Explainers

A nuclear arms race in the offing? How many warheads does US, China and Russia have?

Donald Trump has instructed the Pentagon to resume nuclear weapons testing immediately. This has shone a spotlight on the nuclear capabilities of the world, namely the US, China and Russia. Latest figures reveal that Moscow and Washington possess 90 per cent of all of the world’s nuclear warheads. What about Beijing?

Around Asia in 5 days: How successful was Trump's big tour?

United States President Donald Trump’s sweeping Asia tour — spanning Malaysia, Japan and South Korea was aimed at boosting Washington’s regional agenda with major deals on trade, defence, and energy. Yet, behind the high-profile meetings and tariff cuts, many questions linger over rare earth access, and US power in the Indo-Pacific

What happened when the US conducted its last nuclear test 33 years ago?

US President Donald Trump, during his just-concluded Asia tour, announced that America will resume testing its nuclear weapons. He made the remarks before meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The development comes days after Russia successfully tested two nuclear-powered weapons. But what happened when America conducted the ‘Divider’ nuclear test in 1992?

Why India had airbase in Tajikistan and why it is now vacated

India pulled out its personnel and military equipment from a strategic air base in Tajikistan in 2022. This came after a lease agreement between the two countries was not extended. The Ayni airbase, which New Delhi had helped build and run since 2002, gave India strategic leverage over Pakistan and increased its influence in Central Asia

US halts automatic work permit renewals. Will this hurt Indians?

From today (October 30), the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will stop automatically extending certain work permits, officially known as Employment Authorisation Documents (EADs). As per the new regulations, every worker will have to undergo a fresh round of screening and vetting before their permit is renewed. This will impact foreign employees, including Indians, who are a big part of the workforce

Trump rates talks with Xi ‘12 out of 10’. What was the outcome of the meeting?

After six years, Donald Trump and Xi Jinping held talks in South Korea’s Busan during which the two leaders lavished praise on one another and vowed a new chapter in US-China relations. The two leaders agreed upon key issues such as Beijing’s purchase of American soybeans, rare earth exports, and a deal to slash fentanyl-related tariffs

Are Putin and now Trump's nuclear tests signalling a new arms race?

Russia’s back-to-back tests of its nuclear-powered Poseidon underwater drone and Burevestnik cruise missile have instilled fears of a global arms race. Announced by President Vladimir Putin amid escalating tensions with Washington, the trials coincide with US President Donald Trump’s order to resume nuclear weapons testing

Did US try to capture Venezuela’s Maduro by bribing pilot of his plane?

The United States reportedly tried to buy off the personal pilot of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a bid to arrest him. The pilot, in return, was told that he would be made a wealthy man. A US federal agent kept interacting with Maduro's chief pilot even after he retired. Here's what we know about the alleged plan hatched by the US to arrest the strongman and why it failed

‘Biggest massacre I’ve seen’: How a police raid in Rio turned into a bloodbath killing 132 people

Brazil is reeling from horror. It is still trying to cope with the shock after 2,500 troops launched a pre-dawn raid in Rio de Janeiro, targeting the ‘Red Command’ gang that eventually turned into a bloodbath, in which 132 people were killed. While authorities say all those dead were gangsters, residents slammed the action, calling it a ‘massacre’

Why UN report linking Pahalgam attack to Myanmar refugees has invited India’s ire

The report, released by the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, claimed that Rohingya refugees have faced 'severe pressure' in India since the Pahalgam terror attack earlier this year. It added that despite having no involvement in the incident, Rohingya refugees were detained and threatened by Indian authorities. India dismissed the claims as 'baseless and biased' and accused the UN of a 'blinkered analysis'

History Today: How the Soviet Union carried out world's biggest nuclear bomb test

The Soviet Union detonated the most powerful nuclear weapon in the history of humankind, the Tsar Bomba, on October 30, 1961. Codenamed 'Ivan' by its creators, it was tested over Novaya Zemlya, a remote Arctic archipelago. On this day in 1973, the Bosphorus Bridge was inaugurated in Istanbul, Turkey. It is the bridge that connects the European and Asian sides of Istanbul

FirstUp: Trump to meet Xi Jinping in Busan, India's military drills begin... Top news today

The high-stakes meeting between US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, will take place in Busan. The two are expected to talk about trade, TikTok, rare earths and possibly Taiwan. In India, the armed forces will conduct Operation Trishul, a major tri-services exercise in Sir Creek near Pakistan’s border

From golden crown to Nobel nomination: Are accolades the key to diplomacy with Trump?

The US President is currently on a week-long trip to Asia, where he is being feted and showered with gifts. South Korea welcomed Donald Trump with a golden crown and its highest award. Japan followed a similar strategy, nominating him for the Nobel Peace Prize and gifting Shinzo Abe's former golf club

In Graphics | How do rare earths become magnets?

Rare earths are a key ingredient in much of our technology and the industries of the future. But have you ever wondered how they go from being raw ore to powerful magnets? Let’s take a closer look at the step-by-step process, why countries want rare earths and China’s dominance within the industry