Latest news with #EasternEurope
CBS News
2 hours ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Russian drone strike on port city kills married couple, injures 17, Ukraine officials say
Two people died and at least 17 more were injured as Russian drones overnight struck the southern Ukrainian port city of Odesa, Ukrainian authorities said on Saturday. A drone slammed into a residential tower block in the city, causing damage to three floors and trapping residents, emergency services said. The two killed in the attack were a married couple, according to regional Gov. Oleh Kiper, who added that three children were among the injured. There was no immediate comment from Moscow. According to Russia's Defense Ministry, over 40 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight and on Saturday morning, over western Russia and Kremlin-occupied Crimea. Visitors check damaged Russian drones during the International Conference on Expanding Sanctions Against Russia in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, June 27, 2025. Efrem Lukatsky / AP Long-range drone strikes have been a hallmark of the war, now in its fourth year. The race by both sides to develop increasingly sophisticated and deadlier drones has turned the war into a testing ground for new weaponry.
Al Jazeera
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Record attendance expected at Budapest Pride march despite Orban warning
A record number of people are expected to attend a Pride march in the Hungarian capital, Budapest, defying a ban that marks an unprecedented regression of LGBTQ rights in the European Union. The event on Saturday comes after Prime Minister Viktor Orban's ruling coalition earlier this year amended laws and the constitution to ban the annual celebration. Orban's government has consistently argued that the legislation defends traditional family values and protects children. While the prime minister has been emboldened by the anti-diversity offensive of President Donald Trump in the United States, his own initiatives have drawn protests at home and condemnation from the EU and rights groups. The nationalist leader on Friday said that while police would not 'break up' the 30th edition of the Pride march, those who took part should be aware of 'legal consequences'. Despite the risk of a fine, more than 35,000 people are expected to gather at 2pm (12:00 GMT) near Budapest's city hall, an hour before the march begins. Ministers from several EU countries and dozens of European politicians are expected to attend in defiance of the ban, reminiscent of events in Moscow in 2006 and Istanbul in 2015. 'We're not just standing up for ourselves … If this law isn't overturned, Eastern Europe could face a wave of similar measures,' Pride organiser Viktoria Radvanyi said. Earlier this week, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen called on the Hungarian authorities to reverse the ban. Thirty-three countries have also spoken up in support of the march. While parade organisers risk up to a year in prison, attendees can face fines up to 500 euros ($580). The latest legal changes empower the authorities to use facial recognition technology to identify those who take part. Freshly installed cameras have appeared on lamp posts along the planned route of the march. However, Budapest Mayor Gergely Karacsony has insisted that no attendee can face any reprisals as the march – co-organised by the city hall this time – is a municipal event and does not require police approval. 'The police have only one task tomorrow, and it is a serious one: to ensure the safety of Hungarian and European citizens attending the event,' Karacsony said during a briefing with visiting EU equalities commissioner Hadja Lahbib. Far-right groups have announced multiple counterprotests along the planned route of the procession. Justice Minister Bence Tuzson this week sent a letter to EU embassies cautioning diplomats and staff against participating because of the police ban. Several EU countries have informed their citizens of the potential of fines through travel advisories. Since Orban's return to power in 2010, the country of 9.6 million people has been steadily rolling back LGBTQ rights. Legal changes have, in effect, barred same-sex couples from adopting children, prevented transgender people from changing their name or gender in official documents, and a 2021 law forbade the 'display and promotion' of homosexuality to under-18s. In March, politicians passed a bill targeting the annual Pride march, amending the 2021 law to prohibit any gathering violating its provisions. A month later, parliament also adopted a constitutional change to strengthen the legal foundations for the ban. 'Orban is employing a tried-and-tested recipe ahead of next year's election by generating a conflict,' political analyst Daniel Mikecz told the news agency AFP. Orban was 'polarising society', he added. Voter opinion polls suggest Orban's Fidesz party has been losing ground to the opposition. The first Pride march was held in 1970 in New York to mark the anniversary of the city's Stonewall riots in June 1969, which created the gay rights movement.
Arab News
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Russian strike on Ukraine's Odesa kills two, wounds 14
KYiV: A Russian drone strike on Ukraine's southern port city of Odesa killed two people and wounded 14, including children, local authorities said on Saturday. Moscow has stepped up drone and missile attacks on Ukraine and peace talks initiated by the United States to end the three-year conflict have stalled. 'Rescuers pulled the bodies of two people from the rubble who died as a result of a hostile drone strike on a residential building,' Odesa Governor Oleg Kiper said on Telegram. The night-time strike wounded 14 people, Kiper said, adding that 'three of them children.' Separately, authorities in Ukraine's southern Kherson region said one person was killed and three others were wounded in Russian strikes over the past day. 'Russian troops targeted critical and social infrastructure and residential areas in the region,' the Kherson's governor, Oleksandr Prokudin, said on Telegram early on Saturday. Tens of thousands of people have been killed in Russia's offensive, which has forced millions from their homes and devastated much of eastern Ukraine. Ukraine has launched retaliatory strikes on Russia throughout the war. The Russian defense ministry said on Saturday its air defense had shot down 31 Ukrainian drones overnight. Moscow also said it had captured another village in the Donetsk region, which the Kremlin has claimed as part of Russia since late 2022. Russia has demanded Ukraine cede more land and give up Western military support as a precondition to peace – terms Kyiv says are unacceptable.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Turnover Tradition: How chefs and content creators are shaping the future of food
From social media-driven reinventions of classic dishes to immersive dining experiences in the wilderness, food traditions are being rewritten before our eyes. Culinary heritage isn't being preserved in a museum: it's being brought to life in kitchens worldwide. Rather than simply replicating age-old recipes, or repurposing cuisine between two different cultures, today's chefs are fusing their cultural roots with flavours, methods, and influences from around the world. This is 'Turnover Tradition': the redefinition of heritage cooking as chefs and content creators blend ancestral techniques with global influences, personal narratives, and modern innovations. Take Siberian-born chef and author Alissa Timoshkina, who has reimagined Eastern European staples for her cookbook Kapusta: Vegetable-Forward Recipes from Eastern Europe. Focusing on humble ingredients like cabbage, beetroot, and mushrooms, Timoshkina elevates the humblest of components by applying modern cooking techniques and creative flair. Her approach not only preserves traditional flavours but also aligns them with contemporary tastes and dietary preferences. Related Isabella Nefar on combining cooking with acting for 'My English Persian Kitchen' High noon for French haute gastronomy: France seeks foreign help to inspire its young chefs Meanwhile, chefs in Spain's Basque Country are merging age-old fermentation methods with avant-garde culinary techniques to reinvent pintxos, the small flavourful bites traditionally enjoyed in the region's bars. At the forefront is chef Josean Alija of Bilbao's Michelin-starred restaurant Nerua. His cooking emphasises seasonality and locality, collaborating closely with regional producers to craft dishes that honour Basque traditions while incorporating modernist elements. Alija's philosophy centres on staying true to ingredients and identity, resulting in innovative interpretations of classic flavours. One of the most striking examples of this movement is chef Davide Nanni, who has gained popularity by taking Italian cuisine back to its roots — quite literally. As showcased on his Instagram profile, Nanni cooks in nature, using fire and primitive methods to highlight the rich culinary traditions of central Italy's Abruzzo region. Rather than relying on modern kitchen setups, he prepares dishes using only raw elements — earth, fire, and wood — bringing ancient cooking techniques back into the spotlight. However, this isn't simply nostalgia; it's a carefully crafted reinvention. His dishes, such as arrosticini (Abruzzese lamb skewers) slow-cooked over an open flame and handmade pasta prepared with age-old methods, are a tribute to Italy's rural history, but feel refreshingly new in their presentation and experience. Nanni's work is part of a broader trend in Europe where chefs are leaving behind traditional restaurant settings to create immersive, nature-based dining experiences, blending sustainability with a return to heritage. Another key feature of the Turnover Tradition is the rise of nomadic dining experiences, where chefs craft meals in wild landscapes to reconnect diners with nature. Projects like Nomadic Dinners take guests deep into the woodlands for immersive, open-fire feasts inspired by ancient communal eating practices. These experiences are less about fine dining and more about storytelling, where chefs highlight foraged ingredients, ancestral cooking techniques, and the shared human experience of eating outdoors. Related Foraging chef's forest finds fill restaurant plates on Isle of Man UNESCO biosphere Fungi foraging: 5 safe and edible wild mushrooms to look out for With consumers seeking more meaningful, hands-on culinary experiences, we are tapping into a primal desire for food as an experience, not just a meal. And if chefs are the pioneers of this movement, social media creators are its amplifiers. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube are making traditional recipes go viral, often with surprising twists. A study titled "The Utilisation of Social Media as Traditional Culinary Documentation in Strengthening Local Tourism" examines how platforms like Instagram serve as vital tools for preserving and promoting traditional cuisines. The research, which focuses on the Banyumas region in Indonesia, details how millennials are actively engaging in creating and sharing content about local dishes, in the process fostering a renewed appreciation for their culinary heritage. This digital engagement not only preserves traditional recipes, but also enhances local tourism by showcasing unique culinary practices to a broader audience. Take Dylan Hollis, a popular social media creator recognised for his lively videos, where he resurrects quirky and forgotten vintage American recipes. Drawing from a collection of more than 340 historic cookbooks, he breathes new life into old dishes, sharing their origins and preparation with his audience. His charismatic storytelling and humour make these culinary relics both engaging and accessible, sparking renewed interest in the rich and diverse food history of the United States. Back in Italy, meanwhile, the self-styled Gluten Freelancer is talking about Abruzzese cooking with a twist. Calling her style 'traditionally gluten free', she adapts recipes from her mother's cookbook to allow coeliacs and people intolerant to gluten to access unique flavours part of central Italy's culinary heritage. Her cooking is deeply rooted in tradition, but incorporates a storytelling element that resonates with a modern audience looking for authenticity. Then there's Frankie Gaw, a Taiwanese-American food influencer whose series "Turning American Classics Asian" has captivated audiences. Dishes like mochi-infused Twinkies and miso mac and cheese have become internet sensations, demonstrating how fusion cuisine can be both playful and deeply personal. So, where is this all heading? The future of food is being shaped by three key trends. Firstly, hyper-personalised fusion cuisine. The days of rigidly defined national cuisines are fading, replaced by a more fluid, individualised approach to cooking. Expect to see more chefs and home cooks blending their personal backgrounds with global flavours. Traditional dishes won't be lost; they'll simply be reinterpreted through new perspectives. Secondly, a counterbalance to AI-generated food content. With AI now capable of generating recipes, meal plans, and even food photography, the human touch in cooking is more valuable than ever. In-person dining experiences and hands-on cooking will become more prized as a reaction against digitalised food culture. People won't just want to see recipes. They'll want to experience food with all their senses. Thirdly, a new wave of food tourism. More travellers are seeking authentic, immersive food experiences — not just eating in a restaurant, but learning to cook with locals, visiting markets, and understanding the cultural significance of what's on their plate. Culinary schools and travel agencies are already shifting toward offering experience-based gastronomy rather than just food recommendations. The New Culinary Renaissance Turnover Tradition isn't just a passing trend; it's a cultural shift. This year, we've seen several examples of the blending of tradition and innovation is defining the way we eat, cook, and experience food. Whether it's a chef reviving an ancient Armenian dish, a TikTok creator rescuing forgotten recipes, or a nomadic dining experience in the woods, one thing is certain: heritage cuisine is no longer just about the past: it's about the future, too.
Asharq Al-Awsat
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Russian Drone Strike Kills 2, Wounds 14 in Ukraine's Odesa
Two people were killed and at least 14 wounded when a Russian drone smashed into a residential high-rise in Ukraine's Black Sea city of Odesa, authorities said on Saturday. Three children were among the wounded in the overnight attack, with one in critical condition, said regional Governor Oleh Kiper. Footage posted by the State Emergency Service showed firefighters battling a blaze and rushing residents down a dark stairwell in the 21-storey building. Separately, authorities of Ukraine's southern Kherson region said one person was killed and three others were wounded in Russian strikes over the past day. "Russian troops targeted critical and social infrastructure and residential areas in the region," Kherson's governor, Oleksandr Prokudin, said on Telegram early on Saturday. Russia has stepped up drone and missile strikes on Ukrainian cities in recent weeks as diplomatic efforts to end the nearly three-and-a-half-year-old war have stalled.
