Author: Gulf News Week
There’s a recurring theme in the second season of Tucci in Italy where someone tells Stanley Tucci he must eat more. Usually it’s a nonna (grandmother), sometimes it’s a chef, and occasionally it’s an entire family placing more food on the table in spite of his protests.It reminds me of when I visit my own nonna’s house in Rome; I’m immediately ushered to the dining table and presented with enough pasta, bread and favourite dishes to feed an entire family.And before I’ve even finished my first plate, I’m encouraged to help myself to seconds.Watching the new season of Tucci in…
Almost a month after the first passenger died of the hantavirus on board the MV Hondius cruise ship, it is finally approaching Tenerife in the Canary Islands.Intensive preparations have been under way to receive the ship in the port of Granadilla and help more than 100 people onto shore to be repatriated.The Hondius is expected to arrive in the area before dawn but even now it won’t be permitted to reach shore: a security perimeter of one nautical mile will be enforced around the ship as it approaches the island.Once in the port, it will drop anchor at sea to…
For decades, Canada was seen as a global laggard in defence funding, and just two years ago, recruitment was so dire that a former defence minister warned the armed forces were in a “death spiral”.Now, the Canadian army is growing at a pace not seen in decades, reaching its highest number of recruits in 30 years and potentially reversing the chronic personnel shortage that has plagued the country’s military. The boost over the last two years comes as the world grapples with major armed conflicts and geopolitical uncertainty, and as Canada commits billions in new military funding after years of…
When Indian model Bhavitha Mandava arrived at this year’s Met Gala, the reaction to her look was unusually divided.From a distance, her Chanel outfit looked disarmingly simple: a sheer zip-up jacket and what appeared to be a pair of low-slung jeans. Around her, the usual theatre unfolded – sculpted gowns and silhouettes, outfits that declared themselves before their wearers could. In comparison, Mandava’s look seemed to hold back. Except it didn’t. The “denim” was not denim at all, but silk muslin, printed and constructed to mimic it – a detail later noted by fashion websites. The simplicity, in other words,…
Greek authorities have rendered safe a naval drone carrying explosives after it was discovered in the Ionian Sea by fishermen.The unmanned vessel, suspected to be of Ukrainian origin, was found in a cave near Lefkada on Greece’s western coast on Thursday with its engine still running. Greek bomb disposal experts removed its detonators and battery.The incident has raised questions about Greece’s maritime security and its vulnerability to emerging military technology.Authorities are now investigating how the drone ended up in Greece’s territorial waters and why it may have been in the Mediterranean.Ukraine’s military has so far not commented. Both Greek and…
Labour MP Catherine West has said if a cabinet minister does not challenge Sir Keir Starmer as party leader by Monday, she will attempt to trigger a leadership contest herself.In an exclusive interview with the BBC, she said her preferred option would be for the cabinet to “reorganise themselves” and put forward their “best communicator” to replace Sir Keir, avoiding a leadership election.But speaking after devastating election results for Labour, West said she was putting the cabinet “on notice” and if she did not hear from a leadership hopeful by Monday she would ask Labour MPs to back her to…
Iran has indicated it will take part in this summer’s football World Cup, but has demanded a series of guarantees from Fifa and the tournament’s hosts amid growing tensions surrounding the team’s participation.The Iranian Football Federation (FFIRI) said Iran would compete at the tournament “without any retreat from our beliefs, culture and convictions”, while insisting the hosts “must take our concerns into account”.The demands come after FFIRI president Mehdi Taj was denied entry to Canada before last month’s Fifa Congress. Taj later revealed Iran had presented Fifa with 10 conditions for participation at the World Cup, which begins on 11…
Australia’s One Nation party has won its first-ever lower-house seat in what is being seen as an important test for the right-wing populist party.With most ballots counted, One-Nation candidate David Farley has won an unassailable 60% of the primary vote in Farrer, a vast regional constituency in New South Wales. Independent candidate Michelle Milthorpe is far behind.The contest was triggered by the resignation of Sussan Ley, who quit when she was ousted as leader of the opposition conservative Liberal Party.While the result will not affect the Labor government’s large majority, it is a clear sign that voters are moving away…
I’ve attended many Victory Day parades on Red Square.This year’s version felt very different.In previous years I’ve had to sprint from the media bus that normally parks up by St Basils’ Cathedral, in order to nab a decent spot in the press area at the side of the square.No running was required this year. There were far fewer journalists at the event. Many international media organisations had not been granted access.”Steve, you’re proof that foreign media have been allowed in,” beamed the reporter.”Not really,” I replied. “I can’t see any others.”I was glad to be there, though. To see for…
An Israeli strike on southern Lebanon has killed at least seven people, including a child, Lebanon’s health ministry said.The strike on the town of Saksakiyeh wounded a further 15, including three children, the ministry added. Lebanese official media also reported that an Israeli strike killed a Syrian national and seriously injured his 12-year-old daughter in the southern city of Nabatieh. Lebanese armed group Hezbollah targeted northern Israel with a drone, which the Israeli military said wounded three soldiers.Israeli forces and Hezbollah have continued to trade fire since US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire deal between the governments of Israel…