As the world gears up for a flurry of major elections next year, Rishi Sunak offered a stark warning this week about the role that generative AI could play in influencing the outcomes.
An accompanying government report and analysis by UK spooks warned that AI could be used to spread "mass disinformation", with "hyper-realistic bots" and "deepfakes" muddying the waters and eroding public trust. Sunak will discuss the findings next week at the world's first international AI safety summit, hosted by the UK at Bletchley Park.
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In more upbeat tech news, four British astronauts may be blasted into space on the first UK-led mission of its kind, after the nation’s Space Agency reached a deal with US company Axiom Space.
The astronauts and others like them may need to watch out for space junk, though, according to a new study. Experts report that disused satellites and other debris left in space by humans are being found in even the most pristine parts of the solar system – fuelling warnings about the ever-expanding threat posed by man-made technology.
To find out how closely you've been paying attention to the latest news and global events, put your knowledge to the test with our Quiz of The Week.
1. The prime minister of which country joined tens of thousands of women and nonbinary people in a one-day strike this week?
Iceland
Norway
New Zealand
Canada
2. A 14-year-old won the title of America's Top Young Scientist for developing a soap that treats what?
Eczema
Acne
Psoriasis
Skin cancer
3. Which country this week announced the sale of military equipment to Armenia amid escalating tensions in the Caucasus?
Germany
France
Russia
Spain
4. Formula 1 ace Max Verstappen's victory in the US Grand Prix last Sunday brought his total tally of wins this season to what?
9
12
15
16
5. Which Indian Hindu festival concluded this week?
Holi
Durga Puja
Dussehra
Ganesh Chaturthi
6. A Spanish duke and his wife have triggered controversy by naming their recently christened daughter what?
Zara Bershka Oysho Bimba y Lola Manolo Blahnik Balenciaga Mango
Sofía Fernanda Dolores Cayetana Teresa Ángela de la Cruz Micaela del Santísimo Sacramento del Perpetuo Socorro de la Santísima Trinidad y de Todos Los Santos
Blanco Amarillo Anaranjado Verde Azul Morado
Sangria
7. Which foreign leader told their party "I, too, am human" after taking a day off?
Giorgia Meloni
Emmanuel Macron
Kaja Kallas
Ulf Kristersson
8. Who has been named the UK's most influential black person by the Powerlist 2024?
Afua Kyei
Edward Enninful
Marcus Rashford
Marvin Rees
9. The Financial Conduct Authority announced this week that the UK cap on bankers' bonuses will be lifted when?
Halloween
Guy Fawkes Night
Christmas Eve
New Year's Day
10. Who is the new speaker of the US House of Representatives?
Kevin McCarthy
Jim Jordan
Steve Scalise
Mike Johnson
1. Iceland
Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdóttir called on female members of her cabinet to join in Tuesday’s strike – "kvennaverkfall" in Icelandic – to push for an end to unequal pay and gender-based violence. Find out more with The Week Unwrapped podcast.
2. Skin cancer
Teenager Heman Bekele, from Annandale, Virginia, developed a compound-based soap that treats melanoma, the most common cancer in the US. His Skin Cancer Treating Soap (SCTS), which costs only 50 cents to make per bar, earned him a prize of $25,000.
3. France
The agreement to sell military equipment such as air defence systems to Armenia was announced amid growing fears of a possible invasion by Azerbaijan.The neighbouring Caucasus nation's recent seizure of the semi-autonomous Nagorno-Karabakh enclave "accelerated” the willingness of France – which is home to Europe's largest Armenian community – to “deepen military ties” with Armenia, said Politico.
4.15
The Dutch driver had to "work through the field" after starting sixth, said The Associated Press, but "held off the charging Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton" during the final laps in the “Texas heat” to win his third consecutive Grand Prix victory.
5. Durga Puja
The festival celebrates the victory of the goddess Durga over the demon king Mahishasura, and festivities can last up to 10 days. The celebrations in Kolkata, which this year concluded on Tuesday, have earned the city a spot on Unesco's cultural heritage list, “thanks to their grandeur and historical significance", said Indian broadcaster CNBC TV 18.
6. Sofía Fernanda Dolores Cayetana Teresa Ángela de la Cruz Micaela del Santísimo Sacramento del Perpetuo Socorro de la Santísima Trinidad y de Todos Los Santos Fernando Juan Fitz-James Stuart y de Solís, the 17th Duke of Huéscar and his wife, Sofía Palazuelo, have been told that their daughter’s name will need to be shortened in order to be accepted by Spain's Civil Registry. For more stories from the stranger side of life, sign up to the Tall Tales newsletter.
7. Giorgia Meloni
Italy's prime minister marked her first anniversary in power by taking a "personal day", after splitting from her scandal-hit partner, television presenter Andrea Giambruno. Speaking via video link to a conference held by her Brothers in Italy party on Sunday – two days after she announced the break-up – Meloni said she was "sorry to not be with you in person”.
8. Edward Enninful
The Ghanaian-born former stylist became the first black editor-in-chief of British Vogue in 2017, but announced earlier this year that he was stepping down. Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa, actor Sir Lenny Henry, football pundit Alex Scott and "The Diary of a CEO" podcaster Steven Bartlett are also on Powerful Media's 2024 list celebrating people of African, African Caribbean and African American heritage.
9. Halloween Financial regulators have confirmed that the controversial limit, introduced by the EU in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, will be lifted from 31 October – almost a year after then chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng announced that the cap would be scrapped.
10. Mike Johnson Following three weeks of infighting, the Republican-led House finally elected the little-known Louisiana congressman on Wednesday as the 56th speaker, replacing ousted California Republican Kevin McCarthy. Johnson, a close ally of Donald Trump, has acknowledged the challenges of his new office, stressing the need to "unify our membership and build consensus" across the GOP.
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Harriet Marsden is a writer for The Week, mostly covering UK and global news and politics. Before joining the site, she was a freelance journalist for seven years, specialising in social affairs, gender equality and culture. She worked for The Guardian, The Times and The Independent, and regularly contributed articles to The Sunday Times, The Telegraph, The New Statesman, Tortoise Media and Metro, as well as appearing on BBC Radio London, Times Radio and “Woman’s Hour”. She has a master’s in international journalism from City University, London, and was awarded the "journalist-at-large" fellowship by the Local Trust charity in 2021.
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