How well have you kept up with the week's stories? Take the quiz and find out.
Sat 17 Jan 2026 01.00
1. What is the Randa Abdel-Fattah’s 2025 novel set against the backdrop of Israel’s invasion of Gaza?
2. According to new data from NASA, where does 2025 sit in the list of hottest years on record?
3. Which branch of Iran’s military was listed as a “state sponsor of terrorism” in Australia last year?
4. Which is the eastern-most state of the USA?
5. In a recent poll, what percentage of Greenlanders said they wished to remain part of the Kingdom of Denmark: 25%, 50% or 75%? 75%
6. Which crustacean has the biological name of Cherax destructor?
7. Which two Australian states have only one Greens senator?
8. Which former women’s world number 1 tennis players lost her opening round match at the Hobart International?
9. What began on 17 January 1920 in the USA?
10. What is the nickname of Alyssa Healy, who announced her retirement from cricket this week?
11. After the President, Vice President, House and Senate leaders, who is next in the order of succession to the US Presidency?
12. Kazem Hamad, described as Australia’s ‘illegal tobacco kingpin’, was arrested in which country?
13. St Georges Terrace is the main street of which Australian capital city?
14. What is the name of the Thomas Keneally novel which inspired the award-winning 1983 film Schindler’s List?
15. What is the occupation of Adelaide mother-of-two Katherine Bennell-Pegg, who was South Australia’s Australian of the Year in 2025?
16. Cricket’s T20 World Cup begins next month. Who will captain Australia for the tournament?
17. Joe Hockey described which former Liberal leader as a “no brainer” to succeed Kevin Rudd as Australia’s Ambassador to the US?
18. According to legend, what happened in Chile’s Atacama Desert for the first time in 400 years, in 1971?
19. Who said to Bob Hawke in 1990: “I want you to know, Bob, that I am here today, at this time, because of you”?
20. What percentage of Australian wine bottles are sealed by traditional corks?
Scroll for answers…
1. What is the Randa Abdel-Fattah’s 2025 novel set against the backdrop of Israel’s invasion of Gaza? Discipline
2. According to new data from NASA, where does 2025 sit in the list of hottest years on record? Second
3. Which branch of Iran’s military was listed as a “state sponsor of terrorism” in Australia last year? The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
4. Which is the eastern-most state of the USA? Alaska (The state’s Aleutian Islands straddle the international date line)
5. In a recent poll, what percentage of Greenlanders said they wished to remain part of the Kingdom of Denmark? 75%
6. Which crustacean has the biological name of Cherax destructor? The yabby
7. Which two Australian states have only one Greens senator? Victoria (after Lidia Thorpe’s 2023 defection) and WA
8. Which former women’s world number 1 tennis players lost her opening round match at the Hobart International? Venus Williams
9. What began on 17 January 1920 in the USA? Prohibition
10. What is the nickname of Alyssa Healy, who announced her retirement from cricket this week? Midge
11. After the President, Vice President, House and Senate leaders, who is next in the order of succession to the US Presidency? The Secretary of State
12. Kazem Hamad, described as Australia’s ‘illegal tobacco kingpin’, was arrested in which country? Iraq
13. St Georges Terrace is the main street of which Australian capital city? Perth
14. What is the name of the Thomas Keneally novel which inspired the award-winning 1983 film Schindler’s List? Schindler’s Ark
15. What is the occupation of Adelaide mother-of-two Katherine Bennell-Pegg, who was South Australia’s Australian of the Year in 2025? Astronaut
16. Cricket’s T20 World Cup begins next month. Who will captain Australia for the tournament? Mitchell Marsh
17. Joe Hockey described which former Liberal leader as a “no brainer” to succeed Kevin Rudd as Australia’s Ambassador to the US? Peter Dutton
18. According to legend, what happened in Chile’s Atacama Desert for the first time in 400 years, in 1971? It rained
19. Who said to Bob Hawke in 1990: “I want you to know, Bob, that I am here today, at this time, because of you”? Nelson Mandela
20. What percentage of Australian wine bottles are sealed by traditional corks? Less than 1%
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The NSW Government is yet to address whether it will extend its temporary ban on public gatherings in designated areas, with police working on contingencies for mass rallies against Australia Day.
Authoritarianism and its brutal brother fascism are rising all around us. They thrive on controlling, squashing and censoring ideas they do not like. I refuse to participate in that.
The Australia Institute’s decision to withdraw its involvement in, and sponsorship of, Adelaide Writers’ Week was easy to make but raises difficult questions. As a research-based think tank, we thrive in the cut and thrust of disagreement, and we regularly participate in events, debates, and conversations with people we disagree with.
