The British rock musician David Bowie was ahead of his time in many areas, including costumes and stage looks.

Known for his versatility, he is often called “a chameleon of rock music”.

Bowie had many stage personas and alter egos, including the Gaunt White Duke & Ziggy Stardust.

The musician's charisma and impressive stage presence allowed him to move from one character to another with obvious ease.

The musician is credited for introducing the concept of androgyny into fashion, popularizing a marketable androgynous brand, manipulating esoteric themes, and creating hundreds of visual images that largely determined the style of progressive youth of the second half of the twentieth century.

His unique brand  to this day is copied and modified by other artists to varying degrees of success.

Among the musical artists whose music styles and stage personas Bowie influenced are Brian Molko and his group Placebo with their androgyny, Madonna with her épatage fashions, Lady Gaga with her sophisticated style, and others.

Among the most influential music albums of Bowie’s is Hunky Dory containing the iconic song “Life on Mars?”

Yes & The Velvet Underground, as well as the artist Andy Warhol.

David Bowie also influenced the Soviet art scene in the 1970s.

The popular countercultural artists’ collective “Mitki” were inspired by David Bowie, and used his glamorous persona as an antagonist/ villain to their own simple folk unpretentious style.

The “chameleon” image of David Bowie had an effect on various aspects of culture.

A mollusk that changes color from transparent to gray was named after Bowie to echo the performer’s changing stage appearances.

The American company Mattel released a Barbie doll named Ziggy Stardust.

, dressed in red boots and a striped jumpsuit, with a hairstyle reminiscent of Bowie's.

In short, the influence of David Bowie’s androgynous image on music, fashion, and pop culture is hard to underestimate.

Warning: these questons and answers are not all representative of the way questions will be asked and answered in the pilot, because some questions are compound and some answers do not include citations.

Q: Why is David Bowie called “a chameleon of rock music”?
A: Because of his many stage personasA: Because of his many alter egos

Q: What was David Bowie’s alter ego called?
A: Ziggy Stardust

Q: What was David Bowie’s alter ego called?
A: the Gaunt White Duke

Q: What characteristics allowed David Bowie to move from one character to another with ease?
A: His charismaA: His impressive stage presence

Q: In what way did David Bowie influence the style of progressive youth of the second half of the twentieth century?
A: Through introducing the concept of androgyny into fashionA: Through popularizing a marketable androgynous brandA: Through manipulating esoteric themesA: Through creating hundreds of visual images

Q: Which musician copied David Bowie’s brand?
A: Brian MolkoA: Placebo

Q: Which musician copied David Bowie’s brand?
A: Madonna

Q: Which musician copied David Bowie’s brand?
A: Lady Gaga

Q: What music group did David Bowie’s album Hunky Dory influence?
A: Yes

Q: What music group did David Bowie’s album Hunky Dory influence?
A: The Velvet Underground

Q: What artist did David Bowie’s album Hunky Dory influence?
A: Andy Warhol

Q: What Soviet countercultural artists’ collective were inspired by David Bowie?
A: Mitki

Q: How did Mitki use David Bowie’s persona in their art?
A: As a villainA: As an antagonist to their own simple folk style

Q: What animal was named after David Bowie?
A: A mollusk

Q: Why was a mollusk named after David Bowie?
A: Because it changes color from transparent to gray

Q: What product inspired by David Bowie did the company Mattel release?
A: A Barbie doll

Q: What was the David Bowie inspired Barbie doll released by the company Mattel called?
A: Ziggy Stardust

Q: What did the “Ziggy Stardust” Barbie doll released by the company Mattel look like?
A: It was dressed in red bootsA: It was dressed in a striped jumpsuitA: It had a hairstyle like Bowie's


China has invested into Kyrgyz economy extensively.

For example, only at the 2019 Kyrgyz-Chinese business forum 24 documents worth $7.5 billion were signed.

The projects included a free trade cooperation industrial park, a precious metals exchange, a gold processing plant, an agro-industrial complex, water supply, sewage and sanitation projects, several residential complexes, an oil refinery, several trade and logistics centers, an electric car assembly plant, and others.

The amounts invested ranged from $2.5 million to $2 billion per project.

The volume of Chinese investments accounts for 33 percent of the total volume of direct investments in Kyrgyzstan.

The annual trade turnover between the countries is about $2 billion, of which $1.9 billion is Chinese exports to the Kyrgyz Republic.

However, most Chinese projects in Kyrgyzstan have been unsuccessful due to Kyrgyz government corruption, lack of strategic vision, and lack of information provided to the local population.

The trust of the Kyrgyz people was especially undermined after the start of a criminal case against Kyrgyz government officials related to the modernization of a thermal power plant using loan funds from China.

There has been a wave of protests against “Chinese expansion”.

Local residents in various regions blamed Chinese companies for environmental damage to their areas.

As a result, Kyrgyzstan owes China 30 percent of its GDP.

Kyrgyzstan owes approximately $1.8 billion (out of the country's total debt of $4.8 billion) just to the Export-Import Bank of China, which is not granting Bishkek a deferment.

There are rumors in Bishkek that China has already begun to morally “prepare” Kyrgyzstan for the possibility of strict demands for the speedy repayment of debts.

The population is concerned that Beijing intends to strictly follow the rule of “resources and land in exchange for loans”.

Warning: these questons and answers are not all representative of the way questions will be asked and answered in the pilot, because some questions are compound and some answers do not include citations.

Q: How many documents were signed at the 2019 Kyrgyz-Chinese business forum?
A: 24

Q: How much were the business agreements signed at the 2019 Kyrgyz-Chinese business forum worth?
A: $7.5 billion

Q: What project were the business agreements signed at the 2019 Kyrgyz-Chinese business forum about?
A: A free trade cooperation industrial park

Q: What project were the business agreements signed at the 2019 Kyrgyz-Chinese business forum about?
A: A precious metals exchange

Q: What project were the business agreements signed at the 2019 Kyrgyz-Chinese business forum about?
A: A gold processing plant

Q: What project were the business agreements signed at the 2019 Kyrgyz-Chinese business forum about?
A: An agro-industrial complex

Q: What project were the business agreements signed at the 2019 Kyrgyz-Chinese business forum about?
A: Water supply, sewage and sanitation projectsA: Water supply projectsA: Sewage projectsA: Sanitation projects

Q: What project were the business agreements signed at the 2019 Kyrgyz-Chinese business forum about?
A: Residential complexes

Q: What project were the business agreements signed at the 2019 Kyrgyz-Chinese business forum about?
A: An oil refinery

Q: What project were the business agreements signed at the 2019 Kyrgyz-Chinese business forum about?
A: Trade and logistics centers

Q: What project were the business agreements signed at the 2019 Kyrgyz-Chinese business forum about?
A: An electric car assembly plant

Q: What was the amount invested per project, from the business agreements signed at the 2019 Kyrgyz-Chinese business forum?
A: From $2.5 million to $2 billion

Q: What is the percentage of Chinese investments in the total volume of direct investments in Kyrgyzstan?
A: 33%

Q: What is the annual trade turnover between China and Kyrgyzstan?
A: $2 billion

Q: What is the annual volume of Chinese exports to the Kyrgyz Republic?
A: $1.9 billion

Q: Why have most Chinese projects in Kyrgyzstan been unsuccessful?
A: Due to Kyrgyzstani government corruptionA: Due to Kyrgyzstani government’s lack of strategic visionA: Due to lack of information provided to Kyrgyzstani population

Q: What do Kyrgyzstani protesters in various regions blame Chinese companies for?
A: Environmental damage to their areas

Q: What percentage of its GDP does Kyrgyzstan owe China?
A: 30 percent

Q: How much money does each Kyrgyzstani resident owe China?
A: $698.3

Q: How much money does Kyrgyzstan owe to the Export-Import Bank of China?
A: $1.8 billion

Q: Why is the Kyrgyzstani population concerned over the country’s debt repayments to China?
A: Because China may confiscate resources and land in exchange for loansA: Because China may confiscate resources in exchange for loansA: Because China may confiscate land in exchange for loans


Achilles the cat lives in Russia, in the Hermitage Art Museum in St. Petersburg.

In 2017, when he became famous as a soccer oracle, he was 18 months old.

The snow-white blue-eyed cat was chosen for his analytical abilities and unusual behavior.

In addition, natural deafness helps him not to succumb to stress during public events.

Achilles first gained fame by making predictions at the 2017 Confederations Cup, correctly forecasting the results of three out of four matches.

In preparation for the 2018 World Cup, Achilles underwent a physical training course: he worked out on exercise machines to lose weight, and also participated in social events that helped him socialize and get used to the attention of the public.

Before the 2018 World Cup Achilles got his own reality show on YouTube.

The project showed the happy life of the Hermitage star.

The first episode depicted the day of the cat while he predicted the results of the first match of the World Cup.

For the first match, he correctly predicted Russia’s victory over Saudi Arabia.

The first match forecast was made in the championship press center.

There were two bowls of food for the cat to choose from, with team flags next to them.

The country whose flag was next to the bowl the cat chose to eat from was supposed to be the winner of the next match, and Achilles ate from the bowl next to the Russian flag.

During the World Cup, Achilles also accurately indicated the outcome of the games between Russia and Egypt, Iran and Morocco, and Brazil and Costa Rica.

After his predictions, Achilles gained popularity around the world.

The Latin American press was crazy about the cat.

Even his scratching post was sold at a charity auction for almost 20 thousand rubles.

30 people wanted to take the cat home, but the oracle remained in service at the museum.

Warning: these questons and answers are not all representative of the way questions will be asked and answered in the pilot, because some questions are compound and some answers do not include citations.

Q: Where does Achilles the cat live?
A: In RussiaA: In St. PetersburgA: In the Hermitage Art Museum

Q: What color is Achilles?
A: White

Q: What color is Achilles’ eyes?
A: Blue

Q: How old was Achilles when he became a soccer oracle?
A: 18 months

Q: What characteristic made Achilles a good oracle?
A: His analytical abilitiesA: His unusual behaviorA: His natural deafness

Q: At what event did Achilles first gain fame?
A: At the 2017 Confederations Cup

Q: Why did Achilles gain fame at the 2017 Confederations Cup?
A: He correctly predicted the results of three out of four matches

Q: How did Achilles prepare for the 2018 World Cup?
A: He exercisedA: He attended social events

Q: What project publicized Achilles’ life before the 2018 World Cup?
A: A reality show on YouTube

Q: Which team played in the opening match of the 2018 World Cup?
A: Russia

Q: Which team played in the opening match of the 2018 World Cup?
A: Saudi Arabia

Q: What was Achilles’ prediction for the result of the opening match of the 2018 World Cup?
A: Russia’s victory over Saudi Arabia

Q: Where did Achilles make his first match forecast during the 2018 World Cup?
A: In the championship press center

Q: Which objects did Achilles choose between during the forecasting procedure?
A: Bowls of food

Q: What was placed near bowls of food?
A: Flags of competing countries

Q: Which country’s flag was next to the bowl Achilles chose during the prediction procedure?
A: Russia’s

Q: Which 2018 World Cup game result did Achilles accurately indicate the outcome of?
A: The game between Russia and EgyptA: The game between Iran and MoroccoA: The game between Brazil and Costa Rica

Q: What indicated Achilles’ popularity all over the world after his correct game results predictions?
A: The Latin American press covered him extensivelyA: His scratching post was sold at a charity auctionA: 30 people wanted to take him home


There is a number of Iranian movies that have won the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival.

Iranian directors Sohrab Shahid-Sales and Asghar Farhadi received the Silver Bear and Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival for their films Dead Nature and Nader and Simin, A Separation in 1974 and 2011, respectively.

In 2015, the Golden Bear was awarded to the film Taxi by Iranian director Jafar Panahi, who was convicted in his homeland for anti-government activities.

He not only directed the film, but wrote the script for it and played the main role.

The most widely discussed Iranian film to have won the award is the director Mohammad Rasoulof's film There is No Evil, an almanac of four short stories on the death penalty in Iran that won the award in 2020.

The themes of the film are the degrees of human freedom, the problems of painful moral choice in the most difficult circumstances.

[4e49]. , and the unfree intimate life in a totalitarian society.

They were unable to present the award to Rasoulof in person: he is prohibited from leaving Iran.

Last summer he was sentenced to a year in prison for the film Incorruptible, which won a prize at the Cannes Film Forum.

The Iranian authorities accused the director of “conspiracy threatening national security and propaganda against the state system”.

Members of the film crew, as well as the director’s daughter Baran Rasoulof received the Bear for him.

The audience gave a standing ovation, many cried.

This decision of the jury was perceived as a sign of solidarity with the disgraced master.

Since the director was banned from making films in Iran, the film There is No Evil was shot by Rasoulof secretly.

Mohammad Rasoulof said that the film is about a need to take civil, human, or any other kind of responsibility on yourself, and on making decisions in a society living under a dictatorship.

Warning: these questons and answers are not all representative of the way questions will be asked and answered in the pilot, because some questions are compound and some answers do not include citations.

Q: Which Iranian movie won the Golden Bear in 2011?
A: Nader and Simin, A Separation

Q: Who directed the film Nader and Simin, A Separation?
A: Asghar Farhadi

Q: Which Iranian movie won the Golden Bear in 2015?
A: Taxi

Q: Who directed the film Taxi?
A: Jafar Panahi

Q: What was director Jafar Panahi convicted of in Iran?
A: Anti-government activities

Q: Which Iranian movie won the Golden Bear in 2020?
A: There is No Evil

Q: Who directed the film There is No Evil?
A: Mohammad Rasoulof

Q: What is the theme of the film There is No Evil?
A: Death penaltyA: Human freedomA: Painful moral choicesA: Unfree intimate life in a totalitarian society

Q: How many stories does the film There is No Evil contain?
A: four

Q: Why were they unable to present the Golden Bear to Rasoulof in person?
A: He is prohibited from leaving IranA: He is sentenced to a year in prison in Iran

Q: Why was Rasoulof sentenced to a year in prison?
A: For the film IncorruptibleA: For conspiracy threatening national securityA: For anti-state propaganda

Q: Who accepted the Golden Bear on behalf of Rasoulof?
A: His daughter BaranA: The film crew

Q: Why was the film There is No Evil shot in secret?
A: Because Rasoulof is banned from making movies in Iran

Q: What does Rasoulof posit as the theme of his film?
A: A need to take responsibilityA: Making decisions under a dictatorship


Many consider Ernest Hemingway the father of minimalism and documentary-style fiction.

His signature style is also called “telegraph style”.

On a bet with Francis Scott Fitzgerald, Hemingway once famously wrote a short story containing only six words: “For sale: baby shoes, never worn”.

After Hemingway, many famous masters tried themselves in this minimalist direction.

However, whether Hemingway really wrote that story is sometimes doubted.

In the opinion of an actor who played one of Hemingway’s characters, Hemingway is “a very simple writer”.

He writes very simply, harshly, and does not spare either himself or the reader.

He is a man who has experienced a lot, acted a lot in his life.

He went to the hottest spots, fought, fell in love.

He didn't do things “little by little”, and that’s how he wrote as well.

Ernest Hemingway is one of the main voices of the "lost generation" of the 1920s.

That generation sought relief from disappointment in emotions and new places.

In The Sun Also Rises Hemingway shows this generation in romanticized Spain: the bright scorching sun, long walks through the streets, beautiful sunsets, bullfighting.

The Soviet historian Sergo Mikoyan, having met Hemingway in Cuba, wrote the following about the author, “He is a great artist, a realist and at the same time a romantic.

The ability to brilliantly combine exciting romance (without which there are no revolutions) with real realism (which should explain why revolutions occur) is, apparently, his individuality as a writer.

Having met him, you involuntarily discover that the literary “I” of this modern classic fully corresponds to the appearance of Hemingway himself - a sincere, fair man with a gray beard, but with a youthful ability to get carried away and enjoy life, even if life pleases very few”.

Warning: these questons and answers are not all representative of the way questions will be asked and answered in the pilot, because some questions are compound and some answers do not include citations.

Q: What is the writing style of Ernest Hemingway often called?
A: MinimalismA: Documentary-style fictionA: Telegraph style

Q: Who did Ernest Hemingway once have a bet with?
A: Francis Scott Fitzgerald

Q: What did Ernest Hemingway do on a bet with Francis Scott Fitzgerald?
A: He wrote a short story

Q: How many words were in the short story Ernest Hemingway wrote on a bet with Francis Scott Fitzgerald?
A: Six

Q: What was the text of the short story Ernest Hemingway wrote on a bet with Francis Scott Fitzgerald?
A: “For sale: baby shoes, never worn”

Q: Why do many consider Ernest Hemingway the father of minimalism and documentary-style fiction?
A: Because after Hemingway, many famous masters tried themselves in this direction

Q: How did Hemingway write?
A: SimplyA: Harshly

Q: What generation of the 1920s is Hemingway the voice of?
A: The "lost generation"

Q: What feeling was the "lost generation" experiencing?
A: Disappointment

Q: How was the "lost generation" trying to relieve the disappointment it was experiencing?
A: In emotionsA: In new places

Q: Where does the action in The Sun Also Rises take place?
A: In Spain

Q: What feature of life in Spain did Hemingway show in The Sun Also Rises?
A: The bright scorching sunA: Long walks through the streetsA: Beautiful sunsetsA: Bullfighting

Q: Which Soviet historian met Hemingway in Cuba?
A: Sergo Mikoyan

Q: Where did the Soviet historian Sergo Mikoyan meet Hemingway?
A: In Cuba

Q: How did the Soviet historian Sergo Mikoyan characterize Hemingway’s writing style?
A: As realism

Q: How did the Soviet historian Sergo Mikoyan characterize Hemingway’s writing style?
A: As romanticism

Q: How did the Soviet historian Sergo Mikoyan characterize Hemingway’s personality?
A: As sincereA: As fairA: As youthfulA: As able to enjoy life


After her tenure as the US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice commented on important foreign policy issues and participated in influential summits.

For example, in 2012, Rice participated in the 9th Yalta annual meeting Ukraine and the World:

She opened a plenary session on the future of global order and security.

Dr. Rice also took part in an energy panel devoted to the energy challenges facing Europe in the era of crisis, the development of alternative sources and energy security in the region, new models for the development of energy interaction and cooperation between the EU countries, Russia and Ukraine.

Commenting on Ukraine’s efforts to join NATO, Rice doubted that Ukraine would be able to join the Alliance in the near future.

And that's because NATO is a consensus organization.

I think now it will be difficult to even reach a consensus on obtaining a NATO Membership Action Plan”.

Opining on Russia’s actions in Ukraine in 2014, Condoleezza Rice said that Russia has “crossed all possible red lines”.

In order to “contain” Russia, the Ukrainian army needs support from the West, the diplomat noted.

She added that she supports the deployment of NATO military contingents to Poland and the Baltic states, and Washington should continue to impose anti-Russian sanctions.

She also condemned Russia for the poisoning of ex-GRU colonel Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the British city of Salisbury.

Continuing on the Donbass occupation issue after 2014, Rice said, “I think all participants in the negotiations realize that Minsk.

We must take a step back and understand what are the necessary elements for stability in eastern Ukraine.

In short, even after her time as Secretary of State, Dr. Rice remained active and influential on the international affairs scene.

Warning: these questons and answers are not all representative of the way questions will be asked and answered in the pilot, because some questions are compound and some answers do not include citations.

Q: What was the title of the meeting that Condoleezza Rice participated in Yalta?
A: Ukraine and the World: Overcoming Tomorrow’s Challenges

Q: In what city did the meeting Ukraine and the World: Overcoming Tomorrow’s Challenges that Condoleezza Rice participated in take place?
A: In Yalta

Q: What was the topic of the session of the meeting Ukraine and the World: Overcoming Tomorrow’s Challenges that Condoleezza Rice participated in Yalta?
A: Global order and security

Q: What was the topic of the session of the meeting Ukraine and the World: Overcoming Tomorrow’s Challenges that Condoleezza Rice participated in Yalta?
A: Energy

Q: What issue was discussed at the energy session of the meeting Ukraine and the World: Overcoming Tomorrow’s Challenges that Condoleezza Rice participated in Yalta?
A: Challenges facing Europe in the era of crisisA: Development of alternative energy sourcesA: Energy security in the regionA: Interaction and cooperation between the EU countries, Russia and Ukraine

Q: What was Condoleezza Rice’s opinion on Ukraine’s efforts to join NATO?
A: She doubted Ukraine’s efforts to join NATO will be successful

Q: What was Condoleezza Rice’s opinion on Russia’s actions in Ukraine in 2014?
A: She was critical of them

Q: What action should the US take in response to Russian aggression in Ukraine, according to Condoleezza Rice?
A: The US should continue to impose anti-Russian sanctions

Q: What action should NATO take in response to Russian aggression in Ukraine, according to Condoleezza Rice?
A: NATO should deploy military contingents to Poland and the Baltic states

Q: Where did the poisoning of ex-GRU colonel Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia take place?
A: In the British city of Salisbury

Q: What was Condoleezza Rice’s opinion on the poisoning of ex-GRU colonel Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia?
A: She condemned Russia for it.

Q: What was Condoleezza Rice’s opinion on the Minsk agreements?
A: She thought they were not working

Q: What did the Eastern Ukraine region need, according to Condoleezza Rice?
A: Stability


The International Astronomical Union (IAU) warned that the growing number of satellites in Earth orbit could significantly worsen conditions for astronomical observations.

Based on available data on plans for the formation of satellite constellations, scientists built a model of the future state of near-Earth orbit, and they found that the large satellite constellations being formed will seriously affect observations using modern telescopes.

They estimated that up to 30% of 30-second images during the twilight hours will be affected.

A special danger is posed by megaconstellations of satellites, like Starlink, a brainchild of SpaceX and Elon Musk.

The first 122 satellites launched by Starlink are not only brighter than most of the stars humans can see, but they also move quickly across the sky, leaving trails that pollute astronomers' data.

In addition, these satellites actively use radio waves, which means that they interfere with the signals used by radio astronomers.

The bright satellites obscure everything behind them, whether it is a potentially dangerous asteroid or the most distant quasar.

The biggest challenge is posed to telescopes designed to look at large swaths of space, like the Large Synoptic Research Telescope (LSST) in Chile.

In short, the new satellite will have a negative impact on the development of ground-based astronomy, radio, and optics, and it will require the diversion of human and financial resources from basic research to mitigation measures.

Astronomers named several options for reducing the satellites’ impact.

Experts suggested, among other things, “darken them”.

“Keep them at a low altitude,” and “direct them so that they reflect less sunlight” were also listed.

However, the main option on the list was “don't launch them”.

To resolve this problem, the IAU will work with government space agencies and private companies, as well as with the UN.

Warning: these questons and answers are not all representative of the way questions will be asked and answered in the pilot, because some questions are compound and some answers do not include citations.

Q: What danger of the growing number of satellites in Earth orbit did the International Astronomical Union warn the international community about?
A: That the satellites could significantly worsen conditions for astronomical observations

Q: According to scientists, what process will the large satellite constellations seriously affect?
A: Observations using modern telescopes

Q: What brand of satellites pose a special danger?
A: Starlink

Q: What company manufactures Starlink satellites?
A: SpaceX

Q: Who owns SpaceX?
A: Elon Musk

Q: What characteristics did the first 122 satellites launched by Starlink have?
A: They were brighter than most of the stars humans can see

Q: What characteristics did the first 122 satellites launched by Starlink have?
A: They moved quickly across the sky

Q: How do Starlink satellites interfere with the work of radio astronomers?
A: These satellites actively use radio waves

Q: What object could Starlink satellites potentially obscure?
A: A quasar

Q: What object could Starlink satellites potentially obscure?
A: An asteroid

Q: What kind of telescopes do  Starlink satellites pose the biggest challenge to?
A: Telescopes designed to look at large swaths of spaceA: Telescopes like the Large Synoptic Research Telescope

Q: What branch of science will the new satellites have a negative impact on?
A: Ground-based astronomy

Q: What branch of science will the new satellites have a negative impact on?
A: Radio

Q: What branch of science will the new satellites have a negative impact on?
A: Optics

Q: What measure will be required to combat the negative effect of the new satellites?
A: The diversion of human and financial resources from basic research to mitigation measures

Q: What option for reducing the satellites’ impact did experts suggest?
A: Darken the satellites

Q: What option for reducing the satellites’ impact did experts suggest?
A: Keep the satellites at a low altitude

Q: What option for reducing the satellites’ impact did experts suggest?
A: Direct the satellites so that they reflect less sunlight

Q: What option for reducing the satellites’ impact did experts suggest?
A: Not to launch the satellites

Q: What organization will the International Astronomical Union work with to resolve the satellites’ problem?
A: Government space agencies

Q: What organization will the International Astronomical Union work with to resolve the satellites’ problem?
A: Private companies

Q: What organization will the International Astronomical Union work with to resolve the satellites’ problem?
A: The UN


Since becoming independent in 1947, India and the Soviet Union, and now Russia, have cooperated in many fields and have excellent economic and military relations.

The two nations are continuing their cooperation in the area of spaceflight.

Although earlier plans for cooperation between the countries were put on ice by India after the failure of the Russian Fobos probe at Mars in 2011, the trend still seemed to be to cooperate.

A sign of such cooperation was the opening of a department of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) in Moscow.

The job of this office was to coordinate relations with Russian space agencies and Russian companies that produce equipment India intended to purchase for its own space program.

Also, in 2019, Russian Vice Premier Yuriy Borisov announced that India was buying rocket engines from Russia.

The intensification of Russian-Indian cooperation in space exploration may have been related to preparation for the flight of the first Indian manned spacecraft Gaganyaan (“celestial ship”), originally planned for 2022.

In 2021 the Indian Ministry of External Affairs reported that Indian Premier Modi thanked Vladimir Putin for Russia’s assistance to the Gaganyaan program in the corse of one of their conversations.

The Gaganyaan mission involved sending three astronauts into space on an Indian spacecraft.

This flight would be preceded by two unmanned test flights.

Then head of ROSKOSMOS Dmitriy Rogozin at one point stated that India had requested Russia’s assistance in the Gaganyaan program.

Seemingly in response to this request, a $3 billion contract was signed between the ISRO and Russia’s GLAVKOSMOS for the first part of the training of four Indian astronauts at Star City near Moscow on June 1, 2019.

The second part of their training was to be done in India, but still with some Russian input.

While the training run by the Russians began in 2020, it had to be done remotely because of the pandemic.

The training was at least originally expected to last one and a half to two years.

In March, 2021, the Indian astronauts completed their training in Russia.

Earlier, Rogozin had proposed sending an Indian astronaut on a Soyuz spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS)  in order to get further training tor the Gaganyaan mission - a further indication of Russia’s desire to cooperate with India in space.

Warning: these questons and answers are not all representative of the way questions will be asked and answered in the pilot, because some questions are compound and some answers do not include citations.

Q: What event temporarily impeded Indian-Russian cooperation in space flight?
A: The failure of the Russian Fobos mission to Mars in 2011 caused a halt in India working with Russia.

Q: Where did the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) open its Russian office?
A: in Moscow.

Q: What was the purpose of the office?
A: to coordinate relations with Russian government agencies and Russian companies involved in space exploration.

Q: In 2019, India made an important purchase of what kind of Russian equipment?
A: India bought rocket engines from Russia.

Q: In 2019 India signed a contract with Russia. This contract concerned what?
A: The training of four Indian astronauts for the Gaganyaan mission.

Q: The main Indian space mission that the contract involved is known under what name?
A: Gaganyaan, meaning “celestial ship”.

Q: Where was Russia planning to train the Indian astronauts?
A: At Star City, near Moscow, and also later, when they had returned to India

Q: What, if any, problems arose at the start of the astronauts’ training?
A: The Covid pandemic caused  some of the training to be done remotely.

Q: How long was the Indian astronauts’ training expected to last?
A: It was planned for one and a half to two years.

Q: How was Russia involved in other aspects of the ISRO’s activities?
A: Rogozin offered to ferry an Indian astronaut to the ISS for further training in space.

Q: Did India publicly acknowledge Russia’s assistance?
A: How? - Indian Premier Modi thanked Vladimir Putin during an official conversation.


In January 2020, shortly after it took off in Tehran, a plane of Ukrainian International Airlines was shot down by the Iranian military.

The plane crash killed 176 people, 138 of whom were Canadian citizens.

Iran's government said the plane's crash was a "catastrophic mistake".

The Supreme Court of the Canadian province of Ontario ruled on May 20, 2021 that Iran must pay damages to families of the deceased.

The families sued Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, top commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and other leaders of the Islamic State.

At the time of filing the lawsuit, compensation was sought in the amount of at least $1.2 billion.

“Plaintiffs have proven that the defendants’ shooting down of Flight 752 was an act of terrorism” said Judge Edward Belobaba.

The decision was based on the opinions of two experts, one of whom concluded that the Iranian Revolutionary Guards were aware of the civilian nature of the aircraft, but “deliberately shot it down with the aim of destroying it”.

Iranian authorities stated the Canadian court has no jurisdiction over the disaster because it occurred outside Canada.

Foreign states are not generally subject to the jurisdiction of Canadian courts, but Canadian law has changed this since 2012 for countries designated as “foreign state sponsors of terrorism,” which includes Iran.

Canada does not have diplomatic relations with Iran, and seeking reparations would likely be a lengthy and complex process, but similar procedures have occurred before on the US side.

Based on the court ruling, Canadian lawyers filed a class action lawsuit against the Iranian authorities demanding to pay 1.5 billion Canadian dollars.

The name of the lead plaintiff was being withheld because his family in Iran could be at risk of persecution by Iranian authorities.

However, the demands for payments were rejected by Iranian Foreign Minister on the grounds of having no basis.

Warning: these questons and answers are not all representative of the way questions will be asked and answered in the pilot, because some questions are compound and some answers do not include citations.

Q: When was a plane of Ukrainian International Airlines shot down by the Iranian military over Tehran?
A: In January 2020A: In 2020

Q: How many people did the plane crash kill?
A: 176

Q: How many crash victims were Canadian citizens?
A: 138

Q: How did Iran's government explain the reason for the plane crash?
A: As a "catastrophic mistake"

Q: Which court ruled on May 20, 2021 that Iran must pay damages to families of the deceased?
A: The Supreme Court of the Canadian province of Ontario

Q: Whom did the families of the deceased sue in the Supreme Court of the Canadian province of Ontario?
A: Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali KhameneiA: Top commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard CorpsA: Leaders of the Islamic State

Q: What was the amount of the compensation sought at the time of filing the lawsuit?
A: $1.2 billion

Q: What did the court ruling classify the shooting down of Flight 752 as?
A: As an act of terrorism

Q: Whose opinion was the court decision based on?
A: Two experts

Q: What did one of the two experts in the Canadian court conclude about the actions of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards?
A: That they were aware of the civilian nature of the aircraftA: That they deliberately shot it down with the aim of destroying it

Q: Why did Iranian authorities state the Canadian court had no jurisdiction over the disaster?
A: Because it occurred outside Canada

Q: What does the 2012 Canadian law say about Canadian jurisdiction applying to foreign countries?
A: It applies to countries designated as “foreign state sponsors of terrorism”

Q: Why does Canadian jurisdiction apply to Iran?
A: Because it is among “foreign state sponsors of terrorism”

Q: What makes seeking reparations from Iran a lengthy and complex process for Canada?
A: Not having diplomatic relations with Iran

Q: Based on the Ontario court ruling, against whom did Canadian lawyers file a class action lawsuit?
A: Against the Iranian authorities

Q: What amount of reparations did Canadian lawyers seek in the class action lawsuit against the Iranian authorities?
A: 1.5 billion Canadian dollarsA: 1.1 billion US dollars

Q: Why was the name of the lead plaintiff withheld in the class action lawsuit?
A: Because his family in Iran could be at risk of persecution by Iranian authorities

Q: What was the reaction of the Iranian Foreign Minister to the Canadian lawyers’ demands for payments?
A: He rejected them

Q: Why did the Iranian Foreign Minister reject the demands for payments from the Canadian lawyers?
A: On the grounds of them having no basis


India’s Ministry of Health noted that the mortality rate in India from Covid is only 2.3%.

India claims about 118 deaths per million inhabitants and claim this is because it has a relatively young demographic.

However, a national survey based on blood samples showed that, as of December 2020, about 22% of Indians had been exposed to Covid-19, more than 30 times the official figure.

When 3 Covid mutations occurred, in the capital New Delhi, a Covid-infected patient died every 4 minutes.

The real number of deaths from COVID-19 was tens of times higher than official data and could be about 5 million, according to The Center for Global Development.

Considering “excess” deaths during this period, the total could be 3.5 million.

The reasons behind this is when official incidences dropped below 10,000, precautionary measures stopped and testing decreased.

Mass events, such as religious festivals and political rallies, were allowed in India,.

Taking into consideration an acute shortage of ICU beds and oxygen.

[8e09, 9a62, 1129, 016e]. , supply interruptions,.

[d1c5]. poor infrastructure and testing.

[5049]. , the number of deaths could be 30 times greater.

At the beginning, only one out of 30 cases of infection was detected through testing.

Many were dying at home, or outside of hospitals, and were not counted.

Numbers tended to go up when Indian states revised their statistics.

Warning: these questons and answers are not all representative of the way questions will be asked and answered in the pilot, because some questions are compound and some answers do not include citations.

Q: What did the Indian Ministry of Health claim about Covid?
A: The mortality rate in India from Covid was only 2.3%. [504c83c5-a821-4486-995b-3c0bb9a7f420]

Q: Why was the mortality rate supposedly so low in India?
A: because India has a relatively young demographic (average age is about 29 years), low obesity rates, Covid came much later than in other countries, and possibly exposure to pathogens that cause coughs and colds created an immunity. [0abec05c-8384-4f1a-bd77-f5e00bfed343]

Q: What did a national blood survey show?
A: About 22% of Indians had been exposed to Covid-19, more than 30 times the official figure. [0abec05c-8384-4f1a-bd77-f5e00bfed343]

Q: What happened when 3 Covid mutations occurred?
A: In New Delhi, a Covid-infected patient died every 4 minutes. There were 2,000 deaths/day across the country. [1129a25c-2e90-4bc0-9820-cad4d8b04f34]

Q: What did the Center for Global Development claim about Indian mortality rate?
A: The real number of deaths from COVID-19 was tens of times higher than official data and could be about 5 million. [bc44abc9-bf8f-4d98-baf3-85fb6cfc70b6]A: Two million people could have died during the first wave of Covid. [bc44abc9-bf8f-4d98-baf3-85fb6cfc70b6]

Q: What about the excess mortality rate?
A: The total could be 3.5 million during the first wave of Covid. [bc44abc9-bf8f-4d98-baf3-85fb6cfc70b6]

Q: What could be the explanation of the increase in death rates?
A: when official incidences dropped below 10,000, precautionary measures stopped and testing decreased. [8e097e55-a9c8-41b5-8117-750dba725361]A: Mass events, such as religious festivals and political rallies, were allowed in India, [8e097e55-a9c8-41b5-8117-750dba725361, 9a625504-e804-4811-a41b-12cca12e4660]

Q: What was India lacking to cope with Covid outbreaks?
A: an acute shortage of ICU beds and oxygen [8e097e55-a9c8-41b5-8117-750dba725361, 9a625504-e804-4811-a41b-12cca12e4660, 1129a25c-2e90-4bc0-9820-cad4d8b04f34, 016ea5d9-0104-4a82-8f91-12a0888d9cb3]A: supply interruptions [d1c53ace-fec7-4e61-a9e5-602c3068eb47]A: poor infrastructure and testing [5049d2e7-e4d7-470b-9685-2f56c0481ec9]

Q: How much higher could the Covid mortality rate be?
A: 30 times greater. [5049d2e7-e4d7-470b-9685-2f56c0481ec9, 0abec05c-8384-4f1a-bd77-f5e00bfed343, 839b5e43-2bce-49d8-b2a1-9625046f312b]

Q: Why doesn’t India have good statistics of the Covid death rate?
A: At the beginning, only 1 out of 30 cases of infection was detected through testing. [5049d2e7-e4d7-470b-9685-2f56c0481ec9]A: Many were dying at home, or outside of hospitals, and were not counted [8e097e55-a9c8-41b5-8117-750dba725361]

Q: What are some statistics of the Indian Covid infection and death rate?
A: At one point, Indian medical experts registered 18,762,976 cases of COVID-19 and 2,08,330 people have died. [d1c53ace-fec7-4e61-a9e5-602c3068eb47]

Q: What is believed about these numbers?
A: The real rates of COVID-19 infection and mortality were actually 5-10 times higher. [d1c53ace-fec7-4e61-a9e5-602c3068eb47]A: Numbers tended to go up when Indian states revised their statistics [2fedcdc0-8fbf-4916-bdf7-67320533d074]


Extracting and using fossil fuels has a number of effects on people’s life and health.

First, air pollution shortens life expectancy.

In countries such as India and Bangladesh, air pollution is so bad that it is now reducing average life expectancy in some areas by almost a decade.

Almost a quarter of the world's population lives in four South Asian countries that are among the most polluted - Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan.

Over 20 years, air pollution in these regions increased by 44%, during which time the life expectancy of the population decreased by an average of five years.

The air pollution is shortening the lives of people around the world by an average of almost three years and causing 8.8 million premature deaths each year.

Especially dangerous is the inhalation of fine particles, which killed more than 8 million people in 2018 alone.

Second, people living near places where hydraulic fracturing is practiced to extract gas and oil are at risk for hormonal imbalances.

(caused by endocrine-disrupting compounds).

, which may result in infertility, cancer and birth defects.

Third, harmful substances in the air have a negative impact on fetal development leading to premature births, as well as infections, pneumonia, and brain problems in newborns.

Of the total number of infant deaths registered in 2019, two thirds of them were caused by pollution.

Fourth, oil and gas enterprises can cause damage to agricultural land.

Oil spills can destroy the fertile soil layer.

Among the measures taken by governments and businesses to reduce these effects and improve people’s quality of life could be increasing fines on companies polluting the environment.

[8b86]. , bringing the facilities up to date with the legal norms.

[8b86]. , sticking to international environmental agreements.

[2aaf]. , gradually reducing the number of coal-burning power plants.

Warning: these questons and answers are not all representative of the way questions will be asked and answered in the pilot, because some questions are compound and some answers do not include citations.

Q: What effect does air pollution have on life expectancy?
A: It shortens it

Q: In which country has air pollution reduced average life expectancy in some areas by almost a decade?
A: In India

Q: In which country has air pollution reduced average life expectancy in some areas by almost a decade?
A: In Bangladesh

Q: Which South Asian country is among the most polluted?
A: Bangladesh

Q: Which South Asian country is among the most polluted?
A: India

Q: Which South Asian country is among the most polluted?
A: Nepal

Q: Which South Asian country is among the most polluted?
A: Pakistan

Q: How much has the air pollution shortened the lives of people around the world?
A: By three years

Q: How many premature deaths each year does the air pollution cause?
A: 8.8 million

Q: What kind of imbalances are people living near places where hydraulic fracturing is practiced to extract gas and oil at risk for?
A: Hormonal imbalances

Q: What causes hormonal imbalances in people living near places where hydraulic fracturing is practiced to extract gas and oil?
A: Endocrine-disrupting compounds

Q: What can hormonal imbalances result in?
A: InfertilityA: CancerA: Birth defects

Q: What share of infant deaths registered in 2019 was caused by pollution?
A: Two thirds

Q: How can harmful substances in the air negatively impact newborns?
A: They can cause infectionsA: They can cause pneumoniaA: They can cause brain problems

Q: How can harmful substances in the air negatively impact fetal development?
A: They can cause premature births

Q: In what way can oil and gas enterprises cause damage to agricultural land?
A: They can destroy the fertile soil layer

Q: What measures can businesses take to reduce air pollution and improve people’s quality of life?
A: Bring the facilities up to date with the legal norms

Q: What measures can governments take to reduce air pollution and improve people’s quality of life?
A: Gradually reduce the number of coal-burning power plants

Q: What measures can governments take to reduce air pollution and improve people’s quality of life?
A: Stick to international environmental agreements

Q: What measures can governments take to reduce air pollution and improve people’s quality of life?
A: Increase fines on companies polluting the environment


North Korean border guards detained the Russian fishing seiner Xianghailin-8 approximately 55 nautical miles from North Korean territory.

This happened on the morning of July 17 2019.

The reason for the arrest was an allegedly illegal crossing of the border of the so-called military security zone, which North Korea established 50 nautical miles from the coast.

No international documents indicate the possibility of creating such a zone; there is only the concept of territorial waters.

The ship was without cargo at the time of detention.

The border service turned off all communications on the ship and escorted it to the port of Wonsan.

At that moment there were 17 sailors on board - 15 Russians and two citizens of South Korea.

For a week there was no contact with them.

A representative of the Russian embassy in Pyongyang managed to visit the ship only on July 23.

The captain of the ship, his first mate, and two South Korean sailors were placed in a hotel, while the rest of the fishermen were left on the ship.

Crew members were prohibited from leaving the seiner, which had no ventilation, so it was very stuffy and hot there: the temperature was at +30-35 °C.

On the tenth day the sailors started to run out of water, and Russia managed to have water delivered on board.

A representative of the North Korean diplomatic mission in Moscow noted that the ship was sailing under the South Korean flag and the captain had already admitted the fact of violating territorial waters.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said it was doing everything possible to “resolve the situation”.

The next day it arrived at the South Korean port of Sokcho, where two fishermen from South Korea were expected to disembark.

South Korea called the North Korean actions of releasing the ship "positive from a humanitarian point of view".

Warning: these questons and answers are not all representative of the way questions will be asked and answered in the pilot, because some questions are compound and some answers do not include citations.

Q: What ship did North Korean border guards detain approximately 55 nautical miles from North Korean territory?
A: The Russian fishing seiner Xianghailin-8

Q: When did North Korean border guards detain the Russian fishing seiner Xianghailin-8 approximately 55 nautical miles from North Korean territory?
A: On the morning of July 17 2019A: On July 17 2019A: In July 2019

Q: What was the reason for the arrest of the ship, according to North Korea?
A: An illegal crossing of the border of the military security zone

Q: How far from the coast did North Korea establish the military security zone?
A: 50 nautical miles

Q: How far from the coast are territorial waters, according to international law?
A: 12 nautical miles

Q: How far from the coast is the exclusive economic zone, according to international law?
A: 200 nautical miles

Q: What did the border service do after they arrested the ship?
A: They turned off all communications on the ship

Q: What did the border service do after they arrested the ship?
A: They escorted it to the port of Wonsan

Q: How many sailors were on board at the time of the arrest?
A: 17

Q: How many sailors on board were Russian citizens?
A: 15

Q: How many sailors on board were South Korean Citizens?
A: 2

Q: How long was there no contact with the sailors?
A: For a week

Q: When did a representative of the Russian embassy in Pyongyang manage to visit the ship?
A: On July 23A: On July 23 2019

Q: Where did the captain of the ship, his first mate, and two South Korean sailors stay after the ship was detained?
A: At a hotel

Q: What flag was the Russian ship sailing under?
A: The South Korean flag

Q: What violation did the Russian ship’s captain admit to?
A: To violating territorial waters

Q: How did the Russian Foreign Ministry comment on the ship’s arrest?
A: It said it was doing everything possible to resolve the situation

Q: When was the Russian ship released?
A: On July 27A: On July 27 2019

Q: Why did the Russian ship go to the South Korean port of Sokcho after it was released?
A: The two fishermen from South Korea were expected to disembark there

Q: What did South Korea call the North Korean actions of releasing the ship?
A: Positive from a humanitarian point of view


Patients Beyond Borders estimates that every year 14 million people travel abroad for health and medical services.

The obvious reason for the popularity of such tourism is the prices.

For example, rhinoplasty in the USA will cost an average of $4.8 thousand, in Thailand - $1.6 thousand, in Moscow - about 200 thousand rubles.

The popular destinations for medical tourism are Turkey, Israel, India, South Korea, Germany, and the USA.

According to WHO, Brazil has the best healthcare system in Latin America.

The most popular procedures in Brazil are liposuction, abdominoplasty and buttock augmentation.

Turkey, although not one of the most popular places for plastic surgery, is a leader in the hair transplant market.

There was also an increase in the flow of foreigners coming to Russia for medical purposes in 2016-2018.

In the first half of 2017, the number of foreign patients exceeded 20 thousand people.

20% of these medical tourists underwent plastic surgery.

The most popular were facelifts, rhinoplasty and mammoplasty.

Taking into account the dollar/ruble exchange rate and the skill of Russian plastic surgeons, Russia became a good value option.

Dentistry is the most common reason for visiting Russia among foreign patients.

For this reason, 44% of medical tourists come to the country.

The most in demand are orthodontics and dental surgery, namely dental implantation and prosthetics.

It was mostly citizens of Vietnam, South Korea, China and Japan who came to Russia for dental treatment.

The most popular routes were Moscow, Novosibirsk, St. Petersburg, Kazan, Krasnodar and other large cities.

In addition to Asians, Europeans, especially citizens of Finland and Germany, also used medical services in Russia.

Treatment in Russia was cheaper, and foreigners could save up to 80% in dollar terms on dentistry.

Warning: these questons and answers are not all representative of the way questions will be asked and answered in the pilot, because some questions are compound and some answers do not include citations.

Q: How many people travel abroad for health and medical services every year, according to Patients Beyond Borders?
A: 14 million

Q: Why is medical tourism popular?
A: Because of prices

Q: Which country is a popular destination for medical tourism?
A: Turkey

Q: Which country is a popular destination for medical tourism?
A: Israel

Q: Which country is a popular destination for medical tourism?
A: India

Q: Which country is a popular destination for medical tourism?
A: South Korea

Q: Which country is a popular destination for medical tourism?
A: Germany

Q: Which country is a popular destination for medical tourism?
A: the USA

Q: Which country, according to WHO, has the best healthcare system in Latin America?
A: Brazil

Q: What is the most popular procedure for medical tourism in Brazil?
A: Liposuction

Q: What is the most popular procedure for medical tourism in Brazil?
A: Abdominoplasty

Q: What is the most popular procedure for medical tourism in Brazil?
A: Buttock augmentation

Q: Which country is a leader in the hair transplant market?
A: Turkey

Q: When was there an increase in the flow of foreigners coming to Russia for medical purposes?
A: In 2016-2018

Q: What percentage of foreign medical tourists to Russia underwent plastic surgery in 2017?
A: 20%

Q: What was the most popular cosmetic surgery for medical tourism in Russia?
A: Facelifts

Q: What was the most popular cosmetic surgery for medical tourism in Russia?
A: Rhinoplasty

Q: What was the most popular cosmetic surgery for medical tourism in Russia?
A: MammoplastyA: Stick to international environmental agreements

Q: What is the most common reason for visiting Russia among foreign patients?
A: Dentistry

Q: What dental procedures are most in demand among foreign medical tourists visiting Russia?
A: Implantation

Q: What dental procedures are most in demand among foreign medical tourists visiting Russia?
A: Prosthetics

Q: What countries do medical tourists come to Russia from for dental work?
A: Vietnam

Q: What countries do medical tourists come to Russia from for dental work?
A: South Korea

Q: What countries do medical tourists come to Russia from for dental work?
A: China

Q: What countries do medical tourists come to Russia from for dental work?
A: Japan


Contemporary pirates are not ruthless barbarians roaming the world, but extremely sane and rational people focused on maximizing profits.

During the 20th century, pirates did not pose a particular threat to world shipping: the maximum that the pirates could do was to rob the ship's cash register and the crew.

Things started to change in the 1990s with the advent of modern communications and new technologies.

The number of attacks on ships increased in all three regions where pirates are traditionally found: the Caribbean, the Strait of Malacca, and the Gulf of Aden.

The first Somali pirates were simply angry fishermen who seized foreign boats and demanded "tolls".

Other pirates made their debut by plundering UN ships delivering food to Somali refugee camps.

But over the years, piracy has become a business worth millions of dollars.

Today, pirates do not hide their motives and directly say that they are only interested in money.

When contemporary pirates seize a ship and demand a ransom, it is usually paid by the owner of the ship, on whom the fate of the sailors depends.

The treatment of hostages is usually decent, and there have been very few deaths.

In 2020 the oil market faced a new threat: pirates around the world, and especially in West Africa, increased their activities, creating risks for international oil companies and supply chains.

A total of 47 cases of armed robbery at sea were recorded, 21 of them in the Gulf of Guinea, mostly in Nigerian waters.

The collapse in oil prices in 2015 led to a change in pirate tactics: previously, attacks on tankers were carried out with the aim of stealing oil and reselling it on the black market.

Today the main goal is to kidnap the crew and demand a ransom for the release of the hostages.

Unlike Somali pirates, pirates in the Gulf of Guinea have no storage or mooring facilities due to the lack of ports.

Warning: these questons and answers are not all representative of the way questions will be asked and answered in the pilot, because some questions are compound and some answers do not include citations.

Q: What are contemporary pirates mostly focused on?
A: Maximizing profitsA: Money

Q: When did modern pirates start to pose a threat to world shipping?
A: In the 1990s

Q: Why did pirates start to pose a threat to world shipping in the 1990s?
A: Because of modern communicationsA: Because of new technologies

Q: Which region did the number of pirate attacks on ships increase in the 1990s?
A: The Caribbean

Q: Which region did the number of pirate attacks on ships increase in the 1990s?
A: The Strait of Malacca

Q: Which region did the number of pirate attacks on ships increase in the 1990s?
A: The Gulf of Aden

Q: What did the first Somali pirates do?
A: They seized foreign fishing boats and demanded "tolls"A: They plundered UN ships delivering food to Somali refugee camps

Q: How much is the piracy business worth nowadays?
A: Millions of dollars

Q: Who is the ransom demanded by pirates paid by?
A: The owner of the ship

Q: What is the treatment of hostages usually like?
A: Decent

Q: What happened to pirates’ activities in West Africa in 2020?
A: They increased

Q: How did the increased pirates’ activities in West Africa in 2020 threaten the world oil market?
A: They posed a risk for supply chains

Q: How many cases of armed robbery at sea were recorded in 2020?
A: 47

Q: Of the 47 cases of armed robbery at sea recorded in 2020, how many were in the Gulf of Guinea?
A: 21

Q: In what country’s waters were most cases of armed robbery in the Gulf of Guinea recorded in 2020?
A: Nigeria’s

Q: What event in 2015 led to a change in pirate tactics?
A: The collapse in oil prices

Q: What did pirate tactics look like before 2015?
A: They attacked tankers, stole oil, and resold it on the black market

Q: What have pirate tactics looked like after 2015?
A: They have been kidnapping crews and demanding ransoms

Q: What is the difference in the resources between Somali pirates and pirates in the Gulf of Guinea?
A: Pirates in the Gulf of Guinea have no storage or mooring facilities

Q: Why don’t pirates in the Gulf of Guinea have any storage or mooring facilities?
A: Due to the lack of ports


There are multiple reasons for the decline of caviar production in the Caspian Sea.

These include the destruction of the sturgeon’s habitat; various types of pollution; overfishing, illegal fishing, and smuggling; and the introduction of invasive species into the Caspian.

These factors have brought sturgeon to the brink of extinction, to the extent that it has become very difficult to even find breeding stock for sturgeon in the Caspian Sea.

River estuaries are the main spawning grounds of sturgeon; however, most of the river estuaries on the southern shores of the Caspian Sea are narrow or completely blocked due to sedimentation.

The sturgeon’s habitat has also been affected by the construction of rubber dams in rivers in the north of Iran, preventing the migration of fish, including sturgeon, to the upper reaches of the rivers.

Various types of pollution, including agricultural run-off, industrial and urban sewage, have been discharged into estuaries, so that even if a fish reaches the estuary and spawns, its eggs will be destroyed to pollution.

The drilling of hundreds of oil wells by the Caspian coastal countries is also a source of pollution.

One of the main reasons for the decline of sturgeon in the Caspian Sea was the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Prior to its collapse, the Soviet Union and Iran managed fishing in the Caspian Sea and no other country was allowed to fish from this sea.

However, in the first years after their independence, the Commonwealth of Independent States started to harvest sturgeon indiscriminately, causing serious damage to this fish population.

A few decades ago, the introduction of an invasive species of comb jelly to the Caspian Sea caused a decrease in the food supplies for sturgeon.

The comb jelly disrupted the food cycle because it feeds on Caspian Sea sprat, which is the sturgeon’s food source.

The decrease in the sprat population therefore resulted in decreased food supplies for sturgeon.

Warning: these questons and answers are not all representative of the way questions will be asked and answered in the pilot, because some questions are compound and some answers do not include citations.

Q: What are four factors that have led to the decline of caviar production in the Caspian Sea?
A: Destruction of sturgeon’s habitatA: PollutionA: OverfishingA: Introduction of invasive species

Q: What is the state of the sturgeon population in the Caspian Sea?
A: It is on the brink of extinction

Q: What are the sturgeon’s main spawning grounds?
A: River estuaries

Q: What are the problems with river estuaries on the southern shores on the Caspian Sea?
A: Most are narrow or completely blocked due to sedimentation

Q: What did Iran construct in the north of Iran that prevents fish from reaching the upper reaches of the rivers?
A: Rubber dams

Q: What types of pollution have been discharged into estuaries?
A: Agricultural run-offA: Industrial and urban sewage

Q: What is another source of pollution threatening the Caspian Sea?
A: The drilling of hundreds of oil wells

Q: What happens to the sturgeon’s eggs in polluted waters?
A: They are destroyed

Q: How was fishing in the Caspian Sea regulated before the collapse of the Soviet Union?
A: Iran and the Soviet Union managed fishing in the Caspian, and no other country was allowed to fish from the sea.

Q: How did the collapse of the Soviet Union affect the sturgeon population in the Caspian Sea?
A: Overfishing resulted when the Soviet Union broke apart into the Commonwealth of Independent States

Q: What invasive species caused a threat to the sturgeon’s food supplies?
A: Comb jelly

Q: How did it threaten the sturgeon’s food supplies?
A: It ate Caspian Sea sprat, which is the sturgeon’s food source


For 30 years, Israel has been attempting to obtain compensation from Poland for Jewish property seized during the Holocaust.

During World War II, Poland was considered to have one of the largest Jewish populations.

After the fall of the Communist Party in Poland, Jews began attempting to get their property back.

On 24 June, 2021, the lower house of the Polish parliament passed a draft bill to limit claims for property restitution.

According to this bill, the claims and complaints related to the restitution of personal property and real estate that were captured by the Nazis during World War II and had not been settled in the last 30 years would be stayed and archived.

In addition, any appeal of the judgments issued in the last 30 years was prohibited.

In July 2021, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the leader of the Polish ruling party, criticized statements by Israeli authorities about Poland’s failure to return Jewish property and said that Warsaw does not owe anything to any country.

“As long as I am the Prime Minister of Poland, we will not pay a single penny for the crimes of Germany against the Jews in World War II,” said Mateusz Morawiecki, Prime Minister of Poland.

Warsaw has repeatedly emphasized that it will not pay any compensation to Jews for the Holocaust.

In May 2018, US President Donald Trump signed a law known as "Today's Justice for Uncompensated Survivors", which required the US State Department to investigate the progress made by countries such as Poland to make restitution for assets seized from Jews during World War II, and then to make a report to Congress.

The right-wing Polish government, as well as the country's moderate and liberal opposition, have ignored this law, and insisted that such a law does not affect Poland.

Warning: these questons and answers are not all representative of the way questions will be asked and answered in the pilot, because some questions are compound and some answers do not include citations.

Q: Which country had one of the largest Jewish populations during WWII?
A: Poland

Q: For how many years has Israel attempted to obtain compensation for Jewish property seized during the Holocaust?
A: For at least 30

Q: What was the purpose of the draft bill that the lower house of the Polish parliament passed in June 2021?
A: To limit claims for property restitution

Q: According to this bill, what would happen to complaints and claims for restitution?
A: The claims and complaints related to the restitution that had not been settled in the last 30 years would be stayed and archive

Q: What was also prohibited by the bill?
A: Any appeal of the judgments issued in the last 30 years was prohibited.

Q: What was the Israeli government’s criticism of this bill?
A: The Israeli government claimed the new law would prevent surviving Polish Jews and their families from reclaiming their properties, which accounted for 90 percent of these claims.

Q: What did Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the leader of the Polish ruling party, say about Israel’s criticism of Poland’s failure to return Jewish property?
A: He said that Warsaw did not owe anything to any country

Q: What did the Prime Minister of Poland say about the same topic?
A: He said, “As long as I am the Prime Minister of Poland, we will not pay a single penny for the crimes of Germany against the Jews in World War II.”

Q: What law did the United States pass regarding compensation of Holocaust survivors?
A: "Today's Justice for Uncompensated Survivors"

Q: What does the law require the US State Department to do?
A: It requireds the US State Department to investigate the progress made by countries such as Poland to make restitution for assets seized from Jews during World War II, and then to make a report to Congress.

Q: What was Poland’s reaction to this law?
A: Poland has ignored this law, and insisted that such a law does not affect Poland.


aka the Roc is the largest aircraft in the world.

Its wingspan is 117 meters, and is 226 tons (with a full tank, 340 tons.

The aircraft can lift a rocket up to 250 tons.

The Roc is designed to carry Pegasus XL launch vehicles to launch satellites into orbit.

from an altitude of about 10,500 m. [73c1].

It is equipped with 6 25-ton thrust Pratt & Whitney PW4056 bypass turbojet engines.

It is designed to launch 6.12 tons of payload into low Earth orbit.

It will be a platform for launching small launch vehicles to a height of 9,100 meters.

One test taxi run took place on the runway in the Mojave Desert.

, where the Roc accelerated to approximately 128 km/h.

A sea test of the Roc, tested the suspension, braking system and other technologies, at 45km/hr.

The take-off distance with a full load is estimated to be 3800 m.

The maximum range of the aircraft with a full load will not exceed 3700 km.

Paul Allen founded the Stratolaunch project to create a space launch system using conventional runways, a jumbo jet and single-stage launch vehicles.

The famous aircraft designer Burt Rutan acted as the chief designer of the aircraft.

Stratolaunch Systems announced at the 34th Space Symposium scientific conference that the Roc will fly that summer.

[9eea]. , the Roc completed its maiden flight.

The US Department of Defense will use the Stratolaunch to test hypersonic technologies.

Warning: these questons and answers are not all representative of the way questions will be asked and answered in the pilot, because some questions are compound and some answers do not include citations.

Q: What is the largest airplane in the world at this time?
A: The Stratolaunch Model 351 aircraft [73c1409d-a564-4d37-b96a-d7feef69565b]

Q: What is its nickname?
A: the Roc [1dd4fad9-b54c-4847-b56c-cc84b5960f73]

Q: Give a list of its measurements and stats:
A: Its wingspan is 117 meters, and is 226 tons. Its take-off weight is 590 tons. The aircraft can lift a rocket up to 250 tons [1dd4fad9-b54c-4847-b56c-cc84b5960f73, 1c697eb0-6f1d-43bd-8678-08e1db9cbd55, 73c1409d-a564-4d37-b96a-d7feef69565b, 8ba29e36-42be-49a2-bf52-0dd5627fe883, 6444f5ad-360d-4313-9d8c-03df7f6fe9e3]A: Its weight with a full tank is 340 tons [bc5a2f27-bec9-43bc-8b6f-fae3822664a4]A: its height is over 15 meters. [e462ef5e-ec4a-449d-919a-c916a979e4b3, 6444f5ad-360d-4313-9d8c-03df7f6fe9e3]

Q: What payload can it lift?
A: The aircraft can lift a rocket up to 250 tons [1dd4fad9-b54c-4847-b56c-cc84b5960f73, 1c697eb0-6f1d-43bd-8678-08e1db9cbd55, 73c1409d-a564-4d37-b96a-d7feef69565b, 8ba29e36-42be-49a2-bf52-0dd5627fe883, 6444f5ad-360d-4313-9d8c-03df7f6fe9e3]A: 6.12 tons of payload into low Earth orbit. [767a80e1-8086-4fd8-97ee-78ec63d69034]

Q: How is it constructed?
A: The aircraft is assembled from two Boeing 747s, but with lighter carbon fiber elements. [1dd4fad9-b54c-4847-b56c-cc84b5960f73]

Q: What is inside?
A: One fuselage houses the crew, and the other has  navigation, flight and other avionics. [e462ef5e-ec4a-449d-919a-c916a979e4b3]

Q: What is it designed to carry?
A: Pegasus XL launch vehicles to launch satellites into orbit [1c697eb0-6f1d-43bd-8678-08e1db9cbd55, 6444f5ad-360d-4313-9d8c-03df7f6fe9e3]

Q: From what altitude it is designed to launch?
A: 10,500 m. [73c1409d-a564-4d37-b96a-d7feef69565b]

Q: What kind of engines does it have?
A: 6 25-ton thrust Pratt & Whitney PW4056 bypass turbojet engines [73c1409d-a564-4d37-b96a-d7feef69565b, 767a80e1-8086-4fd8-97ee-78ec63d69034]

Q: How many wheels does it have on its chassis?
A: 28 [1c697eb0-6f1d-43bd-8678-08e1db9cbd55, 73c1409d-a564-4d37-b96a-d7feef69565b, 6444f5ad-360d-4313-9d8c-03df7f6fe9e3]

Q: Describe the various tests the Roc has undergone:
A: One test taxi run where the Roc accelerated to approximately 128 km/h. [1c697eb0-6f1d-43bd-8678-08e1db9cbd55]A: In February, 2018, the Roc made several taxi runs reaching 75km/h. [1c697eb0-6f1d-43bd-8678-08e1db9cbd55, e462ef5e-ec4a-449d-919a-c916a979e4b3, 8ba29e36-42be-49a2-bf52-0dd5627fe883, 767a80e1-8086-4fd8-97ee-78ec63d69034]A: A sea test of the Roc tested the suspension, braking system and other technologies, at 45km/hr. [e462ef5e-ec4a-449d-919a-c916a979e4b3]

Q: Where were these tests run?
A: Mojave Desert (California) [1c697eb0-6f1d-43bd-8678-08e1db9cbd55, e462ef5e-ec4a-449d-919a-c916a979e4b3, 8ba29e36-42be-49a2-bf52-0dd5627fe883, 767a80e1-8086-4fd8-97ee-78ec63d69034]

Q: Describe the take-off ranges of the Roc:
A: take-off distance with a full load is estimated to be 3800 m. [73c1409d-a564-4d37-b96a-d7feef69565b]A: The maximum range with a full load will not exceed 3700 km. [73c1409d-a564-4d37-b96a-d7feef69565b]

Q: Who initiated the Stratolaunch project?
A: Paul Allen [e462ef5e-ec4a-449d-919a-c916a979e4b3]

Q: Who is the famous aircraft designer of the project?
A: Burt Rutan [73c1409d-a564-4d37-b96a-d7feef69565b]

Q: What was announced at the 34th Space Symposium scientific conference?
A: That the Stratolaunch vehicle would launch that summer. [767a80e1-8086-4fd8-97ee-78ec63d69034]

Q: Describe its maiden flight:
A: In April 2019 [9eea978b-a1f4-4225-924c-a6387c3cc562]A: the Roc completed its maiden flight at 5200 meters. [be9007af-1518-4969-8f28-688116a17c33, 4a5a476d-6c58-4c2f-8042-b12291ded3d2]

Q: Describe its second flight:
A: Its second flight was at 4300 meters for 3 hours 14 minutes, 44 minutes longer than the first. [4a5a476d-6c58-4c2f-8042-b12291ded3d2]

Q: What will the DoD use the Stratolaunch for?
A: to test hypersonic technologies [1094e1dc-ac51-4370-a5cd-8a308c5b0645, 4a5a476d-6c58-4c2f-8042-b12291ded3d2]


For the first time in more than a decade of decline, the suicide rate in Japan increased as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the Japanese Ministry of Health, 20,919 people died of suicide in 2020, which was an increase of 3.7% relative to the previous year.

Although in Japan suicide is usually more common among men, women and children contributed the most to this increase.

Compared to October 2019, the rate of suicide among women increased approximately 83% in 2020.

Possible reasons for this increase is that women work in occupations where there is a high risk of being fired, such as part-time jobs in hotels, tourism, food services, and retail,.

and these industries and occupations were more affected by quarantine and lock downs during the pandemic.

In 2020 the rate of suicide among women in their 20s increased by 17% and by 14% among women 19 and younger.

The rate of suicide among elementary and high school students between March and November 2020 increased by 30% relative to the previous year.

Psychologists around the world warned that as result of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic and family difficulties, there was a probability that suicide rates would increase.

According to experts, fear of poverty, widespread unemployment, and social isolation may cause a psychotic crisis, which may result in suicide.

In Japan, the COVID-19 pandemic had a detrimental effect on the mental health of the population, and resulted in an increase in suicides in 2020.

The Japanese government published suicide statistics in November 2020 to show the effect of the pandemic on the public’s psyche.

Another reason for the increase in suicide in Japan was that people felt guilty about transmitting COVID-19.

Warning: these questons and answers are not all representative of the way questions will be asked and answered in the pilot, because some questions are compound and some answers do not include citations.

Q: How many years has it been since Japan had the same high suicide rate?
A: More than 10

Q: How many Japanese died in 2020 as a result of suicide?
A: 20,919

Q: How much of an increase was this relative to the previous year?
A: 3.7%

Q: In which population group in Japan is suicide more common?
A: men

Q: Which population groups contributed most to this increase?
A: women and children

Q: How much did the suicide rate of women increase in 2020 relative to 2019?
A: Approximately 83%

Q: What was the increase in the suicide rate among women in their 20s?
A: 17%

Q: What was the increase in the suicide rate among women 19 and younger?
A: 14%

Q: What was the increase in the suicide rate among elementary and high school students compared to the previous year?
A: 30%

Q: How did the pandemic affect the Japanese population’s mental health?
A: It had a detrimental effect

Q: What situations did the pandemic cause that led to the increased rate of suicide?
A: economic and family difficulties

Q: What other conditions contributed to the increased rate of suicide?
A: Unemployment, social isolation, and worry about the future were among the effects of the pandemic that contributed to the increase in suicide cases in Japan.

Q: How did feelings of guilt affect the suicide rate?
A: They made the suicide rate increase

Q: According to experts, what causes a psychotic crisis that may lead to suicide?
A: fear of poverty, widespread unemployment, and social isolation


China launched its first domestically produced electric cargo ship in May 2020.

This ship is considered a technological breakthrough, because it is powered by a lithium battery and a super capacitor, the battery capacity of which is 1458 kilowatt hours, equal to the battery of 40 electric cars.

This ship, which is called Zhongtiandianyun 001, can travel 50 kilometers after 2.5 hours of charging.

This electric ship is equipped with a lifting capacity of 2,000 tons, and was designed to carry cargo on the Chezhutsan River.

In the near future, the Chinese plan to use electric-powered ships to carry passengers.

According to the president of Hangzhou Modern Ship Design & Research Co., this ship will not harm the environment because it has an electric motor.

According to the company's marketing director, the operation of charging systems will help the growth and development of electric ships and greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the region.

Jiangsu Province, which is one of the busiest waterways in the world, has a total of about five thousand charging systems in eight cities adjacent to the Yangtze River.

These facilities produce 57 million kilowatt-hours of energy each year, which results in the saving of more than 20,000 tons of diesel fuel and reduces the emission of more than 600 tons of oxynitride and more than 200 tons of sulfur dioxide.

Every year, about 80,000 ships travel in the waters of this region, most of which are fueled by fossil fuels, and the successful trial run of this ship is a very good start for the popularity of electric ships.

China is one of the leading countries in the field of manufacturing and using all kinds of electronic vehicles, including cars, buses, trains and even airplanes.

Warning: these questons and answers are not all representative of the way questions will be asked and answered in the pilot, because some questions are compound and some answers do not include citations.

Q: When did China launch its first domestically produced container ship?
A: May 2020

Q: Why was it considered a technological breakthrough?
A: Because it is powered by a lithium battery and a super capacitor

Q: What is its battery capacity?
A: The battery capacity is 1458 kilowatt hours, equal to the battery of 40 electric cars.

Q: What is the name of the ship?
A: Zhongtiandianyun 001

Q: How far can the ship travel after 2.5 hours of charging?
A: 50 kilometers

Q: What is the ship’s lifting capacity?
A: 2,000 tons

Q: For what purpose was the ship designed?
A: to carry cargo on the Chezhutsan River

Q: How does China intend to apply this technology in the near future?
A: To carry passengers

Q: Why will this ship not harm the environment?
A: Because it has an electric motor

Q: What benefits do charging stations in Jiangsu Province provide?
A: They help the growth and development of electric ships and greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the region

Q: How much power do these charging stations produce each year?
A: 57 million kilowatt-hours

Q: How do these charging stations specifically help the environment?
A: By saving more than 20,000 tons of diesel fuel and reducing the emission of more than 600 tons of oxynitride and more than 200 tons of sulfur dioxide.

Q: How many ships traverse the waterways of the JIangsu region every year?
A: about 80,000


As of 2019, the United States had sold advanced F-35 fighter aircraft to some NATO member countries.

It had also sold these aircraft to other important allies, including Israel and Japan.

In November 2019, NATO member Denmark possessed F-35 fighters.

As of that time it had bought 27 F-35 fighters from the United States, at least five of which were still in the United States because Danish pilots needed to go to Arizona to train on the aircraft.

At the time, the United States was concerned that NATO had inadequate air power and surveillance capabilities to patrol the Arctic region.

NATO member Italy also possesses F-35 fighters.

At least 10 of these aircraft were delivered to the Italian Air Force.

The long-term plan was for Italy to take delivery of 90 F-35s; however, this plan was in question at the time a new Italian government took office.

Israel and South Korea also possess F-35 fighters.

In August 2019, Israel took delivery of 2 F-35 fighters, bringing the total number of F-35 fighters it possessed to 16.

Israel signed a contract in 2016 to purchase 50 F-35s over the course of 5 years.

In November 2019, it had 18 of the fighters.

In October 2020, South Korea took delivery of 24 F-35 fighters.

By 2021, it expected to receive a total of 40 F-35s from the United States.

The price of each F-35 jet was $6 million at that time.

US company Lockheed Martin manufactures the advanced fighter jets.

Japan bought F-35 fighters worth at least $90 million from the United States to replace its F-4 aircraft.

After the accidental crash of one of these F-35 jets in April 2019, Japan grounded 12 more F-35 fighters.

Warning: these questons and answers are not all representative of the way questions will be asked and answered in the pilot, because some questions are compound and some answers do not include citations.

Q: Which 5 countries had obtained F-35 fighters by the end of 2019?
A: DenmarkA: ItalyA: IsraelA: South KoreaA: Japan

Q: How many F-35s did Denmark buy from the United States?
A: 27

Q: How many of these aircraft were in the United States?
A: At least 5

Q: Why had these aircraft not been delivered to Denmark at that time?
A: Because Danish pilots needed to go to Arizona to train on the aircraft

Q: What concerns did the United States have about NATO that prompted it to provide F-35s to its allies?
A: That NATO had inadequate air power and surveillance capabilities to patrol the Arctic region.

Q: How many F-35s did Italy have?
A: 10

Q: How many F-35s was Italy supposed to take delivery of over the long term?
A: 90

Q: How many F-35s did Israel have by the end of 2019?
A: 18

Q: How many F-35s was Israel supposed to receive by the end of 2021?
A: 50

Q: How many F-35s did South Korea have in 2020?
A: 24

Q: How many F-35s was South Korea supposed to receive in total from the United States by 2021?
A: 40

Q: What was the price of each jet at that time?
A: $6 million

Q: Which company produced this advanced fighter jet?
A: Lockheed Martin

Q: How much money did Japan spend on F-35 aircraft to replace its F-4 aircraft?
A: $90 million

Q: How many F-35 fighters did it ground after an accident in April 2019?
A: 12 more


One of the hallmarks of Germany, Europe’s largest economy, has been relative labor peace.

However, recently we have seen a plethora of strikes which have repeatedly grounded German air travel.

Strikes can be called by labor, either ground personnel or flight attendants, to put pressure on their employers, either government, private companies, or airlines, before or during labor negotiations.

Some strikes could last a few hours, some several days.

For example, an 18-hour warning strike by passenger and luggage security personnel at airports in Frankfurt, Munich, and 8 other airports by the members of the United Services Trade Union, better known as Ver.di, forced Frankfurt airport alone to cancel half its 1200 daily flights.

The employees were demanding 20 Euros/hour pay and a unified nationwide pay scale.

Another day-long Ver.di strike forced the cancellation of more than 2000 flights.

A one-day strike was also called in Cologne/Bonn, Duesseldorf, and Stuttgart airports.

Strikes  affected not only German domestic flights but also ones to and from foreign locations, such as Kiev, which lost its service to Duesseldorf, Munich, and Frankfurt.

Strikes could be called for individual airports, as happened at the Duesseldorf airport, where again security personnel went on strike forcing the cancellation of 160 flights, one third of the airport’s take-offs and departures.

The 34,000 union employees were demanding a 30% raise, while the employers were only offering 9%.

Security personnel carried out a warning strike at the Berlin airports of Tegel and Schoenefeld, where flights by Lufthansa, Aeroflot, Ryan Air, and Easyjet were affected.

The employees were asking for a raise from 17 Euros/hour to 20, while the employers were ready to agree to a 2% raise and a two-year contract.

The company sued to prevent the strike but its suit was denied.

However, in at least one case, Lufthansa management was ready to negotiate with its unions following a two-day strike that caused the cancellation of 1300 flights.

Strikes have also been called by German airline flight attendants.

In one, Lufthansa was forced to cancel 1300 flights affecting 200,000 passengers due to a refusal to work by flight attendants who demanded a raise in pay and better working conditions.

Flight attendants for Lufthansa subsidiaries Eurowings, Germanwings, Sunexpress and CityLine also struck in Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Duesseldorf, and Cologne.

Which led to the cancellation of at least 100 flights.

German Wings flight attendants also struck on another occasion, demanding higher pay.

Their strike led to the cancellation of almost 200 flights.

Although their strike was scheduled to last three days, but the strikers reserved the right to continue it if management did not show signs of making concessions.

Warning: these questons and answers are not all representative of the way questions will be asked and answered in the pilot, because some questions are compound and some answers do not include citations.

Q: Which seem to be the two main groups striking German airports and airlines?
A: security personnel and flight attendants.

Q: What was a major demand of the security personnel?
A: a raise to 20 Euros/hour.

Q: Was management making any counteroffers?
A: A 2% and a two-year contract in one case, 9% in another.

Q: Were strikes called only in the course of negotiations?
A: No, they could be waning strikes before the start of negotiations.

Q: At this time, what were the two airports serving Berlin?
A: Tegel and Schoenefeld.

Q: What were other demands brought forth by the employees?
A: a unified pay scale and better working conditions.

Q: Did Lufthansa management have the support of the courts in its attempt to prevent strikes?
A: in the case mentioned, the court denied Lufthansa’s request for an injunction against the s=flight attendants’ strike.

Q: In Germany a major employees union is better known as what
A: Ver.di, the United Services Trade Union.

Q: What do Germanwings, Eurowings, SunExpress, and CityLine airlines all have in common?
A: They are all either partially or wholly owned by Lufthansa.

Q: What were the effects of strikes on foreign travel for Germans?
A: flights outside of Germany were also affected, for example, between Kiev and Duesseldorf, Frankfurt, and Munich.

Q: Was Lufthansa management ever ready to negotiate with its unions?
A: Yes, in at least one case, but only after a two-day strike that led to the airline canceling 1300 flights.


Russian company Entoprotech has developed a food waste recycling process using the Black Soldier Fly.

After 4 years of R&D, Entoprotech now processes 15 tons of food waste per day using the larvae of the flies.

Once the larvae are done, they become a delicacy for poultry and fish, or feed additives for livestock farming.

Entoprotech founders announced they will increase production up to 50 tons/day by 2021 due to demand.

It processed 6,500 tons of organic waste in 2020.

A similar endeavor in Moscow processes organic waste using BSF larvae.

The output is fertilizer, protein concentrate, and many other products.

The process of recycling waste using BSF releases 70% less landfill gasses than composting.

According to the association TP BioTech2030 the most suitable insects for industrial recycling are the BSF, the house fly, the migratory and desert locusts, house and 2-spotted crickets, large and brown mealworm, zophobas and the marbled cockroach.

Russian Economic University Plekhanov also used the BSF to create a new additive to traditional protein-plant feeds.

The larvae are fed grain waste and a mixture of whey and wheat bran.

The effectiveness of the feed was assessed in broiler chickens where it added 8% of live weight to the chickens with 2.8% feed savings per unit of weight gain.

They plan to expand the use of this additive to livestock and fish.

China is building a factory where 4 billion cockroaches will process food waste.

One such factory already employs 300 million cockroaches.

When the cockroaches die, they are processed into powder to use as livestock feed.

Chinese company Shandong Qiaobin Agricultural Technology Co. have cockroaches consume about 50 tons of food waste every day for feed for pig and fish farms.

Warning: these questons and answers are not all representative of the way questions will be asked and answered in the pilot, because some questions are compound and some answers do not include citations.

Q: What Russian company uses insects to recycle food waste?
A: Entoprotech [40c9525e-057a-4ab9-a428-22094e210078]

Q: What insects do they use?
A: Black Soldier Fly (BSF). [40c9525e-057a-4ab9-a428-22094e210078]

Q: How much food waste did they process after 4 years of R&D?
A: 15 tons of food waste per day [40c9525e-057a-4ab9-a428-22094e210078, 93f69396-9bcb-49eb-b33b-b72fba3482f6]

Q: What is done with the BSF larvae after they process the waste?
A: They become food for poultry and fish, or feed additives for livestock farming. [40c9525e-057a-4ab9-a428-22094e210078, 93f69396-9bcb-49eb-b33b-b72fba3482f6]

Q: How much will Entoprotech increase production?
A: up to 50 tons/day by 2021 [93f69396-9bcb-49eb-b33b-b72fba3482f6]

Q: How much organic waste did it process in 2020?
A: 6,500 tons [8615d182-b752-4b5d-ad54-a355706be4c6]

Q: What does the Moscow enterprise process with BSF?
A: fertilizer, protein concentrate, and many other products. [5aa0419d-baa4-4496-a336-f40d91fba84c]

Q: How is processing with BSF an improvement over composting?
A: It releases 70% less landfill gasses than composting. [93f69396-9bcb-49eb-b33b-b72fba3482f6]

Q: What are the most suitable insects for recycling food waste according to TP BioTech2030?
A: The BSF, the house fly, the migratory and desert locusts, house and 2-spotted crickets, large and brown mealworm, zophobas and the marbled cockroach. [93f69396-9bcb-49eb-b33b-b72fba3482f6]

Q: What did Russian Economic University Plekhanov discover regarding the effectiveness of using BSF in livestock feed additives?
A: It added 8% of live weight to the chickens with 2.8% feed savings per unit of weight gain. [27151f5e-7f8a-4b91-bc32-293d595b6360]

Q: What is China building?
A: a factory where 4 billion cockroaches will process food waste. [62483eb5-4131-4a5c-bee6-f2efb67dd2bd]

Q: Does China already have such a factory and what does it process?
A: Yes, it employs 300 million cockroaches. They are processed into powder to use as livestock feed. [62483eb5-4131-4a5c-bee6-f2efb67dd2bd]

Q: How much do the cockroaches consume at Chinese company Shandong Qiaobin Agricultural Technology Co?
A: 50 tons of food waste every day [dd73c063-31aa-4a78-86bb-672f9d3a61cb]

Q: What are they used for?
A: for feed for pig and fish farms. [dd73c063-31aa-4a78-86bb-672f9d3a61cb]

Q: How can someone process food waste at home?
A: vermicompost. [f2bad786-8de2-4ea6-9a95-a29413b0e351]

Q: How is this done?
A: Worms devour food into fertilizer. [f2bad786-8de2-4ea6-9a95-a29413b0e351]

Q: What sort of container can be used for vermicomposting?
A: There are designs that take up no more than half a meter in the kitchen, with no smell. [f2bad786-8de2-4ea6-9a95-a29413b0e351]A: One can be made by putting small holes in plastic containers. [834983b1-10c2-4216-ad81-bb2f381f1299]


The top countries in the field of medical tourism include Thailand, Turkey, India, South Korea, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, and Ukraine.

Over 20 million people travel globally for medical/cosmetic treatment and surgery.

The United States, South Korea, Turkey, Thailand, Germany, India, England, Malaysia, and Mexico have garnered attention from medical Thailand.

Thailand stands out as the leading medical tourism destination for patients from countries such as the United States of America, Canada, the Middle East, Europe, Vietnam, and Laos.

The country offers advanced medical services, including plastic surgery and dental implants.

More than 2 million medical tourists choose Thailand each year, primarily due to the affordability of medical services, which are typically 50-80% lower than in the United States, Canada, or Europe.

Cosmetic surgery serves as the cornerstone of medical tourism in Thailand.

Turkey stands out as one of the premier destinations for medical tourism, particularly in plastic surgery.

It boasts a thriving market for cosmetic procedures, earning recognition as the world capital of hair transplantation and featuring robust sectors in skincare and dental aesthetics.

Treatment costs in Turkey are typically two to four times lower than in Western countries, further enhancing its appeal to medical tourists.

In Iran, top-tier beauty services are offered, with the country hosting the highest number of nose surgeries globally.

Tourists seeking cosmetic procedures often choose Iran through intermediary firms.

The costs of visits and plastic surgeries in Iran are unparalleled compared to other countries.

Moreover, one of the primary reasons for attracting health tourists is the trust and confidence placed in the results delivered by Iranian plastic surgery specialists.

Rhinoplasty ranks among the most sought-after cosmetic procedures, alongside eyelid, tummy, and facelift surgeries, all commonly performed in the country.

Warning: these questons and answers are not all representative of the way questions will be asked and answered in the pilot, because some questions are compound and some answers do not include citations.

Q: What are some of the top countries in the field of medical tourism?
A: Thailand, Turkey, India, South Korea, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, and          Ukraine.

Q: How many people travel globally for medical/cosmetic treatment and surgery?
A: Over 20 million people.

Q: Which country is described as the leading medical tourism destination?
A: Thailand.

Q: What are some of the countries from which patients visit Thailand for medical treatment?
A: The United States of America, Canada, the Middle East, Europe, Vietnam, and Laos.

Q: What are some of the advanced medical services offered in Thailand?
A: Plastic surgery and dental implants.

Q: How many medical tourists choose Thailand each year?
A: More than 2 million.

Q: What is described as the cornerstone of medical tourism in Thailand?
A: Cosmetic surgery.

Q: Which country is recognized as one of the premier destinations for medical tourism, particularly in plastic surgery?
A: Turkey.

Q: What is one factor that enhances Turkey's appeal to medical tourists?
A: Treatment costs are typically two to four times lower than in Western countries.

Q: In which country are top-tier beauty services offered, hosting the highest number of nose surgeries globally?
A: Iran.


Netflix is taking the next step to expand its activities with gaming content.

The company recently hired Mike Verdu to lead the gaming project.

Verdu is a game designer who has worked at major gaming companies, including Electronic Arts.

It also seems unlikely that Netflix will build its own dedicated console for game delivery, as the company's services are primarily online.

Additionally, Netflix could have its own exclusive catalog of games similar to Apple Arcade or offer popular console games similar to what Microsoft xCloud does.

Netflix has indicated that its initial efforts to enter this industry will focus on mobile games.

In a letter sent to investors, Netflix wrote about the video game industry and stated "We are also in the early stages of expanding our presence in video games, and our previous efforts in interactive films and the game Stranger Things attest to this.

We see video games as fresh content in our content lineup, similar to how we have expanded our activities and content in areas such as films, animations, and television programs."

Netflix also stated in a statement to Game Spot: "Our audience values the diversity and quality of our content.

That is why we have expanded our offerings from TV series to documentaries, films, local-language series, and even reality television shows.

Our audience also enjoys more direct interaction with stories they love, like 'Black Mirror: Bandersnatch' or even games based on series like 'Stranger Things' and 'Money Heist.'

So, we are excited to do more with interactive entertainment."

Phil Spencer, head of the Xbox division, recently likened Microsoft's recent actions to Netflix's approach in an interview with the Games Industry website.

Spencer said in the interview: "I think Netflix has done a lot of right things by investing in the future of the industry."

Warning: these questons and answers are not all representative of the way questions will be asked and answered in the pilot, because some questions are compound and some answers do not include citations.

Q: What did Phil Spencer say about Netflix's investment in the industry?
A: He said, "Netflix has done a lot of right things by investing in the future of the industry."

Q: Who did Netflix recently hire to lead its gaming project?
A: Mike Verdu.

Q: Where has Mike Verdu previously worked?
A: He has worked at major gaming companies, including Electronic Arts.

Q: What does it seem unlikely that Netflix will do regarding game delivery?
A: It seems unlikely that Netflix will build its own dedicated console for game delivery.

Q: What could Netflix have similar to Apple Arcade?
A: Netflix could have its own exclusive catalog of games.

Q: What type of games will Netflix's initial efforts in the gaming industry focus on?
A: Mobile games.

Q: In what mediums has Netflix previously expanded its content lineup?
A: Films, animations, and television programs.

Q: According to Netflix, how does its audience value its content?
A: The audience values the diversity and quality of Netflix's content.

Q: Who recently compared Microsoft's actions to Netflix's approach?
A: Phil Spencer, head of the Xbox division.

Q: What did Phil Spencer say about Netflix's investment in the industry?
A: He said, "Netflix has done a lot of right things by investing in the future of the industry."

Q: What type of entertainment is Netflix excited to do more with?
A: Interactive entertainment.