What in the World? Weekly Quiz – August 17-23, 2020 | Take the Quiz

The United States lost a showdown vote in the United Nations Security Council on Friday when THIS American proposal failed to generate support beyond one vote from the Dominican Republic in the face of “No” votes from Russia and China and abstentions from 11 UNSC member states including Britain, France and Germany.

Abrogating Paris Climate Accord standards for greenhouse gas emissions.

Extending an arms embargo on Iran stemming from the 2015 JCPOA.

Authorizing a maritime blockade of oil shipments to Venezuela.

Defunding portions of the budget for the World Health Organization.

Radio Free Europe, Radio Free Asia and the Miiddle East Broadcasting Networks, all tax-payer funded media under the control of THIS Federal agency, were told to return $3 million to THIS agency from so-called “Internet freedom” funds. According to Politico, “It’s the latest example of how the Trump administration is trying to revamp the agency, which oversees taxpayer-funded media properties.”

Voice of America

American Broadcasting Board

U.S. Agency for Global Media

U.S. Agency for Democracy Expansion

The Afghan government took THIS action last week, resolving the last impediment to peace talks between the United States and the Taliban to end the 19-year old war in Afghanistan.

The Afghan parliament, the Loya Jirga, voted to grant standing for the Taliban in future elections.

Ashraf Ghani, the Afghan President, signed a proclamation granted clemency to Taliban fighters.

President Ashraf Ghani established a commission to review procedures to make Taliban-held areas in Afghanistan as autonomous political units.

Release of 400 prisoners, the last batch of Taliban members, many with blood on their hands.

Greek and Turkish warships collided as the NATO allies, with France lending support to Greece, find themselves in a geo-strategic collision over THIS issue.

Interdiction of sea-borne refugees from Syria seeking asylum in Greece.

Disputed maritime claims and exploration for hydrocarbons in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Support for Field Marshall Khalifa Haftar in the Libyan Civil War.

Freedom of navigation into the Black Sea through the Bosporus waterway.

One week after Aleksandr G. Lukashenko, in a disputed vote, was elected to a new term, extending his 26-year rule, THIS country is in the midst of rising revolt. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protestors have taken to the streets, thousands have been detained and hundreds have been beaten or injured by security forces.

Poland

Serbia

Belarus

Kazakhstan

The United States Department of Justice announced seizure of four vessels carrying over one million barrels of petroleum shipped by Iran to THIS country in defiance of U.S. sanctions.

North Korea

Venezuela

Cuba

China

Israel agreed to suspend plans to annex portions of the West Bank as a result of THIS.

The U.S. Congress approved an additional $1.5 billion in military aid to Israel.

Jordan agreed to resettle 250,000 Palestinian refugees.

Agreement to normalize relations with the United Arab Emirates.

Syria acknowledged Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.

The United Arab Emirates’ agreement to normalize relations with Israel is the third member of the Arab League to do so. Which two of THESE countries already have diplomatic relations with Israel?

Egypt and Morocco

Qatar and Jordan

Lebanon and Qatar

Egypt and Jordan

The Prime Minister of THIS country announced his government was stepping down on Monday after days of protests in the wake of a catastrophic explosion in the capital city and the failure of the country’s economic and political foundations.

Lebanon

Latvia

Libya

Liberia

Scientists in Malaysia are hopeful stem cell technology and in-vitro fertilization can save THIS endangered species after the last known survivor in the wild died.

Amur Leopard

Sumatran Rhino

Bornean Orangutan

Cross River Gorilla

What in the World? Weekly Quiz – August 17-23, 2020

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