World Facts and Geography

Chess originated in India around the 6th century AD as 'Chaturanga' before spreading to Persia and then Europe. While China has its own variant (Xiangqi), the direct ancestor of modern international chess is Indian.

Indonesia was known as the Dutch East Indies during Dutch colonial rule from the 17th century until its independence in 1945. The name reflects the Dutch East India Company's colonial presence in the archipelago.

Mossad is the national intelligence agency of Israel, responsible for intelligence collection, covert operations, and counterterrorism. It was established in 1951 and is one of the most well-known intelligence agencies globally. Argentina, Japan, and Sweden have their own intelligence agencies but not Mossad.

Nobel Prizes are awarded by Swedish institutions except the Peace Prize which is awarded by Norway. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awards Physics, Chemistry, and Economics; the Karolinska Institute awards Medicine; and the Swedish Academy awards Literature. The Nobel Foundation is based in Sweden.

Ethiopia follows a unique calendar system that is roughly seven to eight years behind the Gregorian calendar and features a thirteenth month of five or six days. This distinctive feature makes Ethiopia widely known as the country with thirteen months in a year.

Cuba is historically known as 'The Queen of the Antilles' or 'La Perla del Antilles' due to its strategic location, natural beauty, and cultural prominence among the Greater Antilles islands in the Caribbean. This nickname highlights Cuba's perceived status as the most significant island in the Antilles chain.

Ireland is called 'The Emerald Isle' because of its lush green landscapes resulting from abundant rainfall and temperate climate. This poetic nickname references the country's natural beauty and verdant countryside, which has made it famous worldwide.

Hong Kong has historically been known as the 'Pearl of the Orient' due to its strategic location, natural harbor, economic importance, and beautiful skyline. This nickname reflects its status as a prized gem in East Asia. Bhutan, Japan, and Lhasa are not associated with this specific epithet.

The question asks which country is called the 'Armpit of Africa'. Cameroon is marked as the correct answer. This appears to be a colloquial or slang term, not a formal geographical designation.

Upper Volta was the former name of the West African country that gained independence from France in 1960. In 1984, the country was renamed Burkina Faso, meaning 'Land of Incorruptible People' in local languages.

Iran adopted the red rose as its national flower in 1990. Rose holds cultural significance in Persian poetry and traditions.

Captain James Cook claimed eastern Australia for Britain in 1770 during his first Pacific voyage. This marked European discovery of the continent.

Brazil is the largest country in Latin America by both area and population. It covers nearly half the continent's land area. Argentina is second-largest, while Mexico and Chile are significantly smaller. Brazil is also the largest Portuguese-speaking country.