Topic 3 Continued
What proportion of St. Louis residents are housing cost-burdened?
1/3
On January 1st, which country adopts the euro, becoming the 21st member state of the eurozone?
Bulgaria.
On what day does the U.S. air force conduct a large bombing raid on Kharg island?
March 13th.
After the capture of President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces, this politician was formally sworn in as acting president of Venezuela on January 5, 2026. She had previously served as the country's vice president. For 50 points: name this acting president of Venezuela.
Delcy Rodríguez.
This technology company was founded in 2002 by Elon Musk and developed the Falcon 9 rocket, Dragon spacecraft, and Starlink satellite constellation. In 2026, its initial public offering made Musk the world's first U.S. dollar trillionaire. For 50 points: name this aerospace company whose IPO took place on June 12, 2026.
SpaceX.
Between 2017 and 2022, a total of how many homes were purchased in St. Louis City and County?
74,282 homes.
On what day did the U.S. officially leave the World Health Organization?
January 22nd.
On March 8th, in the 2026 Colombian parliamentary election, which party wins a plurality of seats in the Chamber of Representatives and the Senate?
President Gustavo Petro's party Historic Pact.
This trade pact was years in the making, with negotiations beginning in 2007 and stalling over issues such as tariffs on automobiles, agricultural products, and intellectual property protections. It was finally concluded in 2026 after nearly two decades of talks. For 50 points: name the agreement signed on January 27, 2026, eliminating tariffs on a broad range of products and services between India and the European Union.
India–European Union Free Trade Agreement (India–EU Free Trade Agreement)
This nation has maintained a policy of military neutrality for much of its modern history, though it has increasingly cooperated with NATO and other Western allies in recent decades. It also administers Greenland, the world's largest island. For 50 points: name this country that launched Operation Arctic Endurance on January 14, 2026.
Denmark.
A Non-Black single homebuyer has a median income what percent higher than that of a Black couple in St.Louis?
Nearly 10%.
On March 16th, how many people are killed and injured in Pakistani airstrikes on a hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan?
At least 400 people are killed and more than 250 injured.
The United Arab Emirates.
Designed by Antoni Gaudí, this unfinished basilica has been under construction since 1882 and is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Spain. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005 and is expected to be completed in the coming decade. For 50 points: name this church in Barcelona whose tallest tower was blessed by Pope Leo XIV on June 10, 2026, making it the world's tallest church.
Sagrada Família (Basílica de la Sagrada Família)
This country has hosted the Winter Olympics twice before, in Cortina d'Ampezzo in 1956 and Turin in 2006. It became the first nation to host the Games in two separate cities simultaneously. For 50 points: name this country that hosted the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo.
Italy.
Homes purchased by Non-Black couples spend what percent fewer days on the market than those of Black couples?
20%
On what day is Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Ali Khamenei, is selected as the third Supreme Leader of Iran?
March 8th.
On what day does the World Health Organization declare an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern?
May 16.
This strategic waterway connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and handles roughly one-fifth of the world's oil shipments. Throughout history, tensions involving Iran have repeatedly raised concerns over disruptions to global energy markets. For 50 points: name the strait that Iran closed on February 28, 2026, by attacking vessels attempting to pass through it.
Strait of Hormuz
This country is home to the world's largest known coltan reserves, a mineral essential for manufacturing smartphones, laptops, and other electronics. Armed groups have long competed for control of its mining regions. For 50 points: name this country where successive mine collapses at the Rubaya coltan mine killed more than 600 people on January 28, 2026.
Democratic Republic of the Congo.
For single Black homebuyers, the median income is only what percent of their Non-Black counterparts?
60%
What was the name of the NASA lunar flyby mission launched on April 1st?
Artemis II
On June 8th, a powerful earthquake of what magnitude strikes the Philippines?
Magnitude 7.8
This annual climate phenomenon is characterized by unusually warm sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. It often influences rainfall, hurricanes, droughts, and temperatures around the world. For 50 points: name this weather pattern that NOAA declared had begun on June 11, 2026.
El Niño
This international treaty, signed in 2010, limited deployed strategic nuclear warheads and launchers between the United States and Russia. It was the last remaining major nuclear arms control agreement between the two countries. For 50 points: name this treaty, which expired on February 5, 2026
New START Treaty.