This week's news quiz: Ollie's 19 to beat

The Daily Mail trainees have just finished their third week at PA's training centre in Howden. They spent time with the managing director of PA Images, Martin Stephens, trainer Mike Watson, media law specialist David Banks and the Mail Plus trainees had InDesign and Photoshop training with Mike Brough. Some also submitted stories for Mail Online and Khaleda Rahman gained a byline for a story she picked up about Legoland cancelling a Muslim party after threats. You can read it here. As usual we finished with the news quiz. Well done to Ollie Gillman who scored a very high 19, narrowly beating Khaleda and Jack Crone on 18. There are a possible 24 points. See if you can do any better.

Nicolas Anelka: See question 10.

1. Police issued footage of the moment Andrew Young was killed by a single punch in a row over cycling on the pavement. In which town did this take place?
2. What was the name of the Irishman, accused of the Hyde Park bombings, whose case collapsed because of a deal during the Northern Ireland agreement?
First bonus, what year were the Hyde Park bombings? 
Second bonus, who is Northern Ireland’s First Minister, who threatened to resign over the IRA amnesty letters?
3. Rebecca Ferguson fainted while appearing live on which television programme? 
4. One Direction member Louis Tomlinson turned out for which football team?
5. Who publicly used the cliches ‘not a piece of cake,’ ‘where there’s a will, there’s a way’ and ‘caught between the devil and the deep blue sea’ this week?
6. Which financial company has threatened to quit Scotland if it becomes independent?
7. What has the Law Commission recommended should become legally binding in court?
8. Patricia Hewitt said the National Council for Civil Liberties was ‘naive and wrong’  over its links with PIE. What was the last cabinet position she held?
Bonus, what is the name of the police operation now investigating PIE?
9. CNN have cancelled a show hosted by an ex-Daily Mirror editor. Name the show.
10. West Bromich Albion footballer Nicolas Anelka has received a five-game ban for using what type of gesture?
11. Why was Francesco Schettino in the headlines?
12. Where was former Guantanamo Bay detainee Moazzam Begg arrested this week?
13. What was the name of the tax-avoidance scheme that former BBC Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyes allegedly used to avoid up to £1m in tax?
14. Former Australian cricketer Shane Warne is said to have had a tryst with a bra tycoon. Name her. 
15. What are Simon Cowell's Yorkshire terrier pups called? (half point for each).
16. JBS Family Butchers' window display has made the headlines. In which town is it? 
17. Gavin Grant stepped down as chief executive of which organisation?
18. Why have detectives investigating Oscar Pistorius flown to America?
Bonus, the trial of Pistorius begins next week. In which city will it be held?
19. America’s vice president telephoned the Ukraine’s new prime minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk to say the US welcomed the formation of his government. Who is America’s vice president?
20. Who claimed to have turned down a £1m 'indecent proposal' from an Arab prince?

 Answers here. 

This week's news quiz: Chris's 18 to beat

The Mail trainees have had a testing second week in Howden. They were trained in shooting and editing video with Mark Batty, writing features with Fiona Webster and interviewing with the head of PA Training, Tony Johnston. The sports trainees had sessions with the Mail's deputy sports editor Alex Kay, MailOnline consultant sports editor Mark Alford and PA sports editor Ashley Broadley. They also covered live Europa League football at the PA operations centre. As always we rounded off the week with the news quiz. Congratulations (and a scratchcard) to Chris Waugh who scored a highly impressive 18 out of 23, just pipping Khaleda Rahman and Kieran Gill with 17. The scores were much better this week - so hopefully all will be getting 100 per cent by the end of the course. See if you can do any better than Chris's 18.

Actor Clive Mantle - question 7.
Picture courtesy of PA

1. Former policeman Eric Devouassoux was arrested in the investigation into the murder of the Al Hilli family. Near which French lake did the murders take place?
2. The High Court rejected an appeal by David Miranda that he was unlawfully held at Heathrow airport for 9 hours. Which newspaper was he working for at the time?
3. Kiev has been under siege. In which square did the main protests take place?
Bonus Why was opposition leader Vitali Klitschko famous before he became a politician?
4. Name either of the two train companies jointly voted the worst for passenger satisfaction.
5. According to the Daily Mail, police have opened an investigation into an organisation that existed in the 1970s called PIE. What did PIE stand for? 
6. Who won the British Breakthrough Act at the Brits?
Bonus Who collected David Bowie’s award for British Male wearing an outfit  originally worn on a Ziggy Stardust show in 1972?
7. Former Casualty actor Clive Mantle had part of his ear bitten off while staying at a Travelodge hotel in which city?
8. Why was Wojciech Szczesny in the sports headlines?
9. Simon Cowell became father to a baby boy … who is the baby named after?
Bonus Who is the baby’s mother?
10. Vet Scott Miller said that no dog, whatever their breed, is ever safe to be left with a child. How do you spell the word that ‘vet’ is short for?
11. Pensioner James Swinstead died on a cruise ship when storms hit the English Channel. Name the cruise ship.
12. The Justice Secretary said the decision by British judges that life sentences were not unlawful was 'timely and welcome’. Who is the Justice Secretary?   
13. Inflation fell to its lowest level in four years last month. According to the National Office for Statistics what is the current rate of inflation?
14. The British curling men’s team won a silver medal in Sochi. Who is the team’s skip?
15. The singer Prince played two back-to-back concerts at which London venue?
16. Prince Charles took part in a sword dance to celebrate the Janadriyah Festival. In which city?
17. What did Facebook buy for £11.4 billion?
18. A High Court judge rejected an £85million damages claim against which chief executive?  
19. What won the best film at this year’s Baftas?
20. Who did former PM Tony Blair tell to ’tough up' and 'take sleeping pills'?


Answers here.

Tom wins Champagne in final news quiz

Saying farewell to Howden. Mail trainees (left to right): Steph Linning, Rachael Day, Tom Leece, Samantha Sharman, Jenny Ryan (speaker), Lizzie Palmer, Lottie Young (speaker), Matt Lambert, Holly Stevenson and Emma Craig

The Daily Mail subbing trainees finish their four-week training stint at the Manor in Howden today and are heading off to their placements. They are going to Mail Plus, the Scottish Daily Mail, the Evening Standard, the Manchester Evening News, the Hull Daily Mail and the Western Morning News. We had an intensive final week with visits by Sue Ryan, Mike Watson, Andy Gregory from Mail Plus and senior subs Jenny Ryan and Lottie Young. It was great to see Lottie, who was a trainee on the course only two years ago, back in Howden in a senior capacity. 

Daily Telegraph trainees (from left) Mehreen Khan, Raz Akkoc, Darshan Sanghrajka (trainer), Laurence Dodds, Camilla Turner, Oliver Duggan and Greg Walton

The Daily Telegraph trainees had sessions with Paul Bradshaw, Darshan Sanghrajka and me. They have gone to Newcastle Crown Court today, so we did the news quiz slightly early. The overall winner this week was the Mail's Holly Stevenson with 18 followed closely by Steph Linning with 17. The overall course winner for the Mail, though, was Tom Leece with an average score of just over 15 for the four weeks. 

Tom celebrates with the Champagne

Tom was presented with a bottle of vintage Champagne. The highest scoring Telegraph trainee this week was Oliver Duggan with 13. See if you can beat Holly's impressive score. There are 22 questions, with three bonus questions, so a possible score of 25.

1. All 120,000 Glastonbury festival tickets were sold out in 87 minutes. How much did each ticket cost?
2. How much in expenses did former defence secretary Liam Fox claim for driving 0.6 miles in his constituency?
3. In the Cabinet reshuffle Don Foster became the new Liberal Democrat Chief Whip. Who did he replace? Bonus Fiona-Natasha Syms tweeted about the sacking of her ex-husband as chief whip. She wrote: "He was utterly gracious and took it like a man, I am ______ _______." What are the missing two words?
4. Why was Janet Yellen in the headlines?
5. According to the Environment Secretary, the reason that the badger cull was behind schedule was that the badgers had 'moved the goalposts'. Who is the Environment Secretary?
6. According to Business Secretary Vince Cable, by the midnight deadline on Tuesday, how many individual applications had there been for Royal Mail shares?
7. The rape of Anna Bates in Downton Abbey caused the Countess of Carnarvon to say she would like to watch 'nice things' on television. The Countess owns the castle where Downton is set. What is it called?
Bonus name the actor who played the valet who perpetrated the rape?
8. Students at which university where entertained in their accommodation by rapper Coolio who cooked peach crumble and sang Gangsta Rap for them.
9. On what date will the Christening of Prince George be held?
Bonus the Royal Mint is striking nine coins to celebrate the Christening. The most expensive, the gold Kilo coin, will set you back £50,000. But what is the cost of the cheapest?
10. Newcastle-born Peter Higgs and Francois Englert from Belgium shared the Nobel prize for what?
11. Harry Redknapp's autobiography Always Managing was ghost written by which journalist?
12. The production of which car will end in 2015 as it has fallen foul of European laws on fuel emissions?
13. Instead of promising 'to do my duty to God', the Scouts will in future be able to choose to uphold what?
14. The cost of producing what rose by 33 per cent in the past year?
15. Author Victoria Hislop expressed anger over which label?
16. There have been many backgrounders on Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger written this week, including information about his musical ability. Which two instruments does he play? Half point for each.
17. At which airport did Easyjet leave 29 passengers at the boarding gate?
18. What is the name of the think-tank that persuaded EDL leader Tommy Robinson to quit his post?
19. The IMF has forecast that Britain's economy will increase at what rate this year?
20. Great grandfather John Wildey, who has no pilot's experience, landed a plane at which airport?
21. Paul McCartney was in the news for sacking his staff on the Mull of Kintyre and for releasing his 16th solo album, which is titled New. How old is Paul McCartney?
22. According to researchers writing in Chemistry World, who examined 57 drinks, which drink is the most effective hangover cure?

Answers here.

The news quiz. Raz's impressive 19 to beat

The Daily Mail subbing trainees had a break from me this week and spent their time learning about features with Fiona Webster and about Photoshop and InDesign with Mike Brough. The Daily Telegraph trainees were honing their writing skills with Paul Jones and doing intensive media law with David Banks. Today they finished with the news quiz. Congratulations to the Telegraph's Raz Akkoc who scored a very impressive 19 out of 23. Last week's winner Mehreen Khan came second with 18. Top scoring Mail trainee was Tom Leece with 16.5. A very high scoring week. Was it because the quiz was easier - or because the trainees are reading the paper in more detail? I'd like to think it's the latter. See if you can beat 19 ... a tough call.

Yvette Cooper addresses the Labour conference (Q2). Pic by PA

1. Why was Natalie Faye Webb in the headlines?
2. At the Labour party conference Ed Miliband said he would freeze energy bills, causing which company to immediately say it would quit the UK as it would 'not be economically viable to continue'?
For a bonus, Yvette Cooper said a Labour government would have a 'zero tolerance' to domestic violence. What is Cooper's position in the Shadow Cabinet?
3. Angela Merkel swept to a third term as German Chancellor - what is the name of her party? (in English)
4. The first Premier League managerial casualty of the season was sacked after only five games. Who was he?
5. The responsibility for the attack on the Westgate mall in Nairobi was claimed by a group, part of the Al Qaeda network, based in neighbouring Somalia. What is its name?
For a bonus, the son of the former Kenyan security minister has told how he led an American family and others to safety in the Mall. What is his name?
6. Spin doctor Damian McBride's has revealed the inner workings of Gordon Brown's time in Government but what is the full name of his book?
For a bonus, McBride's publisher Iain Dale was videoed scrapping with a man on Brighton sea front. What was the man protesting about?
7. Jeff Daniels won best actor at the Emmys for his role in which television drama?
8. The Queen was pictured sitting with John Key, the New Zealand prime minister, in a cluttered living room with photo frames, toy dogs and an electric heater. Where was the picture taken?
9. Heston Blumenthal was awarded another Michelin Guide star, bringing his total to how many?
10. Daily Mail columnist Sarah Vine revealed her husband declined to appear on Desert Island Discs because he couldn't decide which Richard Wagner work to choose. Who is Sarah Vine's husband?
11. Daily Telegraph columnist Fraser Nelson also edits which magazine?
12. Stephen Lee has been banned for match fixing by the World Professional Billards and Snooker Association. How long is his ban?
13. What temperature did BBC Breakfast's Carol Kirkwood forecast (wrongly) that it was going to be in Norwich on Wednesday?
14. Shoppers will soon be able to order goods from eBay and pick them up from where?
15. Usain Bolt has signed an extended £6million a year contract with which company?
16. Blackberry has agreed to be sold for £3billion to a consortium led by which company?
17. The America's Cup saw one of the most remarkable sporting comebacks of all time, with America beating New Zealand 9-8 after being 8-1 down. Where was the race held?
18. A new James Bond novel, written by William Boyd, was published this week. What is it called?
19. Who was photographed wearing 'a £245 Bassey Jacquard floral print dress and LK Bennett shoes'?
20. Former teacher Victoria Meppen-Walter committed suicide, blaming a doctor for leaving her scarred and in agony. What was the name of the renowned clinic were the operation took place.

Answers here.

This week's news quiz. Kieran's 13 to beat

The Mail Online trainees had a good week. They spent Monday with publisher Martin Clarke at Northcliffe House who gave them an insight into the way Mail Online works and what will be expected of them. The eight trainees then took the long journey up to PA's training headquarters in Howden. They settled into their temporary homes, braved heavy snow and concentrated on writing stories, captions and headlines in Mail style. Today they have been talking features with Fiona Webster.
As usual we finished the week with the news quiz. Kieran Corcoran won the scratch card again with 13 points out of a possible 23. Mia de Graaf was second with 11. See if you can do any better. 

Benedict XVI (Q1)

1. Pope Benedict XVI has announced his resignation. What was his pre-papal name? For a bonus, the last Pope to resign before Benedict XVI was Gregory XII. In what year?

2. Why was Marine Kimberley Sherri Ponting in the headlines?
3. Which Italian magazine published beach photos of William and Kate?

4. Three people, including the parents, are facing charges of the manslaughter of the six Philpott children. At which court is the trial taking place?

5. There was major disruption to train travel in South Yorkshire due to a landslip from which mine?

6. Why has Denny Dolan been in the headlines?
7. Antony Jenkins has announced job losses of around 3,700 at which company this week?
8. Which two teams are in the Super Six final this weekend (half a point for each)?
9. Who is giving away a £15,000 diamond to a newspaper's online readers?
10. Oscar Pistorius has been charged with the murder of his girlfriend. In the summer, he complained about the length of whose blades when he was beaten in the Paralympic 200m final? For a bonus, name Pistorius's girlfriend who died.
11. It's 20 years since the murder of Jamie Bulger ... from which shopping centre in Liverpool was he abducted?
12. Name the painkiller that has been found in horses slaughtered in the UK. You get an extra point if you can spell the full name of the drug correctly.

13. The editor of the Independent on Sunday is to leave after it was announced that the daily and Sunday papers are to merge. What is his name? 

14. In a poll organised by Love Film, Love Actually was voted the most romantic movie. Which film was second? 

15. Who tweeted: 'A bit worried about Home Secretary, she is looking a bit thin these days. A new diet or pressure of work?’
16. The outgoing Governor of the Bank Of England has accused the Government of scoring an own goal over green taxes and tuition fees. Who is he? 

17. How many British teams are left in the Champions League?

18. Ed Miliband wants to introduce a mansion tax on homes valued above what amount?

19. Choirmaster Michael Brewer was convicted of abusing a violinist at which school?

20. The actor who plays Coronation Street's Kevin Webster has been charged with 19 child sex offences. What is his real name?

Answers here