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

1. Which two political factions earned the highest number of seats in the German federal elections on Sunday?

Spoiler
The Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU), a center-right party, and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). The CDU/CSU won 208 seats while the AfD won 152 seats. In terms of the popular vote, CDU/CSU won 28.52% while the AfD won 20.8%. Germany’s next government will likely be a right-left coalition of some sort as all of its parties have ruled out working with the AfD.

2. Which cryptocurrency firm was attacked by hackers last week, who may have pulled off what might be the largest crypto theft in history?

Spoiler
Bybit. It was reported that hackers stole $1.5 billion worth of cryptocurrency from the Dubai-based company. The company’s founder Ben Zhou says that the company can cover the loss and that those who use its funds are safe. The previous record for a cryptocurrency theft took place in 2022 when there was an attack on Ronin Network worth $620 million.

3. This week saw Syria’s biggest trading partner relax economic sanctions. Who was it?

Spoiler
The European Union. Prior to the Syrian Civil War, the EU was Syria’s biggest trading partner. It started to ease energy, transport, and banking sanctions on Monday, hoping that these steps will bring some economic stability to Syria’s new regime. The sanctions had been in effect since 2011.

4. Last week the Trump administration rolled back Temporary Protected Status for what group in the United States?

Spoiler
Haitians. The Biden administration had provided an 18-month extension of immigration protections for more than 500,000 Haitians in the United States. However, last week the Department of Homeland Security announced it was rolling back the measure and protection and work permits would end on August 3. Advocates of the Haitian community argue that deporting Haitians or forcing them to leave the United States would put them in danger because of instability that is currently in their home country.

5. What e-mail from Elon Musk to federal workers provoked a lot of discussion last week?

Spoiler
Musk, who leads Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), sent out an e-mail over the weekend to federal workers asking them to explain what they did in the past week. If workers did not respond, the e-mail told them that their lack of response would be akin to a resignation. The problem was that not all federal agencies conveyed information in the e-mail to their employees, thereby nullifying some of Musk’s original deadline of 11:59 p.m. on Monday for responses.

6. Which nation announced last week that it would join OPEC+?

Spoiler
Brazil. OPEC+ is the 13 members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and 10 observer nations. The move will let Brazil participate in OPEC forums that discuss market strategies but it will not have to follow OPEC’s decisions. Brazil hopes that it can use its entry to promote the nation’s biofuel industry.

7. Why did French National Rally leader Jordan Bardella refuse to give a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) last week?

Spoiler
Bardella cancelled the speech after former Donald Trump adviser Steve Bannon did a gesture at a CPAC speech that was likened to a Nazi salute. Bannon said that he was merely waving but a still shot of the gesture called it into question. Other CPAC attendees disagreed with Bardella’s decision to cancel his speech but it is in keeping with the National Rally’s attempt to become more of a mainstream organization in French politics.

8. What groups has the U.S. government now labeled as terrorist organizations?

Spoiler
Two Latin American gangs and six Mexican drug cartels. These include the gangs Tren de Aragua of Venezuela and MS-13 of El Salvador. The six Mexican drug cartels named are Cartel de Sinaloa, Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion, Carteles Unidos, Cartel del Noreste, Cartel del Golfo, and La Nueva Familia Michoacana. The new designation could pave the way for the U.S. government to launch drone strikes against the groups, which could create disputes with countries like Mexico.

9. In response to the U.S. change in policy in #8, what has Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum pledged to do?

Spoiler
Sheinbaum has pledged to reform the Mexican constitution that would declare that Mexico would not accept interventions that violated its national sovereignty. Another reform would increase the penalties on Mexicans and foreign nationals that traffic in weapons. Mexico has argued that drug cartels are not terrorist organizations because they do not seek to achieve political objectives.

10. Which major U.S. military figure did President Donald Trump fire last week?

Spoiler
Charles Q. Brown, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Trump had appointed Brown to Chief of the Air Force during his first term but the termination occurred because of demands from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Brown was replaced by Air Force Lt. General John Dan Caine, who was retired before being named to the position.