World Affairs Council of the Desert What in the World? Weekly Quiz – February 13-19, 2023

The UN expected the earthquake death toll to double from the confirmed number of 33,000, as rescue efforts continue to fall short. The massive temblors struck adjoining areas of THESE countries.

In the wake of the downing of a Chinese intelligence collection balloon off the coast of South Carolina the U.S. Military shot down three more unidentified objects aloft – over Alaska, northern Canada and Lake Huron. THIS organization was involved in coordinating some of these operations.

Former astronaut Scott Kelly called on Elon Musk to restore THIS communications capability to the Ukrainian military, “Defense from a genocidal invasion is not an offensive capability. It’s survival. Innocent lives will be lost. You can help. Thank you."

Manila accused China of directing a “military-grade laser” at a Philippine coast guard vessel to prevent resupply of troops based at a shoal in THIS contentious body of water.

On a surprise visit to THIS country on February 8^th, President Vladimir Zelensky presented the House of Commons Speaker a Ukrainian fighter pilot’s helmet inscribed, “We have freedom. Give us wings to protect it,” pressing his campaign for Western combat aircraft.

Access to the beleaguered earthquake region in northwest Syria is hampered by the Arab Spring spawned civil war being fought by THIS Syrian leader.

It will change our world, so said Bill Gates about THIS AI bot he touted as being as significant as the invention of the Internet.

The government of THIS Central American nation released 222 of the 245 prisoners it was holding over criticism of President Daniel Ortega who has held power in Managua since 2007. The released opposition prisoners were departed to the United States.

The White House said THIS claim by China was “not true.”

The President of THIS country is looking for the right moment to revoke the Legion d’Honneur, awarded in 2006 by former President Jacques Chirac to Russian President Vladimir Putin.