St. Mark Quiz 7-7-23

Which African country has been at the centre of a controversial plan by the government to asylum seekers in the UK sent there?

• Zimbabwe

• Rwanda

• Kenya

Answer explanation

Rwanda - A recent court ruling said the UK government's plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda is unlawful. Rwanda had not provided sufficient safeguards to prove it is a "safe third country", senior Court of Appeal judges ruled in a split decision. It is likely ministers will challenge the ruling in the Supreme Court

Which European city is currently experiencing scenes like this?

• Madrid

• Rome

• Paris

Answer explanation

Paris - Forty-five-thousand police officers have been deployed in France to control rioting. Protests about the use of violence by police have been ongoing following the shooting of a young male motorist during a traffic stop. The UK Foreign Office updated its guidance for Brits visiting France, urging travellers to monitor the media and avoid protests.

The Hajj in the Saudi Arabian city of Mecca has been in the news.. What is the Hajj?

• an ancient monument 

• the palace that houses Saudi Arabia's leader 

• an annual journey or pilgrimage

Answer explanation

an annual journey or pilgrimage - The Hajj (or Haj) is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, the holiest city for Muslims. Hajj is a mandatory religious duty for Muslims that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by all adult Muslims who are physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey. Global price rises are making the journey increasingly expensive for the estimated 1.8 million pilgrims who attended this year.

In which country would you find this landmark?

• China

• United States  

• Australia

Answer explanation

Australia - Ayers Rock/Uluru is the largest monolith in the world and an iconic landmark for the country. The UK and Australia have just agreed to lift the age for people who want to have a 1-year working holiday in the other country to 35 years of age.

Which athlete, considered one of their sport's greatest, announced a return from retirement last week?

• Simone Biles, Gymnastics 

• Tom Brady, American Football 

• Michael Phelps, Swimming

Answer explanation

Simone Biles, Gymnastics - Biles has taken most of the last two years off following the Tokyo Olympics, where her decision to remove herself from multiple events to focus on her mental health shifted the focus from the games themselves to the overall wellness of the athletes

Why is a British tourist in trouble with Italian police?

• He was filmed swimming in the Trevi Fountain

• He was filmed carving his and his girlfriend's name onto the Colosseum

• He was filmed climbing up St Peter's Basilica

Answer explanation

He was filmed carving his and his girlfriend's name onto the Colosseum - Italian officials have vowed to find and punish the tourist who carved “Ivan+Haley 23” on the wall of the Colosseum, a crime that has resulted in hefty fines in the past – up to $15,000 and five years in prison. The vandal was filmed in the act by an American tourist who posted the video on social media after he said Colosseum guards failed to show interest in his footage. The Italian police believe they have identified the man using photographic comparisons

What was unusual about a handbag that recently sold at auction for £50,000?

• It was uncovered at Pompeii and thought to be the world's oldest leather handbag

• It was a microscopic handbag smaller than a grain of salt 

• It was the handbag of Rosa Parks, an icon of the US civil rights movement

Answer explanation

It was a microscopic handbag smaller than a grain of salt - A microscope is needed to view the bag's design, with the tiny object measuring 657 x 222 x 700 micrometres. That is narrow enough to pass through the eye of a needle. The bag features luxury handbag designer Louis Vuitton branding, but has no connection to the brand.

What is the first name of the man shown here who was giving advice to Wimbledon volunteers alongside the Princess of Wales?

• Roger

• Andy

• Novak

Answer explanation

Roger - The Princess of Wales was joined by eight-time champion Roger Federer in a visit to the All England Lawn Tennis Club for a behind-the-scenes look at work of the ball boys and girls who are a key part of the tennis tournament.

What caused South Koreans to technically become younger last week?

• They have officially shifted the county into a different time zone

• They have switched from their own traditional age-counting methods to international standards

• They have set everyone's 'birthday to January 1st in the year they were born

Answer explanation

They have switched from their own traditional age-counting methods to international standards - The law scraps two traditional systems. One that deemed South Koreans one year old at birth, counting time in the womb, and another counted everyone as ageing by a year every first day of January instead of on their birthdays.

Which Commonwealth country has just unveiled these new parliament buildings?

• Canada

• South Africa   

• India

Answer explanation

India - India's new parliament was opened recently amid a political row as 19 opposition parties boycotted the ceremony. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the building at the weekend. But opposition leaders said India's president, the highest constitutional authority, should have opened the new parliamentary buildings