The World Today-Current

A landlocked country at the crossroads of Central and South Asia. Afghanistan. Historically, Afghanistan has been a strategic location for empires and cultures, often referred to as the "graveyard of empires" due to its resistance to foreign invasions.

An Islamist multi-national organization founded by Osama bin Laden. al-Qaeda. It is a militant group that carried out the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States.

An object that has been intentionally placed into orbit. Artificial satellite. In 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the first artificial satellite, marking the beginning of space exploration.

The 44th president of the United States 2009 - 2017. Barack Obama. Barack Obama was the first African American president of the United States.

A type of intergovernmental agreement where barriers to trade are reduced or eliminated. bloc. In History, a bloc is a group of countries that join together for economic or political cooperation.

When expenses exceed revenue. budget deficit. A budget deficit occurs when a government spends more money than it collects in taxes and other revenues.

Failure to meet the legal obligations or conditions of a loan. Default. In history, default often refers to when countries couldn't pay back loans, leading to financial crises.

Large outbreak of disease in a specific area. Epidemic. In history, an epidemic is when a contagious disease spreads quickly and affects many people in a community or region.

The official currency of 19 of the 27 member states of the European Union. Euro. The euro is a currency introduced in 1999 to unify European economies and improve trade among Eurozone countries.

A political and economic union of 27 member states in Europe. European Union. The European Union is a partnership that began after World War II to promote peace, stability, and economic cooperation among European countries.

A widespread scarcity of food due to war, inflation, crop failure, etc. is called famine. Famine is when a lot of people cannot get enough food and it has happened many times in history.

A gradual increase in the average temperature of Earths atmosphere. Global warming. Historically, global warming refers to the recent rise in Earth's temperatures primarily caused by human activities like burning fossil fuels.

Interaction and integration among people, companies, and governments worldwide. Globalization. Globalization is the process of the world becoming more connected through trade, culture, and communication.

A system where participants are mutually dependent on the others. Interdependence. In History, interdependence refers to how countries rely on each other for resources, trade, or support, creating a network of mutual reliance.

A multi-national collaborative project, modular space station in low Earth orbit. International Space Station. The International Space Station is a research laboratory in space where countries work together to conduct scientific experiments and learn about living in space.

Global system of interconnected computer networks. Internet. The Internet is a massive network that began in the late 20th century, enabling worldwide communication and information sharing.

A corporation that owns services in at least one country other than its home country. Multinational corporation. Historically, multinational corporations are companies that operate in various countries to expand their markets and increase their influence globally.

Hiring a party outside a company to perform services that were performed internally. Outsourcing is when businesses have external companies do work that was originally done by their own employees, like when manufacturers in the 20th century moved production overseas for lower costs.

Comprises the lands around the rim of the Pacific Ocean. Pacific Rim. It is a region that includes countries with significant economic and military influence around the Pacific Ocean.

A multi-purpose computer intended to be operated directly by an end user. Personal computer. In the history of technology, a personal computer is a device that brought computing power to individuals, revolutionizing how people work and communicate.

To grow rapidly in number. Proliferate. In historical terms, "proliferate" can describe how certain cultures or technologies quickly expanded and spread across regions.

The economic policy of restricting imports from other countries. Protectionism. Historically, protectionism involves using tariffs and quotas to protect a country's domestic industries from foreign competition.

A person who is forced to leave their country due to natural disasters or war and conflict is a refugee. Throughout history, refugees have sought safety and new homes when their original countries become dangerous or unlivable.

A situation in which the quantity of a good supplied is more than the quantity demanded. Surplus. In history, a surplus allowed early human societies to store extra food, supporting population growth and the development of civilizations.

The ability to exist constantly. Sustainability. Throughout history, sustainability means meeting our needs without harming future generations' ability to meet theirs.

A Sunni Islamic fundamentalist political movement and military organization in Afghanistan. Taliban. The Taliban is a group that controlled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001 and enforces strict Islamic law.

The use of intentional violence for political or religious purposes. Terrorism. Throughout history, terrorism has been a tactic used by groups to instill fear and influence political change.

The President of Russia since 2012, Vladimir Putin. Vladimir Putin is a key figure in early 21st-century Russian politics known for consolidating power and influencing international relations.

An international organization for the regulation of trade between nations. World Trade Organization. The World Trade Organization WTO is a global entity established to oversee and facilitate international trade agreements and resolve trade disputes among countries.