***What in the World? Weekly Quiz – May 11-17, 2020***

Global Covid-19 cases have passed the four million mark with THIS country leading in the number of deaths.

China

Italy

United States

Russia

China’s Foreign Ministry fighting back over what it calls 24 “lies” by U.S. Officials over the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. It posted a 11,000-word article on its website that backed up the rebuttals being made in press conferences. The article began with THIS famous U.S. Presidential quote.

�Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or lose.”

�This world of ours... Must avoid becoming a community of dreadful fear and hate, and be, instead, a proud confederation of mutual trust and respect.”

�You can fool some of the people all the time and fool all the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.”

�No man has a good enough memory to be a successful liar.”

A plot to overthrow the president of THIS COUNTRY was said to be foiled as the government claimed to arrest alleged mercenaries, killing some and arresting two Americans. The government blamed Washington for the plot.

Guatemala

Venezuela

Colombia

Ecuador

The response to increasing Covid-19 infections rates in THIS COUNTRY, the newest pandemic hotspot in South America, has been chaotic and erratic with the government equivocating in favor of handing responsibility to municipalities largest due to indifference from President Jair Bolsonaro.

Argentina

Brazil

Venezuela

Ecuador

Parades and street parties in numerous cities in Europe and Allied nations were stifled due to the pandemic preventing a full-throttle celebration of THIS anniversary last week.

50th anniversary of the Schengen Agreement lowering European borders.

500th birthday of William Shakespeare

75th anniversary of VE Day marking the victory of Nazi Germany.

250th anniversary of the birth of composer Ludwig von Beethoven.

The United States has been a reluctant participant in cooperation in the battle against Covid-19 as demonstrated by THIS.

Abstaining from an international conference on funding research of Covid-19 vaccines and treatments.

Holding up UN Security Council backing of the Secretary General’s March 23rd call for a global ceasefire during the pandemic due to bickering over the wording.

Sitting out a conference in April to discuss future distribution of Covid-19 vaccines in an equitable way.

All of the above

Iraq has a new prime minister after half a year of contentious political disputes over the country’s leadership. THIS official enjoyed a good relationship with the United States especially during his tenure as Director of the National Intelligence Service during the battles with ISIS, which may be helpful as Washington navigates the footprint and role of U.S. Troops in Iraq.

Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi

Prime Minister Barham Salih

Prime Minister Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi

Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi

American military forces – including four Patriot SAM batteries, fighter jets, U.S. Navy ships and the associated military personnel -- are being withdrawn from Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf. The draw down is said to reflect the reduction of the threat from Iran and may be a response from Washington following irritation on harmful Saudi oil production moves. The forces were deployed to the Kingdom and the Gulf following THIS.

Iranian cruise missile and drone strikes against key Saudi Arabian oil facilities at Abqaiq in September.

Iranian surface to surface missile strikes against Ayn al-Assad and Erbil airbases in January.

Iranian threats to retaliate against Saudi Arabia and other U.S. Allies in the region following the killing of Qassem Soleimani.

Iranian surface to air missile attacks against U.S. Drones flying over the Persian Gulf.

An Iranian government spokesman said Tehran was ready for a prisoner swap without precondition but the United States had yet to respond. American and Iranian officials had started up contacts during the negotiations around Tehran’s nuclear program, but the two countries have not had diplomatic relations SINCE THIS period.

As a result of U.S. Involvement in the 1952 coup that deposed Iranian Prime Minister Mossaddegh.

In the aftermath of the 1988 U.S. Navy shootdown of an Iranian airliner over the Persian Gulf.

In the aftermath of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

None of the above.

Troops from India were involved in a brief confrontation with troops from THIS country in Sikkim Province along its northeastern border. Eleven soldiers were injured when troops from the two sides – which fought a brief war in 1962 – were involved in a skirmish.

Pakistan

China

Nepal

Bangladesh

***What in the World? Weekly Quiz – May 11-17, 2020***

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What in the World? Weekly Quiz – May 11-17, 2020