Here is this week’s news quiz. Good luck!
1. New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez was indicted on corruption charges last week. What country is he alleged to have done favors for in exchange for gifts?
Spoiler
Egypt. Federal prosecutors allege that Egypt sought out Menendez after the U.S. cut some of its aid in 2017 over its human rights record. In exchange for doing favors for Egypt, which included sharing government information about arms sales and not blocking future shipments, Menendez and his wife allegedly received hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, checks, and gold bars.
2. What did Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accuse India of last week?
Spoiler
Trudeau accused India of involvement in the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Vancouver in June. It is a grave charge as it accuses a foreign government of killing a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil. India has denied involvement in the killing, which could have ramifications for the U.S.-India relationship as U.S. intelligence services are said to have provided information to the Canadian government about India’s involvement in the murder.
3. SpaceX and X owner Elon Musk is currently recruiting human patients for what experiment?
Spoiler
Brain implant technology. Musk wants patients for a clinical trial for pioneering technology that would allow users to work a keyboard with their mind. Musk’s company Neuralink has sought to recruit those suffering quadriplegia or ALS. Critics argue that Musk’s prior efforts with monkeys violated animal rights and warranted criminal investigaitons.
4. Which Central European countries have put restrictions on imports of Ukrainian grain?
Spoiler
Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia. These nations allege that Ukraine is dumping low-cost grain on their countries to make up for a lack of export routes elsewhere because of the Russo-Ukrainian War and it is threatening the livelihood of farmers. Poland has also gone as far as to say that they will stop supplying arms to Ukraine, escalating the dispute and threatening the coalition against Russian aggression there.
5. What has President Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, been charged with?
Spoiler
Hunter Biden has been charged with making false statements on a federal firearms form and possession of a firearm as a prohibited person. The charges have been filed by special counsel David Weiss and it is the first time that a child of a sitting president has been indicted on criminal charges. Biden sought to plead guilty this past summer but a federal judge tossed that deal aside.
6. Why did the European Union issue a warning to X’s owner Elon Musk?
Spoiler
The EU argues that Musk and X must comply with the EU’s laws on fake news and Russian propaganda, noting that X had the worst ratio of disinformation compared to other social media platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, and LinkedIn. If Musk does not comply with the EU’s directions, X might face a ban across all EU countries.
7. Who is the Chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)?
Spoiler
Lina M. Khan. She was Associate Professor of Law at Columbia Law School before taking the position on June 15, 2021. During her time in academia she published extensively on antitrust and competition policy.
8. The FTC and 17 states recently filed an antitrust suit against which company?
Spoiler
Amazon. The suit alleges that Amazon is wielding monopoly power that is forcing consumers to pay higher prices and stifling competition. Another complaint in the lawsuit notes, according to CBS News, that “Amazon regularly exploits its size and reach to block lower prices and compel merchants to use the e-commerce company’s logistics and advertising services.” States joining the FTC lawsuit include Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Wisconsin.
9. What country recently attacked and overran Nagorno-Karabakh in the South Caucasus?
Spoiler
Azerbaijan. The area broke away from Azerbaijan in 1994 but it is still internationally recognized as Azerbaijan’s territory. Azerbaijan retook Nagorno-Karabakh after a 24-hour assault last week. In response, thousands of the region’s ethnic Armenians, who are a majority of the region, have fled or are in the process of doing so.
10. According to Saudi Arabia, it will only normalize ties with Israel if what occurs?
Spoiler
There is “major progress” toward the creation of a Palestinian state. This week saw Saudi Arabian ambassador Nayef al-Sudairi visit the West Bank, the first visit by the Saudis to the area since 1967. al-Sudairi also met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. Some analysts have also stated that the Saudis would want a defense agreement with the United States and for Israel to make concessions to Palestinians in the West Bank in return for a peace deal as well.