The 2010's

On January 12, 2010, a devastating earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale struck this country

• Haiti

• Japan

• Philippines

• New Zealand

Answer explanation

The quake resulted in an estimated death toll of over 200,000 people, and the destruction of much of the country’s infrastructure. Despite international relief efforts, many Haitians remain in dire need of aid, with thousands still living in makeshift tents. This tragedy has left many Haitians struggling to rebuild their lives and homes, and in need of continued support from the international community.

This phenomenon began in late 2010 and quickly spread across the Middle East and North Africa. The uprisings were triggered by several causes, including economic grievances, political repression, lack of civil liberties, and corruption.

• Arab Spring

• Muslim Winter

• Fall of the Middle East

• Palestinian Conflict

Answer explanation

The revolutionary wave of protests, demonstrations, and civil unrest saw millions of people take to the streets to demand change and challenge the status quo. The Arab Spring saw the overthrow of long-serving autocratic leaders in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and Yemen and sparked a wave of reform throughout the region. In addition, the Arab Spring brought about a new wave of regional cooperation and a renewed focus on democratic ideals and human rights.

In 2013, this person, a former employee of the National Security Agency, revealed a vast trove of previously undisclosed information about the NSA’s secret surveillance programs.

• Julian Assange

• Nicolas Maduro

• Edward Snowden

• Alejandro Mayorkas

Answer explanation

The documents revealed that the NSA had been collecting the personal data and communications of millions of people without their knowledge. The Snowden leaks demonstrated that the NSA had been operating a massive, global surveillance network and raised serious questions about the agency’s disregard for privacy rights and civil liberties.

Which country experienced a devastating tsunami in 2011, leading to a nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant?

• China

• South Korea

• Japan

• India

Answer explanation

Occurred in northeastern Japan on March 11, 2011. The event began with a powerful earthquake off the northeastern coast of Honshu, Japan’s main island, which caused widespread damage on land and initiated a series of large tsunami waves that devastated many coastal areas of the country, most notably in the Tōhoku region (northeastern Honshu).

Which country faced a severe economic crisis in 2015, leading to capital controls and a bailout referendum?

• Greece

• Spain

• Portugal

• Italy

Answer explanation

Greece faced a sovereign debt crisis in the aftermath of the financial crisis of 2007–2008. It reached the populace as a series of sudden reforms and austerity measures that led to impoverishment and loss of income and property, as well as a small-scale humanitarian crisis. In all, the Greek economy suffered the longest recession of any advanced mixed economy to date.

Which country experienced a major political uprising known as the 'Yellow Vest Movement' in 2018?

• France

• Germany

• Italy

• Spain

Answer explanation

The Yellow Vests Protests or Yellow Jackets Protests or Yellow Vests Revolution are a series of populist, grassroots weekly protests in France that began on 17 November 2018.

Which country experienced a major political uprising known as the 'Umbrella Movement' in 2014?

• Thailand

• South Korea

• Hong Kong

• Malaysia

Answer explanation

A series of sit-in street protests, often called the Umbrella Revolution and sometimes used interchangeably with Umbrella Movement, or Occupy Movement, occurred in Hong Kong from 26 September to 15 December 2014.

In 2016, this country voted to leave the European Union in a referendum commonly known as 'Brexit'. Which country is it?

• Germany

• France

• United Kingdom

• Italy

Answer explanation

Following a referendum on 23 June 2016, Brexit officially took place at 23:00 GMT on 31 January 2020. The UK is the only sovereign country to have left the EU. The UK had been a member state of the EU or its predecessor, the European Communities (EC), since 1 January 1973.

It is an online democracy and human rights movement consisting mainly of netizens from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, and Myanmar.

• Three Noodle Rallies

• Red Shirt Movement

• Dumpling Protests

• Milk Tea Alliance

Answer explanation

It originally started as an internet meme, created in response to the increased presence of Chinese nationalist commentators on social media and has evolved into a dynamic multinational protest movement against authoritarianism and advocating democracy.

In 2014, this country faced a separatist movement in the region of Donetsk and Luhansk. Which country is it?

• Ukraine

• Poland

• Russia

• Belarus