Since the start of the year, one game, and five letters, seem to have taken over the internet.
Wordle, the simple puzzle that requires users to guess a random five-letter word each day, has become quite the phenomenon.
From 90 daily players when it launched in November to more than two million daily users – and counting – people can’t seem to get enough of Wordle, which is run via a web page as opposed to a mobile app.
The premise is simple: you have six guesses to find the correct word. Any letter that is in the word, but in the wrong place, shows up as yellow, and any correct letter guessed in the right place shows up green. There is just one word each day, and it’s the same for everyone playing across the globe.
Users are able to share their scores on social media without revealing the day’s word to other players, and the website keeps a nice tally of your stats for you.
And while Wordle likes to keep things nice and simple, there are a couple of tricks to switch things up …
Hard Mode
Those who find the standard version of Wordle a little too easy are in luck, as there’s a way to up the stakes. If you want to make things slightly more difficult, you can switch the settings to Hard Mode. In the top right-hand corner of your Wordle screen, you’ll see the settings icon, where you have the option to change modes.
In Hard Mode, whenever you reveal a letter, you have to use that letter in any subsequent guesses, limiting your options to find as many clues as possible in your first few guesses.
Colour Blind Mode
Also in the setting options, you’ll find Colour Blind Mode. Wordle introduced this after feedback from users who were unable to detect the difference between green and yellow squares, making it near-impossible. Colour Blind Mode changes squares to higher contrasting colours – orange and blue – allowing people to identify where letters should be placed more easily.
You can pin Wordle to your phone's home screen
While Wordle doesn’t have an app, there is a way to pin the website to your home screen, to save you manually searching for it every day.
Users just need to open the website in their phone’s browser, and find the option to pin the web page to their home screen.
For iPhone users, open the web page in Safari and find the Share icon in the centre of the bottom toolbar (the square icon with the upwards arrow). Scroll down and select “add to home screen”.
For Android users, open Wordle in Google Chrome. Tap the three dots to the right of the web address and scroll down to find the “add to home screen” option.
Both will then ensure Wordle appears on your homepage, taking you straight to the game.
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
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Winner: Alnawar, Connor Beasley (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
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Winner: Mailshot, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
How to join and use Abu Dhabi’s public libraries
• There are six libraries in Abu Dhabi emirate run by the Department of Culture and Tourism, including one in Al Ain and Al Dhafra.
• Libraries are free to visit and visitors can consult books, use online resources and study there. Most are open from 8am to 8pm on weekdays, closed on Fridays and have variable hours on Saturdays, except for Qasr Al Watan which is open from 10am to 8pm every day.
• In order to borrow books, visitors must join the service by providing a passport photograph, Emirates ID and a refundable deposit of Dh400. Members can borrow five books for three weeks, all of which are renewable up to two times online.
• If users do not wish to pay the fee, they can still use the library’s electronic resources for free by simply registering on the website. Once registered, a username and password is provided, allowing remote access.
• For more information visit the library network's website.
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What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Company profile
Name: Thndr
Started: October 2020
Founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: pre-seed of $800,000
Funding stage: series A; $20 million
Investors: Tiger Global, Beco Capital, Prosus Ventures, Y Combinator, Global Ventures, Abdul Latif Jameel, Endure Capital, 4DX Ventures, Plus VC, Rabacap and MSA Capital
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
