The Weekly Focus Edition 22
US Election Results
The presidential elections of The United States of America have caused controversies and debates even outside the parliament. Candidates Joe Biden and Donald Trump have been on a nail-biting race to claim the title as the President of the USA.
The term ‘Controversy’ is used to describe this election because of the supreme court order filed by Donald Trump, the candidate representing the Republicans. This is similar to the 2000 US elections between George Bush and Al Gore, Florida was the key state and Gore was the favourite; Bush and the republicans filed a lawsuit of fraud against him and Bush was elected President. We do not know if the recent events were planned or not but President Trump administered 6 new judges in the supreme court which could be a plan B (we are not accusing the president of a scandal). At the same time, Biden is leading by quite a margin of votes. The swing states will decide who will become the next POTUS.
This election is also record-breaking because of the 160 million voters, the highest turnout in over 160 years. Biden leads in Nevada, Arizona, Georgia and Pennsylvania while Trump leads in North Carolina and Alaska. The US elections also dropped the US oil prices by nearly 1% and COVID-19 cases have increased dramatically, although experts project it's just a temporary increase.
This election has truly had it all from broken records, to fiery debates and from scandals to international interest. The world is waiting eagerly and patiently for the results!
By Arhaan Zaveri
Halloween in Space?
NASA has also joined the spooky pumpkin cravings after discovering their ‘greater pumpkin’. Pictures from NASA’s Hubble telescope spotted something which looks like A giant jack-o-lantern in space. The snapshots taken by the NASA workers show early stages of a collision between two galaxies which resembles a carved pumpkin jack-o-lantern. There are two glowing eyes and a crooked smile. The view is about 109,000 light-years away which is approximately the diameter of our milky way. Currently, the region looks like a Halloween pumpkin but the shape will soon change into a pair of colliding galaxies as it was earlier. NASA predicts these two colliding galaxies might become a giant spiral galaxy. The pair is 120,000 million light-years away in the Canis Major constellation. The smile might be the start to build the spiral said NASA. When two galaxies collide they lose their original flattened disk shape and the stars within that galaxy get scrambled into football-shaped space. If the greater pumpkin becomes a giant spiral galaxy a rare feat will be achieved.
Written By Krishnav Bubna
India's T20 Squad?
The T20 World Cup is coming up next year, and we have seen some exceptional new talents emerge this IPL, but only 15 can make it to the Indian Squad. Who should it be, and why? The Weekly Focus analyzes the IPL's league stage and creates its own squad for the world cup.
1. Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma hasn't been in exceptional form this IPL, but his experience and expertise on foreign soil will come in handy for the Indian squad.
2. Shikhar Dhawan
With two exceptional knocks and a contestant for the orange cap this IPL, Dhawan is a must pick this season.
3. KL Rahul
KL has been in exceptional form, the orange cap holder and KXIP's main batsman. This also makes KL Rahul a must pick.
4. Virat Kohli
The current captain of the Indian team, it is almost impossible he won't attend the world cup.
5. Suryakumar Yadav
He has shown consistency and class this IPL, and his maturity combined with his skill and ability to hit the ball will help him on the tricky Australian pitches which is why we chose him ahead of Manish Pandey and Mayank Agarwal.
6. Shreyas Iyer
Iyer has proved that he is adept at T20s throughout the IPL, and he certainly has a future playing for the Indian team. This opportunity will help him understand foreign pitches and will improve his skill in this area.
7. Sanju Samson
Sanju Samson has been a powerful hitter this IPL and has long awaited a chance in the Indian team. After Dhoni's retirement, India required an effective keeper-batsman, and we felt Samson was cut out for the job.
8. Hardik Pandya
Pandya has the experience and his immense power-hitting skills make him crucial for India.
9. Ravindra Jadeja
Jadeja is a true all-rounder, and he knows how the Australian pitches play having been a part of the 2015 world cup squad.
10. Rahul Tewatia
Probably the most surprising selection, Rahul Tewatia has proved to be a match-winner for RR, both with bat and ball. He is a true all-rounder and has impressed everyone with his match-winning skills this IPL.
11. Yuzvendra Chahal
An amazing spinner who has had a great IPL. He could be India's main spinner.
12. Jasprit Bumrah
The potential purple cap for this IPL, the spearhead of India's pace attack, there is not much debate over his selection in the team, it is a confirmed spot.
13. Mohammad Shami
Shami also had a brilliant bowling attack, and with the Australian pitches offering swing he should definitely be included in the squad.
14. Deepak Chahar
Deepak Chahar is a great swinger of the ball, and the Australian pitches will favour him greatly.
15. Bhuvneshwar Kumar
His experience and skill will add a lot of value to the already formidable pace attack.
Other News
~ A terrorist opens fire in Vienna, Austria, kills 4 and wounds 23.
~ Republic TV reported Arnab Goswami arrested, protests take place.
~ A report stated Zomato raised 147 million dollars from investors in its ongoing series J funding round.
~ A bulldog named Wilbur took control of a community in the state of Kentucky after winning in a local election.
~ Many states including Delhi and Karnataka have banned Firecrackers ahead of Diwali.
Tech News
~ WhatsApp announce a payment system inside the app, Mark Zuckerburg says 'India has created something special'.
~ WhatsApp is also testing a certain 'Vacation mode' for Android users.
~ Samsung Galaxy M31 has been updated to One UI 2.5.
~ Nvidia’s GeForce Now allows Fortnite to be played on IOS.
~ Marlon Samuels and Shane Watson announce their retirement from all forms of cricket.
~ “Rohit Sharma looks fit and that is great news for India, it is time to put the controversy aside,” Sunil Gavaskar.
~ A two-year extension will be given to Sergio Ramos by Real Madrid without a salary raise.
~ The IPL is now down to 3 teams, with Mumbai Indians through to the finals and Dehli and Hyderabad contesting for the second place in the finals
Minding Frankie by Maeve Binchy
Rating: ★★★★
Genre: Domestic Fiction
Age: 12+
Review: “Noel had decided that the very best way to cope with things not being so great was not to think about them at all. It had worked well so far.”
Maeve Binchy’s ‘Minding Frankie’ holds your heart up high all the way through. Talking about support, family, and community, this is a must-read for anyone and everyone who can do so. It encircles Noel, a young man, who is told, at a woman’s death bed, that her child is theirs. Noel changes his life completely to support this newborn with help from his cousin, Emily, and a friend who was at first nothing more than a classmate, one could even say a stranger. However, as the story moves on, it talks about different, background characters and their personalities and history that have made them what they are today- Rude and Vicious Moira, I’m talking about you. However, this otherwise flowing stream seems to be a waterfall and Binchy throws to the reader one last final turn- and its effects are astonishing. Personally, I think that this book is a little slow, but that speed is necessary while handling the delicate talks on family and love.
By Dia Makhecha
On 1st November 1755, an earthquake in Lisbon, Portugal killed 50,000.
On 2nd November 1917, a Jewish state in Palestine was proclaimed by the Balfour Declaration.
On 3rd November 1838, the Times of India was founded.
On 4th November 1922, the tomb of Tutankhamun situated in Egypt was found by Howard Carter.
On 5th November 1556, the Mughal Emperor Akhbar defeated Hem Chandra Vikramaditya, a Hindu Emperor of north India, in the second battle of Panipat.
On 6th November 1913, the Indian miners' march in South Africa led by Mahatma Gandhi resulted in his arrest.
On 7th November 1874, the first cartoon depicting the republican party as an elephant was published later became the symbol of the party.
Beaver urine is sometimes used to make Vanilla.
