Time to tackle the newsquiz

Judging by the scores, last week's newsquiz was clearly a bit tougher than usual. The top solo scorer was Gavin Devine with 17, just ahead of Steve Silk and Liz Gerard who both got 16 and Toby Brown on 15. The top team score was Bruce and Sarah Hayward on 20.5. Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe scored 17 and my sons Jack and Thom Sands with Franki Appleton scored 15 in the Three Legs Brewery last Saturday night. 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. 

1. At a meeting with Prime Minister Boris Johnson in Berlin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel suggested an alternative to the Irish border backstop could be found in how many days?

2. A cross-government study warning of the impact of a no-deal Brexit was leaked to which newspaper?

3. Responding to the leaked document, Cabinet minister Michael Gove said some of the concerns about a no-deal Brexit had been ‘exaggerated’ but added: 'It's certainly the case that there will be ___ ___ ___ ___, some element of disruption in the event of no-deal.’  What are the missing four words?
4. The Centre for Social Justice think-tank, headed by former Tory leader Iain Duncan-Smith, said the state pension age should rise to what by 2035?

5. Boris Johnson’s girlfriend Carrie Symonds was reported to have been denied a US visa because of a visit to where last year?

6. What did Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen describe as absurd?

7. What did French president, Emmanuel Macron call an 'international crisis’ which should be top of the agenda at the G7 summit?

8. What did Boris Johnson’s senior aide Dominic Cummings describe as a 'disaster zone’?

9. Sir Elton John revealed he paid for a private jet for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to visit his £15million mansion in which city?

10. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their three children flew to Scotland on which budget airline for their annual holiday with the Queen?

11. He gained an Oscar nomination for his role in Ulee’s Gold but was best known as Captain America in a 1969 film. Who is he?

12. Police in which European city opened a murder invesigation after a waiter was shot dead by a customer apparently enraged at being made to wait too long for a sandwich?

13. John Humble, who police announced had died at the age of 63, sent police hoax letters and tapes in the 1970s was known by what nickname?

14. An 18-month-old girl is in a serious condition in hospital after falling from a second floor hotel window in which town?

15. Twitter agreed to meet Manchester United executives after which footballer was abused following the 1-1 draw with Wolves on Monday?

16. Why have homes and businesses in the Oxfordshire town of Wallingford been using ribbon to turn the town blue?

17. Which pub chain and brewer agreed to be bought by Hong Kong operator CKA for £2.7billion?

18. According to an email exchange between a US literary agent and author Evgeny Morozov, Prince Andrew was seen receiving what from a young woman in disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein’s New York apartment? 

19. More than 80 people were killed by an Islamic State suicide bomber at what event in Kabul? 

20. Eight thousand people were evacuated from their homes as a raging wildfire spread on which island?

21. Ben Unwin, whose body was found at the bottom of a waterfall, played Jesse McGregor in which soap opera?

22. Supermarket chain Morrisons announced it was raising the cost of plastic bags to how much each?

23. A 56-year-old HGV driver, a 28-year-old vet and a 20-year-old Durham University student were among those who signed up for what?

24. People who invested millions of pounds into whose eco-friendly housing ventures have been told they could face losing up to 97 per cent of their money?

25. What is the title of the 25th official James Bond movie that was revealed this week?

Answers here