Have a crack at the newsquiz

The top solo scorer in last week’s newsquiz was Liz Gerard with 21 just ahead of Toby Brown on 19.5. The top team was Simon, Sue and Will Cole with 22. Phil and Maura Parsons scored 21, The Penmans and Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe both scored 19 and Bruce and Sarah Hayward 18. 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. 

A selection of today's front pages

1. In new Covid measures to start next week Cornwall and which two other places in England are the only ones to be in Tier 1? Half a point for each.

2. Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty, at Thursday's Downing Street briefing, said that what would not be against the law this Christmas but 'it is not a sensible thing to do’? One word answer. 
3. In a video message from Downing Street, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced festive lockdown rules, saying 'tis the season to be jolly but 'tis also the season to be jolly___’. What is the missing word?
4. Chancellor Rishi Sunak, in his Spending Review, announced that 1.3 million public sector workers would see their pay frozen next year but those earning less than what figure would still get increase?

5. The Government asked a regulator to assess a vaccine produced by Oxford University, along with which pharmaceutical company, after doubts were raised over claims that it was 70 per cent effective?

6. Revised lockdown restrictions mean that from next week 2,000 fans will be allowed to attend Premier League matches at which one of these football clubs a) Wolves b) Newcastle United  c) Burnley d) Crystal Palace?

7. Which retail giant was reported to be on the brink of collapse with 15,000 jobs at risk and was preparing to appoint administrators from Deloitte?
8. Boris Johnson’s spokesman said: 'Given the circumstances the PM doesn't believe that MPs should be ...' doing what?
9. Why did Foreign Office minister Baroness Sugg resign?
10. Hair salon owner Sinead Quinn from Bradford, who has been threatened with £27,000 in fines for breaching lockdown rules, argued that her shop was 'under the jurisdiction of common law’ quoting Article 61 of what?
11. Scotland became the first country in the world to provide free and universal access to what?

12. The Duchess of Sussex revealed that she miscarried in July in an article headlined The Losses We Share in which publication?

13. Footballer Diego Maradona, infamous for the ‘hand of God’ incident when Argentina beat England in the 1986 World Cup, died this week at what age?

14. A day of mourning for Argentinian footballer Diego Maradona took place in which European city yesterday?

15. One fisherman died, another is missing and one was rescued after their boat, the Joanna C, capsized off which English county?

16. Who was named as a special envoy on the climate crisis under President-Elect Joe Biden’s incoming administration?

17. PC Simon Read was sacked for gross misconduct after scanning a £9.95 box of what for seven pence by using a cheaper barcode at Tesco in Wisbech? 

18. Kuno, a military dog that tackled a gunman in what country, was awarded the PDSA Dickin Medal - the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross?

19. The National Trust and Forestry England suspended what after a police investigation into online meetings which discussed creating smokescreens?

20. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge wrote on Instagram: ‘Very sadly last weekend our dear dog ... passed away. He has been at the heart of our family for the past nine years and we will miss him so much.’ What was the dog’s name?

21. What was the name of the 47-year-old Celebrity Big Brother contestant and Storage Hunters UK buyer who was found dead on the kitchen floor of his North London home?

22. Earl Spencer said that each episode of what television show should state it isn't true so that 'everyone would understand that it was drama for drama's sake’?

23. A bird named Rockefeller, found trapped inside a 75ft Christmas tree in New York, was released into the wild after being nursed back to health. What type of bird was Rockefeller?
24. North Wales Police said they had given 'suitable advice' to the producers of I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here! following complaints about what?
25. Peter Sawkins, 20, became the youngest ever person to do what?

Answers here

Test yourself with the newsquiz

The top solo scorer in last week’s newsquiz was Liz Gerard with 20, ahead of Gavin Devine who scored 19. The top team was Simon, Sue and Will Cole with 22.5, narrowly ahead of Maura and Phil Parsons with 22. Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe scored 21 and Bruce and Sarah Hayward 19. 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.

A selection of today's front pages

1. Which American company said it was a 'great day’ when it announced its coronavirus vaccine may be 94.5 per cent effective?
2. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was self-isolating, released a video saying he was 'in good health’, had 'no symptoms’ and was as fit as what?
3. Why did Sir Alex Allan, the Government's independent adviser on standards, resign?
4. The Government announced a green industrial revolution which included plans for cars powered wholly by petrol and diesel to not be sold in the UK from what year?
5. Newspapers reported that what nickname for Carrie Symonds, circulating among former adviser Dominic Cummings’s supporters, had particularly riled Boris Johnson?

6. Which Government minister was the first to be interviewed on ITV’s Good Morning Britain after a boycott, imposed in April, was lifted?
7. Prime Minister Boris Johnston announced extra spending of £4billion a year on defence which he said would 'end the era of ___, transform our armed forces and bolster our global influence’. What is the missing word?
8. Who donated $1million to the vaccine programme at Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville because the hospital was 'good to her and her family through the years’?
9. Taxi driver Ali Sakallioglu, Britain's longest-suffering Covid patient whose family were told there was 'zero chance’ he would survive, returned home and gave TV interviews this week after spending how many days in hospital?
10. In a meeting with MPs what did Prime Minister Boris Johnson describe as a disaster and 'Tony Blair's biggest mistake’?
11. Why was 43-year-old Spanish businessman Gabriel González Andersson in the headlines?
12. His autobiography was called Bananas Can't Fly, he married four times, was awarded the CBE in 2008 and had a No 1 hit with I Pretend in 1969. Who is he?
13. Who described an investigation into how the BBC secured an interview with Princess Diana for Panorama in 1995 as 'a step in the right direction’?
14. Which company said it 'fundamentally disagreed’ with a £17.9million fine and a ruling by the Competition and Markets Authority that said its contracts kept costs artificially high?

15. Former England goalkeeper Ray Clemence, who died aged 72, spent his entire senior career with three clubs. Liverpool was one, name the other two. Half a point for each.
16. At the High Court this week barrister Hugh Tomlinson said that who had published posts that were an 'untrue and unjustified defamatory attack, published and republished to millions of people’?
17. Why did a speech by Donald Trump’s lawyer Rudy Giuliani in Washington prompt Four Season’s Total Landscaping to tweet that its creosote is ‘dry to the touch in 30 minutes’?
18. The Queen and Prince Philip were photographed looking at cards from their great-grandchildren to celebrate their wedding anniversary which is today (Friday). In what year were they married?
19. Which footballing knight said he would ‘absolutely' be willing to donate his brain to dementia research after his death?

20. SpaceX’s Dragon capsule docked with the International Space Station with four astronauts on board. Three were American but what was the nationality of the other?
21. Actor George Clooney revealed he thanked how many of his closest friends, who helped him out when he was struggling, by giving them a million dollars each?
22. BBC Radio 1 is to play a censored version of the Pogues’ Fairytale of New York this Christmas that removes which two words? Half a point for each.
23. Lewis Hamilton equalled Michael Schumacher’s record of how many Formula One's World Championship wins?
24. Neuroscientist Darragh Ennis, nicknamed The Menace, made his first TV appearance as what this week?
25. Radio 1 DJ Jordan North faced his fear of snakes during a trial on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here by shouting out the name of his happy place - which then went viral. Where is Jordan’s happy place?

Answers here

Time to tackle the newsquiz

The top solo score in last week's newsquiz was 21 by Liz Gerard, ahead of Gavin Devine on 19 and Janet Boyle on 18.5. The top team score was Bruce and Sarah Hayward on 21.5, narrowly ahead of Neil and Jo Benson and Phil and Maura Parsons on 21. Simon, Sue and Will Cole scored 20, Jack Elsom and Monica Greep 19, Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe 18, Peter G and Stacey P 17.5 and The Penmans 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. 

A selection of today's front pages

1. In her acceptance speech, US Vice-President-Elect Kamala Harris said: 'While I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last, because every ___ ___ watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities.' What are the two missing words?
2. Which US state confirmed it will hold a full hand recount of its election votes after the result was too close to call?
3. What did a Government spokesman describe as a 'technical error', the SNP's Ian Blackford say was 'incompetence' and led Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner to tweet: 'Looks like No 10 could do with a few more staff who have trained in ‘cyber' (they just didn't know it yet)'?
4. On Wednesday the UK became the first European country where the number of coronavirus deaths reached which landmark figure?
5. Developers Pfizer and BioNTech said their Covid-19 vaccine, which they claim is 90 per cent effective, was tested on 43,500 people in six countries - America, Germany, Brazil, Argentina and which two others? Half a point for each.
6. Which one of these was not used to describe the potential arrival of a Covid-19 vaccine by Boris Johnson and chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam at Monday's Press briefing a) distant bugle of the scientific cavalry b) scoring the first penalty in a shoot-out c) first swallow of summer d) green shoots of spring e) train two miles down the track.
7. The Government announced a Covid-19 'evacuation operation' telling universities to allocate departure dates for students between which two December dates?
8. Which high street chain, which employs 6,000 people, announced a Company Voluntary Arrangement with its landlords and creditors after saying 'the pandemic has decimated trading’?
9. Lee Cain, the Downing Street communications director who resigned this week, once dressed up as what to pursue David Cameron at the 2010 election?

10. At the Old Bailey in 1981 Peter Sutcliffe, who died this week aged 74, was convicted of the murders of how many women?
11. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were accused of a 'publicity stunt' after being photographed laying a wreath on Remembrance Sunday at the National Cemetery in which US city?
12. What is the name of the Football Association chairman who resigned after using 'unacceptable' language during the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee?
13. Graphic designer Matt Wiessler claimed he was made a 'fall guy' by the BBC after forging what kind of documents to help secure Martin Bashir's interview with Princess Diana for Panorama in 1995?
14. Nurse Lucy Letby appeared in court charged with the murder of eight babies and the attempted murder of another ten while working at a hospital in which city?
15. A statue dedicated to which 'mother of feminism', that was unveiled in north London, provoked an online backlash as it included a naked figure?
16. Why were former soldier Donald Bell, 64, and NHS nurse Anne White, 53, accused of being 'profoundly disrespectful' by Prime Minister Boris Johnson?
17. A Los Angeles court rejected an attempt by singer Britney Spears to have her father removed as the controller of her estate - even though she is how old?
18. The group Diageo called for the recall of what cans of drink because of 'microbiological contamination'?

19. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps gave the go-ahead for a two-mile long tunnel to be built under which World Heritage Site?

20. Actor Geoffrey Palmer, who died aged 93, was a familiar face in TV comedies including one where he played a dentist struggling to understand his wife's midlife crisis? What was it called?
21. A four-day bank holiday weekend is being planned for which month in 2022 to mark the Queen's 70th year on the throne?
22. Scotland’s footballers qualified for next year’s Euros, their first major finals appearance since 1998, by beating which country in a penalty shoot-out? 
23. Actor Johnny Depp was asked by Warner Bros to step down from which film after he lost his libel trial against The Sun?

24. Strictly Come Dancing judge Motsi Mabuse will be missing from this weekend's programme as she has to quarantine after flying to the UK from which country?

25. What, with a 6,000 per cent increase in its use in 2020, was named word of the year by Collins Dictionary? 

Answers here

It's time to tackle the newsquiz

The top solo scorer in last week's newsquiz was Hannah Tomes with 17, just ahead of Katie Jenkins on 16. The top team was Bruce and Sarah Hayward with an impressive 22. Simon, Sue and Will Cole scored 20, Maura and Phil Parsons 19.5 and Three Legs drinkers Peter and Stacey 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 how you get on. 

The US election dominates today's front pages

1. What is the minimum number of electoral votes required by the two US presidential candidates to secure the seat in the White House?
2. US President Donald Trump's legal team asked for a recount in Wisconsin and threatened to take legal action in Pennsylvania, Michigan and which other two states? Half a point for each.
3. Donald Trump’s lawyer Rudy Giuliani gave a press conference in Philadelphia about election fraud, saying that Joe Biden could have voted 5,000 times and adding ‘we’re going to have a look at how many ___ people have voted here, too’. What is the missing word?
4. Who reacted to Donald Trump's ’Stop the Count’ tweet by saying: 'So ridiculous. Donald must work on his Anger Management problem, then go to a good old fashioned movie with a friend! Chill Donald, Chill!’?

5. Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the Government will extend the furlough scheme until the end of which month?
6. Chief scientific advisor Sir Patrick Vallance told the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee that he had 'regrets' over frightening people with a forecast that there could be how many Covid-19 deaths a day over the winter?
7. Parliament backed the four-week lockdown in England with a majority of 478 but how many MPs voted against it?
8. Boris Johnson walked out of the Commons just as his predecessor Theresa May gave a speech saying: ‘I hate the term circuit breaker. It is a euphemism that is appalling. It is not a circuit breaker, it is a ___ breaker’. What is the missing word?
9. People in which city are to be offered regular Covid-19 tests whether or not they have symptoms?
10. Which two European countries were added to the UK's travel quarantine 'red list’ this week? Half a point for each.
11. Which retailer recorded its first loss in its 94 years as a publicly-listed company, recording a deficit of £87.6million in the six months to September 26?
12. Who reportedly did not tell anyone about his positive coronavirus test result because 'there were important things going on and I didn't want to worry anyone’?
13. Sainsbury's said it was to cut 3,500 jobs with the closure of 420 standalone stores that it bought in 2016. What are the standalone stores called?
14. Four people were killed and 23 others wounded in a gun attack in which European city?
15. Following recent killings in Europe, the UK's terrorism threat level was upgraded from ‘substantial' to what category, meaning security chiefs believe an attack is highly likely?
16. The Brexit Party formally applied to the Electoral Commission to change its name to what?
17. A High Court judge, who dismissed Johnny Depp’s defamation case against The Sun, ruled that the actor had beaten his ex-wife Amber Heard how many times?
18. Nobby Stiles died aged 76 and Sir Bobby Charlton was diagnosed with dementia. Along with hat-trick scorer Geoff Hurst, Charlton is one of only four players from England’s World Cup winning team of 1966 who are still alive. Name the other two. Half a point for each.
19. Denmark said that up to 17 million of what animals are to be culled after finding a mutated version of coronavirus that can spread to humans?
20. Why was three-year-old Ayda Gezgin in the headlines?
21. Why was 73-year-old retired nurse Ylenia Angeli arrested, and later 'de-arrested’, by Humberside police?
22. Sean Connery, who died aged 90, was best known as James Bond but won an Oscar for best Supporting Actor in 1988 for which film?
23. England won the Six Nations Championship at the weekend despite losing their first game back in February to which country?
24. Beverley Callard, 63, who played Liz McDonald in Coronation Street for 31 years, will be the oldest person to be doing what later this month?
25. Who was the first celebrity to be voted off the current series of Strictly Come Dancing?

Answers here 

Stephen Lawrence scholarships open

Stephen Lawrence's mother Baroness Lawrence and the Mail's Sue Ryan with former trainees Kamal Sultan, Kumail Jaffer and Courtney Bartlett.  

I spent last month working with 16 Daily Mail trainees including two who were recruited as part of the Stephen Lawrence scholarship. One is now on placement at the Press Association and the other at the Irish Daily Mail in Dublin. They will return to the Mail newsroom in London early in the new year. There have been nine trainees who have passed through the scholarship - and most have full-time jobs on the newsdesk, as reporters or sports sub-editors. 
The Mail is now, once again, inviting people to apply for the scholarship which aims to help students from under-represented groups break into journalism. The paper has long supported the family of Stephen, who was murdered at 18 in 1993. It began the scholarship in 2015, along with the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust, to help promote diversity in journalism. The successful candidates will be offered bespoke training according to their needs and experience. They will be given a two-year contract and paid a competitive salary while they train. If the training is successful they are offered staff jobs at the end. 

If you are an aspiring journalist, with broad interests and a black, Asian or minority ethnic background, who wants to work for the country’s biggest national newspaper, the Mail would like to hear from you. To apply send a covering letter including a personal statement of no more than 500 words, your CV and three examples of your work to sue.ryan@dailymail.co.uk. Please specify in the header whether you are applying for a position on news or sport. The scholarships are advertised here.