Test your knowledge with the newsquiz

There were some big scores in last week’s newsquiz. Well done to Simon, Sue and Will Cole who, after coming close so many times, scored the maximum 25. They were just ahead of Maura and Phil Parsons with a very impressive 24. Other good team scores were posted by Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe 22, The Roberts family 21.5, Marc Beyeler’s team, Mrs and Mrs Smith 21 and Bruce and Sarah Hayward and the Three Legs Drinkers with 20. The top solo scorer was Toby Brown with a personal best of 23, ahead of Marguerite Turner on 22, Matt Chorley 21.5, Jayme Bryla 20.5, Robert Rea 20, Gavin Devine 19 and Janet Boyle 18.5. Liz Gerard, Rob Lawrence, Peter Mourant and Stuart Bagnall all scored 18. Here is this week’s newsquiz. As usual there are 25 questions about the week’s events. Give it a go and let me know how you get on.

The Budget dominated Thursday's front pages

1. In the Budget Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced that the UK’s 'national living wage’ is to go up to how much an hour, for workers aged over 23, from April?
2. What did Boris Johnson, Health Secretary Sajid Javid, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps and Justice Secretary Dominic Raab do during the Chancellor’s Budget speech that Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg, Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey and Attorney General Suella Braverman did not?

3. Chancellor Rishi Sunak's overhaul of alcohol taxes in the Budget means that which of these will go up in price rather than reduce if bought in a shop? a) Bailey’s Irish Cream b) Echo Falls Zinfandel rose wine c) Canti Prosecco d) Taylor's Port
4. In the Budget Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a new tax on 'ultra long haul' flights covering distances of more than what distance?
5. Who took the place of Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who had tested positive for coronavirus, to make the response to the Chancellor’s Budget statement?
6. Which former Tory minister faces a 30-day suspension from the Commons after an MPs' watchdog found he had ‘repeatedly' used his position to benefit two companies who paid him as a consultant?
7. Greater Manchester police, investigating threatening and abusive phone calls, emails and letters, arrested a 52-year-old man in Halifax who was accused of making threats against which Labour MP?
8. Carl Davies, 44, pleaded guilty at Caernarfon Crown Court to stalking by sending intimidating comments to which TV presenter and her daughter on Instagram?
9. Motorist Andrew Dutton was filmed squirting what into the faces of Insulate Britain protesters sitting across the A40 in west London?
10. The Department of Transport announced that how many remaining countries would be removed from the UK’s travel red list on Monday?
11. COP26 starts in Glasgow on Sunday (Oct 31). What does COP stand for?
12. Mark Zuckerberg announced what new name for Facebook’s parent company?
13. Why was Cornelis Gert Jan in the headlines?
14. The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency announced it was inviting manufacturers of what product to submit goods for approval to be offered on prescription?
15. The House of Lords backed, by 213 votes to 60, a proposal to place a legal duty on water companies to 'take all reasonable steps' to prevent what?
16. The Duchess of Cornwall told a Women of the World festival in London that: 'We do not, in any way, hold all men responsible for sexual violence. But we do need them all on board to tackle it. After all, ___ are not born, they are constructed.’ What is the missing word?
17. Walter Smith, who died aged 73, won 21 trophies in two spells as manager of Glasgow Rangers but in between managed which English club?
18. Adelaide United player Josh Cavallo become the only current top-flight male professional footballer in the world to do what?
19. Jesus College Cambridge returned a looted bronze cockerel, taken by British colonial forces in 1897, to which country?
20. The Queen presented a poetry award via video link from Windsor Castle, telling recipient David Constantine: 'I'm very glad to have the chance to see you if only ___ this morning.' What is the missing word?
21. Businesswoman Doreen Lofthouse, involved in the success of Fisherman's Friend cough sweets, left her £41million fortune to a charity that aims to develop which town?

22. John Lewis pulled an advert showing a boy in a dress rampaging around his home after the financial watchdog found it was 'misleading and confusing’. What was it advertising?

23. James Michael Tyler, who died aged 59, was most famous for playing which character in the TV series Friends?
24. Brett Chamberlain, 54, was awarded £5,000 in damages by the police after he was investigated for paying for fuel at Tesco in Exeter with what?

25. Why did Shirley Ballas thank viewers who got in touch after watching her appearance as a judge on Strictly Come Dancing?

Answers here