NEWS THAT MADE HEADLINES
 

From making small talk at social gatherings to sounding smarter in interviews, this quick update on trending news helps you start conversations and also join in with all that’s buzzing!

Read up and get set to talk the talk!

Terror showed its face again:
 

The Russian Ambassador to Turkey was killed by a Turkish gunman, reportedly protesting against the killing of civilians in the Syrian city of Aleppo (the epicentre of the Syrian civil war). The incident could have serious consequences in world politics. Russia and Turkey are both supporting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the ongoing civil war that’s killed lakhs of people. Consequently, Turkey has seen several terror attacks in the last couple of years.
 

And there was also another possible attack in Germany where a truck killed 12 people and injuring 48 others in a crowded Christmas market in Berlin. The suspected terrorist is a 23-year-old refugee from Pakistan.
 

Meanwhile in India. the court pronounced death sentence for Indian Mujahideen co-founder Yasin Bhatkal and four others for the twin blasts in Hyderabad in 2013 that had killed 18 people and injured 130.

Sporting news made for happy headlines:
 

The men’s junior national hockey team won the Junior Hockey World Cup Final in Lucknow, defeating Belgium 2-1.
 

In cricket, the 5th test match between India and England saw glorious centuries by 2 young Indian batsmen – Karun Nair who scored a triple century (303 not out) and KL Rahul who unfortunately got out on 199. Thanks to them and a brilliant 7-wicket-haul by spinner Ravindra Jadeja, India scored its highest ever total in test matches (759-7) and won the match by an and innings and 75 runs. India have won the series 3-0
 

Read more sports updates here

A QUOTE TO QUOTE


"My administration will follow two simple rules. Buy American and hire Americans, right? We're going to do it. Because from now on it's going to be America first, America first." Newly elected President Donald Trump said at a 'Thank You Tour' rally.

TALK THE TALK
 

What to tell someone who wonders how so many 2000 rupee notes are being caught in raids
 

It’s thanks to an extensive network of government "informers" lurking at "strategic points" (like Banks, jewellery shops etc) who are doing the great job of tipping off officials. Every out-of-place transaction is being followed and traced. Serial numbers on new notes help to track down the issuing bank to catch the bank employees who are assisting in the fraudulent withdrawals. There have been over 200 searches across the country for black money.   Which is why every single day there is news of crores of new 2000 rupee notes being caught in raids - tax officials say around 120 crores has been seized till now and 1,500 crores in unaccounted wealth have been traced.
 

Recap everything related to demonetisation

What to tell someone who likes to play video games
 

That Pokémon Go is finally in India! 2016’s most sensational augmented reality video game has finally been launched in India. Its developer, Niantic Inc. has partnered with Reliance Jio and the game is now available to download via Google Play and the App Store. Read up about Pokémon Go here
 

What to ask the retired Colonel you meet at the next party
 

What he feels about the appointment of the new Army Chief! In a move that surprised everyone, the government broke protocol to appoint Lt Gen Bipin Rawat as the next Chief of Army Staff – going against the long-held tradition of appointing the senior most eligible officer to the post. Lt Gen Rawat is currently the Vice Chief of the Army. He reportedly has an outstanding track record, is an expert at surgical strikes with lots of experience at the battlefront – things in his that the government probably gave higher points to.
 

What to tell your friend who won’t patch up with you after a fight
 

Come on, even Pakistanis are trying to reduce hostility with Indians! Cinema owners in Pakistan have decided to lift the “suspension on screening” of Indian films that had been placed after things became tense in the aftermath of Uri attacks. They are hoping India will also consider lifting the ban on casting Pakistani actors in Bollywood movies.
 

What to say when a colleague posts on Facebook saying the office is closed for no reason!
 

Better check if that’s even true. Now Facebook is now going to allow people to verify questionable stories that appear on their newsfeed, by letting them “flag” stories they don’t think are true. This, after the social network got into major controversies during the US Presidential election for letting users post fake stories that vent viral and might have biased voters. Facebook also said it’ll soon try to insert fact checkers.
 

Something to tell your cousin who likes streaming videos and movies online
 

That he could try Amazon’s new Prime Video that was launched yesterday. The video streaming service is part of the Prime subscription at Rs. 499 per year. Amazon announced it has planned 17 Indian original shows and that it has tied up with a number of Indian and international studios to release popular movies and TV shows exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. Prime members will also have access to the global Amazon Original Series from the US. This will compete with existing video streaming apps like Hotstar, Netflix and Voot.
 

What to ask your boss who’s a director on many company Board’s
 

About the complicated case of Cyrus Mistry and the Tata Group. Yesterday, Mistry resigned from the position of Chairman of all Tata Group Companies. In October, he had been removed from the position of Chairman of Tata Sons (the company that owns all Tata Group), after which has sparked off a bitter boardroom battle with Ratan Tata and his $100 billion Tata Group. Mistry’s resignation indicates the battle will now shift to the courtroom.

A NEW BOOK TO READ AND DISCUSS
 

Standing on an Apple Box: The Story of a Girl Among the Stars by Aishwaryaa Rajinikanth Dhanush (a film director, daughter of superstar Rajnikanth and UN Women’s Advocate for gender equality and women’s empowerment in India.). The book is an inspirational memoire where Aishwarya on the many roles a woman has to juggle at home and outside - in her case, under the watchful gaze of cameras and celebrity-watchers.  

A BUZZ WORD TO USE
 

"Bundespraesidentenstichwahlwiederholungsverschiebung"
 

The 51-letter German tongue twiser roughly means 'the delay in the repetition of the presidential run-off'. It has been chosen as Austria’s word of the year, and was coined after it took a record time (350 days) to elect Austria's president.

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