Have a crack at the newsquiz

The top solo scorer in last week’s newsquiz was George Mann with 24. The top team, the Barnard Castle FOC with Trev, Carole, OP, Jackie and Bill also scored 24. Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe scored 19 and the Waterworks gang 17. Despite some high scores there were some regulars who found it hard and didn’t make the leaderboard, including one (who will remain nameless) who posted a score of nine. Here’s this week’s quiz. As usual there are 25 questions about the week. Why not give it a go and let me know your score. 

Today's front pages

1. When asked by a Japanese reporter why the US did not tell allies about the attack on Iran in advance, US President Donald Trump replied: 'Why didn’t you tell me about __ __?’ What are the two missing words?
2. An Iranian man was arrested after trying to enter the base hosting Britain’s four nuclear-armed submarines on which river?
3. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said households that had been hit by an increase in the price of heating oil, due to the Iran war, would get help from a support package of how many million pounds?
4. Which of these was NOT added to the virtual basket of goods and services used by the Office for National Statistics to monitor the rising cost of living? a) Premium lager in restaurants b) Alcohol-free beer c) Dog grooming d) Hummus
5. Everyone who attended which club in Canterbury from March 5-15 was offered a vaccination following an outbreak of meningitis?
6. Analysis from the Skipton Group Home Affordability Index showed that the average age of first-time buyers in England is now what?
7. Ministers are planning to ban the selling of what, following violent attacks and an attempt to kill the late Queen, and said existing owners will need a licence?
8. Former deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner warned that Government proposals to do what were 'un-British' and a 'breach of trust’?
9. Following an emotionally-charged debate, the Scottish Parliament rejected what by 69 votes to 57?
10. Paedophile Nathan Bennett, who sexually abused five children in his care at a nursery in which city, was jailed for 24 years?
11. The Travelodge hotel chain made 'immediate changes’ to what policy after a hotel guest was sexually assaulted?
12. Former Tory MP and ex-justice minister Crispin Blunt was charged with what and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday?
13. Peter Windsor, 61, from Birmingham was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order after stalking which TV and radio personality by posting her an air pistol, handcuffs, a police uniform and disturbing letters?
14. Former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams told a court that wearing what did not prove he was a member of the IRA?

15. More than 70 people died after heavy rain caused widespread flooding in which African country?

16. What was the name of the London Burning actor who died in prison two months after he was jailed for sexually assaulting two teenage girls?
17. Len Deighton, who died aged 97, wrote which spy novel that was turned into a Bafta-winning film starring Michael Caine in 1962 and was re-made as an ITV series four years ago?
18. Who criticised people who failed to intervene when they saw a crime and said she would tackle a shoplifter ‘as long as they weren’t too big’?
19. How many medals did Team GB win at the winter paralympics - their worst performance since Vancouver in 2010?
20. Which football club was fined a record £10million and given a suspended transfer ban after admitting making £47million in secret payments to unregistered agents and third-parties?
21. France won the Six Nations rugby championship but which countries were the bottom two with only one victory each? Half a point for each.
22. The Confederation of African Football awarded Morocco a win of what score in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final after stripping Senegal of the title?

23. The King launched the world's longest coastal walking route - the King Charles III England Coast Path - which is how many miles long?
24. Who jumped on the rear saddle of DJ Greg James’s tandem for 30 minutes through South Yorkshire, telling him he had already raised more than £1million for Comic Relief?

25. Which film dominated this year's Oscars, scoring six wins including best picture?

Answers here 

Time to tackle the newsquiz

Last week's newsquiz, dominated of course by questions about the Iran conflict, proved to be a tough one with scores below average and quite a few regulars not making the leaderboard. The top solo scorers were George Mann and Robert Rea 21, ahead of Janet Boyle on 20 and Tim Humphrey on 16. The top team were the Barnard Castle FOC with Bill, OP, Jackie, Trev and Carole on 21, ahead of Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe on 18 and the Broad Oak Boozers of Danny, Thom, Craig and special guest Isla on 15. Here’s this week’s newsquiz. As usual there are 25 questions about the week. Give it a go and let me know your score.

Today's front pages

1. US President Donald Trump accused Prime Minister Keir Starmer of seeking to 'join wars after’ what?
2. Merchant ships were hit by missiles in which strait after Iran said it would not allow even 'one litre of oil' to leave the region?
3. The FBI warned which state, that contains the highest proportion of Iranian dissidents in America, of a potential drone attack?
4. Mojtaba Khamenei, who was named as Iran's new supreme leader, was what relation to his predecessor, who was killed on the first day of the war?
5. A 60-year-old British man was one of 21 people charged under cyber-crime laws in Dubai after allegedly doing what?
6. Five of the Iranian women's football team were granted humanitarian visas in Australia after fears for their safety at home because they had declined to do what?
7. Which UK politician failed to meet with Donald Trump despite flying to Florida to dine at the US president’s Mar-a-Lago resort?
8. Lord Peter Mandelson was handed a taxpayer-funded payout of how much to terminate his contract as the UK’s ambassador to the US?
9. Despite ten Labour MPs voting against and 90 not recording a vote, a Bill to change what in England and Wales progressed to the next stage?
10. The House of Lords passed a Bill that means what will be abolished, finally ending a centuries-old system?
11. MPs voted 307 to 173 against a Lords proposal to ban what and instead supported 'more flexible restrictions’?
12. A convicted bomber told the High Court that former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams was a senior figure in which organisation?
13. The main train station at Glasgow Central was closed following a huge fire that started in what type of shop?
14. The 27-year-old daughter of Soham killer Ian Huntley suggested that what should be done to his ashes?
15. Pupils at a secondary school near which city were told to hide under desks, after a teenage girl was stabbed?
16. Mother-of-ten Amanda Wixon, who held a woman captive as a slave inside her home in Tewkesbury for 25 years, was jailed for how many years?
17. Today (Friday) marks how many years of the school shooting in Dunblane in which a teacher and 16 children were killed?

18. Who was remanded in custody charged with an assault, which could result in a man losing sight in one eye, after a fight broke out in a Merseyside golf club?
19. Who failed to land a £1.5million deal with US publishing houses for her tell-all memoir?
20. Animal charities complained after the winner of Crufts best in show was found to have been convicted of what?

21. The Bank of England said that images of what were to replace the famous faces traditionally used on banknotes?
22. In the Six Nations, England’s rugby team lost for the first time ever to which country?
23. Britain’s Sky Brown, 17, celebrated in Brazil by becoming world champion in which sport for the second time?
24. A record number of red cards were given to how many players after a mass brawl broke out between Brazilian clubs Cruzeiro and Atletico Mineiro in the Campeonato Mineiro final?
25. Actor Timothée Chalamet triggered a backlash after he dismissed what as art forms that audiences do not care about?

Answers here

Time to tackle the newsquiz

The top solo scorer in last week’s newsquiz was George Mann with a score of 24, just ahead of Janet Boyle on 23. Robert Rea, Nick Turner, Phil Lambell and Ian McCulloch all scored 20. The top team was Tim Humphrey and son Robert with 23, ahead of the Maida Vale party gang of Trev, Carole, Bill, Our Peter and Jackie and Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe both on 22. The Broad Oak Boozers of Danny, Tim and Craig scored 18. Here is this week’s newsquiz. As usual there are 25 questions about the week’s news. Why not give it a go and let me know your score.

Today's front pages

1. The US-Israel attack on Iran was called Operation __ __ by the White House. What are the two missing words?
2. Three US fighter jets were mistakenly shot down over which country in an apparent 'friendly fire’ mistake?
3. US President Donald Trump attacked Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s ‘unco-operative’ stance over the attack on Iraq, saying that America was not dealing with who?
4. In a statement to Parliament, Prime Minister Keir Starmer defended not allowing UK bases to be used for the initial attacks on Iran, adding: 'This Government does not believe in regime change from the __’. What is the missing word?
5. US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said that the attack on Iran was without the help of 'traditional allies' who were wringing their hands and clutching their what?
6. A ​drone strike caused a fire to break out in the ​US consulate ​where?
7. What is the name of the Royal Navy warship - a Type 45 Destroyer - which is to be deployed to bolster security around Cyprus next week?
8. A US submarine sank an Iranian warship, killing at least 87 sailors, off the south coast of which country?
9. Defence Secretary John Healey flew to Cyprus after a drone hit which RAF airbase?
10. In her Spring Statement, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said that by the next election, after accounting for inflation, people are forecast to be how much better off a year?
11. After the Gorton and Denton by-election, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage reported allegations of cheating, known as __ voting, to the police. What is the missing word?
12. Whose basic salary is to rise by 5 per cent to £98,599 a year from April, with a salary of around £110,000 predicted by 2029?
13. Why did Labour MP Joani Reid voluntarily step down from the party?
14. Under a trial scheme, announced by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, families of failed asylum seekers will be offered cash - up to a maximum of how much - to leave the UK?
15. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced a ban on study visas for people from four countries who had ‘abused' the UK's generosity. They were Cameroon, Myanmar and which other two? Half a point for each.
16. Around 40 MPs came under fire for ‘inappropriate behaviour’ for doing what in Portcullis House, Westminster, on Wednesday morning?
17. Scotland became the first part of the UK to legalise what - described as a 'historic moment' which will give families 'a gentler and less environmentally impactful alternative’?
18. Mustafa Kokoneh, 23, appeared in court charged with attempting to murder two people and assaulting two others, during an attack in a supermarket in which UK city?
19. US company Tileray Brands, which produces medicinal cannabis and craft beer, acquired which Scottish business for £33million after it fell into administration, putting 500 jobs at risk?
20. What was the name of the songwriter, who wrote 1,000 songs, including UK top ten hits Oh Carol and Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen, who died aged 86?
21. Why are 11 countries, including the UK, threatening to boycott the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina Winter Paralympics tonight (Friday)?
22. Which singer was arrested in California under suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs?
23. Who hit back on Instagram over comments about her appearance at the Brit Awards, calling them ‘a special kind of cruelty’?
24. Who was the biggest winner at the Brits, picking up four awards - Best British Artist, Best Pop Act, Best Album and Song of the Year? 
25. Musician and Britain’s Got Talent judge KSI bought a minority stake in which football team and said he wanted to take the sixth-tier club to the Premier League?

Answers here