March 22 Weekly News Quiz: How Long Has Putin Been in Power?

Vladimir Putin ascended to power in 2000 and is on track to extend his leadership with another six-year term after winning over 87% of the 2024 votes. He’s presently raking 24 years at Russia’s helm. This election comes amidst Russia’s ongoing involvement in Ukraine and its significant global geopolitical implications.

India is the world’s largest democracy. From April 19 to June 1, 2024, nearly 970 million eligible voters will participate in a month-long electoral process. This colossal democratic exercise showcases citizens’ vibrant political engagement across 28 states and eight union territories. They vote in seven phases to elect 543 members to the Lok Sabha. In this latest democratic spectacle, Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeks a third term.

The Alabama Supreme Court dropped a legal bombshell in February 2024, sparking a heated debate far beyond its borders. The court ruled that frozen embryos, those tiny biological blueprints for future humans created during IVF treatments, are to be considered children under state law. This groundbreaking decision has left fertility clinics in a quandary. In response, several healthcare providers in Alabama have paused IVF services. They’re navigating through the murky waters of legal liabilities and ethical dilemmas, wondering if a Petri dish might now need a nursery.

In March 2024, McDonald’s faced an unexpected challenge. A global IT outage impacted several countries, leading to restaurant closures and issues with digital ordering systems.

In a groundbreaking move that has left the rest of Europe in a haze of envy, Malta, Luxembourg, and, most recently, Germany in late February 2024 has blazed a trail by legalizing cannabis for recreational use. Malta lit the first joint among EU countries, passing legislation to allow cannabis recreational use. Not wanting to be left out of the pot party, Luxembourg soon followed suit, making history as the second EU country to legalize the leaf. Germany, not to be outdone and always keen to be seen as über cool, joined this exclusive club in 2024. This trio of countries has distinguished themselves by establishing specific frameworks that allow for the controlled sale and consumption of cannabis under certain conditions. This has set a new gold (or, should we say, green) standard in cannabis policy. The Netherlands, Spain, and Portugal might seem like they’re rolling with the times, but they’ve just decriminalized or tolerated cannabis to varying extents. Legalization? Not quite.

In a digital age twist on the classic tale of Icarus flying too close to the sun, Google’s AI, Gemini, soared a tad too high in its quest for diversity. Shortly after its launch, Gemini found itself in hot water for applying a 21st-century filter to historical scenes, leading to a collage of anachronisms. From generating non-white depictions of WWII German soldiers to reimagining the Founding Fathers with a modern diversity twist, Gemini’s noble intentions of inclusivity inadvertently led to a historical mashup that would leave any history buff scratching their head. Recognizing the faux pas, Google announced it would pause Gemini’s people-generating prowess to recalibrate its history compass.

In a world where technology often shouts for our attention, Samsung’s Galaxy Ring whispers a lullaby of innovation. Launched amidst the digital fanfare of the Galaxy S24 series, this smart ring marks Samsung’s foray into the burgeoning realm of sleep and fitness tracking — all from the discreet convenience of your finger. Unlike its more ostentatious cousins, the smartwatches, the Galaxy Ring eschews the pomp of notifications for the subtlety of health insights.

The 2024 Ruth Bader Ginsburg Leadership Award, an accolade that honors exemplary leadership and achievements, found its way into the hands of a rather eclectic group this year. This group included Elon Musk, Rupert Murdoch, Sylvester Stallone, Martha Stewart, and Michael Milken. Announced in March 2024 by the Dwight D. Opperman Foundation, this selection stirred quite the pot, eliciting a strong reaction from the late Justice Ginsburg’s family. They expressed their dismay, suggesting that the foundation’s choice deviated significantly from the award’s original mission and the values that Justice Ginsburg championed throughout her career.

Jeff Koons became the first human artist to place his artwork on the Moon in an artistic leap for humankind. This was aboard the Odysseus spacecraft by Intuitive Machines. On this historic mission, Koons’ “Moon Phases” sculpture series was transported to the lunar surface, making it the first “authorized” art installation on the Moon. The “Moon Phases” sculptures, each representing different phases of the Moon, were encased in a transparent box and now reside on the lunar surface. This celestial gallery opening, held on Feb. 22, 2024, without an audience but with potentially infinite viewers in the future, marks a monumental moment in both the art world and space exploration history.

Fun fact: Intuitive Machines was the first private business to land a spacecraft on the Moon, marking the United States’ return to the lunar surface after half a century.

Banksy, the enigmatic street artist whose identity is as hidden as the meaning behind his art, typically confirms his works in a very 21st-century way: Instagram. On March 18, 2024, following a weekend of speculation and the appearance of a mural in North London’s Finsbury Park, Banksy took to Instagram to post before-and-after photos of the artwork, thereby stamping his anonymous seal of approval.

In a world where the past is a playground for the present’s storytelling, FX’s “Shogun” catapults us back to the dawn of the 17th century, specifically the year 1600. It’s a meticulously crafted dive into feudal Japan, a time when samurais weren’t just an excellent Halloween costume idea but the real deal. The series takes a page—or, in this case, several hundred pages—from James Clavell’s 1975 novel.

The original animated series “Avatar: The Last Airbender” aired on Nickelodeon in 2005. Renowned for its rich storytelling, deep cultural references, and intricate world-building, the show quickly became a beloved classic, gathering a dedicated fanbase. Set in a fantastical world divided into four nations – Water, Earth, Fire, and Air – the series follows Aang, the young Avatar, on his quest to master all four elemental bending arts and bring peace to the world. Netflix premiered “Avatar: The Last Airbender” live-action adaptation on Feb. 22, 2024.

In a decision that surprised those who hadn’t read the rulebook cover to cover, the BBFC adjusted “Mary Poppins” from a U to a PG rating in February 2024 for “discriminatory language.” Specifically, the term “Hottentots” was used twice in the film to refer to chimney sweeps with soot-covered faces, a term historically used by Europeans in a derogatory manner towards the Khoikhoi people of South Africa. This change occurred as the film was poised to return to cinemas on its 60th anniversary.

In a shimmering tribute that’s music to our ears and a feast for the eyes, Britain’s Royal Mint has rolled out its latest bling in the Music Legends series – a coin celebrating the legendary George Michael. Capturing the essence of his “Faith” era, complete with those swanky aviator sunglasses and his signature cross-shaped earring, this coin was officially approved by George Michael’s estate and crafted by Italian artist Sandra Deiana. Released in February 2024, this collectible spans several finishes from budget-friendly to bank-breaking, ensuring every fan has a piece of this legacy.

In a rare admission, Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, acknowledged she had edited a family photo released for Mother’s Day 2024. The editing was not up to standard, leading major news agencies to retract the image, citing manipulation issues. Princess Charlotte’s hand and sleeve appeared altered, sparking a flurry of speculation and a rare spotlight on the royal family’s usually impeccable media facade.

Does Kate Have Cancer?

Kate underwent major abdominal surgery in January 2024, with tests after the surgery revealing a cancer diagnosis. Kate started preventative chemotherapy in late February and revealed her situation in a video published about a week after the Photoshop incident.