What in the World?
What in the World?
Test yourself on the week of March 15: U.S. airstrikes beget Houthi counterstrikes, M23 rebels back out of peace talks, and Indonesia and Hungary pass controversial laws.
Saint Patrick played by an actor leads the parade as he takes part in the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Dublin, Ireland, on March 17. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)
Happy St. Patri—oh, we’re too late? Celebrate belatedly with this week’s international news quiz!
Have feedback? Email [email protected] to let me know your thoughts.
Happy St. Patri—oh, we’re too late? Celebrate belatedly with this week’s international news quiz!
1. On Sunday, Yemen’s Houthis launched an attack against a U.S. Navy vessel in retaliation for U.S. strikes against the rebel group the previous day. Which vessel was targeted?
USS Mason
USS Gerald R. Ford
USS Harry S. Truman
USS George Washington
The Trump administration has promised an “unrelenting” assault on the Houthis, but for the United States to find lasting success, the administration will need an organized campaign, Daniel B. Shapiro writes.
2. M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of the Congo said on Monday that the group was withdrawing from scheduled peace talks with the Congolese government for what reason?
Bad-faith government negotiating tactics
International sanctions placed on the group
Opposition to the talks by the Rwandan government
Opposition to a planned U.S. mine in the country
The talks would have begun on Tuesday in Angola, with the participation of Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi, FP’s Nosmot Gbadamosi reports in Africa Brief.
3. On Monday, Peru declared a state of emergency in its capital, Lima, as violence surged in response to what event?
The killing of a popular singer
The overnight doubling of rice prices
Recent child deaths due to water contamination
A new tax on gas purchases
The singer’s death coincides with a surge in violence in Latin America, where many voters increasingly favor mass incarceration, FP’s Catherine Osborn writes in Latin America Brief.
4. Which official from the United Arab Emirates did U.S. President Donald Trump host at the White House for a banquet dinner on Tuesday?
Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Finance Minister Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed Al Maktoum
Foreign Affairs Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan
National Security Advisor Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan
The dinner included discussion on potential artificial intelligence partnerships, a field the UAE has been keen to make advances in, FP’s John Haltiwanger and Rishi Iyengar write in Situation Report.
5. Hungary’s parliament overwhelmingly passed an anti-LGBTQ bill on Tuesday. What is the legislation’s focus?
Banning Pride events
Prohibiting the mention of LGBTQ issues in schools
Outlawing adoption for same-sex couples
Restricting health care for LGBTQ individuals
The bill is Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s latest effort to remove the LGBTQ community from public view and enforce a narrow, patriarchal view of the family unit—part of a global right-wing effort that Alan Elrod documented in January.
6. Why did the cease-fire between Israel and Hamas abruptly end on Tuesday?
Hamas refused to continue negotiations
Hamas publicly executed several hostages
Israel refused to end its blockade of humanitarian aid
Israel carried out massive airstrikes on Gaza
The assault killed more than 400 people. Israel’s defense ministry said its latest offensive will continue as long as necessary—and that it could expand beyond airstrikes, FP’s John Haltiwanger reports.
7. What did Ukraine accuse Russia of attacking on Wednesday?
Civilian housing
Energy and infrastructure
Commercial shipping vessels
Retreating Ukrainian military units
Moscow had previously promised to refrain from attacking such installations for 30 days. As cease-fire talks in the Russia-Ukraine war begin, Kyiv may need to accept some ugly realities to achieve peace, Graham Allison argues.
8. On Thursday, Indonesia’s parliament passed a revision to the country’s military law that allows military officers to do what?
Serve in government posts without resigning from their military roles
Detain individuals suspected of gang involvement
Collect bonuses for recruiting volunteer military personnel
Receive classified intelligence previously unavailable to them
Student protesters argue the revision erodes the country’s democracy, FP’s Alexandra Sharp reports in World Brief.
9. Which U.S. city dyed a river green on Saturday in honor of St. Patrick’s Day?
Boston
Philadelphia
Chicago
Detroit
Dying the Chicago River green is a tradition that dates back more than 60 years. The dye is nontoxic, according to the Associated Press.
10. Around how many people descended on Dublin to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and take part in the city’s parade on Monday?
200,000
500,000
750,000
920,000
The theme for this year’s event was adventures, or eachtraí in Irish, the Irish Times reports. (Thought we’d forget to ask a few festive questions, did you? Think again!)
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Drew Gorman is a deputy copy editor at Foreign Policy.
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