Latest from Euronews
Euronews
13 minutes ago
- Euronews
The quiet coastline where Italians in-the-know holiday
At the railway station in Salerno, the city known as the eastern gateway to the Amalfi Coast, a crush of floppy-hatted tourists crowds the platform where the train to Naples will arrive. On the opposite platform, only an elderly lady and a family with two small children wait with me for the train heading in the other direction. We board the nearly empty regionale service, which winds down the Tyrrhenian coastline, arriving in Maratea after just under two hours. It's a grab-a-window-seat kind of journey, travelling through valleys flanked by thickly forested angular hills on one side and the glittering sea on the other. There are plenty of tempting seaside stops en route, but I'm headed to the short strip of coastline of the Basilicata region that is squeezed between Campania and Calabria. Italy's 'forgotten' southern region Basilicata is one of Italy's 'forgotten' regions, historically a poor area with an economy that revolves around agriculture. It remains predominantly underdeveloped in terms of tourism - many would say thankfully so. Most international visitors only recently became aware of its existence thanks to the awarding of its eastern city of Matera as European Capital of Culture in 2019. This troglodyte warren of caves now receives many tourists, but mostly those hopping over the border from the more established destination of Puglia. Over on the western side, the (confusingly similarly named) town of Maratea is a breathtakingly beautiful yet remarkably peaceful spot where Italians in-the-know have holidayed for decades. Although neither upper Maratea nor the waterside Porto di Maratea can claim the precipitous drama of Amalfi Coast towns like Positano, the coastline stretching out on either side is, for me, superior in terms of its natural landscape. Plus, even in the height of summer peak season, it is a dreamy oasis of tranquillity and slow living, devoid of crowds. Quiet luxury at a historic hotel For many Italian holidaymakers, Hotel Santavenere is synonymous with Maratea. The property, the only five-star on the coastline, opened in 1953, and has had a major influence on the kind of tourism the area promotes and attracts. It was practising quiet luxury long before it became a buzzword on social media. From the electric golf buggies that pick guests up at the station a few minutes away to the natural pebble beach, it reassures guests it hasn't changed its approach. Hotel Santavenere feels like the kind of discreetly glamorous accommodation many tourists want to find along the Amalfi Coast, only to find few can offer that sense of space, solitude and serenity without a hefty price tag. In fact, Santavenere's surrounding parkland that slopes steeply to the sea is something the Amalfi Coast's clifftop properties cannot offer. In the early morning, I wander down the snaking trail through the maritime pine-shaded garden to the shore, preceded by darting rustles of iridescent green lizards dashing into the undergrowth. At the water's edge, sun loungers are laid out in little natural terraces amongst the rocks, and a ladder gives access to the dark blue sea. A little way along is the natural pebble beach with shallow water to paddle in. The hillside rises steeply above, tangled in trees and crowned by an ancient watchtower. A pretty port and a hillside hike Halfway back up the lung-busting ascent through the gardens of the hotel, there is a gate opening out to a curving road. This winds down to Porto di Maratea, a clutch of houses gathered around a little marina. Lining the road that curves around the port are little stores like a pottery workshop and a boat supplier. The town also has a surprising number of excellent restaurants, including the Laterna Rossa, which serves refined dishes like a cannolo with raw prawns, ricotta mousse and gazpacho or pasta stuffed with catch of the day, local provola cheese and lemon. High up on the hillside above is upper Maratea, a town of narrow, sloping streets, ice-cream coloured houses and an impressive 44 churches, hugged by rugged mountains. I sit in the square with a summery-looking spritz on a maiolica table, preparing myself for the afternoon hike up to Maratea's most iconic monument. A little over an hour's climb up from the town is a 21-metre-high white statue of Christ the Redeemer, his arms outstretched. It's hard to say whether Rio's version or Maratea's has a better view - from the top, I take in a panorama of the coves and juts of the coastline, the forested mountains, and the Tyrrhenian Sea stretching to the horizon. Discovering Basilicata's 'cucina povera' My favourite view of Maratea's coastline, however, is from the terraces of Hotel Santavenere. An abundance of bold purple bougainvillaea means every vista is framed by flowers, including the al fresco dining area. As the light fades, I take a culinary journey through Basilicata with chef Giovanni Fiorellino's new menu. I begin with the raw amberjack with Lucanian (the ancient name for the Basilicata region) black pig guanciale, and 'formaggio dei poveri' - fried and seasoned breadcrumbs known in Basilicata as the cheese of the poor. I follow it with the palette-awakening beetroot risotto with mussels, buffalo blue cheese and coffee powder, and then Lucanian pork shoulder with a reduction of the local Amaro Lucano liqueur. On my post-dinner walk down to Porto di Maratea, all I can hear are the chirping cicadas and the waves below - a far cry from the honking of buses and crowded pavements of the Amalfi Coast.
Euronews
21 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Euronews
NBA legend Carmelo Anthony is taking the game global
Carmelo Anthony will enter the Hall of Fame this year, the holy grail of basketball elite. As a pop culture icon, his influence goes beyond basketball, blending sport, style and social impact in a way that defines the modern athlete. ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ
Euronews
21 minutes ago
- Business
- Euronews
Europeans are buying frozen food to reduce waste, survey shows
Sustainability is playing a bigger role in how people shop, but does that influence what they buy in the frozen food aisle? A new survey from Europe's largest frozen food company suggests yes. Nearly half of European consumers (47 per cent) are opting for frozen food products to reduce food wastage, according to Nomad Foods, owner of Birds Eye, Findus and other household brands. Almost 59 million tonnes of food waste are generated annually in the EU, according to the European Consumer Organisation. So, in the words of one UK supermarket giant, every little helps. But what difference does buying frozen make exactly, and which countries are embracing it? How does frozen food help reduce waste? It's obvious, really - that freezing food preserves it for longer, meaning less needs to be thrown away and bought. When food goes to waste, it is not only the food itself that is lost, but also the resources used in production and transportation, including fuel, water, land, labour, fertilisers, and packaging. And as food breaks down in landfills, it produces methane - a potent greenhouse gas. 'In 2021 and 2022 combined, food waste accounted for around 18m tonnes of GHG emissions in the UK,' says Ben Ashmore, head of external affairs at FareShare, a charity which works across the food industry to help identify and redistribute surplus food. 'By redistributing surplus food to people, and making it longer-lasting through freezing, we can help reduce food waste and the associated emissions, while helping people in need." There are many reasons why people are leaning more heavily on the freezers, but Nomad Foods' inaugural 'Frozen in Focus' report indicates that sustainability is a prominent factor. 'The freezer is no longer just a place to store food; it's becoming the cornerstone of a more efficient, sustainable, and nutritious lifestyle,' claims Stéfan Descheemaeker, CEO at the UK-headquartered company. The UK leads the way on the food waste front, according to the new multi-market study of 7,500 adults. Nearly 60 per cent of Brits prefer to buy frozen food as it reduces food waste. That figure is followed by 50 per cent in Italy, 49 per cent in France, 43 per cent in Sweden, and 44 per cent in Germany. A smaller, but still significant portion of consumers recognise the potential of frozen food to contribute to more sustainable food chains. 15 per cent in Sweden, 7 per cent in Italy, 9 per cent in the UK, 8 per cent in Germany, and 7 per cent in France agreed with this statement. 'European consumers are increasingly aware of the link between food waste and sustainability,' says David Pettet, head of sustainability at Nomad Foods. 'Freezing food isn't just about convenience; it's a powerful tool for preserving freshness, maximizing resources, and building a more sustainable food system.' Reducing the energy consumption of freezers Research is also going into making the freezer itself a more eco-friendly space, given the significant energy usage and associated emissions of the always-on appliances. Launched in 2023 at COP28, the Move to -15°C Coalition aims to make a difference in food supply chains by "resetting frozen food temperature standards". Featuring big names, like shipping giant Maersk and supermarkets Iceland and Morrisons, the coalition challenges the received wisdom that -18°C is the correct freezer temperature. Studies have shown that -15°C works too, and can deliver significant energy savings. One recent study from Campden BRI, a food and drink research centre, and Nomad Foods found that a 3°C increase in frozen food storage temperatures could reduce freezer energy consumption by 10 per cent, with no significant change in most products.
Euronews
an hour ago
- Politics
- Euronews
Budapest Pride goes ahead in defiance of Orban ban
Senior European Union officials joined Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony at an international press conference on Friday at City Hall to mark the event. Mayor Karácsony opened the event by highlighting the significance of the large media turnout, saying it reflects deep concerns about the state of democracy in Hungary. "Hungary has become a laboratory for dismantling democracy over the past 15 years," the mayor said, calling the attempted ban on Pride the culmination of that process. He emphasized that Saturday's Pride parade is a municipal event and is not subject to the recent legal bans introduced in the spring. "Love cannot be banned, no one can be a second-class citizen in Hungary," Karácsony declared. "That's why the capital's municipality has taken the lead in organising Budapest Pride." Karácsony welcomed the strong show of international support, noting the presence of representatives and mayors from nearly 30 countries. When asked about reported far-right counter-demonstrations organised by the Our Homeland Movement and the 64 Counties Youth Movement—both of which have reportedly received police permits— Mayor Karácsony responded that he would personally vouch that no reprisals would be taken against those participating in Budapest Pride. He stressed that it would reflect poorly on Hungary if freedom of assembly could not be protected at a municipal event, while far-right groups were allowed to protest against others' rights. He expressed confidence that such counter-demonstrations would not be permitted, adding that in recent years, police had handled similar situations responsibly. "I am sure that unless there is an explicit political order for the police not to fulfil their constitutional duty, they will carry it out professionally—as they have done in previous years," he added. In response to further questions, the mayor added that the city would deploy hundreds of its own security officers and, for the first time, hire private security guards to help ensure the safety of the event. Meanwhile, the national civil law enforcement agency of Hungary (ORFK) said on Friday evening that, because the city had not appealed the ban, it had become final. However, the city disputes the legality of the ban, arguing that municipal events do not require a permit and therefore cannot be lawfully prohibited on that basis. EU Commissioner for Equality Hadja Lahbib also spoke at the press conference, condemning discriminatory treatment of LGBTQ+ people under Hungarian law. 'It is not acceptable to think that members of the LGBT community are subject to different rules than other people,' she said.'Budapest is famous for its acceptance, and diversity is one of the foundations of the European Union. This diversity must be protected.' Lahbib added. 'Saturday's event is not just a parade—it is a demonstration and a celebration of the fact that we are diverse, and the fact that we can show it, we can live it also.' Nicolae Ștefănuță (Renew Europe), Vice-President of the European Parliament, came on behalf of European Parliament President Roberta Metsola to deliver a unanimous message: human rights must be respected. Metsola said that the EP delegation of around 200 people to the march would be the largest group of human rights defenders. Ștefănuță pointed out that by joining the EU, member states are also accepting common European values. "If 50,000 people want to take part in a peaceful event, they have the right to do so, and this must be guaranteed in Hungary in accordance with European law and the Hungarian authorities have a duty to protect the participants," he explained, adding that Pride is a celebration of love and pride. Budapest Pride Spokesman Máté Hegedűs recalled that the parade has been held peacefully for decades and that they have been preparing for the 30th anniversary for two years. This year's slogan is "We are at home" - a message that the LGBTQ+ community is not an ideological product imported from the West. Hegedűs said they expect the police to protect the participants of the event from any potential far-right threats. The ban on Budapest Pride has become an important issue in the EU More than 70 MEPs are planning to attend Budapest Pride to protest against the event's ban and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's policies. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called on the Hungarian authorities to allow Pride to take place in Budapest. She said it was important that the event should take place without fear and without any criminal or administrative sanctions against the organisers or participants. Prime Minister Orbán said that the Commission President was behaving like Moscow: "She sees Hungary as a subordinate country and thinks that she can tell Hungarians from Brussels how to live, what to like, what not to like, what their legal system should be, what to ban and what not to ban." In the European Parliament plenary session last week, centrist and left-wing MEPs called on the EU to take action against Hungary over its ban on the Pride parade. Spain's Iratxe García Pérez, who leads the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group in the European Parliament, said they could see and hear the LGBTQ+ people of Hungary and would march alongside them proudly and loudly. Several members of the Left in the European Parliament (GUE/NGL) will also take part in Saturday's march. Manon Aubry, co-chair of the EP's radical left group, explained: "By taking part in Pride we are sending a clear message: wherever fascists like Orban attack the rights of the LGBT community, women or minorities, we will be there to stand in their way. We hope that the participation of MEPs in this march will prompt the Commission to react and put an end to its lenient attitude towards this regime abusing human rights. We march with pride to defend the right to love who you want." Far-right marches After the police banned the Pride march on the grounds of the Child Protection Act, Mayor Karácsony announced that the municipality of Budapest and the Rainbow Mission Foundation would organise an event on June 28 called Budapest Pride Freedom Day. In a joint statement, 71 Hungarian NGOs have expressed their support for the organisers of Budapest Pride and the free exercise of the right to peaceful assembly. Like the Our Homeland Movement, the far-right 64 Counties Youth Movement has announced rallies in several locations across the capital on Saturday. The movement has also received permission from the police to hold a rally in the City Hall Park, beginning in the morning. Pride organisers announced a few days ago that they would also hold a rally in the park. Several European countries have warned their citizens that attending Budapest Pride could result in a €500 fine and have highlighted increased security risks due to planned far-right counter-demonstrations.
Euronews
2 hours ago
- Health
- Euronews
WHO Europe: 1.8 million avoidable deaths from chronic disease annually
The deadliest diseases in Europe aren't caused by viruses – they are chronic health conditions that could be largely avoided with better medical care and public health, a new analysis says. Every year, 1.8 million people in Europe and Central Asia die from avoidable deaths from noncommunicable diseases such as cancer, heart disease, chronic respiratory issues, and diabetes, according to a report from the World Health Organization (WHO). That's down from 2010, but the COVID-19 pandemic has set back efforts to bring down preventable deaths further, the report said. Meanwhile, key risk factors, such as obesity, are on the rise and the burden of chronic conditions is expected to grow as the population continues to age. The analysis spans the WHO's European region, which includes 53 countries in Europe and Central Asia. Across the bloc, one in five men and one in 10 women under the age of 70 die from preventable health issues. Most of these deaths – 60 per cent – are linked to tobacco, alcohol, high blood pressure, unhealthy diets, obesity, or a lack of exercise. Another 40 per cent could be avoided through timely access to health care, the WHO said. 'Noncommunicable diseases are not just preventable or treatable; they are also largely ignored,' Hans Henri Kluge, WHO's Europe director, said in a statement. 'Yet the truth is, if [these conditions] were a virus, the world would be in lockdown,' he added. There are major disparities between countries – and they are growing. Since 2010, gaps have widened on tobacco use, obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes, and narrowed only for air pollution and deaths overall. Some countries have made progress. Ten have reduced premature mortality from noncommunicable diseases by at least 25 per cent since 2010: Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Israel, Kazakhstan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland. They have all taken steps to reduce risk factors and strengthen their health systems, the WHO said, calling on other countries to follow suit. The report comes as countries prepare to meet in New York in September for a United Nations conference on noncommunicable diseases. They are expected to focus on access to primary care, mental wellbeing, and the role of businesses and commercial actors in shaping health outcomes, among other topics. 'The high burden of [these diseases] in our societies is not inevitable,' Kluge said. 'We have the power and tools to turn things around'.
