Glasgow diary: Cocktails and Kylie Minogue celebrate the spirit of Commonwealth Games

Kylie Minogue

Glasgow, Aug 1 (IANS): Celebrating the spirit and togetherness of the Commonwealth Games is a city bartender who has come out with a unique cocktail synthesising ingredients from each of the competing nations.

Using a blend of exotic ingredients from all the 71 Commonwealth countries, Mal Spence of the Kelvingrove Cafe in Glasgow, has created the 'monster cocktail' which is a result of six months of painstaking research and experimentation.

The ingredients which include dragonfruit from Belize, lemongrass from Grenada and India's very own mangosteen, have been chosen after working over 300 items.

Available to visitors on a limited run, the coral pink drink is being hailed as a record-breaker for the sheer number of ingredients used.

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Glasgow geared up for First World War Centenary commemorations

The centuries-old Glasgow Cathedral is abuzz with activity as the city gears up to host the largest and first of three national events to mark the 100th anniversary of Britain's entry into the First World War

The events in Glasgow, Mons, Belgium, and Westminster Abbey, London form a key part of the British government's centenary programme on August 4, a day after the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games marks the nation's declaration of war on Germany following the invasion of Belgium the previous day.

A host of events have been lined up the mark the occasion. A website dedicated for the event has been inviting stories and pictures from the city residents to build up a picture of what the war was like.

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Kylie Minogue to star at Games closing

Australian singing sensation Kylie Minogue and Scottish pop band Deacon Blue will hold centrestage at the Hampden Park, bringing down a musical curtain on the Commonwelath Games on Sunday.

Besides the involvement of 2,000 volunteers, the ceremony will feature 160 tonnes of staging, more than 3000 props and 454 flags.

With 45 singles to her name, Kylie has been topping the music charts since the beginning her career in 1987, and she also featured in a song in 2009 Bollywood movie ‘Blue’ alongside Akshay Kumar.

The others to perform include Dougie MacLean, whose music has featured in films including the Daniel Day-Lewis starrer 'Last of the Mohicans'.

The closing ceremony will also serve as the official hand over to the Gold Coast, which will stage the 2018 Games.