Have you been paying attention to The Week’s news?
The bunting has only just come down from last week’s coronation festivities but Britain is already preparing for another big party: the Eurovision Song Contest 2023.
Liverpool is hosting this year’s competition on behalf of last year’s winner, Ukraine, which won with an entry from hip-hop stars Kalush Orchestra. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked to deliver a video message during the Eurovision final at Liverpool Arena on Saturday, to appeal to the world to continue supporting his country in the war with Russia.
But the Ukrainian leader was rebuffed by the contest’s organisers, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), over fears that the address would politicise the event.
Over on the political stage at Westminster, Tory Brexiteers are up in arms about a government U-turn on plans to remove all EU-era laws from the UK’s statute books by the end of the year. Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch confirmed this week that the Retained EU Laws Bill currently going through Parliament will no longer include a “sunset clause” that required Whitehall officials to choose which laws to save by the end of 2023.
Criticising Rishi Sunak for breaking his pledge to review or repeal all EU laws in his first 100 days in office, Jacob Rees-Mogg said: “Regrettably, ‘the blob’ has triumphed and the prime minister has abandoned his promise.”
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. Which Hollywood star has become a father again at the age of 79?
- Harrison Ford
- Al Pacino
- Robert De Niro
- Morgan Freeman
2. Experts estimate that how many of around two million Britons with long Covid are in need of specialist care?
- 20,000
- 200,000
- 400,000
- 500,000
3. A mysterious upcoming book that became a bestseller amid rumours that it was Taylor Swift’s memoir was actually written by which other music stars?
- BTS
- Jonas Brothers
- The Wanted
- O-Town
4. A new study found that which UK city is the “gloomiest” in the UK?
- Glasgow
- Bradford
- Blackpool
- Swansea
5. Polling suggests that what percentage of Americans think Joe Biden does not have the “mental sharpness” to serve a second term as president?
- 22%
- 45%
- 63%
- 80%
6. Newly released figures show that which UK airport was the worst for delays last year?
- London City
- Birmingham
- Heathrow
- Bristol
7. On what grounds has Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism of Antiquities criticised new Netflix docuseries Queen Cleopatra?
- The series was filmed in Spain
- The lead actor’s race
- Historically inaccurate costumes
- Too many episodes
8. Scientists in the Alps and the Arctic have discovered microbes that can eat what at cool temperatures?
- Sewage
- Pesticides
- Plastic
- Spilled petroleum
9. Who was named sportswoman of the year at the 2023 Laureus World Sports Awards?
- Iga Świątek
- Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce
- Katie Ledecky
- Alexia Putellas
10. Pupils at an independent school in North London have voted to make what change to their lunches?
- New option to order fast food
- Only vegan or vegetarian lunches
- Sixth-form pupils can have a glass of wine
- Adding dishes that include insects
1. Robert De Niro
The actor revealed this week that he and his girlfriend, martial arts instructor Tiffany Chen, were celebrating the birth of their daughter, Gia Virginia Chen-De Niro. He has six other children, whose ages range in age from 11 to 51.
2. 400,000
According to The Mirror, experts at the UK’s first long Covid clinic, at University College Hospital London, estimate that hundreds of thousands of patients are in need of specialist care for ailments ranging from severe fatigue to brain fog. But “so far only 100,000 have been offered treatment”, the paper reported.
3. BTS
The guessing game began last week when the book appeared on multiple bookseller websites under the name 4C Untitled Flatiron Nonfiction Summer 2023. But publishing house Flatiron Books has solved the mystery by revealing that the eagerly anticipated release is about the K-pop boyband and will be published in July under the title Beyond the Story: 10-Year Record of BTS.
4. Bradford
Research by Betway found that the West Yorkshire city was the least sunny in the UK, followed by. Blackpool and Aberdeen.
5. 63%
The Washington Post/ABC poll of more than 1,000 people found that 43% believed that 80-year-old Biden and Donald Trump, 76, are both too old to serve another term. If Biden is re-elected in 2024, he would be 82 when he takes office and 86 when his second term ends.
6. Birmingham
The airport was the worst for a second year in a row, with flights in 2022 leaving half an hour behind schedule on average. East Midlands Airport was the top performer, with average delays of just 13 minutes, while the UK average was 23 minutes, according to data from the Civil Aviation Authority.
7. The lead actor’s race
Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities released a statement emphasising that “Queen Cleopatra had light skin and Hellenistic (Greek) features”, and criticising Netflix for casting British actor Adele James, who “possesses African features and dark skin”. Find out more on the latest episode of The Week Unwrapped podcast.
8. Plastic
Many microorganisms can digest plastic at temperatures above 30C, but the discovery by researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute paves the way for a much more energy-efficient method of recycling.
9. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce
The 36-year-old Jamaican sprinter beat a field that included swimmer Katie Ledecky, tennis star Iga Świątek and 400m hurdles record-holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. Lionel Messi was named sportsman of the year at the awards in Paris on Monday.
10. Lunches that include insects
North London Collegiate School will trial dishes such as Chinese-style noodles with teriyaki grasshopper, sweet chilli and lime crickets, and Mexican rice topped with buffalo worms.
