Watch: What war hysteria hides
The real cost of war goes beyond borders, battles, and breaking news. Following the Pahalgam massacre, military tensions had reignited — but so did a wave of online misinformation. This video unpacks the data behind the war hysteria: from rising Google searches of war-related terms and viral fake news to the long-term human and economic toll of past conflicts.
Camera: Thamodharan B
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The Hindu
4 hours ago
- The Hindu
What India searched for after the Air India plane crash: A digital reflection of collective anxiety
In the aftermath of the crash involving Air India flight AI171 in Ahmedabad, Google searches showed how people tried to seek answers, track developments, and understand the wider implications of the tragedy. Within hours of the crash, search interest in 'Air India flight cancellation' surged across India by 1000% between 1.30 p.m. and 2.30 p.m. on June 12. The term continued to see repeated spikes throughout the day, closing at 610% by 9.30 p.m., reflecting mounting anxiety and uncertainty over air travel. The search picked up momentum again the following morning, with an increase to 670% recorded by 8.30 a.m. and hitting 760% by 12.30 p.m. Although slightly lower, this interest persisted even on June 14, registering a 500% rise between 11.30 a.m. and 12.30 p.m. Follow Air India Ahmedabad plane crash LIVE updates on June 15 Residents in Telangana, began searching for 'flight status' that surged from 2 p.m. on June 12, peaking dramatically at 2 a.m. on June 14. Similarly, searches for 'Air India Hyderabad' spiked during the same hour, followed closely by an increased interest in 'Boeing 737' at 3 a.m. These figures suggest that passengers and their families were scrambling for updates and clarity as fear of delays and cancellations spread across airports. Notably, 'mayday call' searches picked up around Thursday afternoon and within an hour, touched 300% increase in searches. The keyword peaked at 4.30 p.m. on June 12, with an 800% increase in searches. However, Telangana was not alone in its search for clarity. Across India, the Ahmedabad crash rapidly became the most-searched topic, with Google Trends registering a surge of over 1,000% above normal levels. Aviation-related search terms, many of which had seen little activity in the days leading up to the crash, suddenly saw enormous jumps. The word 'cadaver', likely driven by reports of fatalities and identification challenges, saw over a 600% surge in search interest. 'Boeing 737', the aircraft model at the centre of the crash, rose by 500%, as did 'black box', 'aircraft cabin', and 'flight number', signalling an appetite for technical insight associated with crash investigations. Other prominent searches that recorded a significant hike include 'AI171', 'DGCA investigation', 'flight data recorder' and 'black box found'. Even the name of the sole known survivor, Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, peaked multiple times during the two-day period, recording over 100% increase, as people searched for details of the miraculous escape.
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Time of India
UK's child sex abuse scandal: PM Keir Starmer orders national inquiry into 'grooming gangs' after report, Musk criticism
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Saturday announced a national inquiry into the UK's decades-long child sex abuse scandal involving grooming gangs, reversing his earlier stance in light of a new report and mounting public pressure, including from US tech billionaire Elon Musk. The decision follows the findings of an independent audit by Louise Casey, who had initially believed a national-level probe was unnecessary but changed her view after reviewing the scale and nature of the abuse. 'She has come to the view that there should be a national inquiry on the basis of what she has seen. I have read every single word of her report and I am going to accept her recommendation,' Starmer told reporters en route to the G7 summit in Canada. The scandal centres on gangs of mostly Pakistani men who targeted and abused thousands of vulnerable white girls, many from disadvantaged backgrounds or in state care. The abuse occurred in towns such as Rotherham, Rochdale, Oxford, and Bristol over nearly four decades. Previous investigations found that police and local authorities often failed to act, allegedly due to fears of being labelled racist. The matter gained international traction earlier this year after Musk, owner of the X platform, accused the UK government of failing to adequately address the issue. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Addition Hills: Scholarships You Can Apply For (Start Now) College Scholarship | Google Search Search Now Undo On Saturday, Musk responded to news of the inquiry saying he was 'glad to hear this is happening.' Home Secretary Yvette Cooper had tasked Casey with a 'rapid audit' in January. Sky News reported Saturday that Casey's findings will indicate that vulnerable white British girls were 'institutionally ignored' by authorities. Criticism of the delay came from Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch, who accused Starmer of dragging his feet. 'I've been repeatedly calling for a full national inquiry since January,' she said. 'Many survivors of the grooming gangs will be relieved that this is finally happening. But they need a resolution soon, not in 10 years' time.'
News18
19 hours ago
- News18
What Is Pizza Index Theory, And Why Is It Trending After Israel's Strikes On Iran
Last Updated: Reportedly, pizza orders from three restaurants around the Pentagon increased ahead of Israel's airstrikes on Iran. As tensions escalate in the Middle East amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, a bizarre theory known as the 'Pizza Index" has resurfaced on social media. The theory suggests a correlation between spikes in pizza orders near the Pentagon and impending geopolitical crises. A recent surge in delivery activity around the U.S. Department of Defence in Washington, D.C., was flagged by a popular social media account, Pentagon Pizza Report. The account shared a series of posts claiming that pizza orders from three local restaurants spiked just before Israel launched airstrikes on Iran. 'As of 6:59 pm ET nearly all pizza establishments nearby the Pentagon have experienced a HUGE surge in activity," the post read. This was about an hour before Iranian state television reported explosions in Tehran. — Pentagon Pizza Report (@PenPizzaReport) June 12, 2025 The account shared Google Maps activity from four pizza places close to the Pentagon -We, The Pizza, District Pizza Palace, Domino's and Extreme Pizza. It showed all of them getting more orders than usual during this time. 'With about an hour left before close, the 2nd closest Domino's to the Pentagon (about an eight-minute drive) is experiencing EXTREMELY high levels of traffic compared to a normal Thursday at about 11:00 pm ET," said another post from the account. The unusual pizza surge didn't go unnoticed. Social media users shared their thoughts in the comments section. A user said, 'The Pentagon needs its own pizza place inside the building. This is embarrassing." Another said, 'This was a great catch, within an hour bombs flying in Tehran." 'Google maps research beats some spy agencies around the world," someone else reacted. 'The kind of analytics we love," read another comment. The pizza theory has become a somewhat reliable way of predicting major global events over the years. The theory is simple. When something serious is going on and staff at the Pentagon can't leave their desks, they often order pizza. So, a sudden rise in pizza deliveries could mean something important is happening behind the scenes. According to NT News, the phenomenon is nothing new and goes back to the Cold War. Back then, Soviet intelligence reportedly kept an eye on pizza deliveries as a way to track possible U.S. military activity. They even came up with a term for it – Pizzint, short for pizza intelligence. This kind of activity has shown up several times over the years. In 1989, right before the US entered Panama, pizza orders reportedly doubled. In 1990, a Domino's franchise owner in Washington D.C., noticed a sudden rise in orders going to CIA buildings. The very next day, Iraq invaded Kuwait. A similar increase in pizza demand was also seen during the 1998 impeachment hearings of President Bill Clinton.
