Here is this week’s Extemp Central news quiz. Good luck!
1. What does the Holy Land Confederation plan to resolve the Israel-Palestinian dispute call for?
Spoiler
The plan calls for an independent Palestinian state along pre-1967 borders, the ability of 500,000 Jewish settlers in the West Bank to stay there in return for an equal number of Palestinians being allowed to settle in Israeli territory, and cooperation by the Israeli and Palestinian governments on security, infrastructure, and issues that would have an impact on each side. It is the brainchild of Yossi Beilin, a former Israeli peace negotiator, and Hiba Husseini, a legal advisor to the Palestinian negotiating team. While the plan is being presented to the United States and United Nations there has been no clear statement of support by the existing Israeli government or Palestinian leadership.
2. What did Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau threaten to do to protesters who are participating in the “Freedom Convoy” if they do not stop their protest?
Spoiler
As part of the implementation of the Emergencies Act of 1988 to bring an end to the weeks-long protests, Trudeau has threatened to freeze truckers bank accounts, target crowdfunding websites that have lend them support, and suspend the vehicle insurance of those involved. Towing crews who have refused to help the Canadian government end the protests in Ottawa and elsewhere can also now be compelled to help or face jail time.
3. Who has the U.S. asked Honduras to extradite and why?
Spoiler
Juan Orlando Hernandez, who governed the country from 2014-2022. The U.S. alleges that Hernandez was part of a “violent drug-trafficking conspiracy” that trafficked more than 500,000 kilos of cocaine since 2004. Hernandez was once considered to be an American ally in Central America in the war on drugs.
4. Which accounting firm recently dumped the Trump Organization?
Spoiler
Mazars USA, which has handled accounting for the Trump Organization for more than a decade. Mazars declared earlier this month as part of the New York Attorney General’s investigation into the Trump Organization’s business practices that financial statements from 2011-2020 “should no longer be relied upon.” New York State Attorney General Letitia James has been investigating the Trump Organization for years, alleging that it used misleading and fraudulent financial statements to get economic benefits.
5. A mayoral candidate in which U.S. city survived an apparent assassination attempt earlier in the week?
Spoiler
Louisville, Kentucky. Craig Greenberg, a Democrat who is running for to become mayor of Louisville, was fired upon at point-blank range by Quintez Brown, a local political activist. It is still unclear what the motive for the attack was.
6. What are legacy admissions?
Spoiler
Legal admissions are where a college gives special consideration to the children of alumni of the university as part of the admissions process. Elite universities such as those in the Ivy League have been pressed to abandon legacy admissions in recent years because of the disparate impact they have on impoverished peoples and racial minorities. For example, it has been reported by Harvard’s student newspaper that between 2014-2019 33% legacy students were admitted to Harvard versus an overall acceptance rate of 6%.
7. Which two countries did the U.S. meet with in Hawaii recently to discuss North Korea?
Spoiler
Japan and South Korea. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with counterparts from each country to discuss the North Korean missile threat. All three countries urged North Korea to abandon “unlawful activities” and return to the negotiating table. They also reiterated that none of them have hostile intent toward North Korea and are willing to negotiate without preconditions.
8. Yesterday, the Greek government approved of a major arms deal with whom?
Spoiler
France. The $3.4 billion agreement will provide Greece with three French-made warships, which Greek leaders say are necessary to address tensions in the Aegean Sea and Eastern Mediterranean with Turkey over mineral rights and boundaries. The warships should be completed and delivered by 2026.
9. Why was Uganda recently ordered to pay reparations to the Democratic Republic of the Congo by the International Court of Justice (ICJ)?
Spoiler
The ICJ ordered Uganda to pay $325 million in reparations for damages to persons, property, and natural resources in the Democratic Republic of the Congo during the First and Second Congo Wars of the late 1990s and early 2000s. The ICJ found Uganda responsible for recruiting child soldiers, violence against women, and the looting of the Congo’s minerals, among other charges. Uganda is to pay the money in five installments of $65 million and the first payment is due in September. Uganda’s leadership has criticized the decision, arguing that the payments will hurt their economy.
10. Which Indian states are holding legislative assembly elections this month?
Spoiler
Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. Observers see the elections as a gauge of the strength of India’s governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).