Time to tackle the newsquiz

The top solo scorer in last week’s newsquiz was Robert Rea with 21.5, ahead of Liz Gerard and Jayme Bryla on 20, Marguerite Turner on 19, Toby Brown on 18, Gavin Devine and Hannah Tomes who both scored 17 and Nick Turner 16.5. The top team was Marc Beyeler’s with 22. Simon, Sue and Will Cole scored 20.5, the Roberts family and Maura and Phil Parsons both scored 20, Bruce and Sarah Hayward 19, Team Swindle 18.5 and Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe 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. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday that the 'overwhelming majority' of eligible people had been evacuated from Afghanistan by the UK with 'around' how many flown out of Kabul?
2. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told MPs that, because of the threat to Kabul airport, Afghans fleeing to Britain might be better off doing what?
3. Who said the decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan was 'tragic, dangerous, unnecessary’ and was made 'in obedience to an imbecilic political slogan about ending the forever wars’?
4. US President Joe Biden told those behind the Kabul airport attacks: 'We will not ___. We will not ___. We will hunt you down and make you pay.’ What are the two missing words? Half a point for each.
5. Terror group ISK claimed it was behind the twin blasts at Kabul airport that killed 90 people and injured more than 150. What does ISK stand for?
6. What is the name of the animal charity boss who was stuck in Afghanistan with 200 dogs and cats whose said his 'mission to get them and his 25 staff and their families out of the country' had been unsuccessful?
7. Who was Great Britain’s first gold medal winner at the Paralympics taking her overall gold medal total to 15?
8. Which two athletes carried the Tokyo Paralympics GB flag at the opening ceremony? Half a point for each.
9. Why were Tesco, Sainsbury's and Waitrose supermarkets closed and cordoned off in Fulham this week?
10. What is the name of the Manchester City footballer who was charged with four counts of rape and one of sexual assault and remanded in custody?
11. Thailand and which other country went on the UK’s red list this week, meaning returning travellers must quarantine in hotels for 11 nights?
12. NHS organisations in England were told to prepare for a possible extension of the Covid vaccination programme to which age range?
13. BBC radio presenter Lisa Shaw died due to complications from what, according to a coroner in Newcastle.
14. Who did Elton John describe as ’the most stylish of men’, Joan Baez say was ‘a prince among thieves’ and Queen guitarist Brian May say 'was the nicest gent you could ever meet’?
15. McDonald's stopped serving what after becoming the latest victim of a nationwide shortage of delivery drivers?
16. What was the colour of the 13-foot table erected by Extinction Rebellion protesters near Leicester Square in London as part of a demo to demand that the Government stops using fossil fuels?
17. A man announced he was suing Nirvana for sexual exploitation because he was photographed as a naked baby in a swimming pool on which album cover?
18. Former England cricketer Ian Botham was appointed UK Government trade envoy to which country?
19. Research by UK scientists said light pollution could be contributing to worrying declines in which insects, reducing their numbers by half?
20. A Ligue 1 football match between which two French sides was abandoned after the brawl between fans and players? Half a point for each.
21. Which musician, who had worldwide hits in the late 1950s and early 1960s including Bye Bye Love and All I Have to Do Is Dream with his brother, died this week aged 84?
22. Model Jessica Leidolph was mauled by what during a photoshoot that went wrong at a retirement home for show animals in eastern Germany?
23. Former England cricket captain Ted Dexter, who died this week aged 86, was skipper of which club until his retirement in 1965?
24. Stormzy, Liam Gallagher and Biffy Clyro are among the headliners at which event this weekend?
25. In an interview who said they were the ‘real-life Gavin and Stacey'?

Answers here

Time to tackle the newsquiz

The top solo scorer in last week's newsquiz was Jayme Bryla with an impressive 22. Other high scores were by Graham Dudman who scored 20 and Marguerite Turner on 19. The top teams were Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe and Gavin and Lucy Devine both with 20, ahead of Maura and Phil Parsons on 19 and Bruce and Sarah Hayward on 18. Here is this week's quiz. As usual there are 25 questions about the week. Give it a go and let me know your score.

A selection of today's front pages

1. The Government announced that Britain will accept how many refugees over five years from Afghanistan?
2. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab was accused of failing to provide protection for the families of interpreters in Afghanistan after he was unable to make a phone call while on holiday on which island?
3. In a Camp David speech, defending America’s position on Afghanistan, President Joe Biden said the 'mission in Afghanistan was never supposed to have been nation building’ but should be ’narrowly focused’ on what?
4. Which of these social media platforms refused to ban the Taliban, saying it will monitor content to ensure there aren't messages 'glorifying violence’? a) Facebook (including WhatsApp and Instagram) b) TikTok c) Twitter d) YouTube
5. What is the name of the Afghanistan president would fled the country after the Taliban swept into Kabul?
6. Taliban's political leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar arrived back into Afghanistan this week from which country, where he had been in exile?
7. How was 19-year-old Afghan footballer Zaki Anwari killed?
8. Police are investigating Plymouth gunman Jake Davison’s links with which misogynistic movement?
9. What competition in Plymouth, which started this week, was dedicated to the five people who were killed by a gunman, with heats being preceded by a one-minute silence?
10. Chancellor Rishi Sunak was reported to be preparing to break a manifesto pledge that promised to increase what in line with whatever was the highest of wage growth, inflation or 2.5 per cent?
11. The UK inflation rate fell to what per cent in the year to July which, according to the Office for National Statistics, was driven by falls in clothing and footwear prices?
12. Which country went into a level-4 lockdown, the highest restrictions, on Tuesday and will remain in lockdown until midnight next Tuesday, as the coronavirus outbreak grew to 31 people?
13. Which country's Grand Prix was cancelled by the government because of 'ongoing complexities' caused by Covid-19?
14. Nearly 2,000 people died and more than 10,000 were injured when a 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck which country?
15. Which American musician is being sued by a woman who says he sexually abused her in 1965 when she was 12 at an apartment in New York's Chelsea Hotel?
16. Former Gurkha soldier Dhan Gurung was taken to hospital after suffering a heart attack while taking part in what?
17. Aspirin is to be trialled in a research project, led by Dr Anne Armstrong from the Christie NHS foundation trust, as part of treatment for an aggressive form of what type of cancer?
18. Austin Mitchell, who died aged 86, was the Labour MP for which constituency for 37 years? Full name needed for one point.
19. How old was comedian Sean Lock, team captain on the series 8 Out of 10 Cats, when he died this week?
20. Which company confirmed that 45 of its 450 restaurants were closed because of a shortage of chicken?
21. Who issued a statement which said: 'I recognise how my brain is deteriorating and how my memory evades me when I don't want it to and how this causes me distress in situations that are beyond my control’?
22. Which online platform announced it would block sexually explicit photos and videos from October 1 following pressure from its banking partners?
23. In a Unicef speech who claimed that Britain was guilty of 'creative carbon accounting' and said it was a 'lie that the UK is a climate leader'?

24. London's Globe Theatre gave audience members warnings about 'upsetting' themes and provided a number for the Samaritans during which show?
25. Hollywood actress Nicole Kidman came under fire for reportedly circumventing strict quarantine rules after touching down where?

Answers here

It's newsquiz time ...

The top solo scorer in last week’s newsquiz was Janet Boyle with 22. Others on the leaderboard were Robert Rea with 20, Toby Brown and Carson Black 17, Dominic Hurst 16, Jayme Bryla 15.5 and Tony Smith 15. The top team was the Roberts Family with 21, ahead of Phil and Maura Parsons on 20, Simon, Sue and Will Cole and Cormac Connelly-Smith’s team who both scored 19. Les, Nicky, Giles, Ella, Andrew and Linda scored 16 over drinks in a bar in La Romieu in France. 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. What was the name of the 23-year-old gunman who shot dead five people before killing himself in Plymouth?
2. Chancellor Rishi Sunak dismissed reports of infighting between him and Prime Minister Boris Johnson, saying 'We are actually in ___ on making sure we secure our recovery’. What is the missing word?
3. The UK economy grew by what per cent between April and June as most businesses emerged from lockdown, according to the Office for National Statistics?
4. Team GB finished fourth in the Olympics table with how many medals in total?
5. Who became the greatest British Olympian of all time when he won his seventh gold medal, overtaking Sir Chris Hoy’s tally of six.
6. What is the name of Team GB sprinter who was suspended for an anti-doping violation after winning a silver medal in the 4x100m relay at the Olympics?
7. A-level pupils scored record results with almost what per cent receiving A* or A grades under teacher assessment?
8. What is the name of US woman who filed a civil case in New York claiming Prince Andrew abused her?
9. Documents obtained by BBC's Panorama said that former Prime Minister David Cameron made how much money from Greensill Capital before the finance company collapsed?
10. A British embassy security guard, David Smith, was arrested in which city on suspicion of spying for Russia?
11. What did Defence Secretary Ben Wallace describe as a 'mistake’ and warned 'the international community will probably pay the consequences’?

12. A scientific report warning of increasingly extreme heatwaves, droughts and flooding was described as 'a ___ ___ for humanity’ by UN Secretary General António Guterres. What are the two missing words?
13. Which island claimed to have registered the hottest temperature ever recorded in Europe, 48.8C (119.8F), this week?

14. A woman died and three people were injured after a crash involving two buses at which London railway station?
15. US officials said that the Taliban had captured Afghanistan’s second biggest city … what is its name?
16. A 35-year-old woman was charged with two counts of causing death by dangerous driving after a brother and sister were killed in a car crash on which UK motorway?
17. Lionel Messi left Barcelona, where he had been since he was 13, and joined which football club on a two-year contract?
18. She found fame in Cliff Richard's 1963 film Summer Holiday, became a household name in Till Death Us Do Part and was still working in her 80s as Sherlock's landlady Mrs Hudson in the BBC TV series. Who is she?
19. A demonstration marched from Defra's headquarters to Number 10 Downing Street and more than 100,000 people signed a petition calling on Prime Minister Boris Johnson to halt what?
20. Which chart-topping rapper was remanded in custody after admitting at Harrow Crown Court to being part of a plot to import 28kg of cannabis into the UK from Spain and Poland?
21. The Premier League season kicks off today (Friday) with a match between a team that has never been out of the top flight in more than 100 years and one that is appearing there for the first time in 74 years. Name both clubs. Half a point for each.
22. Amazon's TV and film business announced it was moving production of which forthcoming multi-million dollar TV series to the UK from New Zealand?
23. According to a report by NatureScot, the population of which animal has doubled in Scotland since 2017 and now stands at 1,000?
24. Who did Anne-Marie Corbett marry at a church in Heckfield in Hampshire?
25. How did Heather Minshull gain revenge on the noisy revellers in the caravan next to her at a site in Wales?

Answers here

Time to tackle the newsquiz

The top solo scorer in last week’s newsquiz was Toby Brown with 21, just ahead of Graham Dudman on 20.5. Rob Lawrence scored 18.5, Jayme Bryla 18, Dominic Hurst 17.5, Gavin Devine, Tony Smith and Marguerite Turner all scored 17 and Ed Mortimer 16. The top team was Simon, Sue and Will Cole with 23, ahead of Maura and Phil Parsons on 22, Bruce and Sarah Hayward 20.5, Team Swindle 19 and Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe 18. Here is this week’s newsquiz. As usual there are 25 questions about the week. Give it a go and let me know your score. 

A selection of today's front pages

1. The Government announced on Wednesday that seven European countries were moving to the green list for travel. Germany and Austria were two but name any three of the others. Half a point for two, full point for three.
2. Chancellor Rishi Sunakh said that young people would see their careers benefit by doing what?
3. Prime Minister Boris Johnson claimed that Margaret Thatcher had given Britain 'a big early start' in the fight against climate change by doing what?
4. Sky Brown, 13, who became Britain’s youngest Olympic medal winner, when she collected a bronze in skateboarding, turned down the chance to compete for which other country?
5. Holly Bradshaw won a bronze to become the first-ever British Olympic medalist in which event?
6. Sprinter Krystina Timanovskaya, who refused orders to fly home to Belarus early from the Olympics, was given a humanitarian visa in which country?
7. Who became the first British female Olympian to win gold at three consecutive Games? 

8. What was Olympic gold medalist Tom Daley filmed doing at the poolside while watching the women's springboard final?
9. Carrie Johnson announced she was expecting her second child with husband Boris in a post on Instagram, where she said the pair were 'hoping for our ___ baby this Christmas'. What is the missing word?
10. The Government defended which minister, who reportedly visited more than 30 countries without quarantining on his return, saying all his meetings were 'crucial'?
11. Under new rules in the European Travel Information and Authorisation System, British citizens will be required to pay how many euros to enter the Schengen Area from next year?
12. Helen Macdonald, 50, vowed to 'take a bullet' for Geronimo after the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs ordered him to be put down after he tested positive for tuberculosis. What animal is Geronimo?

The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has ordered Geronimo the alpaca be put down after he twice tested positive for bovine tuberculosis.

However, owner Helen Macdonald, 50, has refused to let her furry friend die, despite losing her last ditch effort at the High Court last week.

The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has ordered Geronimo the alpaca be put down after he twice tested positive for bovine tuberculosis.

13. Education Secretary Gavin Williamson announced that which subject is to be taught at state schools across England in an effort to counter its ‘elitist’ reputation?
14. Former House of Lords member Digby Jones criticised presenter Alex Scott for spoiling 'a good presentational job on the BBC Olympics Team with her very noticeable inability' to do what?
15. Step-father John Cole appeared in court charged the murder of his five-year-old stepson who was found dead in which Welsh river?
16. Apple unveiled plans to scan its iPhones in the US for what?

17. The teenage son of former Germany and Chelsea footballer Michael Ballack died after being crushed by a quad-bike near the family's holiday home in which country?
18. What was the name of the ship that was seized in a failed hijack in the Gulf of Oman?
19. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates said this week he made 'a huge mistake' in doing what?
20. Who is to take an indefinite break from all cricket with immediate effect to prioritise his mental wellbeing and rest his left index finger?
21. The co-creator of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab, Prof Sarah Gilbert, said she initially found what gesture to be 'very strange' but hoped it would inspire young girls to work in science?
22. What was Prince Harry spotted doing in the background of Meghan Markle’s 40th birthday video?
23. Forbes magazine said who, with an estimated fortune of $1.7billion (£1.2billion), was the world’s richest female musician?

24. Great British Bake-Off winner John Waite said he was 'so excited on so many levels' to be part of the first ever what?
25. Sarah Ferguson made her debut as a Mills & Boon novelist this week. What is the name of her book?

Answers here