Quiz Diary - 2006-12

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31

• Racing abandoned at Uttoxeter because of a waterlogged course
• Bulgaria and Romania join the EU at Midnight
• 2 Britons injured in Bangkok explosions
• Edinburgh's Hogmanay event is cancelled due to bad weather
• UK Charts:
  • Singles
    • 1. Leona Lewis - A Moment Like This
    • 2. Take That - Patience
    • 3. Iron Maiden - Different World
    • 4. Akon Ft Eminem - Smack That
    • 5. Cascada - Truly Madly Deeply
  • Albums:
    • 1. Take That - Beautiful World
    • 2. Oasis - Stop The Clocks
    • 3. Snow Patrol - Eyes Open
    • 4. Razorlight – Razorlight
    • 5. Beatles - Love
• Russia and Belarus agree a deal on gas supplies
• US Iraq death toll reaches 3,000
• Tiger Woods announces that he and his wife Elin are expecting their first child
• Barnsley appoint caretaker manager Simon Davey as Andy Ritchie's successor
• Joseph Kabila names Antoine Gizenga as PM

31 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. Which player, the current World number 19 has retires from the Czech Republic Davis Cup team?
• Radek Stepanek
• 2. Which BBC Radio 4 presenter has announced that she has breast cancer?
• Jenni Murray
• 3. Which Russian 3000m steeplechase champion has received a two-year suspension following a positive dope test?
• Lyubov Ivanova
• 4. George Michael performed a free concert for people of which professions?
• Nursing
• 5. “The List:” Which two players will compete on the PDC World Darts Championship?
• Raymond van Barneveld and Phil Taylor

Topic of the Day: The Weakest Link

• 6. Who won the 1000th edition of the show?
• Miss Evans
• 7. What was the former sporting occupation of Maria Kiselyova, the Russian host of “The Weakest Link” which made her an unlikely choice as presenter?
• Synchronised Swimming
• 8. Who is the only puppet to win the show?
• Bail Brush
• 9. What is the title of the American version of “The Weakest Link”?
• Weakest Link (no “The” for some reason)
• 10. In which year was the programme first shown in the UK?
• 2000

30

• Fidel Castro delivers his New Year’s message and says it will take time for him to recover
• James Brown buried in Georgia
• Ship sinks off the Indonesian coast with 100’s killed
• South Korea's defence ministry says the North has become a "serious threat
• 67-year-old Spanish woman gives birth to twins, becoming the oldest mother ever
• More children’s skulls found in Delhi
• South Africa beat India by 174 runs in Durban to level their series at 1-1
• Julia Roberts expecting her third child by husband Danny Moder
• Premiership:
  • Man Utd 3-2 Reading
  • Chelsea 2-2 Fulham
  • Sheff Utd 1-0 Arsenal
  • Bolton 3-2 Portsmouth
  • Tottenham 0-1 Liverpool
• Tony Culhane and Dean Mernagh charged following an inquiry by HRA.
• Tony McCoy lands a 235-1`treble at Newbury
• US backs sale of cloned food
• Raymond van Barneveld and Phil Taylor reach the final of the PDC World Darts Championship
• Talks with ETA suspended after Madrid airport explosion
• Col Gaddafi rejects calls for the release of foreign medics
• 4 men accused of taking part in the Rwanda genocide are remanded in custody in the UK

30 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. Who said that he believed that he could take 1,000 Test wickets before retiring?
• Muttiah Muralitharan
• 2. Which cabinet minister has defended her decision to take part in a protest over plans to close part of a hospital in her constituency?
• Hazel Blears
• 3. Which former Great Britain and Barrow winger has died aged 86?
• Jimmy Lewthwaite
• 4. SHAAP, an organisation of doctors has asked for massive rises in the price of alcohol. What does SHHAP stand for?
• Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems
• 5. “The List:” Which 2 “monsters” appear in the video for The Automatics song “Monster”?
• Nessie and Big Foot

Topic of the Day: Hayley Westenra

• 6. In which country was singer Hayley Westenra born?
• New Zealand
• 7. What was the title of her first international album which reached number one in the UK, on the Classical Charts?
• Pure
• 8. Hayley Westenra is an ambassador for which UN agency?
• UNICEF
• 9. For which Terence Malick film did she record Listen to the Wind?
• The New World
• 10. Which Enya song from the 2001 film “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” has been covered by Hayley on her album “Odyssey”?
• May It Be

29

• Nigeria's census results show that the population is now 140m (63% up in 15 years)
• Amsterdam brothel owners take city council to court over move to close many sex businesses
• Harry Roberts, loses case for parole, after spending 40 years in prison for killing 3 officers
• Government defends city academies after MP, Karen Buck, withdraws son from one in London
• Creator of Wikipedia plans "people-powered" search engine to compete with Google
• 2 crew of an American nuclear submarine die after falling overboard in Plymouth Sound
• Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld make the semi-finals of the PDC World Championships
• Brave Inca wins the Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown for second straight year.
• Mike Tyson charged with possessing cocaine and driving under the influence.
• Duncan Fletcher says England have got things wrong during the Ashes tour of Australia.
• US food authorities say food from cloned animals is safe to eat
• The Rolling Stones are the most successful live act in North America for the second year running.

29 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. Who has been named as the new manager of League Two club Mansfield?
• Billy Dearden
• 2. Who died shortly after becoming the oldest living US president ever?
• Gerald Ford
• 3. Who replaced Geraint Jones as England Wicket-keeper for the fourth Ashes Test in Melbourne?
• Chris Read
• 4. On which Indonesian island did thousands take part in a tsunami drill marking the 2nd anniversary of the 2004 disaster?
• Bali
• 5. “The List:” Which two drivers will be the first Spyker pair in F1?
• Adrian Sutil and Christijan Albers

Topic of the Day: Bond Girls

• 6. Which Bond girl married Hugh Hudson in 2003 and is a cousin of the former lead vocalist of Manfred Mann?
• Mayram d’Abo
• 7. Which former miss World was the girlfriend of George Best and appeared in 2 Bond movies (“Octopussy” and “A View to a Kill”) as agent Kimberley Jones
• Mary Stavin
• 8. Which Australian born actress was a Bond girl in “For Your Eyes Only” and also acted opposite her husband Pierce Brosnan in “Remington Steele”?
• Cassandra Harris
• 9. Which Bond girl released an album of songs in Sweden where she grew up, despite being born in Poland?
• Izabella Dorota Scorupco (album called “Iza”)
• 10. Which Bond girl won Best Director at the 2002 Montreal World Film Festival for her debut film “Parlez-moi d'amour”?
• Sophie Marceau (Sophie Danièle Sylvie Maupu)

28

• England lose the 4th test by an innings and 99 runs
• Ward at Nobles Hospital, Isle of Man closed to tackle an outbreak of winter vomiting virus
• Search for survivors from the helicopter crash over Morecambe Bay gas field is called off
• US President George W Bush says he is making "good progress" on a new Iraq strategy
• Government troops in Somalia have marched into parts of Mogadishu
• UK serviceman dies in Afghanistan
• James Brown’s coffin is transported to New York
• John Terry has surgery on a back injury
• Police in Zimbabwe are reported to have arrested more than 16,000 illegal miners
• A Russian passenger plane has made an emergency landing in Prague
• 17 die in Baghdad bomb blasts
• BBC denies reports that David Tennant is quitting as Doctor Who
• Hazel Blears defends decision to take part in a protest over plans to close part of a hospital in her constituency

28 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. By what “score” did England lose the 4th test?
• An innings and 99 runs
• 2. Matthew Fisher has won a court case over the authorship of which song?
• A White Shade of Pale
• 3. Which former European player of the year is poised to join Al Ittihad for an undisclosed fee from Inter Milan?
• Luis Figo
• 4. The body of which singer is to be taken through New York's Harlem in a horse-drawn carriage before lying in state at the Apollo Theater?
• James Brown
• 5. “The List:” Gerald Ford died recently just a month after becoming the longest lived President of the USA ever. Name the only other three presidents to make it past 90 years of age.
• Ronald Reagan, John Adams, and Herbert Hoover

Topic of the Day: Saparmurat Niyazov

• 6. Of which central Asian country was he President until he died in December 2006?
• Turkmenistan
• 7. Meaning “Book of the Soul” which epic text was written by Saparmurat Niyazov?
• Ruhnama
• 8. Under his reign which alphabet did he replace with a Latin based one?
• Cyrilic
• 9. Which of these did he ban, A) Opera, B) Ballet, C) Beards D)Video Games or E) All of the above
• All of the above
• 10. Meaning “Father of the Turkmen” how did he style himself?
• Turkmenbashi

27

• Gerald Ford died aged 93
• French-led Corot mission has taken off from Kazakhstan
• African Union calls on Ethiopia to withdraw thousands of troops from Somalia
• Former BBC chairman Marmaduke Hussey dies aged 83
• 4th Test, Melbourne, Day 2 (Stumps): Australia 372-7 v England 159
• Six hurt in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race
• Welsh National at Chepstow won by Halcon Genelardais
• Millions of Muslims gather in Mecca ahead of the annual Hajj pilgrimage.
• James Brown to have a public funeral in Georgia
• Ehud Olmert orders resumption of military strikes against Palestinian militants firing rockets from Gaza Strip

27 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. Which steel firm has been ordered to pay more than £3m for breaching health and safety laws at its Port Talbot plant where a massive explosion killed three workers?
• Corus
• 2. What is the appropriate nickname of darts player Kevin Painter?
• The Artist
• 3. London Film Critics' Circle have nominated which film for 7 awards?
• The Queen
• 4. Who produced a stunning comeback to beat world number one Colin Lloyd in a sudden-death leg at the PDC World Championship?
• Raymond van Barneveld
• 5. “The List:” Brian Ashton has been appointed as the new England Rugby Union coach, name his three predecessors.
• Andy Robinson, Sir Clive Woodward and Jack Rowell

Topic of the Day: Shane Warne

• 6. Shane Warne has announced he will retire from international cricket after the Ashes. In what year was he born?
• 1969
• 7. What is his middle name?
• Keith
• 8. Which English county side does he play for?
• Hampshire
• 9. Although he has nearly 700 test wickets, what are his best test figures?
• 8-71
• 10. Against which side did he make his test debut in 1992?
• India

26

• Death sentence upheld on Saddam Hussein
• Large earthquakes (magnitude 7.1) hit Thailand and disrupt communications in Asia
• Odds-on favourite Kauto Star wins the King George VI Chase at Kempton.
• Shane Warne reaches the mark of 700 test wickets
• “The Vicar of Dibley” was watched by the most TV viewers on Christmas Day.
• Deputy PM John Prescott misses his family lunch after being taken ill.
• Premiership:
  • Man Utd 3-1 Wigan (Man Utd go 4 points clear)
  • Chelsea 2-2 Reading
  • Watford 1-2 Arsenal
• Thousands in Bali, take part in tsunami drill as the region marks 2nd anniversary of 2004 disaster
• Car bomb at Peshawar airport in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province kills one
• 320,000 people take part in Boxing Day fox-hunting meets
• Fire in a Philippines store kills 24
• 260 people killed in an oil pipeline explosion in Lagos

26 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. 10 US congressmen visited which country in December 2006?
• Cuba
• 2. Which F1 team will Germany's Adrian Sutil drive for next season?
• Spyker
• 3. Which country’s upper house of parliament has voted to upgrade the country's defence agency to a full ministry?
• Japan
• 4. Which Spanish cyclist has avoided punishment despite failing a drugs test after winning the 2005 Dauphine Libere?
• Inigo Landaluze
• 5. “The List:” Which 2 jockeys are to go on trial with Kieron Fallon next year?
• Fergal Lynch and Darren Williams

Topic of the Day: Harry Potter

• 6. What is the title of the 7th and last novel
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
• 7. Which former Death Eater is a teacher and house master at Hogwarts?
• Severus Snape
• 8. Who is usually accompanied by his two unintelligent housemates Crabbe and Goyle?
• Draco Malfoy
• 9. What is the language that Harry (and others) use to talk t snakes?
• Parseltongue
• 10. What was the first name of the wizard after whom Slytherin is named?
• Salazar

25

• Pope delivers his “Urbi et Orbi”
• Basra City Council withdraws co-operation from British forces after they raid a local police unit
• James Brown dies aged 73
• President Obasanjo to replace Vice-President Atiku Abubakar
• Ethiopian jets strike 2 of Somalia's airports
• A leading Spanish surgeon is in Havana to examine Cuban leader Fidel Castro
• Four prisoners on death row in Japan have been executed, the country's justice ministry says.
• Russian 3000m steeplechase champion Lyubov Ivanova gets 2-year suspension for drug use
• Giant panda gives birth to twins at a Japanese zoo

25 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. Who is the current British heavyweight champion whose manager has said that Audley Harrison has nothing to offer them?
• Scott Gammer
• 2. The UK government has asked which train firm to surrender its £1.3bn-franchise on the main London to Edinburgh route?
• GNER
• 3. Who have the FA charged with improper conduct after he was sent to the stands during his team’s match against Portsmouth?
• Arsene Wenger
• 4. Which private equity company raised its share in Britvic to nearly 14%?
• Permira
• 5. “The List:” Which two companies have signed the “Space Agreement Act” which will put detailed space content on the web?
• NASA and Google

Topic of the Day: Christmas Songs for 2006

• 6. Who is the Christmas number one with “A Moment Like This”?
• Leona Lewis
• 7. Which teenage girl band have released a choral version of Robbie Williams’s anthemic record “Angels”?
• All Angels
• 8. “Chaccaron” was intended to be a demo, until friends convinced which singer to release it as a single?
• El Chombo
• 9. Which all-girl group have covered Tiffany’s “kitsch” classic “I Think We’re Alone Now”?
• Girls Aloud
• 10. McFly’s “Sorry’s Not Good Enough” is the theme song to which Ben Stiller film?
• Night At The Museum

24

• Police arrest an Italian who met ex-KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko the day he was poisoned
• A 24-hour strike by conductors affects services by Central Trains across central England
• Raul Castro, Cuba's acting President criticises the country's transport system
• UK Charts:
  • Singles:
    • 1. A Moment Like This - Leona Lewis
    • 2. Patience - Take That
    • 3. Sorry's Not Good Enough - McFly
    • 4. I Think We're Alone Now - Girls Aloud
    • 5. Truly Madly Deeply - Cascada
  • Albums:
    • 1. Take That - Beautiful World
    • 2. Westlife - The Love Album
    • 3. Oasis - Stop The Clocks
    • 4. Il Divo - Siempre
    • 5. George Michael - Twenty Five
• Funeral of Turkmenistan's president, Saparmurat Niyazov
• Halifax says Northern Ireland saw house prices rise faster than anywhere else in the UK
• Leona Lewis has 2006 Christmas number one single
• Comedian Charlie Drake dies aged 81
• Giant panda gives birth to twins at a Japanese zoo
• Les Reed is replaced by Alan Pardew as Charlton head coach

24 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. Which 2 time runner up and 10th seed lost in the opening round of the PDC World Championship at Purfleet Adrian Gray?
• Ronnie Baxter
• 2. Countryside campaigners have said they are delighted with a High Court ruling that farmers need planning permission to put up what?
• Plastic polytunnels
• 3. Which New Zealand Cricket boss is leaving his post to head the company organising the 2011 Rugby World Cup?
• Martin Snedden
• 4. Which Royal has been commissioned as an officer in the British Army after graduating from Sandhurst?
• Prince William
• 5. “The List:” Name the 3 Spanish teams left in the Champions League?
• Real Madrid, Barcelona and Valenica

Topic of the Day: It's A Wonderful Life

• 6. Who directed the Christmas classic “It's A Wonderful Life”?
• Frank Capra
• 7. Who is the main character played by James Stewart?
• George Bailey
• 8. What is the name of the angel in the film (played by Henry Travers)?
• Clarence Oddbody
• 9. Which Oscar winning actress played the part of Mary Hatch, and later Miss Ellie in “Dallas”?
• Donna Reed
• 10. How old is the picture this year, i.e. in what year was the film made?
• 60 (made in 1946)

23

• BA increases flights to help overcome travel backlog
• Sudan 'to accept UN Darfur force'
• Glenn McGrath announces retirement from international cricket after 2007 World Cup
• Georgia has agreed to pay twice as much for its gas from Russia
• Aberdeen tops the list for %age rise in house prices in Scotland in 2006 with 27%
• Arrest warrant issued for 81-year-old Dorothy Evans for harassment and breaching an Asbo
• Mark Ramprakash v Matt Dawson in final of Strictly Come Dancing
• UN Security Council to vote on draft resolution imposing trade sanctions against Iran for failure to halt uranium enrichment

23 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. Who was the only England player to score over 50 in both innings of the Perth Ashes Test?
• Kevin Pietersen
• 2. Which cigarette-maker has said it has received a takeover approach, which values the company at £7.5bn?
• Gallaher
• 3. Everton have called for Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho to retract his comments about which player?
• Andrew Johnson
• 4. Which minister said that the government should look at prosecuting men who pay for sex?
• Harriet Harman
• 5. “The List:” Which 2 Anglican congregations in the US have voted to split from the Episcopal Church?
• Truro Church and Falls Church

Topic of the Day: X-Factor 2006

• 6. Who won the series?
• Leona Lewis
• 7. Which phone company sponsored the event?
• Nokia
• 8. Name the three judges?
• Simon Cowell, Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh
• 9. Name the runners up in the three series so far?
• G4, Andy Abraham and Ray Quinn
• 10. Which journalist and former “Smash Hits” editor hosts the programme?
• Kate Thornton

22

• Christmas travel chaos continues due to fog
• Steven Wright arrested over Suffolk murders
• Three dead bodies found in shipping container on a building site in Berkshire
• Sir Ian Blair says the UK is facing an unparalleled and growing threat of a terrorist attack
• Space shuttle Discovery lands safely at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
• US court cuts damages Exxon Mobil must pay for 1989 Exxon Valdez spill to $2.5bn
• 2 men are given life terms for the murder of Pc Sharon Beshenivsky
• Richard Hammond talks to Jonathan Ross on his chat show
• World number 19 Radek Stepanek retires from the Czech Republic Davis Cup team.
• Nigeria's vice-president, Atiku Abubakar, is expelled from the ruling party for joining the opposition as a presidential contender

22 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. What has the LTA sold for £35m to is members?
• Queen's Club
• 2. Microsoft has admitted to 3 unpatched bugs in which of its core products?
• Word
• 3. Which former World champion said of Ronnie O’Sullivan “Maybe he should put his cue in the case and leave it there”?
• John Parrott
• 4. Who conducted the official UK police inquiry into the Paris car crash which killed Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed?
• Lord Stevens
• 5. “The List:” Which Palestinian rival groups have agreed to a deal to end fighting in Gaza?
• Hamas and Fatah

Topic of the Day: Clay Regazzoni

• 6. In which country was Clay Regazzoni born?
• Switzerland
• 7. In which year was Clay Regazzoni 2nd in the F1 championship?
• 1974
• 8. On which circuit did he crash in 1980 leaving him paralysed from the waist down?
• Long Beach
• 9. Near which Italian city was Clay Regazzoni killed?
• Parma
• 10. Out of 132 Grand Prix how many did Regazzoni win?
• 5

21

• Hundreds of domestic flights and some international flights are still grounded by fog
• Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) in Somalia, say they are in a state of war with Ethiopia
• Daniel James, charged with passing on secret information
• BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour presenter, Jenni Murray has announced that she has breast cancer
• Michael Stone told he must serve at least 25 years in jail before being considered for parole
• Shane Warne says he will retire from international cricket after the Ashes
• Turkmenistan's President Saparmurat Niyazov has died
• George Michael performs free gig for NHS nurses
• Baghdad suicide bomber kills 10
• Tamil Tigers free the remaining children kidnapped earlier in the week
• Richard "Hamster" Hammond tells Jonathan Ross the two weeks after his crash are a blank.
• Record firms sue Russian MP3 site, Allofmp3.com.
• Germany's Adrian Sutil will drive for the new F1 team Spyker next season

21 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. Man Utd have received a work permit for which Chinese striker?
• Dong Fangzhou
• 2. Who is the leader of the LSO choir that is the star of BBC2’s “The Choir”?
• Gareth Malone
• 3. Which golf course in County Meath has been announced as venue for 2011 Solheim Cup?
• Killeen Castle Golf Resort
• 4. What did opera star Roberto Alagna, who left La Scala's stage after being booed, claim had been the cause?
• Low blood sugar
• 5. “The List:” Clint Eastwood has received two Golden Globe nominations for which films?
• “Letters From Iwo Jima” and “Flags of Our Fathers”

Topic of the Day: Kath and Kim

• 6. Who plays Kath and Kim?
• Jane Turner and Gina Riley
• 7. What is Kath’s surname?
• Day-Knight
• 8. Which song by Anthony Newley is the theme song to the show?
• The Joker (sung by Gina Riley)
• 9. Who is Kath’s husband a “Purveyor of fine meats”?
• Kel (Knight)
• 10. What is the name of the 2005 film version of Kath and Kim called?
• Da Kath and Kim Code

20

• Detectives investigating 5 Suffolk deaths get extra time to question Stephen Wright
• BA grounds all domestic flights because of extreme fog
• Lord Stevens' bung inquiry highlights 17 transfers that need further investigation
• EU fisheries ministers discuss 2007 quotas
• Lord Fraser of Carmyllie charged with disorderly conduct at Dundee Airport
• Sinn Fein assembly member Pat O'Rawe is de-selected
• 4 Turks acquitted of insulting "Turkishness" in translating a book by Noam Chomsky
• Carling Cup: Quarter-finals
  • Newcastle 0-1 Chelsea
  • Tottenham 1-0 Southend
• Brian Ashton appointed as England's new head rugby union coach.
• David Irving to be released on probation
• Newspapers suggest Mustaf Jamma, a suspect in the Sharon Beshenivsky case, has fled the UK wearing a veil

20 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. On his first day of an Ashes test what figures did Monty Panesar return?
• 5-92
• 2. What is the name of the Roman Catholic priest sentenced to 15 years in prison for his involvement in Rwanda's 1994 genocide?
• Athanase Seromba
• 3. Man Utd have received a work permit for which Chinese striker?
• Dong Fangzhou
• 4. What is the name of the Chinese lawyer, well-known for taking on politically sensitive cases, that is reported to have been put on trial for subversion?
• Gao Zhisheng
• 5. “The List:” Which 2 people made the final of this year’s “X Factor”
• Ray Quinn and Leona Lewis

Topic of the Day: Ban Ki-moon

• 6. In which country was Ban Ki-moon born?
• South Korea
• 7. What number UN Secretary General is Ban Ki-moon?
• 8
• 8. What is the name of his wife?
• Yoo Soon-taek
• 9. In which city was he sworn in?
• New York
• 10. How old is Ban Ki-moon?
• 62

19

• 2nd man held in Suffolk murders investigation
• Fatah and Hamas have agreed a new ceasefire
• Libya stands firm on death sentences given to Bulgarian nurses for infecting children with HIV
• President Laurent Gbagbo of the Ivory Coast, sets out 5-point plan to end country's crisis.
• Group of Chilean MPs push for Pinochet monument
• President Bakiyev accepts his government's resignation
• French say bird flu probably didn’t kill 4,000 chickens in north-eastern France.
• Officials in Andhra Pradesh state say an HIV test will soon be compulsory before marriage.
• Tamil Tigers rebels kidnap 21 children in Sri Lanka
• Space shuttle Discovery undocks after 8 days at the International Space Station.
• Google and NASA sign an agreement to make space data available on the web

19 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. Which team won the 125th Varsity match at Twickenham by 15 points to 6?
• Cambridge
• 2. Which country's president seemed to accidentally say that the country had a nuclear arms capability in a speech in December 2006?
• Israel’s (Ehud Olmert)
• 3. Which country's teams have threatened to pull out of the Heineken Cup in 2007?
• France
• 4. African trials showed that what could dramatically cut the rate of HIV infection?
• Circumcision
• 5. “The List:” Which two and former Wimbledon champions said that Andy Murray could eventually take over from Roger Federer as world number one?
• Goran Ivanisevic and Bjorn Borg

Topic of the Day: Alan Curbishley

• 6. Which club has he just joined as manager?
• West Ham
• 7. At which club did he begin his managerial career in 1991?
• Charlton
• 8. Which 2 Midlands clubs did he play for, in the 1970’s and 80’s?
• Birmingham and Aston Villa
• 9. In 1974 Curbishley joined West Ham as a player, he played 85 games and scored how many goals?
• 5
• 10. Alan is not his real name, or indeed any of his names, what is his real first name?
• Llewellyn (Llewellyn Charles Curbishley)

18

• Man found guilty of murdering Pc Sharon Beshenivsky and 2 convicted of manslaughter
• Police investigating murders of 5 prostitutes in Suffolk arrest 37-year-old man near Felixstowe
• Discovery Astronauts make final spacewalk
• Hamas say they will boycott early elections
• Robert Gates sworn in as the new US Secretary of State for Defence
• British heavyweight champion Scott Gammer's manager says no to Audley Harrison fight
• Kieren Fallon’s trial date over allegations of race-fixing is set
• UEFA Cup Draw:
  • Zulte Waregem v Newcastle
  • Braga v Parma
  • Lens v Panathinaikos
  • Leverkusen v Blackburn
  • Hapoel Tel Aviv v Rangers
  • Livorno v Espanyol
  • Feyenoord v Tottenham
  • Fenerbahce v AZ Alkmaar
  • Werder Bremen v Ajax
  • Spartak Moscow v Celta Vigo
  • CSKA Moscow v Maccabi Haifa
  • AEK Athens v PSG
  • Benfica v Dinamo Bucharest
  • Steaua Bucharest v Sevilla
  • Shakhtar v Nancy
  • Bordeaux v Osasuna
• France testing dead birds for flu
• Mexican police say they have captured Ugly Poncho a high-profile drugs lord
• North Korea says it will not halt its nuclear programme unless UN sanctions are lifted
• 13 men appear in a Melbourne court on charges of plotting a terror attack on Australian soil
• George Bush signs agreement allowing the US to export nuclear fuel to India
• Dave Clark Five’s Denis Payton dies aged 63
• Arsene Wenger charged with improper conduct by the FA following draw with Portsmouth
• Arvind Parmar announces his retirement

18 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. Which Sports Minister suggested that people should not be banned for using “social” drugs?
• Richard Caborn
• 2. Which President has told a conference questioning the Holocaust that Israel's days are numbered?
• Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
• 3. Who was named the European golf tour’s golfer of the year?
• Paul Casey
• 4. Which company has unveiled a hostile bid for the London Stock Exchange worth £2.7bn?
• Nasdaq
• 5. “The List:” 12 “celebrities” have been chosen as a jury for a BBC Two's new courtroom show “The Verdict”. Name as many as you can.
• Jeffery Archer, Honor Blackman, Stan Collymore, Jennifer Ellison, Jacqueline Gold, Alex James, MegaMan, Dominic McVey, Patsy Palmer, Sara Payne, Michael Portillo, and Ingrid Tarrant

Topic of the Day: Snooker UK Championship:

• 6. Who beat Ronnie O’Sullivan 9-1 in this years UK Championship?
• Stephen Hendry
• 7. Who sponsors the 2006 UK Championships?
• Maplin
• 8. Who won the very first tournament in 1977?
• Patsy Fagan
• 9. Who has won the tournament 6x?
• Steve Davis
• 10. Where in York is the event being held?
• The Barbican Centre

17

• Tony Blair arrives in Israel
• Palestinian rivals Hamas and Fatah agree to a deal to end fighting in Gaza
• France cuts Afghan troop numbers
• Harriet Harman says government should look at prosecuting men who pay for sex
• 2 Anglican congregations in US vote to split from the Episcopal Church
• Westinghouse wins a billion-dollar contract to build reactors in China
• UK Charts:
  • Singles:
    • 1. Take That - Patience
    • 2. Cliff Richard - 21st Century Christmas/ Move It
    • 3. Gwen Stefani - Wind It Up
    • 4. Cascada - Truly Madly Deeply
    • 5. Booty Luv - Boogie 2nite
  • Albums:
    • 1. Take That - Beautiful World
    • 2. Oasis - Stop The Clocks
    • 3. Westlife - The Love Album
    • 4. Il Divo - Siempre
    • 5. U2 - U218 Singles
• Pro-Kremlin youth group rally in Moscow
• Pakistani wedding fire kills 22
• Matt Lucas "marries" his partner in a ceremony in London
• Tesco says it plans to run 75% of its delivery fleet on biodiesel from January 2007
• Premiership:
  • West Ham 1-0 Man Utd
  • Everton 2-3 Chelsea
  • Man City 1-2 Tottenham
• Old Firm Game: Rangers 1-1 Celtic
• Ernie Els wins SAA Open
• The 2007 Race of Champions will be held at the new Wembley Stadium next December
• Bishop of Worcester criticises high salaries as unfair
• Heather Mills McCartney is told by police of a "non-specific threat" made against her

17 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. Which England midfielder has been diagnosed with a minor stress fracture in his foot?
• Joe Cole
• 2. A 4-year old HIV-positive boy was in the news recently for being thrown out of nursery in which southern Indian city, the capital of Andhra Pradesh?
• Hyderabad
• 3. The golfer, Ernie Els has one at least one title every year since which year?
• 1991
• 4. A move by 2 university students to halt which forthcoming DVD release has been rejected by a Los Angeles judge?
• Borat
• 5. “The List:” Name the last 4 in this years Snooker UK Championship.
• Stephen Hendry, Graeme Dott, Peter Ebdon and John Higgins

Topic of the Day: European Cross Country Athletics Championships

• 6. At the recent European Cross Country Athletics Championships which British woman won the junior (under-20) title?
• Stephanie Twell
• 7. Mohammed "Mo" Farah won the senior mens title, in which country was he born?
• Somalia
• 8. In which country were the championships held?
• Italy (near Milan)
• 9. Which medal did the womens senior team win?
• Silver
• 10. Which sisters ran in the women’s senior team?
• Liz and Hayley Yelling

16

• X Factor Final: 1st = Leona Lewis, 2nd = Ray Quinn
• Ashes Test 3, Perth, Day 3: Australia 244 & 527-5 dec v England 215 & 19-1
• Strictly Come Dancing: Matt & Lilia, and Mark & Karen survive, Emma & Darren out
• UK Snooker championships: Hendry 9 - 7 Dott
• Police investigating the murder of 5 women in Suffolk release images of one victim's final journey
• Premiership:
  • Arsenal 2-2 Portsmouth
  • Aston Villa 0-1 Bolton
  • Charlton 0-3 Liverpool
  • Newcastle 2-1 Watford
• President Mahmoud Abbas calls for elections to solve current unrest
• Discovery crew begins spacewalk to complete rewiring of the International Space Station
• Congressman and bodyguard are shot dead in the Philippines as they leave a wedding
• Direct flights between Spain and Gibraltar resume
• Ashley Giles returns from Ashes tour because of an illness to his wife.
• Howard Eastman knocks out Richard Williams in the 12th round to regain the British title
• Justin Gatlin trains with the NFL's Arizona Cardinals.

16 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. Who has been named as Great Britain's Fed Cup captain?
• Nigel Sears
• 2. Which God-King has been forced to pay tax - for the first time in the history of the monarchy?
• Gyanendra of Nepal
• 3. Which Premiership team are looking at leaving the ground that they have occupied since 1892?
• Everton
• 4. Who in his final speech in his job said “No nation can make itself secure by seeking supremacy over others”?
• Kofi Annan (as Secretary General of the UN, of the USA)
• 5. “The List:” Which 2 jockeys have been warned off for 18 months after an inquiry by the Horseracing Regulatory Authority?
• Brian Reilly and Dean Williams

Topic of the Day: Bullfighting

• 6. “A Boy From Nowhere” comes from which bullfighting inspired musical by Mike Leander and Edward Seago?
• Matador
• 7. Manuel Benítez Pérez is probably the most famous bullfighter of all time, how is he better known?
• El Cordobés
• 8. The oldest bullring in South America is said to be the Plaza de Acho dating back to 1766. In which capital city is it to be found?
• Lima
• 9. Which Salford born bullfighter was known as El Ingles and the Lancashire Toreador?
• Frank Evans
• 10. “Course libre” and “course landaise” are bloodless bullfights were a rosette is taken from the head of the bull, in which country are they practiced?
• France

15

• Corus ordered to pay over £3m in fines and costs for 2001 explosion
• 10 US congressmen visit Cuba
• Prince William graduates from Sandhurst Military Academy.
• Tajikistan prepares for a 24-hour blackout as work begins on a new dam.
• Wife of Taiwan's president faints and is taken to hospital on opening day of her trial.
• Nintendo to replace broken straps for its new Wii console
• Qatar beats Iraq in football final at the Asian Games
• Champions League draw:
  • Porto v Chelsea
  • Celtic v AC Milan
  • PSV Eindhoven v Arsenal
  • Lille v Manchester United
  • Roma v Lyon
  • Barcelona v Liverpool
  • Real Madrid v Bayern Munich
  • Inter Milan v Valencia
• London Film Critics' Circle award “The Queen” 7 nominations
• Patrik Sjoland shoots course record of 64 to take lead at the South African Open
• Ashes Test 3, Perth, Day 2 England 215 v Australia 244 & 119-1
• At women's World Cup super combined event in Austria Chemmy Alcott finishes 7th
• Man Utd receive a work permit for Chinese striker Dong Fangzhou
• Pope's personal preacher urges him to call for "day of atonement" for child sex abuse by clergy

15 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. Which 1999 Lance Todd trophy winner has joined Leigh?
• Leroy Rivett
• 2. The United States Congress has passed legislation normalising trade ties with which Asian country?
• Vietnam
• 3. Mo Farah is the first British winner of the European cross-country title since who triumphed in Charleroi in 1996?
• Jon Brown
• 4. Whose latest single is called “9 Crimes”?
• Damien Rice
• 5. “The List:” Which 6 Gulf states have said that they may create a shared nuclear programme?
• Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE

Topic of the Day: Neighbours

• 6. Who created the series and also Prisoner (Cell Block H)?
• Reg Watson
• 7. What are the names of Paul Robinson’s twin sons?
• Cameron and Robert
• 8. Which character was played by Natalie Bassingthwaighte the lead singer of Rogue Traders?
• Isabelle Hoyland
• 9. Which husband and wife team wrote the theme music?
• Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent.
• 10. Which Oscar winning actor played Kenny Larkin in a 1987 show?
• Russell Crowe

14

• Official inquiry into crash which killed Princess Diana finds no evidence she was murdered.
• Police confirm a woman found dead near Ipswich is prostitute Paula Clennell.
• Anton Balasingham, the main Tamil Tigers' negotiator dies
• Republican Senator John McCain calls for more US troops to be sent to Iraq
• Ban Ki-moon sworn in as United Nations secretary general
• Helen Mirren receives 3 Golden Globe nominations
• Day 1: 3rd Ashes Test - Australia all out 244, England 51-2
• UEFA Cup:
  • Tottenham 3-1 Dinamo Bucharest
  • Rangers 1-0 Partizan Belgrade
• Arsene Wenger fined £10,000 for the contretemps with Alan Pardew
• Killeen Castle Golf Resort in County Meath announced as venue for 2011 Solheim Cup.
• Ascot racecourse to spend £10m on improvements
• Tennis player, Lindsay Davenport is pregnant
• LTA sells Queen's Club to is members for £35m
• Tony Blair interviewed by police investigating allegations of cash for honours

14 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. Which England cricketer revealed that he had received a phone call branding him a disgrace to his country within hours of the second Test defeat to Australia?
• Ashley Giles
• 2. A recent study said that which disease may have killed over 5,000 gorillas?
• Ebola
• 3. Which grandson of Mario Andretti will drive for Honda in Jerez next week?
• Marco Andretti
• 4. The government has announced the 3,000 what, mostly in rural areas are to be closed?
• Post offices
• 5. “The List:” Name the judges on this series of “Strictly Come Dancing”.
• Len Goodman, Arlene Phillips, Bruno Tonioli or Craig Revel Horwood

Topic of the Day: Moon

• 6. What was the name if the Apollo 11 lander module?
• Eagle
• 7. Designed by Wernher von Braun what was the name of the rocket that launched Apollo 11?
• Saturn V
• 8. Which group had a hit with “Man on the Moon” in 1993?
• REM
• 9. Who starred as Andy Kaufman in the film of the same name that was inspired by the song?
• Jim Carrey
• 10. Who were the last two astronauts to walk on the Moon?
• Cernan and Schmidt

13

• Botswana court rules in favour of the bushmen
• Rwandan priest found guilty of genocide at the UN tribunal in Arusha
• China ends school fees for 150m students in rural areas
• Chinese lawyer Gao Zhisheng is tried in secret
• East German Athletes from who were victims of the state-doping, win compensation
• UK unemployment fell by 7,000 to 1.7 million from August to October
• Sebastien Bourdais, rules out joining F1 for 2007
• Premiership:
  • Chelsea 1-0 Newcastle
  • Wigan 0-1 Arsenal
• UEFA Cup: Blackburn 1-0 AS Nancy
• Alan Curbishley named as the new manager of West Ham
• Andreas Schifferer of Austria retires from skiing at 32
• African trials show that circumcision can dramatically cut the rate of HIV infection
• Prominent member of Hamas shot dead in the Gaza Strip
• Peter Boyle dies aged 71

13 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. Who broke her national 200m breaststroke record as she claimed Britain's first gold medal of the European short-course championships?
• Kirsty Balfour
• 2. Which actor has been arrested in Orlando after surrendering himself to authorities on tax fraud charges?
• Wesley Snipes
• 3. Which two fighters took part in the first heavyweight title fight in Russia?
• Oleg Maskaev and Peter Okhello
• 4. What was the name of the driver who tests have found was three times over the French drink-drive limit when Princess Diana died?
• Henri Paul
• 5. “The List:” The BBC’s Culture Show recently held a poll to find England’s greatest living icon. Name the top ten.
• David Attenborough, Paul McCartney, Morrissey, David Bowie, Michael Caine, Stephen Fry, Kate Bush (only number 7!), Alan Bennett, Kate Moss and Vivienne Westwood

Topic of the Day: Kofi Annan

• 6. In which country was Kofi Annan born?
• Ghana
• 7. What was the name of his twin sister who died in 1991?
• Efua Atta
• 8. What nationality is his wife?
• Swedish
• 9. What is the name of his son that was implicated in the Oil-for-Food Programme scandal?
• Kojo
• 10. Who will succeed him as Secretary General of the UN?
• Ban Ki-moon

12

• Elton John and Duran Duran to perform at 2007 Princess Diana memorial concert at Wembley
• Iran's president says Israel's days are numbered.
• Ivory Coast army say they have foiled a coup and a plot to assassinate President Gbagbo
• Funeral of General Pinochet
• US court rejects a move by 2 students to halt DVD release of “Borat”
• 4-year old HIV-positive boy thrown out of nursery in Hyderabad
• Nasdaq attempts £2.7bn hostile takeover bid for London Stock Exchange
• US Federal Reserve keeps interest rates on hold at 5.25% for 4th successive month
• Varsity match (Twickenham): Oxford 6-15 Cambridge
• Baghdad suicide bombing kills 70
• Shuttle astronauts begin spacewalk at the ISS
• Richard Caborn suggests people should not be banned for using “social” drugs
• Thierry Henry confirmed as missing the rest of the year with injury

12 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. Which uncapped Western Australia batsman is included in the Australia squad for the third Ashes Test?
• Adam Voges
• 2. In which “country” are people going to the polls to choose a new leader, with only 5% on the population allowed to vote?
• Hong Kong
• 3. Who has signed a $16m one-year deal with the SF Giants?
• Barry Bonds
• 4. Which British-born astronaut is among the crew of Discovery's latest space shuttle mission?
• Nicholas Patrick
• 5. “The List:” After round 2 which Argentinean pair led Golf’s World Cup in Barbados?
• Cabrera and Romero

Topic of the Day: Elvis Presley Chart Number Ones

• 6. How many UK number one hits has Elvis Presley had?
• 21
• 7. In 2005 Elvis Presley had the 1000th UK number one single, what was it called?
• One Night/I Got Stung
• 8. In which year was “All Shook Up” his first UK number one?
• 1957
• 9. In the US it is the Beatles that have the most number one singles, with 20, how many has Elvis had?
• 17
• 10. Who else is credited on the 2002 number 1 “A Little Less Conversation”?
• JXL

11

• 5th prostitute reported missing in the Ipswich area
• Kofi Annan urges the US to work with other nations rather than acting unilaterally.
• 4 people in Germany have been found contaminated with polonium-210
• Ibrahim Babangida withdraws from the race to be the ruling party's presidential candidate.
• Shell and Gazprom agree a deal over Sakhalin-2 oil and gas project
• Dubai Ports World agrees to sell its 6 US ports to an American firm
• Tony Blair outlines 500 ways red tape is to be cut
• Farepak customers protest outside HBOS's head office
• Oil prices fall below $62 a barrel
• Mel Gibson’s “Apocalypto” tops the US Box Office
• Alan Pardew dismissed as manager of West Ham
• Everton FC say they are in talks to move out of Liverpool to a new site in Knowsley
• Joe Cole out for 3 weeks with minor stress fracture in his foot.
• Colin Beecher succeeded by Nigel Sears as Great Britain's Fed Cup captain.
• Brian Reilly and Dean Williams warned off for 18 months by the HRA

11 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. Which promoter ruled out any future involvement with Scott Harrison after he pulled out of his WBO featherweight title defence against Nicky Cook?
• Frank Warren
• 2. The editor of Playboy magazine in which country has gone on trial on charges of publishing indecent material?
• Indonesia
• 3. Which British teenager took 200m butterfly bronze and set a new British record on the 1st day of the European short-course championships in Helsinki?
• Jess Dickons
• 4. Which diseases, two of the biggest killers in Africa, have scientists in Kenya say may interact to help them spread faster?
• AIDS and Malaria
• 5. “The List:” Which three Chinese players took the Snooker Gold medal at the 2006 Asian Games?
• Ding Junhui, Tian Pengfei and Liang Wenbo

Topic of the Day: Opera

• 6. Which Verdi opera with a libretto by Piave was amended by Boito and tells the story of the first Doge of Genoa?
• Simon Boccanegra
• 7. Which 2 fairy-tale characters give their name to the title of a Engelbert Humperdinck opera?
• Hansel and Gretel.
• 8. Of which island is Idomeneo, the title character of Mozart’s opera, the King?
• Crete
• 9. Count Vaudémont and Ibn-Hakia appear in which little performed Tchaikovsky opera?
• Iolanthe
• 10. Which of Mozart’s operas is noted for its associations with Masonic symbols, and was premiered three months before he died?
• The Magic Flute

10

• Oleg Maskaev defends WBC heavyweight title against Uganda's Peter Okhello in Russia
• General Pinochet dies aged 91
• Marc Ravalomanana re-elected as president of Madagascar
• 30 civilians killed in Darfur attack
• Thousands flee Philippine people evacuate ahead of Typhoon Utor
• Summit in Bolivia ends for Latin-American leaders
• Voters in Moldova's breakaway Trans-Dniester region go to the polls to elect a president
• UK Charts:
  • Singles:
    • 1. Take That - Patience
    • 2. Booty Luv - Boogie 2nite
    • 3. Akon Ft Eminem - Smack That
    • 4. Lazy Town - Bing Bang (Time To Dance)
    • 5. Nelly Furtado - All Good Things (Come To An End)
  • Albums:
    • 1. Take That - Beautiful World
    • 2. Oasis - Stop The Clocks
    • 3. Westlife - The Love Album
    • 4. Il Divo – Siempre
    • 5. U2 - U218 Singles
• People of Nagorno-Karabakh vote in a referendum on a proposed constitution.
• Gulf states say they are considering a shared nuclear energy programme
• Zara Phillips is named BBC Sports Personality of the Year
• Space shuttle Discovery lifts off after weather delay
• Germany win the World Cup of Golf in Barbados
• Premiership: Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal
• Alvaro Quiros wins the Dunhill Championship by 1 shot

10 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. Which Leicester defender was named Great Britain Hockey Athlete of the Year for 2006?
• Crista Cullen
• 2. Who is the leading British act in the nominations for the 2007 Grammy Awards, with 5?
• James Blunt
• 3. Which Middlesbrough midfielder’s red card against Tottenham has been rescinded following an appeal?
• George Boateng
• 4. Which editor of the Yemen Observer daily has been fined for reprinting controversial cartoons about the Prophet Muhammad from a Danish newspaper earlier this year?
• Muhammad Assadi
• 5. “The List:” The 2007 Rugby Union Churchill Cup will take place in England. Which 6 countries are taking part?
• New Zealand, USA, Canada, England, Scotland and Ireland

Topic of the Day: American animated television series

• 6. Which superheroine’s are made from sugar, spice and everything nice plus “Chemical X'” by Professor Utonium?
• The Powerpuff Girls
• 7. Which series was created by Timothy and Julie McNally Cahill and deals with the Charles Darwin Middle School, a school for anthropomorphic animals?
• My Gym Partner's a Monkey
• 8. What is the name of the squirrel in “Squirrel Boy”?
• Rodney
• 9. How is CIA agent Stan Smith better known?
• American Dad!
• 10. The series “Family Guy” is set in which US state?
• Rhode Island

09

• 3,000 post offices in mostly rural areas are to be closed
• Japan formally invites China's leaders to visit
• World Cup of Gold: In Barbados Sweden take 1-shot lead into final round at golf's
• Audley Harrison wins re-match against Danny Williams with 3rd round stoppage
• Police find traces of radiation in Hamburg flat and another home used by contact of Litvinenko.
• Marco Andretti, the grandson of motorsport legend Mario, will drive for Honda next week
• PLO support the idea of early Palestinian elections
• Premiership:
  • Man Utd 3-1 Man City
  • Liverpool 4-0 Fulham
  • Portsmouth 2-0 Everton
• Thousands in Hungary attend the state mourning ceremony for Ferenc Puskas
• Heavy fighting in the east of Chad
• US Congress agrees to normalising trade relations with Vietnam
• Bush fires hit south-eastern Australia
• Fire at a Moscow drug rehabilitation hospital kills 45 women
• Pakistan says it has successfully test-fired a short-range missile
• Ouija Board retires from racing
• Group of Labour MPs urges scrapping post of Deputy Leader
• Ariane 5 rocket puts 2 satellites in orbit after taking off from French Guiana.

09 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. Who recently proposed a “four-point solution” to the situation in Kashmir?
• President Pervez Musharraf
• 2. Who did Man Utd beat 3-1 to top their Champions League group?
• Benfica
• 3. With a name like a 1980’s all girl singing group which military commander has seized control of Fiji?
• Frank Bainimarama
• 4. Who currently holds the record of 58.875 secs for the men's 1 kilometre time trial set in 2001 at altitude in Bolivia?
• Arnaud Tournant
• 5. “The List:” Which Welsh pair are defending their World Cup title in Barbados this week?
• Bradley Dredge and Stephen Dodd

Topic of the Day: 2006 Asian Games

• 6. In which city are the 2006 Asian Games being held?
• Doha
• 7. What is the slogan of the 2006 Asian Games?
• The Games of Your Life
• 8. Which number “Asiad” are the 2006 Asian Games?
• XV
• 9. What type of animal is Orry the mascot for the games?
• An Oryx
• 10. Which Korean rider died after falling off his horse during the cross-country competition?
• Kim Hyung-chil

08

• DNA tests indicate Henri Paul, Princess Diana's driver was drunk the night that she died
• Fiji's membership of the Commonwealth is suspended.
• Scientists working in Kenya say malaria is helping the spread of Aids
• Serb war crimes suspect Vojislav Seselj ends his hunger strike,
• Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora accuses Hezbollah leader of plotting a coup
• Nepal's King Gyanendra pays tax for the first time
• Speculation that Barclays Bank may receive a takeover bid from Bank of America.
• NASA postpones night lift-off for Shuttle Discovery
• Wesley Snipes is arrested in Orlando after surrendering himself on tax fraud charges.
• John McEnroe loses 6-3 6-2 to Marcelo Rios in Royal Albert Hall Masters
• Damien Martyn retires from all forms of cricket
• A scuffle breaks out at weigh in of Danny Williams and Audley Harrison.
• Barry Bonds agrees a new one-year contract with the San Francisco Giants.
• George Sevens in South Africa: Tunisia 33-14 Scotland
• Kirsty Balfour breaks British 200m breaststroke record winning European short-course gold

08 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. Dubai International Capital (DIC), the investment arm of Dubai's government, confirmed that they were in talks about a possible buy-out of which Premiership club?
• Liverpool
• 2. Which former Paraguayan President was jailed for 8 years for fraud and embezzlement?
• Luis Gonzalez Macchi
• 3. Who was top scorer for England in their second innings at Adelaide, with 34?
• Andrew Strauss
• 4. Who has the Australian opposition Labor Party elected as its new leader?
• Kevin Rudd
• 5. “The List:” Who scored the two goals for Chelsea as they finished top of Champions League Group A?
• Andriy Shevchenko and Shaun Wright-Phillips

Topic of the Day: BBC Sports Personality of the Year

• 6. Who was the first winner in 1954, aged just 23?
• Chris Chataway
• 7. In 1962 who became the first woman to receive the award?
• Anita Lonsborough
• 8. In 1970 who won the award for the second time, the first person to win twice?
• Henry Cooper
• 9. With 6, which sport has the most winners of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year?
• Motor Racing, F1
• 10. Which award is given to a British sportsperson for “courage and achievement in the face of adversity”?
• Helen Rollason Award

07

• Beta version of Microsoft's book search engine - Live Search Books – goes live
• George Bush rules out early talks with Iran and Syria on Iraq
• Russia poisoning investigation widens
• Six injured as tornado hits London
• Lady Butler-Sloss to hold public preliminary hearing in Princess Diana inquest
• Discovery launch delayed by weather
• Scott Harrison pulls out of fight with Nicky Cook
• European short-course Championships:
  • Jess Dickons - 200m butterfly bronze
  • Kate Haywood - 50m breaststroke silver
• UK interest rates kept at 5% by the Bank of England
• Nintendo's Wii videogames console goes on sale at midnight
• Hewlett-Packard agrees to pay $14.5m to settle lawsuit over bugging
• Number of people claiming unemployment benefit rises above 1 million
• Mastercard wins US lawsuit against FIFA to maintain World Cup sponsorship

07 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. Which former Indian cricketer and MP has been sentenced to 3 years in prison for manslaughter?
• Navjot Sidhu
• 2. Which singer was fined for 5 counts of possessing drugs this week?
• Pete Doherty
• 3. Who is WBO featherweight champion Scott Harrison due to make a title defence against this weekend (although he may have withdrawn from the bout)?
• Nick Cook
• 4. Which US ambassador to the UN is stepping down amid opposition in the Senate?
• John Bolton
• 5. “The List:” Name the 10 sportsmen or women nominate for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award.
• Zara Phillips, Darren Clarke, Andy Murray, Joe Calzaghe, Ricky Hatton, Nicole Cooke, Monty Panesar, Beth Tweddle, Phil Taylor and Jenson Button.

Topic of the Day: Muse

• 6. Who is the lead singer with Muse?
• Matthew Bellamy
• 7. What is Muses’ current single?
• Knights of Cydonia
• 8. Where in Devon were they formed in the early 1990’s?
• Teignmouth
• 9. On which record label is their latest album “Black Holes and Revelations” released?
• Helium 3
• 10. Muse have signed up to become the 1st band to play at which new venue?
• The new Wembley Stadium

06

• NASA says it has found evidence of recent water flow on Mars
• Small traces of a radioactive substance are found at the British embassy
• UN evacuates all non-essential staff from El Fasher in North Darfur
• State of emergency is declared in a city in southern Peru
• Champions League:
  • Man Utd 3-1 Benfica
  • Porto 0-0 Arsenal
  • Copenhagen 3-1 Celtic
• France's first international news channel is launched
• Former Indian cricketer and MP, Navjot Sidhu, sentenced to 3 years for manslaughter
• Australia lifts a ban on cloning human embryos for stem cell research
• Dalits stage mass rally in Mumbai
• Former head of the Army, General Sir Mike Jackson, crticises running of Ministry of Defence

06 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. 2 people were killed at a fire in Halland, East Sussex at what type of factory?
• Firework
• 2. Taegu is bidding for the 2011 World Athletics Championships. In which country is Taegu?
• South Korea
• 3. From which British city do the Fratellis come?
• Glasgow
• 4. Which venue is to host the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards?
• NEC in Birmingham
• 5. “The List:” Name the last 4 teams in the EDF Energy Cup?
• Sale Sharks, Leicester Tigers, Ospreys and Cardiff Blues

Topic of the Day: Santa Clause

• 6. What is the subtitle of the 3rd Santa Clause movie, starring Tim Allen?
• The Escape Clause
• 7. In the film who plays Jack Frost?
• Martin Short
• 8. What is Tim Allen’s alter ego in the Santa Clause films?
• Scott Calvin
• 9. Which Star Trek actor plays the Sandman in the second of the trilogy?
• Michael Dorn
• 10. What is the name of the chief elf played in the first two films by David Krumholtz?
• Bernard

05

• 2nd Test - Adelaide, Day 5 - Australia 513 & 168-4 bt England 551-6 dec & 129 by six wickets
• US Defence Secretary nominee Robert Gates says US is not winning the war in Iraq.
• Richest 2% of adults in the world own more than half of all household wealth
• Zambian opposition leader Michael Sata is arrested for making a false declaration of assets
• New papers cast doubt on Vatican claims about when it learned of the atrocities at Auschwitz
• Chile's ex-leader Augusto Pinochet recovering after a heart attack
• President Musharraf suggests Pakistan may give up claim on Kashmir
• Champions League:
  • Galatasaray 3-2 Liverpool
  • Chelsea 2 –0 Levski Sofia
• Audrey Hepburn’s black dress from “Breakfast at Tiffany's”, sells for £467,200 at auction
• Veiled Muslim woman to deliver Channel 4's alternative Christmas message
• NASA says it will start building a permanent base on the Moon after 2020
• The Churchill Cup international tournament will take place in England in 2007
• Olympic and world champion Chris Hoy aims to break world kilometre record in 2007
• Seve Ballesteros will play in the Masters in April before joining the US Seniors Tour.
• Tropical Storm Durian kills 47 people in Vietnam
• Coup in Fiji brings international condemnation.
• Gunman wounded by security forces outside the US embassy in Yemen

05 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. Keith Senior signed a new deal until the end of the 2008 season, with which club?
• Leeds Rhinos
• 2. Which group topped the UK's singles and albums charts simultaneously for the first time in their career?
• Take That
• 3. Who has vacated his European super featherweight belt to concentrate on becoming a world champion?
• Alex Arthur
• 4. Which air company announce that it was to tow planes to take-off areas in a move designed to cut carbon dioxide output?
• Virgin Atlantic
• 5. “The List:” Name the two golfers that were fined at the Nedbank Challenge in Sun City for throwing their clubs in anger?
• Sergio Garcia and Ernie Els

Topic of the Day: Nelly Furtado

• 6. In which country was she born in 1978?
• Canada
• 7. What is her middle name?
• Kim
• 8. What was the title of her debut album which won a Grammy Award?
• Whoa, Nelly!
• 9. Also the name of an island in the Lesser Antilles, what is the name of her daughter?
• Nevis
• 10. “Promiscuous” and “Maneater” come from which 2006 album?
• Loose

04

• 2nd Test, Adelaide, Day 4 (stumps): England 551-6 dec & 59-1 v Australia 513
• Pete Doherty fined for 5 counts of possessing drugs
• Blair outlining plans to renew UK's nuclear arsenal, says it would be “dangerous” to give them up
• Scotland hit by severe flooding
• EDF Energy Cup – Semi-finals:
  • Sale Sharks v Leicester Tigers
  • Ospreys v Cardiff Blues
• Liverpool FC in £450m takeover talks
• Fijian army moves in to control the capital, Suva
• Former Paraguay President Luis Gonzalez Macchi is jailed for 8 years for fraud and embezzlement
• BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award Nominations:
  • Zara Phillips,
  • Darren Clarke,
  • Andy Murray,
  • Joe Calzaghe,
  • Ricky Hatton,
  • Nicole Cooke,
  • Monty Panesar,
  • Beth Tweddle,
  • Phil Taylor and
  • Jenson Button
• Australia's opposition Labor Party elects ex-diplomat Kevin Rudd as its new leader
• Thousands of Vietnamese are told to leave their homes ahead of Tropical Storm Durian
• 100 out of 123 defendants found guilty in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blast trials
• Marcus Gronholm wins the Wales Rally GB
• At Nedbank Challenge in Sun City, Sergio Garcia and Ernie Els fined for throwing their clubs
• In the 1st of the UK Championship Mark Selby beats former world champion John Parrott 9-1

04 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. Which freestyle ski event has been approved for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver?
• Ski-cross
• 2. Which 79 year-old former DJ died recently?
• Aln “Fluff” Freeman
• 3. Which two rugby players are to have a charity-boxing match to raise funds for ex-rugby league star Steve Prescott?
• Stuart Fielden and Lee Radford
• 4. British political parties are required to declare all loans over what figure?
• £5000
• 5. “The List:” Since August 2005 The Rolling Stones’ “ A Bigger Bang” tour has broken records. What has it grossed, how many shows and how many fans?
• £226m, 110 shows, and 3.5 million fans

Topic of the Day: General Pinochet

• 6. What 6-letter matronymic comes after Pinochet to complete his name?
• Ugarte
• 7. In which year was he born?
• 1915
• 8. Who succeeded him as President?
• José Toribio Merino
• 9. In which Chilean port was he born?
• Valparaíso
• 10. In which year did he cease to be President of Chile after 17 years?
• 1990

03

• 2nd Test, Adelaide, Day 3 (Stumps): England 551-6 dec v Australia 312-5
• FA Cup: Salisbury 1-1 Nottm Forest
• 2 fire crew members killed and 12 people injured in a major blaze at East Sussex fireworks depot
• Augusto Pinochet needs further surgery for an acute heart attack
• World number one Tiger Woods will build his first golf course in Dubai.
• Polls close in Venezuela election
• Miguel Cotto claims the vacant WBA welterweight title
• Lawyers lodge Saddam Hussein death appeal
• Emmerdale actor is charged with raping a British woman on the island of Barbados
• FA Cup Draw:
  • Blackpool v Aldershot/Basingstoke
  • Barnet v Colchester
  • Sheff Utd v Swansea
  • Reading v Burnley
  • Portsmouth v Wigan
  • Mansfield/Doncaster v Bolton
  • West Ham v Brighton
  • Leicester v Fulham
  • Derby v Wrexham
  • Wolves v Oldham
  • Bury/Chester v Ipswich
  • Man Utd v Aston Villa
  • Sheff Wed v Man City
  • Tamworth v Norwich
  • Salisbury/Nottm For v Charlton
  • Cardiff v Tottenham
  • Preston v Sunderland
  • Liverpool v Arsenal
  • Bristol Rovers/Bournemouth v Hereford
  • Watford v Stockport
  • Crystal Palace v Swindon
  • Bristol City v Coventry
  • Peterborough v Plymouth
  • QPR v Luton
  • Southend v Barnsley
  • West Brom v Leeds
  • Hull v Middlesbrough
  • Birmingham v Newcastle
  • Torquay/Leyton Orient v Southampton
  • Everton v Blackburn
  • Chelsea v Macclesfield
  • Stoke v Bradford/Millwall
• IMF team visits Zimbabwe to discuss outstanding debt to the fund.
• Australia's Nathan Green hits 7 birdies to win the New Zealand Open.
• Votes are counted in Madagascar's presidential election
• Defending champion Jim Furyk wins the Nedbank Challenge in Sun City
• International troops kill 70 Taleban during a four-hour battle in southern Afghanistan
• British Retail Consortium says Christmas shopping will not pick up for 2 more weeks
• Premiership: Everton 2-0 West Ham

03 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. By how many runs did England lose the first Ashes test to Australia?
• 277
• 2. Which US supermarket giant is to enter the Indian retail market after announcing a joint agreement with India's Bharti Enterprises?
• Wal-Mart
• 3. Carlos Tevez apologised for storming out of Upton Park after his substitution against which team?
• Sheffield United
• 4. Who was named best actress at this year's Evening Standard Theatre Awards?
• Kathleen Turner
• 5. “The List:” Fabio Cannavar won European Footballer of the Year and is the fifth Italian to win the award. Name the other 4.
• Omar Sivori (1961), Gianni Rivera (1969), Paolo Rossi (1982) and Roberto Baggio (1993).

Topic of the Day: How Well Do You Remember…the 2006 World Cup

• 6. Who was the top scorer in the competition?
• Miroslav Klose
• 7. Which white player played for the Trinidad and Tobago “Soca Warriors”?
• Chris Burchill
• 8. What was the official slogan of the World Cup?
• A Time To Make Friends
• 9. Which player was booked three times by Graham Poll, in one match?
• Josip Simunic
• 10. Which referee issued 16 yellow cards and 4 red cards in the 1-0 defeat of Holland by Portugal in the “Frankenstadion farce”?
• Valentin Ivanov

02

• 2nd Test, Adelaide, Day 2 (Stumps) - England 551-6 dec v Australia 28-1
• Fidel Castro misses a military parade in his honour
• Police to reinvestigate death of man in 2001 at Michael Barrymore's home
• 33 are killed and many others wounded after a pedestrian bridge collapses onto a train in India
• 2 men celebrate South Africa's 1st gay wedding
• Premiership:
  • Middlesbrough 1-2 Man Utd
  • Wigan 0-4 Liverpool
  • Arsenal 3-0 Tottenham
  • Portsmouth 2-2 Aston Villa
  • Sheff Utd 2-1 Charlton
• Fijian PM returns to the capital amid claims that the army is in charge of the country
• Lindsey Kildow wins the World Cup downhill race at Lake Louise, Alberta
• Thousands march in Belgrade in support of war crimes suspect Vojislav Seselj, on trial in Hague
• Russian ex-Prime Minister Yegor Gaidar not the victim of radiation poisoning
• Davis Cup Final – Argentina v Russia – 1-2· Mikhail Youzhny/Dmitry Tursunov (Rus) bt David Nalbandian/Agustin Calleri (Arg)

02 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. Which Liverpool player will be out until the new year after surgery on knee ligament damage?
• Boudewijn Zenden
• 2. The federal US computer security watchdog has issued a warning about a bug in which Apple operating system?
• OS X
• 3. Which rookie scored 4 touchdowns in Indianapolis’s 45-21 win over Philadelphia?
• Joseph Addai
• 4. Which building society will drop its policy of offering the same mortgage deals to all of its customers?
• The Nationwide
• 5. “The List:” Fabio Cannavarro won European Footballer of the Year, but who was 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th?
• Gianluigi Buffon, Thierry Henry, Ronaldinho and Zinedine Zidane

Topic of the Day: French Politics

• 6. Who is the current French Prime Minister?
• Dominique de Villepin
• 7. Which centre-right party is Jacques Chirac the leader of?
• UMP
• 8. Which French Interior Minister has declared his intention to run for the presidency next April?
• Nicolas Sarkozy
• 9. How long is a French Presidential term?
• 5 years (used to be 7 prior to the 2002 election)
• 10. Which woman will be the Socialist Party's candidate?
• Segolene Royal

01

• Australia v England - 2nd Test – day 1 – Adelaide
• South Africa's deputy president signs new law giving same-sex couples the right to marry
• Left-wing Farc rebels in Colombia kill 17 soldiers
• Farepak customers to recoup 15% of their contributions
• UEFA Cup: Eintracht Frankfurt 0-0 Newcastle
• Lib Dems say Britain's nuclear weapons system should be retained but cut by half
• Manchester City Council wants to offer free wi-fi internet access to all of its 2.2m residents
• Davis Cup Final – Argentina v Russia – 1-1
  • Nikolay Davydenko bt Juan Ignacio Chela 6-1 6-2 5-7 6-4
  • David Nalbandian bt Marat Safin 6-4 6-4 6-4
• Danny Williams will fight Audley Harrison at a week's notice replacing injured Matt Skelton
• Matt Willis crowned 'King of the Jungle' in “I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here”
• Alex Arthur vacates European super featherweight belt to focus on becoming world champion
• Hundreds feared dead in Philippines as a result of mudslides triggered by typhoon Durian
• GM potato trials given go-ahead in UK
• Man Utd sign Henrik Larsson on loan from Swedish club Helsingborg in January
• Hundreds of thousands of opposition supporters call on the Lebanese government to quit

01 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. Justin Rose won the 2006 Australian Open, what was his previous title?
• British Open in 2002
• 2. In which US state was the body of a missing woman, Mariesa Weber, found by her family, wedged upside down behind a bookcase in her room?
• Florida
• 3. Which Sale prop has been banned for three weeks for stamping?
• Ben Evans
• 4. Eight days after its launch Nintendo says it has sold how many of its new Wii console?
• 600,000
• 5. “The List:” Which two countries are competing for the Davis Cup today?
• Argentina and Russia

Topic of the Day: Alan “Fluff” Freeman

• 6. How old was “Fluff” when he died?
• 79
• 7. What was Alan “Fluff” Freeman’s real middle name?
• Leslie
• 8. Which programme did he introduce (appropriately) with the words “greetings, pop pickers”?
• Pick of the Pops
• 9. In which country was “Fluff” born?
• Australia
• 10. What was his two-word catchphrase?
• Not ‘arf

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