Is it Thursday? Yes. Is it a quiz? Yes. Is it a very sensible set of 15 questions about recent news events, peppered with a few jokes? Well, sort of. There is a bit of general knowledge and random nonsense sprinkled in to the mix, some hidden Doctor Who references to be spotted, two pictures this week of the official dog, and also a Pokémon. It is just for fun and there are no prizes, but let us know how you get on in the comments! The Thursday quiz, No 117 1.COULDN"T GET AHEAD: Which railway company in the UK is being forced to re-record some of its onboard train announcements as it has pronounced station names wrong? A steam train Avanti West Coast ScotRail Wales & Borders Northern Trains Reveal 2.LAST ORDERS: Which Australian state has cancelled hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games, throwing into doubt the whole future of the enterprise? Ozzy New South Wales Western Australia Victoria Queensland Reveal 3.DISNEY"S DREAM DEBASED: After much secrecy, the English title for Hayao Miyazaki"s latest film for Studio Ghibli finally emerged. It is called The Boy and … what? The cinema The Boy and the Swan The Boy and the Goose The Boy and the Heron The Boys and the 30-50 Feral Hogs Reveal 4.DOG IS LIFE: This is Willow, the official dog of the Guardian Thursday quiz, hiding under the sofa. Yes, that is a complete set of Tintin books in the picture too. She knows that someone in California has been aggressively snatching surfers’ boards. Who? Willow, the official dog of the Guardian Thursday quiz A dolphin A sea otter An orca One very naughty miniature dachshund Reveal 5.DOG IS LIFE (SLIGHT RETURN): A town in which European country is to pilot a DNA database for dogs so that owners who don"t clear up after their pet has pooped can be traced? Willow, the official dog of the Guardian"s Thursday quiz Germany France Switzerland Sweden Reveal 6.A PAST GONE MAD: Which EU country has this week raised the bloc"s largest flagpole (very much not pictured), which at 111 metres tall is hoisting a 1,110 sq metre flag (also not pictured)? EU flag Finland Ireland Portugal Bulgaria Reveal 7.HIT THE NORTH formerly NORTH OR SOUTH WITH THE POKÉMON MEOWTH: Which of these islands or groups of islands is furthest north in the Atlantic Ocean? Pokémon Meowth in a Walthamstow pub using Pokémon Go Azores Canary Islands Cape Verde Madeira Reveal 8.THE DIRECTOR NEVER YELLED "CUT": That is a Sparks song from 2008. Directors won"t be yelling cut because both the Screen Actors Guild and the Writers Guild of America will be on strike at the same time in Hollywood for the first time since when? Ron Mael from Sparks 1948 1960 1974 1985 Reveal 9.WOMEN"S WORLD CUP 2023: It is the final week of these non-football questions about the countries in the Fifa Women"s World Cup this year, because the football should already have started before the quiz was published. European champions England are among pre-tournament favourites. When did England first LEGALLY adopt God Save the King as its national anthem? England are European champions 1760 for George III 1820 for George IV 1901 for Edward VII It never has Reveal 10.WOMEN"S WORLD CUP 2023: The US are the reigning world champions. The first and second amendments to the US constitution still feature in political debate today. But what did the third amendment of the US constitution concern? US are the world champions Quartering of soldiers Excessive fines, cruel and unusual punishment Jury trial in civil lawsuits Search and seizure Reveal 11.THE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE: A round of questions about each element in turn. We"ve reached element 13. What is element 13? Elements Aluminium, as it is officially and correctly spelled by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, and therefore also by the Thursday quiz Helium Silicon Sulfur, as it is officially and correctly spelled by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, and therefore also by the Thursday quiz Reveal 12.CLASP HANDS: Who is going to be appearing digitally in a musical based on the songs written by the pop production trio of Stock Aitken Waterman? Sheet music Rick Astley Jason Donovan Kylie Minogue Mr Blobby Reveal 13.THE WORLD"S MOST FAMOUS BULLIES, WITH DOMINIC RAAB: This week the former deputy PM would like to know what is the name of the hectoring vice-principal who is keeping "The Breakfast Club" in Saturday detention in the 1985 movie? Dominic Raab Vice-principal Richard Vernon Vice-principal Peter Venkman Vice-principal Dixon Bainbridge Vice-principal Gavin Williamson Reveal 14.GLAM RACKET: Who became Wimbledon’s first unseeded women’s champion in the Open era at the weekend? Wimbledon trophy Markéta Vondroušová Aryna Sabalenka Elina Svitolina Iga Świątek Reveal 15.REBELLIOUS JUKEBOX: Taylor Swift fans have been getting a dose of a different type of music due to a mispressing of her new album which went viral on TikTok because it actually contained … Taylor Swift The haunting sounds of the works of Igor Stravinsky The avant-garde electronica of Cabaret Voltaire The grime beats of Skepta The whimsical beauty of Kate Bush