The newsquiz - 25 questions about the week

The top scorer in last week's newsquiz was Janet Boyle with 20, narrowly ahead of Toby Brown on 19. Other high scorers were Gavin Devine on 17 and Dominic Hurst on 16. The top team was Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe with 16. Here is this week's quiz, As usual there are 25 questions about the week's events. Let me know how you get on.

Headline of the week, on a Government under pressure, goes to Metro 

1. What was signed by Gavin Williamson and Sir Jeffrey Donaldson?

2. A Labour amendment to the Queen’s speech, calling for an end to cuts to emergency services and to caps on pay rises for public sector workers, was defeated by a Government majority of how many?

3. Why were Catherine West, Ruth Cadbury and Andy Slaughter sacked?

4. Labour MP Stella Creasy tabled an amendment to the Queen's Speech calling for all Northern Irish women to be able to do what?

5. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told the Scottish Parliament that ‘having listened and reflected, the Scottish government will ____ the plan I set out on 13 March’. What is the missing word?
6. What is the name of the retired judge who will head the inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire?
7. Jerome Barson, 78, died after being involved in a crash with a car driven by which celebrity?

8. Jeremy Corbyn quoted which Percy Bysshe Shelly poem while on stage at Glastonbury?

9. Which television presenter faced calls for his resignation after allegedly chanting ‘Fuck the Tories’ at Glastonbury?

10. The six men charged with offences relating to 95 deaths at Hillsborough include policemen David Duckenfield and Norman Bettison. Name any two of the other four.

11. Speaker John Bercow announced that male MPs who wished to speak in the House of Commons would no longer have to do what?
12. The EU fined Google a record-breaking sum for abusing its internet search monopoly. How much, in euros, was the fine?

13. Why was 38-year-old Wayne Marques in the headlines?
14. Radical preacher Tarik Chadlioui was arrested at his home in Birmingham at the request of which country’s police force?
15. Andy Murray will be the men’s No 1 seed for the first time at Wimbledon? Who is the top seeded woman?
16. This writer's characters included The Herbs (Parsley, Sage and Dill) and Monsieur Pamplemousse. Who is he?
17. CCTV footage showed 53-year-old Simon Smith being knocked down by a bus, then getting up and walking into a pub in which town?
18. Captain Megan Couto became the first woman to do what?
19. Britain’s largest and most powerful ship ever to be built was described by Russia as an easy target as it began sea trials. What is the ship called?

20. A FIFA report revealed that David Cameron asked which country’s delegation to back England’s 2018 World Cup bid?
21. What was first unveiled in Enfield in north London on June 27 1967?

22. Why did Portugal’s football captain Cristiano Ronaldo fly home early from the FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia?

23. Gayle Newland, 27, was found guilty at Manchester Crown Court of tricking a friend into what?

24. Who was the summer-holiday relief presenter on Radio 2’s the Jeremy Vine Show this week?

25. Shopkeeper Jel Singh Nagra, threated with legal action by Sainsbury’s after calling his store Singhsbury’s, changed its name to what?

Answers here

Have a crack at this week's newsquiz

Last week's top solo scorer in the newsquiz was Liz Gerard with 17. The top team efforts were by Christopher Dean and Ailsa Leslie and the Penman Partnership (with help from brother-in-law Matthew) who scored 19. James Dunn and Lydia Willgress also notched up an impressive 18. Here is this week's quiz. As usual 25 questions about the week - let me know how you get on.

The Mirror reports on Grenfell Tower (Questions 7 and 8)

1. How many Bills did Theresa May outline in the Queen’s Speech?

2. What do fox hunting, grammar schools and the dementia tax have in common?

3. A Day of Rage which aimed to 'shut down London' was organised by which Marxist group? 

4. Theresa May told an EU summit that a 'UK settled status' will grant equal rights on healthcare, education, benefits and pensions to EU citizens who have lived in the country for how many years?

5. In an interview on Radio 4, presenter Eddie Mair told Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson: 'It’s not a ____  ____ sketch. You can’t answer the question before last.' What are the two missing words? 

6. David Dimbleby ejected a member of the Question Time audience after the heckler refused to allow which politician to finish his answer?

7. Around 250 homeless survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire will be rehoused in a development bought by the City of London Corporation. What is the development called?

8. Which song was released as the fundraising single for victims of the Grenfell Tower blaze?

9. What is the name of the man arrested for the terrorist attack against Muslims in Finsbury Park?
10. Why did Prince Charles say he was ‘deeply impressed’ by Mohammed Mahmoud?

11. A man suspected of being a would-be suicide bomber was shot dead by police at which railway station?

12. Prince Harry said in an interview that he didn’t believe anyone in the royal family wanted to be king or queen. Which magazine was he talking to?

13. Which country suspended air combat missions over Syria after Russia threatened that it would treat any plane from the US-led coalition as a potential target?

14. He introduced the townsfolk of Camberwick Green, read out the roll call for Trumpton and was voted as having the best-loved UK kids’ television voice. Who is he?

15. Why was Otto Warmbier in the headlines?

16. Andy Murray crashed out in the first round of the Aegon Championships at Queen’s but donated his £11,986 appearance money to what?

17. Four former bank executives were charged by the Serious Fraud Office over the way the bank raised billions of pounds from Qatar? Which bank did they work for?

18. Thirty boys from ISCA Academy in Exeter wore what item of clothing in protest?

19. Odds-on favourite, Order Of St George, was defeated in the Gold Cup at Ascot by which large fruit?

20. Forest fires in which European country killed more than 60 people?

21. Who said: 'I feel like I have let a lot of people down and for that I am truly sorry. I want to thank my wife, family and closest friends for helping me through this really difficult time'?

22. Two men died and another man was airlifted to hospital after a crane collapsed in which town?

23. Who announced his retirement by saying: ‘I’m nearly 100, old thing. You know when it’s time. All the younger people are doing it so well, they don’t want to come back to an old fart like me. It’s time to say goodbye’?

24. Eight men were arrested in connection with an investigation into historical child sexual abuse in Rotherham as part of a National Crime Agency Operation. What is the operation called?

25. Who joked about assassinating President Donald Trump at Glastonbury Festival, asking 'When was the last time an actor assassinated a President?’

Answers here

Here's the newsquiz - give it a go

There were some first class scores in last week’s newsquiz. Nick Martin scored a very impressive 22, Ellie Rewcastle scored 20 and Janet Boyle and Chris Lennon, with a personal best, both clocked up 19. The Batstone Collective - Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe - were the top team with 18.5. Other high scorers were Dave Bromage, also a PB, on 18, and Tom Witherow, Toby Brown and Dominic Hurst (who said he started strong and stable and ended weak and wobbly) who all scored 15. Here is this week’s quiz - another busy newsweek. Sorry it's a bit late ... I have been on a boat without wifi all day. As usual there are 25 questions about the week. Give it go and let me know how you get on.  

1. Grenfell Tower, which caught ablaze causing multiple deaths, is in which London borough?

2. Who was dropped from BBC’s Newsnight after making ‘controversial’ comments about the number of deaths in the Grenfell Tower blaze?

3. What is the name of the aluminium cladding system that was used on the walls of Grenfell Tower?

4. In 2016 the Grenfell Action Group published an article accusing the tenants' management organisation, responsible for the flats, of being an 'evil, unprincipled ______  What is the missing hyphenated word?

5. The Queen’s speech was delayed from its original date of June 19 to when?

6. Michael Gove returned to the Cabinet in which position?

7. Who was appointed shadow secretary for Northern Ireland?

8. Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams told Theresa May that a deal with DUP would be a breach of what?

9. After the election Downing Street’s two chiefs of staff resigned. Name them. Half a point for each

10. In his resignation speech Lib Dem leader Tim Farron said: ‘I have found myself torn between living as a ______ ______ and serving as a political leader.'

What are the two missing words?

11. Labour now has 30 seats more than before the election. How many seats does the party have in total?

12. The latest UK inflation rate, issued by the Office for National Statistics, is the highest since June 2013. What is the current rate of inflation?

13. The Guardian and Observer newspapers announced they would be moving to a tabloid size next year. What is the current size of the two papers known as?

14. Boxer Conor McGregor announced his fight with Floyd Mayweather on Twitter by saying 'THE FIGHT IS ON' and a picture of himself and which other person?

15. Former Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond was airlifted to hospital after crashing an electric supercar in which country?

16. Anita Pallenburg, who died this week age 73, had three children with which rock star?

17. Countess Mountbatten of Burma, who died age 93, survived which event that killed her father, teenage son and mother-in-law?

18. England footballers won the Under-20 World Cup. Which team did they beat?

19. A 31-year-old woman was charged with murder of a man in Manchester after he was killed by what?

20. Former BBC weatherman Fred Talbot was jailed for how many years for historical sex offences?

21. Five people, including congressman Steve Scalise and a policeman, were shot at what event in Alexandria, Virginia?

22. Public Health England reported that the UK has the second lowest percentage of smokers (15.8 per cent of adults). Which European country has the lowest rate?

23. Why was Erendira Wallenda in the headlines?

24. Which company cited the General Election and an ‘uncertain macroeconmic environment’ when it issued a profits warning this week?

25. Whose family issued a statement saying: ‘Our dad always saw himself as The Bright Knight, and aspired to make an impact on his fans’ lives. He was and always will be our hero’?

Answers here 

The election week newsquiz: Give it a go

Well done Janet Boyle who was the top scorer in last week’s newsquiz with an impressive 20. Other notable scores were Steve Silk with 18, Dave Bromage and Gavin Devine who both scored 17. Those scoring 16 were Simon O’Neill, Dominic Hurst and Chris Lennon with a Personal Best. There are two stories that dominate this week’s quiz of course … the General Election and the terrorist attacks on London Bridge and Borough Market … but there were other things going on too. Anyway, as usual, there are 25 questions about the week’s events. Give it a go and let me know how you get on.

1. Theresa May announced she is to form a Government in the 'interests of the whole UK' after reaching an informal agreement with which party?

2. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called for Theresa May to resign saying 'The Prime Minister called the election because she wanted a mandate. Well the mandate she’s got is lost Conservative seats, lost votes, lost support and lost ______.’ What is the missing word?

3. Which seat, held by the Conservatives since 1974, went to a third recount and became the last to declare a result?

4. Labour's Preet Kaur Gill became the UK's first what?

5. The biggest swing - 20.4 per cent - was in Gordon and saw which politician lose his seat?

6. Turnout in the election was up by 2 per cent and the highest since 1997. What percentage of eligible people voted?

7. Who resigned after finishing third with 3,308 votes - more than 10,000 fewer votes than in 2015 - in Boston and Skegness?

8. Which constituency was the first to announce a General Election result?

9. In an interview with ITN’s Julie Etchingham before the election, what did Theresa May say was ’the naughtiest thing' she had ever done?

10. Which position did Lyn Brown take over just before the election?

11. The three terrorists who drove a car into people on London Bridge were shot dead outside which Borough Market pub?
12. In a statement following the Borough Market attacks Met Police commissioner Cressida Dick said: 'The threat that they posed was neutralised within ____ minutes.’ What is the missing number?

13. Transport for London apologised for an 'insensitive mistake' following the London Bridge terror attack. What was the mistake?
14. Which country’s football team refused to take part in a minute’s silence for the victims of the London terrorist attacks before their World Cup qualifier?

15. Hundreds of people were locked inside which cathedral after a policeman was attacked by a man with a hammer?

16. The choir from which school made headlines for their moving performance of My Everything with Ariana Grande at the One Love concert in Manchester?
17. Which song, an encore at the One Love concert, has been released by Ariana Grande as a charity single to raise money for the Manchester benefit?

18. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt announced they were cutting diplomatic ties with which country, saying its citizens must leave their countries within two weeks?

19. Who cancelled two performances at the Royal Albert Hall after being rushed to hospital after falling in a hotel?

20. Hundreds of football fans were hurt when a loud bang caused panic and a stampede in which city?

21. Musician Tokio Myers won this year’s Britain’s Got talent but who finished in second place?

22. He played Clegg for 37 years and Wallace for 15 years. Who is he?

23. Best-selling author and illustrator Lauren Child was appointed to which role?

24. Former FBI director James Comey told the Senate Intelligence Committee that his sacking by Donald Trump ‘rang in my ear as kind of Will no one rid me of this _____ _____?’ What are the missing two words?

25. Human rights lawyer Amal Clooney and her husband, George, celebrated the birth of twins. Name them. Half a point each.

Answers here

Exhilarating night for the newsroom warriors

The view in the newsroom. A picture posted on Twitter by Metro assistant editor Chris Cowley with the words 'This has been my view for the last 14 hours. Just two more hours to go and two more editions!'

Well done to the newsrooms. Election nights are the times when there is the biggest buzz. All the planning, predictions and polls are in the hands of the public and, as a journalist, you have six hours from 10pm to 4am to watch it all unfold. Nothing much happens early on. The first editions lead on exit polls but you know full well they will be out of date by the time people are picking up your paper tomorrow. Then slowly, a picture emerges until you have a definitive final edition. Then you might grab some breakfast, maybe a shower and change of clothes and start on the fallout stories. There will be no sleep. Here are the results of the labours of the newsroom warriors.

The award for the most innovative front page must go to The New European with its graffiti on the door of No 10. The headline has the added bonus of working for the last two residents.

Metro is one of the few papers to focus on Corbyn's success rather than May's failure. It is a powerful front page - not least because of its surprise factor. It's a great headline too. Earlier its holding story was of course on the exit poll - which this time got it right. 

A smiling thumbs up picture of Jeremy Corbyn also features on the front of the Daily Mirror. It changed at 5am for a much stronger and better cropped image. Cor blimey (for younger readers) is a quaint version of f**k me. It sums up how just about everyone must be feeling this morning. Earlier the Mirror went with Theresa May hanging by a thread.

Cor Blimey is also favoured by the Mirror's sister paper the Liverpool Echo ... although it probably isn't a much-used Scouse expression.

The Sun, of course, had thrown its weight behind Theresa May. It moves through the night from Mayhem to Theresa Dismay. A bad night for the Tories, but a good night for puns. 

The Scottish Sun has both Theresa May and Nicola Sturgeon hung out to dry ... with an interesting Stinging in the rain strapline.

The Press and Journal in Aberdeen also goes for a Dismay headline.

The Edinburgh Evening News certainly does well in the pun stakes ... Hung, drawn and not sorted. Love it!  

And if we are thinking puns I quite like City AM's Mayday. It works well with the picture and is certainly a big improvement on its earlier Election shock. 

May Day is also used by The Scotsman with a nice sense of urgency and smart cutouts of the leading ladies. 

I spent many a happy (and unhappy) election night in The Northern Echo newsroom. It too went for May Day. 

The Manchester Evening News perhaps uses May Day biggest and boldest - real urgency here. It later changes it for Poll axed - another good line. 

The Daily Mail, another May supporter, starts the night on a knife edge and finishes with Theresa on the ropes. The failed gamble is a theme than runs through many of today's front pages. 

The Times updates its failed gamble to a nightmare for its 3.30am edition ... and asks What next for Britain? A key question. 

The Daily Telegraph sticks with the backfiring gamble - which really does sum all this up perfectly. Earlier the rare use of the word 'shock appears in its splash headline. In this instance, though, it is justified. 

The Guardian goes from shock to stuns in its headlines. Corbyn stuns the Tories, above the thumbs up picture, pretty much sums up the last six hours. 

There are only subtle changes to the FT's display. The gamble backfires according to the exit polls ... and then according to reality.

The Daily Express sticks with its line all night .... throwing the story forward to whether Theresa May can stay in power. It updates the picture though. It keeps another blond leader in trouble in the blurb. 

The Daily Star affectionately refers to Theresa May as Tezza in its earlier edition but later switches for Mayhem as Tory gamble fails, which is a very good headline. Tezza stays in the subhead until the final edition when she is replaced by Theresa.

Black and blue works well for a bruised Theresa May in the digital Independent.

The i goes from Britain hanging ... to the ubiquitous backfiring gamble.

The Herald in Glasgow goes for the failed gamble with equal picture billing for May and Corbyn. 

The Evening Chronicle in Newcastle goes for Mayhem (the same as The Sun and the Star) with a really brutal crop of Theresa May's face.

The Yorkshire Post reckons May's future is in grave doubt ... hard to argue with that. Another picture of May in grim mode.

Bold display and a strong picture from the Eastern Daily Press.

The Belfast Telegraph reports on a night of turmoil and speculates that the DUP may hold the balance of power.

The News Letter quite clearly relishes the prospect of the DUP's role.  

The National magnanimously thanks those SNP MPs who lost their seats. 

Well done to all the journalists who certainly earned their corn. Looks like another busy day ahead too.

Thanks as always to Tomorrow's Papers Today.  

Try the newsquiz - 25 questions about the week

Last week's top solo newsquiz scorer was Ginger Elvis with 18, the same score as the top team, the Penman Partnership. Marc Beyeler's team came a close second with 17. Other scores in double figures include Gavin Devine on 15, Ian Watt on 14 and Pete Gavan on 13. Here's this week's quiz. As usual there are 25 questions about the week's events. Give it a go and let me know how you get on.

How the Manchester bomb was reported - from the Manchester Evening News

1. Seven politicians appeared on the BBC leaders debate on Wednesday. They included Jeremy Corbyn, Caroline Lucas, Tim Farron, Leanne Wood, Paul Nuttall and which two others? Half point for each
2. Why did Conservative central office lodge an official complaint with the BBC over the leaders debate? 
3. What did Jeremy Corbyn tell Jeremy Paxman (on Sky News/Channel 4) that wasn’t in the Labour manifesto ‘because we aren’t going to do it’?
4. Jeremy Paxman asked Theresa May whether European leaders would look at her U-turns and label her a '______ who collapses at the first sign of gunfire’. What is the missing word?
5. Tory candidate Ann Myatt apologised ‘wholeheartedly’ for her ‘ill-judged remarks' at a hustings. What remarks was she apologising for?
6. In a Channel 4 interview Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon criticised a statement on the causes of terrorism before being told it was by which of his Cabinet colleagues?
7. German Chancellor Angela Merkel issued a joint statement with French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni saying which agreement could not be re-negotiated?
8. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters that Donald Trump and 'a small group of people know exactly what he meant' after the president tweeted a strange word at 12.06am. What was the word?
9. Nigel Farage described claims that he might be a ‘____ ____ ____’ to the FBI over allegations of Donald Trump’s collusion with Russia as 'complete baloney’. What are the three missing words?
10. Rogue surgeon Ian Paterson was jailed for how many years after being found guilty of wounding his patients by carrying out unnecessary operations?
11. A truck bomb killed more than 90 people when it exploded in the diplomatic quarter of which city?
12. Zookeeper Rosa King was killed by a tiger at which zoo?
13. Celtic became the first Scottish team since 1899 to achieve what?
14. The company that owns British Airways saw shares fall by around four per cent on the first day after a power cut caused chaos at Gatwick and Heathrow. What is the parent company called?
15. He was born in Shelf, between Bradford and Halifax, once held the British civilian freefall parachuting record and died in Majorca this week. Who is he?
16. Why have ITV moved the live finale of Britain's Got Talent to Saturday instead of Sunday?
17. Celebrities including Gary Lineker, David Beckham, Bob Geldof and Ant and Dec lost a legal bid to overturn a £700million tax bill after investing in a financing scheme run by which investment company?
18. Which website donated £20,000 to six-year-old Sunderland supporter Bradley’s Lowery's Foundation as an apology for publishing false information?
19. Golfer Tiger Woods was arrested for driving under the influence in which US state?
20. Construction firm Mears has banned its workers from having what on health and safety grounds?
21. Comic actor Roy Barraclough, who died this week age 81, was best known for playing the Rovers Return landlord in Coronation Street. What was his character called?
22. According to the Wine and Spirit Association, the price of wine has risen because of Brexit. What does the association say is now the average cost of a bottle of wine?
23. What is the name of the NASA spacecraft that will fly to the sun’s outer layer next year?
24. Arsene Wenger became the most successful manager in the history of the FA Cup following Arsenal’s victory over Chelsea at Wembley. How many  times has Wenger won the cup?
25. Samantha Cameron posted a picture on Instagram of her bare feet alongside those of her husband with the caption 'Married for xx years today’. What is the missing number?

Answers here