World Boston What in the World? Weekly Quiz – June 12-18, 2023

The highest-level visit of a U.S. official to China since 2018 is set for next week when THIS Secretary of State travels to Beijing. He was set to visit last year but that trip, to restore high level contacts, was derailed by the spy balloon incident.

Explosions breached the Nova Kakhova dam on the Dnipro River in THIS region of Ukraine. Kyiv blamed Russia for deliberately destroying the dam to prevent use of its roadway in the newly launched counteroffensive. The flooding has dislocated tens of thousands, caused environmental contamination and loosened landmines that are flowing downstream.

Ahead of a report and sanctions he misled Parliament over “Partygate” THIS former British Prime Minister resigned amid his charges the investigation was a “kangaroo court.” The so-called Partygate scandal stemmed from Covid-era gatherings at 10 Downing Street that violated pandemic restrictions.

The White House confirmed that China established intelligence collection activities in THIS nation since at least 2019 in exchange for billions of dollars in support to this cash-strapped economy.

Tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees living in squalid camps in THIS neighboring country are calling for repatriation to Myanmar, their homeland, where they fled a murderous crackdown.

 

The former first minister of Scotland and leader of the Scottish National Party was arrested on financial corruption charges. THIS politician was known for leading an unsuccessful referendum for Scotland to leave the United Kingdom.

Ebrahim Raisi, president of THIS country, visited Nicaragua, Venezuela and Cuba to boost ties with “like-minded and friendly” countries.

The European Union is considering a mandatory ban of THIS Chinese telecommunications giant over security threats posed by its 5G networking, as individual EU countries’ restrictions have not moved fast enough.

 

The PGA Tour and THIS Saudi funded rival golf league announced a merger that highlighted the Kingdom’s financial weight.

 

The former multi-term Italian Prime Minister who dominated politics for decades has died. THIS media mogul, who survived numerous scandals in office including “bunga bunga” parties, was 86.