| Read time: 3 minute(s)

This ceramic bowl at yard sale is worth more than $500,00!

You never know what you may get at a yard sale. A man who bought a ceramic bowl for $35 (approximately Rs2,500) in a yard sale unknowingly became an owner of an artefact which is worth $500,000 (approximately Rs 3,63,22,450). The white bowl adorned with cobalt blue paintings of flowers and other designs is about […]
| Read time: 5 minute(s)

Lunar New Year: Why China celebrates New Year now?

You all must have read about celebrations going on in our neighbouring country. China is celebrating its New Year. The 15-day festival attracts a lot of attention because Chinese people, wherever they may be, try to get back home and gather with family to celebrate the New Year. But why is it different and interesting? […]
| Read time: 8 minute(s)

Other New Years: Jan 1 is not a New Year for these culture

Not all countries and cultures celebrate New Year on January 1. Mostly, cultures follow the Gregorian calendar with 365 days, or 12 months in a year, and leap years. But there are several cultures that also celebrate New Year’s Day later in the year.  These cultures follow lunar, solar, and other hybrid calendars to tell […]
| Read time: 4 minute(s)

Tallest gets taller: Mount Everest gets new height!

The world’s highest mountain got a bit taller this week when the Foreign Ministers of Nepal and China jointly certified the elevation of Mount Everest at 8,848.86 metres above sea level — 86 cm higher than what was recognised since 1954.  The earlier height The height recognised till now was 8,844 m. This was determined […]
| Read time: 4 minute(s)

UK to go public with Covid 19 vaccine

Even as the world grapples with a second wave of Covid 19 infections, there’s a glint of good news during this festive season. The UK has become the first country in the world to approve a vaccine against Coronavirus. The Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine has been tested and would be ready to go public next week.  […]
| Read time: 6 minute(s)

In depth: Why are Armenia and Azerbaijan at war?

Armenia and Azerbaijan are at loggerheads for more than four decades now. But the tensions escalated last month when Armenia declared martial law and moved its military to borders after claiming that Azerbaijan launched army operations in Nagorno-Karabakh. Though the situation is under control right now, the region is sitting on a ticking atom bomb. […]
| Read time: 6 minute(s)

In depth: Who are Uighurs, and why is China keeping them in camps?

For years now, people have been reporting mistreatment of Uighurs by Chinese government but over the past few months the international concerns and focus have grown due to reports of illegal imprisonment of this ethnic group. Before we talk about the issue, let’s know who Uighurs are. Who are Uighurs? Unlike most of the Chinese, […]
| Read time: 3 minute(s)

Earth’s not enough, China too flies toward Mars

It seems the earth is not enough to contain the rivalry between the US and China.   China launched a rover to Mars, a journey coinciding with a similar US mission as the powers take their rivalry into deep space. The two countries are taking advantage of a period when Earth and Mars are favourably aligned […]
| Read time: 4 minute(s)

What is the Indo-China dispute? 

On the intervening night of June 15-16, a standoff between India and China was witnessed for the first time in more than four decades. The fight was not fought with guns but it was hand-to-hand combat at one of the highest battle fronts. India lost its 20 army personnel, while China has still not disclosed […]
| Read time: 3 minute(s)

Has Mount Everest shrunk? 

A team of climbers is on its way to summit Mount Everest this week to measure whether it has grown or shrunk. Movement of the Earth’s tectonic plates can change the height of the summit, while measurements that take into account snow and ice can vary, even day to day. A large earthquake is thought […]