Time for the last newsquiz of 2017

The top scorer in last week's newsquiz was Dominic Hurst with 16, narrowly ahead of Gavin Devine with 15.5 and Sophie Jamieson with 15. The top team was the Penman Partnership (helped by Daisy back from university) with a score of 17.5, just ahead of Toby Brown (with help from home) on 16.5. Here is this week's newsquiz. There are 25 questions about the week's events. It has been traditionally quieter over the Christmas period, so you might have to dig a little deeper. Give it a go and let me know how you get on. Here's to a healthy and happy 2018 - with plenty of good news.  

The Boxing Day front pages - raise a glass to all the journalists who work Christmas Day to make sure the papers come out

1. A rightwing Conservative pressure group, whose patrons include Norman Lamont and John Redwood, called for the whip to be withdrawn from Lord Heseltine after he said a Labour Government was preferable to Brexit? What is the group called?

2. Lord Heseltine said: 'We have survived Labour governments before. Their damage tends to be short-term and capable of _______. Brexit is not short-term and is not easily capable of _______’.  What is the missing word?

3. Retailers blamed a sharp increase in shoplifting on a policy that says criminals who steal goods valued at less than what amount won't be pursued by the police?

4. Which Bishop urged American Christians to consider whether their support of Donald Trump is justifiable as part of their faith?
5. At least 40 people were killed when a car bomb exploded in which capital city?

6. Which supermarket apologised to customers who claimed their Christmas Day was ruined after buying 'rotten, rancid' turkeys that tasted like 'acid and bleach’?
7. Laura Plummer, a shop assistant from Hull, was jailed for three years after being convicted of smuggling painkiller tablets into which country?

8. Spurs footballer Harry Kane broke the record for the most Premier League hat-tricks in a single calendar year? How many league hat-tricks did he score?

9. Barack Obama told interviewer Prince Harry on Radio 4’s Today programme about how he felt when he relinquished power to Donald Trump, saying: 'Overall there was ______ there, more than I would have expected’? What is the missing word?
10. Who told Prince Harry on Radio 4’s Today programme that  ‘climate change is causing untold horrors in different parts of the world’?

11. The head of the NHS in England, Simon Stevens, said he would closely monitor what on New Year's Eve before deciding if they should become a regular feature?

12. What did district judge Ian Mulkis officially bring to an end following a 25-second hearing at London’s Central Family Court?

13. The worst fire in New York for 25 years killed at least 12 people in an apartment block in which borough? 

14. A police officer and a 61-year-old woman died after a head-on crash in which city on Christmas Day?

15. The Queen's broadcast topped the television ratings on Christmas Day with an audience of 7.6 million but which programme had the second highest number of viewers, with an audience of 6.8 million?

16. Who apologised for making ‘inappropriate’ comments in an Instagram video in which he said says 'boys don't wear princess dresses’?

17. American president Donald Trump reacted to a cold snap across the US by tweeting that the East Coast would benefit from 'a little bit of that good old' what?

18. Managers of the The Alexandra pub in Wimbledon used social media to track down a man who left his pay packet in their pub. How much was in the packet?

19. A flight, with model Chrissy Teigen and her musician husband John Legend, was turned around on its journey from LA because a passenger boarded in error. Where was the flight meant to be going?

20. Former Chelsea and Manchester City footballer George Weah was elected president of which country?

21. What was Piers Morgan celebrating when he tweeted 'BOOM! No. 1’?

22. What did Karen Murdoch, from Norfolk, do on Christmas Day that is set to earn her thousands of pounds? 

23. Cricketer Alastair Cook became the first English batsman since Mike Atherton 20 years ago to do what?

24. Channel 4 dedicated its Christmas Eve episode of Gogglebox to whom?

25. Four meerkats and which other animal were killed in a fire at London zoo?

Answers here

Take a Christmas break ... and do the newsquiz

The top scorer in last week’s newsquiz was Janet Boyle with an impressive 19, narrowly ahead of Elly Rewcastle on 18. Peter Solomons scored 17, one ahead of Dominic Hurst and Toby Brown. The top team was the Penman Partnership with 18.5 just one point ahead of Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe on 17.5. Here is this week’s newsquiz … as usual there are 25 questions about the week’s events. Let me know how you get on. I hope all you newsquizzers have a lovely Christmas break and the news stories over the festive period are all good ones. 

Damian Green's sacking dominates the front pages (Question 1)

1. Damian Green, sacked for 'inaccurate and misleading' statements, was Theresa May’s deputy but what was his actual Cabinet position?

2. Who chaired the Home Affairs Committee that questioned Facebook, Google and Twitter on hate speech?
3. Twitter's Sinead McSweeney told the Home Affairs Committee that what was 'broken’ and now suspended?

4. The Speaker, John Bercow, told Parliament: 'You as MPs are never ______, you are never ______, you are never malcontents, you are never enemies of the people.’ What are the two missing words? Half a point for each.

5. Who said he had been shouted and sworn at, pelted with eggs, had the bolts on his car wheel loosened, received numerous death threats and could not slip out for a pint at his local without security?
6. Cyril Ramaphosa was elected president of which political party?
7. A journalist and a TV producer died after a fire broke out at which hotel beside Loch Lomond?
8. Around 2,500 jobs were saved after which business put forward a company voluntary arrangement with the backing of the Pension Protection Fund?

9. A US passenger train that derailed, killing three people, in Washington State was travelling at what speed on a curve with a speed limit of 30mph, according to authorities?
10. What was Labour MP Mary Creagh referring to when she tweeted that no-one under 45 will have owned one and 'they're not worth £50 billion'? 

11. An alleged Islamist terror plot was foiled when three men were arrested in Sheffield and one in which other town?
12. Mo Farrah won Sports Personality of the Year but who picked up the lifetime achievement award?
13. A disabled refugee murdered by a vigilante was ‘failed' because of 'discriminatory behaviour and institutional racism' within which police force?
14. World champion sprinter Justin Gatlin said he was 'shocked and surprised at doping allegations that were made against his coach and an agent’ after an investigation by which newspaper?
15. Why was 22-year-old student Liam Allan in the headlines?

16. Sarah Mullally was appointed to which position?
17. Only nine countries, at the United Nations general assembly, voted to support Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Two were Israel and the US. Name any two of the other seven countries? Half a point for each.

18. Arthur Collins who threw acid in a London nightclub, injuring 22 people, was jailed for how many years?

19. Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow were the only two Englishmen to do what?

20. A 30-year-old woman died after being stabbed in which supermarket, in Skipton, North Yorkshire?

21. What, according to Rear Admiral Christopher Parry, 'is no big deal’?

22. Who did I’m a Celebrity winner Georgia 'Toff' Toffolo describe as a ‘sex god’?

23. Heather North, who died age 71, was most famous for being the voice of Daphne Blake for over 30 years in which TV programme and film franchise?

24. Residents in the Bristol neighbourhood of Clifton caused a stir by doing what to protect their expensive cars?

25. What did 55-year-old Patricia Aldridge, who won £1million on the lottery, say she would be doing on Christmas day?

Answers here

Have a crack at this week's newsquiz ...

The top solo scorer in last week's newsquiz was Steve Silk with a personal best of 19. Gavin Devine, Dominic Hurst and Liz Gerard all scored 17 and Izzy Lyons also recorded a personal best with 16 - the same score as Toby Brown. My drinking pals at the Three Legs Brewery were the top team with a very impressive 21 on Saturday night. The Penman Partnership scored 18 and Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe a solid 17. Here's this week's quiz, as usual 25 questions about the week's events. Give it a go and let me know how you get on.

Today's front pages

1. How many Tory MPs voted against the Government and backed the amendment to the EU Withdrawal Bill?

2. Which former attorney general said he had received death threats after leading the rebellion that resulted in the Prime Minister’s first Commons defeat on Brexit?

3. Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr programme, Brexit Secretary David Davis said of Ireland: 'I think if we don't get a deal we're going to have to find a way of making sure we keep the _______ border’. What is the missing word? 

4. In an open letter asking EU migrants to stay in the UK after Brexit, Theresa May said she was proud that how many EU citizens had chosen to make their 'homes and livelihoods here in our country’? 

5. The Scottish government announced a new ‘intermediate rate’ for those on incomes between £24,000 and £44,273. How much will they pay in the pound?
6. A school bus was hit on a level crossing by a train travelling from which French city?

7. Why were David Worrall, Zac Bolland and Courtney Brierley in the headlines?

8. Vanellope Hope became the first UK baby to survive with which condition?
9. Doug Jones became the first Democrat in 25 years to win a Senate seat in which state?

10. Graham Tomlin, the Bishop of Kensington, said he hoped a word would change from a symbol of 'sorrow, grief or injustice' to 'a symbol of the time we learnt a new and better way - to listen and to love’? What is the word?

11. Manchester City broke the record for the most consecutive wins in the Premier League. How many games in a row have they won?

12. Who collapsed in Littlehey prison in Cambridgeshire and died in hospital?  

13. Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach warned that Britain's economy and way of life are at 'catastrophic' risk from what?
14. Made In Chelsea's Georgia ‘Toff’ Toffolo won I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here but who were the two runners-up? Half a point for each name.
15. According to an article in the British Medical Journal which doctor could be contributing to 'unrealistic expectations of primary care' by taking phone calls out of working hours and making inappropriate home visits?
16. According to New York law enforcement officials, Akayed Ullah planned to set off a pipe bomb in front of what at Manhattan’s Port Authority Bus Terminal?

17. He played pop, appeared in a Superstore and wrote an autobiography called Shaken But Not Stirred. Who is he?

18. Walt Disney agreed to buy the bulk of which business for $52.4billion (£39billion)?

19. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding date has been announced. What is it?
20. Bradley Wiggins's wife Cath apologised after writing about Chris Froome on Facebook, saying: 'If I was given to conspiracy theory I’d allege they’d thrown my boy under the bus on purpose to cover for this ____ ____'. What are the two missing words?

21. Kepler, with the help of Google, announced it had discovered what?

22. There were more than 500 midnight screenings of which film at Odeon cinemas across Britain on Wednesday night?

23. Scientists at the University of Cambridge have found that the size of what has ballooned nearly seven-fold over the last 300 years?

24. The Met office announced that the coldest night of the year in Britain was recorded in Shawbury, Shropshire, this week. What was the temperature?

25. Today is Christmas Jumper Day during which people are encouraged to wear sweaters and make a minimum donation of £1 for which charity?

Answers here

Test your knowledge with this week's newsquiz

Well done to Jake Hurfurt who was the top scorer in last week's newsquiz with 19 points. He just squeezed past four people - Janet Boyle, Gavin Devine, Toby Brown and Dominic Hurst - who had been joint leaders on 18 for most of the weekend. The top team score was 17 by Daisy and John Penman and Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe. Here is this week's quiz. As usual there are 25 questions about the week. Let me know how you get on. 

Brexit and the weather dominate the front pages (Questions 1, 2, 3, 4 and 15)

1. After Brexit talks suddenly stalled on Monday over the Irish border issue, who told Parliament that ‘the DUP tail is wagging the Tory dog’?

2. Following a 'breakthrough’ deal between the UK and EU later in the week, leader of the DUP Arlene Foster said she was pleased to see changes which meant there was 'no ___ ___ down the Irish Sea’. What are the two missing words?

3. Brexit Secretary David Davis said no assessments of Brexit's impact on the UK economy have been carried out but claimed a document given to MPs last week provided a 'sectoral analysis’. How many pages is the document?

4. Who said he would not be giving up his taxpayer-funded EU pension of £73,000 after Brexit, asking ‘why should my family suffer?’  

5. Who appeared on Good Morning Britain and asked if Boris Johnson was still Prime Minister?

6. New defence secretary Gavin Williamson said: 'A ____ ____ can’t cause any harm to Britain.’ What are the two missing words?

7. What did Theresa May and Boris Johnson, describe as ‘unhelpful’ while Russia said it risked 'dangerous and uncontrollable consequences’?

8. Sir Howard Davies, chairman of the Royal Bank of Scotland, called on banking authorities around the world to launch a coordinated warning against what, comparing it to Dante’s Inferno?

9. Christine Keeler, who died this week age 75, gained notoriety for an affair which forced Conservative MP John Prufumo to resign from which Cabinet position?

10. England have been drawn with Belgium and which other two countries in Group G for the football World Cup in Russia next year? Half a point for each.

11. What is to go up by an average of 3.4 per cent from January 2?
12. Grace Davies came second in what?
13. Which two manoeuvres were scrapped from the new driving test that was introduced on Monday? Half a point for each.

14. East of England Co-op stores are to sell food that is past its 'best before' date for what price?

15. What is the name of the storm that brought snow, wind and temperatures of -5C to Northern Ireland, Scotland and northern parts of England?

16. Liverpool broke a British record by scoring 23 goals in their six Champions League games. How many did they score in their final game against Spartak Moscow?

17. He recorded more than 1,000 songs, sold more than 110 million records, sold out 180 tours and featured on 60 Paris Match covers. Who is he?

18. Why did singer Lionel Richie, socialite Paris Hilton and actress Chrissy Teigen move out of their homes?

19. Naa'imur Zakariyah Rahman, 20, was charged with plotting to kill who?

20. Russia's flag, uniform and anthem have been banned from the Winter Olympics in February. In which country will the Olympics be held?

21. What in Naples has been granted world heritage status?

22. England cricketer Monty Panesar withdrew from what after breaking an ankle in training?

23. Which line in the Lord’s Prayer does the Pope want changing, arguing it is a bad translation?

24. Border Force revealed that fake goods coming into the UK included more than 80,000 packs, worth £1.5m, which were seized at Southampton’s port. What was in the packs? 

25. The hunt to find a man who bragged about cheating on his girlfriend while on a train went viral after a passenger overheard him and tweeted a warning to the wronged woman. What was the boyfriend called?

Answers here

Here's this week's newsquiz - give it a go

The top scorer in last week's newquiz was Ellie Rewcastle with an astonishing personal best of 22. Other notable individual scores were Gavin Devine with 17.5 and Toby Brown with 16. The previous week's runaway winner Liz Gerard came 'back down to earth' with 15 while Dominic Hurst 'hit some early runs and a couple of boundaries, then suffered a late spectacular batting collapse, ending 13 all out'. The best team effort was the Penman Partnership with 17. 

Meanwhile consistent high-scorers Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe scored a below-par 14. Here is this week's quiz. As usual, there are 25 questions about the week's events. Let me know how you get on.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle dominated Tuesday's front pages
(Questions 1 to 3)

1. The first official duty by newly-engaged Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was in which city?

2. The engagement ring, designed by Prince Harry, was made of three diamonds. The two outside ones were from his mother’s collection. Which country was the central diamond from?

3. Prince Harry’s fiancee's first name is the same as the character she plays in the American drama Suits. What is the name?

4. Theresa May said US president Donald Trump was wrong for retweeting material from which group? 

5. Who tweeted to Donald Trump: 'You have a mass shooting every single day in your country, your murder rate is many times that of the UK, your healthcare system is a disgrace, you can’t pass anything through a congress that you control. I would focus on that’?

6. Which supermarket was found liable for the actions of a former member of its staff who stole the data of thousands of employees and posted it online?

7. Chancellor Philip Hammond announced the Government is considering introducing a tax to tackle ‘the scourge’ of what?

8. What did England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow say had been 'completely blown out of proportion’?

9. The Royal Bank of Scotland announced it was closing 259 branches - including 197 in England and Wales which use which bank name? 

10. A 15-year-old appeared at Leeds Youth Court facing how many counts of causing death by dangerous driving?

11. Why was ‘mum from Bognor’ Theresa Scrivener in the headlines?

12. What did the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, wear for the first time in almost ten years?

13. The dancefloor of the Butterfly Disco Pub collapsed, injuring 40 people, on which island?

14. Former Scotland Yard detective Neil Lewis said he was ‘shocked’ by what discovery?

15. The Irish prime minister (Taoiseach) is insisting on a written guarantee that there will be no hard border. What is his name? 

16. Elise Christie, Johanna Konta, Anya Shrubsole and Bianca Walkden were included in which list?

17. How did 72-year-old Slobodan Praljak die?

18. Glynis Breakwell stepped down from which role?

19. Who won three prizes including best male artist and best album at the MOBO awards?

20. How are Ray Tindall, Paul Towers, John Armstrong, Nicholas Simpson, Nick Dunn and Billy Irving collectively known?

21. Who said he was 'enthused and energised' about returning to Premier League football management?

22. Thousands of people were stranded on Bali after which volcano erupted?

23. Anthony Senerchia Jnr, who died age 46, was credited with being the inspiration behind what?

24. Why did boxer Amir Khan and Iain Lee fall out with their colleagues?

25. Prince William presented Santa Claus with a hand-written letter from Prince George at a Christmas market in Helsinki which asked for only one gift. What was it?

Answers here

The newsquiz ... 25 questions about the week

There were some very impressive scores in last week's newsquiz. The pick of the bunch was a remarkable 20 by Liz Gerard. Hot on her heels was Simon O'Neill ('paying attention for once') with 19. Toby Brown scored 17.5 and Dave Bromage 17. The top teams were the Penman Partnership with 18 and Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe with 17. Dominic Hurst scored a below par 14 but confessed, as he works for the BBC, he fell asleep half way through! Here's this week's quiz. As usual there are 25 questions about the week's events. Let me know how you get on. 

The Budget dominated Thursday's front pages (Questions 1-3)

1. Chancellor Philip Hammond pledged in the Budget that stamp duty would be abolished for first-time buyers on properties worth up to how much?
2. The Chancellor froze alcohol duty apart from an increase in tax on what type of drink?

3. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, being heckled by a Tory frontbencher in his Budget response, said: 'The ____, ____ attitude of certain members opposite needs to be called out.’ What are the two missing words?
4. The European Commission cancelled the UK's turn to host which event, saying the UK will no longer be eligible after it leaves the EU in 2019?

5. Why was this week's BBC Question Time cut short to 40 minutes?

6. Philip Hammond, speaking on the Andrew Marr show, said: 'Where are all these _____ people? There are no _____ people.' What is the missing word?

7. Talks to form the next German government collapsed on Sunday after which party walked out of marathon negotiations with Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats?

8. Children in Need raised a record-breaking ‘on the night’ amount of money. To the nearest million pounds, what was the figure?

9. Eurotunnel is preparing for the post-Brexit era with a rebrand to 'mark the group’s passage into an exciting new era for mobility infrastructures’. What is the company’s new name to be?

10. Emmerson Mnangagwa, who took over as president of Zimbabwe, is known by which nom de guerre, acquired during his guerrilla warfare days?

11. What was the chief executive of fashion chain Fat Face referring to when he said ‘it's bad for customers, it's bad for business, it's bad for UK retail’?

12. What happened to Andrew Brady, Anisa Topan and Charles Burns this week?

13. Czech tennis player, Jana Novotná, who died age 49, won the women's singles title at Wimbledon in which year?

14. Who voluntarily agreed not to go on the BBC after accepting that his behaviour over a decade ago was 'occasionally juvenile’?
15. Shares in which company had their biggest fall in a single day after it lost 823,000 customers in four months?

16. Which company paid hackers $100,000 to delete the data of 57 million people - and to keep the breach of security quiet?
17. Former Bosnian Serb commander Ratko Mladić, the ‘butcher of Bosnia’, was sentenced to life after being convicted of genocide by a UN criminal tribunal held in which city?

18. What is the name of the Argentinian navy submarine that has gone missing with 44 crew on board?

19. Which former Manchester City footballer was sentenced to nine years in prison by a court in Milan after being found guilty of sexual assault?

20. The actors who played the characters Keith Partridge and Bob Ferris both died this week. Name the two 1970s' TV programmes. Half a point for each.

21. Why was 19-year-old Rory Farquharson in the headlines?

22. England and Australia began the first Ashes this week at the Gabba. In which city is the famous cricket ground?

23. Who, in his resignation speech, said of his time in parliament: 'I think it’s a small cosy little club. I think it has all of the worst aspects of the old British system. I can tell you, it would fry your head to listen to the nonsense that is talked.’

24. Queen Elizabeth II became the first British monarch to celebrate a 70th wedding anniversary - what element is used to describe the 70th anniversary?

25. Sarah Hall from Tyneside asked for which book to be removed from classes at her son's primary school as it promotes ‘inappropriate' sexual behaviour?

Answers here

The newquiz - 25 questions about the week

The top individual score in last week's newsquiz was Dave Bromage with 13.5, narrowly ahead of Toby Brown and Dominic Hurst who both scored 12.5. It was clearly a tough one which makes the team score of 18.5 by Sophie Jamieson's gang all the more impressive. I suspect this week's quiz is marginally easier - but it is always difficult to judge. Anyway, here it is ... as usual 25 questions about the week. Give it a go and let me know how you get on.

1. Brexit Secretary David Davis, in a speech in Berlin, warned that 'putting politics above ____ is never a smart choice'. What is the missing word?

2. Conservative MP Anna Soubry reported threats against her to the police after she was branded as what on The Daily Telegraph’s front page?

3. Lloyd Blankfein suggested a second EU referendum to confirm there is a consensus in the UK on the 'monumental and irreversible' Brexit decision. Blankfein is CEO of which company?

4. In a speech at the Lord Mayor’s banquet Theresa May said Russia is seeking to weaponise what?

5. What, for the first time in 65 years, did not take place at the Cenotaph in Whitehall on Remembrance Sunday? 

6. The final death toll in the Grenfell Towers fire was confirmed as what number by Scotland Yard?

7. Donald Trump tweeted: 'Why would Kim Jong-un insult me by calling me old, when I would NEVER call him ____ and ____?’ What are the two missing words? Half a point for each word.

8. Name the television producer, the creator of the ITV series Victoria, who said she was groped by a Government official during a visit to 10 Downing Street.

9. The political ambitions of Robert Mugabe’s wife are believed to have prompted the military takeover in Zimbabwe. What is her name?

10. A 500-year-old painting of Christ, known as Salvator Mundi (Saviour of the World), was sold in New York for a record $450m (£341m). Who is believed to be the artist?

11. Boris Johnson’s father Stanley is the oldest contestant in I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here. How old is he?

12. Children's author Chris Riddell suggested that who had plagiarised his book Mr Underbed?

13. Who returned his Freedom of the City award in protest over Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi?

14. Hassan Shabbir said he was 'deeply ashamed’ and 'disgusted with himself’ for doing what?

15. Italy failed to qualify for the football World Cup for the first time since which year?

16. What percentage of Australian voters said Yes to same sex marriage?

17. Actor Keith Barron, who died aged 83, was well known as David Pearce, the Casanova husband in which 1980s sitcom?

18. Joy Lofthouse, who died age 94, was the last surviving what?

19. Which organisation said, in advice issued to 5,000 schools, that youngsters should be able to choose the tutu, tiara and heels, as well as or instead of the helmet, tool belt and superhero cloak?

20. Where did the wedding of Charles Bronson and former Coronation Street extra Paula Williamson take place?

21. Why was 25-year-old Arthur Collins in the headlines?

22. A special forces dog who sniffed out Taliban booby traps in Kabul has been awarded the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross. What is the dog called?

23. British explorer Benedict Allen went missing during an expedition to track down a tribe of headhunters in which country?

24. What, according to estate agents Strutt & Parker, could save millennials £2,576 a year and help them get on the housing ladder?

25. Greggs apologised for replacing Jesus with what in a promotional image for its advent calendar?

Answers here

Telegraph Jamie wins the newsquiz Champagne

The Telegraph trainees with their certificates in the London newsroom today. Left to right: Jamie Johnson, Luke Mintz, Mark Wray (MD at Press Association Training), Izzy Lyons and Helen Chandler-Wilde

I spent an enjoyable three days at the Press Association's HQ in Howden with the Telegraph trainees this week. On the last week of their eight-week course in East Yorkshire, they put together an excellent 25-minute interactive presentation which they presented to the Telegraph's executives in London today. It was a great job - well done to them. 

Izzy, Jamie with his Champagne prize, Luke and Helen 

Afterwards we rounded off the course by doing the newsquiz over a couple of farewell drinks in the Brass Money in Victoria. Helen Chandler-Wilde, Izzy Lyons and Jamie Johnson all scored 12, with Luke Mintz on 11. The overall winner, by some margin, over the eight-week course was Jamie with an average score of 13.5.  
The trainees now embark on the second stage of their training at PA, The Telegraph and at placements on regional newspapers. They are a bright and likeable bunch who will undoubtedly go far. I wish them well.
The top online scorer in last week's newsquiz was Elly Rewcastle with an impressive 19. Here is this week's quiz ... 25 questions about the week's news. Give it a go and see if you can score higher than the trainees' 12. 

Another day, another crisis. Today's Daily Telegraph

1. Who replaced Priti Patel as International Development Secretary?

2. Cabinet minister Priti Patel resigned after it was revealed she held how many unofficial meetings, including one with PM Benjamin Netanyahu, during a 13-day holiday in Israel?

3. Boris Johnson told the Commons foreign affairs committee that detained British woman Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe had been doing what in Iran?
4. The Welsh First Minister faced calls to resign after the death of Carl Sergeant, who was found dead days after being suspended from the party. What is the first minister called?

5. Tarnished actor Kevin Spacey is to be edited out of the Hollywood film All The Money In The World and replaced by Christopher Plummer. Which part was Spacey meant to be playing?

6. According to the Paradise Papers, Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton’s advisers recouped £3.3million in VAT by putting his private jet through which island?
7. Who is listed in the Paradise Papers as an investor in a Lithuanian shopping centre via a Malta-based company?

8. What was the name of the Texan town where 26 people were shot dead?

9. A memorial to 12 people killed by a bomb 30 years ago was unveiled this week in which town?
10. England rugby players are considering giving £1,000 each to which bankrupt team?

11. Why was Juli Briskman sacked?

12. Veteran broadcaster Michael Parkinson said that he never imagined he would 'recoil in horror' from what?

13. Celtic broke their own 100-year-old British record by stretching their unbeaten domestic run to how many matches?

14. Matthew Scully-Hicks, who murdered his 18-month-old daughter, two weeks after adopting her, was given a life sentence and told he must serve at least how many years before being considered for release?

15. Stalker Mark Revill described himself as a 'public executioner' in a series of tweets to whom?

16. An eight-foot bronze statue of which former BBC employee was unveiled outside of Broadcasting House?

17. British tourist Luke Tang wrote a letter of complaint to the mayor after he and his parents were charged €526 for lunch in a restaurant in which city?

18. Antonio Carluccio, who died this week, became famous for his cookery programme alongside fellow Italian Gennaro Contaldo. What was the programme called?

19. Three languages are excluded from Twitter’s decision to raise its character limit to 280. Name any two of them. Half a point for each.

20. Who said this week: ‘I am here and I am on a job. I am on a mission in my own head … I do have a point to prove. I do’? 

21. Property tycoon Fergus Wilson was ordered to drop his ‘abhorrent’ policy by Maidstone Crown Court. What was his unlawful policy?

22. Drivers from Aslef accepted a deal with Southern Rail, bringing its 18-month dispute to an end. The deal includes a pay rise of what percent over five years?

23. According to the Office for National Statistics which disease is now Britain’s biggest killer?

24. Boxer Tyson Fury is fighting a legal battle with UK Anti-Doping, claiming his positive result for steroids was because he ate what? 

25. Facebook is asking users in Australia to send what so that it can fight revenge porn?

Answers here

Jamie and Luke win the newsquiz

Last week's top online score in the newsquiz was Janet Boyle with an impressive 18. This week I have been with The Daily Telegraph trainees in Howden on their penultimate week. We finished with the newsquiz as usual. This week Jamie Johnson and Luke Mintz tied as top scorers with 15. Here's this week's quiz - 25 questions about the week - see if you can beat their score. 

1. New Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson held which previous position in the Tory Party?

2. Gavin Williamson has a pet called Cronus which he keeps on his desk. What is it?

3. Julia Hartley-Brewer, the journalist who was touched by Sir Michael Fallon, said: 'If this is over _______, him touching my knee 15 years ago and me not having any issue with it today, this is the most insane, absurd and ridiculous resignation of a cabinet minister ever’. What is the missing word?

4. What is the name of the former shadow minister who was suspended from the Labour Party after allegations that he sent inappropriate text messages and touched a young woman after a political event?

5. Labour activist Bex Bailey claimed she was raped at a Labour party event in which year?

6. MRC and Netflix suspended production of which TV series 'to give us time to review the current situation and to address any concerns of our cast and crew’?

7. Dustin Hoffman apologised to Anna Graham Hunter who accused him of sexual harassment when she was 17 on the set of which TV film?

8. New York terror suspect Sayfullo Saipov arrived in America in 2010 through a diversity visa programme from which country?
9. Five of the people who were killed in the New York terror attack were from which country?

10. Spain's chief prosecutor said the eight Catalan politicians, who were remanded in custody, were accused of rebellion, misuse of funds and which other offence?

11. The Bank of England raised interest rates from the 0.25 per cent to 0.5 per cent - the first increase since which year?

12. Great British Bake Off judge Prue Leith blamed her tweet, that named the show's winner before it had been broadcast, on the time difference as she was in which country?.

13. Which phrase was named the word of the year by dictionary publisher Collins?

14. Why was 68-year-old David Cuthbertson in the headlines?

15. Lewis Hamilton collected his fourth Formula 1 world title in Mexico driving for which team?

16. Anh Nhu Nguyen appeared at Southwark Crown Court accused of fraud. What did he do?

17. Senator Angus King told a Washington hearing: 'We know the Russians were involved in the French election. We know that they were involved in the German elections. We are now learning they were involved in the separation of Spain. And my understanding is they've set up shop in ______.’ Which country?

18. After watching Tottenham Hotspur beat Real Madrid in the Champions League, England manager Gareth Southgate included how many Spurs players in his squad?

19. Sydney Hardy sacked his entire staff at Yeovil saying: 'I have had enough and realise I cannot work with you, the people I employ, a moment longer.’  What is the name of the company?

20. Broadcaster and actress Ksenia Sobchak announced her intention to do what next year?

21. England Under-17s footballers came from 2-0 down to beat which team 5-2 and win the World Cup in India?

22. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said it will cut what to between £2 and £50?

23. Prince William told five-year-old Suzie McCash, at the Pride of Britain Awards, that he would talk to Prince George because of what she had done? What did Suzie do?

24. What is the name of the song recorded by Katie Melua as the official single of this year's Children in Need?
25. A gigantic effigy of which ‘villain' will be burned alongside Guy Fawkes at the Edenbridge Bonfire in Kent this weekend?

Answers here

Here's the newsquiz - 25 questions on the week

There were some good scores in last week's newsquiz - notably 19 by both Jake Hurfurt and Ellie Rewcastle. The top teams were the Penmans on 18 and Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe with 17. The Daily Telegraph trainees were on project work today so weren't around to do the quiz. They will be back next week when they will be training with me. Here's this week's 25 questions about the week ... give it a go and let me know how you get on.    

1. Martin Selmayr took to Twitter to deny what?

2. Labour MP Jared O'Mara apologised and resigned from which committee after making misogynistic and homophobic internet postings 15 years ago?

3. Rory Stewart, an international development minister, said the only way of dealing with most British Islamic State fighters was what?

4. Downing Street said forecasts indicated Britain’s population will pass what figure before the end of the next decade?

5. Michael Bloomberg, in London to open a new European headquarters for his media company, said of Brexit: 'I thought it was the single stupidest thing any country has ever done but then we _____ _____.' What are the two missing words?

6. The Spanish Prime Minister has called on senators to approve direct rule over Catalonia amid an escalating crisis over the region's push for independence. Name the Spanish Prime Minister.

7. What title was offered - and then withdrawn - to Robert Mugabe by the World Health Organisation?

8. One Premier League team sacked its manager, another appointed a new one. Name both men. Half a point for each

9. The success of Premier Inns was a major factor in which group recording a rise in its six month pre-tax profits by a fifth to £316million?

10. David Clarke was charged with false imprisonment and possession of a sawn-off shotgun and a samurai sword in connection with a siege where?

11. She played Queen Victoria once, Queen Elizabeth II three times, Laurie Lee’s mother in Cider With Rosie and David Essex’s in That’ll Be the Day. Who is she?

12. Lewis Hamilton is poised to win his fourth world championship on Sunday at which country’s Grand Prix?

13. Magazines including Vogue, Glamour, Wired, Vanity Fair and GQ decided to stop commissioning whose work?

14. What did Highways England say it wanted to introduce to 'as many roadworks as possible’?

15. Who was named the UK’s most influential black person in the 2018 Powerlist of 100 people. 

16. Jacinda Ardern was elected as the 40th prime minister of which country?

17. Fats Domino, who died aged 89, had only one top ten hit in the UK. Name it.

18. Which high street chain announced it is to close 190 branches as a result of government cuts?

19. Why was 38-year-old adventurer Tom Morgan from Bristol in the headlines?

20. Christopher Lythgoe, alleged leader of banned neo-Nazi terrorist group National Action, was charged with calling on followers to murder which MP?

21. A memo released by the US National Archives said that which British newspaper received an anonymous call about 'some big news' in the US, 25 minutes before President Kennedy was assassinated in 1963?

22. Who described Mandip, Tosin and Bradley as ’the dream team’?

23. Little-known distance runner Eyob Faniel won which city's marathon after the favourites took a wrong turn down a cycling path and had to dodge oncoming traffic?

24. France is experiencing the worst shortage of which product since the second world war?

25. Karon Grieve was the only passenger on a Jet2 flight from Glasgow to where?

Answers here