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

1. Why are opposition parties demanding a new vote in Nigeria’s presidential election?

Spoiler
Nigeria’s three main opposition parties are demanding a revote because they allege that there was widerspread violence, vote rigging, voter intimidation, and corruption of the results in last Sunday’s election. As of the time of the posting of this quiz, less than half of Nigeria’s 36 states had announced their vote totals. All Progressives Congress candidate Bola Tinubu is leading the election thus far after winning six states.

2. Which U.S. city was holding its mayoral election this week?

Spoiler
Chicago. Mayor Lori Lightfoot is running for re-election against eight challengers. Lightfoot became the first Black woman and openly gay mayor in Chicago history four years ago but her administration has been hammered over a rising crime rate. Results were not known as of the time of the posting of this quiz but if a candidate fails to get 50% of the vote, there will be a runoff election in April among the top two vote-getters.

3. What nuclear pact did Russia recently suspend with the United States?

Spoiler
The 2010 New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START). It was negotiated during the Obama administration with Russia in what was hyped as a “reset” of U.S.-Russian relations during that time. Russian President Vladimir Putin suspended the treaty on Tuesday, which marks the end of the last existing nuclear arms treaty between the U.S. and Russia. Putin argued that Russia cannot tolerate U.S. inspects of its nuclear sites during a time when the U.S. is arming Ukraine to face Russian forces. Arms control experts worry that if the treaty is not resumed it could spark a new arms race between the U.S., Russia, and other major powers.

4. According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), when might Social Security’s trust fund run out of money?

Spoiler
2032. The recent CBO report found that the trust fund might run out of money a year earlier than expected if Congress does not make modifications to the program. In 2021, more money started going out of Social Security than was being paid in by American workers. The report has caused a new discussion of how to fix the ailing system, whether that means raising the retirement age and/or raising taxes to ensure that benefits can be paid to future retirees.

5. A bipartisan group in the U.S. Senate has reportedly discussed raising the Social Security retirement age to what?

Spoiler
70. The bipartisan group that is led by Senator Angus King of Maine, an independent, and Senator Bill Cassidy, a Republican from Louisiana is looking into some of the financial struggles of Social Security and how to solve them. Currently, Americans can receive Social Security as early as 62 with a 30% reduction in benefits versus 67, which is a full retirement. Although the bipartisan group has not released any official recommendations, those close to it say one of their calls will be for an increased retirement age, something that President Joe Biden is likely to oppose.

6. Last week, South Africa conducted military drills with what two countries?

Spoiler
Russia and China. Naval forces for the various sides conducted a war games exercise. While the U.S. criticized the decision to hold the games, South Africa’s military argued that they had been planned for years, well before Russia invaded Ukraine. South Africa also abstained from a UN vote in October to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

7. Which U.S. cabinet department recently reported with “low confidence” that the COVID pandemic began with a lab leak from China?

Spoiler
The U.S. Department of Energy. Based on new intelligence, the Department reported that they believe, albeit with “low confidence” that the COVID-19 pandemic began with a laboratory leak in China. The FBI has also concluded with low confidence that the pandemic began this way. Both organizations argue that it may be impossible to know the truth because of a lack of cooperation by Chinese authorities.

8. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, which three governments have 23 million people suffering food insecurity in the Horn of Africa?

Spoiler
Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia. The region has gone five consecutive seasons without sufficient rainfall. First Lady Jill Biden recently visited the region, urging more international assistance for families that are on the brink of famine. Thus far, the U.S. has supplied 70% of the aid to peoples there.

9. Which government is trying to calm tensions betwen Israel and Palestinians after a year of fighting between the two sides?

Spoiler
Jordan. The Jordanian government is hosting talks at the Red Sea resort of Aqaba to try to de-escalate tensions. Over the past year, 200 Palestinians and 40 Israelis in the West Bank and East Jerusalem have been killed in clashes. Israeli settelement construction in the West Bank has been a source of international condemnation since the West Bank is considered to be territory for a future Palestinian state.

10. Why do millions of Americans stand to lose Medicaid coverage over the next few months?

Spoiler
States are rechecking eligibility for Medicaid benefits after they have been prohibited from doing so by the federal government over the last three years because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since January 2020, the Medicaid program, which provides medical care to the poor, has expanded benefits to more than 20 million people.