Here is this week’s news quiz. Good luck!
1. What is the Reform UK movement and what does it stand for?
Spoiler
Reform UK is a right-wing populist group that champions Euroscepticism, favors reducing Great Britain’s foreign aid budget, eliminating the House of Lords, reducing immigration, and eliminating interest on student loan debt, among other policies. The group’s predecessor was the Brexit Party, which successfully campaigned for Great Britain to leave the European Union.
2. What is the constitutional issue that the Supreme Court is examining in the case of Moore v. United States?
Spoiler
What the meaning of “income” is under the 16th Amendment. The case concerns the constitutionality of former President Donald Trump’s 2017 tax law that imposed a one-time tax on the profits companies earned outside of the United States, which the plantiffs – Charles and Kathleen Moore of Washington state – argue should only apply to income that was received from a foreign source. Conservative groups hope that a favorable ruling could block future tax plans on wealth or capital gains. others, which include former Republican Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, worry that a broad ruling by the Supreme Court could damage up to one-third of the tax code.
3. Who is Hamas’ leader in the Gaza Strip?
Spoiler
Yahya Sinwar. He replaced Ismail Haniyeh as the leader of Hamas in February 2017 and is designated as a terrorist by the United States government. Israeli officials point to him as the mastermind of the October 7 attacks that led to the Israel-Hamas war and Israel has stated that one of its objectives is to kill Sinwar in the conflict.
4. Which countries recently withdrew from the G5 Sahel, a French-backed anti-terrorism group?
Spoiler
Burkina Faso and Niger. These countries argued that the group was ineffective in accomplishing its mission in getting rid of jihadist violence in the Sahel. They also couched their decision in nationalist rhetoric, saying that France was trying to use the group to impose its policies in the region. Mali left the group last year so the exit of Burkina Faso and Niger is seen as destroying the organization.
5. What significant foreign policy figure passed away last week?
Spoiler
Henry Kissinger. He served as Secretary of State and National Security Advisor during the presidential administrations of Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. Kissinger is credited with the U.S. policy of detente, which aimed to relaxed tensions between the U.S. and communist nations during the Cold War. He is also seen as a big picture championing China’s opening to Western markets in the 1970s. His book Diplomacy is still seen in extemp circles as one of the major books worth reading to enhance one’s view of foreign policy and diplomatic issues.
6. Which former Supreme Court justice passed away this week?
Spoiler
Sandra Day O’Connor. O’Connor was the first female justice on the Court, appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1981. She served until January 2006, when Samuel Alito replaced her. O’Connor was known as a swing vote on a variety of socially charged issues such as abortion and affirmative action. She was also party of a five justice majority that decided the 2000 presidential election in favor of George W. Bush.
7. Which party won India’s recent regional elections?
Spoiler
The governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). It won victories in the Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh states, displacing the Indian National Congress Party in the first two. Congress was successful in Telangana state, reinforcing how the BJP has done better in the northern areas of India in recent years. Experts see the election result as an indication that the country will likely give Prime Minister Marendra Modi a third term in national elections in May.
8. Which U.S. senator has been blockading military promotions and why?
Spoiler
Tommy Tuberville, a Republican from Alabama. He has made 440 holds on military promotions in protest of Pentagon policy to ensure abortion access to service members. Tuberville announced on Tuesday that he was backing off of the holds except for “10 or 11 four-stars” as colleagues grew irritated over his protest, noting that it was hurting the military’s effectiveness.
9. Which international institution has Guyana appealed to in order to prevent Venezuelan annexation of its territory?
Spoiler
The International Court of Justice (ICJ). The ICJ has warned Venzeuala against taking action while it waits to rule on a Guyanaese case against Venezuela on the future of the Essequibo region. According to the Venezuelan government, 95% of voters recently approved annexing the region, which goes against an 1899 arbitration ruling in Paris that drew the current border of Venezuela and Guyana.
10. Which former Republican House member recently told the Washington Post that they were considering a presidential run for 2024?
Spoiler
Liz Cheney. Cheney, who was defeated in a primary race last year after she agreed to be part of the January 6 committee and voted to impeach former President Trump, said that she would consider a third-party bid in order to prevent Trump from returning to office. She said that she would make a decision in a few months. Cheney has gone on several media platforms to warn against Trump returning to the White House, which she considers a threat to democracy.