Current Events T3 W6 2025

What is the name of the city where Donald Trump has taken over the police force and brought in the National Guard to “restore law and order”?

• New York City

• Los Angeles

• Washington DC

Answer explanation

c. Washington D.C. - President Donald Trump ordered 800 National Guard troops into Washington, D.C., and announced a federal takeover of the city’s police force, saying it was to crack down on crime. A similar move had already been made in Los Angeles earlier this year, and many politicians, residents and activists are strongly opposed, arguing it undermines local control and that crime rates in the capital have actually been falling.

Four astronauts splashed down in the Pacific Ocean last week after completing a five-month mission to the International Space Station. Why had they been sent to the ISS?

• To build a new telescope on the space station

• To help replace stranded astronauts from a faulty Boeing mission

• To deliver supplies and return with rock samples from the Moon

Answer explanation

b. To help replace stranded astronauts from a faulty Boeing mission - NASA sent the crew to the ISS after technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner capsule left two astronauts stuck in orbit for over nine months. The four astronauts – from the US, Japan and Russia – travelled on a SpaceX capsule and returned safely to Earth in a splashdown off the coast of Southern California.

The South Wairarapa District Council is proposing to block road access to the southernmost point of the North Island. What is the name of this location?

• Cape Reinga

• Cape Runaway

• Cape Palliser

Answer explanation

c. Cape Palliser - The council says four-wheel drives and campers have caused damage to native plants, posed a fire risk, and disrespected wāhi tapu and historic pā sites along the coast. Local hapū support the proposal, but surfers and community members are calling for consultation to find a better solution.

Mondo Duplantis broke his own world record for the 13th time last week with a 6.29 metre effort. Which athletic sport does he compete in?

• Pole vault

• Long jump

• Shot put

Answer explanation

a. Pole vault - Swedish athlete Mondo Duplantis cleared 6.29 metres at a meet in Budapest, raising his own world record for the 13th time. He has become the dominant figure in pole vaulting, having set and broken records consistently since 2020.

Why was Kmart New Zealand warned by the Commerce Commission last week?

• For making false claims about clothing being NZ made

• For raising prices on essential items during a sale

• For making unproven claims about using 100% sustainably sourced cotton

Answer explanation

c. For making unproven claims about using 100% sustainably sourced cotton - The Commerce Commission found that Kmart’s claim was misleading, as the cotton used in its products included a mix of conventional and “Better Cotton” sources. The Commission said businesses must be able to back up any environmental claims they make.

What happened when the Chinese navy was trying to stop a Philippine ship from entering disputed waters last week?

• A Chinese warship sank after hitting a reef

• A Chinese warship collided with one of its own coast guard vessels

• A US Navy ship intervened and forced China to retreat

Answer explanation

b. A Chinese warship collided with one of its own coast guard vessels - While pursuing Philippine boats in the South China Sea, a Chinese naval ship accidentally struck a Chinese coast guard vessel. The incident highlights the increasing risk of accidents and conflict in the disputed waters, where both countries continue to assert competing territorial claims.

McDonald's Japan cancelled a popular Pokémon Happy Meal campaign last week. What caused the promotion to end early?

• The Pokémon cards included a printing error

• Adults were buying the meals just to resell the Pokémon cards and throwing the food away

• Children were being injured by toys included in the meals

Answer explanation

b. Adults were buying the meals just to resell the Pokémon cards and throwing the food away - McDonald's Japan ended its limited time Pokémon promotion early after adults rushed to buy Happy Meals only for the collectible cards, discarding uneaten meals in piles outside stores. The company apologised and pledged to prevent similar incidents in future by limiting purchases and enforcing new rules.

The Government revealed the cost of cancelling the project for two new Interisland ferries last week. How much had already been spent?

• $671 million

• $800 million

• $1.4 billion

Answer explanation

a. $671 million - The total cost of the cancelled iReX ferry project reached $671m, including $449m on infrastructure and $222m paid to shipbuilders Hyundai Mipo Dockyard. The Government pulled out of the project last year after estimated costs blew out to $3 billion, far beyond the original budget.

Where did UK authorities recently discover a 180-tonne mass of wet wipes?

• In the London sewer system

• In the River Thames

• On Brighton Beach

Answer explanation

b. In the River Thames - Authorities uncovered a huge mound of congealed wet wipes in the Thames, weighing around 180 tonnes and covering an area the size of two tennis courts. The mass, nicknamed "Wet Wipe Island", is thought to weigh as much as 15 double-decker buses and is being removed as part of a major clean-up operation.

A British girl has become the youngest female chess player to defeat a grandmaster. How old is she?

• 10

• 15

• 18

Answer explanation

a. 10 - British junior Bodhana Sivanandan achieved this historic victory at just 10 years, five months and three days old, defeating grandmaster Peter Wells at the 2025 British Chess Championships. She now holds the Woman International Master title and is aiming to become a grandmaster herself.