Table of contents for 1520-1521 in The Week

I will finally get my state pension next year, “six years on from when I first thought I would receive it”, said Catherine Pepinster in The Independent. As a woman born in the 1950s, I had my plans “thrown up in the air, thanks to the equalising of the state pension age”. In 1995, it was decided that the pension age for women would be raised from 60 to 65, the age for men, between 2010 and 2020. Then, in 2011, George Osborne accelerated the process, raising the women’s age to 65 in 2018 – and putting it up to 66 for both men and women in 2020. What does this mean for me? “If I add up the six years of state pension I would have got from 2019,…

Adele, after a Brazilian judge ordered that one of her songs be withdrawn from sale and distribution worldwide. The injunction was imposed while the court considers a claim that her 2015 track Million Years Ago plagiarises Toninho Geraes’s 1995 song Mulheres. A British lawyer said the order was “legally meaningless” outside Brazil, and would be hard to enforce in it. Naval legends, with the emergence of a letter suggesting that Nelson’s last words were not “Kiss me, Hardy” – or, as historians believe, “Thank God, I have done my duty.” In his letter, written six days after the Battle of Trafalgar, petty officer George Sievers recounts that Nelson’s dying words were: “Thanks be to God, I have but lived this day and now I die content.” However, Sievers was not…

Avignon, France  Pelicot verdicts: At the conclusion of a mass rape trial that has horrified France, 72-year-old Dominique Pelicot, who had admitted he drugged his wife over a nine-year period and invited 50 other men whom he’d met on the internet to join him in sexually violating her, has been convicted of aggravated rape and sentenced to the maximum penalty of 20 years. The five judges also read out guilty verdicts for the 50 other defendants, most of whom had denied the charges. Many of them lived within 30 miles of the Pelicots: they include a warden, a journalist and a lorry driver, and range in age from 26 to 74. Several are married with children. Gisèle Pelicot, a 72-year-old grandmother who has since divorced her husband, was applauded as…

Nigel Farage has added semi-skimmed milk to his list of political enemies. In a video posted on social media, the Reform UK leader is shown holding a cup of coffee and explaining that he is at a “smart” London hotel. “I want some milk,” he says. “Let’s have a look…” The camera then pans over the different types of milk on offer. “We’ve got semi-skimmed – I don’t like that,” he says. “Oat milk – what on earth’s that when it’s at home? Almond milk.” What he wants, he says, is “proper bloody milk. Not left-wing options. Proper milk. What’s wrong with me asking for that?” When the late Queen Mother’s television set went kaput, a new, larger one was ordered from Harrods, Stephen Fry recounted at an Oldie literary…

Programmes Maria Callas: The Final Act Documentary shedding new light on the diva’s life and the development of her unique voice, with contributions from musicologists and archive interviews with Callas herself. Sun 29 Dec, BBC2 21:00 (60mins). Royal Institution Christmas Lectures Dr Chris van Tulleken presents this year’s three lectures on “The Truth About Food”, covering everything from the digestive process to industrial production. Sun 29-Tue 31 Dec, BBC4 21:00 (60mins each). The Split: Barcelona The legal drama returns for a two-part special: the Defoes reunite for a family wedding in a Catalan vineyard. Sun 29-Mon 30 Dec, BBC1 21:00 (60mins each). Sir Alex A look back on the life and career of the most decorated manager in British football history, Sir Alex Ferguson, featuring interviews with Kenny Dalglish, Wayne…

Tips for perfect Irish coffee Few things can beat Irish coffee for its “comforting collision of hot, sweet caffeine, Irish whiskey and thick, cold cream”, says Alice Lascelles in the Financial Times. And it’s at this time of year, when I’m running on empty, that I begin to crave it in earnest. Invented in the 1940s as a “livener” for travellers at Foynes airport in County Limerick, Irish coffee quickly made it across the Atlantic and by the 1950s, was hugely popular in America. To make it, fill a Georgian Irish coffee glass, or a small-stemmed wine glass, with warm water, and leave it to stand while you assemble your other ingredients (this will ensure the coffee component contrasts satisfyingly with the cold cream topping). Shake some chilled double cream…

Dogs are welcome in all eight rooms and at the bar of The Felin Fach Griffin, the Inkin brothers’ stylish pub set between the Brecon Beacons and the Black Mountains (from £183 b&b; eatdrinksleep.ltd.uk). Most rooms at The Rose & Crown in Romaldkirk, County Durham, are dogfriendly. There is great walking from the front door, and a dog hosing/drying area (from £150 b&b; rose-and-crown.co.uk). There are also great country walks from Randy Pike, a former hunting lodge outside Ambleside, Cumbria. Dogs stay free and there are lots of dog-friendly pubs close by (from £240 b&b; randypike.co.uk). Dogs stay for free in some rooms at Biggin Hall, in the Peak District. There’s a hose for muddy paws after a walk (from £140 b&b; bigginhall.co.uk). The Meikleour Arms, in Perthshire, welcomes dogs…

The average UK house price hit a record £298,083 in December, up 4.8% from £284,442 a year ago, according to the UK’s biggest mortgage lender, Halifax. Transaction volumes “have returned to prepandemic levels”, said Aaliyah Ahmed in The Times. The surprise recovery was driven by a drop in mortgage rates and growing affordability, as wages outpaced inflation. “2024 was a year when UK property prices once again defied expectations,” said Halifax’s head of mortgages, Amanda Bryden. “The market remained largely flat until the summer” – and then it took off. Next year, the market is expected to cool. Despite sticky inflation, the Bank base rate is thought likely to dip from 4.75% to around 4%. “Unfortunately, mortgage rates won’t fall in tandem,” said Hermione Taylor in Investors’ Chronicle: they’re influenced…

Politics and public service Derek Draper, New Labour aide turned psychotherapist, died 3 January, aged 56. Alexei Navalny, Russian opposition leader, died 16 February, aged 47. Brian Mulroney, former PM of Canada, died 29 February, aged 84. Richard Taylor, campaigner against knife crime, died 23 March, aged 75. Lord (Frank) Field of Birkenhead, Labour politician, died 23 April, aged 81. Michael Ancram, Conservative politician, died 1 October, aged 79. Lord (Herman) Ouseley, former chair of the Commission for Racial Equality, died 2 October, aged 79. Alex Salmond, former first minister of Scotland, died 12 October, aged 69. General Sir Mike Jackson, soldier, died 15 October, aged 80. Sir John Nott, former Conservative defence minister, died 6 November, aged 92. John Prescott, former deputy leader of the Labour Party, died 20…

What happened Labour set out a series of reforms last week designed to help it meet its pledge to deliver 1.5 million new homes in England by 2029. The changes were included in a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) unveiled by the Housing Minister Angela Rayner. The report imposes mandatory housebuilding targets on local authorities across the country. To meet the new targets, parts of London and the southeast will have to double their current output; while councils, including Portsmouth and the New Forest, will have to build at eight times their current rate. The revised NPPF says that brownfield sites will still be the priority for new development. However, it will also require councils to review the boundaries of their green belts and identify lower-quality“grey belt” land within…

Almost half of working adults anticipated “pulling a sickie” at some point over this year’s festive season, with most citing late nights socialising or general festive burnout as the reason. More than half admitted to putting on a “fake voice” when they called in sick, in an effort to make their story more believable; 6% said they would get someone else to make the call. Gen Z is turning its back on traditional Christmas food, according to a poll by Aldi. It found that 78% of those born after 1996 would like to see more plant-based and global dishes served on 25 December; 54% would like modern foods, such as pizza, to be introduced; 56% consider Brussels sprouts to be “dated”, and 64% want to swap Christmas pudding for an…

The Archbishop of York has been urged to resign over his handling of a sexual abuse case. Stephen Cottrell’s position was called into question after the BBC revealed that, as Bishop of Chelmsford (from 2010 to 2020), he’d allowed a priest to stay in his post, despite knowing that the man had been barred from being alone with children, and had paid compensation to a woman who’d accused him of sexually abusing her, from the age of 11, in the 1970s. In a statement, Cottrell (pictured) said that he had suspended the priest, David Tudor, “at the first opportunity, when a new victim came forward in 2019”. Until then, he said, he’d had no legal grounds to take any action against Tudor, but noted that he had worked closely with…

Trenton, New Jersey  Drone mystery: President Biden has sought to reassure Americans who’ve been rattled by a spate of drone sightings above New Jersey and other eastern states. In the past month or so, more than 5,000 have been reported to federal agencies; many drones were seen over residential areas; others were reported to be flying close to military bases. Online, there was speculation about everything from Russian spies to aliens; but having reviewed the sightings, the agencies have informed the public that there is nothing abnormal going on, and that the sightings are just a mix of lawful commercial drones, hobbyist drones and law enforcement drones – plus a few stars mistaken for drones. “Nothing nefarious apparently, but they’re checking it all out,” said Biden. But Donald Trump remained…

JANUARY The World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace is dominated by the improbable emergence of a 16-year-old phenomenon, Luke Littler (below), who cruises through the draw before losing to the world No. 1, Luke Humphries, in the final. Hamas’s deputy political leader, Saleh al-Arouri, is killed in an apparent Israeli drone strike in Lebanon. A new ITV drama, Mr Bates vs The Post Office, highlights the scandalous mistreatment of thousands of operators of sub-Post Offices, who were accused of theft and false accounting on the basis of faulty software. Junior doctors in England stage a six-day walkout, the longest in NHS history. It’s the first of a series of walkouts that continue until the autumn, when they secure a pay deal. Dr Claudine Gay, the first black president of Harvard…

To The Times It beggars belief that the Church of England cannot defrock and sack a priest with a string of sexual convictions that are widely known about. Not only does brushing it under the carpet further sully the Church’s reputation, but it makes a farce of all the energy put into safeguarding now when something bad comes to light. Furthermore, it makes keeping trust in the local church far more difficult, not helped by a dearth of parish priests who would be there to listen, encourage and raise issues that they have heard. The Rev Toddy Hoar, Danby Wiske, North Yorkshire To The Times If we go on like this, the Church of England will start to resemble the Spanish Inquisition. Your report and yesterday’s 20-minute attack on the…

Emma and Ed talk about how hard Christmas is going be with George in prison. Tom and Natasha are at odds over the plan to buy Kirsty’s house – they haven’t told Helen about the offer yet, and Tom thinks she’ll be upset. Convalescing Leonard continues to ruffle David’s feathers at Brookfield. Kirsty catches up with Roy’s highflying sister Brenda, who has arrived in Ambridge to oversee the Willow Farm sale to Kirsty. Brad is anxious about being the only person George will see in prison. Helen confronts Tom and Natasha about the house, after Brenda lets slip their plan to buy it, and berates Tom for his selfishness. In the meantime, Kirsty gets a better offer on her house from another buyer. Brad reports back from his visit that…

It can feel overwhelming to stand in the supermarket wine aisle wondering which champagne will feel like a celebration, and which will be more akin to an “old damp dishcloth”, said Victoria Moore in The Daily Telegraph. But remembering a few basic principles will help. Generally, the quality of supermarket own-label champagne is high, while that of inexpensive champagne sold under a brand name will be “rather less so”. So if in doubt, go to Co-op, Sainsbury’s, Tesco or Waitrose and buy one of their own-label champagnes. That said, if you know what to look for, other great bargains can be found. Aldi’s Veuve Monsigny No. III Brut NV (£14.99) has become a “chattering-classes favourite”, and justly so: made by Philizot & Fils, it’s “easy-going and approachable”. The Co-op’s Les…

When will the American bubble pop? Ruchir Sharma Financial Times Many accept that America’s inordinately large share of financial markets is “the mother of all bubbles”, but “almost no one foresees an imminent pop”, says Ruchir Sharma. The consensus on Wall Street is that US stocks will continue outperforming the rest of the world in 2025. Yet that only confirms “that the bubble is at a very advanced stage”. Bulls point to healthy household balance sheets and impressive corporate earnings; these wouldn’t look so exceptional if not for the supernormal profits of Big Tech firms and America’s“sharply increasing addiction” to government debt. “If any other country were spending this way, investors would be fleeing.” There’s a belief that, as the world’s leading economy and issuer of the reserve currency, “America…

Efforts to halt the spread of an invasive bee-killing hornet in the UK have paid off, a study has suggested. Researchers looked at how well the Asian hornet would adapt to the climate, and worked out that it could have spread across 650 square miles of Britain by 2020. But thanks to rapid action to remove nests – facilitated by members of the public reporting sightings – the hornets have not spread significantly, and our honey bee colonies, unlike those in France and Italy, have been spared. A three-year-old chihuahua which works with a shepherdess in the Alps has emerged as France’s most popular sheepdog. Damaris Barbe, 35 – one of a growing number of young women looking after French flocks – made Obi-Wan a star by posting videos of…

Keely Hodgkinson, who was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year. The 22-year-old runner, who took the gold in the 800m at the Paris Olympics, is the fourth consecutive female winner of the viewers’ poll. Darts player Luke Littler came second. Reform UK, after Elon Musk reinforced his support for the party by meeting Nigel Farage, its leader, and property developer Nick Candy, its new treasurer, at Donald Trump’s home in Florida. It has been rumoured that Musk plans to donate $100m to Reform. Grace Dent, restaurant critic for The Guardian, who was named as the new co-host of the BBC’s Celebrity MasterChef. She replaces Gregg Wallace, who stepped aside last month after he was accused of making inappropriate jokes and comments to staff and guests.…

The Government has unveiled plans for a major overhaul of local government in England. Under the proposals, district councils will be merged to form unitary authorities, and elected mayors will be given greater powers to raise money, make planning decisions and manage transport networks. Single councils will also lose the ability to veto regional housing plans, and local groups will be given the right to buy under-threat community assets, such as pubs and youth clubs. Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister, said that devolution will be “default in our constitution” rather than “at the whim” of Whitehall.…

Our MPs are doing a bad job of making law Robert Colvile  The Sunday Times Our Parliament has many failings, says Robert Colvile, but the one MPs are busily addressing – updating the Commons’ working practices – isn’t the one that most needs attention. Modernisation – making the place more diverse, accessible etc. – is all very well, but it won’t fix its central failing: it is “increasingly dismal at making and debating our laws”. Gone are the fierce arguments and probing questions of yesteryear. Government bills at second reading now get about three hours of cursory discussion. The adoption of the net-zero target in 2019 – a project with massive implications – was nodded through without even a vote: the few MPs who questioned the practicalities were “fobbed off”.…

Finding a lifeless hedgehog in the road, a quick-thinking animal lover scooped it up, placed it in a box with some food and rushed it over to her local wildlife hospital. There, it was examined by vets, who immediately identified it as the fluffy bobble from a woolly hat. “I would have immediately known from the weight,” said Janet Kotze, of Lower Moss Wood Wildlife Hospital in Knutsford. Still, “bless her, her heart was in the right place”. A soft-play centre in West Sussex was criticised for hosting an event for adults who enjoy dressing as babies. Wild Wonderland, in Lancing, normally welcomes children under 14, but last December it was used for a party that had been advertised on a fetish website. According to The Argus, the over-25s event…

Shogun Disney+ “Mesmerising television,” said The Guardian: this adaptation of James Clavell’s 1975 novel about an English seaman’s adventures in feudal Japan is a “lavish, demanding drama, to be approached with care and focus”. Filmed in Japanese and in English, it puts a great multinational cast to excellent use. Shogun was first dramatised in the 1980s, starring Richard Chamberlain. The new version “foregrounds and enriches its Japanese characters”, said The New York Times, “while maintaining the original miniseries’s soapy intrigue and epic sweep”. Rivals Disney+ “The most enjoyable TV show of the year was totally Tory,” said The Daily Telegraph. “Rivals was the breath of fresh air that British television needed – uproarious, unfiltered fun.” With its big hair, shoulder pads, lunchtime drinking and endless affairs, this adaptation of Jilly…

The Siege of Krishnapur by J.G. Farrell, 1973 (W&N £9.99). J.G. Farrell fictionally constructs, explores and deconstructs (at once) the siege of Lucknow in this brilliant, funny, moving novel. He rinses the British imperialists for their arrogance and stupidity, but nobody is spared his satire. One of the best books of the 20th century, no argument. Home by Marilynne Robinson, 2008 (Little, Brown £8.99). Years ago, my first novel ended up on the Orange Prize shortlist. When I read through the shortlist I got to Home and I thought, oh well, there goes my chance. Home did win, of course. It’s a masterpiece, an exquisite, attentive, intricately balanced novel, with the dialogue and dramatic intensity of a stage play. Mountains of the Moon by I.J. Kay, 2012 (Vintage £15.99). I…

• Don’t keep knives together in a drawer, as they’ll bash against each other and this can blunt them. Instead, store them in a knife roll, or a wooden knife block. Magnetic strips or boards can be good, but some have a rough surface that can damage the blades. • Do not put sharp knives in the dishwasher, as it can corrode the blades. Handwash them and dry them as soon as possible. • Avoid hard chopping boards. Ideally use a wooden one with a checkerboard pattern, a butcher’s block, which will act like a cushion for the blade to sink into. • Don’t use knives for anything other than their stated purpose. Don’t cut frozen food or bones, and never use them as a lever to open tins or…

Wakey-wakey One thing we’re likely to hear much more about in 2025 is “anti-woke” funds, said Michael Bow in The Daily Telegraph. In December, Azoria Meritocracy – run by former hedge fund investor and Trump supporter James Fishback – launched a new exchange-traded fund (ETF) aimed at pressurising companies to change their policies. The first target is Starbucks. Fishback has claimed that “the coffee chain’s diversity hiring policies” are to blame for its recent poor performance. Azoria has already won backing from big names, including Ark’s CEO Cathie Wood, and is now “plotting to launch in Britain”. He hopes to court the support of the Reform UK party leader, Nigel Farage. Golden shares Remember golden shares? They were “a hallmark” of the UK’s privatisation agenda in the 1980s, said Lex…

David O. Sacks At a Christmas party this year, David O. Sacks sported “a Russian-style fur hat and was ceremoniously gifted a Vladimir Putin calendar and a box of caviar”, says the FT. The Silicon Valley investor was “riffing on his appointment” as Donald Trump’s AI and crypto “tsar”, while “poking fun at critics” who say he has pro-Russian sympathies. It was classic Sacks: “controversial, theatrical – and offensive to those who take him literally”. South Africa-born Sacks made his name alongside Elon Musk, Peter Thiel et al as a co-founder of PayPal in the 1990s; these days he is best known for the All-In podcast, a rumbustious tech and politics show. His appointment, says The Economist, shows that the “PayPal mafia”, which helped clinch Donald Trump’s election victory, is…

THE WEEK CROSSWORD 1446 Two Connell Guides and three Week-branded items will be given to the sender of the first correct solution to the crossword and the clue of the week opened on Monday 6 January. Send it to The Week Crossword 1446, 121-141 Westbourne Terrace, London W2 6JR, or email the completed grid/listed solutions to crossword@theweek.co.uk. Tim Moorey (timmoorey.com) This week’s winner will receive Week-branded items, as well as two Connell Guides (connellguides.com). ACROSS 1 Some beef from second-placed team? (10) 6 Flowers left out for meetings (4) 9 Food Chilean prepared to put before lawyers (10)  10 First day of last month returned ready for West African (4) 12 Hamburger’s first class? (12) 15 Share swindle a long time leads to storm (7) 16 Most base a secluded…

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