Global Happenings
This global conflict, ongoing since 2022, continued into its fourth year in 2025.
What is the Russia–Ukraine War?
This type of technology exploded into everyday use in 2025, helping people write, research, and automate tasks across work and school.
What is generative AI?
This major awards show celebrates the best films each year and was held in March 2025 and 2026 in Hollywood.
What are the Academy Awards (Oscars)?
Which countries are hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
What is the US, Canada and Mexico?
In Canada, citizens vote in federal elections to choose members of this national legislative body.
What is the House of Commons?
This war in the Middle East saw a fragile ceasefire in 2025 after years of conflict.
What is the Israel–Hamas war?
This company unveiled new “Gemini” AI models and features at its 2026 developer conference.
What is Google?
This film won Best Picture at the 2025 Oscars (held March 2, 2025).
What is Anora?
This athlete broke records in the 100m sprint.
Who is Noah Lyles?
This international alliance, originally formed in 1949, includes the U.S. and Canada and focuses on collective defense.
What is NATO?
In January 2025, this U.S. leader was inaugurated for a second, nonconsecutive term as president.
Who is Donald Trump?
In 2025, this emerging form of AI began acting independently to complete multi-step tasks, moving beyond simple chatbots into “digital workers.”
What are AI agents (or autonomous AI agents)?
This global superstar made headlines in 2025 after finally winning Album of the Year at the Grammys for Cowboy Carter.
Who is Beyoncé?
This tennis legend retired after a final Wimbledon win.
Who is Roger Federer?
This international organization, headquartered in New York City, brings countries together to address global issues like peace and security.
What is the United Nations?
In 2025, this religious milestone occurred when Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost became the first person from this country to be elected pope.
What is the United States?
This field of computing made major breakthroughs in 2025–2026, with companies like Google and IBM demonstrating systems that can outperform classical computers on certain problems.
What is quantum computing?
In 2025, this pop icon dominated headlines not just for music but for her high-profile relationship with NFL star Travis Kelce.
Who is Taylor Swift?
This quarterback was named MVP after leading the Philadelphia Eagles to victory in Super Bowl LIX in February 2025.
Who is Jalen Hurts?
This Prime Minister frequently made headlines in recent years for both political decisions and his public image on the global stage.
Who is Justin Trudeau?
This international annual gathering in Switzerland brought world leaders together in early 2026 to discuss rising global risks like conflict, economic rivalry, and climate pressures.
What is the World Economic Forum (Davos)?
In 2025–2026, this type of wearable technology, including smart glasses with built‑in AI features, began gaining attention as a potential replacement for smartphones.
What are smart glasses (or AI-powered smart glasses)?
In 2025, this film stood out at the Oscars by earning the most nominations of any non-English-language film in Academy Awards history.
What is Emilia Pérez?
This trophy is awarded annually to the most valuable player during the NHL’s postseason, often going to a standout performer in the Stanley Cup Finals.
What is the Conn Smythe Trophy?
In 2026, rising tensions between major world powers were often described using this term for competition over trade, technology, and influence.
What is geopolitical (or great-power) competition?