Blog

Renowned Swedish chef Björn Frantzén has made a bold entry into Dubai’s fine dining scene with the opening of FZN at Atlantis, The Palm. The menu uniquely blends Asian and French flavours with Nordic influences, resulting in dishes that are both intricate and striking. This high-end tasting menu concept is a sister restaurant to Frantzen in Sweden, which was awarded three Michelin stars, making it the first in the country to achieve that distinction.

When paying such a premium for a meal, the experience begins well before the first bite. From the entrance, guests are led through a carefully designed journey. Standing before a discreet doorway, I press the buzzer. For a moment, it feels like entering a speakeasy bar, before a hallway leads to a lift that whisks me up to a lounge where the evening begins with champagne and canapes.

Middle Eastern cuisine is known for its rich flavours, spices and textures. This includes food from Turkey, Egypt, Lebanon, Cyprus and several other countries. Similar to Indian cuisine, this one is also rooted in tradition. Several ingredients used to make Middle Eastern food may already be present in your Indian kitchen! Surprised? From falafel to baba ganoush to labneh, your kitchen may already have everything you need to make these lip-smacking and authentic Middle Eastern dishes. Sounds interesting, right? Read on to understand this cuisine better and bring it to your home.

Middle Eastern dishes often use lemon juice and sumac (a tangy spice made from dried berries) for a zesty kick, similar to how Indian cuisine uses tamarind or amchur (dry mango powder).

Middle Eastern cuisine is known for its rich flavours, spices and textures. This includes food from Turkey, Egypt, Lebanon, Cyprus and several other countries. Similar to Indian cuisine, this one is also rooted in tradition. Several ingredients used to make Middle Eastern food may already be present in your Indian kitchen! Surprised? From falafel to baba ganoush to labneh, your kitchen may already have everything you need to make these lip-smacking and authentic Middle Eastern dishes. Sounds interesting, right? Read on to understand this cuisine better and bring it to your home.

Herbs like mint, coriander, and parsley play a key role in Middle Eastern flavours, much like these do in Indian dishes.

Nowadays, we often come across fusion desserts at shops selling sweets and pastries. Chefs are innovating with traditional Indian recipes and infusing cakes, tarts, mousse, and more with flavours of mithai. You may have heard of creations like gulab jamun cheesecake or kaju katli pudding. Recently, another unique combination caught our eyes and it turned out to be Alia Bhatt’s birthday cake. A photo of the same was shared on the official handle of Le15 Patisserie, helmed by celebrity Chef Pooja Dhingra.

The post revealed that a “moong dal halwa” cake was made on special request by Alia Bhatt‘s sister, Shaheen Bhatt. This complex layered treat consisted of halwa, toasted hazelnut praline and crunch cake. In the picture, we can see the top part distinctively covered with brownish halwa. Open macarons are placed around the cake at intervals. “Happy Birthday Alia” is written in icing. Take a look below:

Continental cuisine is a term widely used to describe the culinary traditions of mainland Europe, especially Western and Northern Europe. It typically refers to the food cultures of countries such as France, Italy, Spain, Germany, and Greece. Known for its focus on dairy, herbs, sauces, and a balanced use of spices, continental cuisine celebrates quality ingredients and timeless cooking techniques like roasting, grilling, baking, and sauteing.

Unlike the bold and often spicy flavours of Asian or Latin American cuisines, continental fare is generally more subtle and refined. It prioritises taste through the layering of herbs and the richness of ingredients such as butter, cream, olive oil, and cheese. Meals are typically structured, beginning with a starter or soup, followed by a main course and dessert.

Gabriel Shemirani blames his influencer mother’s belief in conspiracy theories about medicine for his sister’s death from cancer, after she rejected chemotherapy.

“She was being fed fake information,” the 24-year-old British student told AFP, saying their mother “was against her daughter seeking medical treatments that could have saved her”.

Gabriel’s mother, Kate Shemirani, is one of a growing cohort of health influencers on social media accused of advocating and selling unproven treatments. 

She promotes alternative theories about Covid, vaccines and organ transplants, and has called chemotherapy “the poison path” and “mustard gas”.

Gabriel’s twin sister, Paloma fell ill in 2023 aged 22, shortly after graduating from university, and was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, a type of cancer which is in most cases “very treatable” according to the UK’s National Health Service.

But Gabriel told AFP his sister opted not to start chemotherapy treatment advised by an oncologist, influenced by her mother’s distrust of conventional medicine. “85 percent of people with my sister’s cancer… would have survived” with chemotherapy, said Gabriel.

Arjun Patolia lived in London with his wife Bharati and their two daughters, aged eight and four.

He had come to India to fulfil his wife’s last wish and immerse her ashes in a pond in her ancestral village. Little did he know, when he boarded a plane back to London from Ahmedabad, that he would not make it back home to his daughters either. 

Arjun Patolia lived in London with his wife Bharati and their two daughters, aged eight and four. People close to the family said Bharati died a few days ago and Arjun flew down to India to fulfil her wish that her ashes be immersed in a pond in her ancestral village of Vadia in Gujarat’s Amreli district. 

A memorial service was also organised for Bharati in Vadia earlier this month and Arjun stayed in India for a few days to finish the rituals while their daughters were back in London. On Friday, Arjun boarded Air India flight 171 to London’s Gatwick airport from Ahmedabad and the couple’s two daughters lost their second parent in less than month.

Neighbours said the family is in shock. “Arjun’s father is no more and his mother lives in Surat,” said a neighbour.

Air India 171, which had 242 people on board, including 10 crew members and two pilots, crashed just 32 seconds after taking off from the Ahmedabad airport. The plane could gain an altitude of only 672 feet before it began losing lift and crashed into a building in the BJ Medical College complex in Meghani Nagar, very close to the airport, killing at least three doctors and one other person there. 

As of Thursday evening, only one survivor – 40-year-old Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British-Indian who was returning to the UK after a visit – had emerged, and Air India confirmed in a post in the early hours of Friday that the other 241 passengers had died in the crash. The dead included former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani, who was going to London to be with his son and his family.

In a statement on Friday, Air India and Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran described Thursday as one of the darkest days in the Tata Group’s history. 

“This is a very difficult moment. What occurred yesterday was inexplicable, and we are in shock and mourning. To lose a single person we know is a tragedy, but for so many deaths to occur at once is incomprehensible. This is one of the darkest days in the Tata Group’s history. Words are no consolation right now, but my thoughts are with the families and loved ones of the people who died and were injured in the crash. We are here for them,” he said.

The woman hoped for a short respite to recover while continuing her tasks. Instead, she received a barrage of cruel words from her HR supervisor.

An HR supervisor in China has triggered outrage online after insulting a young female employee who requested an hour off due to a fever. According to the South China Morning Post, the incident occurred in southern China and came to public attention on June 5, when the employee shared her ordeal on social media. In her post, the woman, whose identity remains undisclosed, shared screenshots of her conversation with the HR supervisor, which showed the abusive and demeaning messages she received in response to her sick leave request. 

According to her post, the woman shared that when she developed a fever of 37.9 degrees Celsius, she asked her human resources supervisor, surnamed Huang, for just one hour’s sick leave. She had hoped for a short respite to recover while continuing her tasks. Instead, the woman said she received a barrage of cruel words from her HR supervisor. 

“You’re too weak. My goodness, can’t even handle 38 degrees?” Huang wrote, dismissing the fever, per SCMP. “Is your brain fried from the fever today, or is your menstrual period blocked and not arriving, so you can’t think before you speak?” the HR further added.

Despite the toxic exchange, the woman said she remained at work, coordinating with her team to fulfil her duties. But Huang’s verbal assault didn’t end here. “You took leave but didn’t go; you just stayed there without working properly. Your actions and words don’t match – you should see a psychiatrist,” Huang stated, questioning the woman’s mental stability. The employee later also discovered that her work account had been disabled and was informed that her performance-related salary would be withheld. 

Once the employee’s post started gaining traction online, the company claimed the incident was a “personal dispute” between the two employees. However, the narrative quickly changed after the Human Resources and Social Security Bureau in Xiaoshan District launched an investigation. 

The company eventually confirmed the employee would not face any disciplinary measures or loss of performance-based pay. Moreover, the firm also stated that they had terminated Huang’s contract due to violations of company regulations.

Meanwhile, on social media, users slammed the company and the HR supervisor. “How ridiculous! Many entertainment companies treat employees this way. I have decided I will never work in this industry again,” wrote one user. 

“As a human being, you should at least have sympathy and empathy. I urge the entire internet to block this HR supervisor. With such character and conduct, you’ll only bring harm wherever you go,” commented another. 

KTR, as he is popularly known, has been asked to appear before the Anti-Corruption Bureau at 10 am on Monday.

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president KT Rama Rao has been issued a summons, once again, to appear before the Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in connection with the alleged irregularities in the Hyderabad Formula E case. KTR, as he is popularly known, has been asked to appear before the ACB at 10 am on Monday.

Reacting to the summons, KTR said the Congress government was trying to keep people busy with a circus and distractions because they cannot run a government. He said the Congress and its “clown Chief Minister’s antics won’t deter us”.

KTR said he was being investigated in the Formula-E case, where Rs 44 crore was “transferred from one bank to another, and the money was very much in the account of Formula E”.

The BRS leader said as a law-abiding citizen, he would fully cooperate with the probe officials, but took a dig at the Chief Minister, referring to a case in which he is facing an ACB probe too.

“Mr Revant Reddy, as we both are facing an ongoing ACB investigation, why not both of us take a Lie Detector test in the presence of a Judge, broadcast it on Live Television and let the whole of Telangana decide who’s the culprit. Do you have the courage to take the test along with me #BagMan? he posted on X.

“Why waste crores of public money by repeated enquiries and propaganda, especially when you keep claiming every day that the state is bankrupt,” he asked.

Significantly, KTR’s sister and BRS MLC K Kavitha has posted support to her brother on X, posting that she strongly condemned the repeated issuance of notices to “our working president @KTRBRS as part of political agenda”.

She said, “No matter how many conspiracies you hatch, we will continue to expose your failures in the public sphere.”

Congress MP Chamala Kiran Kumar reacted to KTR’s post on X, saying it reflects his deep, visceral personality and his current mindset.

“Calling commissions of inquiry established by due process of law, or the judicial system of India ‘a waste of public money…’ is the same ignorance as your father who wanted to “rewrite entirely” the Constitution of India drafted by intellectual giants like Babasaheb Dr BR Ambedkar and a pantheon of greats, and the founding fathers of the nation,” he said.

“The problem of thinking you are the state is not only wrong, illegal, immoral, but also medieval, patriarchal and feudal. You are not the state. No individual is above the law. Don’t you get it at all?

Of course, you don’t! Your unbridled, unrestrained arrogance from stolen money and corruption is so deep that even 18 months have not been enough for a reality check?”

The Congress leader mocked KTR for claiming that the BRS which would win 100 seats, whereas they did not get even 40. He said KTR had claimed that they would decide the next government at the Centre, whereas the people of Telangana had given them no seats.

Matheus Cunha says he is determined to help Manchester United bounce back from their worst league season in 51 years after becoming the club’s first…

Matheus Cunha says he is determined to help Manchester United bounce back from their worst league season in 51 years after becoming the club’s first major signing of the transfer window. The 20-time English champions are undergoing a rebuild under Ruben Amorim after limping home 15th in the Premier League and losing the Europa League final to fellow strugglers Tottenham. Defeat in Bilbao cost them Champions League qualification, meaning United will spend a first season without European football since 2014/15.

But the Red Devils’ issues did not deter Brazil international Cunha, who completed his £62.5 million ($85 million) switch from Wolves on Thursday.

“It is the most common phrase that you can say at this moment, but this is the dream come true,” the 26-year-old told MUTV.

“Maybe outside, I think maybe my decision, they don’t understand. But when you have always dreamed to play here, it’s easier to pick this decision.

“For me, no one else is like United. Of course, I know it’s been a hard season for everyone. I think my decision shows what this club is for me and what I believe this club can be.

“And, of course, I’ll do everything that I can to manage this inside of me, to play for my dream team and put my dream team to win.”

Cunha followed United growing up and spoke of his admiration for Wayne Rooney, along with many other members of the triumphant 2008 Champions League side.

The Red Devils have tumbled out of Europe’s elite in recent years but the forward has lofty ambitions.

“I don’t think we have one player who comes here and then doesn’t think about the glory days in Man United,” Cunha said.

“To remember all the times that they win the Premier League, how many titles it was, and of course to qualify for the Champions League. This is what I think about United, you know to put this club on top.

“Then what I can do is everything to show them I’m here to help the team, to conquer these kind of things.”

Cunha scored 17 goals in all competitions for Wolves last season, winning the Premier League club’s players’ player of the year award.

He will add his predatory instincts and creative guile to a United attack that struggled throughout this season.

The striker helped his country qualify for the World Cup earlier this week when he set up the only goal for Vinicius Junior in a 1-0 win over Paraguay.

South Africa are chasing a daunting 282 after Australia managed to post 207 in the second innings thanks to Mitchell Starc’s rearguard knock of 58 and his sharing a 59-run last-wicket partnership with Josh Hazlewood.

Australia have suffered a huge blow when premier batter Steve Smith was sent for X-ray at a nearby hospital after suffering a compound dislocation in his right little finger during Day Three’s play in the ICC World Test Championship final against South Africa at the Lord’s on Friday. Smith was standing in close at wide first slip with a helmet on in the 20th over when South Africa captain Temba Bavuma, on two, edged one into the cordon off left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc, and the batter failed to hold on to it, as he didn’t have much time to react to it.

Immediately, Smith, who was standing about 14 metres from the stumps, headed straight off the field, with teenage opening batter Sam Konstas coming in as a substitute fielder. But after a few overs, Konstas required medical attention too and was replaced by substitute fielder, left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann on the field.

Smith didn’t come back to the field in the post-tea session after suffering the big blow, with Cricket Australia (CA) saying that the right-handed batter ‘suffered a compound dislocation of his right little finger’. “He was assessed by Australian team medical staff at the ground and taken to the hospital for X-ray and further treatment,” added CA.

The dislocation means Smith is clearly a huge doubt for playing in their Test tour of the West Indies that starts in ten days’ time. The only source of relief for Australia, the current World Test Championship holders, is that Australia are done with all of their batting assignments, with Smith making 66 and 13 respectively.

South Africa are chasing a daunting 282 after Australia managed to post 207 in the second innings thanks to Mitchell Starc’s rearguard knock of 58 and his sharing a 59-run last-wicket partnership with Josh Hazlewood.

Aiden Markram held one end firm to be unbeaten on 49 off 66 balls as South Africa reached 94/2 in 24 overs in their second innings, requiring 188 more runs for victory.

South Africa would be hoping skipper Temba Bavuma is fine after being in serious pain post-tweaking his hamstring, ten minutes before the tea break. Bavuma managed to walk off at 11 not out, but an assessment in the break will determine if he will resume his innings in the final session.