WION Explains
5G vs airlines: Do 5G telecoms pose a threat to airline safety?
The US telecom industry and the airline industry have been arguing over the potential impact of 5G wireless services on aircrafts. This is in stark…
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South India is being asked to have more babies. Is it sitting on a population time bomb?
Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have flagged a possible decline in the states' population. Can and should governments tell people to have more babies? Is population decline a…
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US Elections: Why do all elections take place on Tuesday of November’s first full week?
The tradition of holding presidential elections on a Tuesday was instituted in 1845 when Congress directed that Election Day be designated “on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November…
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US Presidential Election 2024: What key issues are driving the polls? Where do Harris and Trump stand on them?
US Elections 2024 Key Issues: Driving the 2024 US Presidential elections are a number of issues of importance to voters. Let's take a look at some of the key issues and where the…
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Explained | Hurricane Helene to Milton: Why and how hurricanes get their names—find out here
Hurricanes are named to make it easier for people to communicate about…
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Know about Chagos Islands, whose control UK has reliquished, and which hosts Diego Garcia military base
Chagos Islands UK-Mauritius sovereignty transfer: In a historic decision this week, the UK transferred sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius after more than 200 years of…
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Welcome to WION’s explainers page.
At WION, we strive to answer your questions on the most complex of global issues and developments, in the simplest language. Our effort here is to cut through the clutter, and make global news and information accessible and understandable to everyone.
Through various formats like questions and answers, photo galleries, and videos, we break down the facts, people, places and institutions making the news.
Keep checking back on this page for our lucid explainers on areas ranging from geopolitics, defence, international affairs, to entertainment, health and sports.
WION Explains: The 'embryos are babies' debate and how it will affect 2024 US Presidential elections
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley recently addressed the Alabama court ruling on embryos and said that to her they "are babies". With this comment, she has added fuel to an already…
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Explained: The transfer saga of Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid and when the deal could materialise
Not for the first time has Kylian Mbappe dreamt of a move to Real Madrid, having also come close in the 2022 summer before a late U-turn saw the deal collapse. However, the deal is now set to go…
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Explained: Point Nemo on Earth, the graveyard for satellites and spaceships
Point Nemo is the most suitable place to crash a satellite in a controlled manner. Scroll down to read all the details about the space cemetery
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Explained: International Court of Justice and its role in the Israel-Palestine conflict
The international court is holding hearings on the legal implications of Israel's occupation since 1967, with an unprecedented 52 countries
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Explained | Why does the India-England Test series give 2005 Ashes vibes?
Like how Australia suffered by discounting England in 2005 Ashes, India must avoid doing the same despite leading 2-1 in the five-match series.
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Explained: Will Trump declare bankruptcy as his legal debt soars over $500 million?
As per Friday’s ruling, Trump would have to pay the amount even if the Trump Organization declares bankruptcy. But the equation changes if Trump himself does so.
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Explained | The many lives of Alexei Navalny: The Russian opposition leader who survived, till now
Russian Opposition Leader Alexei Navalny: Navalny was often seen as an 'irritant' to Putin. One who refused to quit and kept going on. In spite of a number of impediments in his…
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Decoding the minimum support price (MSP): A balancing act for farmers and economy
For millions of Indian farmers, the Minimum Support Price (MSP) is a beacon of hope, promising a fair return for their toil. But what exactly is MSP, and how does it navigate the complex landscape…
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Explained | What Munich Security Index says about India's threat perceptions
Munich Security Conference: Leaders and representatives from around the world are gatherring in the German city of Munich from February 16 to 18, 2024. The security index report,…
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Explained | What is ‘cyber flashing’? UK man becomes first to be convicted of the crime in England and Wales
In the UK, a 39-year-old man has become the first person in England and Wales to be convicted of cyber flashing. What does that mean? Here's all you need to know
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Explained | What did Trump allege about NATO spending and how the international organisation is funded?
Trump said that he will not defend the NATO allies who have not been able to spend enough on defence and will also encourage Russia to attack them
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Explained | How Patrick Mahomes is ensuring Kansas City Chiefs qualification as dynasty sooner than later
Patrick Mahomes ended as the Super Bowl MVP after guiding the Kansas City Chiefs to a stunning win over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday (Feb 11). Mahomes is making sure he does it all for the…
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EXPLAINED: What is blue card rule to be introduced in football and how will it work?
The IFAB, football’s lawmakers body will trail the new concept which has been in use at the grassroots level for dissent but could be extended to cynical fouls. While a similar concept is already…
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Explained | Why Champions League is the biggest club competition despite rise of European Super League
While the eyes of the clubs are on the prize asset, the bosses at UEFA (European football’s governing body) are fighting to keep the integrity of the competition alive. The European Super League (…
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Explained | Europe’s deepest base metal mine to be turned into ‘gravity energy’ store
Pyhäsalmi Mine, which happens to be Europe's deepest base metal mine, is being given a new lease on life, one that will help the planet. Here's everything you need to know
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Explained | Understanding China’s ‘suspended death sentence’ to Australian blogger Yang Hengjun
What is China's suspended death penalty? Here's all you need to know
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Explained | From BYJU’S celebrated hero to despised villain, the story of Byju Raveendran
Once called India’s ed-tech behemoth as it earned the title of India’s most-valued startup, Byju’s today is reeling under heavy setbacks, including a liquidity crunch, accounting irregularities,…
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Explained | From TheFacebook to Meta, 20-year-long controversial journey of social media giant
Less than two weeks after Orkut's debut in January 2004, a group of Harvard University students launched what would become the most influential social media network of all time.
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Explained: What is Pineapple Express, Why is California battling 'rivers in the sky'?
The state has been battered by storms which are part of a ‘Pineapple Express’ system and it has been predicted that it will cause heavy rain and flooding
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Explained | RBI orders Paytm’s banking arm to stop fresh business. What happens next?
In a statement, the RBI said that Paytm Payments Bank will not be allowed to take further deposits in any customer accounts after Feb 29, and no credit transactions will be allowed either,…
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Trump 2.0: What will his 'revenge cabinet' do to the US and world? Who can stop him?
Donald Trump's 'revenge cabinet': The US president-elect aims to reshape domestic and global role of the US government. His team selection is a reflection of what he wants to…
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South India is being asked to have more babies. Is it sitting on a population time bomb?
Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have flagged a possible decline in the states' population. Can and should governments tell people to have more babies? Is population decline a…
Read Article →
US Elections: Why do all elections take place on Tuesday of November’s first full week?
The tradition of holding presidential elections on a Tuesday was instituted in 1845 when Congress directed that Election Day be designated “on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November…
Read Article →
US Presidential Election 2024: What key issues are driving the polls? Where do Harris and Trump stand on them?
US Elections 2024 Key Issues: Driving the 2024 US Presidential elections are a number of issues of importance to voters. Let's take a look at some of the key issues and where the…
Read Article →
Explained | Hurricane Helene to Milton: Why and how hurricanes get their names—find out here
Hurricanes are named to make it easier for people to communicate about…
Read Article →
Know about Chagos Islands, whose control UK has reliquished, and which hosts Diego Garcia military base
Chagos Islands UK-Mauritius sovereignty transfer: In a historic decision this week, the UK transferred sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius after more than 200 years of…
Read Article →
Explained: How were the deadly Hezbollah pager explosions carried out in Lebanon?
Hundreds of pagers of Hezbollah fighters suddenly exploded and killed nine people while injuring another 2,800 in an attack which was allegedly orchestrated by Israel
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Explained: How dangerous is the 'strange noise' from Starliner?
This noise, which emanated from Starliner's speakers has given rise to wild speculations and technical debates on the likely causes
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How to manage asthma and win like Olympian Noah Lyles? Exclusive expert tips
Nearly two in 10 Olympians are living with asthma, which is the most common chronic condition among Olympic athletes, according to the American Lung Association. Experts told WION how the athletes…
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UK riots: Who are far-right groups organising over Telegram, Facebook, X, TikTok? What you should know
UK Southport stabbing riots: Far-right fringe groups, influencers and conspiracy theorists became active on social media soon after last week's stabbing attack on a Taylor Swift-…
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US rolling back its nuclear stockpile even as China doubles down on increasing arsenal
The number of US non-strategic nuclear weapons has declined by more than 90 per cent since September 30, 1991
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Explainer: The rules for transgender athletes at 2024 Paris Olympics
The framework instituted by IOC focuses on ensuring fairness in the women's category
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Explained | Donald Trump survives assassination attempt: A history of US Presidents targeted by gunmen
Donald Trump is not the only US President or leader to have been the target of an assassination attempt, but he is one of the lucky few to escape it relatively unscathed. Here's a look at others…
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Explained: Does Biden have Alzheimer's? Nancy Pelosi says both him and Trump should undergo mental acuity test
The Biden vs Trump election fight has not just one but two senior citizens. On the one hand, it is 81-year-old Biden and on the other 78-year-old Trump. Is either fit for the most important office…
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Explained: Is forgetfulness a key indicator of Alzheimer's disease? Experts tell when to seek help
While age is one of the prominent factors resulting in Alzheimer's disease, other reasons such as genetics and trauma also play a major role
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Explained: More people are avoiding news, turning to social media for information, finds study
The annual Reuters Institute Digital News Report noted that while this has been a growing trend observed for years now, selected news avoidance is at its highest levels ever recorded.
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Global Gender Gap Index Explained: Will India and the world ever be 'gender equal?'
The Global Gender Gap Index (GGGI) is an annual report produced by the WEF that measures gender-based gaps in access to resources and opportunities in countries.
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Explained: Biden details Israel’s new three-phase ceasefire proposal amid Gaza war. What is it about?
Israel-Hamas war: Israel’s ceasefire proposal will have three phases which will begin with a six-week complete ceasefire, see the return of hostages in Gaza, the release of…
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Pride Month Explained: How it started, why it's observed in June, and what challenges does the community face?
Pride Month 2024: A total of 64 countries still criminalise homosexuality, and 12 countries have the death penalty as the punishment for consensual same-sex sexual activity.
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Explained: Spain, Ireland and Norway formally recognise Palestinian statehood. Here’s why it matters
Spain, Ireland and Norway formally recognised Palestinian statehood as they believe that by acting together other European countries will follow suit for a diplomatic push to help secure a…
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Explained: Germany stands against coal mine expansion, Greta Thunberg joins the protest
In the German village of Luetzerath, on Saturday, thousands of protestors marched through mud and rain demonstrating against the expansion of an opencast lignite mine.
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Construction of SKA a.k.a world's biggest telescope begins; We might finally have an answer to 'are we alone?'
Construction of the world's biggest radio telescope, spanning two continents officially begins today. Let's look at the telescope, and its components and explore why it is a significant breakthroug
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Rafale jets make 'technical stopover' in India: All you want to know about IAF's fighter
French Air and Space Force contingent, including three Rafale jets, made a strategically crucial stopover at the IAF's Sulur base in Tamil Nadu.
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How France rescued the beluga whale trapped in Seine river
After nearly six hours of work, the stranded beluga whale was lifted from France's Seine river by a net and crane and placed on a barge under the immediate care of a dozen veterinarians.
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China to display military might near Taiwan: How deadly is the J20 fighter?
The PLA will reportedly enter within 12 nautical miles of Taiwan which is just a few miles away from the island nation.
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Big brands like Coca Cola found guilty of 'greenwashing', what is this and why is it problematic?
As per new research, major corporations like Coca-Cola and Unilever are deceiving customers by engaging in "greenwashing". The Changing Markets Foundation (CMF) points out that "the number of prod
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Roe v Wade overturned: Here's what the ruling means for millions of American women
In a landmark decision that overturns 50 years of constitutional safeguards on one of the most contentious and violently contested topics in American politics, the United States Supreme Court on Fr
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How the Northern Ireland protocol divides Britain and the European Union
As Britain gears up to present a summary of its legal advice over new legislation to change the Northern Ireland protocol governing post-Brexit trade rules alongside the bill on Monday, here is why
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In Pics | #PrideMonth: The many flags and colours of the LGBTQIA+ movement
When you think of the LGBTQIA+ community, what colours/flags come to mind? Surely, you've conjured up images of the classic rainbow flag.
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America's love for military style weapons and AR-15, the assault rifle used in Texas school shooting
The killer's employment of a military-style assault rifle that is inexpensive, easy to use, and deadly efficient has been a recurrent thread in America's worst mass shootings, including the one thi
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America's gun culture kills hundreds every day. Is 2nd amendment worth the lives lost? Here's the data
On May 24, 19 children and two adults were killed and 16 others were injured in a shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.
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Mission to Moon: How US and Japan plan to once again send humans to the lunar surface
As the allies increase their cooperation on space initiatives, Japan and the US said Monday that they plan to send the first Japanese astronaut to the Moon.
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Explainer-A guide to the Philippines election this year
The Philippines holds an election on Monday to decide thousands of positions across the archipelago, including who will take over from Rodrigo Duterte and become its president for the next six year
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What is a heatwave, how is it declared, and what are the many types of alerts in India?
May has arrived, after April scorched large parts of India, setting a 122-year record. The country is experiencing a heatwave, with numerous states issuing orange alerts.
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Tesla CEO pulls out of $44 bn deal; Here's the Elon Musk-Twitter saga; from hostile bid to the abandoned deal
It has been a whirlwind of a situation, featuring controversial Twitter polls, a will he - won’t he situation with Elon Musk joining the Twitter board, a ‘poison pill’ plan and finally the purchase
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Pink Moon 2022: Where to watch and what it means!
The pink moon will shine during the weekend through early Monday and may be visible in most parts of the world.
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Russia using phosphorus bombs in Ukraine? incendiary weapons & its use
World War I saw the first widespread use of incendiary weapons, just as the air force began to play a significant military role.
Ukraine to get US Stingers, Javelin, anti-armour systems; is it a gamechanger?
The US package includes 800 Stinger anti-aircraft systems, 2,000 Javelin, 1,000 light anti-armor weapons, and 6,000 AT-4 anti-armor systems.
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Ukraine claims to capture Russia's Pantsir-S1 missile system; is it a rich catch?
The Ukrainian forces said it had captured a "special’ trophy" in the form of the anti-aircraft missile system.
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Battle analysis: Russian tank armada vs Ukraine - who will win?
Ukraine uses the T-64 battle tank with a crew of three which entered into service in 2005 with a range of 385km.
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What is greenwashing, the practice major companies are accused of engaging in?
What does 'greenwashing' mean and why is it a problem? Why do big brands like Coca Cola engage in it? Greenwashing serves as a smokescreen which hides the continued exploitation of the planet and allows those responsible to get away with it. "The number of products labelled as sustainable or green has increased exponentially in recent years, with many household brands guilty of greenwashing. Yet, as businesses claim progress towards sustainability, emissions continue to rise, extraction increases, and overproduction spirals," says Changing Markets Foundation (CMF) Read Article →
