Can you pass this quiz on historical world events?

Zohran Mamdani, the left-leaning populist who deployed a mix of charm, social media savvy and an unyielding focus on affordability to catapult him to political stardom, was officially sworn in as mayor of New York City early Thursday, just after the New Year's Eve ball dropped in Times Square. The ceremony, held underground at an abandoned showpiece of a subway station by City Hall, caps Mr. Mamdani's yearlong rise from obscure state lawmaker to international figure, embodying the hopes of New Yorkers and Americans across the country who were enthralled by his journey to becoming the city's first Muslim and first South Asian mayor. Four minutes before midnight, Mr. Mamdani, 34; his wife, Rama Duwaji; and Letitia James, the state attorney general, disembarked from a No. 6 train into the grimy, dimly lit, and yet stunning subway station. They promptly took their places on the steps beneath a dramatic archway emblazoned with the words, "City Hall." And then they waited, a bit awkwar…

With nearly 9 million residents and the world's largest financial hub, New York City is about to test a progressive economic vision under Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. Proposals such as free buses, city-owned grocery stores and rent freezes have already rattled Wall Street, prompting sharp criticism from Mamdani's critics. The clash underscores a widening divide between progressive ambitions for the city and the financial sector that has long powered its economy. Affordability sits at the center of Mamdani's agenda as he prepares to run America's largest city. Here's a breakdown of how he plans to address it.

Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as New York City mayor in the first minutes of the New Year at the historic City Hall subway station, with his wife Rama Duwaji standing by his side. The oath, in which he pledged to support the Constitution of the United States and the laws of New York, was administered by New York State Attorney General Letitia James. "Happy New Year to New Yorkers, both inside this tunnel and above," said Mamdani, standing beneath a vaulted ceiling with the words City Hall over his head. "This is truly an honor and a privilege of a lifetime."

Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN), whose administration is accused of allowing Somali fraudsters to target Minnesota's child care subsidies program, received nearly $10,000 in campaign contributions from supporters connected to Somali-operated day care centers. The Democratic donors involved in Somali day cares and home health services have written considerable checks to Walz's gubernatorial campaign, according to campaign finance filings compiled by the Washington Examiner. Like the Somali-run child care facilities highlighted by videographer Nick Shirley, these companies appear as legitimate businesses on paper, but upon closer inspection, some appear not to be operational. Walz's 2022 reelection campaign received $1,000 from Mohamed Rabi, of Hiawatha Adult Day Center Inc, which does not have its own website, for instance.

After months of fighting and countless proposals for a bipartisan compromise, the expiration date for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium tax subsidies has arrived, with millions of Americans set to feel the pain. Congress had until Dec. 31, 2025 to strike a deal extending tax credits that were first enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic by the Biden administration and further extended through the Inflation Reduction Act. Democrats held a relatively united front in the last half of 2025 as they sought to pressure Republicans into agreeing to a deal to save the credits. This fight saw the longest government shutdown in U.S. history and GOP infighting between conservatives who staunchly opposed ObamaCare and moderates who sought to stave off constituent anger.

PARIS — U.S. actor George Clooney was awarded French citizenship following a request from the country's foreign affairs minister, according to an official document seen by POLITICO. In a letter dated Oct. 20 sent to France's interior minister, Laurent Nuñez, who handles citizenship procedures, Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noël Barrot proposed that the Hollywood superstar, his wife Amal and their children be granted citizenship through the so-called "citoyen émérite" process. This allows "a French-speaking foreigner who contributes through his or her outstanding work to the influence of France and the prosperity of its international economic relations" to become a citizen through a request from the Foreign Affairs Ministry.