Here is this week’s news quiz. Good luck!
1. Why is Nevada a “mess” in the Republican presidential primary when it comes to determining a winner?
Spoiler
Nevada is holding a primary where people can vote at the polls on February 6. However, there is a party caucus that is happening two days later. State law in Nevada requires a primary but the Republican National Committee (RNC) has decided that only the winner of Nevada’s caucus will earn the state’s 26 delegates to its convention this summer. Former President Donald Trump will be in the caucus but will not be on the primary ballot. His sole remaining challenger, Nikki Haley, is doing the opposite. Voters can participate in both but candidates could not contest both so it has produced a confusing situation for voters in the swing state.
2. What sparked farmer uprisings in France, Germany, and the Netherlands?
Spoiler
Farmers in all three countries staged protests last week, which included the blocking of roads, because of what they consider to be onerous environmental rules from the European Union, as well as decisions by the bloc to waive duties and quotas on Ukrainian agricultural goods. Farmers argue that these things are driving down prices, creating unfair competition, and choking off their ability to make enough money to support themselves. Tensions in France also concerned a government plan to phase out tax breaks for farmers diesel fuel.
3. Which U.S. official was tapped by President Joe Biden to participate in a fourth round of hostage negotiations to free Americans held by Hamas?
Spoiler
CIA Director William Burns. In conjunction with Israel, Qatar, and Egypt, Burns will attempt to extricate eight Americans that are believed to be in Gaza, taken by Hamas after its October 7 attacks on Israel. Burns has been with the Foreign Service since 1982, working as a former ambassador to Jordan and Russia.
4. Why are U.S. troops still in Iraq?
Spoiler
The United States currently has 2,500 troops in Iraq to stop a revival of the Islamic State, which threatened Iraqi security a decade ago. Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas War, U.S. forces have come under fire from Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and the Shi’ite country has seen growing calls for American troops to leave. U.S. troops have been in Iraq since 2003 when the U.S. invaded to oust former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein from power because of his alleged stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
5. Why did some nations pause funding for the United Nations refugee agency (UNRWA) last weeek?
Spoiler
There are accusations that some of the agency’s staff were involved in Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attacks on Israel. As of Saturday, six European countries (Great Britain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Finland) joined the United States, Australia, and Canada in pausing funding for the agency. UNRWA was created in 1948 to provide education, health, and aid services to Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, and surrounding nations. UNRWA commissioner-general Philippe Lazzarini announced that an investigation would be taken into those accused.
6. Last week Alabama experimented with a new form of capital punishment. What did they use to execute a death row inmate?
Spoiler
Nitrogen gas. Kenneth Eugene Smith, a convicted murderer, was put to death last Thursday. It was the first time that a new execution method was employed by a state since the first lethal injection execution took place in 1982. Reports said that the execution took 22 minutes to carry out and that Smith appeared to be conscious for several minutes. Death penalty critics assailed how the execution was done and how Smith was a “guinea pig” for the procedure. However, Alabama officials defended the execution and said that any movements Smith made during it were involuntary reactions to nitrogen asphixiation.
7. Why has the U.S. begun a review of its current sanction policy against Venezuela?
Spoiler
The U.S. began a review of its sanctions against Venezuela after the Venezuelan Supreme Tribunal of Justice blocked the presidential candidacy of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado based on alleged fraud and tax violations, as well as seeking U.S. economic sanctions on her country. The U.S. crafted a deal with Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro where sanctions would eased on the country’s oil, gas, and mining sectors in return for a fair presidential election later in the year. After the ruling, the Biden administration decided against an immediate resumption of sanctions but has begun a review of whether some sanctions should be reimposed after the Supreme Tribunal’s ruling.
8. Who is the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam?
Spoiler
Nguyen Phu Trong. He has held the position since 2011, which makes him the country’s leader because he controls the Secretariat, Politburo, and Central Military Commission. Some reports have worried about Vietnam’s future after Trong as he is 79 years old and there were rumors that he had passed away in January.
9. What is the world’s most heavily indebted real estate developer?
Spoiler
The China Evergrande Group. It owes more than $340 billion to its creditors. A Hong Kong court recently ordered that it be liquidated but the ruling may not affect mainland China, where 90% of the property developer’s assets are held. Financial problems there mirror a property crisis in the Chinese economy, which is taking a toll on its overall economic growth.
10. Which American newspaper laid off more than 20% of its newsroom last week?
Spoiler
The Los Angeles Times. 115 journalists were dismissed from their positions. This followed a cut of 70 positions and 13% of the newsroom last June. The firings drew criticism because many of the “last hired” to be dismissed were younger reports and those of African American, Asian, and Latino descent. The cuts are due to the growing financial problems facing newspapers nationally, with many local papers ceasing to exist on a daily basis. Some members of Congress have warned that layoffs could threaten America’s democratic system as the nation heads into a new election cycle.