theweekuk--2020-09-18--How France is handling its coronavirus spike

The French government is facing calls to take urgent action to stem a spike in coronavirus cases that has triggered fears of so-called second wave of infections .
France ’ s Health Ministry reported a 10,593 new Covid cases on Thursday - the highest daily tally since the pandemic began - “ prompting officials to urge people to limit social gatherings and maintain handwashing and other protective measures ” , says Paris-based news agency AFP .
But despite the surge in outbreaks , President Emmanuel Macron and other leading politicians are reluctant to reimpose a national lockdown , saying that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with ” with the virus .
What are the figures ?
Alarm bells began to ring last Saturday , when the French authorities confirmed that the daily tally of confirmed new coronavirus infections had soared to 10,561 - marking the first time that thecountry has passed the 10,000 mark in a 24-hour period .
And this record was broken again yesterday , with the total number of cases in France now standing at almost 455,000 , while the tally of Covid-related fatalities has climbed to more than 31,100 , according to latest figures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came as “ a group of people who have recovered from coronavirus and the families of Covid-19 patients ” filed a lawsuit against Prime Minister Jean Castex “ for allegedly overseeing dangerous and contradictory management of the outbreak ” , says the London Evening Standard .
Several other ministers are also facing legal action over their perceived poor handling of the crisis , including Health Minister Olivier Veran , who this week acknowledged that the virus “ is again very active ” , the BBC reports .
And the response to the latest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cities , Marseille and Bordeaux , have announced tougher restrictions this week , after the PM Castex demanded that both cities enact new laws “ to stem their growing numbers of infections , which were putting pressure on regional health services ” , reports Euronews .
The authorities in Bordeaux have banned gatherings of more than ten people in public parks , beside the city ’ s river and on beaches .
The new rules also limit the size of large public gatherings to no more than 1,000 people , well below the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The regional government in Marseille , France ’ s second-biggest city after Paris , has announced similar restrictions , along with the “ cancellation of an 11-day international festival ” and a pledge to “ quickly close down bars and restaurants that don ’ t observe an overnight curfew and that serve clients who stand up ” , says the news site .
Meanwhile , the government is ramping up coronavirus testing .
Earlier this month , health officials announced plans to open 20 new testing centres in the Paris region , amid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rentree - the operation to reopen workplaces and schools .
And the government has vowed to implement further measures this week to avoid a national lockdown , after Prime Minister Castex admitted that the situation is “ obviously worsening ” , adding : “ For the first time in many weeks , we are noting a substantial increase in the number of hospitalised people.
” But are these pledges enough ?
Not according to Bloomberg , which says that the recent surge in cases is “ a grim postscript to [ the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ required quarantine for positive cases in half to seven days ” .
The opening of the “ testing floodgates ” has also caused backlogs in labs , with “ tales of waiting as long as eight days for a result in France ” , says the news site .
And France reportedly “ fails the coronavirus test ” too , with the average number of contacts traced per positive case falling from 4.5 in the week ending 19 July to 2.4 in the week ending 23 August .

The French government is facing calls to take urgent action to stem a spike in coronavirus cases that has triggered fears of so-called second wave of infections.
France’s Health Ministry reported a 10,593 new Covid cases on Thursday - the highest daily tally since the pandemic began - “prompting officials to urge people to limit social gatherings and maintain handwashing and other protective measures”, says Paris-based news agency AFP.
But despite the surge in outbreaks, President Emmanuel Macron and other leading politicians are reluctant to reimpose a national lockdown, saying that citizens must instead “learn to live with” with the virus.
What are the figures?
Alarm bells began to ring last Saturday, when the French authorities confirmed that the daily tally of confirmed new coronavirus infections had soared to 10,561 - marking the first time that thecountry has passed the 10,000 mark in a 24-hour period.
And this record was broken again yesterday, with the total number of cases in France now standing at almost 455,000, while the tally of Covid-related fatalities has climbed to more than 31,100, according to latest figures.
The confirmation of the latest hikes came as “a group of people who have recovered from coronavirus and the families of Covid-19 patients” filed a lawsuit against Prime Minister Jean Castex “for allegedly overseeing dangerous and contradictory management of the outbreak”, says the London Evening Standard.
Several other ministers are also facing legal action over their perceived poor handling of the crisis, including Health Minister Olivier Veran, who this week acknowledged that the virus “is again very active”, the BBC reports.
And the response to the latest outbreaks?
Two of the hardest-hit French cities, Marseille and Bordeaux, have announced tougher restrictions this week, after the PM Castex demanded that both cities enact new laws “to stem their growing numbers of infections, which were putting pressure on regional health services”, reports Euronews.
The authorities in Bordeaux have banned gatherings of more than ten people in public parks, beside the city’s river and on beaches. The new rules also limit the size of large public gatherings to no more than 1,000 people, well below the national permitted limit of 5,000 people.
The regional government in Marseille, France’s second-biggest city after Paris, has announced similar restrictions, along with the “cancellation of an 11-day international festival” and a pledge to “quickly close down bars and restaurants that don’t observe an overnight curfew and that serve clients who stand up”, says the news site.
Meanwhile, the government is ramping up coronavirus testing. Earlier this month, health officials announced plans to open 20 new testing centres in the Paris region, amid soaring demand as a result of la rentree - the operation to reopen workplaces and schools.
And the government has vowed to implement further measures this week to avoid a national lockdown, after Prime Minister Castex admitted that the situation is “obviously worsening”, adding: “For the first time in many weeks, we are noting a substantial increase in the number of hospitalised people.”
But are these pledges enough?
Not according to Bloomberg, which says that the recent surge in cases is “a grim postscript to [the government’s] decision to cut the required quarantine for positive cases in half to seven days”.
The opening of the “testing floodgates” has also caused backlogs in labs, with “tales of waiting as long as eight days for a result in France”, says the news site.
And France reportedly “fails the coronavirus test” too, with the average number of contacts traced per positive case falling from 4.5 in the week ending 19 July to 2.4 in the week ending 23 August.


theweekuk--2020-09-18--Alcohol gift guide: unique sets and bottles

What do you buy for that certain someone who has everything ?
If they enjoy a tipple , you can ’ t go wrong with getting them something to drink .
In this guide we pick out some of the most unique alcohol gift sets and bottles on the market right now , including a 24-carat gin and boozy tea to dram collections and craft beers .
The Bacardi drinks group has partnered with artisan florists Floom to create three “ grow-your-own ” garnish kits .
Each kit features two fully-grown seasonal plants - such as rosemary , mint , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are paired with a 35cl bottle of either Bacardi rum , Bombay Sapphire gin or Grey Goose vodka .
Each kit is accompanied by a cocktail recipes .
Gin enthusiasts can create two personalised bottles of bespoke , hand-crafted gin based on their own unique recipe .
A simple selection process invites you to define your flavour profile utilising up to six beautiful botanicals , choose whether you want a pink or clear liquid , name your gin and personalise your bottle .
Your recipe is then handed over to 58 Gin ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life using a classic base London Dry recipe where juniper , orris and angelica root delicately balance your chosen flavours .
A gift box of two 70cl bottles of your customised gin will then be delivered directly to any UK address .
NOVELTEA has created a boozy blend of cold-brewed teas infused with a matching spirit .
Flavours include The Tale of Earl Grey ( London dry gin ) , The Tale of Moroccan Mint ( white Carribean rum ) and The Tale of Oolong ( Scotch whisky ) .
The tea lover @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 70cl NOVELTEA Tales , a glass teapot and teapot warmer .
Drinks by the Dram has announced its brand new gift collection series .
Each set contains 12 specially-curated drams presented in beautiful wax-sealed 30ml bottles .
The range includes whisky , premium rum , premium gin , tequila and mezcal , and Irish whiskey .
Ten-year-old whisky from the BenRiach Distillery in Speyside , Scotland .
A fresh and lively single malt , it ’ s available in a gift box with two glasses .
The luxurious distilling and distribution company Liquid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ premium and exclusive product for the most discerning clients with the finest palate .
24 Carat Gin is a magic alcohol drink that combines an exquisite dry gin with the delightful touch of real 24-carat liquid gold .
South Ormsby Estate ’ s most enigmatic couple have been reunited thanks to two new gins from Massingberd-Mundy Distillery in the Lincolnshire Wolds .
Making perfect “ his and her ” gifts the Burrell ’ s Dry and Marie Jeanne Pink gins have been distilled to celebrate Charles Burrell Massingberd and his socialite wife Marie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be the No.1 Italian dry gin brand in the world by critics , VII Hills is the ideal gift for gin connoisseurs .
Exclusively handcrafted in Italy , this unique spirit is made with seven botanicals found within the hills that surround Rome .
The result is a perfectly balanced spirit with a distinctive body , strength and flavour that is slightly bittersweet with hints of blood orange and an herbal aroma .
It can be enjoyed on the rocks , in a G & T or any other gin-based tipple .
Inspired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day out in the African bush , Elephant Gin is a handcrafted gin made with rare African botanicals .
A complex yet smooth taste , encompassing floral , fruity and spicy flavours .
London-based artisan spirits distillery , 58 Gin , has recently launched two new hand-crafted gins - 58 English Berry Gin and 58 Apple & Hibiscus Gin - created using wonky apples and foraged berries .
Sibling Distillery , a family ( sibling ) -run distillery based in Cheltenham , Gloucestershire , has taken inspiration from the Italian cocktail to create @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make a fresh and herbal G & T .
Best served with tonic , a slice of orange and ice , it ’ s a citrus lead , herbal gin with the classic aperitivo bitterness and a refreshing zesty finish .
Restless is the fifth limited-edition release in the award-winning Voyager Series from Salcombe Gin .
Crafted in collaboration with two Michelin-starred chef Niall Keating of Whatley Manor in Wiltshire , Restless is inspired by Keating ’ s passion for Asian cuisine and has been distilled with kombucha , marking the first time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a liquid botanical .
The 15 best gins : here ’ s some you must try Smooth , elegant and organic , Nc ’ nean Single Malt Whisky is produced in small batches for an easy-going and delicious tipple .
Packaged in the industry ’ s first-ever 100 % recycled clear glass bottle and made in the 100 % renewable energy distillery , Nc ’ nean is a pioneer of sustainable production .
It has tasting notes of lemon posset , peach and apricot , and spiced rye bread .
Award-winning bourbon with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it was America ’ s first bottled bourbon and its classic taste is still very popular today .
In 2020 Old Forester celebrates 150 years of producing flavoursome bourbon .
Old Forester Statesman is inspired by the dynamic characters in the film Kingsman : The Golden Circle .
Old Forester Statesman offers bold flavour blended from hand-selected casks of the famed Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky .
Because true character is only revealed after a little heat , the Statesman product offers an exceptional balance of heat and spice .
How to become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two hours This liqueur was last year crowned one of the top-selling products at Edinburgh Castle after more than 12,000 bottles were snapped up by visitors to the historic landmark between January and November 2019 alone .
Magnum ’ s smooth , creamy caramel notes play off single malt scotch whisky for a balanced taste with a warming ginger afterglow .
Cabby ’ s White Rum by the Taxi Spirit Co “ In the daytime , I drive a black cab .
At night time , I distil.
” These are the words @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who has opened the capital ’ s first ever rum distillery , aptly named Taxi Spirit Co .
The first product to be launched was the award-winning Cabby ’ s White Rum , which has rich , full-bodied taste notes of sweet cane , delicious black treacle , a hint of oak and refreshing coconut and citrus .
Taxi Spirit Co also offers Cabby ’ s Spiced Rum and Cabby ’ s Gin .
An organic , single estate rum from the heart of the Belizean rainforest , crafted with conservation , community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s made from just three ingredients , sugar cane , canopy water and yeast .
The rum is “ rested ” in casks that previously held bourbon , giving it gorgeous vanilla-rich notes .
This premium white rum by Foxhole Spirits is enhanced and invigorated with a recipe of 25 botanicals - with more depth , more flavour and more complexity than ever before .
Mad City is the ultimate tipple for rum fans , cocktail lovers and curious drinkers who are looking beyond gin .
Equiano , the world ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Caribbean , is 100 % natural and is made with no spices , no additives and no added sugar .
Inspired by the Nigerian-born writer , entrepreneur , abolitionist and freedom fighter Olaudah Equiano , the rum offers a blend of two cultures , two distilleries and two islands .
Bloody Drinks was launched in 2018 when founders Will Best and Harry Farnham made it their mission to find the perfect Bloody Mary .
They started making their own for friends and family and the Bloody Drinks brand was born from there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high quality ingredients including premium vodka and Amontillado sherry for body , the finest tomatoes from Italy and Spain for natural sweetness , fresh lemons for acidity , Worcestershire and soy sauce for a rich , umami-packed base , and the legendary Tabasco sauce for that much needed kick .
Bloody Classic cans are sold in packs of four ( £13 ) , six ( £19 ) or 12 ( £36 ) ; bloodydrinks.co.uk Based at Alva , near Stirling in Scotland , Harviestoun Brewery is a pioneering producer of nine high-quality craft @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sells a range of multi-packs , kegs and fridge packs .
The Harvie ’ s Choice selection , a mixed case of award-winning beers , is chosen by Harvie , the company mascot who has featured in various guises on its beers through the years .
Included in the mixed case are : Schiehallion 4.8 % craft lager , Bitter & Twisted 4.2 % golden ale , The Ridge 5 % pale ale , Forth 4 % craft lager , IPA 5.8 % , Whippet 2.3 % pale ale , Old Engine Oil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % dark ale , Ola Dubh 8 % barrel aged ale plus a free Harviestoun tankard glass .
The mixed case of 12 x 330ml bottles includes Island Street Porter ( an award-winning , rich , velvety porter ) ; Salcombe Pale Ale ( a classic , full bodied pale ale with a bouquet of orange , pink grapefruit and anise ) ; and Sun Drop ( a gluten free and vegan friendly , dry-hopped ale ) .
The mission of Cider Is Wine is to create a new global drinks category for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apple and pear juice ( never-from-concentrate ) that lovers of the finer things in life will recognise as simply representing the best of the best .
Its online shop sells at-home packs , case of the month , online tastings and subscriptions .
Transporting you to an authentic Italian aperitivo hour , Primo Aperitivo Negroni is one of the most luxury ready-to-serve Italian cocktails on the market .
It has been exclusively handcrafted in Italy using the finest ingredients including a bespoke blend of dry gin , vermouth and bitter aperitif .
To @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drink over ice into a rock glass and garnish with an orange wedge .
The striking bottle comes delivered in a beautifully branded gift box .
How to make a Negroni cocktail : top hotel bartenders share their recipes Stambecco is a bitter-sweet Italian Amaro infused with luxury maraschino cherries , bitter citrus peel and local Italian mountain herbs .
It ’ s produced at the Vergnano family distillery , Torino Distillati in Piedmont , north-eastern Italy , where the tradition of making Amaro began .
The liqueur is carefully crafted in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been specially installed at the distillery for the exclusive , small-batch production of Stambecco .
Every year , billions of tonnes of the coffee berry Cascara are wasted in coffee production after the bean is extracted .
Discarded takes what would be wasted and re-purposes it to bring a new flavour dimension to create a Vermouth like no other .
Discover the versatility of Discarded Sweet Cascara Vermouth , a perfect addition to any drinks collection and a welcome gift for any occasion .
The taste is full and sweet , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the characteristic bitter notes of Vermouth .

With Christmas just around the corner now is the time to get those last-minute gifts for adult friends and family members. So, what do you buy for that certain someone who has everything? If they enjoy a tipple you can’t go wrong with getting them something to drink. In this guide we pick out some of the most unique alcohol gift sets and bottles available right now, including gins, whiskies, dram collections and craft beers. Christmas-themed bottles A Fine Christmas Malt The Whisky Exchange’s 2020 festive whisky has hit the shelves. This 19-year-old sherry-aged blended malt Scotch whisky really is “Christmas in a dram”. Tasting notes include Christmas cake, fruit and spices. Only 1,918 bottles are available of this limited edition Christmas Malt. £74.95; thewhiskyexchange.com Nelson’s Sprout Vodka Sprouts and vodka? It’s a mix that could even make the Grinch a little merry. As Master of Malt puts it: “Nelson’s has gone and whacked a whole load of Brussels sprouts into this festive vodka! Oh, and if it wasn't Christmassy enough, if you shake it, it also sparkles.” £24.95; masterofmalt.com Pickering’s Brussels Gin The humble Brussels sprout has also been used by Pickering’s to create this festively flavoured gin. In its bottling note, Master of Malt says: “It doesn’t taste like being pelted with sprouts, mind, but there is indeed a vegetal quality to this gin akin to the infamous member of the cabbage family.” £12; masterofmalt.com Captain Morgan Gingerbread Spiced This limited-edition tipple is an ideal drink for winter and was created by infusing gingerbread biscuit, cardamom and cinnamon flavours with Captain Morgan’s spices. It can be enjoyed hot or cold, but for the classic serve, pour 25ml of Captain Morgan Gingerbread Spiced over ice and finish with 100ml of cola. Another option is to mix 25ml of Captain Morgan Gingerbread Spiced with apple juice - warm the juice to make it extra Christmassy. Skip advert £13 for the 70cl bottle exclusively at asda.com Black Cow Christmas Spirit This limited-edition expression by Black Cow Vodka is “Christmas in a glass”. Packed with the flavours of Christmas pudding, this spirit is naturally infused with the fruits and spices traditionally associated with the festive season. Drink it neat over ice, topped with champagne, or mulled in hot cloudy apple juice.
£30; harveynichols.com Yuletide Gin from That Boutique-y Gin Company That Boutique-y Gin Company’s Yuletide Gin is unmistakably festive. Its 24 botanicals include juniper, cassia, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and Christmas tree needles, plus distillates made from Christmas cake, chestnuts, Christmas pudding, Lebkuchen, mince pies, Panettone, an entire gingerbread house, and frankincense and myrrh. As if it wasn’t festive enough, edible gold flakes added post-distillation transform Yuletide Gin into a snow globe. £34.95; masterofmalt.com Unique gift sets and presents Membership to Churchill’s Port.Club There’s no doubt that port is a Christmas favourite so why not gift a loved one a membership to the newly-launched Port.Club by Churchill’s. Members receive quarterly deliveries of three bottles (including one exclusive Club Port), as well as access to unique travel and education experiences. As a special launch offer, anyone who buys a membership can gift an additional pack for free (value £70) to someone for Christmas. Annual membership is £240, quarterly £70; port.club 58 Gin’s Mulled Gin Cider London-based 58 Gin Distillery has developed a fresh mulled gin cider, using its premium 58 London Dry Gin as a base. The 58 Mulled Gin Cider contains fresh cider, 58 Gin and warming spices including cinnamon, star anise, orange and nutmeg. Each eco-pouch contains four 250ml servings and once opened will stay fresh for 48 hours. Heat up to a recommended serving temperature of 60°C. £10; 58gin.com Tobermory Colouring Book & Gin Bundle This cool colouring book comes with a 70cl bottle of delicious Hebridean Tobermory gin, made with 13 specially selected botanicals inspired by the Isle of Mull including juniper, elderflower and sweet orange peel. £39; tobermorydistillery.com Chapel Down’s Garden of England Cocktail Pack Explore your cocktail making flair by mixing some exquisite British flavours. Created by Kent-based vineyard Chapel Down, this “English Garden” mixed case includes one bottle of Chapel Down Bacchus Gin (70cl), two bottles of Curious Apple Cider (33cl) and one cocktail recipe card. £34; chapeldown.com Tanqueray No. Ten: The Invitation Box This gift box is an invitation from Charles Tanqueray to open and discover an extraordinary gin. Tanqueray No. Ten is crafted in small batches and distilled using fresh whole citrus fruits. The luxurious green packaging with iconic red wax seal makes for a discerning gift, perfect for the most special people in your life. Skip advert £32.50; masterofmalt.com Luxury barware by Theo Fennell Every great home cocktail bar needs spirits and mixers, but it also requires essential items to create and serve your favourite festive tipples. British jeweller and silverware designer Theo Fennell has a range of barware products which are perfect for at-home cocktail-making. Featured items include a silver ice bucket (£6,950); silver liquer goblet (£1,250); a smoke crystal decanter and glasses cased set (£7,250); and a silver cocktail shaker and ruby crystal glasses set (£3,950, pictured).
theofennell.com Spirit-infused coffees by Fire Dept. Coffee If you need to give your winter mornings a bit of a kick then a spirit-infused coffee may just do the trick. Fire Dept. Coffee has created four signature brews which combine the flavours of bourbon, whiskey, rum, or tequila with its best coffee beans. Run by active and retired firefighters, Fire Dept. Coffee’s products are roasted and shipped from its base in Rockford, Illinois, USA. Delivery is available to the UK and 10% of net proceeds are donated to help first responders that have become sick or injured while on the job. From $17.99 (£13.34); firedeptcoffee.com 2020 Special Releases Collection tasting set Diageo’s 2020 Special Releases Collection of limited edition cask strength whiskies is now available as a tasting set. Inspired by the theme “Rare by Nature”, the collection contains eight 50ml bottles of single malt Scotch whisky sourced from some of Scotland’s most interesting distilleries. Whiskies include: Cardhu 11-Year-Old; Cragganmore 20-Year-Old; Dalwhinnie 30-Year-Old; Lagavulin 12-Year-Old; Mortlach 21-Year-Old; Pittyvaich 30-Year-Old; Talisker 8-Year-Old; and The Singleton of Dufftown 17-Year-Old. Only 250 limited edition tasting sets are available. £139.99; malts.com J&B Rare Whisky Sour Cocktail Kit Just in time for Christmas, J&B Rare has created a limited-edition seasonal sours collection cocktail kit, in collaboration with Cocktail Porter. The kit includes all the ingredients to shake up six whisky sour cocktails, including two Burnt Pineapple Sours, two Walnut & Cinnamon Sours and two Spiced Apple Sours. Simply shake the ingredients with ice in a cocktail shaker and strain into a rocks glass. £41.95; cocktailporter.co.uk Scotch & Seafood Hampers by Old Pulteney and Fish To Your Door Old Pulteney, “The Maritime Malt”, has partnered with sustainable supplier Fish To Your Door to create an “at home” whisky and seafood experience for the festive season. Featuring a selection of ready to eat seafood alongside whisky, hamper one (£115) includes: Old Pulteney 12 Years Old (70cl) Single Malt Scotch Whisky; oysters; an oyster shucking knife; smoked salmon; dressed crabs; and a cooked or dressed lobster. With ready to cook fresh seafood in addition to whisky, hamper two (£225) includes: Old Pulteney 12 Years Old; oysters; smoked salmon; fresh fish fillets; hot smoked salmon fillets; cooked lobsters; scallops; white crab meat; smoked mackerel; king prawns; and dressed crabs. Both hampers are available for UK-wide delivery. Skip advert £115 or £225; fishtoyourdoor.com Brewgooder’s ‘Panto In A Box’ Scottish company Brewgooder has launched a panto-themed selection box of four beers to raise money to support actors and theatre workers who have found themselves out of work this Christmas due to the pandemic. Each limited-edition “Panto In A Box” selection pack will include beers from Brewgooder, The Wild Beer Co, Mondo Brewing and The Gipsy Hill Brewing Company, as well as theatre snack favourites from Love Popcorn and Tony’s Chocolonely. Beer lovers will also have the chance to watch an exclusive online performance of an original pantomime, Jack & The Beer Hops, written by award-winning Scottish author and playwright Johnny McKnight. Featuring the characters of Dame Mother Goose, her plucky daughter Jack, and “fatcat” Bawrus Wetherspun, the satirical performance will be hosted on the Brewgooder website from 12 December to 31 December. Proceeds from Panto In A Box will be donated to The Theatre Artists Fund.
Panto In A Box £20.20; Jack & The Beer Hops panto ticket £5-£15; brewgooder.com Book: The Art in Whisky With a limited print run of just 1,000 hand-numbered copies, The Art in Whisky makes a truly memorable, and unique, gift this Christmas. The 256-page book includes more than 350 timeless photographs by award-winning photographer Jon Purcell which capture the “art” in creating whisky. Exploring the best of both old and new world whisky, readers are taken on a visual journey through the entire crafting process - from grain to bottle to glass. £450, black edition; artinwhisky.com Mr Fogg’s Christmas Cocktail Crackers Cocktail bar Mr Fogg’s has teamed up with Remy Cointreau brands for a range of Christmas gift sets this year. Each cracker cocktail kit is filled with quirky surprises and traditional items including hats and jokes alongside the two cocktail serves. Pre-batched seasonal tipples include Cointreau Christmas Margarita, Snow Queenie Martini, Lady Marmalade, Nick’s Mulled Nip and Reindeer Fuel Espresso. Cocktail crackers £19.50 (for two servings); Mr Fogg’s Cocktail Crate gift box £70 (all five cocktails, ten servings); mr-foggs-cocktails.giftpro.co.uk Hotel Starlino Vermouth and Aperitivos Gift Pack Ideal as a stocking filler, this Hotel Starlino gift pack is a perfect present for cocktail lovers. Crafted in Torino, Italy, the three 100ml bottles - Starlino Rosso Vermouth, Starlino Rosé Aperitivo and Starlino Arancione Aperitivo - can be used to mix a range of tasty cocktails. Skip advert £12; amazon.co.uk Lockdown Liquor & Co. Christmas Crackers The set of six crackers includes a miniature 50ml bottle of Lockdown Liquor & Co.’s bestselling cocktails, the Picante, Pepino, Tucci, Espresso Martini, Pepino Ruso and brand new limited-edition seasonal blend, the Cuban Toddy. Available for pre-order now with delivery starting on 30 November. £60; lockdown-liquor.com Signature Brew’s Christmas Pub In A Box Signature Brew will bring the pub to you for Christmas with a selection of award-winning craft beers, glassware, Christmas snacks, a Christmas music quiz and exclusive Christmas playlists curated by music journalists to accompany the beers themselves. Pub In A Box is available throughout the UK and is delivered in 1-2 days. Pre-order will ship on 1 December. £28; signaturebrew.co.uk Bacardi Mixing Console Working in collaboration with famed furniture designer Hugh Miller, Bacardi rum has unveiled its new “Mixing Console” - a limited-edition record player and integrated bar. The console features a built-in Fluance RT80 Vinyl Turntable, custom 50-watt Bluetooth speakers, a record storage shelf to house your festive tunes and a bottle of premium Bacardi Gran Reserva Diez. £1,700; minimauk.com Champagne Laurent-Perrier Christmas gift sets Champagne Laurent-Perrier has revealed two Christmas crackers for 2020: a Cuvée Rosé gift set and a La Cuvée gift set. Both sets are presented inside a luxury gift box with two Laurent-Perrier branded flutes.
Laurent-Perrier’s Cuvée Rosé gift set (£80; thechampagnecompany.com and champagnedirect.co.uk); Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée gift set (£50; thechampagnecompany.com and champagnedirect.co.uk) Harrods Édition Spéciale Brut Gold For this collectable limited-edition set, Armand de Brignac has turned its handcrafted wooden lacquered gift box “Harrods green”. It is the first time that the prestige brand has changed the outer colour of its box and the first time Harrods has collaborated on a special edition champagne. Just 300 of the Harrods Édition Spéciale Brut Gold sets have been created and each gift box is inscribed with its unique number emblazoned on a special pewter label. £295; harrods.com The Bellini Case by The Wine Society Packaged in a gift box, this elegant bellini set features The Wine Society’s own prosecco, which is sourced from small family holdings on prime hillside vineyards. It also comes with a choice of two exquisite 250ml fruit nectars from the gourmet Van Nahmen range - rhubarb and white peach - to create thirst-quenching fruity cocktails. The Wine Society is the world’s oldest wine club. Skip advert £22.50; thewinesociety.com Philips PerfectDraft Keg Machine sold by Beer Hawk Pour high-quality draft beer from the comfort of your own home. This smart machine will cool the six-litre beer kegs to a perfect 3C and will keep beer fresh for 30 days. Philips’s PerfectDraft features a premium chrome finish and a built-in LED display showing the keg temperature and volume of beer remaining - so you’ll always know how much you have left. More than 35 beers are available in real bar-grade metal kegs including the Belgian classics, American IPAs and German Weisen. £199; beerhawk.co.uk Cooper King Distillery sharing selection boxes Yorkshire-based eco-distillery Cooper King has created two sharing selection boxes which contain three 100ml glass bottles of small-batch premium gin, gin liqueur, vodka or new-make malt spirit, complete with tasting notes, serving suggestions and a QR code to guided tasting videos. Choose from a box containing the distillery’s award-winning Dry Gin, Herb Gin and Berry & Basil Gin Liqueur, or the box featuring Skosh Smoked & Spiced Dry Gin, Black Cardamom Botanical Vodka and New-Make Malt Spirit. £25; cooperkingdistillery.co.uk Winter Laverstoke Cocktail Hamper A gift for the cocktail connoisseur who likes to get creative with their spirits. The keepsake box includes Bombay Sapphire, St. Germain, Martini Rosso, 500ml Fever-Tree Ginger Ale and a bar spoon. £60; bombaysapphire.com Luxe Cognac Gift Set by Not-Another-Bill This gift box comprises a 20cl bottle of Delamain XO Cognac “Pale & Dry” - a cognac aged for 25 years - and a pair of Normann Copenhagen glasses. The shape of the glass enhances the experience of drinking cognac by accentuating the deep colour, movement and aroma of the liquid.
£75; notanotherbill.com Bacardi x Floom: grow-your-own garnish kits Bacardi has partnered with Floom to create three “grow-your-own” garnish kits. Each kit features two fully-grown seasonal plants - such as rosemary, mint, basil, and edible flowers - and are paired with a 35cl bottle of either Bacardi rum, Bombay Sapphire gin or Grey Goose vodka. Each kit is accompanied by a cocktail recipes. £29.99; floom.com Drinks by the Dram Gift Collection Series Drinks by the Dram has announced its brand new gift collection series. Each set contains 12 specially-curated drams presented in beautiful wax-sealed 30ml bottles. The range includes whisky, premium rum, premium gin, tequila and mezcal, and Irish whiskey. From £39; drinksbythedram.com Whisky and bourbon gift sets and bottles Talisker Whisky Sea Salted Caramel Gift Set Whisky and chocolate - it’s the perfect match, especially for Christmas. Talisker Whisky has partnered with Edinburgh-based artisan chocolatier, Coco, to create a gift set for chocolate and whisky lovers alike. The set includes eight Talisker Sea Salted Caramels and a 5cl bottle of Talisker 10 Year Old. Skip advert £20; malts.com and cocochocolatier.com Craft Whisky Club Get the next whisky classics delivered to your door with a Craft Whisky Club membership or gift box subscription. Experts handpick the finest small batch and artisan whiskies, carefully selecting exciting and innovative distillers from Scotland and beyond. Each box includes up to two full size bottles, as well as selected food pairings to match with the whiskies. Gift boxes: two boxes over four months (£125); three boxes over six months (£185); six boxes over 12 months (£365). Memberships: one bottle every two months (£29.95/month) or two bottles every two months (£55.95;month); craftwhiskyclub.com Glenfiddich Grand Cru 23 Year Old The luxurious Glenfiddich Grand Cru is an exclusive expression of single malt whisky, aged for 23 years and finished in French cuvée wine casks. Presented in a striking bottle and lavish black box, the Glenfiddich Grand Cru 23 Year Old offers notes of apple blossom, freshly baked bread and candied lemons whilst the taste gives layers of rich vanilla oak, sweet brioche, sandalwood, pear sorbet and white grape. £220; masterofmalt.com and thewhiskyexchange.com Jack Daniel’s Gentleman Jack Bowtie Jigger Gift Set This limited edition Jack Daniel’s Gentleman Jack gift set features a sophisticated bowtie measuring jigger, making this the perfect present for those keen on mixing it up this festive season. Gentleman Jack is mellowed through Jack Daniel’s signature sugar maple charcoal - not just once, but twice. With balanced flavours of oak, vanilla and caramel, this double-mellowed spirit suits those looking to trade up from their usual Christmas tipple. From £32; sainsburys.co.uk and tesco.com Woodford Reserve Old Fashioned Gift Pack Make a classic Old Fashioned cocktail at home with this Woodford Reserve gift pack. It includes a 70cl bottle of Woodford Reserve and the whiskey brand’s signature Old Fashioned syrup. Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select is primarily triple distilled in copper pot stills, giving it the balance of depth and flavour that makes it the perfect base for an Old Fashioned serve.
£32; available at ocado.com and amazon.co.uk Japanese Horn Whisky Hamper by Not-Another-Bill This meticulously curated Japanese whisky hamper features either a bottle of Hibiki whisky, available in the classic “Harmony” blend or exclusive 17-year aged edition, or the Nikka Pure malt blend. It also includes six horn whisky tots and eight granite drinks rocks. Sealed in a beautifully crafted plywood crate, recipients will need to use the 18ct gold mini crow bar to prise open the box and reveal the wonders inside. Skip advert £225; notanotherbill.com Black Bowmore DB5 1964: forget martinis, Mr Bond, try this £50,000 whisky BenRiach 10 Year Old Scotch Whisky gift pack Ten-year-old whisky from the BenRiach Distillery in Speyside, Scotland. A fresh and lively single malt, it’s available in a gift box with two glasses. £36.90; thewhiskyworld.com Compass Box Peat Monster Arcana As part of its 20th anniversary celebrations, Compass Box has announced the release of a limited edition Peat Monster Arcana blended malt Scotch whisky. The result of a long-running experiment into the secrets and mysteries of oak and smoke, the cask strength version of The Peat Monster was further matured in three French oak custom casks for more than two years; it was then blended with malt whiskies from the Talisker, Miltonduff and Ardbeg Distilleries. Only 8,328 bottles will be available globally. £75 for a 70cl bottle; compassboxwhisky.com How to become a whisky ‘expert’ in just two hours Gin gift sets and bottles Bulldog Gin Copa Glass Gift Box This gift set by Bulldog Gin includes a 700ml bottle of Bulldog London Dry Gin and a slick matte Copa glass. Put both to great use and follow the instructions for how to make a Bulldog Blackberry G&T. £35; amazon.co.uk Bathtub Gin & Enamel Mug Gift Pack Get the perfect gift for the gin lover in your life. A bottle of double-infused multi-award-winning Bathtub Gin, with a beautiful enamel mug to drink their favourite gin cocktails from. £34.95; masterofmalt.com Cocktail Porter’s Gin-gle Bells & Tonic Kit Presented in two sizes - petite (eight cocktails) and full (16 cocktails) - this gift set by Cocktail Porter is a festive treat for G&T lovers. Included in the cocktail set is Tanqueray London Dry Gin; Double Dutch Cranberry & Ginger Tonic Water; Double Dutch Pomegranate & Basil Tonic Water; Double Dutch Rhubarb & Pine Needle Tonic Water; and a festive garnish sack (candid ginger, dehydrated cherry, orange, lemon and lime). Petite £28 and full size £48; cocktailporter.co.uk Gyre & Gimble’s Alice in Wonderland-inspired gins New Norwich-based spirits brand Gyre & Gimble launched in October with its first three gins: Callooh Callay (a refreshing coastal gin), Nohow (a double-juniper London Dry), and Queen of Hearts (a rich, velvety cherry gin). Each gin is named with inspiration from Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland.
Each 70cl bottle costs £35; gyreandgimble.co.uk The Botanist Gin & Glass Herb Planter The Botanist Gin’s new “grow-your-own garnish” gift pack contains an easy to use herb planter crafted from its iconic glass bottle. The self-watering herb planter can be used to grow garnishes from seed or to house pre-potted plants. The gift pack includes a 70cl bottle of The Botanist Gin, the herb planter and a foraged cocktail booklet. Skip advert £58; thebotanist.com Home of Bombay hamper This Bombay hamper, which contains a bar spoon and jigger, is perfect for the budding home bartender. It features the full range: Bombay Sapphire, Bombay Dry, Bombay English Estate, Bombay Sapphire East and Bombay Bramble. £120; bombaysapphire.com Pinkster Gin Home Tasting Kit Pinkster Gin’s home tasting set for two includes five different 5cl varieties - Pinkster Gin, Pinkster Royale, Pinkster Gimlet (pre-mixed cocktail), Hedgepig Wild Bullace and Quince, and Triple Distilled Gin - as well as tonic and ginger ale by Fever-Tree, sachets of Pinkster Gin Jam Cocktail Mix and a mini jar of Pinkster Gin Jam. A video with Pinkster founder Stephen Marsh will also guide you through the botanicals of the individual drinks. £30; pinkstergin.com 58 Gin’s Make Your Own Gin Gin enthusiasts can create two personalised bottles of bespoke, hand-crafted gin based on their own unique recipe. A simple selection process invites you to define your flavour profile utilising up to six beautiful botanicals, choose whether you want a pink or clear liquid, name your gin and personalise your bottle. Your recipe is then handed over to 58 Gin’s Master Distiller to be brought to life using a classic base London Dry recipe where juniper, orris and angelica root delicately balance your chosen flavours. A gift box of two 70cl bottles of your customised gin will then be delivered directly to any UK address. £99; 58gin.com 24 Carat Gin The luxurious distilling and distribution company Liquid Gold Alcohol brings to the market a premium and exclusive product for the most discerning clients with the finest palate. 24 Carat Gin is a magic alcohol drink that combines an exquisite dry gin with the delightful touch of real 24-carat liquid gold. £1,250; 24caratgin.com Massingberd-Mundy Distillery’s ‘his and her’ gins South Ormsby Estate’s most enigmatic couple have been reunited thanks to two new gins from Massingberd-Mundy Distillery in the Lincolnshire Wolds. Making perfect “his and her” gifts the Burrell’s Dry and Marie Jeanne Pink gins have been distilled to celebrate Charles Burrell Massingberd and his socialite wife Marie Jeanne Rapigeon of Versailles. Each bottle costs £39; southormsbyestate.co.uk The 15 best gins: here’s some you must try Craft beers, lagers, ales and porter Mondo Build Your Own Craft Beer Box Mondo Brewing Company, an independent craft brewery and taproom based in South West London, sells a range of beers and kegs in its online store. It also offers a “build your own” box including six or 12 beers of your choice. If you want more there’s a 24-pack available. Skip advert
mondobeer.com Lumina Landing stargazing bundle by Siren Craft Brew For the beer aficionado or budding astrologist, Lumina Landing is the perfect gift. Featuring 12 cans of Lumina, Siren Craft Brew’s 4.2% session IPA, the stargazing bundle comes with a bespoke Lumina Orbital glass, beer mats and stickers. Customers also receive Siren’s own Planisphere star chart to help you recognise stars and constellations in the night sky. £26; sirencraftbrew.com Harvie’s Ultimate Festive Choice Based at Alva, near Stirling in Scotland, Harviestoun is an award-winning independent brewer of ten high-quality craft beer and lagers. For Christmas the brewery has a range of craft beer gift options including the Harvie’s Ultimate Festive Choice. This mixed case of 22 beers comes with a Harviestoun half pint glass and features Schiehallion craft lager, Bitter & Twisted golden ale, The Ridge pale ale, Forth craft lager, Whippet pale ale, Wheesht alcohol free dark ale, Old Engine Oil craft stout, Ola Dubh 12 barrel aged stout and a limited edition Ola Dubh 18 barrel aged stout. £50; harviestoun.com Salcombe Brewery Mixed Case of 12 Bottles The mixed case of 12 x 330ml bottles includes Island Street Porter (an award-winning, rich, velvety porter); Salcombe Pale Ale (a classic, full bodied pale ale with a bouquet of orange, pink grapefruit and anise); and Sun Drop (a gluten free and vegan friendly, dry-hopped ale). £22.50; salcombebrewery.com Ciders and perries Cider Is Wine at-home packs The mission of Cider Is Wine is to create a new global drinks category for ciders and perries made from 100% apple and pear juice (never-from-concentrate) that lovers of the finer things in life will recognise as simply representing the best of the best. Its online shop sells at-home packs, case of the month, online tastings and subscriptions. At-home packs start from £40; cideriswine.co.uk Bottles of liqueur Kyrö Dairy Cream Liqueur Award-winning Kyrö Distillery Company from Finland has launched a new product in time for Christmas: Kyrö Dairy Cream Liqueur. To be enjoyed straight out of the bottle with ice or with coffee, this 16% liqueur does not contain any lactose, gluten, artificial colours or flavours and all milk used in the production comes from small farms close to the distillery. It has a base of Finnish wholegrain rye spirit and single malt rye whisky, and tasting notes of liquorice, chocolate, toffee, fresh dairy milk and a hint of salt. Skip advert £19.95 for a 50cl bottle; masterofmalt.com Baileys Limited Edition Apple Pie Liqueur Baileys has launched a limited edition liqueur which will be perfect for the autumn and winter months. A delicious blend of fresh apple pie flavours, vanilla ice cream and hints of cinnamon and spice, the new Baileys is available now in the UK from The Bottle Club.
£22.99 for a 70cl bottle; thebottleclub.com Cointreau Limited Edition by Vincent Darré To celebrate its 170th anniversary, Maison Cointreau has partnered with French artistic director and interior designer Vincent Darré to create its limited edition release. Darré has reinterpreted the iconic bottle with three original designs that tell the story of the famous orange liqueur. £32.99; selfridges.com Magnum Scotch Cream Liqueur This liqueur was last year crowned one of the top-selling products at Edinburgh Castle after more than 12,000 bottles were snapped up by visitors to the historic landmark between January and November 2019 alone. Magnum’s smooth, creamy caramel notes play off single malt scotch whisky for a balanced taste with a warming ginger afterglow. £19.95; royalmilewhiskies.com Mr Black Limited Edition Single Origin Ethiopia To celebrate World Coffee Day on 1 October, Mr Black is launching its newest coffee liqueur, the Limited Edition Single Origin Ethiopia. Made exclusively with coffee beans from a single farm in Yirgacheffe, Ethiopia, it honours the country in both its recipe and bottle design which features the native Bee Eater bird. £35.99; Customers can sign up to Mr Black’s Coffee Club to access the pre-order Greek amber spirit Metaxa Private Reserve Private Reserve is the very first creation by Constantinos Raptis, Metaxa’s master blender since 1991. Once a year this unique spirit is created in a single batch with blends that have reached their prime flavours. Private Reserve is best enjoyed neat. £70.45; thewhiskyexchange.com Metaxa Angels’ Treasure Single Cask Strength This one of a kind spirit created by Constantinos Raptis was inspired by a phenomenon that occurs in the cellars of the House of Metaxa. As fine spirits age in oak barrels the liquid that evaporates is known as the “Angels’ share”, leaving behind a spirit that is more concentrated and more intense in aromas. The spirit is then matured in a single cask stored in the cellars for several years to create Angels’ Treasure. £165; fortnumandmason.com Bloody Mary The Bloody Classic Bloody Drinks was launched in 2018 when founders Will Best and Harry Farnham made it their mission to find the perfect Bloody Mary. They started making their own for friends and family and the Bloody Drinks brand was born from there. Their Bloody Classic is created using high quality ingredients including premium vodka and Amontillado sherry for body, the finest tomatoes from Italy and Spain for natural sweetness, fresh lemons for acidity, Worcestershire and soy sauce for a rich, umami-packed base, and the legendary Tabasco sauce for that much needed kick. Skip advert Bloody Classic cans are sold in packs of four (£13), six (£19) or 12 (£36); bloodydrinks.co.uk Aperitivos and digestifs Primo Aperitivo Negroni Transporting you to an authentic Italian aperitivo hour, Primo Aperitivo Negroni is one of the most luxury ready-to-serve Italian cocktails on the market. It has been exclusively handcrafted in Italy using the finest ingredients including a bespoke blend of dry gin, vermouth and bitter aperitif. To serve, simply pour the readily crafted drink over ice into a rock glass and garnish with an orange wedge. The striking bottle comes delivered in a beautifully branded gift box.
£26.90; primoaperitivo.com How to make a Negroni cocktail: top hotel bartenders share their recipes Stambecco Maraschino Cherry Amaro Stambecco is a bitter-sweet Italian Amaro infused with luxury maraschino cherries, bitter citrus peel and local Italian mountain herbs. It’s produced at the Vergnano family distillery, Torino Distillati in Piedmont, north-eastern Italy, where the tradition of making Amaro began. The liqueur is carefully crafted in a large, bespoke copper pot still which has been specially installed at the distillery for the exclusive, small-batch production of Stambecco. £26.99; amazon.co.uk Bottles of tequila Storywood Tequila Storywood’s premium sipping tequilas are the only tequilas in the world that are fully matured in Speyside whisky or Olorosso sherry casks. There are five products available in Storywood’s online store: Storywood Speyside 7 Reposado (£39.99); Storywood Speyside 14 Añejo (£47.99); Storywood Speyside 7 Reposado Cask Strength (£44.99); Storywood Sherry 7 Reposado Cask Strength (£46.99); and Storywood Double Oak Añejo Cask Strength (£48.99). storywoodtequila.com Bottles of mezcal The Lost Explorer Mezcal The Lost Explorer Mezcal is a new brand that has launched with three unique artisanal mezcal varieties - Espadín, Tobalá and Salmiana. Harvested after eight years growth in the arid valleys of San Pablo, Espadín (£62.50) is a well-balanced mezcal with hints of apple, ripe fruits and a mild smoky layer to finish. Tobalá (£109.99) is harvested after ten years growth and has hints of tobacco, cocoa, vanilla and leather. Harvested after 12 years, Salmiana (£140) is the most herbaceous expression, offering a sweet and spicy profile with hints of green chilli, grapefruit and fresh agave after rainfall. Available at Proof Drinks Bottles of Vermouth Vermò Vermouth Vermouth is experiencing a resurgence in the UK and the launch of Vermò gives a modern take on the classic vermouth di Torino Rosso. Handcrafted in Piedmont, Italy, the home of Italian vermouth, Vermò is made with a blend of trebianno and chardonnay grapes alongside 31 high quality botanicals, resulting in a light, crisp and fruity taste, perfect for sipping on the rocks or as a versatile base for many cocktails. Skip advert £27.95; available at Master of Malt and The Whiskey Exchange Discarded Sweet Cascara Vermouth Every year, billions of tonnes of the coffee berry Cascara are wasted in coffee production after the bean is extracted. Discarded takes what would be wasted and re-purposes it to bring a new flavour dimension to create a Vermouth like no other. Discover the versatility of Discarded Sweet Cascara Vermouth, a perfect addition to any drinks collection and a welcome gift for any occasion. The taste is full and sweet, with indulgent fruity notes that merge perfectly with the characteristic bitter notes of Vermouth.


theweekuk--2020-09-18--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Friday 18 Sep 2020

Negative interest rates could be introduced for the first time in the UK in an attempt to stimulate the economy @ @ @ @ @ of England .
It told the Monetary Policy Committee it is planning “ to explore @ @ @ @ @ could be implemented effectively , should the outlook for inflation and output warrant it at @ @ @ @ @ committee unanimously voted to hold interest rates at their record low of 0.1 % and @ @ @ @ @ money printing programme unchanged at £745bn .

Bank of England considers negative interest rates
Negative interest rates could be introduced for the first time in the UK in an attempt to stimulate the economy, according to the Bank of England. It told the Monetary Policy Committee it is planning “to explore how a negative bank rate could be implemented effectively, should the outlook for inflation and output warrant it at some point”. The committee unanimously voted to hold interest rates at their record low of 0.1% and kept the scale of its money printing programme unchanged at £745bn.


theweekuk--2020-09-18--Airline’s ‘flight to nowhere’ sells out in ten minutes

An Australian airline says its seven-hour scenic “ flight to nowhere , ” which will take off and land at the same airport , sold out in ten minutes .
Qantas says the unusual flight will depart from Sydney and return on the same day , offering passengers low-level scenic views over Uluru , the Great Barrier Reef , and other spots .
People snapped up seats , priced between £325 and £1,500 .
Paleontologists have discovered the world ’ s oldest animal sperm , hidden in a 100 million-year-old piece of amber .
The experts discovered the sample in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crustacean encased in resin .
The results “ double the age of the oldest unequivocal fossil animal sperm , ” the report authors wrote in Royal Society journal on Wednesday .
An alligator on helium gas has won an Ig Nobel prize .
Researchers undertook the experiment to try to understand how alligators communicate .
The prizes are awarded by the science humour magazine , Annals of Improbable Research .
Other winners this year included the team that wanted to see what happened when earthworms were vibrated at high frequency .
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from around the world - and a concise , refreshing and balanced take on the week ’ s news agenda - try The Week magazine .
Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

An Australian airline says its seven-hour scenic “flight to nowhere,” which will take off and land at the same airport, sold out in ten minutes. Qantas says the unusual flight will depart from Sydney and return on the same day, offering passengers low-level scenic views over Uluru, the Great Barrier Reef, and other spots. People snapped up seats, priced between £325 and £1,500.
The world’s oldest animal sperm is found
Paleontologists have discovered the world’s oldest animal sperm, hidden in a 100 million-year-old piece of amber. The experts discovered the sample in the reproductive tract of an ancient female crustacean encased in resin. The results “double the age of the oldest unequivocal fossil animal sperm,” the report authors wrote in Royal Society journal on Wednesday.
Alligator on gas wins an improbable prize
An alligator on helium gas has won an Ig Nobel prize. Researchers undertook the experiment to try to understand how alligators communicate. The prizes are awarded by the science humour magazine, Annals of Improbable Research. Other winners this year included the team that wanted to see what happened when earthworms were vibrated at high frequency.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


theweekuk--2020-09-17--Quiz of The Week: 12 - 18 September

Quiz of The Week: 12 - 18 September

Boris Johnson has had another tough week tackling the double whammy of coronavirus and Brexit , with critics lining up to take aim at the government .
The prime minister faced a Tory rebellion over his controversial Internal Market Bill , which effectively breaks international law by overriding parts of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement , but managed to secure victory in a Commons vote on Monday to push the legislation through to a second reading .
But Johnson had no time to celebrate , as nationwide shortages of coronavirus tests hit the headlines , with a total dearth of testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid hotspots .
Amid reports that Downing Street was planning to crack down on “ frivolous ” tests , Labour ’ s shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said it “ beggars belief ministers didn ’ t use summer to build up testing capacity in time for children back at school and many returning to the workplace ” .
In further Covid chaos , speculation grew that the government was planning a two-week nationwide lockdown , in the wake of claims that England ’ s Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty had advised the PM @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ministers jumped to dismiss the reports , Johnson told MPs that another national shutdown “ would be completely wrong for this country ” and that his government was “ doing everything in our power to prevent it ” .
To find out how closely you ’ ve been paying attention to the latest developments in the pandemic , and other global events , put your knowledge to the test with our Quiz of The Week : Need a reminder of some of the other headlines over the past seven days ?
Experts are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of migratory birds in the southwestern US that biologists have described as “ devastating ” .
Some experts believe the West Coast wildfires may be to blame , with other weather events linked to global warming also suggested as possible explanations .
Back in the UK , meanwhile , Confederation of British Industry ( CBI ) director-general Carolyn Fairbairn urged the government and businesses to seize the opportunity to create green jobs and boost the economy by becoming a “ global leader ” in the fight to tackle climate change .
The country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already set to get a much-needed shot in the arm , with Pinewood Studios announcing plans to build a £450m development called “ Screen Hub UK ” featuring a visitor attraction for film fans .
The company says the new complex , to be located on a 77-acre site located to the south of the world-famous film and television studio in Buckinghamshire , will create 3,500 new jobs and generate £230m a year for the economy .

Boris Johnson has had another tough week tackling the double whammy of coronavirus and Brexit, with critics lining up to take aim at the government.
The prime minister faced a Tory rebellion over his controversial Internal Market Bill, which effectively breaks international law by overriding parts of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement, but managed to secure victory in a Commons vote on Monday to push the legislation through to a second reading.
But Johnson had no time to celebrate, as nationwide shortages of coronavirus tests hit the headlines, with a total dearth of testing supplies in England’s top ten Covid hotspots. Amid reports that Downing Street was planning to crack down on “frivolous” tests, Labour’s shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said it “beggars belief ministers didn’t use summer to build up testing capacity in time for children back at school and many returning to the workplace”.
In further Covid chaos, speculation grew that the government was planning a two-week nationwide lockdown, in the wake of claims that England’s Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty had advised the PM to implement the tough measure. As ministers jumped to dismiss the reports, Johnson told MPs that another national shutdown “would be completely wrong for this country” and that his government was “doing everything in our power to prevent it”.
To find out how closely you’ve been paying attention to the latest developments in the pandemic, and other global events, put your knowledge to the test with our Quiz of The Week:
Need a reminder of some of the other headlines over the past seven days?
Experts are struggling to explain a mystery mass die-off of migratory birds in the southwestern US that biologists have described as “devastating”. Some experts believe the West Coast wildfires may be to blame, with other weather events linked to global warming also suggested as possible explanations.
Back in the UK, meanwhile, Confederation of British Industry (CBI) director-general Carolyn Fairbairn urged the government and businesses to seize the opportunity to create green jobs and boost the economy by becoming a “global leader” in the fight to tackle climate change.
The country’s film and tourism industries are already set to get a much-needed shot in the arm, with Pinewood Studios announcing plans to build a £450m development called “Screen Hub UK” featuring a visitor attraction for film fans. The company says the new complex, to be located on a 77-acre site located to the south of the world-famous film and television studio in Buckinghamshire, will create 3,500 new jobs and generate £230m a year for the economy.


theweekuk--2020-09-18--Care homes brace for new influx of coronavirus patients

As Covid-19 continues to spread through the UK population , care homes have been told to prepare themselves for fresh outbreaks , more restrictions on visits - and increasing pressure to admit patients who may have the virus .
“ If we see similar pressures on the hospital sector this time around then it will be commonplace under the current guidance that people who are Covid-positive will be discharged back into care homes , ” Professor Adam Gordon of the British Geriatrics Society told Channel 4 News .
Although newly updated government guidance states that care homes will not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for coronavirus , clinicians have said it will be hard to refuse .
“ As part of the national effort , the care sector also plays a vital role in accepting patients as they ’ re discharged from hospital , because recuperation is better in non-acute settings , ” says the guidance .
“ Some of these patients may have Covid-19.
” As the broadcaster notes , “ ethically and operationally , it ’ s difficult to refuse a patient who ’ s arrived in an ambulance at the care home door as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forth ” .
Leaked emails show that one council contacted care homes yesterday asking them to state by noon today “ whether or not they are ready to accept infected residents ” , says ITV News .
“ Several carers have expressed their disbelief ” at the request by Middlesbrough Council , “ given the disastrous way patients with Covid-19 were discharged into homes during the first wave of the virus ” , according to the broadcaster .
The Department of Health is finalising a plan to combat infection in the sector , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care homes with free PPE , pay full wages to self-isolating staff and ensure that carers do not have to risk the further spread of infection by working on more than one site .
Health Secretary Matt Hancock told MPs yesterday that the government would do “ whatever is humanly possible ” to protect care homes “ so they are a place of sanctuary this winter ” .
But tighter restrictions on visits could make care homes more like a prison , says the i news site , which warns that some residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visits from loved ones ” .

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theweekuk--2020-09-18--Podcasts of the Week: Partridge, celebrity interviews and history

If Alan Partridge really existed , he is “ exactly the sort of person ” who would have his own podcast , said James Marriott in The Times .
And now he does .
In the first episode of From the Oasthouse : The Alan Partridge Podcast , the TV host turned DJ explains that the idea came to him after he asked himself : “ What medium allows me to communicate publicly without Ofcom regulations ?
” Each episode has a skeletal plot : Partridge is “ going on a date/for a walk/practising personal grooming ” , and so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oasthouse is an excuse for Steve Coogan to “ monologue in character ” – and he does it brilliantly .
There is an extra treat , however , in the form of spoof adverts for other podcasts .
“ Recall !
Very much one for fans of Chernobyl or Watergate , Recall !
follows in minute detail the lead-up to and fallout from the 1972 recall of the Triumph Toledo .
[ Dramatic pause . ]
Narrated by John Stapleton.
” For a celebrity podcast featuring a real person ( and real celebrities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Podcast With ... , said Miranda Sawyer in The Observer .
I ’ ve been sniffy about this one in the past .
Tennant can be a bit “ too lovely-luvvy ” for my taste , and “ celebs who interview other celebs rarely bring much insight ” .
Yet having listened to this new series , I “ must reluctantly concede that Tennant is a good interviewer – knowing when to shut up and when to interject – listening hard and giving his interviewees space ” .
In particular , I was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in which the actor ( Star Trek ’ s Lieutenant Sulu ) opens up about his “ astonishing life ” , including his LGBT activism and his family ’ s internment in a Second World War camp .
It is “ just great ” .
History , with its endless scope for “ great storytelling ” , is naturally fertile ground for podcasts , said Amelia Heathman in the London Evening Standard .
One series that justifiably tops the history favourites lists is Lore .
“ Each episode looks at the darker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ almost a true-crime podcast , with a side sharing of mysterious creatures and nightmares.
” Another favourite is Dan Snow ’ s History Hit : Snow covers everything from Genghis Khan and the Peterloo Massacre to the legacy of John F. Kennedy .
Travels Through Time is a wonderfully escapist listen in which a historian or writer talks about a point in time they would most like to “ visit ” .
Recent episodes have had Professor Simon Hall on a trip to 1960s America , and archaeologist Dr Rebecca Wragg Sykes “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Also recommended is the BBC World Service podcast Witness History , about specific moments in recent history , as described by people who were there .
What does Caster Semenya ’ s latest defeat say about gender ?
Is Colombia slipping into conflict ?
And are killer whales turning against us ?

If Alan Partridge really existed, he is “exactly the sort of person” who would have his own podcast, said James Marriott in The Times. And now he does. In the first episode of From the Oasthouse: The Alan Partridge Podcast, the TV host turned DJ explains that the idea came to him after he asked himself: “What medium allows me to communicate publicly without Ofcom regulations?” Each episode has a skeletal plot: Partridge is “going on a date/for a walk/practising personal grooming”, and so on. But mainly, From the Oasthouse is an excuse for Steve Coogan to “monologue in character” – and he does it brilliantly. There is an extra treat, however, in the form of spoof adverts for other podcasts. “Recall! Very much one for fans of Chernobyl or Watergate, Recall! follows in minute detail the lead-up to and fallout from the 1972 recall of the Triumph Toledo. [Dramatic pause.] Narrated by John Stapleton.”
For a celebrity podcast featuring a real person (and real celebrities), try David Tennant Does a Podcast With..., said Miranda Sawyer in The Observer. I’ve been sniffy about this one in the past. Tennant can be a bit “too lovely-luvvy” for my taste, and “celebs who interview other celebs rarely bring much insight”. Yet having listened to this new series, I “must reluctantly concede that Tennant is a good interviewer – knowing when to shut up and when to interject – listening hard and giving his interviewees space”. In particular, I was struck by his show with George Takei, in which the actor (Star Trek’s Lieutenant Sulu) opens up about his “astonishing life”, including his LGBT activism and his family’s internment in a Second World War camp. It is “just great”.
History, with its endless scope for “great storytelling”, is naturally fertile ground for podcasts, said Amelia Heathman in the London Evening Standard. One series that justifiably tops the history favourites lists is Lore. “Each episode looks at the darker side of history so it’s almost a true-crime podcast, with a side sharing of mysterious creatures and nightmares.” Another favourite is Dan Snow’s History Hit: Snow covers everything from Genghis Khan and the Peterloo Massacre to the legacy of John F. Kennedy. Travels Through Time is a wonderfully escapist listen in which a historian or writer talks about a point in time they would most like to “visit”. Recent episodes have had Professor Simon Hall on a trip to 1960s America, and archaeologist Dr Rebecca Wragg Sykes “going back to Neanderthal times”. Also recommended is the BBC World Service podcast Witness History, about specific moments in recent history, as described by people who were there.
The Week Unwrapped podcast: Sporting genes, Colombia and orcas
What does Caster Semenya’s latest defeat say about gender? Is Colombia slipping into conflict? And are killer whales turning against us?


theweekuk--2020-09-18--Boris Johnson is ‘proto-fascist’, says John McDonnell

Labour MP John McDonnell has landed in hot water on the eve of his party ’ s conference by referring to Prime Minister Boris Johnson ’ s style of governance as “ proto-facism ” .
In an interview with Italian newspaper La Repubblica , the former shadow chancellor drew parallels between Johnson and US President Donald Trump and claimed that parts of the world are “ in quite a dangerous moment when it comes to the development of the forms of the Right ” .
“ The depiction of right-wing populism can be described in some instances as ‘ proto-fascism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also with regard to our own country , the rise of Johnson , Johnson ’ s politics , ” McDonnell told the paper .
“ It ’ s proto-fascism , no respect for democratic values , no respect for democratic institutions , no respect for the law , no respect for some of those rights and entitlements that particularly Labour and trade unions in our own country secured after struggles over the years.
” McDonnell may have been alluding to Johnson ’ s controversial Internal Market Bill , which rows back on elements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a strategy that Northern Ireland Minister Brandon Lewis has admitted breaks international law in a “ specific but limited way ” .
In the wide-ranging interview , the ex-shadow chancellor also dismissed claims made in a new book that he and Jeremy Corbyn had fallen out during the latter ’ s tenure as Labour leader as “ rubbish ” .
Some political commentators are delivering the same verdict about McDonnell ’ s claims about Johnson .
Writing in The Telegraph , former Labour MP Tom Harris describes the attack on the PM @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Raising the bogeyman of fascism serves no positive purpose , ” Harris adds .
“ At the very last , John McDonnell has betrayed his own reputation and contribution to his legacy to the Labour Party by blaming an imaginary enemy .
”

Labour MP John McDonnell has landed in hot water on the eve of his party’s conference by referring to Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s style of governance as “proto-facism”.
In an interview with Italian newspaper La Repubblica, the former shadow chancellor drew parallels between Johnson and US President Donald Trump and claimed that parts of the world are “in quite a dangerous moment when it comes to the development of the forms of the Right”.
“The depiction of right-wing populism can be described in some instances as ‘proto-fascism’, with regard to Trump and also with regard to our own country, the rise of Johnson, Johnson’s politics,” McDonnell told the paper.
“It’s proto-fascism, no respect for democratic values, no respect for democratic institutions, no respect for the law, no respect for some of those rights and entitlements that particularly Labour and trade unions in our own country secured after struggles over the years.”
McDonnell may have been alluding to Johnson’s controversial Internal Market Bill, which rows back on elements of the Brexit withdrawal agreement as part of a strategy that Northern Ireland Minister Brandon Lewis has admitted breaks international law in a “specific but limited way”.
In the wide-ranging interview, the ex-shadow chancellor also dismissed claims made in a new book that he and Jeremy Corbyn had fallen out during the latter’s tenure as Labour leader as “rubbish”.
Some political commentators are delivering the same verdict about McDonnell’s claims about Johnson. Writing in The Telegraph, former Labour MP Tom Harris describes the attack on the PM as “dishonest and lazy”.
“Raising the bogeyman of fascism serves no positive purpose,” Harris adds. “At the very last, John McDonnell has betrayed his own reputation and contribution to his legacy to the Labour Party by blaming an imaginary enemy.”


theweekuk--2020-09-18--Is the EU democratic?

Is the EU democratic?

The run-up to the 2016 Brexit referendum saw the launch of a campaign that many commentators claim used immigration scare stories and xenophobia to persuade voters to quit the European Union .
Vote Leave allegedly “ relied on racism ” to appeal to the British public ’ s inherent prejudices , as Martin Shaw wrote in The Guardian last year .
Regardless of such accusations , the anti-EU campaign secured a 52 % to 48 % victory in the Brexit vote , under the snappy slogan “ Take Back Control ” .
This slogan appears to have struck a chord @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the EU represents a democratic vacuum .
Leading Brexiteer Nigel Farage repeatedly refers to EU politicians as “ unelected bureaucrats ” , while the Vote Leave campaign website describes the institution as “ undemocratic ” .
With a no-deal Brexit now looming as UK-EU trade tensions grow , The Week takes a look at the inner workings of the bloc .
How is the EU structured ?
The EU is comprised of a number of institutions that work together but have very different functions .
First is the European Council .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the European Council , which brings together national and EU-level leaders , ” says the official EU website .
Or to put it another way , the council is a collection of leaders who were democratically elected within their own borders .
The European Parliament , meanwhile , is the only directly elected EU body , with representatives , or MEPs , apportioned by each member state ’ s population .
The Parliament is unusual in that it can not propose legislation , but EU laws can not pass without its direct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Parliament is Italian politician David Sassoli , who was chosen by MEPs .
The most controversial institution of the EU is the European Commission .
This is the executive branch , meaning it submits proposals for new legislation to the Parliament and the Council , implements EU policy and administers the budget .
Most crucially , the commissioners are not elected but are instead nominated by member countries , each of which gets one representative .
During his final appearance in the European Parliament in Brussels in January , Nigel Farage told his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trade , friendship , cooperation , reciprocity , we don ’ t need a European Commission ” .
He added : “ It isn ’ t just undemocratic , it ’ s anti-democratic and it puts in that front row , it gives people power without accountability – people who can not be held to account by the electorate.
” The EU defends this set-up on its website by pointing out that all EU laws handed down by the Commission can “ only be approved by democratically elected politicians ” in the Parliament @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , holds the Commission to account and can even force the Commission to resign in a so called ‘ motion of censure ’ ” .
So is the EU democratic ?
As the UK in a Changing Europe think tank notes , “ ‘ democracy ’ means different things to different people ” - so there are no easy answers to this question .
“ To take the most obvious example , when we talk about democracies , we often mean representative democracies , where we elect people to represent our views and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says the independent research organisation .
“ That ’ s very different from a direct democratic approach where , like in the EU referendum , many or all decisions are taken by the population at large.
” And although the EU is an “ international organisation , like the United Nations or Nato , founded on treaties between its member countries ” , the bloc “ far surpasses other international organisations in its democratic control ” and “ reaches into far more areas of public policy than its counterparts elsewhere ” .
Given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and how far the EU ’ s powers should extend , the think-tank concludes that “ there are still questions about the right balance to strike ” .
To some commentators , the question of EU democracy hinges more on accountability than representation .
Writing for the London School of Economics ( LSE ) blog , historian Pippa Catterall suggests that the idea of the EU being undemocratic may stem from its functional differences to national governments .
Large swathes of the EU are effectively appointed by a voting populace - a decidedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ because it remains fundamentally an international organisation , it does not have a ‘ government ’ which can be voted out by the disgruntled , ” says Catterall , a professor of history and policy at the University of Westminster .
“ Its parliament makes laws and holds confirmation hearings on appointees , but those appointees are placed there by horse-trading between the member states , rather than directly .
“ In that sense , the EU ’ s organisation falls some way between that of an international organisation ( which few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that of a state .
However , the more the EU seems to resemble a state rather than an international organisation , the more it has become judged by the normative expectations of how democratic the former rather than the latter are.
” Transparency is another key issue in perceptions about whether the EU is democratic .
In an article on The Conversation , Alan Butt Philip , a former Reader in European integration at the University of Bath , writes : “ The elected governments of the member states are not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Council , which are held behind closed doors – and where most important decisions are made .
These meetings can ’ t be watched online and minutes are not made public .
Not even representatives of the European Parliament can attend .
“ This is difficult to square with the claim of being democratic.
” So is the EU undemocratic ?
It depends on both which lens we view the question through , and the standard to which we hold the EU .
FullFact concludes that “ compared to a country , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but adds that the most “ obvious remedies would imply a considerable strengthening of EU powers , making it look even more like a state ” .

During his final appearance in the European Parliament in Brussels in January, Nigel Farage told his fellow MEPs that “if we want trade, friendship, cooperation, reciprocity, we don’t need a European Commission”.
The most controversial institution of the EU is the European Commission. This is the executive branch, meaning it submits proposals for new legislation to the Parliament and the Council, implements EU policy and administers the budget. Most crucially, the commissioners are not elected but are instead nominated by member countries, each of which gets one representative.
The European Parliament, meanwhile, is the only directly elected EU body, with representatives, or MEPs, apportioned by each member state’s population. The Parliament is unusual in that it cannot propose legislation, but EU laws cannot pass without its direct approval. The current president of the Parliament is Italian politician David Sassoli, who was chosen by MEPs.
First is the European Council. “The EU’s broad priorities are set by the European Council, which brings together national and EU-level leaders,” says the official EU website . Or to put it another way, the council is a collection of leaders who were democratically elected within their own borders.
The EU is comprised of a number of institutions that work together but have very different functions.
With a no-deal Brexit now looming as UK-EU trade tensions grow, The Week takes a look at the inner workings of the bloc.
This slogan appears to have struck a chord with the many Leave voters who believe the EU represents a democratic vacuum. Leading Brexiteer Nigel Farage repeatedly refers to EU politicians as “unelected bureaucrats”, while the Vote Leave campaign website describes the institution as “undemocratic”.
Vote Leave allegedly “relied on racism” to appeal to the British public’s inherent prejudices, as Martin Shaw wrote in The Guardian last year. Regardless of such accusations, the anti-EU campaign secured a 52% to 48% victory in the Brexit vote, under the snappy slogan “Take Back Control”.
The run-up to the 2016 Brexit referendum saw the launch of a campaign that many commentators claim used immigration scare stories and xenophobia to persuade voters to quit the European Union.
He added: “It isn’t just undemocratic, it’s anti-democratic and it puts in that front row, it gives people power without accountability – people who cannot be held to account by the electorate.”
The EU defends this set-up on its website by pointing out that all EU laws handed down by the Commission can “only be approved by democratically elected politicians” in the Parliament, which “also endorses new Commissions, holds the Commission to account and can even force the Commission to resign in a so called ‘motion of censure’”.
So is the EU democratic?
As the UK in a Changing Europe think tank notes, “‘democracy’ means different things to different people” - so there are no easy answers to this question.
“To take the most obvious example, when we talk about democracies, we often mean representative democracies, where we elect people to represent our views and make decisions on our behalf,” says the independent research organisation.
“That’s very different from a direct democratic approach where, like in the EU referendum, many or all decisions are taken by the population at large.”
And although the EU is an “international organisation, like the United Nations or Nato, founded on treaties between its member countries”, the bloc “far surpasses other international organisations in its democratic control” and “reaches into far more areas of public policy than its counterparts elsewhere”.
Given the conflicting interpretations of what democracy means and how far the EU’s powers should extend, the think-tank concludes that “there are still questions about the right balance to strike”.
To some commentators, the question of EU democracy hinges more on accountability than representation. Writing for the London School of Economics (LSE) blog, historian Pippa Catterall suggests that the idea of the EU being undemocratic may stem from its functional differences to national governments.
Large swathes of the EU are effectively appointed by a voting populace - a decidedly democratic facet of the institution.
But “because it remains fundamentally an international organisation, it does not have a ‘government’ which can be voted out by the disgruntled,” says Catterall, a professor of history and policy at the University of Westminster. “Its parliament makes laws and holds confirmation hearings on appointees, but those appointees are placed there by horse-trading between the member states, rather than directly.
“In that sense, the EU’s organisation falls some way between that of an international organisation (which few people expect to be democratic), and that of a state. However, the more the EU seems to resemble a state rather than an international organisation, the more it has become judged by the normative expectations of how democratic the former rather than the latter are.”
Transparency is another key issue in perceptions about whether the EU is democratic.
In an article on The Conversation, Alan Butt Philip, a former Reader in European integration at the University of Bath, writes: “The elected governments of the member states are not keen to grant access to debates in the Council, which are held behind closed doors – and where most important decisions are made. These meetings can’t be watched online and minutes are not made public. Not even representatives of the European Parliament can attend.
“This is difficult to square with the claim of being democratic.”
So is the EU undemocratic? It depends on both which lens we view the question through, and the standard to which we hold the EU.
FullFact concludes that “compared to a country, the EU has democratic shortcomings”, but adds that the most “obvious remedies would imply a considerable strengthening of EU powers, making it look even more like a state”.


theweekuk--2020-09-18--Albums of the Week

Albums of the Week

This week ’ s best new releases include various artists singing the songs of Marc Bolan and T. Rex , a new recording of Benjamin Britten ’ s 1945 opera and the latest record by The Flaming Lips .
Various : AngelHeaded Hipster – The Songs of Marc Bolan & T. Rex ( BMG £13 ) Marc Bolan was the “ platonic ideal of a pop star - glamorous , impish , lovable yet elusive ” , said Tim de Lisle in The Mail on Sunday .
Now , 43 years after his death , he receives “ one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - a tribute by Hal Willner , the great producer who sadly died earlier this year of Covid-19 , soon after completing work on this wonderful album .
Willner ’ s special gift was for matching material and artist , and here a starry array of Bolan fans - including U2 with Elton John , Joan Jett , Nick Cave , Peaches , and Marc Almond - deliver beautifully realised covers of some of his best songs .
There are moments when Bolan ’ s “ defiantly gibberish ” lyrics feel exposed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I got giraffes all up in my hair and I don ’ t care , ” croons Father John Misty on Main Man .
But in fact , it scarcely matters .
With its “ intriguing cast , exotic songs and dazzling arrangements ” , this treat of an album is a “ loving , rich , strange and rewarding delight ” .
My advice : “ Bang a gong , and get it on.
” This superb new recording of Benjamin Britten ’ s breakthrough 1945 opera , by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up there with the “ finest ” ever , said Erica Jeal in The Guardian .
It was made last year following several semi-staged performances and acclaimed concerts – and the recording is thus “ extraordinarily well run-in ” .
Even in audio only , it registers as a “ genuine music drama ” .
The music “ leads us through the story in one urgent , vital sweep ” , the sound is “ huge and thrilling ” , and there ’ s “ sparkling interplay between singers and orchestra ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ one to “ cherish ” , agreed Hugh Canning in The Sunday Times – and it preserves Stuart Skelton ’ s “ immense incarnation ” of the title role .
His Grimes is “ brutish ” in his treatment of the apprentice , yet “ heart-breakingly vulnerable ” in the mad scene .
Erin Wall and Roderick Williams provide fine support , and the Bergen choruses ( with singers from the Royal Northern College of Music ) “ share the honours with Gardner ’ s superlative orchestra ” .
Recent Flaming Lips albums @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said Will Hodgkinson in The Times .
But on American Head , they rediscover “ what they do better than anyone , which is a dreamy , richly melodic take on psychedelic rock containing stories culled from experience ” .
Their best album since 1999 ’ s The Soft Bulletin , it ’ s a strangely moving “ hallucinogenic epic about the other side of the American dream ” .
Harmonies and melodies “ unfold with ease ” and crescendo before breaking into “ musical Technicolor ” and there is a luxurious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This is an album about memories of childhood and adolescence , said Elisa Bray in The Independent .
The sound is “ accessible , tender and surreal ” .
Many of the songs are augmented by backing vocals from Texas country star Kacey Musgraves .
And the bucolic tone throughout “ conjures flashbacks with wide-eyed wonder ” , especially in the “ melodic gem ” Dinosaurs on the Mountain .
Evocative and beautiful , the album is a thrilling return to peak form .

This week’s best new releases include various artists singing the songs of Marc Bolan and T. Rex, a new recording of Benjamin Britten’s 1945 opera and the latest record by The Flaming Lips.
Various: AngelHeaded Hipster – The Songs of Marc Bolan & T. Rex (BMG £13)
Marc Bolan was the “platonic ideal of a pop star - glamorous, impish, lovable yet elusive”, said Tim de Lisle in The Mail on Sunday. Now, 43 years after his death, he receives “one of the biggest compliments known to songwriters” - a tribute by Hal Willner, the great producer who sadly died earlier this year of Covid-19, soon after completing work on this wonderful album. Willner’s special gift was for matching material and artist, and here a starry array of Bolan fans - including U2 with Elton John, Joan Jett, Nick Cave, Peaches, and Marc Almond - deliver beautifully realised covers of some of his best songs.
There are moments when Bolan’s “defiantly gibberish” lyrics feel exposed, said Neil McCormick in The Daily Telegraph. “I got giraffes all up in my hair and I don’t care,” croons Father John Misty on Main Man. But in fact, it scarcely matters. With its “intriguing cast, exotic songs and dazzling arrangements”, this treat of an album is a “loving, rich, strange and rewarding delight”. My advice: “Bang a gong, and get it on.”
Britten: Peter Grimes (Chandos; £23)
This superb new recording of Benjamin Britten’s breakthrough 1945 opera, by the Bergen Philharmonic under Edward Gardner, is up there with the “finest” ever, said Erica Jeal in The Guardian. It was made last year following several semi-staged performances and acclaimed concerts – and the recording is thus “extraordinarily well run-in”. Even in audio only, it registers as a “genuine music drama”. The music “leads us through the story in one urgent, vital sweep”, the sound is “huge and thrilling”, and there’s “sparkling interplay between singers and orchestra”.
This “outstanding” Peter Grimes is one to “cherish”, agreed Hugh Canning in The Sunday Times – and it preserves Stuart Skelton’s “immense incarnation” of the title role. His Grimes is “brutish” in his treatment of the apprentice, yet “heart-breakingly vulnerable” in the mad scene. Erin Wall and Roderick Williams provide fine support, and the Bergen choruses (with singers from the Royal Northern College of Music) “share the honours with Gardner’s superlative orchestra”.
The Flaming Lips: American Head (Bella Union; £10)
Recent Flaming Lips albums have been “gimmicky or unlistenable”, said Will Hodgkinson in The Times. But on American Head, they rediscover “what they do better than anyone, which is a dreamy, richly melodic take on psychedelic rock containing stories culled from experience”. Their best album since 1999’s The Soft Bulletin, it’s a strangely moving “hallucinogenic epic about the other side of the American dream”. Harmonies and melodies “unfold with ease” and crescendo before breaking into “musical Technicolor” and there is a luxurious, Beatlesque quality throughout. Just wonderful.
This is an album about memories of childhood and adolescence, said Elisa Bray in The Independent. The sound is “accessible, tender and surreal”. Many of the songs are augmented by backing vocals from Texas country star Kacey Musgraves. And the bucolic tone throughout “conjures flashbacks with wide-eyed wonder”, especially in the “melodic gem” Dinosaurs on the Mountain. Evocative and beautiful, the album is a thrilling return to peak form.


theweekuk--2020-09-19--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 19 Sep 2020

Human rights lawyer Amal Clooney has quit her role as the UK 's envoy on press freedom over her “ @ @ @ @ @ 's willingness to break international law with Brexit .
Clooney said it was “ lamentable @ @ @ @ @ be contemplating overriding the Brexit agreement he signed last year , adding that she could @ @ @ @ @ legal obligations when the UK “ declares it does not intend to do so itself @ @

Clooney quits in ‘dismay’ over government's Brexit plan
Human rights lawyer Amal Clooney has quit her role as the UK's envoy on press freedom over her “dismay” at the government's willingness to break international law with Brexit. Clooney said it was “lamentable” for Boris Johnson to be contemplating overriding the Brexit agreement he signed last year, adding that she could not tell others to honour legal obligations when the UK “declares it does not intend to do so itself”.


theweekuk--2020-09-20--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 20 Sep 2020

A package containing ricin poison that was posted to US President Donald Trump has been intercepted before it reached the @ @ @ @ @ that the letter was discovered at a screening facility for White House mail earlier this @ @ @ @ @ the Secret Service are investigating where the package came from and whether others have been @ @ @ @ @ system .

Ricin package intercepted before it reached Trump
A package containing ricin poison that was posted to US President Donald Trump has been intercepted before it reached the White House. Officials said that the letter was discovered at a screening facility for White House mail earlier this week. The FBI and the Secret Service are investigating where the package came from and whether others have been sent through the US postal system.