Explainers

‘Bella Ciao’: What do engravings on bullet casings of Charlie Kirk shooting suspect mean?

After Maga activist Charlie Kirk was shot dead allegedly by 22-year-old Tyler Robinson at a university in Utah this week, police found a bolt-action rifle left in a wooded area near the campus. Bullet casings in the rifle were engraved with anti-fascist and taunting messages, according to Utah Governor Spencer Cox. What did they say?

This Week in Explainers: Will your food orders via Zomato, Swiggy cost more?

As the GST reforms come into effect from September 22, food delivery through Zomato or Swiggy could cost more than ordering directly from restaurants and food outlets. This comes as these companies will have to pay 18 per cent GST on behalf of delivery workers. Here’s all this and more in our weekly wrap

Who is Erika Kirk, widow of slain Trump ally and Maga activist Charlie Kirk?

Erika Kirk, the grieving widow of Maga activist Charlie Kirk, in a tearful goodbye, vowed that her husband’s ‘voice will remain’. Her first public remarks since Charlie was shot dead at a university in Utah on Wednesday came during a livestream. Who is the former beauty queen who has warned ‘evil-doers’ that her cries will ‘echo around the world like a battle cry’?

History Today: What are the Oslo Accords that Israel and Palestine signed in 1993?

Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) Chairman Yasser Arafat signed the famous Oslo Peace Treaty on September 13, 1993. The signing occurred in the presence of then-US President Bill Clinton at the White House. On this day, in 2004, Oprah Winfrey gave away nearly 300 new cars to the audience present at 'The Oprah Winfrey Show'

Why PM Modi's first visit to Manipur since unrest matters

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Manipur today (13 September). This will be his first visit to the state since ethnic violence broke out in 2023, leaving over 250 dead and thousands displaced. The PM is expected to unveil projects worth Rs 8,500 crore and meet victims of the violence

Who is Tyler Robinson, 22-year-old from Utah, who killed Charlie Kirk?

FBI officials at a press conference on Thursday said Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old college student from Utah, has been identified as the suspect in the killing of Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old conservative and staunch ally of US President Donald Trump. Robinson spoke negatively about the victim, a family member told investigators. He had become more political in recent years

Nepal: When Sushila Karki's husband hijacked plane carrying Indian actor Mala Sinha

Nepal’s former Supreme Court Chief Justice Sushila Karki will lead the interim government in the Himalayan nation. As her legal career and personal life come into focus, we take a look at her husband, Durga Prasad Subedi, who carried out Nepal’s first hijacking in 1973. Here’s what happened

How the masks you disposed of during Covid are now becoming an environmental disaster

Masks were critical in fighting Covid-19, but billions of them are now causing an environmental crisis. Studies show discarded masks are releasing microplastics and toxic chemicals like bisphenol B into land and water, threatening ecosystems, wildlife and human health. Experts warn that urgent policies and sustainable alternatives are needed to prevent lasting damage

Charlie Kirk killing: How relaxed are Utah’s gun laws?

Investigations are underway after a right-wing activist and Trump ally, Charlie Kirk, was shot dead while giving a speech at Utah Valley University. Now, experts say that the gun laws in the state made it easier for the suspect to carry the firearm around freely

Ghaziabad woman dead, pilgrims attacked in bus… How Nepal’s Gen-Z protests turned into a living hell for Indian tourists

A 55-year-old woman from Ghaziabad died as protesters in Nepal set fire to a hotel. A bus carrying pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh was attacked by miscreants in Kathmandu… These are just a few instances of how the unrest triggered by Gen-Z protests in the Himalayan nation turned holidays into ordeals for tourists

Leaders abroad, losing at home: Can Macron, Starmer, and Merz survive their domestic crises?

As Europe unites against Russia’s war in Ukraine, leaders Emmanuel Macron, Keir Starmer, and Friedrich Merz face mounting domestic turmoil. From mass protests in France and political scandals in the UK to Germany’s coalition struggles, their crises at home threaten their ability to lead abroad and maintain Europe’s united front

Operations halted, work from home orders…How Nepal’s Gen Z-led protests have hit Indian companies

Several major Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) firms, including Hindustan Unilever, Britannia, Dabur, and Marico, have confirmed that the Gen Z-led protests in Nepal have affected their operations. But how are these companies dealing with the unrest? And what could be the impact on Indian trade with Nepal?

Inside Sheikh Hasina’s ‘secret’ locker found in Dhaka

A long-rumoured ‘secret locker’ linked to former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been discovered at a bank in Dhaka and seized by the country’s revenue authorities. Social media has been buzzing with questions about whether it contains money, gold jewellery or sensitive documents. Officials also found two bank accounts in her name at the same bank

Was Indian-origin motel manager beheaded in Dallas over a washing machine spat?

Chandra Mouli 'Bob' Nagamallaiah, an Indian-origin motel manager in Dallas, Texas, was beheaded in front of his family by a hotel employee, Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, after an argument over a broken washing machine spiralled out of control. Martinez has been arrested and charged with capital murder