Test your knowledge with the newsquiz

Last week’s newsquiz was clearly a tough one with scores much lower than usual. Janet Boyle and Gavin Devine were top of the pile on 15 points, with Janet describing it as 'a toughie’. Liz Gerard was close behind with 14. This week’s quiz, as usual 25 questions about the week’s events, is hopefully a little less demanding. Let me know how you get on.

Today's front pages

1. In an address to Austrian business leaders, Brexit Secretary David Davis said Britain will not be 'plunged into a ___ ___ style world borrowed from dystopian fiction' after it leaves the EU. What are the two missing words?
2. Theresa May and 11 senior ministers thrashed out the UK’s approach to Brexit at an eight-hour meeting on Thursday held where?
3. Why was Jan Dymic in the headlines?
4. Why did Scot Peterson resign from his role at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School?
5. Emma Gonzalez, a student who survived the Florida shooting, gave a speech in favour of gun control in which she repeatedly used which two letters to call out the lawmakers and gun advocates?
6. Which courier firm failed to deliver chicken to 900 KFC branches causing them to shut?
7. How much will a television licence cost from April?
8. Fourteen days of industrial action over four weeks have been scheduled by the UCU. What does UCU stand for?
9. Former football coach Barry Bennell was jailed for 31 years after the judge told him: 'You appeared as a god who had it in his gift to help fulfil their ambitions and realise their dreams. In reality, you were the ____ ____.' What are the two missing words?
10. A judge at Birmingham Crown Court described a paedophile as an 'internet highwayman' whose behaviour was 'cunning, persistent, manipulative and cruel’? What was the paedophile's name?
11. Kirsty Sharman, 26, was fined £120 for a public order offence in Stoke. What did she do?
12. The Queen sat in the front row at a London Fashion Week show next to Anna Wintour, who is the US editor of which publication?
13. He was born in North Carolina, had five children, wrote the best seller Just As I Am and his casket will lie in honour at Capitol Rotunda. Who is he?
14. Who became the first Briton to successfully defend a Winter Olympics title?
15. Billy Morgan won Britain's fifth medal - the highest medal tally in Winter Olympics history. What is his sport?
16. Who won best actress and best actor at the Baftas? Half a point for each.
17. Actress Jennifer Lawrence wrote on Facebook this week ‘this is sexist, this is ridiculous, this is not feminism’ after she was criticised for doing what?
18. Following allegations of inappropriate behaviour, former chief executive of Save the Children Justin Forsyth resigned 'with heavy heart’ from his role as deputy executive director of which organisation?
19. Stormzy won best male solo artist and best album at the Brits. What is the name of the album?
20. A policeman died following clashes at a Europa League football match outside the San Mames Stadium in which city?.
21. The Metroplitan Police said its anti-terror team was investigating after ‘malicious communications’ were intercepted on their way to which couple?
22. Who announced that he was recovering from prostate cancer and that ‘it all seemed to go pretty well’?
23. Which company went into administration, with 300 lost jobs, and blamed the Food Standards Agency?
24. Fairmile Grange care home in Christchurch organised which 'inappropriate' activity for its elderly residents?
25. ‘Meet me at McDonalds’ has been banned from a school in Great Yarmouth. What is it?

Answers here

Here's the newsquiz ...

Here is this week's newsquiz. Apologies that it is later than usual - I have been in the air for the last 25 hours. Last week's top scorer was Liz Gerard with a strong 21 points, narrowly ahead of Janet Boyle on 20. The Penman Partnership were the top team, also with 20. Here's this week's quiz. Give it a go and let me know how you get on.  

1. What was the full name of the school in Florida where a gunman in a gas mask killed 17 pupils?
2. In a joint Press conference with Theresa May in Munich, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said about Brexit 'I am not frustrated. I am ____  how Great Britain imagines our relationship to be’. What is the missing word?
3. In his speech in central London this week Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said Brexit was not 'some great V-sign' from where?
4. Labour MP Heidi Alexander said more than how many people had emailed to demand the party establishes a dedicated Brexit policy commission?

5. Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey called on shadow chancellor John McDonnell to apologise for a 2014 joke suggesting she should be what?

6. How many Russians have been criminally charged for interfering in the 2016 US election to help Donald Trump?

7. Who did James Heap claim to have punched in the face when he was 14?
8. How did brothers Stuart and Jason Hill die?

9. UKIP leader Henry Bolton complained about the scrutiny of his private life saying 'there’s probably been nothing like that since the  ____ ____or Diana and Dodi.’ What are the missing two words?

10. Why was BBC Look North presenter Christa Ackroyd in the headlines?
11. Which former professional footballer’s family issued a statement asking that 'privacy be respected and unwarranted speculation should please cease' following the conviction of ex-coach Barry Bennell?

12. Dom Parsons became the first Briton to win a medal in the South Korea Winter Olympics in an event he turned to as a hangover cure. What is the event?

13. Who split up with her husband, Justin Theroux, after two and a half years of marriage?
14. Cyril Ramaphosa became which country’s new president?
15. Who  passed away 'peacefully in his sleep' at 11.18pm on Tuesday at Fredensborg Palace?
16. Couple Reeta Herzallah and Hamdi Almasri were fined £770 each by Leicester magistrates for trying to hide what?
17. Four West Bromwich Albion footballers apologised for taking what while in Barcelona?
18. Whose restaurants were revealed to have debts of 71.5 million, including owing staff 2.2 million? 

19. Who vowed to remain in office after police recommended he should be indicted after it was alleged he took bribes from Australian billionaire James Packer?

20. Why was London City Airport closed on Sunday and Monday?

21. Students at which university were told to take down a video for their May Ball after dons were concerned it was 'overly sexualised’?

22. Actress Minnie Driver and Bishop Desmond Tutu stepped down from which roles?

23. According to analysts Mintel, a quarter of all men between 16 and 34 bought what fashion item last year, an increase from 16 per cent in 2016? 

24. The Queen has banned what from all royal residences?
25. Southeastern temporarily changed the name of one of its London stations on Tuesday to what?

Answers here

Claudia wins the newsquiz Champagne

Farewell to the Australian trainees. Greta Levy, Nicole Pierre, Claudia Poposki (with the Champagne), Holly Hales, Cait Kelly and Sam Lock

I said goodbye to the Daily Mail Australia trainees today after five weeks of training. We spent the last few days getting them ready for their arrival in the newsroom on Monday. Connie Sideras and Katie Camilleri gave them their rotas, told them who their mentors would be and talked about office practicalities. The trainees also got more stories published. Sam Lock spoke to the couple who have given away 10,000 items of clothing to Sydney's homeless and wrote this piece.

Claudi Poposki spotted it was the tenth anniversary of Kevin Rudd's apology to the Stolen Generation and looked at whether indigenous affairs had improved. Her story is here.

Claudia also had a story on whether meal deliveries were worth the money published on Femail. You can read it here. 

Greta Levy told the story of an Aussie adventurer who braved bullets and bombs as he trekked across Afghanistan. Her story is here. 

Holly Hales also got the banner on Travel with her story about sleeping under the stars in an Indian reservation in Monument Valley. 

We finished with the final newsquiz. Holly and Claudia both scored ten points which meant that Claudia was the overall winner over the five weeks and collected the Champagne. Well done to her. Holly was in second place, a mere 1.5 points behind Claudia. Have a go and see if you can do better.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the trainees. They are a bright, social and lively bunch with great careers ahead. I wish them well.

1. Next week Malcolm Turnbull is in America, Barnaby Joyce is taking leave, so who will be acting Prime Minister?
2. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said: 'I do not care whether they are married or single, I don't care. They must not have ____ ____ with their staff, that's it.’ What are the missing two words?
3. What was the name of the P&O cruise ship where a brawl broke out among passengers and forced it to return early from a three-night round trip from Sydney?
4. Australian snowboarder Scotty James revealed he was listening to a song by which band during the run which netted him a bronze medal at the Winter Olympics?
5. All winning athletes at the Winter Olympics are given a token prize before the official medal ceremony. What do they receive?
6. Which former Australian Olympian was accused of being racist when she said of Chinese skiers that ‘they all look the same, they're very hard to tell who's who’?
7. Bikie Mahmoud ‘Mick’ Hawi was shot in the face, outside which gym in Rockdale?
8. A former Hells Angel bikie Benjamin 'Notorious' Geppert, and his heavily-tattooed Instagram star girlfriend were thrown off which island resort following birthday celebrations?
9. What was the full name of the school in Florida where a gunman in a gasmask killed 17 pupils?
10. Who posted a picture of himself and his new wife showing off their wedding rings with the message 'We're the motherf***ing Mighty Morphin Power Rangers of love’?
11. Why was 24-year-old Momena Shoma in the headlines?
12. Who tweeted: 'An expert panel is being formed by the city of Sydney to help advise on how best to resuscitate our city's deceased nightlife.  F**k it I'm in !!!'
13. Why were commuters in Sydney hit by extensive delays and train cancellations in Sydney on Tuesday?
14. American Jose Manuel Polanco Jr has been charged with manslaughter of Melbourne man Benjamin Robb after an altercation in a red light district in which country?
15. The family of plumber Ben Jenkins have been asked to leave their home by people in Toodyay who call themselves the town's 'Good and Decent Citizens’. What did Jenkins do?
16. Who passed away 'peacefully in his sleep' at 11.18pm on Tuesday at Fredensborg Palace?
17. Cyril Ramaphosa became which country’s new president?
18. Two Brits joined I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here. One won the British version and the other worked for the Royal family. Name either of them.
19. Why was Arthur Kelekolio in the headlines?
20. What will receive a facelift in October with new features including a top-to-bottom clear window, a unique species of native Australian wattle and a black swan?
21. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to remain in office after police recommended he should be indicted after it was alleged he took bribes from which Australian billionaire?
22. Torrential winds tore apart the movie screen at Moonlight Cinemas in Sydney on Wednesday evening, leaving at least one person injured. What film was due to be shown?
23. How did brothers Stuart and Jason Hill die?
24. Davina Rankin was labelled as Married At First Sight's 'villain' bride for initiating a romance with which married contestant?
25. Notes were put on a vehicle parked in the Sydney surburb of Mosman that said 'Could you please move this piece of s*** off our road. It's an embarrassment to residents.’ and ‘this vehicle may not be pretty, but what is certainly ugly are the comments attached to it.’ What was the vehicle?

Answers here

Holly wins this week's Aussie newsquiz

The Daily Mail Australia trainees are coming to the end of their formal training. There is only a week to go before they head into the newsroom and then begin planning for their UK placements. They had sessions this week with Ian Perry on video, lawyer Paul Svilans on defamation, MD Peter Holder and Kimberley Brunt on the Press Council and handling complaints, Cameron Carpenter on social media and a chat with ex-trainees Ollie Gilman and Anneta Konstantinides about the Mail's global scheme. They continued to pitch stories too. Cait Kelly's story about the craze for dog yoga was published on Femail and used prominently on the home page. You can read it here. There are more stories in the pipeline.

On Thursday evening they had drinks at the Slip Inn with some of the senior staff. We finished the week, as always, with the newsquiz. This week's winner was Holly Hales with 13, narrowly ahead of Claudia Poposki on 12.5. The leader board is tight as we enter the final week, with only 1.5 points separating the top two. Here is the quiz. Let me know if you can beat Holly's 13. 

1. Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce and new partner Vikki Campion announced they are expecting a baby. What are the ages of Joyce and Campion? Half a point for each.

2. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull broke his silence on his deputy's affair describing it as 'a tough and ____ episode'. What is the missing word?

3. Barnaby Joyce's wife of 24 years said she felt 'deceived' by her estranged husband. What is her name?

4. A Crocodile Dundee-inspired TV commercial was shown to 110 million Super Bowl viewers as part of a Tourism Australia campaign targeting American travellers. How much, in Australian dollars, has the campaign cost?
5. Which actor plays the central role in the Tourism Australia adverts as Dundee's 'doofus' son returning to the outback to save his dad?

6. What is the name of the 58-year-old circus boss who has been charged with 43 offences including aggravated assault and sexual intercourse with a child?

7. The Bachelorette's Sophie Monk said an ill-fated trip holiday over Christmas made her realise she didn't have a future with Stu Lundy. Which country were they visiting?
8. Sophie Monk told A Current Affair: 'I'd love to (have kids) because I know they'd be so loved. I'd love to be a mum but I'm going to have to ____ ____.’ What are the two missing words?

9. Tobacco tycoon Travers 'Candyman' Beynon drew criticism after sharing photographs of naked women bearing tattoos of his company logo on their backsides. What did the logo say?
10. US television personality Kyle Jenner announced the name of her baby daughter on Instagram. What is the baby’s name?
11. John Mahoney, who died in a Chicago hospital age 77, was famous for playing which TV role from 1993 to 2004?
12. Vigilantes in Cranbourne, south east Melbourne, are arming themselves to protect their properties. What is the name of the group?
13. Tradies grappled with security guards as they stormed a locked building site to recover their tools after which construction firm shut down all work?
14. Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau came under fire after he interrupted a woman and corrected her for saying what word?
15. Who confirmed he had quit, on a Facebook post, saying: 'It was an incredible experience but I miss my family and feel like I have accomplished everything I wanted to do.’?
16. How were people injured early on Thursday morning at Dixon's Creek in Victoria's Yarra Valley?
17. Driver Chris Holloway failed a breathtest despite being totally sober. What did he admit to using that may have sent him ten times over the drink-drive limit?
18. Why was 24-year-old Jacob Stanes in the headlines?
19. Labor MP Susan Lamb broke down in tears in Parliament when she explained she could not renounce her British citizenship because her mother abandoned her at the school gates when Ms Lamb was how old?
20. A pregnant woman and her unborn baby have died after being bitten by a snake in a backyard in which town in mid-west Australia?
21. The wife of 64-year-old Robert Doyle talked about her pain when he had to quit his post after being accused of sexually inappropriate behaviour. What was his post?
22. Alex Arnold told how his cellmate walked around half-naked in a towel and how they shared back massages together. What was the name of his cellmate?
23. Sydney’s Inner West Council will formally consider scrapping what when it holds its first meeting of the year next Tuesday?
24. What did Scotty James carry on Friday evening?

25. A Melbourne mother received a ‘reminder’ saying that which item in her child’s lunchbox 'did not comply with the school's nutrition policy’?

Answers here

The newsquiz ... 25 questions about the week

The two top scorers in last week's newsquiz were Joel Taylor and Elly Rewcastle who both ran up a hugely impressive 23 points. Amazing. I clearly need to make it much tougher. Here is 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. 

Thursday's front pages

1. Police are investigating after Tory backbencher Jacob Rees-Mogg was caught in the middle of a scuffle at which university?

2. Jacob Rees-Mogg posted a video on Instagram of his one-year-old son Alfred learning to say what word?
3.  American billionaire George Soros’s foundation has given more than £400,000 to a campaign trying to do what?

4. The Fawcett Society said it would be a ‘fitting tribute’ to pardon which movement in 2018?
5. The alleged fantasist who sparked the Westminster paedophile investigation has been charged with child sex offences. The man can only be identified by what name?
6. The East Coast rail franchise could be returned to the public sector after the government announced it had breached its £3.3billion contract. Which two companies run the franchise?
7. Lloyds Banking Group has banned credit card customers from buying what?

8. Piers Morgan criticised the BBC for broadcasting a cartoon of him, with his face against Donald Trump’s backside, saying: 'If they did it to ____ ____  and ____ ____ - somebody WOULD be sacked.’ What are the two missing names?

9. One of Jamie Bulger’s killers, Jon Venables, was jailed for how long after admitting charges of making indecent images of children?
10. What did Bournemouth council do in response to 'the depth of feeling’ by people, including Professor Green?
11. Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau came under fire after he interrupted a woman and corrected her for saying what word?

12. Lollipop man Colin Spencer, 83, has been told by Stockport Council to stop doing what? 

13. Justin Timberlake was mocked on social media for his Super Bowl outfit - a camouflage print suit and a shirt that featured a rural landscape and deer. Who designed it?
14. What killed up to 40 of the Queen’s swans?
15. Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh, who were captured this week, were part of a gang with which nickname?

16. Which organisation placed full-page advertisements in national newspapers, and has written to the Equality and Human Rights Commission, calling for an end to the ‘discrimination' against its members?
17. The family of missing Richey Edwards believe they have new evidence that could shed light on his disappearance 23 years ago. Edwards was a guitarist for which band?

18. Who has been chosen to represent the UK at this year’s Eurovision Song contest?

19. Chelsea lost consecutive Premier League games by a three-goal margin for the first time since 1995. Name the two teams who they lost to in their last two games. Half a point each.

20. A mannequin named Starman rode towards Mars in which car on board a Falcon Heavy jumbo rocket?
21. A 20-year-old female student died after being crushed outside the Missoula nightclub in which city?

22. John Mahoney, who died in a Chicago hospital age 77, was famous for playing which TV role from 1993 to 2004?

23. Northern & Shell's publications include the Daily Express, Sunday Express, Daily Star and Daily Star Sunday, as well as three celebrity magazines, OK!, New! and Star were bought by which group?

24. What did Lizzy Yarnold carry?

25. What did Belen Aldecosea say she did with her hamster, Pebbles, when she was told at Baltimore Airport that it wasn’t allowed on a plane?

Answers here

Holly and Claudia win the Aussie newsquiz

The Daily Mail Australia trainees had more stories published to add to their bylines from last week. Sam Lock and Nicole Pierre took a look at the history of the barbecue and how it became Australia’s emblem. You can read it here.

Sam also worked on the tragic tale of a young girl who fell into the family pool. Read it here. Greta Levy wrote the story of a mother crushed by her own car. 
And Greta and Claudia Poposki went out on Australian Day to look at the security measure in Sydney's Circular Quay. Their story is here. 

Claudia also worked on a story about a Radio DJ who visited an anti-Australia Day council to ask why they were taking the day off. It means all of the trainees on the course have now had stories published. Well done to them. 

They also pitched story ideas to Femail editor Sheree Mutton and came up with news exclusives … so more stories are definitely in the pipeline. There were also good sessions with acting picture editor Michaela Barklie, Showbiz editor Jade Watkins, page-editor Felicity Hetherington and the original content team Clementine Cuneo and Daniel Piotrowski.

We finished the week, as always, with the newsquiz. It must have been tougher this week as the scores were a little below average. Holly Hales and Claudia Poposki were top with 11.5 points, narrowly ahead of Nicole on 11. Give it a go and see if you can do better.

1. What was the name of the detective sergeant who was stabbed by a child sex offender in a Sydney hotel?
2. What was the name of the hotel where the policeman was stabbed as he tried to arrest child rapist Nick Newman?
3. Why were Kirsty Cini and Zack Jenkins in the headlines?
4. Who did Caroline Wozniacki beat to win the women's final at the Australian Open?
5. Roger Federer won the Australian Open - meaning he joined Serena Williams, Margaret Court and Steffi Graf as a winner of how many Grand Slam titles?
6. ASIO officers raided whose offices to retrieve thousands of top secret documents covering the inner workings of the past five federal governments?
7. Emalee Millar took a photo of her father, sitting on a roof with his boss and a workmate, staring down at what?
8.  Actor Mark Salling was found hanged in woods after pleading guilty to processing child abuse images. On which TV programme did he become famous?
9. Why have Robert Shafran, Eddy Galland and David Kellman been in the headlines?
10. Why have Australian farmers stripped nude and been photographed for a project called The Naked Farmer?
11. What was no longer available over the counter at Australian chemists from Thursday?
12. Ross Belsham, 79, was fired from which job?
13. Boxer Danny Green entered the jungle on I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here and said of his rival Anthony-Mundine: 'I don't see us becoming ___ ___.’ What are the missing two words?
14. Psychologist Dr Carr-Gregg criticised Chris Brown, co-host of I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here!, over his remarks about Bernard Tomic, saying: 'Thank god he looks after _____and not ____’. What are the two missing words? Half a point for each.
15. Before quitting I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, Bernard Tomic bailed on a sky-high tucker trial. Which contestant was his partner in the task?
16. Today presenter Sylvia Jeffreys stopped her interview with pop singer Michael Bolton to give him a book. What was the book called?
17. A Melbourne millionaire who played a role in the creation of the Crown Casino, was a prominent Liberal Party figure and chairman of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, died aged 78 this week. Name him.
18. Mervyn Davidson was in court for knocking a cashier unconscious with a baseball bat while high on ice in which supermarket, south of Wollongong?
19. Australian Pierre Agnes’s empty powerboat was found upside down on an isolated French beach. Agnes was chief executive of which company?
20. Whose birthday party was visited by police in Mosman after a neighbour's complaint about the noise?
21. Former first lady Michelle Obama told Ellen about the gift given to her by Melania Trump on Inauguration Day. What did she say was in the blue Tiffany and Co box?
22. Heavily tattooed Finks bikie, Troy Fornaciari, who appeared in court on gun and drug charges, has what words tattooed above his eyelids?
23. Who said: 'My expectations have been met, and then some. To infinity and beyond. Winning! Jackpot! I’ve won the lotto!'
24. Anthony Field, Jeff Fatt, Greg Page and Murray Cook hinted that they might be reforming what?
25. What was pulled to safety by a ferry crew 50 metres off Manly Wharf one evening this week?

Answers here

The newsquiz - 25 questions about the week

The top solo scorers in last week's newsquiz were Janet Boyle and Toby Brown with 17. The top team was Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe - who declared themselves the Kyle Edmund of the newsquiz - with 18. Here is this week's quiz. As usual there are 25 questions about the week. Let me know how you get on.

Wednesday's front pages - nine newspapers, eight different leads

1. What gift did Theresa May give to President Xi Jinping on her three-day visit to China?
2.  Theresa May said Britain and China will 'intensify the ___ ___ of UK-China relations'. What are the missing two words?

3. Who offered his resignation, saying he was 'thoroughly ashamed at not being in my place’?

4. Who delivered the official Democratic response to Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, warning that the US president had ushered in an era of divisiveness and hatred?
5. Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said he left his job at Elgin & Hall after an affair with a member of staff. What does the company manufacture?

6. Piers Morgan gave US President Donald Trump an Arsenal football shirt with which number on the back?
7. The 'star' of Too Long A Winter died this week age 91. Who was she?
8. In which country were five British men arrested at a 'Lets Get Wet’ party? 

9. How many awards did Bruno Mars receive at this year’s Grammys
10. What did Paul Hollywood, James Cracknell and Martha Lane Fox reportedly buy from American company Devumi?

11. Former American first lady Michelle Obama told Ellen DeGeneres about the gift given to her by Melania Trump on Inauguration Day. What did she say was in the blue Tiffany and Co box?
12. Darren Osborne, 48, was found guilty of murder at Woolwich Crown Court. What was his murder weapon?

13. David Beckham bought the rights to a new club, bringing professional football back to which US city for the first time since 2011?

14. Prof Robert Winston caused a stir on social media after he tweeted photographs of what?

15. What did Formula One say were 'at odds with modern day societal norms’?
16. West Ham United's head of recruitment sent an email saying he didn’t want what in the transfer window?
17. Actor Mark Salling hanged himself in woods, after pleading guilty to processing child abuse images. On which TV programme did he become famous?

18. Pierre Agnes’s empty powerboat was found upside down on an isolated French beach. Agnes was chief executive of which company?

19. Roger Federer won the Australian Open - and joined Serena Williams, Margaret Court and Steffi Graf as a winner of how many Grand Slam titles?

20. What has become the third most common cause of cancer deaths in the UK, overtaking breast cancer?

21. Who donated seven inches of hair to the Little Princess Trust, a cancer a charity that provides real hair wigs to children and young adults?

22. Why was 59-year-old Danielle Perrett in the headlines?

23. Which store was named after the initials of its founder, who died this week age 91, the farm he grew up on and the nearest village?
24. Whose contract has not been renewed on Strictly Come Dancing?

25. The new £5 coin carries the letters E, C, W and G - what do they stand for?

Answers here

The anatomy of a regional newspaper

I asked 15 editors what ingredients they needed to have in their print newspapers to make sure they thrived in the years ahead. Here is what they had to say - InPublishing.