The week in questions

Question 1

Which Labour Party rival's by-election victory has intensified pressure on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to resign or face a leadership challenge?

1. Andy Burnham
2. Yvette Cooper
3. Wes Streeting
4. Ed Miliband

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Andy Burnham

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing increased pressure to step down or confront a leadership challenge from Labour Party rival Andy Burnham, following Burnham's decisive victory in a special election.

Question 2

Which vital waterway did Iran announce it had again closed amidst ongoing talks with the US in Switzerland?

1. Suez Canal
2. Strait of Hormuz
3. Bab-el-Mandeb
4. Strait of Gibraltar

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Strait of Hormuz

Iran announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key conduit for oil and gas shipments, during talks with US officials in Switzerland, citing Washington's failure to meet commitments regarding hostilities in Lebanon.

Question 3

Which AI company was ordered by the US to cut off foreign access to its advanced AI models, Mythos 5 and Claude Fable 5, due to national security concerns?

1. OpenAI
2. Anthropic
3. Google DeepMind
4. Stability AI

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Anthropic

The US government issued an unprecedented order to AI tech giant Anthropic, requiring it to suspend foreign access to its powerful Mythos 5 and Claude Fable 5 AI models, citing national security concerns.

Question 4

What level of extreme heat warning did the Met Office issue for parts of southern and eastern England and south Wales, with temperatures expected to reach 34°C on Monday?

1. Red
2. Amber
3. Yellow
4. Orange

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Amber

The Met Office issued an amber extreme heat warning for parts of southern and eastern England and south Wales, forecasting temperatures up to 34°C on Monday and potentially 38°C later in the week.

Question 5

What is the maximum fine councils can now issue to landlords in England who fail to fix serious hazards like damp and mould in rented properties, under new powers effective June 22, 2026?

1. £1,000
2. £5,000
3. £7,000
4. £10,000

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£7,000

From Monday, June 22, 2026, councils in England can issue fines of up to £7,000 to landlords found to have serious hazards, such as severe damp or mould, in their privately rented homes, under new powers in the Renters' Rights Act.

Question 6

Who announced his resignation as the UK Prime Minister on Monday, June 22, 2026?

1. Rishi Sunak
2. Keir Starmer
3. Andy Burnham
4. Nigel Farage

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Keir Starmer

Keir Starmer announced his resignation as the UK Prime Minister on Monday, June 22, 2026, after facing mounting pressure from within his Labour party.

Question 7

In which country did the US and Iran hold high-level talks this week, agreeing on a roadmap for a final deal to end the West Asia war?

1. Qatar
2. Switzerland
3. Pakistan
4. Oman

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Switzerland

The US and Iran held high-level talks in Switzerland this week, where they agreed on a roadmap towards a final deal to end the West Asia war within 60 days.

Question 8

What maximum temperature did the Met Office predict for parts of the UK this week, expanding its extreme heat warning?

1. 30C
2. 35C
3. 38C
4. 42C

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38C

The Met Office expanded its extreme heat warning for parts of the UK, predicting record-breaking highs of 38C this week, with a 25% chance of temperatures exceeding 40C.

Question 9

From June 22, 2026, what is the maximum fine UK councils can issue to landlords who fail to fix serious hazards in rented properties?

1. £1,000
2. £3,500
3. £7,000
4. £10,000

Show the answer

£7,000

From June 22, 2026, UK councils can issue fines of up to £7,000 to landlords who refuse to fix serious hazards in their rented properties.

Question 10

Which of the following was identified by the World Economic Forum as one of the top 10 new emerging technologies for 2026?

1. Quantum teleportation
2. Everything-to-grid energy
3. Personalized space travel
4. Underwater farming robots

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Everything-to-grid energy

The World Economic Forum's Top 10 Emerging Technologies Report for 2026 includes 'Everything-to-grid energy,' which envisions buildings, vehicles, and factories as energy suppliers.

Question 11

What is the primary focus of the new multi-billion pound NHS funding package announced by the UK government this week?

1. Reducing waiting lists for elective surgeries
2. Expanding mental health services for young people
3. Upgrading hospital infrastructure in major cities
4. Increasing GP numbers in rural areas

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Expanding mental health services for young people

The government's new multi-billion pound package is primarily aimed at significantly expanding mental health services, particularly for children and young adults, over the next five years.

Question 12

Which city hosted the latest round of peace talks between Israeli and Palestinian delegations that concluded without agreement this week?

1. Amman
2. Cairo
3. Geneva
4. Oslo

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Cairo

The latest round of high-level peace talks between Israeli and Palestinian representatives, held in Cairo, ended without a breakthrough on key issues.

Question 13

The European Parliament this week approved a new AI Act. What is a key focus of its new regulations?

1. Mandating open-source development for all AI models
2. Banning all facial recognition technology in public spaces
3. Establishing strict rules for high-risk AI applications
4. Imposing a global tax on AI-generated content

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Establishing strict rules for high-risk AI applications

The newly approved EU AI Act focuses on a risk-based approach, imposing stringent requirements and oversight on AI systems deemed 'high-risk,' such as those used in critical infrastructure or law enforcement.

Question 14

Which major UK supermarket chain announced its acquisition of struggling convenience store rival McColl's this week?

1. Sainsbury's
2. Asda
3. Tesco
4. Morrisons

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Morrisons

Morrisons, not Tesco, announced its acquisition of struggling convenience store rival McColl's in May 2022.

Question 15

Which top-seeded male player was surprisingly knocked out in the first round of Wimbledon this week?

1. Novak Djokovic
2. Jannik Sinner
3. Carlos Alcaraz
4. Daniil Medvedev

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Carlos Alcaraz

Defending champion and top seed Carlos Alcaraz suffered a shock defeat in the opening round of Wimbledon, losing in five sets to an unseeded opponent.

Question 16

Who announced their resignation as the UK Prime Minister on June 22, 2026, following internal party pressure and a significant by-election result?

1. Rishi Sunak
2. Boris Johnson
3. Keir Starmer
4. Andy Burnham

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Keir Starmer

Keir Starmer announced his resignation as Prime Minister on June 22, 2026, after facing mounting pressure from within the Labour Party and a by-election victory for Andy Burnham.

Question 17

What type of severe weather warning was issued for parts of southern and central England and Wales starting June 24, 2026, due to record-breaking temperatures?

1. Amber Flood Warning
2. Yellow Thunderstorm Warning
3. Red Extreme Heat Warning
4. Orange Wind Warning

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Red Extreme Heat Warning

A rare Red Extreme Heat Warning was issued for much of southern and central England and Wales, with temperatures forecast to exceed previous June records.

Question 18

A recent report published on June 24, 2026, linked over 150 baby deaths and six maternal deaths to poor care at maternity units run by which UK hospital trust?

1. Barts Health NHS Trust
2. Nottingham University Hospitals Trust
3. Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
4. Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

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Nottingham University Hospitals Trust

A report revealed that over 150 baby deaths and six maternal deaths were linked to poor care at maternity units operated by Nottingham University Hospitals Trust.

Question 19

What vital shipping lane, previously blocked by Iran, is a key point of discussion in the ongoing peace talks between the United States and Iran?

1. Suez Canal
2. Panama Canal
3. Strait of Hormuz
4. Malacca Strait

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Strait of Hormuz

The Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping lane that Iran had previously closed, is a central issue in the peace negotiations between the US and Iran.

Question 20

In late June 2026, which European country reported at least 40 deaths linked to people trying to escape a record-breaking heatwave by swimming in unsupervised areas?

1. Spain
2. Italy
3. Germany
4. France

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France

France experienced its hottest day on record, with temperatures exceeding 43°C, leading to at least 40 drowning deaths as people sought relief from the heat.

Question 21

Who is expected to become the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom following Keir Starmer's resignation?

1. Wes Streeting
2. Andy Burnham
3. Angela Rayner
4. Yvette Cooper

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Andy Burnham

Andy Burnham is set to become Prime Minister on July 17, following the Labour leadership contest timetable.

Question 22

Which health agency extended red heat-health alerts across several regions of England until 11pm on Friday, June 26?

1. National Health Service (NHS)
2. Public Health England (PHE)
3. UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)
4. Met Office

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UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) extended red heat-health alerts for the South West, South East, London, East of England, West Midlands, and East Midlands until 11pm on Friday, June 26.

Question 23

What is the reported death toll from the powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela this week?

1. Around 50 people
2. Over 100 people
3. Approximately 235 people
4. More than 500 people

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Approximately 235 people

Health Minister Carlos Alvarado reported that approximately 235 people have died following the powerful earthquakes in Venezuela.

Question 24

Which strategic waterway did the US and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries call for reopening, rejecting tolls or attempts to control it?

1. Suez Canal
2. Strait of Malacca
3. Strait of Hormuz
4. Bab-el-Mandeb Strait

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Strait of Hormuz

The US and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries called for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, emphasizing free, unconditional, and unrestricted navigation.

Question 25

What new solution did Huawei unveil at MWC Shanghai 2026 to enhance mobile network capabilities for the Mobile AI era?

1. CloudNet Solution
2. GigaUplink Solution
3. TeraBand Solution
4. AI-Core Solution

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GigaUplink Solution

Huawei released its GigaUplink Solution at MWC Shanghai 2026, aiming to enhance uplink capabilities for mobile networks in the Mobile AI era.

Question 26

Which major piece of legislation, designed to regulate large online platforms, received Royal Assent in the UK Parliament this week?

1. Digital Services and Accountability Act
2. Online Safety Bill Amendment
3. Social Media Regulation Act
4. Tech Accountability Framework

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Digital Services and Accountability Act

The Digital Services and Accountability Act, focusing on platform responsibility and user data, completed its passage through Parliament.

Question 27

In which city did the G7 leaders conclude their annual summit this week, addressing global supply chain resilience and AI governance?

1. Tokyo
2. Osaka
3. Kyoto
4. Hiroshima

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Kyoto

The G7 summit, bringing together leaders from major industrialised nations, was held in Kyoto, Japan.

Question 28

What was the Bank of England's decision regarding its base interest rate this week?

1. Increased to 4.75%
2. Decreased to 4.25%
3. Held at 4.5%
4. Increased to 5.0%

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Held at 4.5%

The Monetary Policy Committee voted to maintain the base interest rate at 4.5% due to ongoing inflationary pressures.

Question 29

A major scientific breakthrough was announced this week by a British research team in which advanced technological field?

1. Fusion Energy
2. Quantum Computing
3. Advanced Robotics
4. Nanotechnology

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Quantum Computing

Researchers successfully demonstrated stable qubit entanglement at room temperature, a critical step forward for quantum computing.

Question 30

What was the key finding in the latest NHS performance figures released this week regarding waiting lists in England?

1. Significant increase in all waiting lists
2. Slight reduction in overall waiting lists
3. Major reduction in cancer treatment backlogs
4. No change in waiting list figures

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Slight reduction in overall waiting lists

While overall waiting lists saw a modest decrease, concerns persist regarding specific areas like cancer treatment.

Question 31

On Sunday, June 28, 2026, Iran's Revolutionary Guards announced retaliatory strikes against which two countries, following US attacks on Iranian territory?

1. Saudi Arabia and UAE
2. Iraq and Syria
3. Kuwait and Bahrain
4. Turkey and Jordan

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Kuwait and Bahrain

Iran's Revolutionary Guards stated they carried out strikes against Kuwait and Bahrain in retaliation for US attacks on Iranian territory.

Question 32

The UK government announced this week that it would repeal the Vagrancy Act, legislation that has historically criminalised which two activities?

1. Protesting and loitering
2. Jaywalking and littering
3. Rough sleeping and begging
4. Public intoxication and disorderly conduct

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Rough sleeping and begging

The government will repeal the Vagrancy Act, ending nearly two centuries of legislation that has criminalised rough sleeping and begging.

Question 33

Which stage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 commenced on Sunday, June 28, 2026?

1. Group Stage Final Matches
2. Round of 32
3. Quarter-finals
4. Semi-finals

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Round of 32

The FIFA World Cup 2026 moved into the Round of 32 on June 28, 2026, following the conclusion of the group stage.

Question 34

What is the name of OpenAI's first in-house AI chip, developed in partnership with Broadcom, which was unveiled this week?

1. QuantumFlow
2. Jalapeño
3. NeuralNet
4. DeepMind Pro

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Jalapeño

OpenAI introduced 'Jalapeño,' its first in-house AI chip, designed for inference and developed in collaboration with Broadcom.

Question 35

The USDA issued a public health alert this week concerning a specific brand of chicken breast product due to the presence of what?

1. Bacterial contamination
2. Undeclared allergen
3. Expired sell-by date
4. Misleading nutritional information

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Undeclared allergen

The USDA issued a public health alert for Private Selection Honey Dijon Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts with Rib Meat after an undeclared allergen was found.