Latest news with #German-founded
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
Ina Garten's fave Wusthof knives are a record-low 35% off (better than Black Friday!)
As a home editor, I'm constantly lurking on chefs' websites and social accounts for inspiration, recipe secrets and tips on the gadgets that make their lives easier. After all, who would know more than those who've made a livelihood of prepping and cooking, and who better to take cues from than the Barefoot Contessa herself? So when Ina Garten posted on Instagram about the four knives every home cook should have, I was all ears. Which ones made the list? A chef's knife for chopping onions, a slicing knife, a bread (serrated) knife — which she also uses on tomatoes — and a paring knife for smaller tasks. "If you have those four, you can do almost anything," she says, adding that Wusthof is her preferred brand. Well, we found a highly rated Wusthof 10-piece set — on mega-sale for less than its Black Friday price — that has all of those and more. Says Ina: "They're an investment, but if you take care of them, they'll last a lifetime!" Premium knife sets don't come cheap, and this one, featuring high-carbon stainless steel blades precisely cut with state-of-the-art technology, strikes the perfect balance between form and functionality. As a rule, knife sets offer a baked-in discount compared to what you'd spend buying individual blades, which makes the $114 markdown on this 10-piece knife and block set particularly stunning — at $206, it's down to the lowest price we've ever seen. Wusthof's German-founded knives are a kitchen standby for novice and experienced cooks, a fixture in chefs' carefully curated cutlery collections for over 200 years. This particular set comes with a 2 ¾-inch trimming knife, 2 ¾-inch paring knife, 3-inch spear point paring knife, 4 1/2-inch utility knife, 5-inch serrated utility knife, 5-inch spreader, 6-inch cook's knife, 9-inch honing steel and kitchen shears, all encased in a beautiful acacia wood block, which keeps things organized and safe while adding a touch of warmth to your countertop. The stainless steel blades are designed to resist corrosion and dulling; the polypropylene handles to stand up to fading, discoloration, heat and impact. This is all to say the Wusthof Gourmet 10-Piece Knife and Block Set is a worthy investment that can be loved for years to come. (Speaking of: The brand offers a limited lifetime warranty for added peace of mind.) As if receiving Ina Garten's stamp of approval wasn't enticing enough, Wusthof knives come highly recommended by other professional chefs we've spoken to in the past. They've also received accolades from Amazon reviewers who reaffirm their sleek design, versatility and honed blades. "This set is such a joy," gushed a happy home cook. "My son-in-law recommended them. He was right! To be able to thinly slice cooked meat is a dream." "Best knives ever!" exclaimed another impressed buyer. "Very sharp. Makes cutting a breeze. Saves time by being so sharp." "We bought two from this brand several months back, and they were so superior to other brands we have," said a repeat customer. "So we bought this set. Very good, very sharp knives!" "Very sharp knives, great set," echoed a generally pleased reviewer. "They work, but a larger kitchen knife would be nice." "These are super sharp," noted a final fan. "I have had some small, inadvertent cuts to hands/fingers. Having really sharp knives means paying closer attention to handling. Don't be afraid, just heed this experienced warning (and have some Band-Aids)." Even the best knives require maintenance, and this little doodad is a smart add-on: If you have Amazon Prime, you'll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.) The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Austria sticks to Euro Sky Shield under moderate coalition government
BERLIN — Austria will remain in the European Sky Shield Initiative and increase its defense expenditures to 2% of the country's GDP annually under a new government, the incoming coalition announced on Thursday. Previously it had appeared as though Austria would exit the German-founded Sky Shield air defense project under a far-right government. The negotiations between the extreme-right Freedom Party and the conservative People's Party have since failed, paving the way for a more moderate coalition. Elections were held in September of 2024. On Thursday, the incoming government, led by the conservatives and with participation of the social democrats and the economic liberals, announced that they had arrived at a coalition agreement, which includes a detailed plan of proposed policies and some appointments. The three-way coalition – a historic first in Austrian history – is expected to present a relative continuation of the preceding Austrian government, which was made up of the conservative and green parties. This also applies to defense policy, where most of the coalition's positions reflect those of the previous government. The chancellorship will remain with the conservative people's party though it was unclear at the time of writing whether the defense ministry, too, would remain the People's Party's domain. Under the previous government and defense minister Klaudia Tanner, Austria had decided to join the European Sky Shield Initiative, which to date counts 23 countries stretching in a continuous bloc from Scandinavia to Turkey. The military initiative seeks to coordinate the procurement and interoperability of air-defense systems among its members to protect against the threat of Russian missiles and drones. The far-right and Russia-friendly freedom party had made exiting Sky Shield a campaign promise, claiming that it is not compatible with Austria's constitutionally enshrined 'perpetual neutrality.' With the euroskeptic party in charge, it was also expected that Austria would be a stumbling block for consensus in the European Union and would drop or significantly reduce its support from Ukraine on the international stage. In accordance with its neutrality policy, Austria does not send weapons to Kyiv – but it does support the country in the diplomatic arena and send non-lethal aid. The government that ended up being formed, however, reaffirmed its support for Ukraine and called out Russia for its invasion of its smaller neighbor in their coalition document. In a trend also started by the Ukraine war, Austria will continue to invest in its military, sticking to the 'construction plan 2023+,' which seeks to invest around €17 billion ($17.7 billion) in additional funds into its armed forces by 2032. A novelty, however, is the mention of a specific goal of 2% of the country's GDP going toward the military by the same year. Although the same number as the goal for military spending among NATO members, Austria remains outside the alliance. Additionally, Vienna intends to set up a so-called standby force to 'be able to respond quickly to unexpected threats.' It is supposed to be manned by a combination of professional soldiers and parts of the country's militia. Austria maintains mandatory conscription for all men at age 18. Another major piece of news is expected in the near future, with the government reiterating their intention of phasing out the country's fleet of 15 Eurofighter Typhoons which currently form the backbone of the Alpine republic's air force. A 'decision of principle' is to be taken 'soon' on this question, officials said. Austria intends to procure 36 new jets with both the American F-35 and the Swedish JAS-39 Gripen reportedly being in the running. The Austrian air force has in the past been a significant operator of Saab aircraft, flying a custom-made variant of the Saab 105 until recently, when it was retired in favor of the Italian M-346. Austria also operated the Saab Gripen, Tunnan, B17A and Safir airframes in the past.
