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

1. As of Tuesday night, what is the current benchmark interest rate in the U.S.?

Spoiler
5.25%.  This is the highest interest rate that the United States has had in 23 years. The Federal Reserve is meeting today to consider lowering the rates, which Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell has signaled he will do in an attempt to give the U.S. economy a “soft landing.” Powell’s decision, which could help the U.S. economy and the housing market, has been criticized by some Republicans who argue he is trying to sway the presidential election to Vice President Kamala Harris.

2. Russian President Vladimir Putin warned last week that his country would be at war with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) if what occurred?

Spoiler
Putin issued a warning that Russia would consider itself directly in a war with NATO if Ukraine is allowed to strike targets inside of Russia’s borders with Western-made long-rang weapons. The Biden administration has signaled that it is open to enhancing Ukraine’s offensive capabilities. While some write off Putin’s warning as a bluff others see it as the potential justification to use nuclear weapons against Ukraine.

3. American rapper and producer Sean “Diddy” Combs was indicted on what charges yesterday?

Spoiler
Combs was indicted on sex trafficking, racketeering, and kidnapping charges by a grand jury. The indictment against Combs alleges that since 2008 he has been engaging in prostitution, narcotics, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice. These charges are federal as Combs’ activities are alleged to have crossed interstate lines. Combs has pled not guilty to th charges.

4. The awful death of an Olympic runner from what African nation has prompted discussions of violence against women?

Spoiler
Uganda. Rebecca Cheptegei, a marathon runner who competed in the recent Olympics and placed 44th, died after her ex-boyfriend doused her in gasoline and set her on fire, causing burns to 80% of her body. Cheptegei was given a military funeral since she was a sergeant in Uganda’s army. Her death has caused activists to demand an end to violence against female athletes and women generally, noting that 41% of dating or married Kenyan women have experienced violence in their relationships.

5. What did Iran do last week that alarmed some Western officials, who fear that it is looking to enhance its missile program?

Spoiler
Iran launched a satellite into space on Saturday. The rocket used for the launch was built by the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. The U.S. and its allies fear that successful launches of satellites could enhance Iran’s ballistic missile capability, making it a threat to neighbors in the region and advance Iran closer to an intercontinental ballistic missile.

6. Which U.S. state repealed a ban on almost all abortions last week?

Spoiler
Arizona. The state had an 1864 law that criminalized all abortions except when a woman’s life was in danger. Once Roe v. Wade was overturned it put the law into focus as the Arizona Supreme Court said that the state could enforce it. That resulted in some Republicans crossing over in the state legislature to pass a repeal, which Governor Katie Hobbs signed in May. Arizona now allows abortion through 15 weeks of pregnancy, with exceptions thereafter, but voters will decide in November whether a right to abortion should be added to the state constitution.

7. What has to happen for Mexico’s judicial overhaul to go into effect after it cleared the nation’s Senate last week?

Spoiler
The legislation has to be ratified by 17 of Mexico’s 32 states because it is a constitutional change. This is expected to occur. The overhaul is controversial because it makes all judicial positions elected, a move that outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador insists is an anti-corruption move. Critics note that electing judges could lead to corruption or various drug gangs to take over the nation’s judiciary. Bolivia passed a similar proposal that went into effect in 2011 but it has worsened law performance, according to the World Justice Project.

8. What is Hungary’s response to the European Court of Justice’s ruling that it should pay a fine of $216 million for breaking the European Union’s asylum rules?

Spoiler
Hungary’s government announced a plan of putting migrants on buses and sending them to the Brussels, which is the headquarters of the EU. It mirrors a tactic used by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who bused migrants to blue states and cities as a response to what he believed to be a bad border policy by the Biden administration.

9. What is the new U.S. unemployment rate?

Spoiler
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. unemployment rate fell from 4.3% to 4.2% in August and the U.S. economy added 142,000 jobs. However, the job number was below expectations and has continued some fears that the U.S. economy is not trending in a good direction.

10. Who is the leader of the Canadian Conservative Party?

Spoiler
Pierre Poilievre. Poilievre took over the party in September 2022. Describing himself as a libertarian-leaning member of the party he has lead a revival of Conservative fortunes in polls, taking it from a position of being even with the governing Liberal Party to a 17-point lead. This is the best that the Conservatives have polled since 1988.