“What in the World? Weekly Quiz" | August 7, 2023

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Thanks to TNWAC Staff Volunteer and Quiz question writer Silas McClung of Sewanee.

Last Week’s Quiz Winners

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Mark Himmelein, Alliance, OH
Alisa Starbird, Stephensville, TX
Tim Stewart, Nashville, TN
Desikan Gandarva, Rocky River, OH
Steve Freidberg, Boston, MA
Paul Love, Marlboro, VT
Basil G. Smith, Jacksonville, FL
Murphy Wilkinson, Streator, IL
Christine Laemmar, Brookfield, WI
Martha Trammell, Nashville, TN
Francisco Campbell, Washington, DC
Rich Buck, Peoria, IL
Jim Shepherd, Nashville, TN
Roger French, Washington, IL
Daniel Getz, Peoria, IL
Barbara Gubbin, Jacksonville, FL
Michael Weiss, Rockville, MD
Bernie Drake, Peoria, IL
Hannah Osborne, Chapel Hill, TN
Seth Osborne, Chapel Hill, TN

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Looking for a few good books? Check out Foreign Affairs bookshelf. [Link]

JULY QUIZ PRIZE WINNER

PRATIK YEDLA, HUNTSVILLE, AL

The Age of AI and our Human Future

Henry Kissinger, Eric Schmidt and Huttenlocher

AUGUST QUIZ PRIZE

The Yellow Pad: Making Better Decisions in an Uncertain World

Robert E. Rubin

Robert Rubin, former secretary of the Treasury and co-chairman of Goldman Sachs, shares thoughts on decision-making developed over more than six decades in markets, business, government, and politics, and offers readers an astute and original guide for navigating uncertain times

In 1958, as a college sophomore, Robert Rubin took a class that changed his life. The class was introduction to philosophy, and the professor, Raphael Demos, instilled in his students an idea that was simple yet profound: There is no such thing as certainty. For Rubin, this led to a critically important question: How can we make sound decisions in a fundamentally uncertain world?

While serving in some of the most significant roles in markets, business, and government, Rubin has grappled with that question. Time and again, when faced with a high-stakes decision, he turned to his most trusted tool: a simple yellow legal pad. Rubin’s yellow pad (or more recently, his iPad) became an expression of a larger decision-making philosophy that has both lasted and shaped a lifetime. In The Yellow Pad, Rubin lays out that philosophy with depth and detail, and presents a compelling intellectual framework for confronting some of the most difficult issues we face today.

The Yellow Pad contains a former Treasury secretary’s approach to economic policymaking. A former Goldman Sachs senior partner’s approach to personal investing and understanding risk. A former director of the National Economic Council’s approach to managing people in both private- and public-sector organizations. And much more. Yet despite his lifetime of experiences, Rubin remains refreshingly open-minded, interested in exploring ideas rather than promoting ideologies. With its combination of wisdom and relevance, The Yellow Padis an essential guide for anyone looking to make better decisions in life, work, and public policy.

LAST WEEK’S QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

What in the World? Quiz – Week of Jul 31-Aug 6, 2023

1. Moscow has backed out of a deal allowing Black Sea grain shipments from Ukraine, the “breadbasket of Europe.” Almost half of all Ukraine grain exports were shipped from THIS key port city until the latest Russian move.

A. Kyiv
B. Odessa
C. Sevastopol
D. Mariupol

Correct Response: B. Odessa
https://www.gzeromedia.com/graphic-truth-where-can-ukraine-grain-go-now

2. Wagner militia group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin was seen in St. Petersburg at a summit for THIS region’s leaders hosted by President Vladimir Putin.

A. Southeast Asia
B. The Levant
C. Africa
D. Central America

Correct Response: C. Africa
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-66333403

3. The sharp-tongued foreign minister of THIS country, who warned of “conflict and confrontation” with the United States, was removed from his post after a mysterious month-long absence from public view.

A. China
B. Iran
C. North Korea
D. Russia

Correct Response: A. China
https://apnews.com/article/china-foreign-minister-us-qin-gang-439166c1be01049c940ac48d6dc065fc

4. Democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum was deposed in a military coup in THIS country, a strategic outpost for U.S. military counter terrorism operations in the Sahel region of Africa. The U.S. and EU suspended their substantial aid to the country, demanding the reinstatement of Bazoum.

A. Mali
B. Ghana
C. Niger
D. Liberia

Correct Response: C. Niger
https://www.gzeromedia.com/niger-niger-burning-bright

5. Despite massive protests, Israel’s parliament passed the first part of a judicial reform that strips the Supreme Court’s power to review government decisions that do not pass THIS standard.

A. “Reasonableness” test
B. Citizen’s Review Board
C. Doctrine of Proportionality
D. Presumption of Regularity

Correct Response: A. “Reasonableness” test
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/israel-turmoil-judicial-overhaul-vote-netanyahu-rcna96121

6. A suicide bomber struck a political rally in the north of THIS country, killing at least 45 people. The rally, held by the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) party, a member of the government coalition, was aimed at building support for elections scheduled for later this year.

A. Afghanistan
B. Bangladesh
C. Pakistan
D. Iraq

Correct Response: C. Pakistan
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-66321749

7. The Biden Administration’s efforts to normalize relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel are facing head winds. The follow up to THIS agreement in 2020 which brought recognition between Israel and Arab states Bahrain, UAE and Morocco is facing discord over Israel’s treatment of Palestinians and Saudi Arabia’s defense and nuclear support conditions.

A. Abraham Accord
B. JCPOA
C. Abu Dhabi Protocol
D. Cairo Pact

Correct Response: A. Abraham Accord
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-07-30/arab-states-sour-on-israel-in-blow-to-us-aim-of-saudi-peace-pact

8. The first woman to hold Italy’s Prime Minister office met with President Biden at the White House. Despite concerns about the right-wing party THIS PM heads, the two were in agreement on policies toward Ukraine and China.

A. Donatella Versace
B. Giorgia Meloni
C. Chiara Ferragni
D. Monica Belluci

Correct Response: B. Giorgia Meloni
https://news.sky.com/story/giorgia-meloni-italian-pm-hits-out-at-false-propaganda-around-her-right-wing-government-after-talks-with-joe-biden-12930038

9. The newly passed Hijab and Chastity Bill in THIS country threatens severe punishment, up to ten years in prison, for violations. It ramps up gender segregation in many public spaces and aims to intimidate “celebrities” who violate the law. Protestors continue to mark the beating death in custody of Mahsa Amini who was held last year for violating head covering rules.

A. Pakistan
B. Sudan
C. Saudi Arabia
D. Iran

Correct Response: D. Iran
https://www.gzeromedia.com/iran-unveils-law-targeting-hijab-free-celebrities

10. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson visited Brazil’s Science Minister at their space research center INPE to propose expanding satellite partnerships to monitor THIS critical environmental issue.

A. Emerging wildfires
B. Illegal Amazon deforestation
C. Illegal border crossings
D. Port pollution

Correct Response: B. Illegal Amazon deforestation
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/nasa-chief-offers-brazil-satellite-imaging-to-help-stop-amazon-deforestation/ar-AA1em2Gs

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Tennessee World Affairs Council Profile | Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee

Member, Center for Nonprofit Management

THE MISSION of the nonprofit, nonpartisan Tennessee World Affairs Council is to promote international awareness, understanding and connections to enhance the region’s global stature and to prepare Tennesseans to thrive in our increasingly complex and connected world.

THE VISION of the Tennessee World Affairs Council is a well-informed community that thinks critically about the world and the impact of global events.