Here this week’s news quiz! Good luck!

1. The Trump administration surprised the world earlier this week by saying that the U.S. would engage in talks with which country?

Spoiler
Iran. The talks will concern the development of Iran’s nuclear program. President Trump announced on Monday that there have been negotiations about how to do negotiations and tapped Steve Witkoff to lead the U.S. delegation. President Trump has warned Iranian leaders that if negotiations fail that he will not take a military option off the table.

2. The Trump administration moved last week to remove collective bargaining rights for federal employees. What justification did it use to do this?

Spoiler
The Trump administration invoked civil service law to argue that the President of the United States can limit collective bargaining rights for an agency’s workers if that agency “has as a primary function intelligence, counterintelligence, investigative, or national security work.” While this will apply to executive departments such as Defense or Homeland Security, President Trump’s executive order on this matter will probably be challenged when extended to the Environmental Protection Agency or the Food and Drug Administration.

3. When will South Korea hold its next presidential election?

Spoiler
June 3. Acting leader Han Duck-soo announced the election date yesterday, arguing that a quick election was needed to “quickly heal the wounds” from the removal of President Yoon Suk Yeol. Mr. Yoon was removed from power over a declaration of martial law late last year.

4. Which Democratic political figure has been doing town halls in Republican districts in recent weeks?

Spoiler
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who was Kamala Harris’ vice-presidential nominee in the 2024 election. Walz’s stops have taken him to Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Ohio so far. Some have wondered if the tour is a way to keep his profile alive for a possible 2028 presidential bid.

5. According to a recent report from Amnesty International, there was a 32% increase in executions in 2024. Which three countries accounted for 91% of the total?

Spoiler
Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. According to Amnesty, Iran executed 119 more people than 2023 (972 in total). Iran was 64% of the global total and half of its executions came from drug-related offenses. Iraq executed 63 and Saudi Arabia executed 345.

6. Which three countries have the largest amount of reciprocal tariffs put against their goods by the Trump administration?

Spoiler
Lesotho (50%), Cambodia (49%), and Laos (48%). The tariffs will become effective on April 9. According to the administration, the levies were calculated based on the levies these nations have on American products, along with other regulations that make it difficult for American products to compete.

7. What did China do in response to tariffs placed on it by the Trump administration?

Spoiler
Chinese officials on Friday announced a 34% tariff on all U.S. products starting on April 10. It also announced that it would impose tighter restrictions on the export of rare earths materials needed for computer chips and batteries. The Trump administration’s reciprocal tariff levy on Chinese products was placed at 34% last week.

8. Which ICC-indicted person did Hungary allow to visit last week, not detaining them as required by the Rome Statute?

Spoiler
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Hungary announced that it was withdrawing from the International Criminal Court (ICC), becoming the first European nation to do so. The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in November because of Israeli actions in Gaza. That decision has been heavily criticized by Israel’s allies such as the United States.

9. When Senator Cory Booker gave a long 25-hour filibuster against the Trump administration last week it displaced which former record holder?

Spoiler
South Carolina Senator Strom Thurmond. Thurmond, a Democrat who later changed parties in the 1960s, spoke for 24 hours on the Senate floor in 1957 to oppose civil rights legislation. Booker’s long speech about the Trump administration’s actions got a lot of press coverage and was seen as a rallying cry for Democratic opponents of the administration.

10. What is the date of Australia’s next general election?

Spoiler
May 3. This election will select Australia’s 48th parliament. The election was called by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of the Labor Party in the midst of a battle with the U.S. over tariffs and cost of living concerns. Opinion polls project a close race between the Labor Party and the opposition Liberal-National coalition led by Petter Dutton.