Quiz Diary - 2007-04

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30

• 5 men jailed for life for a bomb plot which could have killed hundreds
• Prince Harry to be sent to Iraq
• Israeli PM Ehud Olmert says he will not resign
• Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan makes appeal for unity
• Congolese military court frees a lawyer linked to opposition leader Jean-Pierre Bemba
• Mali President Amadou Toure looks set to win a second term in office
• World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz says he will not resign
• Major conference on climate change opens in Bangkok.
• South Korean scientists are cleared of manipulating data over claim to have created the 1st wolf clones*Snooker World Chmapionship:
  • Mark Selby 13-8 Peter Ebdon
  • Ronnie O'Sullivan 13-10 Neil Robertson.
  • Ali Carter 13-6 Stephen Hendry
• Airlines cancel or change flights to Sri Lanka a day after rebels carried out an air attack
• NATO and Afghan troops kill 136 Taleban fighters in Herat province,
• John Reid rejects calls for an inquiry into the 7/7 bombings
• Amelle Berrabah is arrested over claims she assaulted a woman in a nightclub
• Apple says "some batteries" in range of MacBook laptops have "performance issues"
• Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer, who died of strangulation, was also poisoned
• Renault team boss Flavio Briatore says changes aimed at livening up F1 have not worked
• Germaine Mason wins the high jump at the IAAF World Athletics Tour event in Senegal
• French hope US Ranger is supplemented for Saturday's 2,000 Guineas
• Estonia says it has found coffins of 12 Soviet soldiers buried at a controversial war memorial

30 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. In April 2007, which country did Amnesty International say had more death row inmates than any other?
• Pakistan
• 2. In the 2007 London Marathon how many people (to within 10%) St John Ambulance Brigade treat?
• 5,032 (accept 4,528 to 5,355)
• 3. The OFT has recommended that whose purchase of a 17.9% stake in ITV is referred to the Competition Commission?
• BSkyB's
• 4. Who beat former World Champion Peter Ebdon 13-8 at the World Snooker Championships?
• Mark Selby
• 5. “The List:” Which 2 Labout politicians have agreed to join forces to challenge Gordon Brown for the Labour leadership?
• Michael Meacher and John McDonnell

Topic of the Day: Sam Allardyce

• 6. Where in the Midlands was Sam born in 1954?
• Dudley
• 7. When did he take over as Bolton manager?
• 1999
• 8. What was the name of his son who featured on a Panorama documentary in to “bungs”?
• Craig
• 9. In the early 80’s for which American team did he play?
• Tampa Bay Rowdies
• 10. What was Sam’s first team as manager, in 1991, whilst he also played for them?
• Limerick

29

• British soldier has been shot dead while on a routine patrol in Basra
• 2 killed in a shooting at a shopping centre in Kansas City,Missouri
• 6 men are charged under the Terrorism Act 2000 after a series of arrests in London and Luton
• Huge rally for Turkish secularism
• Protests urging intervention to end conflict in Darfur take place around the world
• Seven kidnapped Chinese oil workers freed in Ethiopia
• Remains of Pakistani cricket coach Bob Woolmer are flown back to his home in Cape Town.
• Hu Jintao calls for closer economic and cultural ties between China and Taiwan
• Snooker World Championship:
  • Ali Carter 12 – 4 Stephen Hendry
  • Ronnie O'Sullivan 6-2 Neil Robertson
  • John Higgins12-4 Fergal O'Brien
• Nicolas Sarkozy holds a rally in Paris, and calls on Francois Bayrou supporters to join him
• Tamil Tigers stage air raid on Colombo as large crowds gathered for cricket World Cup final
• Sunday Times Rich List 2007 published
• Birmingham & Sunderland promoted to the Premiership
• Sam Allardyce has stepped down as manager of Bolton with immediate effect.
• Rafael Nadal becomes the second player to win the Barcelona Open three times in a row.
• Scott Verplank wins the Byron Nelson Championship.
• David Haye earns 1st win as heavyweight with 1st-round stoppage of Poland's Tomasz Bonin.
• WBA lightweight champion Juan Diaz scores a TKO win over Acelino Freitas

29 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. A judge has ordered which bank to pay the costs of a customer who sued over overdraft fees?
• Lloyds TSB
• 2. Who reached the Barcelona Open semis after Nikolay Davydenko pulled out injured?
• Guillermo Canas
• 3. Which actor has accepted undisclosed libel damages over claims about his relationship with Jemima Khan?
• Hugh Grant
• 4. Which British gymnast made the final of the women's floor competition on her return to action at the European Championships?
• Beth Tweddle
• 5. “The List:” West Ham have been fined £5.5m over charges relating to the transfers of which 2 players?
• Tevez and Mascherano

Topic of the Day: Boris Yeltsin

• 6. In which year did he become President of the Russian Federation?
• 1991
• 7. What is the name of his widow?
• Naina
• 8. Which famous building did he have shelled by tanks in 1993?
• The White House (in Moscow not D.C.)
• 9. What type of surgery did he have in 1996?
• Heart bypass
• 10. How old was Yeltsin when he died?
• 76

28

• Earthquake shakes parts of Kent (4.3 on the Richter scale)
• A car bomb kills at least 55 people in the Iraqi city of Karbala
• Cricket World Cup Final: Australia beat Sri Lanka by 53 runs (D/L)
• Senior politicians in the Iraqi government say Prince Harry should not serve in the country
• World Snooker Championships:
  • Matthew Stevens 13-9 Mark Allen
  • Stephen Maguire 13-8 Joe Swail
  • Ali Carter 6-2 Stephen Hendry
• Junior doctors call for Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt to resign
• Troops in Colombo fire anti-aircraft guns at suspicious planes approaching the capital
• In Peru Alan Garcia is given emergency powers to deal with drug trafficking and organised crime
• Premiership:
  • Everton 2-4 Man Utd (Utd move 5 points clear)
  • Chelsea 2-2 Bolton
  • Blackburn 4-1 Charlton
• Trials for the former leaders of the Khmer Rouge have moved a step closer
• Clashes in Tallinn over a Soviet monument leave one dead and hundreds arrested.
• Segolene Royal vows to seek shared ground with beaten rival Francois Bayrou, in a TV debate
• Government adviser says laptops with wireless internet links should not be put on children's laps

28 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. Which singer has said a ban on using too much toilet paper should be introduced to help the environment?
• Sheryl Crow
• 2. At the 2007 London Marathon, which Moroccan was a surprise second in his debut marathon?
• Abderrahim Goumri
• 3. A recent World Health Organization report found that nearly 400,000 under-25s are killed by what every year?
• Road traffic collisions
• 4. Jose Mourinho recently criticise referees for their leniency with regard to awarding penalties against Manchester United. So far 4 have been awarded against them. How many have Chelsea conceded this year?
• 2
• 5. “The List:” Cristiano Ronaldo won the PFA Player of the Year but who were 2nd and 3rd?
• Didier Drogba and Paul Scholes

Topic of the Day: Trafalgar Square

• 6. The original name of Trafalgar Square was to have been what?
• King William the Fourth's Square
• 7. Who designed the fountains that surround Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square?
• Sir Edwin Lutyens
• 8. Who sculpted the statue of Nelson that stand atop the column in Trafalgar Square?
• Edward Hodges Baily
• 9. Whose “Alison Lapper Pregnant” has occupied the fourth plinth since 2005?
• Marc Quinn
• 10. In the game of Monopoly how much would you normally pay to buy Trafalgar Square?
• £240

27

• US says it has arrested one of al-Qaeda's top operatives and is holding him at Guantanamo Bay
• Vladimir Putin says US missile defence plans raise the risk of "mutual destruction"
• Saudi Arabia says it has foiled a plot to carry out suicide air attacks
• Coroner says standard issue police motorbike poses a "serious threat" to riders' lives
• Turkey's army warns it is willing to protect the country's secular system
• UN Security Council lifts the 2001ban on the export of diamonds from Liberia
• Left-wing Colombian rebels release video of politicians who were abducted five years ago
• World Snooker Championships:
  • Shaun Murphy 13-8 John Parrott
  • Stephen Maguire 11-5 Joe Swail
  • Matthew Stevens 5-3 Mark Allen
• China appoints Yang Jiechi, former ambassador to Washington, as new foreign minister
• Amnesty International says Pakistan has more death row inmates than any other country
• Downing Street denies claims Tony Blair will quit before next week's local polls
• OFT recommends BSkyB's purchase of 17.9% stake in ITV is referred to Competition Commission
• West Ham fined £5.5m over charges relating to transfer irregularities
• Hugh Grant accepts undisclosed libel damages over claims about relationship with Jemima Khan
• Richard Gere apologises for causing offence when he kissed Shilpa Shetty

27 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. Who is the Iraqi PM that has asked for construction to end on a concrete wall around a Sunni enclave in the capital, Baghdad?
• Nouri Maliki
• 2. Chelsea failed to close the gap on Premiership leaders Manchester United after a goalless draw against which team?
• Newcastle United
• 3.Which musical has ended its Broadway run after more than 2,500 performances, and 12 Tony Awards?
• The Producers
• 4. Celtic wrapped up the Scottish Premiership title with victory over which team?
• Kilmarnock
• 5. “The List:” Cristiano Ronaldo won the PFA Young Player of the Year but who were 2nd and 3rd?
• Cesc Fabregas and Aaron Lennon

Topic of the Day: Tchaikovsky

• 6. Who was his patron to whom he said that he would dedicate the 4th symphony “to My Best Friend”?
• Madame Nadezhda von Meck
• 7. Which of his symphonies is based on the poem written by Lord Byron in 1817?
• Manfred
• 8. What was Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s middle name?
• Ilyich
• 9. Who did Tchaikovsky marry in 1877 despite the fact that he was a homosexual?
• Antonina Miliukova
• 10. Which of his works was premiered a week before his death in 1893?
• 6th Symphony (accept Pathetique)

26

• US Senate and House of Representatives approve bill setting out a US withdrawal from Iraq
• Ethiopian and government troops seize control of Somalia's capital
• Nationwide blackout in Colombia
• Burma and North Korea, restore diplomatic ties after 24 years
• Indian court issues arrest warrant for Richard Gere for publicly kissing Shilpa Shetty
• Bodies of a Sunni Lebanese man and child are found, three days after they went missing
• Snooker World Championship:
  • John Higgins beats Michael Holt 10-4
  • Shaun Murphy leads John Parrott 5-3
  • Ali Carter beats Andy Hicks 10-4
• A senior member of Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers is arrested in the US for terror activities
• Sir Menzies Campbell calls for politics to focus on "principle over fashion".
• Hugh Grant arrested over claims he attacked a photographer by throwing a tub of food at him.
• Stephen Hawking takes part in a zero-gravity flight
• ICC chief Malcolm Speed says the next Cricket World Cup will be shorter
• Middlesbrough pay Real Madrid £7m for Jonathan Woodgate
• Liverpool win the FA Youth Cup after beating Man Utd in a penalty shoot-out.
• The Olympic flame will come to London on 6 April next year.

26 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. Who is the Environment Secretary that announced that he will vote for Gordon Brown as Labour leader?
• David Miliband
• 2. Which Frenchman led from start to finish to a win the Asian Open in Shanghai by two strokes?
• Raphael Jacquelin
• 3. In a $45bn deal which Briish bank has agreed to merge with Dutch bank ABN Amro?
• Barclays
• 4. Which Ducati rider won the Turkish MotoGP and took the overall lead from Valentino Rossi in the world championship standings?
• Casey Stoner
• 5. “The List:” Which 2 politicians have won through to a run of for the office of French president?
• Nicolas Sarkozy and Segolene Royal

Topic of the Day: Mozart

• 6. Who played Mozart in the 1984 film by Milos Foreman?
• Tom Hulce
• 7. What is the nickname of the 35th Symphony (K385)?
• Haffner
• 8. Mozart’s works have an associated K number, what does the K stand for?
• Köchel
• 9. In which Austrian city was he born in 1756?
• Salzburg
• 10. Which of his Piano Symphonies is also known as “Jeunehomme”?
• 9th

25

• Former Russian President Boris Yeltsin is buried in Moscow
• Francois Bayrou declines to back either candidate left in the presidential race
• Government in Bangladesh lifts all restrictions on former PMs Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina
• Dow Jones closes above the 13,000 mark for the first time in its history
• England World Cup winner Alan Ball has died of a heart attack at the age of 61
• Snooker world Champiosnhips:
  • Neil Robertson 10-5 Ryan Day
  • Stephen Hendry 10-7 Dave Gilbert
  • Mark Selby wins eight frames in a row as he beats Stephen Lee 10-7
• Roma and Man Utd fined after crowd trouble at the Champions League quarter-final first leg
• Champions League semi-final: Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool (goal by Joe Cole)
• Bernie Ecclestone guarantees future of Turkish Grand Prix for at least the next 15 years
• Nigeria's opposition parties ask parliament to annul last week's "flawed" presidential elections

25 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. Which American Idol judge has denied being disrespectful to the victims of the Virginia shootings during Tuesday's live show in the US?
• Simon Cowell
• 2. Who beat Steve Davis 10-9 in the first round of the 2007 World Snooker championships?
• John Parrot
• 3. A murder inquiry is under way after a 19-year-old woman was found with serious injuries in a chalet at Butlins Holiday camp in which Somerset town?
• Minehead
• 4. Who managed to regain the vacant Commonwealth middleweight title by outpointing Evans Ashira in Dudley?
• Howard Eastman
• 5. “The List:” Which 2 horses gave trainer Ferdy Murphy a one-two in the Scottish Grand National?
• Hot Weld and Nine de Sivola

Topic of the Day: Jose Mourinho

• 6. In which country was he born?
• Portugal
• 7. He is the son of a former international footballer. What position did his father play?
• Goalkeeper
• 8. From which team did he join Chelsea?
• Porto
• 9. What is the name of his wife?
• Matilde
• 10. Who did he succeed as Chelsea manager in 2004?
• Claudio Ranieri

24

• Lucie Blackman's father says she has been "robbed of justice" after man is cleared of murder
• Thousands gather to pay respects at Moscow church, where body of Boris Yeltsin lies in state
• Baroness Butler-Sloss steps down as coroner into deaths of Diana and Dodi Al Fayed
• Abortion legalised in Mexico City
• Ethiopian offensive gains momentum in Mogadishu as they begin to deploy tanks
• France's presidential rivals seek to win over centrist Francois Bayrou's voters
• Palestinian Hamas movement says its five-month truce with Israel is over
• Snooker World Championships:
  • Joe Swail edges out former champion Mark Williams 10-9
  • Qualifier Mark Allen beats former champion Ken Doherty
• Tamil Tiger rebels kill six in aerial assault, on an air base in northern Sri Lanka
• Toyota overtakes General Motors to become the world's biggest carmaker
• BP reports a 17% profit dip during the first three months of the year
• Cricket World Cup semi-final: Sri Lanka beat New Zealand by 81 runs
• Champions League semi-final: Man Utd 3-2 AC Milan
• Stephen Fleming quits as captain of New Zealand's one-day side after loss to Sri Lanka
• Northampton hooker Dylan Hartley banned for 6 months for eye-gouging
• Ivan Basso is suspended by Discovery Channel team after new doping allegations

24 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. Which company has said it is to open Post Office franchises within 70 of its 540 UK High Street stores?
• WH Smith
• 2. Graeme Dott becomes the first champion since who in 2000 to suffer an opening-round exit at the Snooker World Chmapionship?
• Stephen Hendry
• 3. Two MPs who faked a hostage-taking at top university after the US school shootings have been condemned by which island's governing party?
• Taiwan
• 4. Who has announced that he will ride in events in the US this summer despite the ongoing doping inquiry into his 2006 Tour de France win?
• Floyd Landis
• 5. “The List:” Which 2 countries have been chosen as joint hosts of the 2012 European Championships?
• Poland and Ukraine

Topic of the Day: Alec Baldwin

• 6. Name his three acting brothers.
• Daniel, William and Stephen
• 7. He is divorced what which Oscar winning actress?
• Kim Basinger
• 8. His big break came in 1980 after being cast as Billy Allison Aldrich in which daytime TV series on NBC?
• The Doctors
• 9. In 200 he cameoed as Dr. Barett Moore in which “deeply superficial series”?
• Nip/Tuck
• 10. Which film earned Baldwin an Oscar nomination in 2004?
• The Cooler

23

• Former Russian President Boris Yeltsin dies aged 76
• British soldier is killed in Iraq
• GMTV drops its quiz phone-in provider
• Students return to class at Virginia Tech
• A roadside bomb has badly damaged a Challenger 2 tank in Iraq
• Umaru Yar'Adua is declared the winner of Nigeria's controversial presidential poll
• Zambian man wins Goldman Prize for helping to curb widespread elephant poaching
• Fresh calls for World Bank head Paul Wolfowitz to quit
• Three men in Norway receive prison terms for the theft of Edvard Munch's “The Scream”
• Multi-faith service been held in London to call for the safe return of the BBC's Alan Johnston
• 22-year-old runner who was taken ill after completing the London Marathon dies in hospital.
• David Cameron calls for a "revolution in responsibility" to counter anti-social behaviour
• European premiere of Spider-Man 3
• Everton confirm striker Andrew Johnson has suffered a sprained ankle.
• Bennett King resigns as West Indies coach.
• Duncan Fletcher urges England to keep Michael Vaughan as captain for both Test and one-day cricket

23 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. Premium rate phone regulator Icstis is to investigate after which ITV quiz show missed 10,000 text answers?
• Vernon Kay’s Gameshow Marathon
• 2. Which American tycoon has increased his stake in Arsenal?
• Stan Kroenke
• 3. The rings around which planet may have been spotted nearly 190 years prior to the accepted date for their discovery, according to a new theory?
• Uranus
• 4. Which England Academy director has been named as the new head coach?
• Peter Moores
• 5. “The List:” Which 2 of the World men's four champions took the men's pairs gold at the Great Britain senior rowing trials at Hazewinkel in Belgium?
• Andy Hodge and Peter Reed

Topic of the Day: London Marathon

• 6. In which year was the first London Marathon run?
• 1981
• 7. Which company sponsored this year’s London Marathon?
• Flora
• 8. Who beat Italian Francesca Porcellato to win the women’s wheelchair race at the 2007 London Marathon?
• Shelly Woods
• 9. Doing so in 2003, who was the last non-Kenyan to win the Men’s race?
• Gezahegne Abera
• 10. 2007 saw the women’s race won by a competitor from which country for the first time?
• China

22

• Scottish Water apologises for pouring millions of litres of sewage into the Firth of Forth
• Conservative Nicolas Sarkozy and Socialist Segolene Royal will run-off for French president
• Iraq's PM urges US forces to stop building a controversial wall around a Sunni enclave
• 2007 Flora London Marathon:
  • Men’s Wheelchair Race - David Weir
  • Women’s Wheelchair Race - Shelly Woods
  • Men’s Race – Martin Lel
  • Women’s Race - Zhou Chunxiu
• Australian “ghost yacht” crew search halted
• Environment Secretary David Miliband confirms he will vote for Gordon Brown as Labour leader
• Barclays is expected to place a bid for ABN Amro
• Kilmarnock 1-2 Celtic (Celtic wrap up the Premier League title)
• Raphael Jacquelin of France leads from start to finish to a win the Asian Open by two strokes
• UK Charts:
  • Singles:
    • 1. Beyonce & Shakira - Beautiful Liar
    • 2. Arctic Monkeys - Brianstorm
    • 3. Timbaland/Furtado/Timberlake - Give It To Me
    • 4. Avril Lavigne - Girlfriend
    • 5. Mark Ronson ft D Merriweather - Stop Me
  • Albums:
    • 1. Avril Lavigne – The Best Damn Thing
    • 2. Mark Ronson – Version
    • 3. Kings of Leon – Because of the Times
    • 4. Cascada - Everytime We Touch – The Album
    • 5. Amy Winehouse - Back To Black
• Rafael Nadal beats Roger Federer to win the Monte Carlo Masters for the third year in a row.
• Premiership: Newcastle 0-0 Chelsea (Chelsea remain 3 points adrift)
• Casey Stoner wins the Turkish MotoGP to claim world championship lead from Valentino Rossi
• American Nick Watney wins his maiden PGA Tour title at the New Orleans Classic.
• Howard Eastman regains Commonwealth middleweight title by outpointing Evans Ashira
• Maradona checks into a clinic in Buenos Aires for alcoholism addiction

22 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. Rwanda has asked the International Court of Justice to quash French arrest warrants issued against nine associates of which President?
• Paul Kagame
• 2. What is the name of the Italian team taking part in the LV Cup?
• Mascalzone Latino
• 3. Which country has agreed to a temporary ceasefire proposed by the country's second-largest rebel group, ELN?
• Colombia
• 4. Whose 103 against New Zealand made him the third batsman to hit three centuries in a single World Cup?
• Matthew Hayden's
• 5. “The List:” Silver Birch won the 2007 National at 33-1, which other horses made the top 4?
• Mckelvey, Slim Pickings and Philson Run

Topic of the Day: Brian Charles Lara

• 6. Lara has said that he will retire after the 2007 World Cup, how many test runs has he amassed?
• 11,953
• 7. How old is Brian Lara at the end of the 2007 World Cup?
• 37
• 8. Against which side did he score 501 not out for Warwickshire at Edgbaston in 1994?
• Durham
• 9. On which island was he born?
• Trinidad
• 10. Against which side did he score the highest ever test innings of 400 not out in 2004?
• England

21

• Violence and delays mar the election for a new president and parliament in Nigeria.
• Public warned to avoid contact with water in the Firth of Forth after a "major" sewage spill
• Fidel Castro meets a Chinese delegate in first official act since illness.
• Actor, Eric Bana crashes while taking part in a car rally in Australia
• Police say NASA gunman blamed his victim for a poor work review
• The US and Australia warn of a possible terror attack in the Philippines
• Hopes fade for the crew of the 'ghost yacht' found off Queensland
• Billionaire space tourist Charles Simonyi and 2 crew from the ISS return to Earth
• French appeal court upholds the conviction of 11 people in paedophilia case but acquits one
• Bhutan stages a mock election as it takes steps to end 100 years of monarchy
• Murder inquiry after 19-year-old woman found dead at Butlins holiday camp in Somerset
• Oliver Stone is to direct a TV ad for a campaign urging a US withdrawal from Iraq
• Venus and Serena Williams wins give USA 2-0 lead over Belgium in Fed Cup quarter-final
• Premiership: Man Utd 1-1 Middlesbrough (lead of 4 points but Chelsea have game-in-hand)
• Cricket World Cup: England beat West Indies by 1 wicket with 1 ball to spare
• Snooker World Championship: Graeme Dott loses in 1st round to Ian McCulloch.
• Valentino Rossi puts his Yamaha on pole for Turkish MotoGP
• Hot Weld and Nine de Sivola give trainer Ferdy Murphy a one-two in the Scottish Grand National.

21 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. An official inquiry has been launched into the removal of body tissue from 65 workers from which nuclear plant?
• Sellafield
• 2. What total did Ireland manage in their Super 8 match against Sri Lanka?
• 77
• 3. A recent survey claimed that board members in which country are the best paid in Europe, receiving more than twice as much pay as their European counterparts?
• Switzerland
• 4. According to a Sunday newspaper article, Arsene Wenger has changed his route to work. Why?
• Because he does not want to see Highbury being demolished.
• 5. “The List:” Andy Murray has made the ATP top ten, which 9 other players are ahead of him?
• Federer, Nadal, Roddick, Davydenko, Gonzalez, Robredo, Djokovic, Ljubicic and Blake

Topic of the Day: Cannes Film Festival

• 6. The inaugural Cannes Film Festival was held in September of what year?
• 1939
• 7. What is the name of the top prize which was introduced in 1955?
• Palme d'Or
• 8. The “In Competition” films are the main part of the Official Selection. At which theatre are they screened?
• Lumiere theatre
• 9. What was set up in 1978 to act as a showcase for world cinema and to absorb several festival side events?
• Un Certain Regard
• 10. US director Michael Moore, who won the Palme d'Or in 2004 for Fahrenheit 9/11, returned to Cannes in 2007 with which new documentary, about the US healthcare system?
• Sicko

20

• Police hand their file on the cash-for-honours probe to the Crown Prosecution Service
• Gunman kills a hostage and himself at Nasa's Johnson Space Center in Texas
• Bollywood stars Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan marry in Mumbai
• Heavy fighting in Mogadishu claims 113 lives
• Yacht found drifting off the Queensland coast with its engine running but no crew.
• Inquest into the death of Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer is postponed
• Energywatch says complaints over British Gas have more than doubled since last year
• Michael Vaughan says the time was right for Duncan Fletcher to resign as England coach.
• England Academy director Peter Moores is named as the new head coach
• Cricket World Cup: Australia thrash New Zealand by 215 runs in Grenada.
• American tycoon Stan Kroenke increases his stake in Arsenal
• Ducati's Casey Stoner sets fastest lap time in practice for Turkish MotoGP in Istanbul
• 10 ex-army officers are sentenced from 10 years to life imprisonment for plotting to overthrow Gambia's leader.

20 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. Which former PM has launched an attack on Gordon Brown's record?
• Sir John Major
• 2. Which footballer may be moved to a psychiatric clinic to help him deal with his alcohol addiction?
• Diego Maradona
• 3. Who is the US Defence Secretary that has arrived in Iraq?
• Robert Gates
• 4. After England’s World Cup failure, who has resigned as England coach?
• Duncan Fletcher
• 5. “The List:” Name the two former winners of the National who took part in the 2007 Grand National?
• Numbersixvalverde and Hedgehunter

Topic of the Day: Jimmy White

• 6. In which part of south London was he bornin 1962?
• Balham
• 7. Give the 5 consecutive years in which he was World Championship runner-up?
• 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 (also in 1984)
• 8. What is Jimmy’s highest ever World ranking?
• 2
• 9. In which year did he become UK Champion and record a maximum break at the Crucible?
• 1992
• 10. In 2005 as part of a sponsorship deal with HP Foods, he announced that he had changed his name by deed poll to what?
• James Brown

19

• Police have criticised the decision of NBC to show footage of the Virginia Tech University killer
• Two UK soldiers killed in Iraq
• Annual survey says amount of litter on Britain's beaches increased by more than 90% since 1994
• Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas says Alan Johnston is still alive
• Former PM Sir John Major has launched an attack on Gordon Brown's record.
• The main candidates in the French presidential election have held their final campaign rallies
• Diego Maradona may be moved to a psychiatric clinic to help him deal with his alcohol addiction
• Duncan Fletcher has resigned as England coach
• US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has arrived in Iraq
• Lib Dem councillor suspended after nominating a BNP candidate for May's local elections
• Irish cricket squad, supply DNA to Jamaican police investigating Bob Woolmer's murder
• Brian Lara says he will retire from international cricket after the World Cup match against England

19 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. An anonymous businessman, from Norfolk has recovered £35,987.94 from which bank after accusing it of charging him unlawful overdraft fees?
• NatWest
• 2. Which boxer has said that he wants $10m to fight Joe Calzaghe?
• Jermaine Taylor
• 3. In which Asian capital did Spiderman 3 premiere?
• Tokyo
• 4. Who is to step down as Italy coach and return to France after the World Cup?
• Pierre Berbizier
• 5. “The List:” What are the first 5 names of WPUJC Vaas?
• Warnakulasuriya Patabendige Ushantha Joseph Chaminda

Topic of the Day: Hans Christian Andersen

• 6. Where in Denmark was he born in 1805?
• Odense
• 7. What is, appropriately, celebrated on his birthday of April 2nd?
• International Children's Book Day
• 8. In which of Andersen’s stories does the heroine freaze to death?
• The Little Match Girl
• 9. Who played Andersen in the 1952 Charles Vidor film?
• Danny Kaye
• 10. Which of his stories is called “Sneedronningen” in Danish features a boy and girl called Gerda and Kay?
• The Snow Queen

18

• Up to 200 killed in series of Baghdad bombs
• Blackberry wireless e-mail service restored to most North American users
• Supreme Court upholds a ban on the controversial late-term partial birth abortion procedure
• Greg Dyke has said he considered running for London mayor but has decided against it.
• Vice-chairman David Dein leaves Arsenal
• 3 people killed at a publishing house in Turkey that produced bibles
• UN nuclear watchdog confirms Iran nuclear operations
• Former Bangladeshi PM, Sheikh Hasina, has said that she is determined to return home
• The Dow Jones has hit a fresh all-time closing high
• Garry Harding, admits killing 2 women with a hammer at a brothel in Shrewsbury
• Man who shot students at Virginia Tech sent a package to the US TV network NBC News
• Alistair Darling says official inquiry has been launched into the removal of body tissue from nuclear workers

18 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. Who is the Environment Secretary that has said he will not run for the Labour leadership?
• David Miliband
• 2. At the 2007 Cricket World Cup by how many wickets did South Africa beat England?
• 9 wickets
• 3. Itcho Ito has been shot in Japan. He was the mayor of which city?
• Nagasaki
• 4. Which South Korean city has been chosen to host the Asian Games in 2014?
• Incheon
• 5. “The List:” Seven Live Earth shows will take place around the world on 7 July as a way of highlighting climate change. Which cities are taking part?
• Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro, New York, Shanghai, Johannesburg, London and Sydney

Topic of the Day: Michael Vaughan

• 6. What is Michael Vaughan’s one day batting average, is it 56, 46, 36 or 26?
• 26
• 7. In which country was he given out handled the ball in 2001?
• India (Bangalore)
• 8. What was the title of his 2005 autobiography?
• Calling the Shots
• 9. He was Wisden Cricketer of the Year in what year?
• 2003
• 10. Against which team did he make his test debut in 1999?
• South Africa

17

• Police name Cho Seung-hu as the student who shot dead 30 people at a Virginia university
• Gordon Brown staves off Conservative call for a vote of no confidence
• Environment Secretary David Miliband will not run for the Labour leadership
• Poland, Germany, Sweden and the UK selected to will build the new General Motors' Astra model
• Itcho Ito, the mayor of Nagasaki has died after being shot
• Cricket World Cup: England destroyed by South Africa, losing by 9 wickets
• Premiership: Man Utd 2-0 Sheff Utd (restoring 6 point lead)
• South Korean city of Incheon chosen to host the Asian Games in 2014
• 81-year-old Dorothy Evans jailed for six months for making her neighbours' lives "absolute hell"
• UK pound goes through $2 barrier
• Madonna visits adoption orphanage in Malawi
• Braford travel agent, Shahid Nazir Bhatti, jailed in connection with £500m money laundering scam

17 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. Russia's chief prosecutor has launched criminal proceedings against which exiled tycoon?
• Boris Berezovsky
• 2. What was Ireland’s score against Australia in the Super 8’s?
• 91
• 3. Whose “Give It To Me” has ended The Proclaimers' three-week run at the top of the charts?
• Timbaland's
• 4. Who scored the injury time winner for Chelsea in their FA Cup semi final against Blackburn?
• Michael Ballack
• 5. “The List:” Who scored Manchester United’s 7 goals in their defeat of Roma?
• Carrick (2), Smith, Rooney, Ronaldo (2), and Evra

Topic of the Day: The Prestige

• 6. Who directs the film starring Chrstian Bale and Hugh Jackman?
• Christopher Nolan
• 7. The film is based on whose book of the same name?
• Christopher Priest
• 8. The title derives from the practice of stage illusions having three parts, the third of which is “The Prestige”. What are the other two?
• The Pledge and The Turn
• 9. Who sings “Analyse” which finishes the film?
• Thom Yorke
• 10. Which trick (in various guises) is central to the whole film?
• The Transported Man

16

• 33 killed at shooting at Virginia Tech university
• Des Browne apologises for not blocking the sale of stories by sailors freed by Iran.
• BBC says it still has no independent verification of claim that Alan Johnston has been killed
• Hilary Benn criticises George W Bush’s “War on Terror
• 6 Sadr ministers leave the Iraqi cabinet
• Bryan Ferry apologises for an interview in which he praised the iconography of the Nazi party.
• South Korea said to be considering delaying rice aid to North Korea
• 13 Iraqi soldiers killed in an ambush in the northern city of Mosul
• Former Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble set to join the Conservative Party
• Businessman from Norfolk recovers £35,987.94 from NatWest after accusing it of charging him unlawful overdraft fees

16 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. Who has sold a "significant" stake of his share in the songs his father John wrote for The Beatles?
• Julian Lennon
• 2. Great Britain will play which country in September's Davis Cup World Group play-offs?
• Croatia
• 3. A technical hitch has affected which transactions across Europe, leading to some cards being declined?
• Visa
• 4. Francesco Ricci Bitti is the president of which sporting body?
• ITF
• 5. “The List:” Spandau Ballet are rumoured to be considering a come-back, name their first three album releases?
• Journeys To Glory, Diamond and True

Topic of the Day: Jackie Robinson

• 6. In which US state was he born in 1919?
• Georgia
• 7. In which year did Jackie Robinson become the first black man to play Major League Baseball?
• 1947 (15th April)
• 8. For which team did Robinson play in that season?
• Brooklyn Dodgers
• 9. Which progressive coach signed Robinson?
• Branch Rickey
• 10. In 1997 his number was retired by all MLB teams, what was it?
• 42

15

• Two British helicopters have crashed in a mid-air collision in Iraq
• Tony Blair has said his legacy as prime minister will "stand the test of time"
• David Cameron has said Defence Secretary Des Browne may have to resign
• Royal College of Nursing condemns NHS job cuts
• First results due in Nigeria’s regional elections
• Tickets go on sale for 2008 Beijing Olympic Games
• FA Cup semi-final: Blackburn 1-2 Chelsea (aet)
• Felipe Massa wins Bahrain GP with Lewis Hamilton in 2nd and Kimi Raikkonen 3rd
• Hundreds of anti-Kremlin demonstrators have held a rally in St Petersburg
• Madonna due to arrive in Malawi to allow David Banda to see his natural father
• BBC voices concern at reports that reporter Alan Johnston is dead
• World Bank head Paul Wolfowitz indicates he does not plan to resign
• Moqtada Sadr says he will withdraw Cabinet ministers from Iraq's coalition government
• Cricket World Cup: Ireland beat Bangladesh by 74 runs in Barbados
• Ivo Karlovic wins 1st ATP title, beating Mariano Zabaleta in US Clay Court Championships
• Promoter Don King says he is determined to see a unified heavyweight world title by 2008

15 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. Labour MP Michael Meacher asks BP shareholders to try to block a giant payoff for which departing boss?
• Lord Browne
• 2. Who scored Roma’s goal in their 7-1 defeat by Manchester United?
• Daniele De Rossi
• 3. Who had his first face-to-face meeting with George Bush at the White House discussing Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as trade liberalisation?
• Gordon Brown
• 4. NASA has delayed the launch of which space shuttle until at least 8th June 2007?
• Atlantis
• 5. “The List:” Who are the 5 judges on the TV series “Any Dream Will Do”?
• Lord Lloyd-Webber, Zoe Tyler, John Barrowman, Denise Van Outen and Bill Kenwright

Topic of the Day: Life on Mars

• 6. What is the name of the main detective played by John Simm?
• Sam Tyler
• 7. What is the title of the proposed sequel set in 1981?
• Ashes to Ashes
• 8. Which TV character often comes to life during the series?
• The Test Card Girl
• 9. In the series he works for Manchester and Salford Police, where do they think he has been transferred from?
• Hyde
• 10. Who plays the politically incorrect DCI Gene Hunt?
• Philip Glenister

14

• Lord's Resistance Army, signs a new truce with Uganda's government.
• Grand National won by Silver Birch at 33-1
• Cricket World Cup: New Zealand beat South Africa to make the last 4
• Manchester United beat Watford by 4-1 in FA Cup semi-final
• US urges North Korea to seal its nuclear reactor, as it misses key deadline
• Suicide car bomb attack in the Iraqi holy city of Karbala
• Premiership:
  • Arsenal 2-1 Bolton
  • Man City 0-0 Liverpool
  • Sheff Utd 3-0 West Ham
• Garry Kasparov arrested and fined attending a banned anti-Kremlin rally
• Prince William splits from long-term girlfriend Kate Middleton
• Google buys web advertising network Doubleclick in a $3bn cash deal
• The US says it expects Paul Wolfowitz to stay on as World Bank president
• Barry Bonds hits 2 homers to move to within 18 Hank Aaron
• From 2008 PC owners will only be able to get Windows Vista on their new machines
• Felipe Massa takes pole position for the Bahrain Grand Prix

14 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. The US have extended the tour of duty of troops in Iraq and Afghanistan by how much?
• Three months
• 2. Which team will get first pick in the National Hockey League's draft in June after winning a lottery of last season's worst-performing teams?
• Chicago Blackhawks
• 3. What is the name of America's largest financial firm, that has announced announces plans to shed 17,000 jobs?
• Citigroup
• 4. Who scored in the last minute to book Chelsea's place in the Champions League semi-finals, as they beat Valencia 1-2?
• Michael Essien
• 5. “The List:” Name the 3 main executives at Google who all received just $1 in salary in 2006?
• Eric Schmidt, Larry Page and Sergey Brin

Topic of the Day: Grand National

• 6. At which racecourse is the Grand National usually run?
• Aintree
• 7. How many horses usually take part in the race?
• 40
• 8. In 2007 who are the Grand National sponsors?
• John Smith's
• 9. In which year was the first BBC radio commentary of the race?
• 1927
• 10. What name is given to the 6th and 22nd fence?
• Beacher’s Brook

13

• British soldier has died in Afghanistan
• Technical hitch affects Visa transactions across Europe, leading to rejections
• Russia's chief prosecutor launches criminal proceedings against exiled tycoon Boris Berezovsky
• Brazil brake up gang suspected of carrying out about 1,000 contract killings in five years
• Pressure grows on World Bank boss, Paul Wolfowitz
• Cristiano Ronaldo signs new deal at Man Utd
• Diego Maradona back in hospital
• BBC is to host a ballroom dance competition in the spirit of the Eurovision Song Contest
• PM John Howard says Australia should refuse to allow migrants or refugees with *HIV to enter the country

13 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. Oasis, The Killers and Razorlight are to cover songs from which Beatles' album to mark the its 40th anniversary?
• Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
• 2. Who won the 2007 US Masters?
• Zach Johnson
• 3. The son of which ex-French President is among 42 people who are to stand trial for their alleged involvement in sending arms to Angola?
• Francois Mitterrand
• 4. Which former 100m world record-holder has pleaded guilty to charges of fraud?
• Tim Montgomery
• 5. “The List:” Who are the 2 Ukrainian leaders at the centre of opposing protests and rallies?
• Viktor Yushchenko and Viktor Yanukovych

Topic of the Day: Cold Mountain

• 6. Who directed the 2003 film “Cold Mountain”?
• Anthony Minghella
• 7. The film is based on whose debut novel?
• Charles Frazier
• 8. What is the name of the main male character played by Jude Law?
• W. P. Inman,
• 9. In which US state is the Cold Mountain of the title?
• North Carolina
• 10. Who won an Oscar for her role as Ruby Thewes?
• Renée Zellweger

12

• US TV network CBS is to launch an online video channel after agreeing deals with distributors
• Author Kurt Vonnegut dies aged 84.
• China's PM uses address in Japan's parliament to urge Tokyo to face up to its wartime past
• Calls for East Timor vote recount
• India's largest private airline Jet Airways buys Air Sahara, giving it 1/3 of domestic market
• Head of the UN calls for release of missing Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston
• The Beatles reach a deal with EMI to end a legal battle over £30m in disputed royalties.
• Makers of Pot Noodle recall some types of the snack after discovering cracks in packaging.
• Scientists say they have identified the clearest genetic link to obesity yet
• Virgin Media launches a High Court action against BSkyB in a programming dispute
• UEFA Cup: Tottenham 2-2 Sevilla (agg 3-4)
• Cricket World Cup: Sri Lanka end New Zealand’s unbeaten run
• Max Jones is appointed as Ireland's director of athletics.
• Top weight Hedgehunter heads a field of 40 runners declared for Saturday's Grand National.

12 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. Apple and EMI have announced that they will sell songs without what?
• Copy protection
• 2. Who has been offered the job of interim manager on India's tour of Bangladesh next month following Greg Chappell's resignation?
• Ravi Shastri
• 3. The editor of Playboy magazine in Indonesia has been acquitted of charges of publishing indecent material. What is his name?
• Erwin Arnada
• 4. Which retired five-time Olympic champion faces a hearing of the Court of Arbitration for Sport before he can clear his name of doping?
• Ian Thorpe
• 5. “The List:” Which two English cricketers constructed a seventh-wicket stand of 87 to almost snatch a win against Sri Lanka?
• Ravi Bopara and Paul Nixon

Topic of the Day: Spider Man

• 6. What is Spiderman’s alter ego?
• Peter Parker
• 7. Who plays the character of Aunt May in the franchise?
• Rosemary Harris
• 8. Who has directed all three of the films?
• Sam Raimi
• 9. Of which newspaper is J. Jonah Jameson the editor?
• The Daily Bugle
• 10. In which publication did Spiderman make his debut in 1962?
• Amazing Fantasy (issue #15)

11

• Tony Blair says it was not "a good idea" to let freed Iran captives sell their stories
• US extends the tour of duty of troops in Iraq and Afghanistan by three months
• Prosecutors drop all charges over sex abuse claims against 3 ex-lacrosse players
• America's largest financial firm, Citigroup, announces plans to shed 17,000 jobs
• At least 23 people are killed in explosions in Algiers
• Game show cheat Charles Ingram is convicted of assaulting a teenage boy who coughed in his face.
• Champions’ League
  • Liverpool 1-0 PSV (agg 4-0)
  • B Munich 0-2 AC Milan (agg 2-4)
• Finale of BBC One's award-winning drama Life on Mars is watched by more than 7 million people.
• Water detected for the first time in the atmosphere of a planet outside our Solar System
• NASA delays the launch of space shuttle Atlantis until at least 8 June
• Cricket World Cup: England beat Bangladesh by 4 wickets
• Great Britain will host Croatia in September's Davis Cup World Group play-offs.
• Howard Eastman will fight Evans Ashira for the vacant Commonwealth middleweight title

11 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. Classical group G4 have announced that they are breaking up. On which ITV1 show were they discovered?
• The X Factor
• 2. A DNA sample taken from which cyclist has been matched to blood bags seized in a Spanish doping probe?
• Jan Ullrich
• 3. To the nearest million, how many viewers are estimated to have seen Coronation Street character Tracy Barlow jailed for murder?
• 13 (12.6 million)
• 4. Who hit 87 in Bangladesh’s victory over South Africa?
• Mohammad Ashraful
• 5. “The List:” Which three things did Boris Johnson say that Portsmouth was “full of”?
• Drugs, obesity and underachievement

Topic of the Day: Falklands War:

• 6. In which year was the conflict?
• 1982
• 7. How many Britons died during the fighting?
• 255 (655 Argentines and 3 islanders)
• 8. Which two soldiers received VC’s?
• Lt. Col. Herbert Jones and Sergeant Ian McKay
• 9. How long did the conflict last?
• 74-days
• 10. Who was the leader of Argentina at the time of the conflict?
• Leopoldo Galtieri

10

• DNA tests show that Anna Nicole Smith's ex-boyfriend Larry Birkhead fathered her baby
• US navy says 13 detainees on hunger strike in Guantanamo are being force-fed
• Car bomb hits Colombia police HQ in Cali
• Australia's PM announces plans to nearly double troop numbers in Afghanistan,
• Early results in East Timor's presidential election give a slight lead to PM Ramos-Horta
• Turkish plane is hijacked on an internal flight, with the hijacker surrendering
• Shares in Sainsbury's fall 4% as potential buyers drop out
• The finale of “Life on Mars” is broadcast on BBC One.
• Halo 3, for the Xbox 360, will be released as a beta on 16 May.
• Champions’ League
  • Man Utd 7-1 Roma (agg 8-3)
  • Valencia 1-2 Chelsea (agg 2-3)
• Government review of way child sex offenders are treated decides against a UK Megan's Law
• Cricket World Cup: South Africa beat the West Indies
• Joe Calzaghe confirms that he broke his hand in the win over Peter Manfredo Jr
• Tony McCoy rides Butler's Cabin to victory in the Irish Grand National
• Former boss of Airbus parent EADS, gets a severance package of over 8.5m euros.
• Madonna heads UK Live Earth bill in July
• A court in Serbia sentences four paramilitaries filmed killing Bosnian Muslims during the 1995 Srebrenica massacre

10 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. What is the name of the programme presented by Julian Calry and Valerie where celebrities train their dogs?
• The Underdog Show
• 2. Who was sent off during Manchester United’s Champions’ League clash with Roma?
• Paul Scholes
• 3. British scientists have grown part of a human heart from stem cells for the first time. Which heart surgeon led the team?
• Sir Magdi Yacoub
• 4. Which England seamer returned home from the World Cup for personal reasons and was replaced by Stuart Broad?
• Jon Lewis
• 5. “The List:” Who were the first two home in the Malaysian Grand Prix?
• Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton

Topic of the Day: Monicagate

• 6. In which year was Monica Lewinsky born?
• 1973
• 7. Monica Lewinsky submitted an affadavit in the case of which former Arkansas state employee who sued President Bill Clinton for sexual harassment?
• Paula Jones
• 8. Who secretly recorded her telephone conversations Lewinsky regarding the affair with Clinton?
• Linda Tripp
• 9. In which year did Clinton say “I did not have sexual relations with that woman”?
• 1998
• 10. Who wrote the biography “Monica’s Story”?
• Andrew Morton

09

• MoD ban released navy personnel from selling stories
• Iran says it can produce nuclear fuel on an industrial level
• Russian spacecraft with two crew and a space tourist on board docks with ISS
• Border clashes are reported between of Chad and Sudan
• Ethiopian judge quashes genocide and treason charges against 111 people
• Newly-appointed minister of health in Brazil calls for a wide-ranging debate on abortion
• Zach Johnson wins the US Masters Tournament
• World champion Fernando Alonso wins Malaysian GP
• Premiership:
  • Charlton 0-0 Reading
  • Fulham 1-3 Man City
  • Watford 4-2 Portsmouth
• Votes being counted in the East Timor presidential election, the 1st since independence
• US Up to 7,000 people are homeless on the Solomon Islands one week after the tsunami
• lodges formal complaint with the WTO over high levels of intellectual piracy by China
• Arnold Schwarzenegger will appear at the Tory Party conference this year
• BBC reveals it is in talks to take “Top Gear” to the US
• Quentin Tarantino's “Grindhouse” fails to do as well as hoped at the US box office
• Tony Hadley hints at Spandau Ballet reunion.
• Kazakhs get loan to save Aral Sea
• Cricket World Cup: Ireland crumble to 134 all out in reply to New Zealand's 263-8

09 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. How fast did the 137,500 Glasonbury tickets available to the public sell out?
• 1 hour and 45 minutes
• 2. Which team did GB take on in the Davis Cup in Birmingham in April 2007?
• Netherlands
• 3. Who in an interview with the BBC's Andrew Marr, confessed that while researching his latest book, On Chesil Beach, he removed a handful of pebbles from the World Heritage site in Dorset?
• Ian McEwan
• 4. Who did Joe Calzaghe beat in 3 rounds to retain his World title?
• Peter Manfredo
• 5. “The List:” The Lincoln Handicap has been run at four different venues, name them.
• Lincoln, Doncaster, Redcar and Newcastle

Topic of the Day: Monicas

• 6. Who played Monica Geller in the US series “Friends”?
• Courtney Cox (Arquette)
• 7. Which Italian actress played Persephone in “The Matrix” and is married to Vincent Cassel?
• Monica Bellucci
• 8. Which British author, the great-granddaughter of a more famous Victorian author, wrote the autobiography “An Open Book”?
• Monica Dickens
• 9. What was the surname of the woman at the centre of Monicagate, during the second Clinton tern as President?
• Lewinsky
• 10. Which science fiction series features the country of Monica, with the title character being an assassin from there?
• Æon Flux

08

• Six soldiers serving with the Nato-led force in south Afghanistan have been killed
• A 40-year-old man has been arrested over the murder of 22-year-old Krystal Hart
• Pope Benedict XVI has lamented that “nothing positive comes from Iraq”
• Gary Glitter seeks another reduction of his 3-year child molestation sentence in Vietnam
• Malaysian GP:
  • 1. Fernando Alonso (Spa) McLaren
  • 2. Lewis Hamilton (GB) McLaren
  • 3. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari
  • 4. Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber
  • 5. Felipe Massa (Bzl) Ferrari
  • 6. Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Renault
  • 7. Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota
  • 8. Heikki Kovalainen (Fin) Renault
• Archbishop of York leads Easter prayers for release of correspondent Alan Johnston
• Cricket World Cup: England 247 all out v Australia (Pietersen 104)
• Thousands demonstrate in LA to demand citizenship rights for illegal immigrants
• Basque separatist group Eta has said it is ready to make new commitments to peace

08 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. In his Easter address who criticised modern Britain's "now generation" culture?
• Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor
• 2. Jamie Langley has signed a contract extension with which rugby league team?
• Bradford Bulls.
• 3. Who has given birth to her second child in LA, coincidentally, the birth coming on the birthday of actor Eddie Murphy, whom she insists is the father?
• Mel B
• 4. Which team beat Manchester United to reduce their Premiership lead to just 3 points?
• Portsmouth
• 5. “The List:” At the World Swimming Championships, there was a dead-heat in the final of the 100m freestyle as which Canadian and Italian tied for gold?
• Brent Hayden and Filippo Magnini

Topic of the Day: Elton John – the early years

• 6. What was Elton John’s name at birth?
• Reginald Kenneth Dwight
• 7. Where in Middlesex was he born in 1947?
• Pinner
• 8. What is the middle name of his stage persona Elton John?
• Hercules
• 9. Which musical institution did he join at the age of 11 and attend for 5 years?
• Royal Academy of Music
• 10. What was the name of the first group that he joined, aged just 14?
• Bluesology

07

• MoD says 15 Royal Navy personnel held captive in Iran can sell their stories to the media
• An Iranian diplomat freed from abduction in Iraq says CIA agents tortured him
• Two Turkish oil workers are seized in the Nigeria's Delta region
• Video-sharing website YouTube offers to show Thailand how to block material
• Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee is injured when his car is hit by a lorry
• National Union of Teachers unanimously backs a motion to ballot on a one-day strike
• Superman costume worn by Christopher Reeve in the 1978 film sells for $115,000 at auction
• Cricket World Cup: Bangladesh beat South Africa by 67 runs in Guyana.
• Premiership:
  • Portsmouth 2-1 Man Utd
  • Arsenal 0-1 West Ham
  • Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham
• New Ivory Coast Prime Minister Guillaume Soro names his cabinet
• Joe Calzaghe defeats Peter Manfredo Jr to retain his WBO super middleweight title in Cardiff
• Tony Blair launches a "channel" for the Labour Party on video-sharing website YouTube
• Massa takes pole for the Malaysian GP
• Amir Khan knocks out Steffy Bull in the 3rd round of their lightweight bout in Cardiff.
• Cambridge beat Oxford in the 153rd Boat Race
• Greg Rusedski announces his retirement after helping Great Britain beat the Netherlands in the Davis Cup

07 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. Which journalist has been freed after serving the longest jail time in US history for failing to reveal information?
• Josh Wolf
• 2. Who is the RFU chairman that warned Premiership clubs they faced legal action if they pulled out of European competition?
• Martyn Thomas
• 3. Which top US Democrat has arrived in Damascus for a visit criticised by the White House as undermining their policies?
• Nancy Pelosi
• 4. Which team did Liverpool beat 3-0 in the UEFA Champions’ League quarter-final match?
• PSV Eindhoven
• 5. “The List:” Which 5 players did Wisden name as the Wisden Cricketers of the Century?
• Sir Donald Bradman, Sir Garfield Sobers, Sir Jack Hobbs, Shane Warne, and Sir Viv Richards

Topic of the Day: Joss Stone

• 6. What is the title of Joss Stone’s 3rd album?
• Introducing Joss Stone
• 7. What is her real surname?
• Stoker
• 8. In 2001, at the age of fourteen, she got her big break on which BBC talent show?
• Star for a Night
• 9. What is the title of her only top ten UK single?
• You Had Me
• 10. In which Stefen Fangmeier film did Joss Stone play Angela?
• Eragon

06

• Prince William expresses his sadness after a "close friend" from Sandhurst is killed in Iraq.
• 35 people killed in a suicide bombing in the Iraqi city of Ramadi
• 2 French tourists are missing after 1,600 people left a stricken cruise ship off Santorini.
• Ferrari's Felipe Massa is fastest in both practice sessions for the Malaysian Grand Prix
• Ex-French President Mitterrand's son and 41 others face trial in arms-to-Angola case
• Michael Jackson memorabilia, to be auctioned off in New York next month.
• Classical group G4 announce split
• England consider recalling Andrew Strauss to the squad for the Australia game
• Ravi Shastri is offered the job of interim manager on India's tour of Bangladesh next month
• Great Britain take a 2-0 lead over the Netherlands in the Davis Cup.
• Bob Woolmer's wife says personal e-mails sent by her husband should not be made public
• South African farmer jailed for 20 years for killing a Zimbabwean worker he said he had mistaken for a baboon

06 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. Who is the founder of London-based gaming website Betonsports arrested and sent to the US to answer criminal charges?
• Gary Stephen Kaplan
• 2. On what date will this year’s FA Cup final be held at Wembley?
• 19th May
• 3. Who has been announced as the presenter of the next two series of the X Factor?
• Dermot O'Leary
• 4. Jason Robinson says he made up his mind to retire after which club delayed offering him a new contract?
• Sale
• 5. “The List:” Who are the only 4 people to have won “Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World”?
• Muttiah Muralitharan, Andrew Flintoff, Shane Warne and Ricky Ponting

Topic of the Day: Bono

• 6. In which year was Bono born?
• 1960
• 7. What is his real name?
• Paul Hewson
• 8. In 2005 Bono was named by Time as a Person of the Year along with which married couple?
• Bill and Melinda Gates
• 9. What type of shop in Bono Vox, from which his name is supposedly derived?
• Hearing Aid Shop
• 10. What was the name of the band that he joined in 1976 which later became U2?
• The Hype

05

• 15 sailors held by Iran speak of their happiness at being reunited with their families.
• 1,600 people evacuated from stricken cruise ship near the Greek island of Santorini.
• 3 men charged with conspiracy to cause explosions over 7 July suicide bombings in London
• Ukraine's PM asks Austria to mediate in the political crisis which is splitting the country
• Tony Blair insists no deal was done to free 15 Royal Navy crew members.
• A judge clears Playboy's editor in Indonesia of printing indecent material
• South Korea pledges to provide North Korea with rice
• China set to overtake Japan to become Asia Pacific's largest carmaker by 2010
• Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore confirms interest in succeeding Greg Chappell as India coach
• US helicopter 'shot down' in Iraq
• UK pledges £20m in aid for UNICEF
• Human rights activists protest at "extremist" activities of Madrassas
• John Hutton says lie detectors will be used to help find benefit cheats
• UK base rates left unchanged at 5.25%
• UEFA Cup: Sevilla 2-1 Tottenham
• Robbers steal Sports Personality trophies from the home of Sir Steve Redgrave

05 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” is due to be released on what date?
• 21st July 2007
• 2. Who beat Andy Murray 6-1 6-0 in the Miami Masters semi-finals?
• Novak Djokovic
• 3. Whose “The Naming of the Dead” won best crime thriller at the 2007 British Book Awards?
• Ian Rankin
• 4. Who in scoring the first goal in the Liverpool v PSV game became the highest scorer for Liverpool in the Champions; League?
• Steven Gerard
• 5. “The List:” Brothers Paul and Philip Carberry have been lined up to ride two of the market leaders in the John Smith's Grand National at Aintree on 14 April. Name their respective mounts.
• Dun Doire and Point Barrow

Topic of the Day: Wisden

• 6. In which year was the first Wisden published?
• 1864
• 7. What is the colour of Wisden?
• Yellow
• 8. How much did the first edition sell for?
• 1 shilling
• 9. Who did Wisden name as the leading cricketer of the year for 2006?
• Muttiah Muralitharan
• 10. Who is the current editor (standing in for Matthew Engel)?
• Scyld Berry

04

• 15 navy personnel held captive in the Gulf are being freed by the Iranian President
• A man who attacked his friend with a Freddy Krueger-style bladed glove is jailed for life.
• US Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama raises $25m in campaign money
• All foreign hostages abducted in Nigeria's Niger Delta within the last month are freed
• Cuban leader Fidel Castro condemns US plans to use more biofuels
• Bosnian Serb jailed for 15 years for rape and torture of Muslim women during the 1990’s war
• Champions’ League:
  • Roma 2-1 Man Utd
  • Chelsea 1-1 Valencia
• Greg Chappell resigns as India’s cricket coach
• Ian Paisley and Bertie Ahern shake hands publicly for the first time
• World oil prices drop as Iran frees the British navy personnel
• New rules are to be introduced on TV quizzes
• Russell Brand is to leave spin-off show Big Brother's Big Mouth
• Keith Richards denies he snorted the ashes of his late father
• Manchester United fans involved in violent clashes before and during Champions League match in Rome

04 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. The BBC is moving reality which reality show from its Sunday night slot after ratings dropped to just 2.1 million?
• Castaway
• 2. In which city are the current World Swimming Championships being held?
• Melbourne
• 3. Which DUP MEP has resigned from the party in protest over its decision to enter power-sharing with Sinn Fein?
• Jim Allister
• 4. Who is the current FA chief executive?
• Brian Barwick
• 5. “The List:” The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are back, this time in a big screen animated film. Name the 4 TMNT’s?
• Donatello, Leonardo, Michelangelo and Raphael

Topic of the Day: Tracy Barlow

• 6. In Coronation Street Tracy Barlow is played by which actress?
• Kate Ford
• 7. She is currently in jail for killing which former boyfriend?
• Charlie Stubbs
• 8. Who is Tracey’s father?
• Ray Langton
• 9. In 1995 she collapsed at a nightclub after taking which drug?
• Ecstasy
• 10. Who did Tracey sleep with for a bet (although actually she drugged him and made it look as if they had slept together)?
• Roy Cropper

03

• Tony Blair expresses optimism in getting the 15 Royal Navy personnel back from Iran
• French TGV smashes world record speed for a train on conventional rails reaching 356mph
• Cocaine baron, Brian Wright, jailed for 30 years
• Father Gerry Nugent talks of his shame at having sex with Polish student, Angelika Kluk
• UK police officers arrive in Jamaica to help the inquiry into the death of Bob Woolmer
• EU launches inquiry into what iTunes charges users across Europe
• Champions’ League:
  • PSV Eindhoven 0-3 Liverpool
  • AC Milan 2-2 Bayern Munich
• Nigeria's electoral body has been told to allow VP Atiku Abubakar to run for president in April
• Emergency aid reaches tsunami-hit Solomon Islands
• An Iranian diplomat kidnapped in Iraq in February has been freed.
• Channel 4 says it is considering delaying showing a drama about British soldiers in Iraq
• UK hacker, Gary McKinnon, loses extradition fight
• Grandmother of 5-year-old Ellie Lawrenson who was killed in an attack by a pit bull terrier has been charged with her manslaughter

03 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. Where did Sir Elton John hold a concert to celebrate his 60th birthday?
• New York's Madison Square Garden
• 2. Who hit an eight-under 64 to win the individual prize at the annual Tavistock Cup match between Isleworth and Lake Nona golf clubs in Orlando?
• Tiger Woods
• 3. Which Sri Lankan rebel group have carried out their first aerial attack, bombing a military base by the international airport north of the capital, Colombo?
• Tamil Tigers
• 4. 34 boys have been returned home to which African country after being duped by a bogus football agent, and then held against their will in Mali?
• Ivory Coast
• 5. “The List:” Scott Cosman and Rik Fedyck are suing which two actresses after an alleged assault when they tried to take their pictures?
• Pamela Anderson and Denise Richards

Topic of the Day: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

• 6. Who is the leader of the TMNT’s?
• Leonardo
• 7. What is the name of the mutant rat who is their teacher and adoptive father?
• Splinter
• 8. The concept for the TMNT arose from a comical sketch by which graphic artist?
• Kevin Eastman
• 9. Shredder is the TMNT’s arch-enemy, what is the name of his fictional Ninjutsu followers?
• The Foot Clan
• 10. What was the subtitle of the second film “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II” released in 1991?
• The Secret of the Ooze

02

• Afghan flooding kills 51
• Microsoft is issuing a fix for a cursor flaw in is Windows operating system
• Andy Murray may not be fit for Davis Cup tie against Holland.
• Ian Thorpe's doping case to go to arbitration
• PDC World Darts Championship will move from Circus Tavern to Alexandra Palace
• New tyre markings will be used from the 2007 Malaysian Grand Prix
• Sebastien Loeb takes the lead in the World Rally Championship
• Adam Scott win the Houston Open by three shots from fellow Australian Stuart Appleby.
• Jason Robinson to quit club rugby at the end of the season and retire after the 2007 World Cup
• Cricket World Cup: New Zealand beat Bangladesh in Antigua.
• Development of Liverpool's new stadium at Stanley Park to start in May.
• Apple and EMI announce they will sell songs without copy protection
• British scientists grow part of a human heart from stem cells for the first time.
• Coronation Street viewers find out verdict in Tracy Barlow's murder trial.
• Baroness Thatcher attends a private ceremony to mark 25th anniversary of Falklands conflict
• US Supreme Court rules the government was wrong to say it did not have the power to regulate vehicle emissions.

02 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. Dr Doug Hanson is the lead character in which new BBC hospital series?
• 3lbs
• 2. Who successfully defended his European super bantamweight title by beating Kazakhstan's Yersin Jailauov?
• Bernard Dunne
• 3. According to the tile of his number 5 hit where is Alex Gaudino’s “Destination”?
• Calabria
• 4. Who scored the injury-time winner as Chelsea beat Watford to stay six points behind Man Utd?
• Salomon Kalou
• 5. “The List:” Name the 4 first time winners on the European tour in March 2007.
• Daniel Vancsik, Anton Haig, Liang Wen-chong and Chapchai Nirat

Topic of the Day: Starship Troopers

• 6. Who published the novel “Starship Troopers” which won the Hugo Award in 1960?
• Robert Heinlein
• 7. Who is the main male character played by Casper Van Dien in the 1997 film?
• Juan “Johnny” Rico
• 8. What is the name of the bug planet, that is the home of the arachnids, nicknamed “Planet K”?
• Klendathu
• 9. Name the character played by Denise Richards in Paul Verhoeven’s shoot-em-up film?
• Carmen Ibañez
• 10. What was the subtitle of the second Starship Troopers film, directed by Phil Tippett?
• Hero of the Federation

01

• An oil worker from Perthshire is still missing after being kidnapped in Nigeria
• Experts say new pension laws in Japan could lead to an explosion in divorces
• Tsunami warning issued for South Pacific
• Briton released from US detention camp Guantanamo Bay after being held for almost five years.
• Cathedral memorial service takes place in Lahore for cricket coach Bob Woolmer.
• Controlled explosion carried out in Manchester after live hand grenade discovered in a garden
• 25 years on Britain expresses "regret" over deaths on both sides in the Falklands war
• Royal Mail wants to introduce businesses surcharge for addresses in London or rural locations.
• UK Charts:
  • Singles:
    • 1. The Proclaimers - (I'm Gonna Be) 500 Miles
    • 2. Avril Lavigne - Girlfriend
    • 3. Gwen Stefani ft Akon - The Sweet Escape
    • 4. Alex Gaudino ft Crystal Waters - Destination Calabria
    • 5. Fray – How To Save a Life
  • Albums:
    • 1. Take That - Beautiful World
    • 2. Elton John - Rocket Man - The Definitive Hits
    • 3. Cascada - Everytime We Touch - The Album
    • 4. Kaiser Chiefs - Yours Truly Angry Mob
    • 5. Nelly Furtado – Loose
• Topshop is to sell designs by Kate Moss in Barneys department stores in America
• West Indies thrashed by Sri Lanka in World Cup
• Wigan beat Widnes 34-24 in Challenge Cup 4th round
• Ted Bami retains his European light welterweight title with win over Giuseppe Lauri
• World champion Graeme Dott overcomes Jamie Cope 9-5 to claim the China Open
• James Toseland wins race one of the World Superbikes European GP at Donington
• Australian Ian Thorpe vows to clear his name against drug allegations made against him

01 Quiz

In the News:

• 1. Port workers in which major French city have ended their strike?
• Marseille
• 2. Andy Murray advanced to the last 4 at the Miami Masters after which player retired injured?
• Andy Roddick
• 3. Which Guantanamo detainee will serve nine months in prison in Australia?
• David Hicks
• 4. Who beat the home favourite Ding Junhui at the China Open?
• Barry Hawkins.
• 5. “The List:” Who won the men and women’s World Cross Country titles in Kenya?
• Zersenay Tadesse and Lornah Kiplagat

Topic of the Day: Horatio Nelson

• 6. In which Norfolk village was he born in 1758?
• Burnham Thorpe
• 7. Who did Horatio Nelson marry in 1787?
• Frances (Fanny) Nisbet
• 8. Nelson lost an eye as a result of which 1794 battle?
• Calvi
• 9. What title was bestowed upon him by the King of Naples in July 1799?
• Duke of Bronté
• 10. What was the name of his daughter by Lady Hamilton?
• Horatia

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