The newsquiz: 25 questions about the week

The top scorers in last week’s newsquiz were Tom Savage and Andy Reed who both scored 20, narrowly ahead of Jake Hurfurt on 19 and Toby Brown on 17. The top scoring team was the Roberts Family with 20.5, Phil and Maura Parsons 19, Three Legs drinkers Peter, Stacey and Thom and Sarah and Bruce Hayward who scored 18 and Miles Dilworth and Ben Wilkinson on 17.5. Here is this week’s newsquiz. As usual there are 25 questions about the week’s events. Give it a go and let me know how you get on.

Harvey Weinstein's guilty verdict dominates the front pages (Question 6)

1. In which Derbyshire town did a GP surgery and primary school close because someone with the coronavirus had returned from Tenerife?

2. Which Six Nations rugby match was called off because of fears over the coronavirus outbreak?

3. The prime minister of which country ordered the closure of all schools for a month in a bid to halt the spread of coronavirus?

4. Former Liberal leader David Steel announced his resignation from the Liberal Democrats and his intention to quit the House of Lords after being accused of having 'abdicated his responsibility' by recommending who for a knighthood?
5. The Government denied claims in the Sunday Times that the chiefs of which organisation did not trust Home Secretary Priti Patel and were limiting information sharing with her?
6. MPs, including Labour’s equalities spokesman Dawn Butler, called for disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein to be stripped of what?
7. An emergency evacuation took place in which town after rising waters on the River Severn ‘overwhelmed’ its flood defences?

8. Plans for a third runway at Heathrow were ruled illegal by the Court of Appeal because they failed 'to take into account the provisions' of which agreement?

9. A document called The Government’s Approach to Negotiations with the EU was issued and included the sentence: 'This agreement should be on the lines of the FTAs (Free Trade Agreements) already agreed by the EU in recent years with ___ and with other friendly countries’. What is the missing country?

10. Schools were closed today as a Youth Strike 4 Climate event, including a march and speech by Greta Thunberg, took place in which UK city?

11. What ‘stalled' for the first time in the UK in more than 100 years and reversed for the most deprived women?

12. China is preparing to send 100,000 what to Pakistan to help tackle swarms of crop-eating locusts?

13. Which dictator, who ruled his country for more than 30 years and survived six assassination attempts, was buried with full military honours this week?

14. Which brand issued a plea to people to 'try to be kind' after it received online abuse after the Chancellor of the Exchequer was pictured with its product?

15. The English, Scottish and Northern Irish football associations banned children under what age from heading a football during training?

16. Tesco became the first UK supermarket to launch what in a diverse range of skin tones? 

17. Katherine Johnson, who died age 101, was a pioneering black mathematician whose manual calculations helped what to happen?

18. Former teacher Bob Weighton from Hampshire is about to become what new record-holder?

19. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle issued a statement saying ‘there is not any ___ by The Monarchy or Cabinet Office over the use of the word Royal overseas’. What is the missing word?

20. Why were all flights to and from the Canary Islands suspended, cancelled or diverted last weekend?

21. Which company announced it is to cut more than 1,800 jobs as it makes changes to its bakeries?

22. Tyson Fury won the WBC heavyweight title after Deontay Wilder's corner threw in the towel during which round of the fight?

23. Welsh pop singer Duffy used which social media platform to tell the story of how she was drugged, held captive and raped by an unidentified person?

24. Why was Londoner Charlotte Awbery in the headlines?

25. What is the name of the singer-songwriter who will perform My Last Breath as the UK’s Eurovision entry in May?

Answers here

Have a crack at the newsquiz

Last week's newsquiz saw a record-breaking score of 24 by Phil and Maura Parsons. The previous highest team score was 23, so hats off to them ... excellent news knowledge. The top solo scorer was Liz Gerard with 20, narrowly ahead of Janet Boyle on 19.5 and Sam Neve on 19. Other high scorers were Ed Mortimer on 17.5 and Tom Savage and Toby Brown both on 17. Strong team scores came in from Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe on 18.5, The Roberts Family on 18 and Bruce and Sarah Hayward on 17.5.
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. 

Sunday's newspapers were dominated by the death of Caroline Flack

1. Under the Government's new immigration plans, due to start on January 1, how many points would someone need to apply to work in the UK?

2. Andrew Sabisky, a Downing Street adviser who stepped down after comments on eugenics, race and women came to light, described himself by what term, based on a book by American psychologist Philip Tetlock?

3. The Treasury confirmed that, despite the surprise change of Chancellors, the Budget would still be held on what date?

4. Boris Johnson became the first serving Prime Minister to be given what since the Duke of Grafton in 1769?

5. What did Nigel Farage call a 'failure of leadership’, Jeremy Corbyn say was an example of ’true colours’ and Kier Starmer describe as an ‘appalling decision’?

6. According to a Government source quoted in The Sunday Times Prime Minister Boris Johnson was 'really strident’ about the reform of what, saying that ‘we will whack it’?

7. Democrat presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren, at the Las Vegas debate, warned against voting for Mike Bloomberg saying: 'Democrats take a huge risk if we just substitute one ___ ___ for another.' What are the two missing words?

8. Caroline Flack’s family chose which regional daily newspaper, saying they trusted it, to share a message that the television presenter wrote before her death?

9. Manchester City were banned from the Champions League for the next two seasons and fined how many euros for 'serious breaches' of UEFA's financial fair play rules?

10. Why were David and Sally Abel from Oxfordshire in the headlines?

11. A far-right extremist killed at least ten people in two shisha bars in which city in Germany?

12. The new polymer £20 note issued this week features a portrait of which artist in front of his painting of The Fighting Temeraire?

13. What did 53-year-old Dagmar Turner do while undergoing brain surgery to have a tumour removed at King's College Hospital?

14. Three Extinction Rebellion activists were charged with criminal damage after climate activists dug up the lawn at which university?

15. Debby Foxwell, 41, was found guilty of murder, after a court heard she had hit her neighbour in Welwyn Garden City with what?

16. Why did Manchester United players wear black armbands in their win against Chelsea on Monday?
17. Who resigned as BBC’s deputy political editor to join Times Radio?

18. Which company said it has scrapped a system called Sapience that tracked the time employees spent at their desks and sent warnings to those who took long breaks?

19. England rugby coach Eddie Jones apologised for appearing to accuse a reporter of thinking that who all looked the same?

20. Islamic State supporter Safiyya Shaikh admitted, at the Old Bailey, plotting to blow herself up in a bomb attack on which London landmark?

21. Dame Julie Walters revealed that she had been given the all-clear after being diagnosed with what type of cancer 18 months ago?

22. Rapper Dave performed his track Black at the Brits adding new lyrics including the line 'the truth is our Prime Minister’s a real ___’. What is the missing word?

23. Mabel won best female artist at the Brits exactly 30 years after her mother won two awards at the same event. Who is her mother?

24. Elton John stopped performing half way through a concert in which city after losing his voice because of walking pneumonia?

25. Welsh singer Katherine Jenkins reached the final of ITV’s The Masked Singer. What was she dressed as?

Answers here 

The newsquiz: 25 questions about the week

The top scorer in last week’s newsquiz was Toby Brown with 19, narrowly ahead of Janet Boyle 18.5 and Liz Gerard on 18. The top teams were Sam, Harry and Shannon from Sheffield and Bruce and Sarah Hayward who both scored 18.5. The Penmans scored 17. Here is this week’s newsquiz. As usual there are 25 questions about the week’s events. Give it a go and let me know how you get on. 

The Cabinet reshuffle dominates today's front pages
(Questions 1 to 3)

1. Sajid Javid, explaining his resignation as Chancellor of the Exchequer after being told to sack his aides, said: 'I was unable to accept those conditions and I do not believe any ____ minister would accept those conditions.’ What is the missing hyphenated word?

2. What position did Rishi Sunak hold before his appointment as Chancellor?

3. Suella Braverman was appointed to which Cabinet position in Boris Johnson’s reshuffle?

4. The World Health Organisation announced that the official name for the disease caused by the new coronavirus is what?

5. Coronavirus ‘superspreader’ Steve Walsh, 53, from Hove, contracted the disease on a business trip to which country?

6. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that the HS2 high-speed rail link will start in April with the first phase between London and Birmingham and a second phase terminating at which two cities? Half a point for each.

7. The Government launched a consultation into the possibility of extending the period of time for which eggs, sperm and embryos can be frozen? What is the current limit?

8. The co-founder of which company denied paying for Boris Johnson's £15,000 Caribbean Christmas holiday with his partner Carrie Symonds?

9. The Government announced that an independent review would be held into maternity services at which NHS Trust after the deaths of up to 15 babies?

10. At Prime Minister’s Questions, Boris Johnson told Jeremy Corbyn that who had been 'notified to the UK Government as a spouse with no official role’?

11. A deportation flight to Jamaica, which was meant to be carrying 42 offenders, left with only how many on board after a last-minute court intervention that angered Downing Street? 

12. Storm Ciara helped British Airways break what record?

13. Storm Ciara claimed a Premier League football match - the first time in six years that one has been postponed because of the weather - which was due to have been played at which ground?

14. Tim Steiner, 50, chief executive of which online retailer was paid a £58.7million bonus despite the company suffering a £215 million loss in its last financial year?

15. A 32-year-old sergeant-major shot dead 29 people, including his commanding officer, in a shopping mall in which country?

16. Sinn Féin won how many seats in the Irish election ... one fewer that Fianna Fáil and 14 more than it won in the 2016 election?

17. Public Health England said that cases of what viral infection have reached their highest level in a decade?

18. Robyn Peoples, from Belfast, and Sharni Edwards, from Brighton, were the first people to do what?

19. What is the name of the David Hockney painting that sold for more than £23million at an auction in Sotheby’s?
20. The Queen's eldest grandson Peter Phillips announced that he was separating from his wife of 12 years. What is her name?

21. The Oxford English Dictionary has changed its definition of what word to include a 'supporter of or a player for' Tottenham Hotspur?

22. Sam Rowley won the Wildlife Photographer of the Year People's Choice Award with a picture of what?

23. South Korean film Parasite stole the headlines at the Oscars by becoming the first non-English language film to take the top prize but who won best actor and actress? Half a point for each name.
24. How did actress Natalie Portman show her support for female film directors at the Oscars?

25. Rapper Slowthai jumped into the crowd at the NME Awards after being heckled for making sexual comments towards who?

Answers here

Time to tackle the newsquiz

How America's biggest newspapers reported on Donald Trump's impeachment trial. Thanks to Charles Apple.

The top scorer in last week's newsquiz, which a few people found tougher than usual, was Liz Gerard with a mighty 22. Other frontrunners were Findus with 20, Jason Gibbins and Alan Geere on 19 and Ed Mortimer with 18.5. The top team was Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe with 20.5 followed by Three Legs drinkers Peter and Stacey with 17. Here is this week's newsquiz. As usual there are 25 questions about the last seven days. Give it a go and let me know how you get on.

Thursday's front pages

1. Who was the only Republican who voted to convict President Donald Trump in his impeachment trial?
2. What did the speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, do while standing behind president Donald Trump after his State of the Union address?

3. Despite technical chaos at the Iowa caucuses, which two Democratic candidates finally emerged ahead of the field? Half a point for each.

4. After Britain left the EU last Friday, French president Emmanuel Macron wrote a letter to Britain saying: 'The ____ has never managed to separate our destinies; Brexit will not do so, either.’ What is the missing word?

5. Where were newspapers the Mirror, the i and website Huffington Post made to feel unwelcome?

6. Shadow Culture Secretary Tracy Brabin responded to criticism of her off-the-shoulder dress by saying she was not 'a slag', 'hungover', 'a slapper' and had not just been 'banged' over what?

7. An email, sent to local councils by Whitehall civil servant Matt Stevenson reminding them to do what on February 19, was criticised by Labour MPs?

8. Derek Mackay, who resigned after apologising for ‘behaving foolishly’ when messaging a 16-year-old boy on social media, held which position in the Scottish government?

9. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders accused the Government of ‘moving the goalpost’ after bringing forward the proposed banning of new petrol, diesel or hybrid cars to 2035 from what year?

10. The Department for Transport announced a £50million fund for local authorities who could bid for the money to become the first town in England to have what?

11. Why was 51-year-old nursery school teacher Monika Luftner in the headlines?

12. TV presenter Phillip Schofield, announcing that he was gay,  paid tribute to his wife Steph who he had been married to for nearly how many years?

13. An independent inquiry into breast surgeon Ian Paterson's malpractice recommended the recall of how many, to the nearest thousand, of his patients for their treatment to be assessed?

14. What is the name of the cruise ship which was quarantined in Yokohama after more than 60 people were found to have Coronavirus?
15. What was the name of the Channel 4 documentary on Michael Barrymore which was aired on Thursday and coincided with police offering a £20,000 reward for information leading to an arrest for the death of Stuart Lubbock?

16. Ikea announced it was to close a store in which city, marking the first closure of one of its big UK branches, putting 350 jobs at risk?
17. An armed police officer, guarding former prime minister David Cameron, was suspended after leaving his gun in the toilet of a BA passenger flight to Heathrow from which city?

18.  Prince Charles visited which store in Tooting, south London, to talk to employees who had come through the Prince's Trust scheme?

19. A list compiled by Ceoworld business magazine named which country as the world’s most expensive?

20. Manchester City lost 2-0 to Spurs leaving Liverpool going into this weekend’s fixtures how many points clear at the top of the Premier League?

21. The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for the weekend as a storm with what name was due to hit Britain?
22. Which two female artists performed during the half time show during the Supebowl in Miami? Half a point for each.

23. Which film swept the board at the Baftas with seven awards?

24. How old was Hollywood legend Kirk Douglas when he died this week?

25. Who split with her fifth husband Jon Peters after 12 days?

Answers here

Using social media as a source of stories

My latest article in InPublishing magazine offers tips on how to use social media as a tool for sourcing stories ... and warns of the perils too. Thanks to journalists Martin Belam of the Guardian, Sam Greenhill, Ian Walker, Olly Todd and Steph Linning of the Mail and Paul Morgan-Bentley of The Times for their help. Give it a read here.