Don’t ‘snog’ strangers under the mistletoe, says minister
And other stories from the stranger side of life

People should not “snog” anyone they do not know over Christmas to reduce the spread of Covid, government minister Therese Coffey has said. The Work and Pensions Secretary said people should enjoy Christmas but added: “I don’t think there should be much snogging under the mistletoe.” However, she insisted the government was working hard so we can all enjoy a “knees-up” over the festive season.
‘Outrageous events’ that could rock markets next year
Facebook will suffer a mass exodus of users, medical breakthroughs will extend life expectancy by 25 years and US inflation will reach 15%, according to a report of “outrageous” predictions for 2022. Saxo Bank, a Danish financial services firm, also predicted that policymakers will turn their back on climate change and welcome fossil fuels. The Telegraph said the “unexpected events” would “rock investors but also provide money making opportunities”.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Surgeon fined for amputating wrong leg
An Austrian court has fined a surgeon for amputating the wrong leg of an elderly patient. The surgeon insisted her actions were down to “human error”, but the judge found her guilty of gross negligence and fined her €2,700, with half the fee suspended. The surgeon only noticed the mistake two days after carrying out the surgery.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Interest rate cut: the winners and losers
The Explainer The Bank of England's rate cut is not good news for everyone
-
Quiz of The Week: 3 – 9 May
Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
-
The Week Unwrapped: Will robots benefit from a sense of touch?
Podcast Plus, has Donald Trump given centrism a new lease of life? And was it wrong to release the deadly film Rust?
-
What happens if tensions between India and Pakistan boil over?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the two nuclear-armed neighbors rattle their sabers in the wake of a terrorist attack on the contested Kashmir region, experts worry that the worst might be yet to come
-
Why Russia removed the Taliban's terrorist designation
The Explainer Russia had designated the Taliban as a terrorist group over 20 years ago
-
Inside the Israel-Turkey geopolitical dance across Syria
THE EXPLAINER As Syria struggles in the wake of the Assad regime's collapse, its neighbors are carefully coordinating to avoid potential military confrontations
-
'Like a sound from hell': Serbia and sonic weapons
The Explainer Half a million people sign petition alleging Serbian police used an illegal 'sound cannon' to disrupt anti-government protests
-
The arrest of the Philippines' former president leaves the country's drug war in disarray
In the Spotlight Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the ICC earlier this month
-
Ukrainian election: who could replace Zelenskyy?
The Explainer Donald Trump's 'dictator' jibe raises pressure on Ukraine to the polls while the country is under martial law
-
Why Serbian protesters set off smoke bombs in parliament
THE EXPLAINER Ongoing anti-corruption protests erupted into full view this week as Serbian protesters threw the country's legislature into chaos
-
Who is the Hat Man? 'Shadow people' and sleep paralysis
In Depth 'Sleep demons' have plagued our dreams throughout the centuries, but the explanation could be medical