighter, marking a major boost for Ankara's defence programme. Here's how the deal compares with India's AMCA project, the GE F414 negotiations, and New Delhi's search for long-term engine sovereignty
Modi in Seychelles: Why is this tiny island country in Africa a strategic giant for India?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Seychelles visit marks 50 years of diplomatic ties and highlights the island nation's growing importance in India's Indian Ocean strategy. From maritime security and MAHASAGAR to trade, digital infrastructure and climate cooperation, here's why Seychelles matters far beyond its size
Israel-Lebanon sign historic US-brokered framework: Can the 14-point deal finally deliver peace?
Israel and Lebanon have signed a US-brokered 14-point framework agreement aimed at ending years of hostilities through phased Israeli withdrawals, Hezbollah's disarmament and stronger Lebanese state control. Here's what the landmark deal includes, why Hezbollah opposes it and what it could mean for the region's future
This Week in Explainers: If not passport, which documents are proof of citizenship in India?
A huge row has emerged after an official of the Ministry of External Affairs stated that the passport is not a proof of citizenship. Do Aadhaar and PAN prove one’s citizenship? We discuss this and more in our roundup of the news in India
Plane crashes into Beijing’s tallest skyscraper: Inside the 108-storey Citic Tower
A small plane crashed into Beijing’s Citic Tower, causing visible damage to the structure. At a height of 528 metres (1,732 feet), the skyscraper is China’s third-tallest tower and Beijing’s tallest. Nicknamed ‘China Zun’, it resembles an ancient ceremonial wine vessel
Ram Mandir donation row: Who is Champat Rai, the ‘encyclopaedia of Ayodhya’ who has quit the temple trust?
Following the arrest of eight people in the Ram Mandir donation-theft row, Champat Rai, the temple trust’s powerful general secretary, has resigned. Among his supporters, Rai is widely regarded as the ‘encyclopaedia of Ayodhya’ for his extensive knowledge of the temple town