From Omicron to threats of invasion, the world is a hot bed of action. Click on the hotspots to learn more about what’s happening in countries outside India.
What’s happening around the world? Here’s a quick run-through.
Laboratory experiments in South Africa found that Omicron seems to dull the power of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, but also hinted that people who have received a booster shot might be better protected.
The 3,676-metre Mt. Semeru volcano erupted on December 4, sending a cloud of ash into the sky and dangerous pyroclastic flows into villages below. Thousands of people have been displaced and 22 remain missing, according to the disaster mitigation agency.
Angela Merkel made history when she became Germany’s first female chancellor on November 22, 2005.
Over the next 16 years, she was credited with raising Germany’s profile and influence, working to hold a fractious European Union together, managing a string of crises and being a role model for women. Now, aged 67, she leaves office with praise from all over the world and at home too. Her designated successor is Olaf Scholz.
And now let’s look at other news.
It may be the end of the year but there’s plenty of action for those gazing upwards.
It’s a celestial drama for sky-gazing enthusiasts, even if the year is ending. From marvelling at three bright planets as they twinkle next to a crescent Moon to two meteor showers and an eclipse… the December skies are sure to woo you. Watch Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus shine bright as they appear briefly after sunset.
How many of these clues based on countries and cities can you solve? Check it out…
San Francisco is known as the City of the Golden Gates Countries, while China is the most populous country. Egypt is known as the Gift of the Nile. Geography involves many such facts and epithets and this crossword is chock full of these. Can you solve it?
A medical professional uses several instruments and objects that we have come to associate with them. What are they?
A firehose symbolises a firefighter. A badge symbolises a police officer. What objects symbolise a doctor?
Here are some instruments and objects that a doctor uses. Solve the pickdoku – each grid of 6 squares should have only one of the 6 objects and they should not be repeated across the entire row and column.
Several prominent people have been assassinated over the years across the globe. Try this word game to know more…
Assassination is a term to describe the murder of a prominent person like the head of state, politician, someone from a royal family, or a famous artist or businessman. This may be motivated by political or military reasons, or even carried out for financial gain, among other reasons.
Nicholas Romanov, the last Russian emperor, and his family were murdered in a prison. American civil rights leader Martin Luther Kuing Jr was fatally shot. Rajiv Gandhi, the sixth Indian Prime Minister, was killed by a suicide bomber at Sriperumbudur, near Chennai, while campaigning for the Parliamentayr elections.
Do you know of any others? This word search tells you more.
A percussionist plays different instruments in one piece of music. Play this interactive quiz to find out more about these instruments…
Percussion instruments make a sound when they are struck, shaken, scraped, plucked, or rubbed. However, rattles and xylophones, have moving parts built into them that make a sound. People have used percussion instruments for thousands of years. A person who plays a percussion instrument is a percussionist. Watch this video and identify some of the most used ones./
Built for speed, this beautiful cat celebrates its day on December 4. Watch to know more.
Who was this strange man walking around town so late in the night?
The tourist season in the little hill town had its pros and cons. For Moorthy and his ilk, it meant more business, as the restaurant he worked in was always full. But, on the downside, it also meant a lot of work. This Friday did not seem any different. Except that more people were coming in and the small lobby was filled with people waiting to be seated. Lunch was over only by 4.00 p.m. and then preparations began for dinner. The people, tired and irascible, came in after a long hard day of sightseeing and walking. The climate in the Nilgiris was unpredictable and so most of the visitors were either wet or cold.
Heading home
When the last customer had left, Moorthy and the other waiters heaved a sigh of relief. It was close to midnight when they finished up and cleaned the restaurant, set the tables for the next day, and wound up their work. They came out, exchanged funny anecdotes about the day and got on their motorcycles eager to get into their warm beds.
Read on for more
Do you know what the basic types of pollution are? Find out with these interactive drag-and-drop tasks.
India observes National Pollution Control Day on December 2 every year in memory of the victims of the Bhopal gas tragedy that took place in 1984.
The main idea behind the day is to increase awareness about managing industrial disasters and preventing pollution created by industrial processes. It is also aimed at making people aware of the different types of pollution in the world.
Use this occasion to learn about some types of pollution with these drag-and-drop tasks.
How good is your general knowledge? Good enough to attempt this quiz? Click here to find out…
Here is this week’s quiz to test your knowledge of current affairs and the world in general.
(Place the cursor over the pictures for the names of people/animals/instruments)