Test your knowledge with the newsquiz

The top solo scorer in last week's newsquiz was Sam Neve with 21, just ahead of Hannah Tomes with a personal best of 20 and Liz Gerard, Janet Boyle and Dominic Hurst who all scored 18. The top team, Simon, Sue and Will Cole, also scored 21. Other good team efforts were submitted by Phil and Maura Parsons with 20, Rob and Nicola Lawrence with 19, Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe 17 and Bruce and Sarah Hayward 16. Here is this week's quiz. 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. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a staggered plan to ease England's lockdown with the third step, when pubs will be allowed to reopen indoors, scheduled for what date?

2. Boris Johnson said a review would be led by Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove into the possibility of introducing what?

3. The UK's coronavirus alert was lowered to what level in all four nations as the risk that the NHS could be overwhelmed receded?
4. Judge Mr Justice Chamberlain ruled that who had 'breached his legal obligation to publish contract award notices within 30 days of the award of contracts'?
5. Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, updating the Commons on school exams, said: 'I can confirm that no ___ will be used for this process. Grades will be awarded on the basis of teachers’ judgment and will only ever be changed by human intervention.' What is the missing word?
6. Who told NHS officials that: 'It is obviously difficult for people if they’ve never had a vaccine … but they ought to think about other people rather than themselves'?
7. Which supermarket announced it was consulting employees over a restructuring which could put about 5,000 jobs at risk?
8. James Corden interviewed Prince Harry on an open-top bus in Los Angeles and went for a stroll around a mansion where what television series was filmed?
9. Who said he had 'documentary evidence' of a 'malicious and concerted' attempt to remove him from public life?
10. The Joe Biden administration carried out its first military action with an airstrike, reportedly killing 17 fighters, in which country?
11. In an unanimous ruling, the Supreme Court said the Government had not breached whose rights by refusing to allow her back in the country?
12. Which former Scotland, Manchester United and Leeds footballer was diagnosed with vascular dementia?
13. Golfer Tiger Woods had surgery for fractures of his right leg after a car crash in which American city?
14. Which 72-year-old actor was charged with rape and sexual assault, allegedly committed in 2018 against an actress in her 20s?
15. Which broadcaster had a police panic button installed by his bed after receiving death threats?

16. The Earl of Strathmore, the Queen's first cousin twice removed, was jailed for ten months for what offence?
17. What breed of dogs were stolen after a gunman shot Lady Gaga's dog-walker in Hollywood?
18. Boeing recommended grounding some 777 aircraft after a plane’s engine failed and dropped pieces of metal on houses in which US city?
19. Which tennis player won his ninth Australian Open title?
20. Princess Eugenie and husband Jack Brooksbank gave their newborn son what first name, apparently after Queen Victoria’s husband?
21. The actor, who played the Archbishop of Canterbury in The Crown, Neville Chamberlain in the Darkest Hour and Norman Cousins in the Marigold Hotel films, died this week aged 80. What was his name?
22. Hasbro announced it was changing the name of which 70-year-old toy because it needed to 'promote gender equality and inclusion'?
23. India completed the quickest Test win since 1935 by bowling England out for what second innings score?
24. Which French band, responsible for influential dance tracks including the worldwide hit Get Lucky, announced they were splitting up after 28 years?
25. Why did Baarack, an Australian sheep, go viral?

Answers here

Time to tackle the newsquiz

Last week’s newsquiz was clearly a little trickier for some, with quite a few scores coming in below average. There were still the usual top performances though. Liz Gerard was pick of the bunch with 23, followed by Toby Brown on 20.5, Gavin Devine on 18.5 and Jayme Bryla and Ed Mortimer who both scored 17. The top team was Rob and Nicola Lawrence with 21.5, just ahead of the Roberts Family with 21, Maureen and Phil Parsons 18 and Bruce and Sarah Hayward 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 your score.

A selection of today's front pages

1. How many more people are to be added to the shielding list in England after a new algorithm found them to be at potential serious risk from Covid-19?
2. Four people, who arrived at which airport on Monday, were fined £10,000 for failing to declare they had travelled to the UK from a 'red list' country?
3. How much are volunteers to be paid for taking part in a scientific trial and exposing themselves to the virus which causes Covid-19?
4. Which bank announced its annual profit fell by a third after setting aside £4.8billion to cover bad loans and finding itself in the 'eye of the pandemic’?
5. According to the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service record numbers of people, up by 32 per cent, applied to study what during the pandemic?
6. The mayor of which town resigned and was fined £200 after breaching Covid restrictions by visiting a house to celebrate a wedding?
7. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer outlined proposals for a British ___ Bond scheme as the centrepiece of his alternative plan ahead of next month's Budget. What is the missing word?
8. Who said she would 'give up my vaccine in a heartbeat, if I could, for my sister and any of the residents in her house to have their vaccine’?
9. The Duke of Edinburgh was taken to which London hospital as a precaution because he was feeling unwell? 
10. How many Republican senators broke ranks and voted to convict former president Donald Trump at his impeachment trial?
11. The United Nations said it is to raise the detention of who with the United Arab Emirates?
12. The UK’s Supreme Court ruled that which company must classify its drivers as workers rather than self-employed, meaning they are entitled to minimum wage and holiday pay?
13. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said his government will not be intimidated by which company whose actions he described as arrogant and disappointing?
14. A black and white photograph by Misan Harriman was used by media all over the world. What did it show?
15. Why was football referee Darren Drysdale in the headlines?
16. Liverpool Echo journalist Liam Thorp, 32, was offered a Covid-19 vaccine early because his surgery recorded him as being how tall - meaning his BMI was 1,000 times higher than average?
17. The retailer Iceland sacked its PR chief after he described what as ‘incomprehensible’ and ‘gibberish’?
18. What is the name of Nasa's six-wheeled rover that landed on Mars to spend two years looking for evidence of past life?
19. Why did the Royal Mail suspend 51-year-old postman Thomas McCafferty in Falkirk?

20. Kyril Louis-Dreyfus became the youngest chairman in English football after his takeover of Sunderland was approved. How old is he?

21. Plans for statues of Anne Bonny and Mary Read, to be erected at Burgh Island in Devon, were rejected by Bigbury Parish Council. How were the two women famous?
22. A Banksy artwork of a girl doing what was removed from the side of a building in Nottingham and sold to a collector?
23. Who asked for plans to erect a statue of her to be put on hold, saying: 'Given all that is going on in the world, I don't think putting me on a pedestal is appropriate at this time’?
24. Who was the last contestant standing in the Masked Singer?
25. Former presenter of the Weakest Link, Anne Robinson, was announced as the new host of what TV show?

Answers here

Time to tackle the newsquiz

The top solo scorer in last week’s newsquiz was Gavin Devine with 20, followed by Toby Brown 19, Janet Boyle 18.5, Liz Gerard 18, Dominic Hurst 17.5 and Jaymes Bryla 16. The top team was Simon, Sue and Will Cole with 23. The Roberts Family scored 21, Maura and Phil Parsons 20.5, Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe 20 and Bruce and Sarah Hayward 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. Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced that travellers having to stay in quarantine hotels in England will be charged how much?

2. What did Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer describe as an 'empty threat’, former Attorney-General Dominic Grieve say was 'disproportionate’ and ex-Supreme Court judge Lord Sumption say showed a lost 'connection with reality’?

3. Public Health England said there was a 'high degree of confidence' that vaccines would work against two new variants of Covid found in which UK cities? Half a point for each.

4. Office for National Statistics data released this week showed that nearly six out of every ten people who died with coronavirus, 30,296 of 50,888, in England last year were what?

5. The vaccination of a 76-year-old man caused an angry reaction including from West Yorkshire's police chairman, who said it was 'a kick in the teeth’, and TV personality Nicola McLean who said 'I'd give him a lethal injection’ instead. Who were they referring to?

6. The Office for National Statistics announced that the UK economy shrank by a record amount last year as coronavirus restrictions hit output. By what per cent did it fall?

7. Jamie Raskin, the lead manager in the US impeachment trial, said: 'Donald Trump surrendered his role as commander-in-chief and became the ___ in-chief.' What is the missing word?

8. Peter Cowgill, executive chairman of which sports retailer, said red tape in shipping goods to Europe after Brexit was costing 'double-digit millions’ and it will probably move 1,000 UK-based jobs to the continent?

9. Butcher Pawel Relowicz, who prowled the streets looking for victims in which city, was found guilty of murdering and raping student Libby Squire?

10. The Met Office said what temperature, in Braemar in Scotland on Wednesday night, was the coldest recorded in the UK since 1995?

11. Which Canadian actor, who won an Oscar for best supporting actor in 2012 for the film Beginners, died aged 91 after falling and hitting his head?

12. Who became the first Arab nation to put a spaceship, called Hope, in orbit around Mars?

13. A High Court judge granted a summary judgment in favour of the Duchess of Sussex over which newspaper’s publication of extracts of a letter to her father?

14. The news that which company had bought $1.5billion (£1.1billion) Bitcoins caused the price of the cryptocurrency to jump 17 per cent to a record high?

15. A legal fight headed back to a Los Angeles court yesterday, days after a New York Times-produced documentary called Framing ___ ___ questioned a previous judgment. What is the missing name?

16. Tom Brady, known as the NFL GOAT, won his seventh Super Bowl when Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. What does GOAT stand for?

17. Which media outlet was banned by China, who claimed it was not 'truthful and fair’ and had harmed Chinese interests and undermined national unity?

18. Which former world heavyweight champion, who beat Muhammad Ali in his eighth professional fight, died aged 67?

19. Mary Wilson, who died aged 76, was a founding member of The Supremes who had 12 Number Ones in the US but only one in Britain. Name it.

20. What was accidentally leaked when Downing Street shared pictures of Dilyn the dog on Flickr? 

21. A study by Zhejiang University in China suggested that eating what every day increased the risk of dying by 14 per cent?

22. Princess Eugenie's baby son, born on Tuesday, is 11th in line to the throne, nudging which royal down to 12?

23. Scotland’s rugby team beat England at Twickenham for the first time since what year? (Clue: Michael Jackson was at No 1 with Billie Jean, CDs went on sale for the first time and a call for a miners' strike was rejected by NUM members).

24. Texas lawyer Rod Ponton went viral after telling a judge during a Zoom meeting 'I'm here live, I'm not a ___.’ What is the missing word?

25. Samira Ahmed, Richard Osman and Naga Munchetty were listed by bookmakers as the favourites to take over which role?

Answers here

Regional newspapers in 2021

I was asked to write a piece on the opportunities and threats facing the regional Press in 2021 for InPublishing's Partners Guide. The threats bit was easy. The opportunities were harder to find ... but they are still there. Don't write-off regional papers yet. There may be challenges and a need for radical change but there is life in the old Posts, Mercurys, Mails and Chronicles yet. You can read it here. 

Newsquiz records tumbling

The newsquiz records keep tumbling. After several record-equalling scores of 24 being posted in the last few weeks, the Roberts Family were delighted with 24.5 in last week’s quiz. Rob Lawrence and Nicola Midge were narrowly behind with 24. Well done. Either everyone is news-obsessed during lockdown or the quiz is getting easier. Other good team scorers were Maura and Phil Parsons and Simon, Sue and Will Cole with 22, Bruce and Sarah Hayward with 20, Peter and Stacey on 18.5 and Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe 17.5. The best solo score was by Toby Brown with a PB-equalling 22. Dominic Hurst scored 21.5, Liz Gerard 20, Janet Boyle 19.5, Ed Mortimer 18.5 and Gavin Devine 18. 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. 

Captain Sir Tom dominates Wednesday's front pages

1. The country paid tribute to Captain Sir Tom Moore who died aged 100 in which hospital?
2. Captain Sir Tom Moore, who died this week, has two entries in the Guinness Book of Records … what are they? Half a point for each.
3. At Wednesday's Downing Street Press briefing, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: 'We have today passed the milestone of ___ vaccinations in the United Kingdom.' What is the missing figure?

4. The Government said that UK residents returning from coronavirus hotspots abroad will have to quarantine in hotels from what date?

5. Chief executive Rob Paterson said the Government had announced a hotel quarantine programme but hadn’t planned it or spoken to the people involved, adding: 'I'm not sure I'd have a job if I did that in my company.' What is Paterson’s company?

6. The EU said that triggering Article ___ of the Northern Ireland Protocol, to block Covid vaccine exports, was an 'accident'. What is the missing number?

7. Which part of the UK saw bars, pubs, shops, restaurants, schools and businesses open their doors, with people no longer asked to stay at home or wear masks?

8. Health Secretary Matt Hancock revealed that which Hollywood film, starring Matt Damon, partly shaped his strategy of placing huge orders with vaccine makers as early as possible?

9. Which company was told to remove 'irresponsible' adverts depicting misleading claims about coronavirus vaccinations after the Advertising Standards Authority received 2,370 complaints - the third highest ever for a commercial? 

10. The mother of a 15-year-old boy, who called chief medical officer Chris Whitty a liar in the street, said she had punished her son by confiscating what?

11. The Office for National Statistics revealed that there were 5,460 deaths caused by what in England and Wales during the first nine months of 2020 - up by 16 per cent?

12. A hospital in which Scottish town was locked down by armed police after three people were killed?

13. Myanmar's military leaders overthrew the democratic government and then said access to what would be blocked until February 7 for 'the sake of stability'

14. The use of the Union flag and dressing smartly at the war memorial were among recommendations made by an agency for the rebranding of which organisation?

15. Which company became the new owner of Topshop, Topman and Miss Selfridge after a £330million deal?

16. Prince William took to Twitter to say that what was 'despicable and it must stop now'?

17. Andy Jassy is to take on the role as chief executive of which company?

18. Victoria's minister for sport announced that up to how many fans a day will be allowed to attend the Australian Open (tennis) which is due to start on Monday?

19. Why was 19-year-old Callum Woodhouse in trouble with Herefordshire Council?

20. Who was dropped by his record label following claims by actress Evan Rachel Wood that she was 'horrifically abused' by him?

21. Manchester United equalled the Premier League scoring record by beating which team 9-0?

22. Dr Alex George, who appeared on Love Island, was appointed to which role by Prime Minister Boris Johnson?

23. Which 94-year-old singer revealed he had been living with Alzheimer's disease for the last four years?

24. What is the name of the comedian and presenter who is replacing Rufus Hound, who withdrew after testing positive for coronavirus, on Dancing On Ice?

25. A Zoom recording of which parish council's planning and environment committee meeting went viral, becoming one of YouTube most-viewed videos?

Answers here