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

1. What has caused recent protests in China against the Communist Party and leader Xi Jinping?

Spoiler
Strict anti-COVID policies. Cities across the country like Beijing and Shanghai saw protests that called for Xi Jinping to step down as Chinese ruler. China is trying to stop the transmission of COVID-19 with lockdown measures, the last major country in the world to do so, but public anger is rising against those measures.

2. What powerful Democratic politician said last week they would not primary President Biden if he sought re-election in 2024?

Spoiler
California Governor Gavin Newsom. Newsom, a two-term governor, announced that he told President Biden that he was a firm supporter of his re-election and would not conduct a primary challenge. If Biden opts not to run, though, Newsom would be considered a frontrunner for the Democratic nomination.

3. The U.S. Treasury Department recently gave the go-ahead to what oil company to pump oil in Venezuela?

Spoiler
Chevron. The Treasury Department granted a license to Chevron, signaling that the United States is lessening its sanctions on the Venezuelan government, which increased during Donald Trump’s presidency. Chevron will work with the state-owned Petróleos de Venezuela (PdVSA) on oil exploration work in the coming years.

4. Why did a representative of Iran’s soccer federation call for the expulsion of the United States from the World Cup?

Spoiler
Disrespecting the Iranian flag. The U.S. Soccer Federation doctored Iran’s flag in two social media posts on Twitter and Instagram, removing the country’s official emblem and parts of Islamic script on the flag. The U.S. Soccer Federation said that these were steps to show support for women in Iran and ongoing political protests there. Iran has argued that these steps violate FIFA statues.

5. What did former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan announce that his party would be doing in the coming days?

Spoiler
Quitting the country’s regional and national assemblies. Khan is attempting to pressure the Pakistani government of Shahbaz Sharif to call early elections. He did announce that he would not lead his followers on a march on the capital of Islamabad, a move that some outsiders thought could prompt the Pakistani military to intervene in the country’s growing political crisis.

6. How many Republicans voted to move a bill protecting same-sex and interracial marriage to the Senate floor for a vote several weeks ago?

Spoiler
12. In a 62-37 vote, these Republicans joined all of their Democratic colleagues in positioning a bill that would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and provide federal protections for same-sex and interracial marriage. These Republicans were Joni Ernst, Cynthia Lummis, Todd Young, Dan Sullivan, Shelley Moore Capito, Richard Burr, Susan Collins, Mitt Romney, Roy Blunt, Rob Portman, Thom Tillis, and Lisa Murkowski.

7. Who is Pakistan’s new army chief?

Spoiler
General Asim Munir. He takes over amidst an ongoing political crisis and attacks from the Pakistani Taliban. He is replacing General Qamar Javed Bajwa, who is retiring after serving for the last six years. As noted in question #5, international observers are wondering how much longer the Pakistani military can remain neutral if political tensions paralyze the nation.

8. Former President Trump’s dinner with what figures is causing him to come under fire from political allies, as well as opponents?

Spoiler
Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, and Nick Fuentes, a far-right activist and white nationalism. Both have come under fire for making anti-Semitic statements. In Fuentes case, he denies the Holocaust. Trump hosted the two for a dinner days after announcing his presidential bid at Mar-a-Lago. Former Vice President Mike Pence, who served with Trump, said that the President should apologize for meeting with the two.

9. What state official died in Belarus, unleashing conspiracy theories about his demise?

Spoiler
Vladimir Makei, Belarus’ foreign minister. Makei died suddenly over the weekend at the age of 64, causing speculation that foul play was involved because he favored Western interests over Russian ones in Ukraine. There has been speculation that Russia is trying to get Belarus to join its war in Ukraine, which would open another front for its forces to exploit.

10. When was the last time that the U.S. Congress intervened in a national rail strike?

Spoiler
1992. Two days after that strike started, Congress quickly passed legislation to impose conditions on labor and business leaders, which was promptly signed by then-President George H.W. Bush. With another rail strike looming, Democratic and Republican leaders in Congress have promised to pass legislation to prevent a new strike because of its negative economic implications.