Friday 28 June 2019

Time to tackle the newsquiz

Going by the results it was a tougher newsquiz than average last week. The top solo scorer was Janet Boyle with 17. Toby Brown scored 16 and Liz Gerard 15. The top team was The Penmans with 18 followed by Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe on 15. It might be a little easier this week (although it is always hard to judge). Give it a go and let me know how you get on. 

Today's front pages
1. In an interview with talkRadio, Tory leadership candidate Boris Johnson said: 'We are getting ready to come out on 31 October. Come what may. ___ ___ ___. Come what may.’ What are the three missing word?
2. What did Tory leader contender Boris Johnson say he made out of wooden crates to relax?
3. What word, which was censored by the BBC, did Tory leadership contender Boris Johnson use to describe the French while being filmed for a documentary?
4. Tory leadership contender Boris Johnson said it wasn't 'a state secret’ but he refused to comment on how old it was? What was he referring to?
5. In a Twitter Q&A Tory leadership contender Jeremy Hunt said he wanted to: 'Deliver a Brexit that works for the 48 per cent not just the 52 per cent – a positive open and internationalist Brexit. Great Britain, not ___ ___’. What are the two missing words?
6. What did Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg describe as ‘pious’ and ‘hypocritical lefties’? 
7. Former deputy prime minister John Prescott was admitted to Hull Royal Infirmary after suffering what?
8. Cory Booker, Beto O’Rourke, Amy Klobuchar, Tulsi Gabbard and Jay Inslee were among the ten people who took part in what this week?
9. A shocking picture was used worldwide of the bodies of Óscar Alberto Martínez Ramírez and his daughter Valeria, lying face down in shallow water in which river?
10. Sir Jonathan Ive announced he was leaving which company, where he had been lead designer for more than two decades, to set up his own venture called LoveFrom?
11. There were searches held all week for 22-year-old holiday-camp worker Rosie Johnson who went missing where on Sunday evening?
12. At least 12 people died and 20 more were infected by the deadly strain of invasive Group A streptococcus in which county?
13. An Air India airliner was escorted by RAF Typhoon fighter jets as it made a 'precautionary landing' at which airport after a reported bomb threat?
14. Which author, who sold more than 85million copies worldwide of her ten novels - including Scruples and Princess Daisy - died this week?
15. On Wednesday Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic broke what record?
16. Who confirmed that the master tapes of her hit albums Tuesday Night Music Club and The Globe Sessions were among those destroyed in a fire at Universal Studios 11 years ago?
17. Why were Manchester City footballer Riyad Mahrez and his wife Rita ordered to pay more than £3,600 to Catalina Miraflores?
18. The case against 58-year-old Valerie Sanders was thrown out of Teesside Crown Court when she accepted a two-year restraining order. What was she originally accused of doing to her husband?
19. Who accused whom of blocking her for a plum TV role and then ignoring her attempt to patch things up with an 'olive branch coffee’? Half a point for both names.
20. Fifa announced this week that proceedings had been opened by its disciplinary committee for alleged breaches related to article 52 (team misconduct) and article 57 (offensive behaviour and fair play) of the Fifa Disciplinary Code by which football team?
21. Why were Tom Penn and Eve Leigh in the headlines?
22. Muhammed and Olivia were top of what?
23. Who tweeted, after being mocked over his grey hair by a border guard, that: ‘There’s a serious truth here. We are all massively conscious that we mustn’t behave or speak in ways that are sexist, or racist... but ageism is alive and well.’ 
24. TV presenters Ant and Dec called for who to quit - describing them as ‘disastrous’ and saying they ‘should be ashamed’?
25. Organisers of Glastonbury announced that what 'would not be available to purchase at this year’s Festival’ and 'will also no longer be supplied or available in any of the Festival’s backstage, production, catering and dressing room areas’?

Answers here

Friday 21 June 2019

Test your news knowledge with this week's quiz

The top solo scorer in last week's newsquiz was Liz Gerard with 20 narrowly ahead of Dora Allday on 19, Janet Boyle 18.5 and Dan Williams on 18. There were some good team scores too. A special mention goes to my sons Jack and Thom who were home for father's day and surprised themselves with a score of 16. Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe scored 17, the Roberts family 18, Bruce and Sarah Hayward 20, Marc Beyeler and wife 20.5 Phil and Maura Parsons 21.5 but, amazingly, the top team was my Three Legs drinking pals Peter, Stacey, Jamie and Les who clocked up a personal best of 22 on Saturday night. Here's this week's quiz. 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. How many votes did Jeremy Hunt secure to get him through to the final round of the Tory leadership contest?
2. What did candidate Rory Stewart remove during the BBC Tory leadership debate?
3. Which broadcaster tweeted: 'I would like to apologise. We had the Imam from the BBC Tory leadership debate on our programme this morning. His social media comments have been extremely disturbing. We should have checked. We didn’t. I’m sorry’?
4. Who, when asked if he might leave the Labour party without a clear change of direction, said: 'I’m never going to leave the Labour party. Sometimes I wonder whether the Labour party is leaving me’?
5. Paul Crowther, who admitted throwing a milkshake over the Brexit Party leader, was ordered to pay how much in compensation for damaging Nigel Farage's lapel microphone, distress, inconvenience and suit cleaning?
6. Tory MP Mark Field was suspended for ‘manhandling' a female protester from which group who disrupted chancellor Philip Hammond’s speech at the Mansion House dinner?
7. Why was 83-year-old Irene Mayor in the headlines?
8. US president Donald Trump said Iran had 'made a very big mistake’ in doing what?
9. The first mass was held in Notre Dame cathedral since the fire with all priests and worshippers wearing what non-traditional item of clothing?
10. He cast Mel Gibson as Hamlet, Robert Powell as Jesus and, in 2004, was the first Italian to receive an honorary knighthood from the UK. Who is he?
11. Ascot racecourse took the unusual step of recommending that all those going to its Royal week do what?
12. British wrestling champion Adrian McCallum, who died age 36, was known by which ring name?
13. England’s women won all three of their group games to set up a last 16 match on Sunday against which country?
14. The City regulator fined which bank £45.5million for failure to disclose information on a £245million fraud at its Reading branch?
15. Police investigating whose death arrested David Henderson, 64, from York, on suspicion of manslaughter by an unlawful act?
16. International arrest warrants were issued for Russians Igor Girkin, Sergei Dubinsky, Oleg Pulatov and Ukranian Leonid Kharchenko who are suspected of murdering who?
17. A letter signed by five regional commissioners, including Dame Sarah Storey and Chris Boardman, said that hundreds of millions of pounds of taxpayers' money is being wasted on what?
18. Who collapsed in the courtroom and later died while facing charges of espionage?
19. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are to split from which charity, that they shared with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, to set up their own?
20. A crew member working on which movie at Warner Bros Studios in Leavesden, Hertfordshire, was taken to hospital after being stabbed in the neck on set?
21. Why did Pakistan politician Shaukat Yousafza’s press conference go viral?
22. In the cricket world cup England batsman Eoin Morgan broke the record for the most number of sixes by a batsman in a One Day International innings. How many sixes did he score?
23. Top Gear returned to the BBC with ‘Freddie’ Flintoff, Paddy McGuinness and which other presenter?
24. What did broadcaster Piers Morgan describe as ‘the greatest moment of my life’?
25. The Department of Transport announced it was launching a road sign which features which animal?

Answers here

Friday 14 June 2019

The newsquiz - 25 questions about the week

The top scorer in last week's newsquiz was Liz Gerard with 18. The top team was the Roberts Family - back to full strength - with 20. It was clearly a tougher week, with the second top solo scorer Steve Silk getting a modest 15.5. This week's may be a little easier. As usual there are 25 questions about the week's events. Give it a go and let me know how you get on. 

Today's front pages
1. Boris Johnson received how many votes in the first ballot to select the Conservative party leader and next Prime Minister?
2. Esther McVey and which two other MPs were knocked out in the first ballot to select the Tory party leader? Half a point for each.
3. How many votes will each Tory leader hopeful need to get in the second ballot next week to progress to the next round?
4. Leadership contender Michael Gove admitted taking cocaine 'on several occasions at social events more than 20 years ago' when he was a young what?
5. Unsuccessful Tory leader candidate Esther McVey explained her frosty relationship with broadcaster Lorraine Kelly by saying: 'She used to be partnered with ___ ___, then I was promoted to be partnering with ___ ___.’ What is the missing name?
6. Home Secretary Sajid Javid described his exclusion from what event as ‘odd’?
7. Outgoing Prime Minister Theresa May enshrined in law a commitment for Britain to reach net zero carbon emissions by what year?
8. US President Donald Trump said on Twitter he had met several European leaders on his recent visit - but got one title wrong. What was it?
9. Two oil tankers damaged by explosions in the Gulf of Oman were from which two countries? Half a point for each.
10. What did Len Goodman describe as ‘rotten’, Esther Rantzen as ‘appalling treachery’ and Ricky Tomlinson as an ‘absolute disgrace’?
11. Which supermarket announced a £500million expansion plan which includes opening 40 new stores, creating 1,500 jobs, over the next five years?
12. The Fugitive Offenders and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation (Amendment) Bill led to major protests where?
13. Oxfam was criticised by the Charity Commission for the way it dealt with claims of serious sexual misconduct by its staff in which country? 
14. Three hospital patients in Manchester and Liverpool died after eating chicken sandwiches contaminated with what?
15. Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Justin Edinburgh died age 49 while managing which football team?
16. Comedian Jo Brand was criticised for a satirical ‘battery acid’ joke which was aired on which Radio 4 programme?
17. The Government is to issue an ‘unprecedented' recall notice of up to 500,000 tumble dryers by which manufacturer, saying they posed a fire safety risk? 
18. Who ended up in intensive care after blowing his nose at 37mph?
19. The United States recorded the biggest ever victory in the Fifa Women's World Cup as they crushed which team 13-0?
20. Who accepted an OBE for services to music in the Queen’s Birthday Honours but said: ‘It is hard to receive anything named for the 'British Empire', and all that term embodies, without a pause for reflection?’
21. The Cricket World Cup 2019 broke an unwanted world record, which was set in 1992 and equalled in 2003, for the most number of what?
22. Why was Grace Jones, nicknamed Amazing Grace, from Worcestershire in the headlines?
23. What three words did comedian Freddie Starr have inscribed on the outside of his coffin?
24. Which band scuppered a $150,000 blackmail attempt by releasing 18 hours of music which had been stolen by hackers?
25. Who tweeted: 'I wanna challenge Tom Cruise to fight in the octagon. Tom if you don't take this fight your scared and you will never live it down. Who is willing to put on the fight?'

Answers here

Friday 7 June 2019

Try the newsquiz - 25 questions about the week

The top scorer in last week’s newsquiz was Steve Silk with 18, narrowly ahead of Andy Drinkwater, Dave Bromage and Liz Gerard on 17. Toby Brown and Gavin Devine scored 16, the same score as the best team which was Bruce and Sarah Hayward. 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 how you get on.


The same photo by Jane Barlow of the Press Association graces most of today's front pages (Questions 1-4)
1. Soldiers marched across which bridge, the site of the first liberation in Nazi-occupied France, as part of the commemorations for the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings?
2. What role did David Williams-Ellis have in the 75th D-Day commemorations?
3. What was the name of the cruise liner which was chartered by the British Legion to take 300 veterans from Portsmouth to Normandy to commemorate D-Day?
4. What did Tom Rice, Harry Read and John ‘Jock' Hutton, all in their 90s, do again this week?
5. After discussing climate change with Prince Charles, Donald Trump said the US was ‘clean’ but named three countries that 'have not very good air, not very good water, and the sense of pollution’. Name the countries. Half a point for two, one point for all three.
6. Donald Trump tweeted about London mayor Sadiq Khan, saying: 'He is a ___ ___ loser who should focus on crime in London, not me’. What are the two missing words?
7. Piers Morgan presented Donald Trump with what at the end of his exclusive interview on Good Morning Britain?
8. Protestor Amy Beth Dallamura was arrested in Parliament Square after she live-streamed herself doing what?
9. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn told a protest rally in Whitehall that 'we will fight with every last breath of our body to defend the principle' of what?
10. Who were the first two candidates to withdraw from the Tory leadership contest? Half a point for each.
11. Brexit Party MEP Ann Widdecombe caused a stir by suggesting that science may yet produce an answer to what?
12. Britain will have a new Prime Minister in the week starting on what date after the Conservatives tightened the rules for electing new leaders?
13. Where did Lisa Forbes marginally beat Mike Greene?
14. Liverpool beat Spurs 2-0 to win the Champions League and become the third most successful club in the competition’s history. How many times have they won the Champions League and its forerunner, the European Cup?
15. Ex-MP and broadcaster George Galloway was sacked by talkRADIO after he tweeted his congratulations to Liverpool on their Champions League victory and added 'No ___ ___ on the cup.’ What are the two missing words?
16. What is the name of the cruise liner that crashed on the Giudecca Canal in Venice, injuring four people?
17. Which company announced it was closing 270 of its 300 offices across the UK in a drive to cut £1.5billion in costs?
18. Ford confirmed it will close its engine plant in September 2020, with the loss of 1,700 jobs, in which town?
19. What, kept in a drawer by an Edinburgh family, turned out to be an object missing for 200 years that could fetch £1million at auction?
20. Johanna Konta became the first British woman since 1983 to do what?
21. Which fund manager apologised to investors after suspending trading in his largest fund - saying the decision to block investors from withdrawing cash was in their best interests?
22. Mac Rebennack, who won multiple Grammys and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, died age 77. How is he better known?
23. The Women’s World Cup starts today (Friday) and England’s first game in on Sunday. Who are they playing?
24. Which TV series won Best Soap at the British Soap Awards 2019?
25. Colin Thackery won this year’s Britain’s Got Talent, with more than a quarter of the public vote, with a rendition of which song?

Answers here

Tuesday 4 June 2019

Daily Mail Australia looking for trainees


For the last four years I have enjoyed training journalists for Daily Mail Australia in Sydney. Most have gone on to enjoy rewarding careers and some have swiftly moved through the ranks at the Mail and are in senior positions.
Now we are looking for more trainees to join the training scheme. The course starts in November with six weeks intense training in Mail style and the operating system. The trainees write for the site while training. 
The course leads to a full-time newsroom position and the possibility of working in London and New York. It is a great opportunity for ambitious and hard-working wannabe journalists. If you aren't prepared to work regular night-shifts and weekends, spend your time finding and writing good stories and building pages with pictures and headlines, it is definitely not the job for you. But if you want to be a story-teller on the biggest English-language newspaper website in the world, this could be the opportunity you have been waiting for. More details on the scheme and how to apply are here