World Boston What in the World? Weekly Quiz – Jul 31-Aug 6, 2023

Moscow has backed out of a deal allowing Black Sea grain shipments from Ukraine, the “breadbasket of Europe.” Almost half of all Ukraine grain exports were shipped from THIS key port city until the latest Russian move.

Wagner militia group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin was seen in St. Petersburg at a summit for THIS region’s leaders hosted by President Vladimir Putin.

The sharp-tongued foreign minister of THIS country, who warned of “conflict and confrontation” with the United States, was removed from his post after a mysterious month-long absence from public view.

Democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum was deposed in a military coup in THIS country, a strategic outpost for U.S. Military counter terrorism operations in the Sahel region of Africa. The U.S. and EU suspended their substantial aid to the country, demanding the reinstatement of Bazoum.

A suicide bomber struck a political rally in the north of THIS country, killing at least 45 people. The rally, held by the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) party, a member of the government coalition, was aimed at building support for elections scheduled for later this year.

The Biden Administration’s efforts to normalize relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel are facing head winds. The follow up to THIS agreement in 2020 which brought recognition between Israel and Arab states Bahrain, UAE and Morocco is facing discord over Israel’s treatment of Palestinians and Saudi Arabia’s defense and nuclear support conditions.

The first woman to hold Italy’s Prime Minister office met with President Biden at the White House. Despite concerns about the right-wing party THIS PM heads, the two were in agreement on policies toward Ukraine and China.

The newly passed Hijab and Chastity Bill in THIS country threatens severe punishment, up to ten years in prison, for violations. It ramps up gender segregation in many public spaces and aims to intimidate “celebrities” who violate the law. Protestors continue to mark the beating death in custody of Mahsa Amini who was held last year for violating head covering rules.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson visited Brazil's Science Minister at their space research center INPE to propose expanding satellite partnerships to monitor THIS critical environmental issue.