Bhvishya wins the newsquiz champagne

Trainees Charlie Coe, Sophie Law, Claire Anderson, Bhvishya Patel (with the champagne), Leigh McManus, Bryony Jewell and Faith Ridler

I said goodbye to the MailOnline trainees in Kensington yesterday. They had another good week with sessions by deputy managing editor Natalie Glanvill, ex-global editor Amy Marley and head of social media Chris Lawrence. One of last year’s trainees, Dianne Apen-Sadler, also talked through what the next 12 months are likely to bring. Well done to Leigh McManus and Claire Anderson who both wrote banners on the travel page. Leigh’s was an account of his visit to China’s deserted replica of Paris. You can read it here.

Claire wrote about a 20-year-old woman who snuck on to Concorde disguised as an engineer after its maiden voyage in 1976.  You can read it here. 

The trainees also pitched stories to Femail so there should be more bylines soon. We had drinks with former trainees and senior staff in the Greyhound last night. They finished the week - and the course - with the newsquiz. This week’s winners was Charlie Coe and with 17 points, narrowly ahead of Bhvishya Patel and Bryony Jewell who scored 16.5. Congratulations to Bhvishya who won the champagne for the best quiz score over the four weeks. Bryony, only two points behind, was a commendable runner-up. The trainees are now off to their placements at regional newspapers and agencies. They are a bright, likeable, talented bunch and I enjoyed their company. I wish them well. Here’s this week’s newsquiz. Give it a go and see if you can beat Charlie’s 17. 

1. Theresa May said after Brexit the UK will no longer send vast sums to Europe 'so there will be money available here in the UK to spend on our priorities’. Which two things did she identify as priorities? Half a point for each

2. Boris Johnson apologised in the Commons after referring to the shadow foreign secretary as Baroness Nugee? What is her real name?

3. Owen Smith was sacked from the shadow cabinet. What position did he hold?

4. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said this week: 'I want to be clear that I will not tolerate any form of ___-___ that exists in and around our movement’. What is the missing hyphenated word? 

5. The Government announced that more than 3,500 places on training courses are to be created over the next four years in England? What will the courses be in?

6. Whose decision not to appear before a parliamentary inquiry into fake news, was described as astonishing by its chairman Damian Collins?

7. President Donald Trump ordered the expulsion of how many Russian diplomats which he said the US identified as intelligence agents?

8. The niece of poisoned Russian Sergei Skripal said this week that her uncle and his daughter had what per cent chance of survival?

9. Magician Dynamo released a video to explain that his recent change of appearance is due to medication he is taking for which disease? 
10. Two women, known only as DSD and NBV, achieved a landmark legal victory when three High Court judges made a ruling on Wednesday. What was the judges’ ruling?
11. Why was Arnaud Beltrame in the headlines? 

12. Who said: 'I know I will regret this for the rest of my life. I'm absolutely gutted. I hope in time I can earn back that respect and forgiveness’?

13. Thousands of people, including Paul McCartney and George Clooney, joined a mass protest against guns across America. What was the name of the protest?

14. Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont was detained after crossing the border between which two countries? 

15. To the nearest hour how long did Qantas QF9 take when it became the first non-stop scheduled flight from Australia to the UK?

16. Playboy, Mozilla and Sonos were among several brands that withdrew their advertising from where?

17. Who said in an interview that she was approached in a car park by a man who told her: 'That’s a beautiful little girl. It’d be a shame if something happened to her mom’?

18. A report into the Manchester Arena bomb attack criticised fire chiefs, Vodafone and the media. Who wrote it?  

19. A fire at a shopping centre in which Siberian city left at least 64 people dead?

20. Jamie Vardy scored for England against Italy but an equaliser was down to VAR. What does VAR stand for?

21. England is considering introducing what scheme which already exists in 40 countries - including Germany, Sweden and Israel - and 21 US states?

22. Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology researchers found that what household item is often teeming with bacteria, including Legionella?

23. The owner of Bargain Booze and Wine Rack has announced plans to file for administration within two weeks. What is the company called?

24. TV presenter Richard Madeley was criticised for suggesting weather girl Lucy Verasamy should 'pop outside and test' what?

25. What appeared on the balcony of Liverpool Town Hall and also decorated statues of The Beatles, Billy Fury, the Moores’ brothers, John Lennon and Cilla Black?

Answers here

Can you beat Bhvishya's newsquiz score?

The MailOnline trainees had another busy week. They recreated the newsroom with former global editor Amy Marley, pitched stories to travel editor Ted Thornhill and had a session with former trainee Rod Ardehali. Editor Emeritus Peter Wright also talked through IPSO and the editors’ code. They covered a breaking news story, learned about Femail and Leigh McManus won a scratchcard for the best picture headline. There was a special 'well done' to Bryony Jewell whose story about dogs on the Tube was published on the site. Read it here.

As usual we finished the week with the newsquiz and the winner with 15.5 was  Bhvishya Patel. Last week’s newsquiz saw some high scores online. The pick of the bunch was Ellie Rewcastle with 19, narrowly ahead of Janet Boyle on 18. The top team was the Penman Partnership with 18.5. Gavin Devine and the Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe partnership all scored 17.5, the same as top trainees Bryony and Leigh. Here’s this week’s quiz, as usual 25 questions about the week. Give it a go and see if you can beat Bhvishya’s score.

1. TV personality Ant McPartlin was charged with drink driving at which London police station?
2. What two makes of car did Ant McPartlin’s car hit in the accident which led to his drink-drive arrest? Half a point for each
3. Ant McPartlin’s mother was his passenger when he crashed his car in London. What is her name?
4. The Russian ambassador in London Alexander Yakovenko reacted to Boris Johnson’s Hitler jibe by saying: ‘Nobody has the right to insult the Russian people, who defeated Nazism and lost more than ___  people, by comparing our country to Nazi Germany.’ What is the missing number?
5. A gunman was killed after taking hostages at a supermarket in which French town?
6. Nigel Farage joined fishermen to protest at the EU transition deal by dumping two crates of what type of fish in the Thames in front of Parliament?
7. Alexander Nix was suspended as CEO of which company?
8. The co-founder of WhatsApp Brian Acton posted to Twitter: 'It is time’ and added which hashtag?
9. How did 49-year-old Elaine Herzberg die?
10. Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt revealed an increase in NHS salaries of between 6.5 per cent and ___ per cent over three years? What is the missing figure?
11. The pilot whose plane crashed in the Shoreham airshow disaster, killing 11 men, will be charged with the endangerment of an aircraft and which other offence?
12. Ireland beat England at Twickenham to remain undefeated in the rugby Six Nations to top the table with 26 points but which country was second with 15?
13. An engineer died after a Red Arrows jet crashed at RAF Valley on which island?
14. What is the name of the Franco–Dutch firm that has won the contract to print Britain’s post-Brexit blue passports?
15. Which country will the Pope visit on August 25 and 26 to attend the World Meeting of Families?
16. Vladimir Putin extended his rule of Russia for another six years winning what per cent of the vote, his highest ever?
17. England cricketers were skittled out in the first innings for their lowest ever score against New Zealand. What was the score?
18. Which Parliament is to debate proposals in May to change the law which would allow terminally ill adults with less than six months to live to choose assisted dying?
19. What has Californian Claire Ptak been commissioned to make?
20. 26-year-old British woman Anna Campbell died in which country?
21. Who said this week: 'I was really pleased to accept this. I'll be wearing it at breakfast'? 
22. 39-year-old mother Andria Zafirakou from London won £700,000 ($1million) after being voted the best what in the world?
23. Which High Street chain announced it will shut 60 stores and cut 980 jobs as part of a restructuring plan?
24. Sudan, a 45-year-old animal that was put down in a Kenyan wildlife reserve, was the last male of what subspecies in the world?
25. Why were husband and wife John and Sarah Lund in the headlines?

Answers here

Bryony and Leigh win the newsquiz

The MailOnline trainees had a full week in the Kensington HQ. They enjoyed a day with the Mail lawyers and a session by editorial compliance manager Paul Hutchinson, went through the stylebook with Mike Watson, presented exclusive story ideas to assistant editor Ian Walker, had a walk through the travel page with Ted Thornhill and received a good overview of video from Lisa Snell. Sophie Law won a scratchcard for the best video headline. And well done too to Claire Anderson who was the first trainee on the course to be published with a story she brought in. Read it here. 

Hopefully, we will see many more bylines over the next couple of weeks.

We finished as always with the newsquiz. This week’s joint winner with scores of 17.5 were Bryony Jewell and Leigh McManus, who were narrowly ahead of Bhvishya Patel with 17. Bhvishya’s score of 16 last week was, unusually, not beaten by anyone online. Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe did manage a joint 16 though. Here is this week’s quiz. As usual, it is 25 questions about the week. See if you can beat Bryony and Leigh's score.

Russia's front page domination

1. How many Russian diplomats did Theresa May say would be expelled from Britain?

2. According to Theresa May the nerve agents used to poison Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia belong to a group known as what?

3. Who was accused by Russia's Major-General Igor Konashenkov of talking like a 'market wench' which reflected his 'extreme intellectual impotency’?

4. Which three countries joined with the UK to say, in a joint statement, that Russian involvement was 'the only plausible explanation’ for the Salisbury poisonings?

5. Jeremy Corbyn defended his position on the Russian poisoning affair by saying we should not resign ourselves to a ‘new cold war of escalating arms spending, proxy conflicts across the globe and a ______ intolerance of dissent’? What is the missing word? 

6. How did Theresa May greet a tattooed woman as she went on a walkabout in Salisbury following the poisonings?

7. Sir Ken Dodd died at the house where he was born in 1927 in which area of Liverpool?

8. Ken Dodd had one Number 1 hit in the UK with a song that was the biggest-selling single of 1965 and the third-biggest selling single of the 1960s. What was it called?

9. Unilever has chosen which city as its new headquarters for its food and refreshment division?

10. Who said he wasn’t told he had lost his job until three hours after it was tweeted?

11. At least six people were killed after a footbridge collapsed near which university (full name please)?

12. How old was Stephen Hawking, who died this week age 76, when he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease?

13. Labour MP Debbie Abrahams claimed she had been the victim of a ‘bullying culture’ after she stepped aside from what role in the shadow cabinet? 

14. An inquiry was called for after it was revealed that girls in which town were drugged, beaten and raped at the hands of a grooming gang active since the 1980s? 

15. Tens of thousands of students across America walked out of their classrooms for how many minutes on Wednesday in a protest about gun laws?

16. Peter Williams was born in Cheshire, appeared on Last of the Summer Wine, advertised Tetley beer and became a household name by presenting a TV progamme for 14 years. How is he better known?

17. Egyptian engineering student Mariam Moustafa, 18, died after being attacked by a gang of girls in which city?

18. Who missed the last two days of the Cheltenham Festival after damaging his leg when he fell from Al Boum Photo?

19. Which retailer withdrew a red shirt with 96 on the back that some believe referred to the Hillsborough disaster?

20. In his spring statement Chancellor Philip Hammond announced a consultation which could lead to the end of what three monetary denominations?

21. Who was suspended after apologising for a ‘moment of madness’?

22. Which city was  named the most attractive place to work and live in the UK based on nine qualities of life, in a survey commissioned by Royal Mail? 

23. Which newspaper was voted Newspaper of the Year in this week’s Press Awards?

24. Protesters stormed the arena at Crufts as the winner was presented with Best in Show. What was the name of the winning dog?

25. Walkers Crisps is marking its 70th anniversary by releasing six  flavours to celebrate the nation's favourite dishes - one for each decade. Coronation chicken represents the 1950s and roast lamb and mint the 1960s. Name any two other flavours. Half point for each.

Answers here

Mail looking for news and sports trainees

Last year's MailOnline trainees 

The Daily Mail and MailOnline are looking for trainee journalists. Applications are now invited for the MailOnline reporters' training scheme and for the sports journalists' scheme, both of which will begin in September. Trainees will take part in a year-long programme that involves intense training, assessment and on-the-job experience at regional daily newspapers and agencies.The successful applicants will probably have a degree and will have shown a commitment to journalism by writing for their student newspaper/website and gained work experience in newsrooms.

The online scheme details are here and the sports scheme here.

Can you beat Bhvishya's quiz score?

The new MailOnline trainees had an interesting first week in London. They had sessions with editor Danny Groom, deputy news-editor Amanda Williams and executive editor Ian Walker. Rena Burton talked to them about SEO and former trainees, now senior reporters, Mark Duell and Chris Pleasance gave them tips about the journey ahead. The trainees wrote stories, headlines, bullets, intros and are tackling an exclusive project. This weekend they are putting together a breaking story. We finished the week, as always, with the newsquiz. The winner with 16 points was Bhvishya Patel, narrowly ahead of Byrony Jewell on 15. Faith Ridler came third with 13.5. The top online scorers in last week’s quiz - which everyone seemed to think was a toughie - were Janet Boyle and Liz Gerard, both with 15. Toby Brown and Gavin Devine were just behind on 14.5. The Penman Partnership was the top team on 13.5. Here’s this week’s quiz which, as usual, is 25 questions about the week. Give it a go, see if you can beat Bhvishya’s 16, and let me know how you get on.

Tuesday's front pages: The Russian poison story dominated the news week

1. What is the name of the Salisbury restaurant where Sergei Skripal, 66, and his 33-year-old daughter went for a meal before they were attacked with a nerve agent?
2. Name the Detective Sergeant who was poisoned when he helped Sergei Skripal and his daughter?
3. What did Tom Tugendhat, chairman of the Commons foreign affairs committee, say ministers should urge Britain’s allies to join?
4. What was the name of the film about a four-year-old deaf girl that won Best Live Action Short at the Oscars?
5. In his acceptance speech actor Gary Oldman told his mother to ‘put ___ ___ on, I’m bringing Oscar home’? What are the missing two words?
6. Terry Bryant, 47, appeared in Los Angeles Superior Court charged with stealing whose Oscar?
7. South Korea's national security chief Chung Eui-yong announced that Donald Trump 'would meet Kim Jong-un by ____ to achieve permanent denuclearization’. What is the missing month?
8. Trade Secretary Liam Fox is to travel to Washington next week to seek exemption from what?
9.  In which year did Roger Bannister, who died age 88, become the first man to break the four-minute mile?
10. Two students were arrested at which university after a video was uploaded to Twitter where the chants ‘we hate blacks’ and ‘we are the black haters’ could be heard?
11. Who broke down in tears during a Radio 5 Live interview when he said his childhood stopped days before his 12th birthday following the death of his mother?
12. Sisters Nicola and Rosie (aka Flo and Joan) received death threats following their duets for which company?
13. Who said this week: 'We’re not dealing in a legal system ... I’d have had more rights if I’d murdered someone.’?
14. Bill Roache was given compassionate leave from Coronation Street after the death of his 50-year-old daughter. What was her name?
15. Which publication announced it is to stop its print version after 66 years?
16. A leaked Government paper revealed that NHS workers are set to be offered a 6.5 per cent pay rise over three years but only if they do what?
17. Jayda Fransen and Paul Golding were jailed for 36 weeks and 18 weeks respectively after being found guilty of religiously-aggravated harassment. They are the leader and deputy leader of which organisation?
18. Meghan Markle was baptised into the Church of England at a secret ceremony at the Chapel Royal in which Palace?
19. The biggest names in Italian football attended the Santa Croce church in Florence and thousands of fans lined the streets to pay respects to who?
20. Police in Essex released Lamarr Chambers, a suspected drug smuggler, after he had refused to go to the toilet for how many days?
21. Former BBC Breakfast presenter Bill Turnbull revealed he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer which has spread to his legs, hips, pelvis and ribs. How old is he?
22. Which event started at Birmingham NEC yesterday and finishes on Sunday?
23. What do forensic scientists believe has been discovered on Howland Island, halfway between Papua New Guinea and Hawaii?
24. David Ogden Stiers who died this week at 75, played surgeon Winchester in which long-running television series?
25. Amazon announced a fix and an apparent explanation for what this week?

Answers here

Test your news knowledge with this week's quiz

There were some good scores in last week's newsquiz. Miles Dilworth weighed in with a personal best of 19, narrowly ahead of Janet Boyle on 18.5 and Toby Brown and Simon O'Neill on 18. Marc Beyeler's team scored 17. Here's this week's quiz - as usual 25 questions about the week. Give it a go and let me know how you get on. 

The weather dominates the front pages this week (Questions 1 to 4)

1. What is the name of the storm that came from Spain and Portugal and collided with the Beast from the East to cause weather havoc in the UK?
2. What did the Met Office issue for only the third time since 2011?
3. Why was baby Sienna Waring in the headlines?
4. Mother-of-two Charmaine Laurie, 45, was praised after a video of her doing what in Edinburgh went viral? 
5. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson was criticised for comparing crossing the Irish border after Brexit to what? 
6. In a speech to the Creative Industries Federation former Prime Minister John Major described the Brexit campaign's aspiration to spend an extra £350m a week on the NHS as a ridiculous ______’. What is the missing word?
7. Theresa May told the Westminster Correspondents' dinner that during election canvassing last year she interrupted a couple having sex where?
8. Hugh Grant reacted to the Government dropping the second part of the Leveson inquiry into Press standards by tweeting that two people 'wiggle their fingers and their puppet prime minister dances. A depressing and shameful spectacle.’ Which two people did he name? Half a point for each.
9. The Metropolitan Police are to question Max Mosley, the former president of world motorsport’s governing body, after allegations of racist behaviour following an investigation by which newspaper?
10. Donald Trump berated his Republican colleagues at a White House meeting saying: 'Some of you people are ____ of the NRA. You can’t be ____’. What is the missing word?
11. Donald Trump announced stiff tariffs on imports of steel and aluminium. What percent did he announce for both? Half a point for each.
12. Vladimir Putin said Russia is testing a new line of ICBMs and the US responded by saying he had violated the INF treaty. What do ICBM and INF stand for? Half a point for each.
13. Phil Neville's reign as head coach of England Women football team got off to the perfect start with a 4-1 victory against which country?
14. Harry Smith, executive chairman and managing director of Gurr Johns, spent £113 million on what this week?
15. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge appeared with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at a forum organised by which charitable organisation?
16. Which retailer, with more than 200 stores and 2,300 staff, collapsed into administration after talks with buyers failed to secure a sale?
17. Which restaurant chain is reportedly preparing to close 100 of its 300 outlets in an attempt to rescue the business?
18. How were Mary Rajoobeer, 46, and her teenage sons Shane and Sean killed?
19. A coroner in Brighton said Zac Cox died because practices at his workplace were 'inherently unsafe’. Where was he working?
20. Who did Sheila Farebrother leave two ceramic urns to in her will?
21. She was Alice Tinker in the Vicar of Dibley and Honey Thacker in Notting Hill. Who is she?
22. How did privately educated former foreign exchange dealer David Adams usually travel to the 130 homes he burgled in Dorset and Hampshire?
23. The Royal Mint has released 26 different 10p coins to showcase the 'A to Z of what makes Britain great’. What is depicted on A?
24. Who said he would never travel on public transport again after he was  abused on a train from Scotland to London?
25. Rolling Stone Keith Richards apologised to Mick Jagger after telling the Wall Street Journal Magazine that his bandmate was a ‘___ ___ ___’ who should get 'the snip’. What are the three missing words?

Answers here