Main Events in 2024 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Japan

Japan became the fifth country (after the U.S., Russia, China, and India) to achieve a soft landing on the Moon, with its Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) mission. The feat was a win for the Japanese after a string of recent failures.

SLIM landed at the edge of the Shioli crater in the equatorial region of the Moon's near side. It used "pinpoint landing" technology to achieve a precise landing. The mission was to test new navigation and landing systems, and to analyze the Moon's rock composition.

Answer: Germany

Germany overtook Japan as the third largest economy in the world. Japan slipped into recession due to the weakening of the yen, and an ageing and shrinking population. The yen has been on a continual slide since early 2021 ,and over the last three years, the yen has been reduced to more than one-third of its value.

Over the last 20 years, Japan's average real growth rate was only 0.7% and real wages fell around 11%. A stagnant or decreasing price level was also experienced. Over the last three decades, consumption has slumped due to workers' wages remaining almost at the same level.

According to 2024 IMF (International Monetary Fund) report, the GDP of Germany stood at $4.59 trillion and Japan was at $4.11 trillion.

Answer: United Arab Emirates (UAE)

The UAE recorded its largest rainfall of more than 250mm (9.8 inches) in less than 24 hours since 1949. The heavy rain flooded Dubai airport and killed at least 18 people in nearby Oman. The rain flooded streets, uprooted palm trees, and shattered building facades. Flights were cancelled, traffic came to a halt, and schools were closed.

About 100mm (3.9 inches) of rain fell over the course of just 12 hours according to weather observations at the airport in Dubai. This is what Dubai usually recorded for an entire year, according to UN Data.

Answer: Lawrence Wong

For only the fourth time in its history, Singapore had a change in leadership. Lee Hsien Loong (born 1952), prime minister since 2004, handed over the premiership to his deputy, Lawrence Wong (born 1972). Lawrence Wong is the leader of the fourth generation of leadership of the People's Action Party (PAP), the ruling party since independence in 1965.

Wong entered politics in 2011, serving in several ministerial positions including defence, education, finance, and national development. After successfully leading Singapore in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, he was chosen in early 2022 as a leader of the next generation by his fellow cabinet ministers through a selection process that excluded Lee and other senior ministers.

Heng Swee Kiat (born 1961) and Gan Kim Yong (born 1959) were selected as deputy prime ministers.

Answer: Failed to win a majority of the vote

For the first time in South Africa's democratic history, the ANC failed to win a majority of the vote. In the 2019 election, the ANC achieved 57.5% and 230 seats. In the 2024 election, they won 40.18% of the vote and 159 seats. As compared to 2019, they suffered a decrease of 17.32% of the vote and a loss of 71 seats.

Continuous high unemployment, power cuts, violent crime, and degraded infrastructure, apparently led to many voters seeking to punish the ruling party over the last 30 years. The Democratic Alliance won 21.81% of the vote with 87 seats. uMkhonto weSizwe won 14.58% of the vote with 58 seats.

Answer: Spain and Argentina

The UEFA is the Union of European Football Associations. In 17th edition of its tournament, Spain defeated England 2-1 in the final to win their fourth UEFA European championship title (after 1964, 2008, 2012).

In the 48th edition of the Copa America (South America's ruling football body) tournament, Argentina beat Columbia 1-0 to win their record-breaking 16th Copa America title (after 1921, 1925, 1927, 1929, 1937, 1941, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1991, 1993, 2001).

Answer: Held in River Seine

For the first time in the history of the Olympic Summer Games, the Opening Ceremony did not take place in a stadium. Paris 2024 was breaking new ground by hosting the ceremony in the heart of city along its main artery: the Seine.

10,714 athletes from 204 countries participated in the Games from July 26 to August 11 in 329 events in 32 sports. In the overall medal tally (gold-silver-bronze), the U.S. topped the table with 40-44-23, sending China to second place with 40-27-34. Japan was third with 20-12-13. Australia was fourth with 18-19-16. The host nation, France, finished fifth with 16-26-22.

Answer: Quota system for government job

The demonstrations first started at university campuses in June after the High Court reinstated a quota system for government jobs, which ruled out a 2018 decision by Hasina's government to scrap it. The quota system in Bangladesh requires the Civil Service to offer a certain number of jobs to member of certain groups, including descendants of freedom fights from the Bangladesh Liberation War, religious and ethnic minorities, underrepresented districts and disable people.

This eventually led to a massive protest against Sheik Hasina (born 1947), who had been in power for 15 years from 2009 to 2024. The protestors stormed her official residence after weeks of anti-government demonstrations. Hasina was forced to resign and fled to India. Since Hasina's resignation, the Supreme Court suspended the high court order after government's appeal. They then dismissed the lower court order to allow 93% of jobs should be open to candidates on merit.

On August 8, Hasina was officially replaced by Muhammad Yunus (born 1940), an economist, entrepreneur, politician and civil society leader to lead the interim government

Answer: U.K.

In 1882, the U.K. started coal power generation for public use. The Holborn Viaduct power station in London, the first coal-fired power station in the world, was completed by Thomas Edison's company at that time.

The Group of Seven (G7) members are major advanced industrial countries, and include the U.S.A, U.K., Japan, France, Germany, Italy, and Canada. The U.K. became the first G7 country to phase out coal power for electric generation, after 142 years of using the energy source.

Answer: Mexico

Claudia Sheinbaum (born 1962) won a landslide victory to become Mexico's first female president against outgoing leader Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. Her popularity among the poor helped drive her triumph. She won the presidency with between 58.3% and 60.7% of the vote, which is set to be the highest vote percentage in Mexico's democratic history.

Sheinbaum, a scientist and academic, had previously served as Head of Government in Mexico City from 2018 to 2023.

Answer: Second non-consecutive term in history

Donald Trump (born 14 June 1946) became the second man elected on a non-consecutive term (after Grover Cleveland). He will be 79 years old when he is officially inaugurated in January 20, 2025, which makes him one year older than Joe Biden when Biden was inaugurated in 2021.

He won the 2016 presidential election against Hilary Clinton for his first term. In the 2024 election, he won 49.9% of the vote against Kamala Harris, who polled 48.4%.

Answer: Jeju Air

On that day, a Jeju Air plane which carried 181 people from Thailand to South Korea's island, Jeju, crashed on arrival at Muan International Airport. The plane was trying to land without landing gear. The two survivors were the two flight attendants who were seated near the back of the plane.

South Korean Acting President Choi Sang-mok declared a seven-day national mourning period until January 4, 2025.

Authorities cited the likely reasons for the crash were due to a bird strike and adverse weather conditions. Passengers were flung out of the plane, which was left "almost completely destroyed", according to fire officials.