Test yourself with the newsquiz

There were some cracking scores in last week’s newsquiz. Marc Beyeler’s team (apparently including his wife and their dog Millie) and Maura and Phil Parsons both scored a record-equalling 24. Other good team efforts were Bruce and Sarah Hayward with 22, Simon, Sue and Will Cole 21, the Roberts Family 20, Peter and Stacey and Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe 19. The top solo scorers were Dominic Hurst and Liz Gerard who both posted 21, just ahead of Janet Boyle on 20, Gavin Devine 19, Ed Mortimer 18.5 and Alan Geere 18. 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. The UK has secured 60 million doses of which new vaccine, shown to be 89.3 per cent effective, that will be made in Teesside?

2. The UK became the fifth country to pass 100,000 Covid-19 deaths, coming after the US, Brazil and which other two countries? Half a point for each.

3. The British Medical Association said that what was ‘difficult to justify’ and should be halved to six weeks?

4. Prime Minister Boris Johnson told a Downing Street news conference that what date was 'the earliest that we think it is sensible to set for schools to go back’?

5. What did Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon say she was ‘not ecstatic' about?

6. Which one of these countries is NOT on the Government’s newly-announced 'red list’ where returning UK nationals will have to quarantine in Government-provided accommodation?

a) Brazil b) South Africa c) South Korea d) Namibia

7. Thirty-one police officers were each fined £200 after they hired someone to do what at Bethnal Green police station?

8. Germany's vaccine committee, citing insufficient data, said AstraZeneca's Covid jab should only be given to people under what age?

9. Two men who organised what at Woodhouse Moor, Leeds, were fined £10,000 each for a 'blatant breach' of lockdown rules?

10. The Pasteur Institute, in which country, announced it was abandoning its main coronavirus vaccine after disappointing test results?

11. Why did the Government withdraw a social media advert, which featured a drawing of four houses, that urged people to 'Stay Home. Save Lives” 

12. More than 180 people were arrested in ten cities in which country as Covid curfew protesters clashed with riot police?

13. Russian police detained more than 3,000 people during protests in support of who?

14. He was estimated to have conducted 50,000 interviews in a six-decade career and was married eight times to seven women. Who was he?

15. US President Joe Biden repealed Donald Trump's ban on who joining the military?

16. Activists, in a tunnel near Euston station protesting against the HS2 rail project, included Dan Hooper who is better known by what nickname?

17. Shares in which failing company soared by more than 700 per cent as the result of a battle between Wall Street and amateur investors?

18. Which online fashion retailer was reported to be in talks to buy the Dorothy Perkins, Wallis and Burton brands?

19. The Financial Conduct Authority announced that it was looking at increasing the payment limit for contactless cards from £45 to what amount?

20. During a video chat with a headteacher and parents, what word did the Duchess of Cambridge hold up when asked what described parenting during the pandemic?

21. A video of 21-year-old Nia Dennis doing what racked up more than ten million views and earned praise from celebrities including Michelle Obama and Janet Jackson?

22. What role did 47-year-old German Thomas Tuchel take over this week?

23. Facebook apologised for removing posts that named which area in a UK city that it wrongly identified as an offensive term?

24. Who was forced to withdraw from Dancing On Ice with a fractured shoulder?

25. Netflix announced that what show had become its 'biggest series ever’ with 82 million households tuned-in and becoming Number One in 83 countries?

Answers here

Time to tackle the newsquiz

Well done to Simon, Sue and Will Cole who scored an amazing, record-equalling 24 out of 25 in last week's newsquiz. What a commitment to the news agenda. The top solo scorer was Janet Boyle with 20, ahead of Liz Gerard and Toby Brown who both scored 18. Other good team scores were Bruce and Sarah Hayward and the Roberts Family who notched up 21, Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe with 19 and Maura and Phil Parsons with 18. It has been a busy old few days so no shortage of news for this week's questions. Give it a go and let me know your score. 

How the papers reported Biden's inauguration

 
1. In his maiden speech as US President Joe Biden said: 'We've learned again that ___ is precious, ___ is fragile, and at this hour, my friends, ___ has prevailed.’ What is the missing word?

2. What was the name of the poem, calling for unity and togetherness, that Amanda Gorman, 22, delivered at the presidential inauguration?
3. What song did Lady Gaga sing at the inauguration of US President Joe Biden?
4. New Vice-President Kamala Harris tweeted: 'I have a message for all the little girls and boys out there who dream of growing up to be ___: (They) walk among us. They’re teachers, doctors, scientists, vaccine researchers - and you can grow up to be like them too.’ What is the missing word?
5. Donald Trump’s final flight as President left Maryland for Florida to the sound of which song blasting from the airport’s speakers?

6. What linked former Daily Telegraph owner Conrad Black, rapper Lil Wayne, television personality Angela Stanton-King and former editor and podcaster Steve Bannon the week?
7. At Thursday’s Downing Street Press briefing, Home Secretary Priti Patel announced a new fine of how much for house party rule-breakers during the pandemic?
8. Under new Government restrictions people arriving in the UK from abroad must have a Covid test and isolate for ten days. But which one of these is exempt from the restrictions? a) Journalists b) Business directors bringing jobs to the UK c) Performing arts professionals d) Aircrew
9. Which Cabinet minister tweeted: 'Last night I was pinged by the NHS coronavirus app, so that means I’ll be self-isolating at home, not leaving the house at all until Sunday’?
10. One worker died after contracting coronavirus, 95 were self-isolating with 47 testing positive at which company's dairy near Bridgwater, Somerset?

11. Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said there would be 'proper notice' of when children were going to return to school with at least how long for teachers and families to get ready?
12. There were more than 200 flood warnings in place as a storm with what name battered Britain?
13. Former Supreme Court judge Lord Jonathan Sumption caused a stir by saying on the BBC’s The Big Questions that he did not accept that 'all ___ are of equal value'. What is the missing word?
14. What was the name of the 81-year-old who died while serving time for the murder of actress and model Lana Clarkson?
15. What reason, described as petty by chairman of the Defence Select Committee Tobias Ellwood, did the Government give for refusing to grant full diplomatic status to the EU's ambassador Joao Vale de Almeida?
16. The Home Office said that engineers were working to find how many police records that were accidentally deleted from the national database?
17. Eleven miners trapped underground in which country said they were grateful for liquids and medicine, delivered via a communication tunnel, but would really like pork sausages?
18. At least three people died following an explosion that caused a building to partially collapse in which European capital city?
19. Phil Neville brought forward his departure as England Women's head coach so that he could take over as boss at which American football team, co-owned by David Beckham?
20. Who was reported to be 'worth more than his dad' after his education start-up WhiteHat - a company offering alternatives to university - was valued at nearly £150million?
21. Google threatened to remove its search engine from which country over an attempt to make the company share its royalties with news providers?
22. Climbers, including former Gurkha and British special forces soldier Nirmal Purja, became the first ever to reach the summit of which mountain in winter?
23. Which team brought Liverpool's 68-game unbeaten home run in the Premier League to an end?
24. Owner of the Sugar Hut nightclub Mick Norcross, who died aged 57, gained fame by appearing on which television show?
25. What was cancelled this week with a statement saying: 'In spite of our efforts to move heaven and earth, it has become clear that we simply will not be able to make (it) happen this year. We are so sorry to let you all down’?

Answers here

Test yourself with this week's newsquiz

The top solo scorer in last week’s newsquiz was Gavin Devine with 19 followed by Phil Lambell with 18, Janet Boyle and Liz Gerard 17, Toby Brown 16 and Nick Turner 15. The top team was Simon, Sue and Will Cole with 23, ahead of Maura and Phil Parsons 21, Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe and the Roberts Family who both scored 19, Sarah and Bruce Hayward 17 and Peter and Stacey 16. 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. On Wednesday the UK announced how many Covid-19 deaths - the highest since the pandemic began?

2. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced that arrivals from South America and which European country would be banned from 4am today (Friday) over concerns about the Brazilian coronavirus variant?

3. Prime Minister Boris Johnson was criticised after being spotted cycling where, seven miles from Downing Street, during lockdown?

4. Which police force rescinded £200 fines and apologised to Jessica Allen and Eliza Moore after earlier describing their walk as 'not in the spirit of the national effort’ to reduce travel?

5. Buckingham Palace confirmed that the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh received Covid-19 vaccinations at which location?

6. Why was the Priory Campus coronavirus vaccination centre in Barnsley closed?

7. Royal Mail published a list of how many places across the UK that were no longer receiving regular post because staff had contracted coronavirus or were self-isolating?

8. Which airline axed its long-haul routes, and said it would operate with a 'simplified business structure’, resulting in the loss of 1,100 pilot and cabin crew jobs at Gatwick Airport?
9. Whose plans to fly to Melbourne were thrown into disarray after testing positive for coronavirus and having to isolate at home?

10. Premier League chief executive Richard Masters wrote to remind clubs that Covid rules must be adhered to and that 'handshakes, high fives and ___ must be avoided’. What is the missing word?

11. Home Secretary Priti Patel described the free schools food package from which company as an 'appalling display' that was 'totally unacceptable’?

12. In a new scheme, people at risk of domestic abuse during lockdown will be able to seek help discreetly by giving what code word to pharmacists?

13. How many Republicans joined the Democrats in the House of Representatives and voted for impeachment, charging outgoing US President Donald Trump with 'incitement of insurrection’?

14. The Leader of the House of Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg, commenting on hold-ups in the seafood industry caused by Brexit, told Parliament: ‘They’re now ___ fish and they’re better and happier fish for it.’ What is the missing word?

15. A Sriwijaya Air jetliner carrying 62 people crashed shortly after taking off from which city’s airport?

16. Richard Leonard resigned from which political position saying that constant attacks were undermining his party's ability to 'get its message across’?
17. Sir David Barclay, who died aged 86, co-owned which newspaper group with his identical twin brother Frederick?

18. Why was American Lisa Montgomery, 52, in the headlines?
19. James Howells asked Newport council to let him search a landfill site after he threw away a laptop hard drive which he claimed contained what?

20. The true-story of serial killer John Cooper, and how he was identified after appearing on which television game show, was told in ITV drama The Pembrokeshire Murders?

21. Which magazine defended its 'body-positive’ front cover after critics accused it of promoting obesity?

22. There were fears that Queen Merlina may have died after she went missing from where?

23. Which League 2 football team beat Premier League side Leeds United to line-up a fourth round game against Championship team Bournemouth?

24. The Duchess of York’s debut novel, Her Heart for a Compass, is to be published by which company?

25. The television programme Sex And The City is being revived, with the name And Just Like That, but without which of its original leading actresses?

Answers here

Stephen Lawrence Scholarship

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

Applications are now open for the Daily Mail graduate schemes, including the Stephen Lawrence scholarship. 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. Another two went through their training in the autumn and are now on placement with the Daily Mail in Dublin and the Press Association. They will return to the Mail's London office, albeit remotely, next month. 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.

Have a crack at the newsquiz

How American papers reported this week's events

The top solo scorers in last week's newsquiz were Janet Boyle and Gavin Devine who both scored 17. The top team was Simon, Sue and Will Cole with 21, ahead of Phil and Maura Parsons on 20.5, the Roberts family 19, Bruce and Sarah Hayward 18.5 and our (former) Three Legs drinking buddies Peter and Stacey 16.5. 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. 

Today's front pages

1. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi urged Vice-President Mike Pence to invoke what number amendment to the constitution to declare Donald Trump unfit for office?

2. President-Elect Joe Biden said: 'To storm the Capitol, to smash windows, to occupy offices, and to threaten the safety of duly elected officials is not protest. It is ___.' What is the missing word?
3. Which British Cabinet minister criticised the outgoing US president, saying: 'To incite that violence was completely wrong and quite frankly Donald Trump should have been condemning that. He didn't do so, that was a complete failure - it's tragic'?
4. What is the name of the movement, which believes Donald Trump is waging a secret war against Satan-worshipping paedophiles in government, whose supporters were among the crowd that stormed the Capitol building?
5. What was the name of 35-year-old female army veteran who was shot dead during the storming of the Capitol building?
6. Before the storming of the Capitol building, outgoing US President Donald Trump was recorded telling Georgia's election official Brad Raffensperger that 'I just want to find ___ votes'. What is the missing number?
7. Lockdown rules, which could keep England in shutdown until March 31, were passed in Parliament with a huge majority but how many MPs voted against it?
8. The UK gave approval, and pre-ordered 7 million doses, for a third vaccine which is made by which company?
9. The Office for National Statistics revealed that one person in how many in the UK had Covid-19 between December 27 and January 2?
10. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced that international passengers arriving by plane, train or boat, including UK nationals, would have to take a test within how many hours before leaving the country they are in?
11. Clap for Carers returned on Thursday evenings with a slightly different name. What was it?
12. Education Secretary Gavin Williamson announced school closures and added: 'I can confirm that GCSEs and A and AS Level exams will not go ahead this summer. This year we are going to put our trust in teachers rather than ___'. What is the missing word?
13. Which country led the way in the number of Covid-19 vaccinations, with almost a sixth of its 8.7million population immunised in less than three weeks?
14. Under the full lockdown rules which of these businesses are not allowed to stay open? a) Laundrettes b) Manual car washes c) Dry cleaners d) Off-licences?
15. Which travel company announced that, due to Covid-19, it will be suspending its entire service across the UK from Monday until March?
16. Police in Scotland arrested and charged Margaret Ferrier, 60, 'in connection with alleged culpable and reckless conduct'. What is she alleged to have done?
17. Before the Old Firm derby between Celtic and Rangers, wreaths were laid in memory of the Ibrox disaster, 50 years ago, when how many people died?
18. Two boys and a girl, aged 13 and 14, appeared in court charged with murder after a 13-year-old boy was stabbed to death in a park in which UK town?
19. A judge at the Old Bailey ruled that Wikileaks co-founder Julian Assange could not be extradited to the US for which one of these reasons? a) he would not get a fair trial b) there was a chance he would kill himself c) his alleged activities fell within the realm of journalism d) it would breach a ban on extraditing people for 'political offences’?
20. YouTube suspended and then reinstated which broadcast channel, saying it had posted material that contradicted expert advice about the coronavirus pandemic?
21. The EU climate agency said that last year, 2020, was the joint hottest year ever recorded globally. Which year was 2020 tied with?
22. Footballer Colin Bell, who died aged 74, was known to Manchester City fans as the King of what?
23. Billionaire brothers Simon and Bobby Arora awarded themselves a £30million payout after which chain of shops, that they own, reported booming sales at Christmas?
24. Gerry Marsden, who died aged 78, achieved what record, with his band Gerry and the Pacemakers in the 1960s, that has only been equalled once since (by fellow Scousers Frankie Goes to Hollywood)?
25. Love Island’s Zara Holland was fined £4,500 for breaking which country’s Covid-19 rules?

Answers here

Mail looking for trainees

The reporters (above) and subs (below) from the autumn course

In September and October I trained 16 young journalists who were beginning their career at the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and London’s Evening Standard. They included reporters, news subs and sports subs and two were on a Stephen Lawrence scholarship. We were fortunate that we were able to do the training in the Derry Street offices, rather than online. Most of the trainees then went on placement, working for the Mail in Dublin and Glasgow, the Press Association, the Evening Standard, Metro and the i newspaper. Others went straight to the newsroom. There has been impressive work and plenty of bylines. Now the Mail is recruiting for next year’s scheme. If you are committed to becoming a journalist and want to work for Britain's most successful newspaper group, you can apply for the sub's scheme here and the reporter's scheme here. The sports scheme will be advertised later this month. Good luck.

The first newsquiz of 2021

Welcome to this week’s newsquiz, the first of 2021. Let’s hope it’s a year where I am asking more good news than bad news questions. The top solo scorer in last week’s newsquiz was Liz Gerard with 21. The top team score was 22.5 by Maura and Phil Parsons and Simon, Sue and Will Cole. Gavin Devine with Lucy and Flo scored 21.5, the Penmans and Bruce and Sarah Hayward 21, Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe 19.5 and the Roberts Family 19. If you haven’t done the Journalists’ Charity newsquiz of the year yet, why not tackle it here. There are 100 questions to test your knowledge of 2020. Below is this week’s newsquiz. Give it a go and let me know you score. Happy New Year.  

A selection of today's front pages

1. MPs passed the European Union (Future Relationship) Bill with 521 voting for and how many against?

2. Where is to remain part of the UK but will also be in the EU's Schengen zone, allowing free movement in Europe, and will follow other EU rules?

3. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that those who thought the UK could not 'have its cake and eat it' over Brexit had been proved wrong, adding 'I want you to see that this is a ___ treaty’. What is the missing word?

4. Who said he was applying for a French passport adding: 'I will always be a European, that's for sure. One cannot tell the British people - you are not Europeans’?

5. Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced that the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine had been approved for use in the UK with how many doses available from Monday?
6. The British Medical Association said that what was ‘grossly and patently unfair to tens of thousands of our most at-risk patients’?

7. Which county declared a major incident amid fears the number of Covid-19 cases could overwhelm its health services?

8. Why was Jeremy Hunt, chair of the health select committee, given a telling off by the Commons speaker when he virtually joined the Covid-19 debate?

9. The Government delayed the reopening of schools after the Christmas break but said it expected all schools and colleges to have fully reopened by what date in January?

10. Hundreds of British holidaymakers fled their hotels in which ski resort after being told to quarantine following fresh Covid-19 measures?

11. Former Scotland manager Tommy Docherty, who died aged 92, managed 13 football clubs from 1961 to 1988 - winning the League Cup and FA Cup with two different English clubs. Name them?

12. What was unique about these three pubs this week - Fraggle Rock Bar, Turks Head and The Mermaid Inn?

13. According to the Centre for Economic and Business Research, the UK leapfrogged which country to become the world's fifth-largest economy?

14. Tesco, Pizza Hut and Superdrug were among 139 companies named by the Government for failing to do what?

15. A man described by Russian president Vladimir Putin as an 'outstanding professional of special courage and life endurance’ died this week aged 98. What was his name? 

16. Anthony Quinn Warner, 63, killed himself, injured three people and knocked out communications systems when he blew up his camper van in which US City?

17. At least seven people died in a magnitude 6.4 earthquake that struck which European country?

18. He designed collarless jackets for the Beatles, launched lines of perfume, sunglasses, boxer shorts and once said: 'I've done it all. I even have my own water! I'll do perfumes, sardines. Why not? If someone asked me to do toilet paper, I'd do it’? Who was he?

19. Which Premier League football club condemned the online abuse of ex-footballer Karen Carney after it had posted a tweet questioning her comments as a pundit?

20. Gusts of more than 100mph hit the UK after Christmas as a storm called what brought heavy rain and high winds?

21. Which comedian was diagnosed with Covid-19 on Christmas Day, saying it 'flattened' him and his wife Melanie but said he would be 'back on his feet and working in no time’?

22. Who reacted to becoming a dame in the New Year’s Honours by saying: 'I feel I may be lowering the tone. I feel slightly miscast’?

23. Why did yoga instructor and social media influencer Hilaria Baldwin, the wife of Hollywood actor Alec Baldwin, become the subject of online speculation?

24. Who narrated the New Year’s Eve fireworks display in London? 

25. Sophie Ellis-Bextor was the first celebrity to be eliminated from the new series of The Masked Singer. What was she dressed as?

Answers here