Thursday news quiz: Liz is absurd, Apu finds words and a bloke steals a bird

The Thursday quiz is aware of standard international units of time, such as the Liz Truss (49 days) and the Scaramucci (11 days). Now a new unit of measurement has entered the chat: the Zacharia (five days). But whatever arbitrary length of time the world invents to measure chaos, political downfalls or social media meltdowns, the Thursday news quiz remains resolutely fixed. It is always seven days apart, unwavering, inescapable and ultimately reliable. Which means, once again, it is time for some questions on topical news, pop culture and general knowledge, with no prizes on offer except pride. Or shame. Allons-y!The Thursday news quiz, No 2701.Which province of Canada held a referendum this on whether it should have a binding referendum on declaring independence from the country?2.Archaeologists believe they have solved the mystery of whose bones were buried in a Roman sarcophagus unearthed at Westminster Abbey. Who was it?3.Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim's film about Elizabeth Holmes (pictured) had the biggest documentary debut since 2004 in North America, taking in $15m. What is it called?4.The Thursday quiz loves trains and saw this lovely steam locomotive in Leicester the other day. But which city in the north of England is to get a brand new station as part of the Northern Powerhouse Rail scheme?5.Japan (pictured) has launched a space mission to gather rocks from which moon of Mars (also pictured)?6.A man has been found guilty of animal cruelty after he stole a 27-year-old flamingo from its enclosure at a Las Vegas hotel. What is the bird's name?7.Send Derren Brown today's collective noun. Use your psychic powers to let him know what, according to Grammar Monster, the collective noun for jaguars is (the animal, not the car).8.This week's guest canine is Spanner, who the Thursday quiz met in Crouch End. She wants to know the name of the silly bomb-sniffing dog in Utah who accidentally broke several bones when he inexplicably leapt over the side of an overpass while out on a mission?9.It is Jeff Goldblum's birthday today. Happy birthday, Jeff! Jurassic Park! What's the name of his character in the dinosaur-infused franchise?10.Apu has his voice back on The Simpsons. Who now voices the character?11.The Thursday quiz fondly remembers Keith Chegwin, so here is Cheggers plays population! According to the 2026 CIA World Factbook, what is the population of Algeria?12.England's lady egg chasers (pictured in training) lost their first rugby union match after four years and 41 games unbeaten. Who bested them?13.A bear in California's Mono county wandered into where to raid the staff snacks and check out the new releases?14.On this day with Brian May! And his badger! 22 October is the anniversary of a war fought between Britain and Spain from 1739 to 1748, mostly in the Caribbean. The Thursday quiz imagines Queen's legendary guitarist wants you to tell him – and his badger – what it was called.15.The Thursday quiz regrets to inform you that Liz Truss is at it again, with a new book. What is it called?16.Bonus question: There is a new Doctor Who story that features a dachshund on the cover, and the writer, Jez Fielder, has posed you this question: In Anton Chekhov’s The Lady with the Little Dog, the lady’s dog is never named. Big Finish’s latest Doctor Who audio drama, The Beasts of Sakhalin Island, gives Chekhov a dog and finally supplies a name, the same as the lady herself. What is it?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 Don’t Call It Love by Jonathan Bree feat Adah Dylan instead?Don’t Call It Love by Jonathan Bree feat Adah Dylan