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The Star
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Dubai eatery gets three Michelin stars in first for Indian cuisine
Dubai eatery gets three Michelin stars in first for Indian cuisine. — Photo: Mumen KHATIB/ AFPTV/ AFP An Indian restaurant in Dubai was awarded the maximum three Michelin stars Thursday – the first time the prestigious honour has been given to Indian cuisine anywhere in the world. The crowd erupted in cheers as Tresind Studio was named a three-star winner at the Michelin Guide's fourth Dubai ceremony, along with another Dubai restaurant – FZN by Bjorn Frantzen. It also marks the first time restaurants in the United Arab Emirates received the top Michelin rating. "Today I realised what is the word called 'only' and how heavy it is when we are awarded (the three stars) as the only Indian restaurant," said Bhupender Nath, founder of Tresind Studio. Chef Himanshu Saini, 38, said he felt "proud" that the fine-dining restaurant had made history. "I hope this motivates all the younger upcoming chefs," he said, adding "it's a dream which is possible". "I think it's a great time for Indian food". Michelin guide international director Gwendal Poullennec called the chef a "pioneer" who had paved "the way for many more talents to join the industry in India". 'Culinary history' On its website, the restaurant said it aimed to challenge common perceptions of Indian cuisine "by showcasing flavours both new and familiar through a creative lens". The eatery with just 20 seats and an open kitchen located on the Palm, Dubai's famous man-made island, said it favours ingredients locally sourced from organic and sustainable farmers in the UAE. "Tresind Studio in Dubai has just made culinary history, becoming the first-ever Indian restaurant to earn Three MICHELIN Stars," the Michelin Guide said on its website. "While The MICHELIN Guide is not in India, the global spotlight is brighter than ever. Indian chefs in cities from London to Dubai have been rewriting the playbook, fusing time-honoured flavours with boundary-pushing techniques," it added. In 2022, 11 Dubai restaurants were awarded the first Michelin stars in the Middle East as dozens of the city's eateries made it into the prestigious gastronomic guide. Created in 1900 by the brothers Andre and Edouard Michelin of tyre company Michelin for motorists, the guide has become a reference for food lovers and has been known to make or break careers. Most UAE residents are foreigners and it is home to around 3.5 million Indian nationals – the largest expatriate community in the Gulf country. saa/aya/dv Michelin
Japan Today
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Japan Today
Israeli troops fire warning shots as diplomats tour West Bank; Japan protests
This frame grab from AFPTV footage shows members of a diplomatic delegation from the European Union reacting after shots were fired as they gathered in the eastern entrance of Jenin By Mohammad Ateeq Several nations that have backed Israel voiced outrage Wednesday after Israeli troops fired what they called "warning shots" as foreign diplomats visited the occupied West Bank. The Palestinian Authority accused troops of "deliberately" shooting at the delegation near the flashpoint city of Jenin. The Israeli military, already under pressure over its tactics in the Gaza war, said it regretted the "inconvenience". Japan's government confirmed Thursday that its diplomatic staff participated, adding that it "deeply regrets" the incident. "The Japanese government has protested to the Israeli side and requested an explanation and the prevention of a recurrence," government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi said in Tokyo. AFP footage from Jenin -- a frequent target of Israeli military raids -- showed the delegation and accompanying journalists running for cover as shots were heard. A European diplomat said the envoys went to the area to see the destruction caused by Israeli military raids since the Gaza war erupted in October 2023. The Israeli military said the diplomatic convoy strayed from the approved route and entered a restricted zone. Troops fired "warning shots" to steer the group away, it said, adding that no one was wounded and expressing regret for the "inconvenience caused". U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's spokesman called the incident "unacceptable". "Diplomats who are doing their work should never be shot at, attacked in any way, shape or form. Their safety, their viability, must be respected at all times," the spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, told reporters. "These diplomats, including U.N. personnel, were fired at, warning shots or whatever... which is unacceptable." Several countries that had representatives in the group voiced outrage and demanded an investigation. European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas urged Israel to hold those responsible "accountable". Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Uruguay summoned Israel's ambassadors or said they would raise the issue directly. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called the incident "totally unacceptable" and pressed for an "immediate explanation". Carney added that Canada's Foreign Minister Anita Anand has summoned Israel's ambassador to Ottawa. Egypt denounced the shooting as a breach of "all diplomatic norms", while Turkey demanded an immediate investigation. Turkey's foreign ministry said: "This attack must be investigated without delay and the perpetrators must be held accountable." Ahmad al-Deek, political adviser for the Palestinian foreign ministry who accompanied the delegation, condemned "this reckless act by the Israeli army". "It has given the diplomatic delegation an impression of the life the Palestinian people are living," he said. Palestinian news agency Wafa reported the delegation included diplomats from more than 20 countries including Britain, China, Egypt, France, Japan, Jordan, Turkey and Russia. The incident came as anger mounted over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where Palestinians are scrambling for basic supplies after weeks of near-total isolation. A two-month Israeli aid blockade on Gaza has been partially eased this week. Israel stepped up its military offensive at the weekend, vowing to defeat Gaza's Hamas rulers, whose October 7, 2023 attack on Israel triggered the war. Israel has faced massive pressure, including from its allies, to halt its intensified offensive and allow aid into Gaza. European Union foreign ministers on Tuesday ordered a review of the EU cooperation accord with Israel. Sweden said it would press the EU to impose sanctions on Israeli ministers, while Britain suspended free-trade negotiations with Israel and summoned the Israeli ambassador. Pope Leo XIV described the situation in Gaza as "worrying and painful" and called for "the entry of sufficient humanitarian aid". Hamas's 2023 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Militants also took 251 hostages, 57 of whom remain in Gaza including 34 the military says are dead. Gaza's health ministry said at least 3,509 people have been killed since Israel ended a ceasefire and resumed strikes on March 18, taking the war's overall toll to 53,655, mostly civilians. © 2025 AFP
GMA Network
21-05-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Israeli ‘warning' fire at diplomats sparks outcry amid Gaza pressure
This frame grab from AFPTV footage shows members of a diplomatic delegation from the European Union reacting after shots were fired as they gathered in the eastern entrance of Jenin camp during a visit to the city of Jenin, on May 21, 2025, amid an ongoing Israeli military offensive in the occupied West Bank. Mohammad Ateeq/ AFPTV /AFP JENIN, Palestinian Territories — Israeli troops fired warning shots during a visit by foreign diplomats to the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, the military said, drawing condemnation as pressure mounted on Israel to allow aid into war-battered Gaza. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas urged Israel to hold to account those responsible for the shooting near Jenin, a stronghold of Palestinian armed groups and a frequent target of Israeli raids. The Palestinian foreign ministry accused Israel of having "deliberately targeted by live fire an accredited diplomatic delegation." A European diplomat said the group had gone to the area "to see the destruction" caused by months of Israeli operations. The Israeli military said "the delegation deviated from the approved route," prompting troops to fire "warning shots" to keep them away from "an area where they were not authorized to be." In said it "regrets the inconvenience caused" by the shooting, which resulted in no injuries. The incident came as international pressure intensified over the war in Gaza, where Palestinians were desperate for supplies after a two-month aid blockade was eased. Rescue teams in the Palestinian territory said overnight Israeli strikes killed at least 19 people, including a week-old baby. 'Unbearable' Israel said 93 trucks had entered Gaza on Tuesday but faced accusations the amount fell far short of what was required. The United Nations said the aid had been held up. The world body on Monday said it had been cleared to send in aid for the first time since Israel imposed a total blockade on March 2 in a move leading to critical shortages of food and medicine. Umm Talal al-Masri, 53, a displaced Palestinian living in an area of Gaza City, described the situation as "unbearable." "No one is distributing anything to us. Everyone is waiting for aid, but we haven't received anything," she told AFP. "We're grinding lentils and pasta to make some loaves of bread, and we barely manage to prepare one meal a day." The Israeli army stepped up its offensive at the weekend, vowing to defeat Gaza's Hamas rulers, whose October 7, 2023 attack on Israel triggered the war. Israel has faced massive pressure, including from traditional allies, to halt its intensified offensive and allow aid into Gaza. Kallas said on Tuesday that "a strong majority" of foreign ministers from the 27-nation European Union backed the move to review its trade cooperation with Israel. "The countries see that the situation in Gaza is untenable... and what we want is to unblock the humanitarian aid," she said. Sweden said it would press the EU to impose sanctions on Israeli ministers, while Britain suspended free-trade negotiations with Israel and summoned the Israeli ambassador. Pope Leo XIV described the situation in Gaza as "worrying and painful" and called for "the entry of sufficient humanitarian aid." Israel's foreign ministry has said the EU action "reflects a total misunderstanding of the complex reality Israel is facing." Germany on Wednesday defended a key EU-Israel cooperation deal as "an important forum that we must use in order to discuss critical questions" over the situation in Gaza. 'Reckless act' After the warning shots were fired at diplomats, Belgium demanded a "convincing explanation" from Israel, while Spain said it was "in contact with other affected countries to jointly coordinate a response to what happened, which we strongly condemn." Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani summoned the Israeli ambassador to Rome and said that "threats against diplomats are unacceptable." Ahmad al-Deek, political adviser for the Palestinian foreign ministry, said he had been leading the delegation. "We condemn this reckless act by the Israeli army, especially at a time when it had given the diplomatic delegation an impression of the life the Palestinian people are living," he said. A European diplomat present during the visit said he heard "repeated shots" coming from inside Jenin refugee camp, which has been largely emptied of its inhabitants since the Israeli operation began in January. In Gaza, Israel resumed its operations across the territory on March 18, ending a two-month ceasefire. Hamas's October 2023 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Militants also took 251 hostages, 57 of whom remain in Gaza including 34 the military says are dead. Gaza's health ministry said Tuesday at least 3,509 people have been killed since Israel resumed strikes on March 18, taking the war's overall toll to 53,655. — AFP
Al-Ahram Weekly
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Israel will 'take control of all' of Gaza : Netanyahu
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that Israel will "take control" of the whole of Gaza, as the military pressed a newly intensified campaign in the war-ravaged territory. After Israel announced it would let a "basic amount" of food into the Gaza Strip, Netanyahu said it was necessary to prevent a famine for "diplomatic reasons". In Gaza, rescuers said air strikes killed at least 22 people, after the military announced it had begun "extensive ground operations" in the territory . "The fighting is intense and we are making progress. We will take control of all the territory of the Strip," Netanyahu said in a video posted on Telegram. "We will not give up. But in order to succeed, we must act in a way that cannot be stopped." Israel has come under mounting international pressure, including from key backer the United States, to lift a total blockade it imposed on Gaza more than two months ago. "We must not let the population (of Gaza) sink into famine, both for practical and diplomatic reasons," Netanyahu said, adding that even friends of Israel would not tolerate "images of mass starvation". In a report this month, the UN- and NGO-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification said Gaza was at "critical risk of famine", with 22 percent of the population facing an imminent humanitarian "catastrophe". 'Reduced to starvation' Israel has been blocking all humanitarian aid into Gaza since March 2, with the UN agencies warned of critical shortages of food, clean water, fuel and medicines. Last week US President Donald Trump acknowledged that "a lot of people are starving", adding "we're going to get that taken care of". In his inaugural mass, Pope Leo XIV called on the faithful not to forget "our brothers and sisters who are suffering because of war. "In Gaza, the surviving children, families and elderly are reduced to starvation," he said. But Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir argued against any resumption of aid, saying on X: "Mr Prime Minister, our hostages receive no humanitarian aid." "The Prime Minister is making a serious mistake in this move, and he has no majority at all. Hamas must only be crushed, and not at the same time provided with oxygen for its survival," he said in a statement. 'No one left' On Monday, there were heavy strikes in and around the main southern city of Khan Yunis, where civil defence agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal said 11 people were killed and several others wounded. Bassal also reported another 11 deaths in strikes on other parts of the territory. AFPTV footage from Gaza on Sunday showed people sifting through ruined shelters and rescuers treating the wounded. "All my family members are gone. There is no one left," said a distraught Warda al-Shaer. "The children were killed as well as their parents. My mother died too, and my niece lost her eye." The United Nations had warned of the risk of famine in Gaza before the aid blockade was imposed. Palestinian health ministry said Sunday at least 3,193 people in Gaza have been killed since Israel resumed its war on March 18, taking the war's overall toll to 53,339. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Eyewitness News
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Israel says open to deal that includes 'ending the fighting' in Gaza
GAZA CITY - Israel signalled Sunday that it was open to striking a deal with Hamas that included "ending the fighting" in Gaza, where rescuers reported dozens killed a day after Israel stepped up its offensive. Israel's military has said the expansion of its campaign is aimed at "achieving all the war's objectives" including releasing hostages and "the defeat of Hamas". But as the intensified operations got underway, Israel and Hamas were entering indirect talks in Qatar that the Palestinian group said were aimed at ending the war. In a statement on Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said that "even at this very moment, the negotiation team in Doha is working to exhaust every possibility for a deal -- whether according to the Witkoff framework or as part of ending the fighting," referring to US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff who has been involved in previous discussions. Such a deal, according to Netanyahu's statement, "would include the release of all the hostages, the exile of Hamas terrorists, and the disarmament of the Gaza Strip". Ever since a two-month ceasefire fell apart in March as Israel resumed its offensive, negotiations mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States have failed to reach a breakthrough. Netanyahu has opposed ending the war without Hamas's total defeat, while Hamas has balked at the prospect of handing over its weapons. Senior Hamas official Taher al-Nunu said on Saturday that the talks in Doha had kicked off "without any preconditions from either side". A Hamas source familiar with the negotiations said that "positions are being exchanged by both sides in an attempt at bridging perspectives", adding the group was approaching the talks with "great flexibility". 'NO ONE LEFT' On the ground, civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP on Sunday that 22 people were killed and at least 100 others wounded in a predawn attack on tents sheltering displaced Palestinians in Al-Mawasi, in the southern Gaza Strip. AFPTV footage showed people sifting through the wreckage of ruined shelters and rescuers treating the wounded. At a hospital in nearby Khan Yunis city, young men mourned over the shrouded bodies of loved ones laid out on the ground outside. "All my family members are gone. There is no one left," said a distraught Warda al-Shaer standing amid the wreckage in Al-Mawasi. "The children were killed as well as their parents. My mother died too, and my niece lost her eye." Bassal said that the "series of violent Israeli air strikes" across Gaza overnight and in the early morning resulted in a total of "at least 33 martyrs, more than half of whom were children". There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. Israel's intensified assault comes as international concern has mounted over worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza due to a blockade on aid imposed on March 2. UN chief Antonio Guterres, addressing an Arab League summit in Baghdad on Saturday, said he was "alarmed" at the escalation and called for "a permanent ceasefire, now". The summit's final statement urged the international community "to exert pressure to end the bloodshed". HOSPITALS 'OUT OF SERVICE' In Tel Aviv, demonstrators took to the streets on Saturday to protest against Netanyahu's government and demand it strike a deal to secure the release of the remaining hostages. "Instead of bringing them all home by agreeing to the deal that is on the table, Netanyahu is dragging us into a needless political war that will lead to the death of the hostages and soldiers," said protester Zahiro Shahar Mor, nephew of slain hostage Avraham Munder. Of the 251 hostages taken during Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack that triggered the war, 57 remain in Gaza, including 34 the military says are dead. Israel has faced increasing pressure to lift its aid blockade, as UN agencies warn of critical shortages of food, clean water, fuel and medicine. On Sunday, the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza accused Israel of laying siege to the Indonesian Hospital in Beit Lahia, where it said "a state of panic and confusion is prevailing". The ministry later said Israel had cut off the arrival of patients and staff, "effectively forcing the hospital out of service". With "the shutdown of the Indonesian Hospital, all public hospitals in the North Gaza Governorate are now out of service", it said. Hamas's October 2023 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. The Gaza health ministry said that at least 3,193 people have been killed since Israel resumed strikes on March 18, taking the war's overall toll to 53,339.
