Here is this week’s news quiz! Good luck!

1. Why are prosecutors investigating Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni?

Spoiler
Meloni and two government ministers are under investigation for repatriating Ossama Anjiem, a Libyan warlord, even though he is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC). The decision to release Anjiem, who is also known as Ossama al-Masri, was criticized by human rights groups and the ICC.

2. Which former German political official gave some comments last week where she criticized her former political party?

Spoiler
Angela Merkel, who was Germany’s chancellor from 2005 to 2021. She criticized her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party for trying to push through a tighter immigration bill with the help of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD)party, thereby breaking a taboo in Germany for mainstream parties to ignore the AfD.

3. What did Mexico agree to in order to avoid a 25% tariff from the United States?

Spoiler
Mexico agreed to reinforce the U.S.-Mexican border with 10,000 National Guard members to address drug trafficking. There is also a condition in the agreement for the United States to help Mexico stem a flew of illegal firearms into their country. Negotiations will continue on other matters to avert hte 25% tariffs from going into effect next month.

4. Last week President Trump announced that the U.S. may send some migrants to what facility in the Western Hemisphere?

Spoiler
Guantanamo Bay. It is a U.S. naval base in Cuba that the U.S. has maintained since winning the Spanish-American War in 1898. It is not out of step with past U.S. policy, which has used the base to hold some immigrants. However, the Trump administration is looking to expand it, potentially enlarging facilities there to hold 30,000 people.

5. Why did Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso decide to leave the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) last week?

Spoiler
All three left after Ecowas criticized military leadership in all three countries, urging for the restoration of democratic rule. After a military junta took control of Niger in 2023, Ecowas sanctioned the country and threatened to use military force against it. This prompted Mali and Burkina Faso’s juntas to criticize Ecowas’ actions. All three have also accused Ecowas of being too close to Western powers. They favor a closer relationship with Russia.

6. Last week rebels affiliated with the M23 rebel group captured which prominent city in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo?

Spoiler
Goma. Congolese leadership has accused Rwanda of arming the M23 rebels and South Africa has joined in that criticism, alleging that Rwandan support has led to the death of South African soldiers in the area. There have also been growing calls to sanction Rwanda over its support for the rebel faction, which has been fighting the Congolese government since 2012.

7. Which Republican senators voted against Pete Hegseth’s confirmation at the Secretary of Defense?

Spoiler
Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. Their defections caused Vice President J.D. Vance to break a 50-50 tie in favor of Hegseth’s confirmation. The close vote may augur ill for some of Donald Trump’s other selections like Robert Kennedy, Jr. for Health & Human Services and Tulsi Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence.

8. What justification was used by President Donald Trump to impose high tariffs on Mexico and Canada?

Spoiler
The Trump administration argues that these countries have not done enough to curb fentanyl trafficking into the United States. He has declared the issue a national emergency that warrants high tariffs of 25% on various Canadian and Mexican goods. Experts have been critical, arguing that the tariffs will lead to higher prices for American consumers and that Canada is not a point of a lot of fentanyl trafficking into the United States. In 2024, only 43 pounds of fentanyl was seized at the U.S.-Canadian border versus 21,100 pounds at the U.S.-Mexican border.

9. Which tragic aviation incident took place on U.S. soil last week?

Spoiler
In Washington, D.C. an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided with an American Airlines commercial airliner that carried 64 people, killing all of those aboard. Officials are investigating the helicopter’s altitude and what was taking place in its cockpit before the crash. The incident has led to questions about the safety of America’s skies, which are increasingly crowded by all kinds of traffic.

10. Before last week’s tragedy, when was the last major plane crash in the United States?

Spoiler
February 2009 when a Continental Airlines flight out of Newark, New Jersey crashed into a house as it approached an airport in Buffalo, New York. 49 people died in that incident, which contributed to Continental’s merging with United Airlines the following year.