Here is this week’s news quiz. Good luck!
1. What is New York on the verge of indicting former President Donald Trump over?
Spoiler
Providing a $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels to keep their affair a secret during the 2016 presidential campaign. This led to charges that Trump oversaw a false recording to the payment in his company’s internal records. It could also be termed as violating campaign finance laws. Trump denies any involvement in the payment and claims that he did not have an affair with Daniels.
2. What is the name of the Manhattan District Attorney that could indict President Trump?
Spoiler
Alvin Bragg. Bragg, a Democrat, has served as New York County District Attorney since 2021. When he was elected, he was the first African American to be elected to the post. Last year, Bragg reportedly passed on indicting former President Trump over business practices, arguing that the evidence was lacking to do so.
3. Last week saw Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that he would support which country’s bid for membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)?
Spoiler
Finland. Finnish President Sauli Niinisto visited the Turkish capital of Ankara last week to meet with Erdogan. Erdogan’s government has blocked Finland and Sweden’s bids previously, arguing that both countries support Kurdish interests that the Turkish government regards as terrorist organizations.
4. The debate about abortion in the United States continues as Wyoming passed another anti-abortion bill last week. What does it do?
Spoiler
It makes it a felony for someone to prescribe, sell, or use any drug to perform an abortion. The law takes effect on July 1 and is the first law in the country to ban medicated abortions, which make up a majority of abortions in the United States. Pro-choice groups have vowed to challenge the law in court. With other Republican states looking into similar bills, the Supreme Court will likely have to resolve the issue later.
5. The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant which major leader for war crimes last week?
Spoiler
Russian President Vladimir Putin. After the announcement, Russia condemned the warrant for Putin’s arrest as “meaningless.”
6. In keeping with question #5, what does the individual that is the answer to that question stand accused of?
Spoiler
Forcibly abducting and deporting Ukrainian children during Russia’s war with Ukraine. Along with Putin’s arrest warrant, the ICC also issued one for Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, who has overseen the transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia. Ukraine argues that 16,000 children have been taken from the country, while Russia acknowledges that 2,000 children have been transfered.
7. On Monday, President Biden joined Republicans in nullifying which law from the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.)?
Spoiler
A reform of the District’s criminal code. Among other things, the criminal code revisions reduce maximum penalties for burglary, carjacking, and robbery. It is the first time that Congress and the President have overturned a law passed by the District’s city council since 1991.
8. Which NATO member recently objected to a high-level meeting about Ukraine?
Spoiler
Hungary. Hungary is still at odds with a 2017 Ukrainian langauge law that stops members of the Transcarpathian ethnic minority from studying in Hungarian. As a result, Hungary has opposed meetings between NATO’s officials and Ukraine ever since.
9. How much did the International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently approve of for a bailout of Sri Lanka?
Spoiler
$3 billion. The IMF approved of the bailout package on Monday for the beleaguered South Asian nation. The IMF also announces that it would assess levels of corruption in the Sri Lankan government and provide recommendations for anti-corruption efforts. It marks the first time that an Asian nation is being assessed for corruption as part of a bailout program.
10. Which African nation’s parliament recently passed a strict anti-LGBTQ rights bill?
Spoiler
Uganda. A new law passed earlier this week provides a jail term of up to a decade for offenses. It is not the first time that Uganda has passed a major anti-LGBTQ measure. They did so in 2014 but a court struck it down. The legislation, which has been condemned by human rights groups such as Human Rights Watch, creates offenses for “aggravated homosexuality” and “attempted homosexuality.” It also follows a pattern of other African states targeting the LGBTQ community, arguing that advocacy for those groups is a new form of Western imperialism.
