Time to tackle the newsquiz

The top solo scorer in last week’s newsquiz was Janet Boyle with 21.5, just ahead of George Mann on 20, Marguerite Turner on 18, Jayme Bryla on 17.5 and Toby Brown on 17. The top team was Bruce and Sarah Hayward with 17.5, ahead of Maura and Phil Parsons on 17 and Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe on 16.5. It was clearly a tougher week with a lot of quiz regulars posting below average scores. 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 Covid inquiry heard that former chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance had written that Boris Johnson was obsessed with older people accepting what? 

2. At the Covid inquiry, who described the Cabinet Office as a 'bomb site' and a 'dumpster fire', with many officials in the wrong job?

3. The Covid inquiry heard that former Health Secretary Matt Hancock told officials that he – rather than the medical profession – 'should ultimately decide what’?

4. What six-word phrase did Palestinian supporters chant in London, was described by Home Secretary Suella Braverman as an 'expression of a violent desire to see Israel erased’ and led to Labour MP Andy McDonald being suspended?

5. Speaking after a Cobra meeting, Home Secretary Suella Braverman said of the London pro-Palestine protests: 'To my mind there is only one way to describe those marches: They are __ marches’? What is the missing word?
6. A mob shouting antisemitic slogans stormed an airport in which Russian republic, hunting for people arriving from Tel Aviv?

7. An activist tossed dozens of what, painted in the colours of the Palestine flag, into a Birmingham McDonald’s?

8. What is the name of the crossing between Gaza and Egypt that opened for the first time in more than three weeks to allow the evacuation of injured Palestinians and foreign passport holders?

9. A video of a window being blown-in was caught on a baby monitor, hailstones 'bigger than golf balls' hit locals and dozens of people were evacuated to hotels when Storm Ciarán brought 104mph winds to which island?

10. How old was Matthew Perry, best known for playing Chandler Bing in Friends, who was found dead in a hot tub at his LA home? 

11. What name was given to the declaration signed by 28 governments, including the UK, US and China, on the first day of the AI safety summit?

12. In a discussion with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, at the end of the AI safety summit, tech billionaire Elon Musk predicted: 'There will come a point where no __ is needed.' What is the missing word?

13. Police investigated the death of ice hockey player Adam Johnson, who died after a 'freak accident', while playing for which team?

14. Transport Secretary Mark Harper announced that plans to do what had been withdrawn because they failed to meet the required standards?

15. Former leadership candidate Ash Regan quit the SNP to become the first ever MSP for which party?

16. The Colombian government said the father of which Premier League footballer had been kidnapped by left-wing rebels?

17. Marks & Spencer apologised after a clip from its Christmas advert was criticised for showing burning paper hats resembling what?

18. Former Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales, who kissed a player following the Women's World Cup final, was banned from all football-related activities for how many years by Fifa?

19. Who withdrew from the 2024 presidential race, saying 'this is not my time’?

20. King Charles acknowledged the 'abhorrent and unjustifiable acts of violence committed against’ the people of which country in their struggle for independence?

21. Yorkshire Cricket Club agreed to sell its ground, Headingley, for £23million to who?

22. In a video posted on X, formerly Twitter, former Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: 'I am excited to say that I am shortly going to be joining you on __ __’ What are the missing words?
23. In the Rugby World Cup, All Blacks captain Sam Cane became the first player to do what?

24. Lionel Messi won the men's Ballon d'Or, for the best footballer in the world for 2022-23, meaning he has collected the award for a record number of times. How many?

25. The Beatles song Now And Then was released with the help of AI and audio tech pioneered by which film director?

Answers here