Current Events T3 W10 2025

Which new subject is set to be added to New Zealand secondary schools as part of a future-focused curriculum announced last week?

• Advertising and marketing

• Journalism

• Sports nutrition

Answer explanation

b. Journalism – The Government unveiled a refreshed list of secondary school subjects, including new areas like journalism, civics education, and advanced mathematics. The aim is to better prepare students for future careers, with some subjects to be led by industry experts and others focusing on digital ethics and artificial intelligence.

What infectious disease did the World Health Organisation say last week is no longer considered a global health emergency?

• Mpox

• Zika virus

• Dengue fever

Answer explanation

a. Mpox - The World Health Organisation downgraded Mpox from its highest level of alert following a steady drop in cases in hotspots like the Democratic Republic of the Congo. However, Mpox remains a public health emergency in Africa due to ongoing outbreaks in several countries including Kenya, Ghana, and Liberia.

Last week, all three children of Tom Phillips were found safe after spending nearly four years on the run with their father. Where were they discovered?

• In an abandoned property in Te Kūiti

• In a campsite near Waitomo

• In a makeshift hut on a beach in Kawhia

Answer explanation

b. In a campsite near Waitomo - Tragically Tom Phillips was shot dead after he shot and seriously injured a policeman during a stand-off. One of the children was present at the time. Police later located two of the children in a makeshift campsite near Waitomo. The children are considered to be doing well given the circumstances.

Where did the largest immigration raid in U.S. history take place last week, leading to the arrest of hundreds of workers, including many from South Korea?

• A Boeing aerospace assembly plant

• A Hyundai-LG electric vehicle battery plant

• An Apple electronics manufacturing facility

Answer explanation

b. Hyundai‑LG electric vehicle battery plant – The raid took place at a sprawling $7.6 billion battery factory under construction jointly by Hyundai and LG Energy Solution near Savannah, Georgia. Authorities detained 475 workers, including over 300 South Korean nationals, many of whom were contractors or specialists installing production lines.

Which of the following seasons runs from 1 September to 30 October in New Zealand?

• Whitebait season

• Duck hunting season

• Deer hunting season

Answer explanation

a. Whitebait season – Whitebait are juvenile native fish, mostly species like īnanga, kōaro and banded kōkopu. People typically fish for them in river mouths and tidal streams using fine mesh nets.

Which Indonesian island experienced its worst flooding in a decade last week, killing at least 14 people and forcing evacuations?

• Bali

• Java

• Borneo

Answer explanation

a. Bali – Torrential rain caused rivers to burst their banks, triggering deadly floods and landslides across the island. The flooding damaged roads, bridges and homes, and officials say poor drainage systems and blocked rubbish worsened the situation

Albania made headlines last week for appointing a new government minister. What was unusual about the appointment?

• The minister was only 18 years old

• The minister was created using Artificial Intelligence

• The minister was from another country

Answer explanation

b. The minister was created using Artificial Intelligence - Albania’s prime minister appointed “Diella,” a virtual AI-generated minister, to help tackle corruption and promote transparency. Depicted in traditional Albanian costume, Diella has already worked as a virtual assistant on the e-Albania platform and will now serve as

part of the Cabinet.

What is the $1.4 billion nationwide initiative called Motu Move, which has now been delayed until 2027?

• A new payment system for public transport

• A nationwide fitness initiative in schools

• A rail line upgrade project

Answer explanation

a. A new payment system for public transport – Motu Move is a $1.4 billion initiative to create a unified system for paying on buses, trains, and ferries across New Zealand. Originally expected to launch by 2026, it has now been delayed to late 2027 following concerns that the initial timeline was too ambitious.

Which NATO country shot down Russian drones last week after they entered its airspace, damaging buildings and prompting a warning from its Prime Minister?

• Portugal

• Canada

• Poland

Answer explanation

c. Poland – Polish forces downed multiple Russian-made drones that crossed into the country’s airspace, with at least one damaging a home. Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the incident as a “large-scale provocation” and said it brought Poland closer to war than at any time since the Second World War.

Workers from which major transport network went on strike last week, causing disruption for millions of commuters?

• Paris Metro

• New York Subway

• London Underground

Answer explanation

c. London Underground – The strike was organised by the RMT union after workers rejected a 3.4% pay rise and called for reduced working hours. The five-day walkout caused widespread disruption across the capital’s transport system, which usually carries up to five million passengers a day.