DAY 1

USTR

Office of the US Trade Representative

Equity equivalence

A framework allowing multinational companies to meet empowerment obligations without transferring ownership

What principle does BEE address?

Inequalities created during apartheid

How many economies did USTR identify as not adequately prohibiting/enforcing bans on forced-labour goods?

41

How many economies already had appropriate forced-labour laws?

19

How many countries were affected by new US duties that week?

60

When did Trump sign the executive order affecting South Africa?

February 2025

What did Trump's executive order do to US assistance to South Africa?

Suspended it

How long did Roelf Meyer spend in Washington?

3 weeks

Which US institutions did Meyer mention engaging with?

The White House, Congress, the State Department and the USTR

What international court's case involving Israel has Trump criticised?

The International Court of Justice

What countries/issues did Trump criticise South Africa's relationships with?

Iran and Hamas

Marine Le Pen

Leader of France's National Rally

Jean-Luc Mélenchon

Populist-left rival in France

Zohran Mamdani

Democratic Socialist mayor of New York

Ted Cruz

Republican senator from Texas

Where did the fight over portable AC units occur?

Nanterre, a Paris suburb

How hot was it expected to become in France?

Above 40°C

Which countries experienced protests over power cuts at temperatures up to 45°C?

Pakistan and Bangladesh

What Bangladeshi city was mentioned?

Chandpur

Which other countries experienced unrest over cooling-energy shortages?

Iraq and Sri Lanka

Where was COP30 held?

Belém, Brazil

What did COP30 call cooling technologies?

Essential infrastructure

How many people died from heat each year between 2000 and 2019 according to the cited modelling?

489,000

How many deaths does AC reportedly avert annually among people aged 65+?

Around 190,000

By what percentage did residential AC reduce the risk of dying on a very hot day in the US study?

About 75%

Which French politician demanded more AC in schools, hospitals and care homes?

Marine Le Pen

What party does Marine Le Pen lead?

National Rally

Who argued that "air-conditioning everywhere" could increase climate damage?

Jean-Luc Mélenchon

What percentage of global greenhouse-gas emissions comes from cooling?

Around 4%

How much is AC/refrigeration demand expected to increase by 2050?

More than triple

What percentage of US households have AC?

90%

Who suggested New Yorkers set AC to 78°F?

Zohran Mamdani

What is 78°F in Celsius?

26°C

Who mocked Mamdani's AC recommendation?

Ted Cruz

What percentage of global heat deaths occur in Europe?

36%

What percentage of the world's population lives in Europe?

Less than 10%

What percentage of European households have AC?

23%

What percentage of people experiencing heat requiring cooling can access AC?

40%

How many more AC units could India add over the next decade?

130-150 million

How much of their income can the poorest Indian households spend on cooling electricity?

Up to 8%

Felix Tshisekedi

President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Patrick Muyaya

Congolese government spokesperson

Corneille Nangaa

Leader of AFC/M23

AFC/M23

Congolese rebel group

Which two eastern Congolese cities saw protests?

Goma and Bukavu

Which group controls Goma and Bukavu?

AFC/M23 rebels

Which provinces are Goma and Bukavu in?

North Kivu and South Kivu

When did Kinshasa protests occur?

June 12

What did parliament approve in June?

A bill allowing constitutional changes to be submitted to a referendum

Who could potentially run for a third term?

Felix Tshisekedi

Who accused rebels of forcing residents to join demonstrations?

Patrick Muyaya

What organisation was asked to lift sanctions?

The UN

Ukraine's Foreign Minister

Andrii Sybiha

Iran's Foreign Minister

Abbas Araghchi

Approximately how far was the Anna from the Volga mouth?

5 km

What was the Anna allegedly carrying?

Drone and missile components from Iran to Russia

Which Ukrainian agency said its drones struck the targets?

SBU

SBU

Security Service of Ukraine

What else did Ukrainian drones hit?

An oil platform and a Russian missile boat

What Iranian-made drones has Iran supplied Russia since 2022?

Shahed drones

What did Zelensky say Iran planned to send Russia?

Ballistic missiles

How many sailors did Iran say were killed?

1

What did Abbas Araghchi call the attack?

A blatant UN Charter violation

What strategic role does the Caspian Sea play?

A vital supply route between Russia and Iran

What Russian fleet is Ukraine targeting to damage Kremlin revenue?

Russia's shadow fleet of oil tankers

What Russian naval vessel was hit?

A Russian missile boat