The Weekly Focus Edition 93
Russia Ukraine War Updates
As the war enters its 6th week, the Russian offensive seems to be on the backfoot in many regions. According to Ukrainian officials, Kyiv has been completely retaken, while the battle for Mariupol is still going on. A lot of progress has been made to form a peaceful resolution, and it may come into action as soon as Thursday. The Russian ministry said it was scaling down the operation in northern and western Ukraine, but would continue in the southeastern and eastern parts of the country. The retreating troops are causing havoc wherever they go, and according to Ukrainian sources are planting mines and booby traps in the areas they had control over. Meanwhile, Ukraine has reportedly launched their first offensive onto Russian soil, exploding an oil depot approximately 33 km from the border. Ukraine also made efforts to regain control over the town of Bucha, which is undergoing immense violence as dozens of civilian bodies piled on the streets. It’s safe to say that Russia will not try to capture the entire country anymore and instead will try to get the Eastern parts instead.
Maskless Mumbai
After two years of preventive measures, the BMC has finally made it voluntary to wear masks. It is still advised to wear a mask since the COVID-19 virus isn’t completely eradicated but there will be no penalty for not wearing it. After the 1st of April, the BMC will no longer be charging a 200 rupees fine for not wearing a mask. A statement released by the BMC stated the following, “At present, as the infection and spread of coronavirus is under control, the restrictions imposed due to Coronavirus infection are being relaxed. Hence, if a citizen does not wear a mask in the Greater Mumbai area, the penalty of Rs. 200 won't be charged.” Even though there is no penalty, the BMC has urged citizens to wear masks because the threat of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has not yet been completely averted. To conclude, we must take this news as a source of happiness, but continue the preventive procedures that we have been taking for the last 2 years to keep us, and the people around us, safe.
Ghosts in outer space?
Indian astronomers in collaboration with their French counterparts have located a galaxy that has a `ghostlike` look. This faint galaxy turned into formerly unseen because of the presence of a shiny galaxy.
The galaxy was located by a crew of researchers from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bengaluru and the College de France, Paris. The crew consisted of Jyoti Yadav, Mousumi Das and Sudhanshu Barway and Francoise Combes.
India's Ministry of Science and Technology has made a declaration of the discovery.
Faint galaxies’ shapes are approximately 15 consistent with cent of the mass of the universe. Faint galaxies also are referred to as low floor brightness galaxies or ultra-diffuse galaxies. These galaxies are at least ten instances fainter than the nighttime sky around them. The galaxies are faint of their look due to low disc density.
The newly discovered galaxy is about 136 light-years from Earth.
Other News
India and Australia sign a trade pact that aims to increase trade between the nations to between 45-50 billion dollars
Sri Lanka declares a state of emergency as protests increase intensity over the ongoing economic crisis gripping the nation
Breakthroughs are made in the peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, and Russia agrees to scale back troops along northern and western fronts.
Pakistan PM Imran Khan faces a no-confidence motion as the country erupts into political turmoil
The WHO announces it has found a new Covid-19 variant names XE
After the first week of IPL, RR top the table with 2 wins in two matches, while CSK and MI lose both their first two games.
Football World Cup draws out, Spain and Germany to face each other in the same group.
Max Verstappen wins the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Charles LeClerc comes second and Sainz finishes third
Dwayne Bravo crosses Malinga to become the IPL’s highest wicket-taker in its history.
Las Vegas will host a Formula One Race from next season, becoming the 3rd US city to do so.
Fact or Fiction
1) Coding has over 700 languages.
2) Coding bugs were not named after an actual bug.
3) Coding will soon be as important as reading.
4) The first programmer was the daughter of an astronaut.
5) NASA still operates some projects on programming from the 1970s!!
6) There is BIG money in coding.
7) It’s all 0’s and 1’s
8) You don’t have to work in engineering to use coding.
9) Computer was a job title, and the first group of programmers were all women (Not just the first, but also the first few).
10) Coding can “power up” your brain.
Chain of Gold
Fantasy, Fiction
14+
Cassandra Clare
★★★★★
The first book of the Last Hours series, the fantasy novel in continuation to the Shadowhunter series, is set in the 1900s and is about a young Shadowhunter, Cordelia Carstairs, who is moving to London with her mother and brother after her father is accused of a terrible crime. She meets her old friends, James and Lucie Herondale, but what she feels for James is not something a friend would feel for the other. However, James is sworn to marry someone else. Soon, Cordelia realises her life in London is not going to be as perfect as she planned as a series of deadly demon attacks threaten her city and dear friends.
Written by Vivaan Dharamshi Edited by Nirvaan Zaveri
Article 2 by Nirvaan Zaveri
Article 3 by Krishnav Bubna
Fact or Fiction by Nikunj Gupta
Review by Dia Makhecha
Fact or Fiction Answers
1) Fact
2) Fact
3) Fact
4) Fiction (She was the daughter of a mad poet, not an astronaut.)
5) Fact
6) Fact
7) Fact
8) Fiction (You don’t have to work in tech OR engineering to use coding.
9) Fact
10) Fiction (They call it “powering up your brain”, not “switching it on”.)