1) A ceasefire was signed Friday in what part of the world?
a) Ukraine
b) Gaza Strip
c) Syria
d) Iraq
The agreement calls for the withdrawal of heavy weaponry from Eastern Ukraine, an exchange of prisoners, and the distribution of humanitarian aid to Ukranian affected by the fighting.
https://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/06/world/europe/ukraine-cease-fire.html?_r=0
2) United States airstrikes in Somalia killed Ahmed Abdi Godane last week. Godane was the leader of what terrorist group?
c) Al-Shabaab
Al-Shabaab means "The Youth" or "The Youngsters" in Arabic and the group is based in Eastern Africa.
https://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/05/us-somalia-usa-islamist-idUSKBN0H01OO20140905
3) Journalist Steven Sotloff was beheaded last week. What group killed him?
c) ISIS
ISIS has said that the beheading was in response to American airstrikes in ISIS in Syria.
https://www.latimes.com/world/europe/la-fg-sotloff-video-20140903-story.html
4) Last week, President Obama announced that he has decided to put off acting on what issue until after November’s Congressional election?
d) Immigration
Earlier in the summer, President Obama had promised to overhaul the immigration system through executive order, essentially bypassing Congress in the process.
https://bigstory.ap.org/article/apnewsbreak-obama-delay-immigration-action
5) Former Virginia Bob McDonnell was convicted on corruption-related charges last week. On how many different counts was he convicted?
d) 11
McDonnell’s wife Maureen was convicted on nine counts. The charges relate to loans and gifts given to the couple by businessman Jonnie R. Williams Sr. while McDonnell was governor.
https://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/05/us/bob-mcdonnell-maureen-mcdonnell-virginia-verdict.html
6) Electric car company Tesla recently announced that it is going to build its new battery “gigafactory” in what state?
c) Nevada
A number of states were competing with each other to win the contract for the factory, which is predicted to bring thousands of jobs to Nevada. Tesla intends to manufacture the batteries for its electric cars at the factory.
7) Al Qaeda recently announced that it is opening up a branch in what country?
a) India
The announcement was made in a video released by Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahari.
8) During a speech given on Labor Day, President Obama asked Congress to do what?
d) Raise the minimum wage
Opponents argue that raising the minimum wage would kill job growth. President Obama countered that argument by pointing out that the states that have already raised the minimum wage have seen better job growth than those that have not.
9) What nation recently announced that it is going to confine its citizens to their homes for three days in an effort to prevent the spread of the Ebola virus?
c) Sierra Leone
The military is being charged with enforcing the quarantine.
10) What woman won Sunday’s U.S. Open tennis championship?
d) Serena Williams
It was Williams’ eighteenth Grand Slam title, tying her with Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova for the all-time record.