Latest news with #ChetnaMakan
Yahoo
01-08-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Labour Can't Decide What It's Doing With The Internet
Labour seems to be in two minds over how to handle the internet. While Keir Starmer's comms team is now briefing influencers on government policies, his ministers are cracking down on harmful online content – and facing accusations of mass censorship at the same time. On Thursday afternoon, the prime minister will be hosting a reception for up to 90 influencers in Downing Street, who reportedly have a combined following of a quarter of a billion followers and have already been chatting to No.10 over the last year. Invitees allegedly include cookbook author Chetna Makan and former Love Island contestant now anti-revenge porn campaigner Georgia Harrison, along with other TikTok stars and YouTubers. This move has been criticised and praised in equal measure. While a handful of online users claim no serious influencer would want to be associated with this government, some political pundits claim it is a sign that Downing Street is finally getting with the 21st Century. And that may be true: Ofcom recently found 82% of 16 to 24-year-olds use social media for news, along with 28% of people aged over 55. This online-first attitude also seems to be rewarding their largest electoral threat, Nigel Farage, who has 1.3 million followers on TikTok and is currently leading in the opinion polls by a healthy margin. But, at the same time, the government has just rolled out its Online Safety Act, rather undermining their new approach to the web, as critics have pointed out. Meant to protect children by putting age restrictions on various sites, the legislation has created an uproar in some quarters over fears it would create mass censorship and political debate – while also making it harder to monitor online risks for kids. That's because there's been a huge uptick in the use of virtual private networks (VPNs), which allow people to circumvent the age restrictions by masking a user's identity. Data from the Age Verification Providers Association also found an additional five million online age checks a day are being carried out because of the new legislation. Fears that the Act is too broad and vague in its definitions of 'harmful content' have fuelled further concerns that it will force adults to share personal data with global porn sites – paving the way for mass data breaches in a dangerous overreach. Then there's the ramifications that come with putting up barriers online. Starmer even had to laugh off warnings from Donald Trump earlier this week over fears the new law would limit access to his website, Truth Social. Reform UK have leapt on the opportunity to attack Labour, claiming it would completely tear up the legislation – although the party has confirmed it has no new ideas to protect children from the worst corners of the internet. Still, their debate spiralled out of control when the technology secretary Peter Kyle claimed Farage's criticism indicated he would have been on the same side as the late prolific sexual predator Jimmy Savile. The Reform UK leader has since asked for an apology. Of course, plenty of people are in favour of the legislation, which has been quietly worked on by successive governments. The suicide prevention group, the Molly Rose Foundation, noted: 'The Online Safety Act will help save young lives.' The organisation's CEO Andy Burrows pointed out there has been strong cross-party consensus to protect children online in the past. Scrapping it altogether would actually 'go against what Reform voters think,' he told LBC, noting that more than seven in 10 people who voted Reform at the last election want to keep and even strengthen the Act. Meanwhile, Chris Sherwood from the charity NPSCC wrote in PoliticsHome that 'it's deeply concerning to see the rhetoric around the Online Safety Act shift toward loss of free expression.' The Department of Science, Innovation and Technology told HuffPost UK: 'The Online Safety Act is the biggest step change in children's online safety since the internet began. 'It protects young people from harmful content and holds platforms and tech companies to account. 'This is about creating a safer internet – not censoring it – where children can explore, learn and connect without fear of what's behind the next swipe.' But can Labour really expect a positive reception by using influencers to spread its message while fending off accusations of censorship? Only time will tell if the government can have its cake and eat it too. Related... If You Think Adolescence Is Just About Online Incel Groups, You Missed The Point This 1 Hidden iPhone Feature Could Instantly Make Your Online Data Safer – And It's So Easy To Activate Sorry, The Emoji-Over-Face Parents Might Be Right About Online Privacy
Hindustan Times
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Beyond the pita: Falafel's flavourful reincarnations that are ready to serve
Crispy, golden, and versatile. Falafel isn't just a snack, it's a global love language wrapped in chickpeas and deep-fried. As we celebrate International Falafel Day today, let's take a delicious detour from the classic pita pocket and explore some out of the curve takes on this Middle Eastern marvel. Believed to have originated in Egypt, falafel was once made with fava beans and has since rolled its way across continents, earning a loyal fanbase and a dozen delicious makeovers along the way. You could be team traditional falafel or are ready to flirt with its variations, here are a few recipes that are sure to make you drool over the screen. A post shared by YOGESH | JAIPUR (@jaipurfoodtales) A quirky rendition of falafels has been spotted on wheels travelling on the streets of Jaipur by Yogesh, who goes by the name @jaipurfoodtales on his Instagram page. And interestingly its found its way in middle of a pav, making it a falafel pav. The recipe seems to be simple. Just like how one would make a regular vada pav, the vada, gets to be replaced by the falafel and paired with some sauces and lettuce leaves in between. The combination is then put to grill, and then plated with hummus on side. A post shared by Aarushi Mittal | Easy & Fun quick recipes (@hunger_zest) Aarushi Mittal, who posts interesting recipes on her Instagram by the name @hunger_zest, suggested a twist to our regular falafels. Ever heard of Falafels tikkis served with raita? Exactly. And don't worry she has got our backs with the recipe for the same. Mix boiled and mashed chickpeas with chopped onions, grated carrot, besan, spices (salt, red chilli powder, Chole masala, Degi Mirch, dry mango powder, garam masala), green chilli, and coriander. Shape into tikkis, coat with sesame seeds, and pan-roast with minimal oil. For the raita tadka, heat olive oil and add garlic, green chilli, peanuts, mustard seeds, cumin, Kashmiri mirch, black pepper, and hing. Pour over Greek or low-fat yogurt with coriander. Serve the tikkis over this raita—ready to enjoy! A post shared by Chetna Makan (@chetnamakan) Author of 9 cookbooks, Chetna Makan, delivers a smashing Falafel Halloumi sandwich, in one of the 100 episodes of 'Between the Slices' an episodic reel she posted on her Instagram, featuring different sandwich recipes. She mentions the recipe for the same too. Blend soaked chickpeas, green chilli, garlic, coriander, and onion into a paste. Mix in ground cardamom, cumin, salt, chilli powder, and gram flour. Shape the mixture into semi-cylindrical balls and fry until golden. Sandwich the crispy falafels between sourdough slices with fried halloumi, fresh salad, chilli oil, and a side of seasoned yogurt for a flavour-packed bite. A post shared by Pooja Khanna (@2blissofbaking) Yes, the regular falafels are fried. But are there outer texture crunchy? Not always. A variation not far from the humble falafel, uses sesame seeds coating to please the crunch cravers. Pooja Khanna aka @2blissofbaking shares that lip-smacking falafel up these crispy sesame seed-crusted falafels using soaked chickpeas, fresh coriander, spinach, onion, green chilies, garlic, ginger, roasted chickpea flour, and spices. Coarsely blend the mix, stir in salt and baking soda, then shape into balls. Coat in sesame seeds and deep-fry in cold-pressed sesame oil until golden. Serve hot with your favourite dip or in a wrap—perfectly crunchy and full of flavour! A post shared by Meghna's Food Magic (@meghnasfoodmagic) Non-fried falafels? Surprising right? Chef Meghna Kamdar, on her Instagram page shared a reel that looked very enticing, along with the 'do whats' and 'do hows'. To make falafel, blend 1 cup boiled chickpeas with chopped onion, garlic, green chillies, salt, roasted cumin powder, pepper, lemon juice, breadcrumbs (or maida), and a little water. Pulse to a coarse mix, form into balls, freeze for 5–10 mins, and cook in an appam pan using minimal oil. For hummus, blend boiled chickpeas, homemade tahini (roasted sesame + curd), garlic, green chilli, lemon juice, salt, curd, chickpea water, and olive oil. Serve with salad, garnish with cumin, chili flakes, olives, and coriander. Seems like a perfect meal on a rainy day.
