Trainee Georgia wins the newsquiz fizz

The MailOnline trainees have been working remotely all week. They have written breaking news stories, created banners in real time, completed personality profiles and had detailed legal and IPSO training. They had a WhatsApp Q&A with head of social media Chris Lawrence. They had stories published too. Joe Davies wrote a story about the UK's youngest flying instructor who, at 19, can't drive a car. You can read it here. 

He also interviewed a 19-year-old mother who woke from a coma to find her unborn baby and boyfriend had been killed. The story is here.

Georgia Simcox interviewed a counsellor at Relate who gave tips for families having to deal with students forced to return home and living on lockdown. Read it here.

The trainees would normally now be off on their placements but most of these have been cancelled. Instead they will be attached to the Mail newsrooms in London, Glasgow and Dublin but working from home.
I wish them well. They are a very bright and enthusiastic bunch who have remained engaged during a tough time. They will come through it stronger. 

We finished, as usual, with the newsquiz. The highest scorer this week was Georgia with a score of 19. Second were Lydia Catling and Sam Baker who both scored 17. Georgia was also top scorer over the four week-course and, when things return to normal, will collect the champagne. The highest online scorer in last week's newsquiz was Toby Brown with 21, just ahead of Sam Neve and Liz Gerrard on 20. The top team was Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe with 20.5, ahead of the Penmans on 19.5 and Bruce and Sarah Hayward on 18. Here is this week's quiz. Give it a go and see if you can beat Georgia's score. 

Today's front pages

1. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a video that he had coronavirus after developing a temperature and a persistent cough and being advised to take a test by who?
2. A Downing Street spokesman said that if Boris Johnson was unable to continue as PM, that 'for the time being’ who was in line to take over?

3. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that people can only leave home to shop for basic necessities, medical needs, to provide care or help for a vulnerable person, to travel to work where necessary and for what other reason?

4. Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced that self-employed workers could apply for a grant worth 80 per cent of their average monthly profits - up to a maximum of how much a month?

5. Which of these shops is not on the Government’s 'allowed to stay open' list: Newsagents, book-shops, bicycle-shops, pet-shops, off-licences?
6. Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced that a new 4,000-bed hospital to treat coronavirus patients will open at the Excel Centre in London next week. What will it be called?
7. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, giving an update on the number of volunteers who had pledged support to the NHS, said: 'That is already, in one day, as many people as the population of ...' Which city’?
8. Steven Dick, 37, who died after contracting coronavirus was the deputy British ambassador to which country?
9. New powers given to police in England mean anyone breaking coronavirus lockdown rules could be hit with an initial fine of how much?
10. US President Donald Trump said he was aiming to reopen 'large sections of the country' by when ... adding that 'I just thought it was a beautiful time, a beautiful timeline’?
11. Under measures to reduce cash handling amid the coronavirus outbreak, the amount people can spend with contactless card payments will jump to what figure on April 1?
12. Who is self-isolating at home in Scotland after being positively tested for coronavirus by the NHS in Aberdeenshire?
13. Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, said that from Monday all cars, motorbikes and vans will be given an exemption that will push back their MoT dates by how many months? 
14. Who from the world of sport, after recovering from coronavirus, said: ‘How important is touching each other, feeling each other and hugging each other? I miss that with a lot of the people I love.’
15. Some of the 400 British and Irish citizens stranded in which country, due to a 15-day government lockdown, were flown home this week while others were told they may have to stay quarantined for three months?
16. What was president Thomas Bach referring to when he said: 'This is like a huge jigsaw puzzle and every piece has to fit. You take out one piece the whole puzzle is destroyed. We have no blueprint, but we are nevertheless confident we can put a beautiful jigsaw puzzle together’? 
17. Good Morning Britain presenter Piers Morgan vowed to pay for what during the coronavirus crisis?

18. Annemarie Plas, 36, from Brixton, London, came up with what idea after seeing something similar in her home country the Netherlands?
19. Which country now has more confirmed cases of coronavirus than any other according to latest figures?
20. Who said he had sent ‘ill-judged and poorly timed’ emails to the Government and offered his entire fleet of lorries to the NHS as an apology?
21. Who stood outside of court this week and said: 'Whatever nightmare I have been through over the last two years is nothing compared to the situation we are all going through. If you can, go home, take care of your families, God help us all’?
22. Disney Nature announced that Meghan Markle will be providing the voiceover for a documentary about what animals in her first post-royal project?
23. Albert Uderzo, who died at the age of 92, was best know for drawing which comic character?
24. Country music singer Kenny Rogers, who died age 81, had UK Number 1 hits in 1997 and 1979. Name the songs. Half a point each.

25. Who claimed this week to have run 100 metres in just 5.97 seconds - massively breaking the world record? 

Answers here 

Time to tackle the newsquiz

The MailOnline trainees have had a tricky week. We began by working in Kensington as usual. My trip on the Circle Line actually became a good way to self-isolate. This was the usually 'standing-room only' 8.50am from the Embankment to High Street Kensington.

Towards the end of the week, though, we have been training remotely using emails, WhatsApp and social media. The trainees pitched stories to Travel and Femail (watch this space) and had sessions by senior journalists Mark Duell, Harry Howard, Rory Tingle and Jemma Carr.  The trainees wrote stories around videos and Clare McCarthy won the best headline award. They have created home pages from wire copy and are writing personality profiles. They will tackle the newsquiz of course … but no longer in 'exam conditions’. 

Today's regional front pages all carry the same message

Last week’s newsquiz was clearly tricky with Janet Boyle, on 18, being the only solo scorer to beat trainee Georgia Simcox’s 17.5. Andy Reed, Liz Gerard and Gavin Devine scored 17 and Ed Mortimer and Toby Brown 16. The best team was Phil and Maura Parsons with 18, followed by Three Legs drinkers Peter, Stacey and Bryan on 17.5 and The Plough at Udimore with 17. Here is this week’s newsquiz. As usual there are 25 questions about the week. Give it a go and let me know how you get on. 

Schools to closed indefinitely ... Thursday's front pages

1. Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a package of how many billion pounds in loans and grants to help Britain cope with the lockdown of large parts of the economy?

2. Announcing economic measures to deal with the coronavirus outbreak, Chancellor Rishi Sunak used what three-word phrase five times in his speech, including in his pay-off line?

3. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in his media briefing on Thursday that he was 'confident we can send coronavirus packing in this country’ and 'can curb the tide' within how many weeks?
4. Education Secretary Gavin Williamson told Parliament that schools would shut their gates on Friday afternoon for all children, except for those whose parents were what? 

5. The Queen issued a message on coronavirus as she left Buckingham Palace to go where?

6. Prime Minister Boris Johnson repeatedly said: 'We must act like any ___ government and do whatever it takes to support our economy.' What is the missing word?

7. Chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said the Government's new aim was to limit deaths to fewer than what figure - which he said would be ‘a good outcome’?

8. Who shared a video on Twitter saying he had coronavirus but adding: 'I'm as well as I can be, strictly confined to my home. I'm fine, morale is good.'

9. The Bank of England cut interest rates for the second time in just over a week, bringing them down to what per cent … the lowest ever in the Bank's 325-year history?

10. A 26-year-old man was arrested and could be jailed for up to three months after failing to self-isolate after arriving in what part of the UK?

11. Who cancelled her planned wedding reception with fiance Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi because of coronavirus?

12. Which company, with more than 150 British stores and 2,700 employees, announced it was to file for administration after rescue talks had been thwarted by the coronavirus outbreak?

13. Publishing chief executive Ben Kohn said that which struggling 66-year-old magazine had been 'eventually killed off by the virus’?

14. Which company announced it is to create 5,000 store-based jobs to offer employment for hospitality workers who have lost their jobs because of the coronavirus crisis?
15. Church of England weddings held during the coronavirus outbreak should be limited to a maximum of how many people, according to guidance?

16. Which two ex-footballers closed their two hotels to the public, offering 176 beds for NHS and other medical staff free of charge? Half a point for each.

17. Andrew Bailey took over which high-profile job on Monday?

18. Peter Whittingham, who died age 35, made 459 appearances and scored 98 goals for which team?

19. Hashem Abedi, the brother of the Manchester Arena bomber, was found guilty of the murder of how many people?

20. Carphone Warehouse announced it is to close all its 531 standalone stores but keep its 305 shops that are housed inside which other two major stores? Half a point for each.

21. Who was released from prison but will be required to wear an ankle tag and remain within 300m of her parents’ home?

22. Four men found guilty of the gang-rape and murder of a 23-year-old woman on a bus seven years ago were hanged in which country?

23. Snooker player and commentator Willie Thorne tweeted to reveal he had been diagnosed with what?
24. Two different versions of how actor Johnny Depp lost what were raised at a preliminary hearing in London this week in which he is suing Sun publisher News Group Newspapers for libel?

25. Which comedian, actor and satirist, whose roles included cheerful undertaker Archie Shuttleworth in Coronation Street, and who was given an OBE for services to entertainment died age 83.

Answers here

Trainee Georgia wins the newsquiz

The MailOnline trainees had another busy week. They pitched story ideas to head of exclusives Dan Sanderson with some success. Femail assistant editor Steph Linning and travel editor Ted Thornhill both talked through their sections and explained the type of stories they are looking for. The trainees will pitch ideas to them both next week. Editor of Metro.co.uk Deborah Arthurs gave a session about the website and how it differs from MailOnline. Video director Lisa Snell talked about the trainees' role with videos and the assistant managing editor Paul Hutchinson gave a legal update. The trainees also wrote showbiz stories and edited stories from the wires. They put together animal stories and Lydia Catling won the best headline of the week award. Charlotte Daly was the first on the course to be published - an exclusive banner on the sports channel on a coronavirus scare for Britain’s Olympians. 

You can read it here. Ciara Dosset also earned a byline with a story on LSE stopping face-to-face tuition. Read it here.

And to complete the hat-trick Joe Davies found a garage for sale for a stunning £750,000 - more than three times the average house price. Read it here.

As usual we finished with the newsquiz. The winner this week was Georgia Simcox with 17.5, ahead of Sam Baker on 14.5 and Lydia on 14.

The top online scorer in last week’s newsquiz was Jake Hurfurt with 21, narrowly ahead of Hannah Tomes on 20. Andy Reed scored 18. The top team were the Three Legs Drinkers with 19. Here’s this week’s quiz. Give it a go and see if you can beat Georgia's score of 17.5.

1. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of the World Health Organisation, announcing that the coronavirus outbreak was now a pandemic, said: 'Some countries are struggling with a lack of capacity, some countries are struggling with a lack of resources, some countries are struggling with a lack of ___.’ What is the missing word?
2. Who was the first UK MP to be diagnosed with coronavirus?
3. The Bank of England announced an emergency cut in interest rates to their lowest level ever ... at what per cent?
4. A Leeds teenager was sent home from Dixons Unity Academy after being caught selling squirts of hand sanitiser to fellow students. How much was he charging for each squirt?
5. Speaking after an emergency Cobra meeting, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: 'I must level with you, I must level with the British public, many more families are going to lose ___ ___ before their time.’ What are the two missing words?
6. US President Donald Trump announced that America would close its borders to how many European countries for 30 days?
7. What is the name of the Hindi greeting which Prince Charles used at the Prince's Trust Awards rather than shaking hands?
8. The Premier League, the Football League and the Women’s Super League suspended all matches until what date in response to the coronavirus pandemic?
9. What is the name of the cruise liner, that was carrying 3,500 people, which docked in Oakland, California, with at least 21 people aboard testing positive for Covid-19?
10. Who announced that he and his wife had been diagnosed with coronavirus saying: 'We felt a bit tired, like we had colds, and some body aches’?
11. In his first Budget Chancellor Rishi Sunak said that people told to self-isolate, even if they didn’t have symptoms, would receive statutory sick pay of how much a week?
12. Chancellor Rishi Sunak confirmed that the Government is to scrap the five per cent VAT charge on what from 2021? 
13. How many Conservative MPs voted against the Government and backed an amendment to stop plans to allow Huawei to be used in the UK's 5G mobile network?
14. Former UK equality watchdog chief Trevor Phillips was suspended from the Labour Party over allegations of what?
15. How was 26-year-old Scottish woman Brodie Gillon killed?
16. Disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to how many years in prison by the New York Supreme Court?
17. Scotland's former first minister Alex Salmond is on trial in Edinburgh on allegations he sexually assaulted how many women?
18. The Duke of Sussex was tricked by two Russian pranksters but which two people did he think he was speaking to? Half a point for each
19. Campaigner Christie Elan-Cane lost a legal challenge when the Court of Appeal ruled that the Government’s policy on what was not a breach of human rights?
20. Why was 16-year-old schoolboy Aker Okoye in the headlines?
21. What rare animal and her calf were killed by poachers in Kenya, meaning there is just one of the species still alive?
22. Which celebrity was the ’surprise’ winner of Dancing On Ice?
23. What is Matt Lucas’s new broadcasting role with Channel 4? 

24. What was the name of the wire-haired Dachshund who won Best in Show at Crufts?

25. Who announced she had given birth to a baby girl with her partner Stephen Haines after keeping her pregnancy secret from friends?

Answers here

Trainees Georgia and Ciara win newsquiz

Breaking news from Saturday's MailOnline

The Mail trainees have enjoyed a busy first week in Kensington. They had sessions from editor Danny Groom and Natalie Glanvill from the managing editor’s office. They were briefed on how to pitch stories by Dan Sanderson from the exclusives team and given SEO tips by Rena Burton. Former trainee Faima Bakar told them what to expect on their placements and on their return to London. The trainees wrote stories, headlines and presented daily news reviews. The awards for best intro went jointly to Jordan King and Ciara Dossett. The best headline award went jointly to Lydia Catling and Nicole Wallace-Conner. As always we finished the week with the newsquiz. The winners this week were Ciara and Georgia Simcox who both scored 15 narrowly ahead of Lydia on 14.
In last week’s quiz the top solo scorers were Kieran Corcoran 21, Tom Savage 20, Toby Brown 19, Janet Boyle and Gavin Devine 18 and Liz Gerrard 17. The top teams were Bruce and Sarah Hayward with 20, the same score as Phil and Maura Parsons. Three Legs drinkers Peter and Stacey scored 19 and the Roberts family 18.5. Here is this week’s quiz. Give it a go and see if you can beat Ciara and Georgia’s score.

Today's front pages

1. The first person in the UK to die from coronavirus was a woman in her 70s who was being treated in a hospital in which town?
2. Boris Johnson, speaking after a Cobra meeting, said: 'Don't forget it is still the case that the single most useful thing we can all do is to wash our hands - two times ___ ___ hot water and soap.’ What are the two missing words?
3. What did the Queen wear at an investiture at Buckingham Palace for the first time?
4. What is the name of the 53-year-old professor, England’s chief medical officer, who has been in the spotlight all week?
5. The release date for James Bond film No Time To Die, which had been scheduled for April, has been postponed until what month because of fears around coronavirus?
6. Donald Trump declared live on television that he did not believe the World Health Organisation’s assessment of the global death rate from coronavirus of what per cent?
7. What is the name of the senior civil servant who resigned, accusing Home Secretary Priti Patel of bullying, and said he would sue the Government for constructive dismissal?
8. The chief executive of which company emailed staff saying: 'It’s with enormous sadness and a deep feeling of sorrow that I share the upsetting news’?
9. The High Court ruled that Shiekh Mohammed al-Maktoum had ordered henchmen to grab his daughter from the streets of what UK city?
10. How many of the 14 American states that voted to pick a Democratic presidential nominee on Super Tuesday did Joe Biden win?
11. Disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein had heart surgery before his move to which notorious New York prison?
12. Kevin and Catherine Lorryman are facing the prospect of demolishing their home after it was almost completely submerged in floodwater in which Yorkshire market town?
13. Which football team brought to an end Liverpool's 44-game unbeaten run in the Premier League?
14. Which company stopped allowing payments using loyalty card points after a cyber attack on its customer database?
15. Who gave a keynote speech urging the UK and Ireland not to be 'bound by the wrongs of the past’?
16. Tottenham Hotspur player Eric Dier jumped into the crowd after the FA cup game against Norwich to confront a fan who had been abusing the footballer’s 19-year-old brother who is called what? 
17. What was Prime Minister Boris Johnson referring to when he said: 'That was a very tricky one. That was really coming in on middle stump. There was nowhere to go on that one?' 
18. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex attended their first joint official engagement since announcing they would step down from the Royal Family at what awards in London?
19. Which actress and television presenter said she was held at gunpoint by a gang while filming in Haiti?
20. What role will Phil Collins’s son Nicholas have when reformed rock band Genesis go on tour later this year?
21. Why did Australian newspaper NT News print a special insert of eight blank pages?
22. Comedian Joe Lycett claimed to have legally changed his name by Deed Poll to what?
23. Which 112-year-old mascot found himself under threat by health and safety rules in Skegness?
24. Who said on Instagram: 'There's a lot that will be happening this summer. Not only will I be giving birth, literally, but also figuratively to something you guys have been waiting for. So let's just call it a double whammy’?

25. Who took to Instagram to reveal he has quit Strictly Come Dancing after seven years?

Answers here