Test yourself on the week of May 2: The U.S. announces a drawdown in Germany, Taiwan’s president concludes a foreign visit, and Sudan lobs accusations at Ethiopia.
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Test yourself on the week of May 2: The U.S. announces a drawdown in Germany, Taiwan’s president concludes a foreign visit, and Sudan lobs accusations at Ethiopia.
By Drew Gorman, a deputy copy editor at Foreign Policy.
Colombian singer Shakira performs during a free concert at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro.
Colombian singer Shakira performs during a free concert at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro on May 2. (Photo by Pablo PORCIUNCULA/AFP via Getty Images)
Politics
May 8, 2026, 4:18 PM
Obviously, we all spent this week watching highlights from Shakira’s weekend performance in Rio de Janeiro. But did you remember to follow along with this week’s newsier stories? Find out with our international quiz!
Have feedback? Email [email protected] to let me know your thoughts.
Obviously, we all spent this week watching highlights from Shakira’s weekend performance in Rio de Janeiro. But did you remember to follow along with this week’s newsier stories? Find out with our international quiz!
1. On Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States will significantly reduce its military presence in Germany. Trump’s remark came several days after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Washington was being humiliated by what?
The war in Iran reveals that middle powers’ cooperation does not lead to much influence on the global stage, FP’s C. Raja Mohan argues.
2. This week, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a two-day cease-fire in his country’s war in Ukraine for May 8 and 9 to mark the anniversary of what?
Ukraine and its European partners are holding their breath on the future of U.S. military aid to Kyiv, which now appears dependent on the war in Iran, FP’s Sam Skove reports.
3. Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te on Monday concluded a trip to which African country? (Hint: It’s the only nation that Taipei has diplomatic relations with on the continent.)
Lai’s trip comes a month after a visit to China by the chair of Taiwan’s opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party—the first such visit by a KMT sitting leader in a decade, Deng Yuwen wrote at the time.
4. Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo appointed a new attorney general on Tuesday to replace Consuelo Porras, who had been sanctioned by 40 countries for doing what?
Arévalo won the country’s election in 2023 despite efforts by the outgoing government to derail a democratic transition of power, former FP staff writer Robbie Gramer reported in 2024.
5. What did Sudan accuse Ethiopia of doing in an allegation made on Tuesday?
Alongside Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates has funneled resources to the Rapid Support Forces in its ongoing war against the Sudanese military. Washington must confront Abu Dhabi over its role in prolonging the conflict, Suha Musa argued in November.
6. The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed on Wednesday that three patients with suspected hantavirus infections were being evacuated from a cruise ship that originally departed from Argentina last month. How is hantavirus usually transmitted to humans?
Officials said on Tuesday that Argentina had recorded 101 infections since last June, roughly twice as many as the year before, FP’s Catherine Osborn reports in Latin America Brief.
7. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that “no terrorist has immunity,” a day after what happened?
The precision strike in Lebanese territory was the first such attack on Beirut’s southern suburbs since the Israel-Hezbollah cease-fire went into effect last month, FP’s Alexandra Sharp reports in World Brief.
8. On Friday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer insisted that he would not resign despite major losses by his Labour Party in local elections the day before. Which political party made major gains in those elections?
Starmer’s administration reflects decades of backbiting and pettiness, resulting in a dysfunctional and unpopular government, John Kampfner argued in February.
9. On Saturday, South Korea hosted a contest featuring nearly 200 attendees who competed to see who was the best at doing what?
Contestants were judged based in part on how well they could stay asleep when faced with distractions, such as being tickled with a feather and hearing mosquito sounds, the Korea Heraldreports.
10. Colombian singer Shakira performed her biggest show ever at the Copacabana Palace in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday. What was the estimated turnout for the free show?
Mega-shows in Rio have drawn other high-profile artists such as Madonna and Lady Gaga in recent years, Reuters reports.
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Drew Gorman is a deputy copy editor at Foreign Policy.
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