Latest news with #Basque
SoraNews24
16 hours ago
- SoraNews24
Discover some of the best snacks in Atami, a wonderland of Japanese street food
There's a lot more to the city than just hot springs and seaside views. While there are beaches in the capital, most Tokyoites travel to one of the nearby seaside resorts in one of the neighboring prefectures to get their dose of sunshine with an ocean view. While Enoshima and Zushi are both excellent options for soaking up the rays nearby, if you're willing to go a little farther, Atami in Shizuoka is also an amazing location to enjoy. Of course, visitors will want to hit up Atami Sun Beach, but the city is also well known for its hot springs and museums. However, the one part that should not be missing from an itinerary involving Atami is the street food. As we discovered on our recent visit there, the shopping streets right next to Atami Station are packed with locations serving mouth-watering treats, and have a wonderful lively atmosphere even on weekdays. To the right of the bus rotary behind Atami Station, you will find the shopping arcade called Nakamise-dori Shotengai, as well as Heiwa-dori Meitengai, which runs parallel to it. First, we'll take a look at Heiwa-dori. Close to the entrance of the street, we spotted a line of people outside a shop named Maruten, which offers freshly fried iso-age (deep-fried fish cakes). With eyes sparkling in anticipation, we joined the line and picked up the Shrimp Mayo Stick for 420 yen (US$2.83). It was surprisingly hefty and piping hot. Biting into it, we were hit with the springy texture of the shrimp and oozing mayonnaise. It was unbelievably good. While there's no seating at this store — customers usually stand and eat outside stores like this — there are plenty of benches throughout the shopping street, so you can easily find somewhere to sit and eat comfortably. Continuing on, we passed by several shops selling Atami's specialties of hot spring steamed buns and dried fish, as well as a place where you can dip your hands into the local hot spring water, if you didn't get a chance to hop into the footbath near the station. We even spied cute square cream puffs at Atami Square Chou a la crème, and beautifully displayed fruit sandwiches at Atami Fruit King. Reaching the end of the street, we looped around to the outside and found ourselves surrounded by even more enticing shops like Atami Milchee's, where you can buy Basque cheesecakes and Bon Bon Berry, which looked to be stuffed full of strawberries. As hard as we tried to resist, we eventually caved and bought a standard pudding from Atami Purin for 400 yen. While there's usually a long line, we happened to pass by during a time when there were no customers at all, so if that's not a divine sign saying that we had to buy one, then what is? The only regret we had was that before we'd pulled into Atami, we had already eaten lunch, so we were pretty full. We decided to leave the pudding for the next day, and the bitter caramel made for a perfect pairing with the rich egg flavor. It was undeniably delicious. Following our jaunt down Heiwa-dori, we strolled around into Nakamise-dori, which is no less dangerous for the small-stomached, with shops like Atami Gelato King, Atami Yogurt, and Mataichian's Atami Butter An, all tempting us to indulge in just one more little treat. We were weak and we couldn't help ourselves — the sweetened yogurt from Atami Yogurt (400 yen) just looked too good to pass up on. It had this unique, stretchy texture that was akin to what you'd find in Turkish ice cream, which had us twisting and twirling it around. Despite being sweetened, it wasn't overly so, and had a mild tartness with a refreshing flavor. It was definitely worth purchasing. Passing by a dried fish shop called Aoki, we stumbled across something a little unusual: Dry-cured tuna (1,209 yen). We decided to pick some up as a souvenir, since it's not a product you generally see in Tokyo. We continued down the hill toward the ocean, reaching a third shopping street in about 15 minutes on foot. As we wandered through Atami Ginza, we were drawn to shops like Kiito, known for its thinly layered Mont Blancs, and Chabakka Tea Parks, a Japanese tea shop, but we held strong. We had a purpose to our journey, a destination that must be reached with room to spare in our stomach: The matcha dessert specialty store Atami Satori, which is known to serve crepes where you can fully enjoy the taste of matcha. Knowing that, we knew we had to check it out. We ordered the Big Atamai!!! Crispy Crepe for 850 yen. It's a crepe designed to highlight the natural aroma and flavor of matcha, so it comes without fillings, only matcha sauce and a sprinkling of nuts. Biting into it, it was thin and crispy, and the bitterness of the tea really came through. As we worked our way through the impressively sized crepe, a group of older ladies happened to pass by and spot it, prompting exclamations of 'Oh, my! What a large crepe!', 'Huh? There's nothing inside it?' and 'Is it tasty? Is it?' They seemed so adorably excited by the crepe that we offered a little bite to them, creating one of those fond little travel memories. Coming out of the final shopping street, we discovered a restaurant called Himono Dining Kamanari, which specializes in dried fish dishes, as well as offering dried fish chips and burgers for takeout. We've added it to our must-visit list for our next journey to Atami. Our final stop of the day was Atami Seaside Park, where we enjoyed a stroll along the promenade as we gazed out at the ocean. It's also a great location from which to watch Atami's fireworks displays. There were many shops that sold food, miscellaneous goods, and vintage clothing, so our excitement levels stayed high throughout the entire walk as we continued to discover new and interesting places that we absolutely must go to in the future. Atami is a fantastic destination for a holiday with family, friends, or even just by yourself. With so many things to do and delicious things to eat, you're bound to have a great time. Just be sure to arrive with an empty stomach and leave time for a leisurely walk once you're full. Related: Maruten, Atami Square Chou a la crème, Atami Fruit King, Atami Milchee's, Bon Bon Berry, Atami Purin, Atami Gelato King, Atami Yogurt, Mataichian's Atami Butter An, Aoki, Kiito, Chabakka Tea Parks, Atami Satori, Hoshimono Dining Kamanari Photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! [ Read in Japanese ]
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
How Barcelona's tricky request to Nico Williams led to the collapse of the transfer
One of the biggest transfer stories of this summer is the failed attempt of Barcelona to sign Nico Williams from Athletic Club for the second year in a row. Everything appeared to be on track for the 23-year-old attacker to join the La Liga champions, with a contract agreement in place. However, a sudden U-turn saw Nico snub Barça again and sign a long-term contract with Athletic. The Blaugrana were furious with the player and his agent, Felix Tainta, holding him to blame for the collapse of the transfer, as he kept insisting on written registration guarantees. Barcelona encouraged Nico to change his agent Now, according to SPORT, a Barcelona official encouraged Nico Williams to change agents – to leave Felix Tainta and link up with Jorge Mendes or Pini Zahavi, which triggered a breakdown in negotiations. Tainta is a well-established figure in the Basque football scene. Apart from Nico, he represents several other Athletic Club players, including his brother Inaki, and maintains a close relationship with the Williams family. It must be remembered that Tainta was the key figure in reopening discussions with Barcelona over a move for Nico, through a meeting with Deco. Barcelona were quick to re-enter the race to sign the Spaniard. Despite initial doubts, it was club president Joan Laporta who gave the green light. With his approval, Deco began working to advance the deal. Barcelona missed out on Nico Williams again. (Photo by Ion) The Barcelona director met several times with Tainta to push negotiations forward, but eventually, progress stalled. Tainta had an offer on the table from Barça for Nico, but was also considering the possibility of his client staying at Athletic Club, who had made an improved contract offer. A risky move that bacfkired As the situation dragged on, the Blaugrana grew nervous – especially with a medical already scheduled in a Barcelona hospital for Nico. Barcelona attributed the impasse to Tainta's stance. Frustrated, a senior figure at the club reached out directly to Nico in an attempt to break the deadlock. The content of the message, sent via WhatsApp, was clear: 'Leave Tainta and have Jorge Mendes or Pini Zahavi represent you.' The suggestion quickly reached the entire Williams family, and the response was one of deep indignation and outrage, given their long-standing relationship with Tainta. Under Laporta, Barcelona have consistently preferred to negotiate with agents considered close to the club, most notably Mendes and Zahavi. However, the Williams family wanted no part of that strategy. As such, negotiations collapsed, and the relationship between the player's camp and the club was left in pieces. Nico and his family finalised a contract renewal with Athletic Club that same evening, recorded the announcement video later that night, and made it official the next morning.
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Barcelona WhatsApp message to Nico Williams collapsed €58m deal
Barcelona are still searching for their new signing in attack this summer, with Athletic Club winger Nico Williams firmly in the rearview mirror. The Catalan side failed to convince Williams and his agent that he would be registered without issues, but a message sent to the Basque player helped implode the deal. The primary reason for a breakdown in negotiations was that Barcelona could not provide guarantees that Williams would be registered without issues before the end of the summer. When agent Felix Tainta demanded a clause to allow him to leave for free if he was not registered, Barcelona refused, placing negotiations into a stalemate situation. Barcelona WhatsApp message to Nico Williams The 22-year-old was keen on a move to Barcelona, and they had said that they could pay up his €58m release clause, but required some time to resolve their salary limit issues again. Yet from the Barcelona perspective, they felt that the halt in progress was down to agent Tainta and his demands, rather than obstacles put in the way by Williams. Image via EFE However Sport now explain that the decision to stay and renew his deal with Athletic was taken in the space of an afternoon. A figure at Barcelona had sent Williams a WhatsApp directly saying something along the lines of 'Leave Tainta, and get Jorge Mendes or Pini Zahavi to represent you.' Both are agents with a close relationship with Barcelona. Yet Williams and his family, Tainta also represents Inaki Williams, have a close relationship with their agent forged over many years. The attempt to break them up caused a complete breakdown between Williams and Barcelona, who asked Tainta to negotiate a renewal with Athletic that afternoon. The following morning, Williams' contract renewal was announced.
South Wales Argus
a day ago
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Newport County to honour Basque refugee children with kit
Newport County AFC will wear a red-and-white striped away shirt for the 2025-26 season in tribute to the Basque refugee children of 1937, who found sanctuary in Wales during the Spanish Civil War. Inspired by Athletic Club and marking a collaboration between the two clubs, the kit commemorates the 236 Basque children given refuge in Wales following the bombing of towns including Durango and Elorrio by Francisco Franco's forces. Of those children, 56 stayed in Caerleon, just five miles from Newport. Johana Ruiz-Olabuenaga, head of Athletic Club's communities department, said: "Newport County's initiative is wonderful and goes beyond football. "It is related to two fundamental aspects for Athletic Club: identity and memory. "The Basque people were indebted to the Welsh people for their hospitality in times of war. "This red and white shirt is a tribute to the 'Basque Children of '37' and strengthens the ties between Euskal Herria [The Basque Country] and Cymru [Wales]." The refugees initially stayed at Cambria House in Caerleon from 1937 to 1939 before moving to Pendragon House. During their time in Wales, the children formed Basque Boys FC, a team that rarely lost a match and became known in the press as the 'Basque unbeatables' and the 'Basque wonder team.' Football offered comfort and raised funds during their exile. On May 10, 1939, Basque Boys FC played Moorland Road School at Cardiff's Ninian Park, then the Welsh national stadium, in front of thousands. The new Newport County kit features the names of the refugee children and their caregivers, with a label on the back reading: "In 1937, when the Basque people needed help, Wales responded." The Basque and Welsh flags appear alongside the words "Children of '37", while "37ko haurrak" (Basque Children of '37) is printed on the collar. Newport County AFC, based at Rodney Parade, currently compete in England's League Two and are one of four Welsh teams in the English football league system, alongside Swansea City AFC, Cardiff City FC, and Wrexham AFC.
Euronews
2 days ago
- Euronews
Disinformation fuelled Spain anti-migrant riots after pensioner attack
Torre Pacheco, a town in Spain's south-eastern region of Murcia, has made headlines this week after a pensioner was beaten up by three young men, sparking protests which spiralled into violent unrest. The 68-year-old victim of the attack, Domingo, has said he was taking his routine morning walk when three men appeared, one of whom lunged at him before beating him in the head, face and body. Police have discarded robbery as the motive and say the attack was likely filmed as part of a social media 'challenge' targeting the elderly and vulnerable. Three people of North African origin have been arrested. One of them, a 19-year-old man believed to be the attacker, was detained in the Basque province of Gipuzkoa while attempting to flee to France. The incident sparked two nights of protests, which rapidly turned into violent disorder, with reports of groups roaming the streets looking for people of foreign origin. Several people were injured, despite a heavy police presence. Far-right, anti-migrant groups such as 'Deport Them Now' have called for attacks on people of North African origin. A Spanish leader of the group, known only by the initials C.L.F., was detained on suspicion of inciting violence in the province of Barcelona. His arrest is one of at at least 14 which have been made concerning the ensuing riots, with reports of businesses belonging to residents with foreign origins, including a kebab shop, being vandalised. Torre Pacheco is home to 40,000 inhabitants, of whom 6,829 are of African origin, according to the statistical office of the Murcia regional government. Images of pensioner's injuries are real, but no footage has yet emerged Images of the bruised and blood-stained face of Domingo, the 68-year-old victim of the attack, have gone viral. These images are real and show the extent and gravity of his injuries. But a video circulating widely online claiming to show the attack – amplified by prominent political figures, including the leader of the anti-establishment SALF party – is in fact unrelated. Both the victim, Domingo, and the local authorities have confirmed that while it seems the perpetrators filmed the attack, this is not the corresponding video. It has since emerged that this video in fact shows a separate attack on another man from Almería, a town some 200km from Torre Pacheco in the region of Andalucia. In a video statement published on Instagram by the account @josemoya6422, the man confirms that the video shows him and holds up the items of clothing he wore during the attack as evidence. 'I am from Almería (...), these are two different attacks', the man explains. In another post, he explains that two youngsters are already in a provisional prison for the attack on him. He also shares a link to an article by La Voz de Almería dated 31 May 2025, which corresponds to his account of events. No verified footage of the attack on Domingo has yet emerged, but the photographs showing the injuries he suffered are real. Unrelated videos claim to show ensuing unrest Euroverify and Spanish fact-checkers have also identified a series of unrelated videos associated with the anti-migrant unrest that has emerged in the town of Torre Pacheco since the attack. One widely-circulating video claims to show a group of young people, described by social media users as 'migrants', attacking another elderly man in the street in the town. But a reverse-image search shows that it was filmed in Guadalajara, Mexico, in 2021, and has often re-emerged as disinformation related to young migrants. Another video shows people throwing objects at Spanish police officers as men are arrested on the street, with users claiming it shows Torre Pacheco. But the scene occurred in the town of Torrevieja, in a separate Spanish province, earlier this month. Local authority didn't associate criminality with migration A fake communication from the town hall of Torre Pacheco is also circulating widely online, in which a protest is purportedly convened against the situation of "insecurity" in the municipality due to incidents in which "immigration" is a "common denominator". But the document is fake, and the town hall of Torre Pacheco has denied it ever existed. Yet, it circulated rapidly on Telegram and was also amplified by Russian state-sponsored media Pravda. Despite this, a congregation was organised by the local town hall in the aftermath of Domingo's attack, as advertised on its official website. The poster reads that the congregation was "against recent criminal acts in the municipality" but makes no reference to migration as a common denominator, as claimed in the disinformation. Authorities clamp down on disinformation Incitement to hatred on social platforms also played a role in inflaming tensions in Torre Pacheco, Spanish officials have said. Euroverify has seen several messages calling for immigrants in the town to "be hunted down" in two Telegram groups associated with the far-right extremist group 'Deport Them Now', which were suspended by the authorities during the unrest. Police sources have also told Spanish media El Mundo that "hundreds" of radical extremists travelled to Torre Pacheco to take part in the riots after they were mobilised online.
