Have you been paying attention to The Week’s news?
The Conservative Party faced another raft of damaging headlines this week amid fresh scandals involving senior members of the party.
Critics called for Home Secretary Suella Braverman to be sacked following reports that she asked civil servants to help her avoid a speeding fine by arranging a private speed-awareness course. The allegations, dating from her time as attorney general, raised questions about whether she violated the ministerial code, but Rishi Sunak ruled out an investigation following discussions with his ethics adviser.
In a further row involving the Tories, Boris Johnson was referred to police over new allegations that he breached lockdown rules. The Cabinet Office referred the former prime minister after his diary allegedly revealed visits by friends to Chequers during the pandemic. Johnson insisted the claims of further lockdown breaches were “totally untrue”.
There was more drama yesterday, when a car drove into security gates at Downing Street. Metropolitan Police officers arrested a man on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving, but the force said the incident was not terror related.
To find out how closely you’ve been paying attention to the latest developments in the news and other global events, put your knowledge to the test with our Quiz of The Week.
1. A US zoo apologised to which country over the mistreatment of a bird?
- South Africa
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Brazil
2. Which singer-songwriter got an on-stage spooky surprise when a keyboard began playing by itself during a gig?
- Beyoncé
- Adele
- Taylor Swift
- John Mayer
3. The EU this week formally asked which country to investigate allegations that it is abandoning migrants at sea?
- Hungary
- Greece
- Italy
- Poland
4. An EU spat has broken out over Ireland’s plans to label which product with detailed health warnings?
- Junk food
- Alcoholic drinks
- Fizzy drinks
- E-cigarette vapes
5. What percentage of 16- to 18-year-olds believe the world is “likely” to end in their lifetimes because of climate change, according to a newly published poll?
- 5%
- 24%
- 45%
- 53%
6. Ron deSantis announced his 2024 presidential bid on which social media platform?
- TikTok
7. Which major US city is sinking under the weight of its skyscrapers?
- Chicago
- San Francisco
- Houston
- New York
8. Former New Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell has called for the introduction of primary school lessons in what?
- Arguing
- Boxing
- DIY
- Personal finance
9. Michael van Gerwen has made Premier League Darts history by winning the tournament how many times?
- Four
- Six
- Seven
- Nine
10. Which royal made a surprise visit to this week’s Chelsea Flower Show?
- Anne, Princess Royal
- The Duke of York, Prince Andrew
- The Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton
- The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle
1. New Zealand
Viral footage showed visitors at Florida’s Zoo Miami patting a kiwi, a nocturnal bird, under bright lights during a $25 “Kiwi Encounter” experience. The zoo apologised for having “offended a nation” following an outcry in New Zealand, where kiwis are a treasured national icon.
2. Taylor Swift
The chart-topper was visibly shaken when her keyboard began playing notes by itself during the Era Tour show in Massachusetts. Swift subsequently explained that the seemingly possessed instrument had malfunctioned after being damaged by rain during a previous concert.
3. Greece
Recently revealed video footage captured on the Greek island of Lesbos appears to show 12 African migrants, including a baby, being towed out to sea and abandoned on an inflatable raft. Amid growing concern over illegal pushbacks of asylum seekers, the EU home affairs commissioner, Ylva Johansson, said her officials had written to Athens with a formal request “that this incident be fully and independently investigated”.
4. Alcoholic drinks
Ireland will be the first country in the world to mandate labels on alcoholic drinks warning of the risks of cancer and liver disease and of drinking in pregnancy, and listing calorie content and grams of alcohol. EU members including France, Italy and Spain have asked the European Commission to investigate whether the move would contravene EU law. Find out more with The Week Unwrapped podcast.
5. 53%
Of more than 1,000 sixth-form pupils surveyed by think-tank Civitas, 26% also said that climate change had made their anxiety or sadness worse. And half said that people should have fewer children in order to tackle climate change and overpopulation.
6. Twitter
Florida Governor DeSantis is the first major candidate ever to announce their run for president on social media, during a chat with Elon Musk on Twitter Spaces on Wednesday. But the campaign launch was marred by technical glitches and audio problems, as the social network’s servers struggled to cope with the surge in demand.
7. New York
According to a new study by the US Geological Survey (USGS), New York is sinking by 1-2mm per year, in part owing to the enormous weight of the city’s buildings, which total an estimated 771 million tonnes. The researchers also blamed other phenomena including groundwater withdrawal and shifting tectonic plates.
8. Arguing
Addressing an audience at the Hay Festival in Wales, Campbell said: “I think we should teach our kids to be interested in and engaged in politics.” The strategist and journalist added that rather than “call it politics”, such lessons could be called “arguing”, “policy” or “big issues”.
9. Seven
The Dutch star beat Gerwyn Price 11-5 to win the Premier League Darts final at London’s 02 Arena on Thursday. Van Gerwen takes the titles record from six-times winner Phil Taylor.
10. The Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton
The Princess of Wales joined the Chelsea Flower Show’s first ever children’s picnic, part of a campaign by organiser Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) to boost school gardening. The annual show also featured exhibitions paying tribute to Queen Elizabeth II.
