Hampton Roads World Affairs Council What in the World? Weekly Quiz – October 18-24, 2021

Missionaries on a visit to an orphanage in THIS nation were kidnapped in the midst of spiraling violence including the assassination of the President. Sixteen Americans and one Canadian were taken in a country where armed gangs are growing more prevalent. [#WACquiz]

India and Pakistan have been at odds over control of THIS region since the 1950s. New violence has struck with attacks on civilians and a security force crackdown leaving 33 people dead. Analysts forecast Pakistan intelligence services, newly freed from attention on Afghanistan, may turn to troublemaking there.[#WACquiz]

New military successes by THIS Iranian-backed group In Yemen’s civil war, including seizing territory in oil-rich provinces, is likely to complicate the years-long efforts to bring the conflict to an end. [#WACquiz]

Taiwan is widely regarded as a self-governing island country in East Asia; however, Chinese leaders maintain that Taiwan falls under Chinese sovereignty. More recently, THIS major world power announced its support for China’s claim to Taiwan, having many critics speculate that it is a collective move to block U.S. geostrategic interests in Asia. (WACA Weekly World News Update)

Human rights activists in Ancient Olympia, Greece, some carrying a “No Genocide Games” banner, protested at the ceremonial lighting of the Olympic torch that presaged the 2022 Winter Olympics set for THIS capital.[#WACquiz]

The International Energy Agency is accusing Russia of holding back gas supplies in what Kremlin critics believe is an intentional crisis designed to fast track the approval of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, increasing European energy dependency on Russia. THIS Russian-owned gas company is currently one of the largest providers of gas to Europe (WACA Weekly World News Update)

American defense officials were said to be surprised by the developmental testing of THIS strategic weapon system by China over the summer. [#WACquiz]

In what UK police are calling an act of terrorism, David Arness was fatally stabbed at a public meeting. Arness was working in THIS organization.  [#WACquiz]

In a U.S- and E.U.-led effort, over two dozen countries have agreed to cut emissions of THIS major greenhouse gas. However China and Russia have yet to sign on. (WACA Weekly World News Update)