Friday 1 November 2024

Time to tackle the newsquiz

The top solo scorer in last week’s newsquiz was Oliver Jervis with 21, just ahead of Janet Boyle on 20, the Rev Leon on 18 and Amelia Perry and David Banks both on 17. The top team was King’s Head drinkers Peter, Stacey, Nicky and Les with 20, just ahead of Maura and Phil Parsons on 19, Bruce and Sarah Hayward on 16.5, Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe on 16 and the Broad Oak Boozers on 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.

The Budget front pages

1. In the Budget Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that the lower rate of what tax would be raised from 10 per cent to 18 per cent and the higher rate from 20 per cent to 24 per cent?
2. Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced an extra £22.6bn for the day-to-day spending and a £3.1bn increase for the capital budget for this year and next for what institution?
3. The minimum wage for over 21s, known as the National Living Wage, will rise from £11.44 to how much from April 2025?
4. Announcing a rise in tax on flights, Chancellor Rachel Reeves poked fun at leader of the opposition Rishi Sunak saying: 'That is equivalent to £450 per passenger for a private jet to, say ...’ Where did she mention?
5. Former chancellor Jeremy Hunt, announcing he was standing down from the shadow cabinet, said: ‘Hopefully I'll be a slightly better __. That's top of the list.’ What is the missing word?
6. Which politician said she would tone down her approach – after some colleagues suggested she could be rude?
7. CCTV footage appeared to show Labour MP Mike Amesbury punching a constituent after a row over winter fuel payments and the closure of what?
8. Far-right activist Tommy Robinson was jailed for how many months for contempt of court for repeating false allegations against a Syrian refugee?
9. Former Scottish first minister Alex Salmond was laid to rest following a private funeral near his Aberdeenshire home in which village?
10. According to the Office for National Statistics the number of what in England and Wales is at its lowest since 1977? 
11. At least 155 people were killed when flash floods struck which Spanish province?
12. The US Republicans were criticised after comedian Tony Hinchcliffe told a Madison Square Garden rally: 'There’s literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now. I think it’s called __ __.’ What is the missing country?
13. Which former Republican governor announced he was backing Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, saying 'I will always be an American before I am a Republican’?
14. US President Joe Biden called on which country's government to respond to international concern at the scale of violations in its election last weekend?
15. A man died and at least 30 more were injured after a truck drove into what near an Israeli military base north of Tel Aviv?
16. GB News was fined £100,000 by Ofcom for breaking impartiality rules over a programme which gave who a 'mostly uncontested platform’?
17. Safety zones outside all of what places in England and Wales came into force yesterday (Thursday)?
18. According to police figures supplied to the NSPCC, which app is the most widely-used platform for online grooming?
19. Southport stabbings suspect Axel Rudakubana appeared by video link at Westminster magistrates' court to face extra charges after what two items were allegedly found in a search of his home? Half a point for each.
20. Police arrested a 63-year-old man after 22 tons of what, worth £300,000, was stolen from a London yard?
21. What is the name of the dancer who was taken to hospital after collapsing backstage during Saturday night's Strictly Come Dancing?
22. Who posted on social media that masked raiders had burgled his home, while his wife and two children were there, and taken irreplaceable items?
23. Manchester United sacked manager Erik ten Hag after a 2-1 defeat by which team left them 14th in the Premier League.
24. Which European football club boycotted the Ballon d'Or ceremony in Paris, saying their representatives would not go where they were 'not respected?
25. What old word, with the new meaning of 'someone with a confident, independent and hedonistic attitude’, was named Collins Dictionary word of the year?

Answers here