Explainers News - Page 2

Amid a gruelling heatwave, how is India meeting record power demand?

India’s peak power demand crossed the 270-gigawatt (GW) mark for the first time on Thursday (May 21), touching a record 270.82 GW as heat intensifies across the region. The government has directed all thermal power plants to remain fully operational throughout the summer, with no maintenance shutdowns permitted

From Stephen Colbert to Jimmy Kimmel: Inside Donald Trump’s long-running feud with late-night TV hosts

Stephen Colbert said goodbye to ‘The Late Show’ after CBS cancelled the long-running franchise. Many note the decision came as a move to pacify Donald Trump, who has run a critical campaign against hosts of late-night shows

Why India’s deadly heat is no longer just about temperature

From Mumbai to Lucknow, rising humidity is making heat more dangerous and exposing gaps in India’s warning systems. And this is not restricted to summer alone

Victim or accomplice? The role of Jeffrey Epstein’s assistant, Sarah Kellen, in the scandal

Sarah Kellen, Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime assistant, has told Congress she was also a victim of abuse. While survivors and court records accuse her of helping run Epstein’s network, Kellen claims she was manipulated, controlled and psychologically trapped for more than a decade

Why are Greenlanders protesting against the new US consulate in Nuuk?

The opening of a larger US consulate in Greenland’s capital Nuuk has resulted in protests and renewed concerns over President Donald Trump’s Arctic ambitions. Demonstrators accused Washington of trying to expand its influence over the strategically important island amid rising Nato tensions

After Iran, is Trump going to start a conflict with Cuba?

He’s in the midst of one war, but it appears that Donald Trump is mulling a new conflict. After the US indicted former Cuban President Raúl Castro, the US leader has raised the spectre of military intervention, saying he would be ‘happy to do it’. Additionally, a US warship has moved to the Caribbean waters

Sexually transmitted diseases like syphilis and gonorrhoea surge in Europe. Here’s why

Bacterial sexually transmitted infections, including syphilis and gonorrhoea, have reached record high levels across Europe, according to the ECDC data. Gonorrhoea hit 106,331 cases, with a 303 per cent increase since 2015, while syphilis reported more than double in the same period to 45,557. Experts point to wide gaps in testing and prevention

US and Taiwan presidents haven't spoken since 1979. Why is Trump breaking protocol?

Donald Trump’s plan to speak with Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te risks upending decades of diplomacy and fracturing relations with China

‘Clicks, cash and cruelty’: How primates are illegally being sold on social media in the US

A new report has raised concern that wildlife trafficking of primates is becoming more prevalent on social media in the US and is putting the health and welfare of animals at risk. Researchers found over 1,600 animals for sale on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube

The controversial reason this Indian student was forced to quit Scotland election race

Sai Shraddha Suresh Viswanathan, who is originally from India, has said she was ‘let down’ by the Scottish Green Party after being asked to withdraw as a candidate in the Holyrood election last year over her student visa status. She has claimed she was pressured, despite another candidate in a similar position being allowed to stand and win the election

Why Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak’s AI speech wasn’t booed like other tech titans

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak received rare applause for mentioning AI during a US commencement speech, while several other executives faced boos from graduates. His focus on 'actual intelligence' and human creativity struck a chord with Gen Z students worried about automation, layoffs, and AI-driven job disruption

Beyond the Melody mania: The sweet truth of India’s 166% toffee export surge

A viral video of PM Narendra Modi gifting Melody to his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni has put Indian candy in the limelight. But the bigger story is in the data. Over the last decade, India’s toffee and confectionery exports have skyrocketed by 166 per cent, surging from Rs 49.7 crore to a massive Rs 132 crore

No Fifa World Cup 2026 for Indian football fans? The broadcasting controversy, explained

As the Fifa World Cup fever builds, Indian football fans face a total broadcast blackout. Private networks have backed out of bidding, and Prasar Bharati has told the Delhi High Court that Doordarshan is not responsible for securing the telecast rights

Built in 38 months by robots: Inside China's new mega high-speed railway hub

China built one of the world's largest railway station in Chongqing in just 38 months. According to a report by the Chinese state-owned broadcaster Xinhua News Agency, the construction of the rail hub, from receiving the design blueprints in May 2022 to its official inauguration in 2025, was attributed to a 'robot revolution'

3 visits in 1 week: The scramble by Pakistan’s Mohsin Naqvi to secure US-Iran peace deal

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has undertaken three trips to Iran in recent days. Fielded by Field Marshal Asim Munir to be his point man, the minister has held key talks with Tehran’s leadership, including his Iranian counterpart Eskandar Momeni, as well as Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) chief Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi. He’s also been the one responsible for carrying the latest peace proposal from Washington to Tehran

600 suspected cases & counting: Why is Ebola spreading so fast? Is India prepared?

Bundibugyo, a rare type of the Ebola virus, has caused 600 suspected cases and more than 130 deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo and in neighbouring Uganda, according to WHO. After the UN health agency sounded its second-highest alarm about the disease this week, India has stepped up surveillance and preparedness measures across the country

‘Bibi’s hair was on fire’: Inside the rift between Trump and Netanyahu over Iran war

Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly had a tense phone conversation on the future of the Iran war. While the US president is pushing diplomacy, his Israeli counterpart wants tougher military action against Tehran and remains sceptical of ongoing negotiations

Sizzling at 48.2°C! How UP’s Banda has become one of the hottest places on Earth

Uttar Pradesh's Banda is repeatedly emerging as one of the hottest places on Earth, with temperatures rising above 48°C. Shops, roads, and streets go empty after 10 am daily as the heat disrupts daily life in the district. Experts describe the city as a 'vicious circle of heat', and according to them, the cause lies far beyond a temporary heatwave

From F-15s to MQ-9 Reaper drones: The full list of the 42 aircraft US has lost in Iran war

Amid the Iran fighting, a Congressional Research Service report reveals that the US has lost 42 aircraft until now. Of these, four are F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft, seven KC-135 Stratotankers, one F-35A Lightning II, and 24 MQ-9 Reaper drones. This adds to the already burgeoning cost of the war, which has been pegged at $29 billion so far

How Elon Musk’s SpaceX IPO could make him the world’s first trillionaire

Elon Musk’s SpaceX IPO could become the biggest stock market debut in history, potentially pushing the billionaire’s net worth beyond $1 trillion. From Starlink’s rapid growth to AI ambitions and Starship expansion, here’s how SpaceX’s public listing may set a benchmark at Wall Street

US charges Raul Castro over 1996 plane shoot down: What happened then?

The US has indicted Cuba’s Raul Castro for his involvement in the shooting down of planes. On February 24 1996, Cuban military shot down two aircraft belonging to the group, the Brothers to the Rescue, on the orders of the 94-year-old. The incident led to the death of four individuals — three of them being American — and triggered the biggest crisis between Havana and Washington since the Cold War

Who is Abhijeet Dipke, the brains behind the viral Cockroach Janta Party movement?

Abhijeet Dipke, a political strategist and currently a student at Boston University, has launched the now-viral Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). A former volunteer of the Aam Aadmi Party’s social media unit, he said the name ‘cockroach’ emerged after the Chief Justice’s remarks angered young Indians online

Only 60 days to leave? The options for laid-off Indian H-1B workers in the US

As major US tech firms including Meta, Microsoft, Google and Oracle continue to cut staff, many laid-off H-1B workers are facing the prospect of having to leave the country within two months. From applying for a B-2 visitor visa to attempting a shift to an F-1 student visa, an O-1 visa for those with extraordinary ability, or an L-1 visa for intra-company transfer, this is how workers are trying to remain in the US

Samsung workers plan mega strike: Will it make phones and laptops more expensive?

Over 47,000 Samsung workers plan to strike in South Korea on Thursday after talks with the firm collapsed. The 18-day walkout could disrupt chip supplies and impact gadget prices

What’s the ‘Romeo and Juliet’ clause Nepal may add to its rape laws?

The Nepal government is considering introducing a ‘Romeo and Juliet’ provision in its rape laws to exempt penalising teenage consensual relationships. The country’s existing laws criminalise all adolescent relationships, which are punished under its rape laws

Why US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is making a rare stop in Kolkata during India visit

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s four-day visit to India will include a stop at Kolkata. He will be in India from May 23 to 26, with the trip focusing on energy security, trade, and defence cooperation. His itinerary includes the West Bengal capital, as the city holds a key place in American diplomacy

Power of Siberia 2: What's the massive Russia-China gas pipeline that Putin and Xi discussed?

Russia and China have renewed focus on the massive Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline during Vladimir Putin’s Beijing visit. The proposed 2,600-km project would transport Russian Arctic gas to China via Mongolia

Parle vs Parle: How Modi-Meloni video resulted in price rise of namesake stock

The video of PM Narendra Modi gifting his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni a packet of Melody toffees during his visit to Rome has gone viral. But that’s not the only effect that the clip has had. Shares of Parle Industries hit the upper circuit on Wednesday after investors piled into it. However, there’s just one small issue. Parle Industries has nothing to do with the makers of Melody

Why this year’s ‘super El Niño’ could be devastating for India

Temperatures across India are scorching, with experts linking them to the development of a ‘super El Niño’ in the Pacific Ocean. India is particularly vulnerable to this weather phenomenon, owing to its connection with the southwest monsoon, which supports agriculture in the country

Who is Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, US and Israel's pick to lead Iran?

At the outset of the Iran war, US President Donald Trump and Israel declared ‘regime change’ as the goal. Now, it has been revealed that they wanted Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to lead the country. Ironically, during his time in office, the former president was widely derided in the West for his anti-American and anti-Israeli stance