News Trending

Elon Musk has stated that he refused Kyiv’s request for access to his Starlink communications network over Crimea to avoid being complicit in what he viewed as a significant act of war. Kyiv had urgently requested to activate Starlink in Sevastopol, a major Russian naval port. This decision came to light following claims in a biography by Walter Isaacson that Musk had deactivated Starlink to thwart a drone attack on Russian ships, which a senior Ukrainian official argued allowed Russian attacks on civilians.

According to the official, Musk’s refusal to allow Ukrainian drones to use Starlink led to Russian naval vessels launching Kalibr missiles at Ukrainian cities. The official questioned why some people were defending Musk’s actions, which he deemed as promoting evil and assisting war criminals.

The controversy emerged alongside the release of Walter Isaacson’s biography, which suggested that Musk had deactivated Starlink in Ukraine due to concerns that an ambush of Russia’s naval fleet in Crimea could trigger a nuclear response from Russia. Ukrainian forces had reportedly targeted Russian ships in Sevastopol with submarine drones carrying explosives, but they lost connection to Starlink, resulting in the drones washing ashore harmlessly. Starlink terminals connect to SpaceX satellites and have played a crucial role in maintaining internet connectivity in Ukraine amid the conflict.

Musk countered the book’s claims by stating that SpaceX had not deactivated anything, as Starlink had not been activated in those regions to begin with. He explained that there was an emergency request from government authorities to activate Starlink all the way to Sevastopol, with the clear intention of sinking most of the Russian fleet at anchor. Musk believed that complying with this request would make SpaceX explicitly complicit in a major act of war and conflict escalation.

Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s former prime minister, supported Musk’s stance, suggesting that Musk was the last reasonable mind in North America if Isaacson’s account was accurate.

In the past, Musk had emphasized that Starlink was not intended for use in wars and had been primarily designed to provide internet access for peaceful purposes, such as education and entertainment. He called for a truce, expressing his belief that Ukrainians and Russians were sacrificing their lives for small pieces of land, which he considered not worth the cost of human lives.

Musk had previously generated controversy by proposing a plan to end the conflict, which included recognizing Crimea as part of Russia and allowing residents of seized regions to vote on their preferred country. This proposal received criticism from figures like Russian chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov, who called it morally flawed.

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News Trending

According to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, individuals in Britain are being forced to make hard decisions due to extreme food inflation and inadequate public assistance.

According to a charity, millions of people in Britain are being forced to reduce or miss meals due to the rising cost of living. 

According to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), it is now the “horrendous new normal” for 5.7 million low-income households to not have enough money for food. 

It said that “exceptionally high food inflation” and little government help were to blame, making it hard for individuals with the lowest incomes to choose how frequently they eat and which items they purchase. 

It was discovered that almost 7 million families were without necessities like food, heat, or even amenities. 

In the meantime, 75% of houses receiving Universal Credit, the UK government’s social security payment, had gone without food or cut back on meals in the previous 30 days. 

The results are released ahead of Wednesday’s fresh inflation statistics. 

Price rises have slowed down—according to the Office for National Statistics, the Consumer Prices Index increased by 8.7% over the past 12 months as opposed to 10.1% in March—but they are still persistently high. 

This is likely to have long-term effects on their family life, money, and health. “The number of low-income households going without necessities, going hungry, and being in arrears has not changed in over a year.”

In April 2023, record food inflation overtook energy prices as the main cause of inflation, reaching 19% during the charity’s poll.

In spite of the fact that Ukraine and Russia are two of the world’s largest producers of wheat, these rises have been attributed to the conflict in the Ukraine, which is also harming crop production. 

According to the JRF, 2.3 million low-income households receiving Universal Credit were compelled to alter their food purchases, including switching to less nutrient-dense options. 

Nearly 1.5 million low-income households—more than four in ten of those receiving Universal Credit—also had a poor diet, which raises the likelihood of deteriorating health in the future. 

The JRF demanded that the government enact a “Essentials Guarantee” to ensure that necessities of existence were covered by public assistance. 

According to Rachelle Earwaker, Senior Economist at the charity, “without this, many families face the grim prospect of trying to catch up but never being able to because they are in a spiral of debt, rising prices, and deteriorating health.”

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News Trending War

Poland and Hungary have implemented bans on Ukrainian grain imports to safeguard their domestic farming industries against low-priced imports. However, the European Commission has rejected these bans, stating that trade policy is not within the jurisdiction of individual member states. The ban covers various agricultural products including grains, dairy products, sugar, fruits, vegetables, and meats and will remain effective until the end of June.

The European Commission has not yet disclosed any actions it would take against Poland and Hungary for their bans on Ukrainian grain imports. The spokesperson emphasized the importance of aligning all decisions within the EU during challenging times.

Due to the disruption of export routes caused by Russia’s invasion last year, significant amounts of Ukrainian grain ended up in central Europe. A UN and Turkey-brokered deal with Russia allows Ukraine to continue exporting by sea, but it accuses Russia of causing delays with excessive inspections. Local farmers in Poland and Hungary complained of being undercut by cheaper Ukrainian grain flooding their markets, leading to the ban announced on Saturday. On Sunday, the Polish Economic Development and Technology Minister clarified that the ban would apply to goods in transit as well as those remaining in Poland.

The Polish Economic Development and Technology Minister, Waldemar Buda, has urged for negotiations with Ukraine to establish a system that guarantees exports pass through Poland and do not flood the local market. Ukraine claims that this action is in violation of bilateral trade agreements.

The country’s Agriculture Ministry stated that it has always been supportive of Poland’s agricultural sector and has responded quickly to various difficulties. The Ministry added that unilateral and extreme measures would not expedite a positive outcome. Ministers from both countries are scheduled to meet on Monday in Poland to discuss the matter.

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Food

Ingredients:

  • 1 Tbsp. dry mustard
  • 2 Tbsp. corn starch
  • 1 pkg. (200 g) Gouda cheese, cubed
  • 1 pkg. (200 g) Swiss cheese, cubed
  • 1 clove garlic, cut in half
  • 1 cup Kraft 100% Parmesan Shredded Cheese
  • 1-1/2 cups dry white wine

Preparation:

In a large bowl, mix corn starch and mustard. Add some cubed cheeses and toss to coat.

Rub the inside portion of fondue potion of the fondue pot with garlic. Bring into boil in medium heat. Slowly add the cheese cubes, stir constantly until the whole cheese is melted.

Add and cook the Parmesan. Stir for 2 to 3 minutes, until it is melted completely. Prevent the sauce from coming into boiling by reducing the heat if necessary. Serve hot!

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Food News

The food chain masters McDonald’s had claimed to the “Mc” trademark on some of its food products within the European Union after having with a clash with an Irish fast food chain named Supermac’s.

The decision of EUIPO (European Union Intellectual Property Office) said that McDonald’s has lost the right to exclusively use the “Mc” prefix for a whole swathe of food areas.

It is reported that the EUIPO supported McDonald’s to have their right to own the “Mc” trademark on chicken nuggets and some of its sandwich products.

The ruling also said that since both these firms had won in some parts of the case and failed on others, each of them must pay its own costs.

A compliant has been given against McDonald’s to the EUIPO by Supermac’s.

Supermac’s had a long-running case against McDonald’s earlier this year to have the use of the Big Mac trademark cancelled. The Supermac’s had won this case against McDonald’s.

Pat McDonagh, the founder and Managing Director of Supermac’s said, “McDonald’s tried to argue that because they had some products that started with Mc that the term Mc was so synonymous with them that they had the right to own and trademark Mc”.

“We are delighted that the EUIPO found in our favour”, he added.

McDonald’s Corporation, the American fast food company was founded in 1940 as a restaurant operated by Richard and Maurice McDonald, in San Bernardino, California, United States.

Supermac’s, theIrish fast food restaurant chain first opened in 1978. The first restaurant was located in Ballinasloe, a small town in County Galway in the West of Ireland.

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Entertainment Food Trending

Ingredients:

  • Sliced strawberries: 3 tbsp
  • Sliced fresh pineapple: 3 tbsp
  • Vanilla ice cream: 3 scoops
  • 1 banana, sliced in half lengthwise
  • Whipped cream: 1/4 cup
  • Chocolate syrup: 3 tbsp
  • Shaved chocolate: 1 tbsp
  • Crushed walnuts: 1 tbsp
  • Fresh Cherries: 3 nos

Preparation:

In a small bowl, combine pineapple and strawberries and set it aside. Place the ice cream scoops in a long, narrow bowl. Place the banana halves on either side. Top the ice cream scoops with the previously prepared fruit mixture. Drizzle with chocolate syrup.

Add whipped cream to each scoop and on the bananas. Sprinkle with shaved chocolate and walnuts. Top each scoop of ice cream with a cherry. Decorate with mint sprigs, and serve chill.

Image courtesy: iga .net, giphy / images are subject to copyright

Food Trending

Ingredients:

  • Peeled and ground almonds: 2 cups
  • Condensed milk : 2 cups
  • Milk: 1/2 cup
  • Fresh Cream: 8 tbsp
  • Saffron strands: 10 to 15
  • Pistachios: 6 pieces
  • Blanched almonds: 2 tbsp (For garnishing)

Preparation:

In a large bowl, add the ground almonds, cream and condensed milk and them together until thick. Save it for later. Take milk in a saucepan and heat it over high flame to boil. When it starts boiling, add the saffron strands to it. Mix it well and remove it from the flame. Let it cool.

Then, add the previously prepared almond mixture into it and blend well, until it reaches a thick and creamy consistency. Heat another pan over moderate flame and add coarsely chopped pistachios and almonds in to it and dry roast them for few seconds.

Add this to the Kulfi mixture, saving a little of this for final garnishing. Mix well and pour the mixture into the kulfi moulds of your choice. Cover the top with a butter paper. Keep it in the freezer until it is set.

When it is set, remove it from the mould and sprinkle some of the reserved pistachios and almonds. Serve it chilled and enjoy!!

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Food Trending

Ingredients for the syrup:

  • Honey: 3/4 cup
  • Butter or margarine: 1/2 cup
  • Ground cinnamon: 1/2 tsp

Ingredients for pancake:

  • Bisquick™ mix: 2 cups
  • Honey: 2 tbsp
  • Milk: 1 cup
  • Egg: 1

Preparation:

Heat all syrup ingredients over low heat in 1-quart saucepan, stirring occasionally, until warm. Keep it warm. Heat the griddle or skillet over medium heat or electric griddle to 375°F. Grease with cooking spray, vegetable oil or shortening.

Stir all pancake ingredients until blended, in a medium bowl. For each pancake, pour slightly less than 1/4 cup batter onto hot griddle. Cook until the edges are dry. Turn it and cook the other sides until golden. Garnish and serve with warm syrup.

Image courtesy: recipeLand .com, giphy / images are subject to copyright

Food Health Trending

Lets try some tasty and healthy Greek salad. Tzatziki – The Greek cucumber salad!

Ingredients:

  • ¼ cup full fat Greek (strained) yogurt
  • 1-2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
  • 1 minced garlic clove
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • Freshly ground pepper
  • Lemon juice – 1 tbsp
  • 3 medium cucumbers

Preparation:

Mix well all the ingredients except the cucumbers in a large bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for an hour. Slice the cucumbers very nicely and mix with the yogurt dressing, until all cucumbers are coated with the dressing. Garnish chopped fresh herbs and serve.

Image courtesy: realfood .tesco .com / images are subject to copyright

Entertainment Food News Travel

In an award ceremony at Singapore, the Mirazur restaurant of France was awarded as the world’s No:1 restaurant. It is for the first time that Mirazur’s chef Mauro Colagreco and his dining room is achieving the first place. Previously the restaurant was having the third position.

The competition was organised by the World’s 50 Best Restaurants. The restaurant’s ‘salt-crusted beetroot with caviar cream’, is one among the world famous dishes, in which the vegetables are taken from its own garden. The restaurant is run by an Argentine chef.

Argentine chef Mauro Colagreco

The methodology of the awards, which started since 2002 has been questioned by some critics. The list of awards had been prepared on the basis of more than 1,000 culinary experts’s decisions.

Spain’s three restaurants had the top 10 positions. Restaurants of Denmark and Peru had two top 10 entries each.

William Reed Business Media, that published the World’s best 50 restaurants said that “Mirazur provided “the ultimate restaurant experience”.

They added that they are highly impressed by the “unrivalled views of the French Riviera, three levels of cascading vegetable gardens churning out the sweetest produce and a team of outrageously talented cooks and front-of-house staff”.

Reuters reports that Argentine chef Mauro Colagreco said that he felt like he “was in the sky”.

Check out the list of the top 10 restaurants:

  1. Mirazur, Menton – France
  2. Noma, Copenhagen -Denmark
  3. Asador Etxebarri, Axpe -Spain
  4. Gaggan, Bangkok -Thailand
  5. Geranium, Copenhagen -Denmark
  6. Central, Lima -Peru
  7. Mugaritz, San Sebastián -Spain
  8. Arpège, Paris -France
  9. Disfrutar, Barcelona -Spain
  10. Maido, Lima -Peru

Image courtesy: sg .asiatatler .com, news .sky .com / images are subject to copyright