“What In The World? Weekly Quiz” – June 8-14, 2020

LAST WEEK’S QUIZ WINNERS

Charles Bowers, Jacksonville, FL
Himanshu Manchanda, Nashville, TN
David Hillinck, Huntsville, AL
Mary Raffety, Nashville, TN
Richard Rediker, Hampden, MA
Kathy Ingleson, Brentwood, TN

1. President Trump blasted China in a speech on Friday that called Beijing to account for a new national security law for Hong Kong and inadequate warning about the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak. In the speech he promised THIS action.

A. Withdrawal of funding for the World Health Organization.
B. Increased arms sales to the Taiwanese military.
C. Stepped up patrols of U.S. Navy warships in contested Pacific waters.
D. Withdrawal of support for China’s accession to the World Trade Organization.

Correct Response: A. Withdrawal of funding for the World Health Organization.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-strikes-china-over-virus-hong-kong-and-student-visas/2020/05/29/4fe28b46-a213-11ea-be06-af5514ee0385_story.html

2. Afghan government concerns about possible connections between the Taliban and THIS terrorist group – doubted by U.S. officials – are complicating an agreement to end hostilities in the country.

A. Al Qaeda
B. Hamas
C. IRGC
D. ISIS

Correct Response: D. ISIS
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/afghanistan-taliban-islamic-state-peace-process/2020/05/30/c61dbda2-9f8a-11ea-be06-af5514ee0385_story.html

3. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’ move to suspend ties with Israel has had the effect of halting the passage of Palestinians from the West Bank into Israel. Abbas decision was taken in reaction to THIS Israeli action.

A. Plans to annex portions of the West Bank as early as next month.
B. An increase in tax rates for Palestinians working inside Israel.
C. Plans to new construction of apartments for Israelis in East Jerusalem.
D. Israeli designation of ten Palestinian officials as ineligible for foreign travel.

Correct Response: A. Plans to annex portions of the West Bank as early as next month.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/palestinian-leader-cuts-ties-with-israel-over-annexation-plans-his-own-people-feel-the-pinch/2020/05/29/9f70c39e-9f61-11ea-be06-af5514ee0385_story.html

4. The government of THIS nation that ruled Hong Kong until 1997 when sovereignty was yielded to China said it would extend passports and a path to citizenship to about three million Hong Kongers if Beijing follows through with a new security law that threatens the “one country, two systems” arrangement.

A. Portugal
B. Britain
C. Spain
D. Germany

Correct Response: B. Britain
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52856876

5. Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif took to Twitter for a rhetorical shot at the U.S. Government for THIS.

A. Freezing bank accounts of Iranian students in the United States.
B. The killing of George Floyd in Minnesota and race riots.
C. The milestone of 100,000 deaths from Covid-19 on Tuesday.
D. The U.S.Navy seizure of an Iranian merchant vessel carrying arms to Yemen.

Correct Response: B. The killing of George Floyd in Minnesota and race riots.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-minneapolis-police-protests-iran/iran-berates-u-s-over-police-killing-slams-racism-idUSKBN2360QD

6. President Trump postponed the on again, off again summit meeting of this group hoped to be held in June in Washington with German Chancellor Merkel and Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau declining to attend. Trump wants to add Russia and other nations to the guest list for a possible September makeup summit.

A. G-20
B. G-7
C. P-5+1
D. APEC

Correct Response: B. G-7
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-g7-summit-usa/trump-postpones-g7-summit-seeks-to-add-countries-to-invitation-list-idUSKBN23700B

7. Pope Francis said people were more important than economies as nations continued to open up in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic. He told a Sunday audience, “People do not come out of a crisis like this the same as before. We will come out either better or worse than before. Let’s have the courage to emerge better than before in order to build the post-crisis period of the pandemic positively.” What is the native homeland of Pope Francis?

A. Italy
B. Spain
C. Argentina
D. Guatemala

Correct Response: C. Argentina
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-pope/people-more-important-than-the-economy-pope-says-about-covid-crisis-idUSKBN2370E1

8. The President of THIS South American nation flew in a military helicopter over protesters in the capital who were calling for closure of the Congress and Supreme Court. The President who is under investigation for improper influence was compared by a Supreme Court Justice to Adolph Hitler during his 1933 hijacking of German leadership.

A. Argentina
B. Brazil
C. Chile
D. Uruguay

Correct Response: B. Brazil
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-brazil-politics/bolsonaro-joins-rally-against-brazils-top-court-judge-warns-democracy-at-risk-idUSKBN2370QJ

9. The House followed the Senate in passing legislation that will punish China for its persecution of THIS group in Xinjiang Province where more than one million people are detained in internment camps.

A. Uighur
B. Uzbeks
C. Mongol
D. Kazakh

Correct Response: A. Uighur
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/27/us/politics/house-uighurs-china-sanctions.html?searchResultPosition=3

10. A senior aide to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson started a public uproar when he drove 260 miles from London during the Covid lockdown, including a side visit to a castle, with his wife who was showing symptoms of the virus. What city did Dominic Cummings and his family drive to?

A. Durham
B. York
C. Manchester
D. Birmingham

Correct Response: A. Durham
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/25/world/europe/dominic-cummings-boris-johnson-coronavirus.html?searchResultPosition=1