HBO's Harry Potter series: Who replaces Gilderoy Lockhart? Weekly news quiz

A weekly quiz released by BBC News tested readers’ knowledge of the most newsworthy events of the past seven days. The quiz, compiled by journalist Grace Dean, asked participants to identify key stories that had dominated the headlines, including the death of celebrated Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, a sudden trade escalation between Canada and the United States, and the return of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to the United Kingdom.

The quiz’s central question concerned the death of Yayoi Kusama, who passed away at the age of 88 on Monday. Kusama, known for her polka‑dot motifs and immersive installations, had been a major influence on contemporary art worldwide. Her work, which explored themes of infinity, repetition, and mental illness, earned her international acclaim, including a retrospective at the Guggenheim Museum in 2018. The BBC’s coverage highlighted her last public appearance, a performance at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and noted that her death was announced by her representative, who thanked fans for their support.

Another prominent question focused on the sudden announcement of tariffs by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Donald Trump. In a surprising turn of events, the two leaders declared that they would impose new duties on each other’s exports after a series of failed trade negotiations. The tariffs, which will target goods ranging from automobiles to agricultural products, come as a response to a breakdown in talks that had previously aimed to reduce trade barriers. The announcement was made through official statements released by both governments, and the trade dispute is expected to affect thousands of Canadian farmers and American manufacturers. Analysts have warned that the escalation could trigger a broader trade war and disrupt supply chains across North America.

The quiz also touched on the return of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to the United Kingdom, an event that drew attention from royal watchers and the general public alike. After spending more than a year living in the United States, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrived back in London on the evening of Sunday. They were greeted by a small gathering of local residents and a police escort, according to the Royal Household’s official communication. While the couple has been living in the U.S. since stepping back from senior royal duties in 2020, their return marks a significant moment in their ongoing relationship with the British monarchy. The Royal Family’s spokesperson confirmed that the couple will continue to carry out occasional engagements, although the nature and frequency of future appearances remain to be clarified.

In addition to these headline stories, the quiz included several other questions about events that had captured public interest during the week. These ranged from the release of a new documentary on climate change to the launch of a major technology conference in Berlin. The quiz’s design aimed to gauge the depth of readers’ awareness of global affairs and to encourage a broader engagement with the news.

BBC News’ weekly quiz format has become a popular tool for testing readers’ recall and for highlighting the most significant developments of the week. By juxtaposing high‑profile cultural events, geopolitical shifts, and personal milestones of public figures, the quiz provides a snapshot of the diverse topics that shape contemporary discourse. The quiz’s structure, which follows the inverted pyramid model, ensures that the most critical information appears first, followed by supporting details and background context.

Readers who missed this week’s quiz can access the archive on the BBC News website, where past quizzes and their results are available. The quiz is also available on the BBC’s social media channels, where users can share their scores and challenge friends to beat their results. BBC News continues to offer this interactive feature as part of its broader commitment to engaging audiences with timely, relevant, and accurate journalism.