Here is this week’s news quiz. Good luck!
1. What are the names of the two generals who are fighting for power in Sudan?
Spoiler
Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamden Dagalo. The two worked together to oust Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir in 2019 and they played a role in the coup that overthrew Sudan’s successor government in 2021. The fighting in Sudan began over the weekend and it is not clear yet whether Burhan, who is the de facto leader of the country, will hang onto power. Another dimension of the fighting is that both men have been recipients of Russian military aid and training in the past.
2. Which financial institution was approved by the FDIC several weeks ago to buy Silicon Valley Bank?
Spoiler
First Citizens Bank & Trust Corporation. As part of the agreement First Citizens assumes Silicon Valley Bank’s assets and liabilities. Shares of First Citizens went up 47% upon the news, helping recover losses incurred when Silicon Valley Bank collapsed.
3. Last week which major U.S. city became the first to allow the Muslim call to prayer at all times?
Spoiler
Minneapolis, Minnesota. City officials approved an amendment to the city’s noise ordinance unanimously as it had not allowed dawn or late evening prayer calls. The move was supported by Christian and Jewish faith leaders in the city.
4. Which nations are in the G7?
Spoiler
Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United states, Great Britain. The informal group has regular meetings on global policy. Last week energy and environmental ministers from the various nations met to lay out an agenda and possible agreement on climate mitigation measures.
5. Which U.S. state is moving toward a total ban on TikTok within its borders?
Spoiler
Montana. Last wweek lawmakers passed a bill that bans the social media app from being operated within the state. it is expected that the move could face a legal challenge, which would set the stage for growing state actions against the platform.
6. On Tuesday, news broke that FOX News reached a settlement agreement with Dominion Voting Systems. What was Dominion suing FOX over?
Spoiler
Dominion alleged that FOX News defamed the voting machine maker in its coverage of the 2020 election results. Dominion also pointed to statements that it helped late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez rig elections. They filed suit in 2021, seeking $1.6 billion in damages. Legal experts expected FOX to lose the ensuing trial.
7. The Taiwanese government recently alleged that Chinese ships recently severed what?
Spoiler
Two submarine Internet cables that connected Taiwan’s islands. Taiwan’s telecom service blamed Chinese ships of intentionally severing the cables in early February. Some in the nation wonder whether it is a test run for an eventual Chinese invasion of the island. Taiwan notes that the cables have been cut 27 times in the last five years.
8. Police in New York recently arrested two Chinese nationals for allegedly doing what?
Spoiler
Setting up a secret police station to collect intelligence on opponents of the Chinese Communist Party. The Department of Justice alleges that “Harry” Lu Jianwang and Chen Jinping were working at the behest of China’s government and did not register with the U.S. government as foreign agents. Acording to Safeguard Defenders, a nongovernment group, China has more than 100 secret police stations around the world to monitor dissidents. The Chinese government denies that the institutions are police stations and that they are merely present to help Chinese citizens abroad.
9. When will the Turkish presidential election take place?
Spoiler
May 14. Turkey has a two-round presidential election system where a runoff will be ordered if a candidate does not receive more than 50% of the popular vote. Incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is running for a third term, having held the office since 2014. Opinion polls show him trailing retired civil servant and economist Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu.
10. Which global leader drew condemnation from the United States for claiming that the U.S. was “encouraging” the war in Ukraine?
Spoiler
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The newly elected Brazilian president has tried to position himself as someone who can mediate an end to the conflict. He argued that the U.S. was encouraging the war too much after visiting China, which has offered its own peace plan for the war. Critics argue that China’s plan does not call for Russian troops to leave Ukrainian territory and is therefore a non-starter.
