This week's newsquiz ... 25 questions

The top solo scorer in last week’s newsquiz was Sam Neve with 21, narrowly ahead of Findus on 20, Rob Lawrence and Toby Brown both scored 18. The top team was Sue, Simon and Will Cole 22, ahead of Bruce and Sarah Hayward on 20 and Thom, Sam, Shannon and Harry with 19.5. The Penmans and Phil and Maura Parsons both scored 19. 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.

Some of today's front pages

1. Asked about his trip to Barnard Castle on April 12, Downing Street advisor Dominic Cummings said: 'I wasn't sightseeing. My wife was very worried, particularly as my ___ seemed to have been affected.’ What is the missing word?
2. The Reverend Martin Poole from Brighton, at the Downing Street press conference on Tuesday, asked Health Secretary Matt Hancock to 'look at’ reviewing what?
3. The Government launched an investigation into the official Twitter account for the Civil Service when a tweet appeared, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s defence of Dominic Cummings, which said: ‘Arrogant and offensive. Can you imagine having to work with these ___ ___.’ What are the two missing words?
4. What is the name of the Scotland Office minister who resigned, saying Dominic Cummings's defence of his trip to County Durham was 'not shared by the vast majority of people’?
5. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, appearing before the Commons Liaison Committee, used what phrase five times in 20 minutes, as he faced questions from select committee chairs about Dominic Cummings?
6. At Thursday’s briefing Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced an easing of the lockdown … but scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance warned people to be cautious pointing out there were still around how many new cases of coronavirus a week in the UK?
7. Who did Katie Razzall replace this week?
8. The Government announced plans to reopen some businesses from June 15. Which of these is not included in the plans: a) Clothing and shoe shops  b) hairdressers c) bookshops d) auction houses?
9. Founder Annemarie Plas said it would be a good time for what to end, saying she shared 'the opinions that some people have about it becoming politicised’?
10. A hospital in which town stopped accepting new patients due to the high number of coronavirus cases 'to maintain patient and staff safety’?
11. The FA Cup quarter-finals have been rescheduled for the weekend of June 27-28 with the Cup Final final due to take place on what date?
12. Which European country’s Prime Minister announced that bars, cafes and restaurants would be allowed to open from Tuesday saying ‘freedom will become the rule, bans the exception’?
13. What was cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic, with organisers saying that instead they would give bursaries of £10,000 to help ten artists at this 'exceptionally difficult time’?
14. Which company announced it will close its factory in Barcelona with the loss of about 2,800 jobs, prompting hundreds of workers to protest by burning tyres and blockading the site?
15. Which company announced plans to cut up to 30 per cent of its workforce, 4,500 employees, saying it does not expect demand to reach 2019 levels until 2023?
16. Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar issued a statement saying he 'broke no laws, breached no regulations and observed public health guidance’ after photos emerged of him doing what?

17. The funeral of law student Aya Hachem, 19, who was killed in a drive-by shooting in Blackburn took place in which country?
18. Protests erupted in which US city after a white police officer was filmed kneeling on the neck of George Floyd, a black man, who later died?
19. Whose social media post was hidden by Twitter with a warning that said: ’This Tweet violated the Twitter rules about glorifying violence’?
20. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said he was considering extending the rights of British National Overseas passport holders’ from where so that they can visit the UK for 12 months, leading to a pathway for future citizenship?
21. Irish actor Tony Scannell, who died age 74, found fame playing Ted Roach for nine years until 1993 in which TV series?
22. Bad weather stopped Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley from going where on Wednesday?
23. The world’s oldest man, Bob Weighton, from Alton in Hampshire died this week at what age?
24. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, being interviewed live on television during an earthquake, said: 'Quite a decent shake here, but if you see things moving behind me, the ____moves more than most.' What is the missing word?
25. JK Rowling announced she was publishing daily instalments of a new children's book on her website for free. What is the book called?

Answers here

Been paying attention? Here's the newsquiz ...

There were some impressive scores in last week’s newsquiz. Top solo scorer was Tom Savage with 23, just ahead of Toby Brown who posted a personal best of 22. Other good scorers included Liz Gerard and Janet Boyle on 20, Georgia Simcox, Gavin Devine and Hannah Tomes who all scored 19 and George Bond with 18. The top team was Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe with 22. Other good scores came from Richard, Danny, Barney and Matt with 21, the same score as Sam, Harry and Shannon. The Coles Family posted 20.5, Bruce and Sarah Hayward 20 and the Roberts Family 19. 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. 

Some of today's front pages

1. The Government, responding to pressure, announced that all non EU migrant NHS workers, including porters and cleaners, would no longer have to pay the annual surcharge of how much?
2. Under new Government guidance what was added as key symptoms of coronavirus that people should self-isolate with?

3. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the Government’s surveillance study had shown that what per cent of people in London had tested positive for coronavirus antibodies?

4. The NHS Confederation warned of ‘severe' consequences to staff and patients, and against easing lockdown, if the right strategy involving the three Ts was not established quickly. What do the three Ts stand for? Half a point for two, one point for all three. 

5. The Government confirmed it is considering introducing what in October after a request by Visit Britain?
6. The Office for National Statistics said that what had jumped by 856,500 to 2.1 million in April?

7. The Government announced that everyone from what age and over in the UK with symptoms could now be tested for coronavirus?

8. Thérèse Coffey found herself at odds with Cabinet colleagues when she said: 'If the science was wrong, advice at the time was wrong, I’m not surprised if people will then think we then made a wrong decision’? What is her Cabinet position?

9. Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle ticked off which Government minister, asking: ‘Sorry - do you want to leave the chamber? We are on maximum numbers, if you want to give way to somebody else I am more than happy’?

10. Nicola Sturgeon announced people in Scotland will be allowed to meet friends outdoors, sunbathe and start shopping at garden centres from what date?
11. At Thursday's Downing Street briefing, who asked: 'Why can junior tennis players, athletes and golfers receive coaching sessions but young people who play the working-class game of football are not allowed to?’  

12. Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen, arguing the furlough scheme was to protect businesses that can’t operate, said: 'It’d be difficult to see how___ ___'s earning potential has been diminished. The grass is still growing in his back garden and his house still needs cleaning.’ What is the missing name?
13. US President Donald Trump told reporters he had been taking hydroxychloroquine to protect himself against coronavirus. The drug was originally developed to combat which disease?

14. What is the name of the website launched by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to help those unemployed or furloughed to find work on farms?

15. EasyJet announced it intends to restart flights from some airports in Britain and which other two countries from June 15? Half a point for each.

16. The Casual Dining Group, which owns High Street restaurant brands, filed intent to appoint administrators to give itself ten days to put a restructuring plan into place? Name any one of its restaurants.

17. Thirteen people were arrested after 19-year-old law student Aya Hachem was shot dead by mistake outside Lidl in which town?

18. EasyJet announced that a 'highly sophisticated cyber-attack' meant 2,208 customers had their credit and debit card details ‘accessed’ but approximately how many of its customers did the airline say had been affected in total?

19. Footballer Callum Hudson-Odoi, who was arrested on Sunday and held on suspicion of rape, plays for which Premier League club?

20. New legislation known as 'Max and Keira's law’ came into force this week meaning that everyone, unless they opt out or are in an excluded group, becomes what? 

21. What event was covered every weekday this week by BBC One at 3.45pm and BBC Two at 8pm?

22. Who said: 'I hope the Queen's not heavy handed with the sword’?

23.  An Airbus A320 with 107 people on board crashed into a residential area of which city? 

24. What became the first British soap to resume filming as it began a 'phased return' on Wednesday, recording six new episodes using a reduced crew with stories focused on characters in lockdown?

25. Why was Korean football team FC Seoul fined 100 million won (about £67,000) and forced to apologise this week?

Answers here

Time to tackle the newsquiz

The top scorer solo in last week’s newsquiz was Janet Boyle with 19.5, just ahead of Jamie Johnson on 18 and Sam Baker on 17. The top team was Thom, Sam, Harry and Shannon with 22. The Roberts Family scored 20, Phil and Maura Parson 17.5, Charlotte Daly and family 17, and Richard, Danny, Barney and Matt 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. 

Today's front pages

1. Under the Government's new lockdown measures, which of these people are not allowed to enter your home: a) a cleaner b) a plumber c) a visiting relative d) an estate agent?

2. Prime Minister Boris Johnson's 'conditional plan' to reopen society included a ‘hope’ that some primary pupils would return to school in England from what date ‘at the earliest’?
3. Details set out by the Department for Education said that, if schools reopen, classes will be divided into groups of no more than how many pupils?

4. Railway worker Belly Mujinga died of coronavirus after being spat at while on duty at which London station?

5. Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced that the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (furloughing) would continue, albeit with some changes, until the end of which month?

6. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and Boris Johnson had a heated exchange during Prime Minister’s Questions over Government guidance, that was in place until March 13, which said it was 'unlikely' people living where would become infected with coronavirus? 

7. According to Government figures which town has suffered more coronavirus cases per capita than anywhere else in England or Wales, a rate of 882 cases per 100,000?

8. Public Health announced that coronavirus antibody tests, which can tell whether someone has had the infection, have been approved for use in the UK. What is the name of the manufacturer? 

9. Statistics from NHS England show that of the 22,332 people who died with coronavirus since March 31, 5,873 (26 per cent) of them had what condition?

10. Who reacted to the Government's change of slogan, from Stay At Home to Stay Alert, by saying: ‘It would be catastrophic for me to drop the ‘stay at home’ message, which is why I am not prepared to do it … particularly in favour of a message that is vague and imprecise’?

11. Government minister Grant Shapps said it was everybody’s ‘civic duty’ to avoid what 'if at all possible'?

12. Members of the Royal Family, including the Queen, made phone calls to workers in Britain and around the Commonwealth to mark which day?

13. A third player from which Premier League football club tested positive for coronavirus?

14. The Office for National Statistics said that the UK economy shrank by how many per cent in the first quarter, the sharpest fall since 2008?
15. Ofcom received 240 complaints after which actress said on Channel 4's The Last Leg Locked Down Under that she 'had difficulty not wanting Boris Johnson to die’?
16. Which media company announced it is to close its UK and Australian news operations for 'both for economic and strategic reasons’?

17. Interpol issued a Red Notice for which American, meaning she is 'wanted internationally’ and can be arrested if she ever leaves America?
18. A murder inquiry was launched after human remains were found in a suitcase being carried by a couple and other body parts were found at which beauty spot?

19. Tory MPs, including Health Minister Nadine Dorries, deleted tweets and were reminded by the whips office to 'check the validity' after posting false information claiming who obstructed the prosecution of grooming gangs?

20. Chief executive Rico Back quit which group with immediate effect, after only two years in charge, after it reported a £22million slump in revenue?

21. Who tweeted this week saying: 'Thank you for all the messages. Horrible experience but we’re all okay now. Appreciate the support’?

22. June Bernicoff, 82, died this week. She wrote two books, Forever Sweethearts and Leon and June: Our Story, following the death of her husband and was best known for appearances on which Channel 4 series?

23. Richard Wayne Penniman, who died age 87, had five UK top ten hits in the 1950s. How was he better known? 

24. Which two celebrities found themselves at loggerheads over plans to extend a brewery near their homes in rural Wiltshire? Half a point for each name.

25. Which novel topped the UK’s book charts this week, more than two years after it was published, reportedly thanks to its TV adaptation?

Answers here

The newsquiz is here ... give it a go

The top solo scorer in last week’s newsquiz was Janet Boyle with 22 and the top team was the Roberts Family with 23.5. Well played to them ... always consistently high scorers. Other good solo scorers were Toby Brown on 21, Liz Gerard 19, and Georgia Simcox and Paul Bowen who both scored 17. There were strong team efforts from Sam, Thom, Harry and Shannon 22, Phil and Maura Parsons 21, and Richard, Danny, Barney, Pascal and Matt who scored 19. 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 your score.

Today's front pages

1. As part of VE commemorations today (Friday) the Red Arrows flew over London, RAF Typhoon jets performed flypasts over Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast and Spitfires flew over where?
2. What is the name of the scientist, who advised the Government on lockdown, who resigned after he breached restrictions to meet his married lover?
3. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said an NHS coronavirus contact tracing app would be trialled in which part of the UK ahead of a nationwide rollout?
4. Prime Minister Boris Johnson told how doctors at St Thomas’ Hospital treating him for coronavirus had a strategy to deal with a ‘death of ___ -type scenario’. What is the missing name?
5. The deaths of nine military veterans from coronavirus were announced a day before the 75th anniversary of VE Day by which hospital?
6. Health Secretary Matt Hancock told a coronavirus media briefing this week that ‘emerging data from around the world suggests there could possibly be a relationship between ___ and the impact of Covid-19 on individuals’. What is the missing word?
7. Brandon Lewis, the Northern Ireland secretary, said that a PPE shipment from Turkey included 400,000 of what items that were not used by the NHS as they fell short of UK standards?
8. The UK's newest NHS Nightingale hospital opened in which city less than 24 hours after the one in London was mothballed?
9. Shadow mental health minister Rosena Allin-Khan, an A&E doctor, was advised in the Commons by Health Secretary Matt Hancock about what after she asked a question about testing?
10. Which country announced that masks would be compulsory for public transport passengers from last Monday, with the government saying it would distribute six million masks at transport locations and give another seven million to local authorities?
11. Virgin Atlantic announced plans to cut more than 3,000 jobs and shut its operations at which airport?
12. A new Banksy artwork showing a young boy who had discarded his Spiderman and Batman model figures in favour of an NHS nurse, appeared at a hospital in which city?
13. Which European country decided that top flight football would restart on May 15?
14. Who announced 'the agonising decision' that he would not be standing as a candidate for Mayor of London after the coronavirus crisis forced a year's delay?
15. To mark Princess Charlotte’s fifth birthday, Kensington Palace released pictures of her helping her parents to deliver what food to vulnerable Norfolk residents?
16. UK hip-hop star with the real name Ben Chijioke, who was nominated for the Mercury prize for his album Upwards, died age 47 after contracting coronavirus. What was his stage name?
17. Keyboard player Dave Greenfield, who died of coronavirus age 71, wrote the Stranglers' biggest hit which reached Number 2 in the UK charts in 1982. What was it called?
18. Carrie Symonds introduced her baby on Instagram and announced his three forenames - Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas. She said Wilfred was after Boris Johnson's grandfather but where did the names Lawrie and Nicholas come from? Half a point for each.
19. How was businessman Ralph Jump, 57, killed and his two adult children injured near Usk in Monmouthshire?
20. A 29-year-old woman appeared in court charged with murdering an 88-year-old man in which supermarket in Penygraig, Rhondda, on Tuesday afternoon?
21. Which two brands announced plans to merge to create a new £31billion media and telecoms giant? Half a point for each.
22. Tara Reade, 56, gave an on-camera interview this week in the US and told how she had been pinned against a wall and sexually abused by who while at work?
23. What is the title of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s biography which promises to provide an 'up-close portrait' on the couple and tell the 'true story’?
24. Technology entrepreneur Elon Musk and singer Grimes named their baby son X Æ A-12 and explained that the A-12 part of the name was a type of CIA aircraft known as what?

25. Who became the oldest person to be the cover star of fashion magazine Vogue in its history?

Answers here

Been keeping up with the news? Here's the quiz

Last week’s newsquiz was, by all accounts, a little tougher. It was either that, or some of you are growing immune to the never-ending cycle of coronovirus news. The top solo scorers were Dora Allday and Georgia Simcox who both scored 18. Sam Baker posted 16.5 and Toby Brown 16. One of the top teams in recent weeks has been Thom, Sam, Harry and Shannon … and they continued to power on with a score of 22. Phil and Maura Parsons scored 18.5, Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe and The Penmans 17, Danny, Richard, Pascal and Matt scored 16.5 and Neil and Jo Benson 16. 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. 

Wednesday's front pages

1. On his return to Downing Street Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: 'If this virus were a physical assailant, an unexpected and ___ ___ which I can tell you from personal experience it is, then this is the moment we have begun together to wrestle it to the floor.’ What are the two missing words?

2. Doctors are investigating a possible link between the coronavirus pandemic and a surge in cases among children of a severe inflammatory disease which is known by what name?

3. Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced that families of NHS and social care workers who have died after contracting coronavirus will receive a payment of how much?

4. Sir Patrick Vallance, the UK’s chief scientific adviser, told the daily briefing on Thursday that scientists think the R rate is currently between 0.6 and 0.9 in the UK. What does R stand for?

5. Reckitt Benckiser (RB) issued a statement saying its product should not be ingested 'under any circumstances’. What product was the statement referring to?
6. David Cameron, whose wife Sam had a baby while living in Downing Street, congratulated Boris Johnson by saying: 'Sorry we didn't leave the cot - but the ___ ___ should still be in the garden!’ What are the two missing words?
7. A BBC Panorama documentary claimed that the Government counted what items of PPE individually to make the figures look bigger than they were?

8. What has Royal Mail scrapped until further notice to 'ease the additional burden' on staff caused by the coronavirus pandemic?
9. The first non-journalist given the chance to ask a question to ministers and health officials at Downing Street’s daily coronavirus press briefing was Lynne from where?
10. British Airways parent company IAG issued a statement saying the impact of Covid-19 may result in the redundancy of up to how many of the airline’s staff?

11. According to a study by researchers across more than 160 hospitals, what percentage of patients admitted to hospital in the UK with Covid-19 die?
12. Captain Tom Moore, who raised more than £30million for the NHS by doing laps of his garden, was promoted to what rank by the Queen to mark his 100th birthday?

13. Authorities in the Spanish coastal resort of Zahara de los Atunes, near Cadiz, apologised after spraying a beach with what in an attempt to protect children from coronavirus?

14. Which company announced plans to re-open 20 stores in the Newcastle area on a trial basis but then reversed the decision because of 'the risk that excessive numbers of customers’?

15. The Prime Minister of which country said they had stopped the 'widespread, undetected community transmission’ of Covid-19’ as it eased its lockdown restrictions?
16. Which two European countries were the first to cancel their top flight football seasons? Half a point for each.

17. A 19-month-old girl and three-year-old boy were stabbed to death in an attack at their home in which town?

18. US President Donald Trump said this week: 'I understand what is going on, I cannot just talk about him right now, just hoping that everything will be fine. But I do understand the situation very well.’ Who was he referring to?

19. Which journalist, who worked for morning television for both ITV and BBC, presented Watchdog for almost a decade and launched a bowel cancer charity, died this week age 72?

20. Royal Mail stamped all letters posted this week with a message celebrating what?

21. The Pentagon released three declassified videos because it wanted to 'clear up any misconceptions by the public on whether or not the footage that has been circulating was real’. What did the videos show?

22. Actress Jill Gascoine, who died age 83, played Detective Inspector Maggie Forbes in which 1980s TV police drama?

23. Irrfan Khan, who died age 53, starred in 80 films one of which won eight Oscars including best picture in 2008. What was it called?

24. An asteroid travelling at around 20,000mph which passed earth on Wednesday at a distance of four million miles was classified by NASA as an NEO. What does NEO stand for?

25. Prince Harry recorded a special message to mark which anniversary of Thomas the Tank Engine?

Answers here