Every now and then the Thursday quiz pauses to ponder humanity’s ongoing obsession with setting records for things that do not need to exist. Last week we had a cat breaking the world record for toe-count and a robot running the 100 metres faster than Usain Bolt. One feels a bit unnecessary, the other feels like the plot of a dystopian 1980s sci-fi film. Neither feel like things we used to actually count. Never mind. Here are 15 question on topical news, general knowledge and pop culture to amuse and delight. No anteaters were harmed in the making of this quiz. Allons-y!
The Thursday news quiz, No 263
1.Norway’s king died. What was his name?
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2.Who has quit Kemi Badenoch’s shadow cabinet for a fruitless run to be London mayor at the next election?
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3.An Egyptian queen’s 673-diamond necklace was stolen in a smash-and-grab raid. Where?
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4.Nasa has launched its latest space telescope. It is named after which Nasa luminary?
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5.This week’s guest canine is this dachshund illustration by holybatpants. It wants to know which Aardman Animations character has been added to the list of potential storm names by the UK’s Met Office?
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6.The Edinburgh TV festival is – gasp! shock! horror! – moving next year from Edinburgh to which English location?
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7.Who is the latest author selected to have a work stored unseen for 88 years as part of the Future Library project in Oslo?
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8.For some reason Netflix has a documentary about the Australian breakdancer who stunned the Paris 2024 Olympics with her ‘unorthodox’ routine. The Thursday quiz wants to ask why, but instead will settle for: what is her performing name?
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9.Testing of a newly constructed Formula One circuit in Spain has been driving the locals loco with the noise. Where?
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10.A street artist has defended his mural of who in Sheffield after critics suggested it looked like a zombie?
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11.Talking of street artists, what was the tag of the prolific artist who has died and famously defaced the ‘Give peas a chance’ graffiti on the M25 motorway bridge in Buckinghamshire?
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12.Which company has inexplicably launched a £420 toothbrush that films ‘live cleaning footage’ inside your mouth?
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13.What is the name of the US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier that has been at sea for more than 270 days, sparking reports of poor conditions and mental health among personnel?
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14.On this day with Brian May! And his badger! Today is the anniversary of Richard I of England (also known as ‘Richard the Lionheart’) being crowned at Westminster. The Thursday quiz imagines Queen’s legendary guitarist wants you to tell him – and his badger – in which year …
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15.And finally … which British politician has ended up being fined for an untaxed car that they don’t own but which had been falsely registered in their name, presumably as a prank?
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If you really do think there has been an egregious error in one of the questions or answers – and can show your working and are absolutely 100% positive you aren’t attempting to factcheck a joke – you can complain about it in the comments below. Why not watch Fucking Closure by Julia Cummings instead?
Fucking Closure by Julia Cummings