What in the World? Weekly Quiz – December 21-27, 2020

A hack of computer systems including numerous U.S. government agencies was called, “a grave risk” to America’s cyber infrastructure by the agency organized to protect it. The hack, believed to be the work of Russia, was perpetrated over nine months ago when malicious code was injected into system maintenance software at a company called THIS.

Ten years ago this month a Tunisian fruit and vegetable vendor self-immolated after being harassed by police. This act touched off protests, which eventually led to the dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali fleeing the country. It was the start of THIS. [“Daily Chatter,” Members’ Newsletter Question of the Week]

President Sebastián Piñera was fined $3,500 on Friday when he was caught in public taking a selfie with a bystander. This president was not wearing a mask. Pinera, known for his gaffes was photographed last year at a pizza party on the night protests over inequality broke out in Santiago. The latest incident broke the strict mask rule of THIS country?

Last month THIS EU country’s Justice Minister said children must be raised “in accordance with the values based on our homeland’s constitutional identity and Christian culture,” when submitted legislation to Parliament. Last week THIS country passed the provision effectively banning gay couples from adopting. Other measures make it harder for the opposition to challenge President Viktor Orban.

The U.S. State Department announced last week THIS country was no longer on the “state sponsors of terrorism list.”  Removing it from the list, where it has been since 1993, was called by some “transactional diplomacy” as a reward for becoming the latest member of the Abraham Accord, normalizing relations between Arab states and Israel.

Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo said last week, "I am happy to announce we have been fined.” The €90,000 ($109,000) fine on the French capital by the public service ministry was levied due to THIS infraction.

The highest court in THIS autonomous region of China ruled against pro-democracy demonstrators who sought to overturn an anti-mask law. The ruling is the latest effort following Beijing’s passage of a tough security law, to break the back of unrest in the territory.