Have a crack at the newsquiz

The top solo scorers in last week’s newsquiz were Toby Brown and Stuart Bagnall with 20, ahead of Tony Smith on 19, Marguerite Turner 17, Jayme Bryla 16.5 and Robert Rea 16. The top team was the Three Legs drinkers Bryan, Heather, Peter, Stacey, Nicky and Les with an impressive 24. Others on the leaderboard were Maura and Phil Parsons with 21, Bruce and Sarah Hayward on 19 and Team Hindle 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. 

A selection of today's front pages

1. The Conservative Party is investigating claims that a Tory MP did what while sitting next to a female minister in the Commons chamber?
2. An article in the Mail on Sunday claimed a Tory MP suggested deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner had a tactic of emulating which actress to distract Boris Johnson?

3. International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said there were some men at Westminster who felt being elected made them 'God's gift to women' and advised them to do what with their hands?

4. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told MPs that around how many Russian troops had been killed as the invasion of Ukraine entered its ninth week?
5. Why did Ukraine’s President Volodymr Zelenskiy criticise UN Secretary General António Guterres, saying: 'There is no justice and no logic in this order'?
6. What was ruled unlawful by the High Court after two women, Dr Cathy Gardner and Fay Harris, brought a case against Public Health England and former health secretary Matt Hancock?
7. A Government source reportedly said Prime Minister Boris Johnson had threatened to 'privatise the arse' off what, if it could not clear its backlog and deliver better value?
8. Health Secretary Sajid Javid said he planned to tackle what problem by appointing Madelaine McTernan as a tsar?
9. What did Cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg do that DA union boss Dave Penman said was crass, insulting and undermined leadership?
10. Why was Liam Byrne, Labour MP for Birmingham Hodge Hill, suspended from the Commons?
11. Analysis by the Central Office of Public Interest revealed that what percentage of UK addresses breached at least one of the World Health Organisation's limits for toxic pollutants?
12. A bill banning what for under 18s sailed through Parliament and is set to receive Royal Assent to become law?
13. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents cautioned against what Government proposal, warning it would lead to more deaths on the road?
14. Emmanuel Macron’s election victory made him the first French President to win a consecutive term in office since who?
15. Four members of a family were stabbed to death at a house in which London district?
16. A man was charged with the murder of 33-year-old Katie Kenyon who was last seen getting into a Ford Transit in which English town?
17. Seven women accused who of predatory sexual behaviour and touching, claiming he abused his position in the music industry?
18. Which football club became the first former Premier League side to be relegated to non-league football?
19. England confirmed that who would take over from Joe Root as the men’s cricket Test captain?

20. Piers Morgan interviewed former US President Donald Trump on his Uncensored show for which new television channel owned by Rupert Murdoch?
21. Actresses Mia Farrow, Jameela Jamil and wrestler Mick Foley were among celebrities who announced their intention to do what this week?
22. Kane Tanaka, a Japanese woman officially certified as the world's oldest person, has died. How old was she?
23. Who was granted permission to chop down a tree at his £18million west London mansion despite neighbours’ objections?
24. The film Downton: A New Era was released in cinemas today (Friday) with the plot featuring a move from Yorkshire to a villa in which country?
25. Who announced he would be leaving his presenting role after eight years, saying it had been 'the hardest decision I've ever had to make’?

Answers here

Time to tackle the newsquiz

The top solo scorer in last week’s newsquiz was Robert Rea with 21, ahead of Janet Boyle and Stuart Bagnall on 20, Marguerite Turner and Gavin Devine on 19, Toby Brown on 17 and Jayme Bryla on 15. The top team was Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe with 17, just ahead of Bruce and Sarah Hayward with 16. 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 today's front pages

1. Senior Tory backbencher Steve Baker said, during a parliamentary debate on Partygate, that: 'The Prime Minister now should be long gone. The Prime Minister should just know the ___ is up.’ What is the missing word?
2. At Prime Minister’s Questions, Labour leader Keir Starmer asked why Boris Johnson thought it was okay for him to continue in office, after three people had lost their jobs. He named Professor Neil Ferguson as one. Name the other two. Half a point for each.
3. Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis compared the fixed penalty notices received by Prime Minister Boris Johnson to what that had been issued to senior members of governments in the past?
4. Prime Minister Boris Johnson told Tory MPs that the Archbishop of Canterbury was 'less vociferous' in his condemnation of President Vladimir Putin than he was in his attack on what?
5. Who wrote to all secretaries of state calling on them to oversee the 'rapid return' of civil servants to office buildings rather than working from home?
6. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russia wanted to 'literally finish off and destroy’ what region?
7. On a visit to India, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it was 'very hard' to see how Kyiv could negotiate with Russian President Vladimir Putin, asking: 'How can you negotiate with a ___ when it's got your leg in its jaws?’ What is the missing word?
8. Russia test-launched the nuclear-capable Sarmat RS-28, said to be the world’s longest-range intercontinental ballistic missile, which is known by what nickname?
9. Why were Shaun Pinner and Aiden Aslin in the headlines?
10. Who appeared on a video in a khaki T-shirt and grey hoodie, talking to the camera in front of a green screen showing Arthur’s Seat, Cornish beaches, London’s West End and the Lake District which he described as the ‘land of dancing daffodils’?
11. Downing Street and Foreign Office computer systems were suspected to have been infected with what spyware, according to investigative group The Citizen Lab?

12. Liverpool and Manchester United supporters showed their respect for Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez, after the death of their baby son, with a round of applause during what minute of Tuesday’s game at Anfield?
13. In an interview with NBC, Prince Harry said he had dropped in to see the Queen on his way to the Netherlands, adding: 'She's always got such a great sense of humour with me and I'm just making sure she's ___.’ What is the missing word?
14. Health officials are investigating 108 cases of what disease in children in the UK since the start of this year - including eight having transplants as a result?
15. Boxer Amir Khan revealed that what, worth £72,000, was stolen when he and his wife were held up at gunpoint in East London?
16. Which company's shares slumped by 35 per cent after it announced it had lost 200,000 customers so far this year?
17. Who told Men’s Health magazine that he was groomed by a coach when he was about 13?
18. Paul Bussetti, 49, was given a suspended jail sentence by Westminster Magistrates’ Court after admitting posting a 'grossly offensive’ video of what?
19. More than 40 people were arrested after clashes between police and protesters who were angry at plans by a far-right group to burn copies of the Quran in which country?
20. Manchester United appointed Erik ten Hag as their new manager from which European club?
21. Tennis star Serena Williams and F1 driver Lewis Hamilton have agreed to invest in a consortium to buy what?
22. Who was photographed with Bybeck Nightingale and Bybeck Katie?
23. The Co-op announced it was removing use-by dates on what product after research revealed that half of those bought were thrown away unopened, mainly because they were out of date?
24. Who revealed he needed a double hip replacement because of arthritis - but said he would rather use a wheelchair and live with the pain than have the operation?
25. It was announced today (Friday), Earth Day, that a 70ft sculpture made up of 350 what is to be erected outside Buckingham Palace to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee?

Answers here

Try the Good Friday newsquiz

Happy Good Friday to all you newsquizzers. It’s time to settle down with your chocolate eggs (or more traditionally your fish lunch) and test your knowledge of the week’s events. The top solo scorer in last week’s newsquiz was Nell Salvoni with 20, ahead of Janet Boyle on 19, Rachel Muir on 18, Marguerite Turner on 17 and Toby Brown and Will Pickworth on 16. The top team was Maura and Phil Parsons with 20. Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe and Bruce and Sarah Hayward scored 17 and the Three Legs drinkers Heather, Bryan and Jim got 15. 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. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, his wife Carrie and Chancellor Rishi Sunak were each issued with a fixed penalty notice and fined how much by the Met Police for breaking lockdown rules in June 2020?
2. Boris Johnson apologised for breaking lockdown rules but said the gathering in the Cabinet Room to mark his birthday was ‘brief' and lasted less than how many minutes?
3. What is the name of the Tory peer who resigned as justice minister after Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak were given fixed-penalty notices for breaking their own Covid laws?
4. What did Prime Minister Boris Johnson say would 'save countless lives’ but shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper describe as 'unworkable, unethical and extortionate’ and Ian Blackford, SNP’s Westminster leader, say was 'evil'?
5. On a surprise visit to Kyiv, Prime Minister Boris Johnson was presented with what symbol of resistance by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky?
6. The US, EU and UK condemned an attack on what type of building in the Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk in which around 50 people were killed?
7. What is the name of Russia's warship that was sunk in the Black Sea? 
8. Whitehall launched an inquiry to find out who leaked the revelations about Rishi Sunak’s wife’s tax status with the chancellor’s team believing it was a Labour-supporting official known as 'red ___’. What is the missing word?
9. Why did the Conservatives expel Wakefield MP Imran Ahmad Khan from the party?
10. Operation ___, designed to reduce congestion on the M20 by making lorries heading to Dover queue on one side of the motorway, were scaled back. What is the missing word?

11. A 14-year-old boy drowned and his father was rescued after reportedly being abandoned on a diving trip by a drug-taking captain in which country?

12. A Virginia court convicted British-born El Shafee Elsheikh of being part of a hostage-taking gang who beheaded three Americans, two British aid workers and two Japanese men. What was the gang called?
13. Who was found guilty at Southwark Crown Court of four charges under the Insolvency Act after being accused of hiding millions of pounds worth of assets to avoid paying his debts?
14. Why was 62-year-old American Frank James in the headlines?
15. An Old Bailey jury took how many minutes to convict Ali Harbi Ali of the murder of MP Sir David Amess?
16. Nottingham Crown Court was told that a burglar threatened to cut off former England footballer Ashley Cole’s fingers using what during a break-in at his home?
17. More than 340 people were killed as storms caused devastating floods in and around which city?
18. After being ousted by a vote of no confidence, who said: 'I was not dangerous when I was part of the government, but I will be more dangerous now?’

19. French President Emmanuel Macron won the first round of the elections with what per cent lead over Marine Le Pen? a) 3.4 per cent b) 4.6 per cent c) 5.8 per cent d) 7 per cent
20. Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo was advised to buy 14-year-old Everton fan Jake Harding a new what?
21. Actor Will Smith was banned from the Oscars and other Academy events for how many years for slapping comic Chris Rock at this year's ceremony?
22. Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk launched a bid to buy what for more than $43billion, saying he wanted to release its 'extraordinary potential’?
23. Who announced he was standing down, saying: 'It has been the most challenging decision I have had to make in my career but having discussed this with my family and those closest to me; I know the timing is right?’
24. After 20 years as Britain’s leading amateur jockey Sam Waley-Cohen bowed out with a Grand National win on which horse?
25. Who made a surprise visit to the Roost pub in Birmingham where he played pool, led a sing-along and pulled pints?

Answers here

Are we at the heart of all things local?

Can weekly newspapers still be the heart of all things local? I put the question to senior editorial people in the regional Press. Read what they had to say in my article  for InPublishing magazine. 

Rachel and Nell win the newsquiz champagne

Trainees from left: Eleanor Dye, Eirian Prosser, Tom Scotson, Summer Goodkind, Will Pickworth, Nell Salvoni and Rachel Muir with the champagne, Arthur Parashar, Hannah McDonald, Alice Giddings and Brooke Davies

The MailOnline trainees have finished their four weeks in Kensington and are now heading off to their three-month placements at the Irish Daily Mail in Dublin, the Scottish Daily Mail in Glasgow, the Liverpool Echo, the Sunday Post and the Press Association. In their final week they did a Q&A with six of last year's trainees, a session on the Editor’s Code with Peter Wright and talked about the Ukraine coverage with chief foreign reporter Chris Pleasance. Assistant video editor Talya Varga gave them feedback on their pitches and trainee Will Pickworth spent a day on the sportdesk. They also did a live breaking story in real time and drew up a newslist for their placement papers. The trainees also had seven stories published to add to the ten of previous weeks. 

Rachel Muir interviewed the author of a book looking at the case of Valerie Storie who was raped and shot in 1961. Her attacker killed her boyfriend and was one of the last murderers to be executed in Britain. For years Valerie was vilified for sending an ‘innocent’ man to his death until 20 years ago when DNA proved he was the killer. Her remarkable story is here. 

Rachel also looked back at the ill-fated Panda crossing on its 60th anniversary. Read her story here. 

Will Pickworth wrote a good piece on the 40th anniversary of Ken Bates taking over Chelsea and his legacy at the club today.

Arthur Parashar tracked down two dads who are offering advice to new fathers who are finding fatherhood - the sleepless nights, the noise, the mess - a challenge. His story is here.

Summer Goodkind found a story about a man arrested in Russia for holding up a piece of ham. 

Eirian Prosser came across a Russian artist who was recreating the chilling images from Bucha on the streets of Moscow. Read it here. 

Nell Salvoni carried out her own FOI on the number of people who had been spiked by drink and drugs last year. Read her investigation here. 

There are many more stories by the trainees in the pipeline. Last night we enjoyed farewell drinks at the Greyhound. The trainees are a very bright, talented and likeable bunch and I wish them well as they start their careers. Stars of the future. We finished as always with the newsquiz. Nell was this week's winner with 20 points, ahead of Rachel on 18. It means they both finished on the same score over the four weeks and shared the champagne. The top solo scorer in last week's quiz was Rachel with 20, just ahead of Janet Boyle on 19.5, Marguerite Turner on 19 and Arthur on 18 and Stuart Bagnall, Jayme Bryla, Robert Rea, Nell and Tom all on 17. The top team was the Roberts Family with 23, ahead of Phil and Maura Parsons on 19, Sarah and Bruce Hayward and Heather and Bryan on 16  Here is this week's quiz. As usual there are 25 questions about the week. Give it a go and see if you can beat Nell's score.   

1. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held back the tears as he visited which town where he said atrocities had been carried out by Russian troops?
2. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, speaking partly in Russian, urged people living in the country to use what to access independent information about the brutality of Vladimir Putin’s military campaign?
3. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a surprise appearance at the Grammys in Las Vegas, speaking via videolink to introduce which act, who sang a song for the people of Ukraine?
4. Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s wife Akshata Murty was embroiled in a row over her 'non-dom' status and claims that she could have avoided millions of pounds in UK tax on money made from a Bangalore-based IT firm. What is it called?

5. Chancellor Rishi Sunak broke his silence in the row over his wife's tax affairs, by declaring: 'To ___ my wife to get at me is awful.' What is the missing word?

6. What is the name of the Conservative MP for Somerton and Frome who was admitted to a psychiatric hospital after allegations about his behaviour led to the party whip being withdrawn?
7. Karen Smart, managing director of which airport, quit after weeks of chaos in which thousands of passengers missed flights because of queues up to seven hours long?
8. What was the name of the LGBT+ conference, due to take place in London in June, which was cancelled after a boycott over the Government's stance on conversion therapy?
9. At a visit to a hospital in Welwyn Garden City, Prime Minister Boris Johnson when asked about the Government’s position on conversion therapy, said: ‘I don’t think that ___ men should be competing in female sporting events.’ What is the missing word?
10. British lawyer Mehraab Nazir and his nine-year-old son were killed in a landslide while hiking in which national park?
11. According to a Netflix documentary who wrote a dossier on how the Queen should behave and how members of the royal family should not be in competition with each other?
12. The Government unveiled its Energy Security Strategy which set out an ambition to build up to how many nuclear plants to meet a quarter of projected electricity demand by 2050?
13. Why was 52-year-old Can Arslan in the headlines? 
14. What did presenter Kirstie Allsopp say was 'utter twaddle’, Matt Lucas describe as the ‘wrong decision’ and Tory peer Ruth Davidson say was the 'opposite of levelling up’?

15. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence said that people's waist should be what size in order to help stave off serious health problems?

16. Former Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal announced he was suffering from an aggressive form of prostate cancer and would stand down from coaching which country after the World Cup?
17. Which former footballer stepped down from his role as ambassador at his club following reaction to a controversial social media post on the war in Ukraine?

18. Which brand’s sweet products, made in a Belgian factory, were recalled over a link to salmonella cases in the UK?

19. Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, made an application to the United States Patent Office to trademark which word which is the name of her Spotify podcasts?
20. Actress June Brown, who played Dot Cotton in the BBC EastEnders soap for 30 years, died this week at what age?
21. Ed Sheeran reacted to his High Court copyright victory over his song Shape of You by saying on a video: 'Coincidence is bound to happen if 60,000 songs are being released every day on Spotify. That's 22 million songs a year and there's only ___ notes that are available.’ What is the missing number?

22. Tiger Woods marked his recovery from serious injury with what score on his return to the US Masters?

23. Who is 27-year-old actress Nicola Peltz due to marry this weekend in Florida?

24. Which band released new music for the first time in 28 years with a track called Hey Hey Rise Up in support of Ukraine?

25. Which presenter is leaving a daytime TV role after 13 years to focus on a writing career?

Answers here

Fancy working in New York?

Astor Place - the New York home of DailyMail.com

DMGT is looking for British journalists to join DailyMail.com’s expanding operation in the US. It’s a rare opportunity to work on one of America’s biggest websites, breaking exclusives and setting the news agenda. Executive editor Steve Fletcher is looking for talented editors, reporters and specialists to join the New York-based team. It's the chance to live and work in a fantastic city. Get in touch if you think you’ve got what it takes … whether you’re working in London or the regions.  If you know someone who you think could succeed, please share this post. You can contact me on petersandssms@gmail.com.

MailOnline looking for trainees

I have spent the last few weeks running the training scheme for 11 bright young journalists at MailOnline. The company has now decided to introduce another  course, starting in October. 
Trainees will embark on a two-year-long programme that involves intense training, assessment and on-the-job experience.
We are looking for journalists with broad interests who want to work for the world’s biggest English-language newspaper website.
Trainees will need to be prepared to work for a round-the-clock operation. There will be nightshifts, regular weekends and you will be covering national and international news at a fast pace. The successful applicants will probably have a journalism degree or have shown a commitment to journalism by writing for their student newspaper/website and gained work experience in newsrooms.
The course starts with an intensive in-house training month during which trainees are introduced to Mail style and culture before followed by a regional placement before joining the MailOnline newsroom in London. Trainees will be on the best journalism course in the business and paid a competitive salary while they train. Following the two years, there will be an opportunity to apply for a secondment to the New York or Sydney office.
To apply please send a covering letter, your CV and the three best examples of your work to sue.ryan@dailymail.co.uk by Friday April 8. Please put your name and London in the subject. 

Rachel wins newsquiz with 20

The MailOnline trainees finished their third week of training today. During the week they had a day with the Mail’s lawyers and sessions with deputy news editor Neville Wilson, the editor of Daily Mail Australia Barclay Crawford, assistant video editor Talya Varga, deputy sports editor Joe Strange, head of social media Chris Lawrence and Metro.co.uk editor Deborah Arthurs and deputy editor Richard Hartley-Parkinson. The trainees pitched ideas to travel editor Ted Thornhill and Femail’s Steph Linning. The trainees wrote personality profiles and tackled a story from the wire, developing it into Mail style. 
 

Brooke Davies had a busy week. She contributed to the banner story on the death of The Wanted’s Tom Parker on Wednesday. 

She also wrote a Femail story about an extraordinary row between TikTok star and two influencers in America. Read it here.

And then she wrote about a ‘masterpiece’ video showing different carriages of a train heading to Scotland. Read it here.

Will Pickworth got the sports banner on Saturday with a story looking at the budding England stars who were supposed to win the 2022 World Cup for England - and where they ended up. Read it here.

He also had a story published about great Premier League relegation escapes. Maybe there is still hope for Norwich. Read it here.

Alice Giddings found a video online about a couple's encounter with gunmen which was handled by the US office. It is here.
We finished the week as always with the newsquiz … 25 questions about the week’s events. The winning trainee was Rachel Muir with 20, ahead of Arthur Parashar on 18 and Nell Salvoni and Tom Scotson on 17.
In last week’s quiz many regulars failed to make it on to the leaderboard, so it must have been a toughie. Stuart Bagnall equalled trainee Nell’s score of 19, ahead of Marguerite Turner on 17.5, Robert Rea and Tony Smith on 16 and Graham Dudman on 15.
The top team was Bruce and Sarah Hayward with 20, just ahead of Maura and Phil Parsons on 19.5. Every other team scored less than 15. Here is this week's newsquiz. Give it a go and see if you can beat Rachel's score.

1. Who reportedly suffered sore eyes and peeling skin, symptoms of suspected poisoning, after attending peace talks on the Ukraine-Belarus border?
2. Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the West of discriminating against Russian culture and compared the treatment of the country's cultural figures with that of which 'cancelled’ author?
3. US President Joe Biden defended unscripted remarks he made in Poland when he said of Russian President Vladimir Putin:'For God’s sake, this man cannot ___ ___ ___.' What are the three missing words?
4. Which company said it was removing its logo - a white Z on a blue background - from social media because it did not want to be misinterpreted as supporting Russia?
5. The energy price cap rose today (Friday) by what per cent meaning millions of people are likely to see a hefty increase in their energy bills?
6. Energy firms blamed who for their websites crashing with E.On tweeting that he had 'once again created unprecedented demand bringing down Britain’?

7. Health Secretary Sajid Javid said that what would end (today) Friday - a move described as a 'sick joke’ and ‘lousy’ by union leaders?
8. How many fixed penalty notices were issued this week as a result of the Metropolitan Police's inquiry into parties at Number Ten that broke Covid rules?
9. What is the name of the Conservative backbencher who came out as Britain’s first openly transgender MP?
10. The Queen, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Princess Royal all dressed in what colour at Prince Philip’s memorial at Westminster Abbey as a tribute to his livery colour?
11. Actor Will Smith slapped host Chris Rock on stage at the Oscars after the comedian said he couldn’t wait to see Smith’s wife Jada Pinkett Smith in which film role?
12. Who compared his feelings about criticism of his wife to those of film star Will Smith and said: 'At least I didn't get up and slap anybody, which is good.’
13. Failures at which NHS trust meant more than 200 babies may have died and many others were left with life-changing injuries, according to report by senior midwife Donna Ockenden?
14. Whose home in Holland Park, West London, was broken into with thousands of pounds of designer and electric goods being stolen?
15. Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins died in a hotel room in which city?
16. The Wanted’s Tom Parker, who died aged 33, reportedly chose to listen to which song by Oasis in his final moments because he believed the lyrics 'really spoke to his struggle’?
17. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said which P&O ferry had been detained in Dover after inspections to see if it was 'safe to go to sea’?
18. Why did women cyclists threaten to pull out of the National Omnium Championships in Derby?
19. What is the full name of the campaign group which blocked ten oil terminals ... the same group whose members have tied themselves to goalposts at Premier League games?
20. There will be 32 teams in the World Cup in Qatar but there are 40 in today’s (Friday’s) draw as some games are not decided. The countries in the draw but not certain of a place include Scotland, Wales and six other countries. Name any three. Half point for two, full point for three.
21. Lincoln City suspended the playing of which song on match days in response to the war in Ukraine, saying it wanted to 'strike an appropriate balance' between its heritage and being ‘socially aware’?
22. Ed Sheeran sang Thinking Out Loud, Elton John performed Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me, Robbie Williams delivered Angels and Coldplay’s Chris Martin delivered Yellow at what event?
23. Bruce Willis announced he would step away from acting after being diagnosed with what condition which impedes the ability to speak and write?
24. CODA won the best picture award at the Oscars. What does it stand for?
25. What did former England footballer’s son Paul Gascoigne, Regan, win at the weekend?

Answers here