Latest news with #Italian-Swiss
LeMonde
13-07-2025
- Politics
- LeMonde
Trump and Infantino's 'bromance' at the Club World Cup
He was seen bursting into laughter when Donald Trump announced his intention to rename the Gulf of Mexico the "Gulf of America." The only prominent sports executive present at the US president's inauguration speech on January 20, Gianni Infantino also showered Trump with praise during the ceremony, describing, for example, the "incredible honor and privilege" of being invited to Washington. The FIFA head is sparing no effort to win the favor of the occupant of the White House, who is reciprocating. For several months, the two men have been publicly displaying their cordial relationship and exchanging lavish compliments. When the Italian-Swiss official praised Trump as a leader the world needs, Trump returned the favor, describing his "special friend" as "a winner" and "an excellent guy." As a symbol of their good rapport, the head of FIFA and the US president plan to sit side by side at the Club World Cup final between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) on Sunday, July 13, at the MetLife Stadium near New York City. Together, they would present the winner's trophy for this competition, held across 11 American cities. Five days earlier, Infantino announced the opening of a FIFA office in Trump Tower, New York, alongside Eric Trump, the US president's second son.
Daily Mirror
15-06-2025
- Daily Mirror
'I took Mum on a cruise holiday after Dad died - it was a poignant reminder'
My teacher parents, after laying down their chalk and retiring, got a taste for cruises. Holidays had never been better. Then Mum's best shipmate died – suddenly, horribly – leaving her in a strange new world. Summers lost their shine, well, everything did, but she'd still gaze longingly at cruise deals. Enter: me. The busy, messy, wild middle-aged child, offering to share a cabin on a week-long MSC Mediterranean cruise. I'd been promising her a proper catch-up for ages, and this was one way of doing it. Multi-generational holidays, with younger kids, parents and grandparents, are nothing new – a study showed a third of adults have been on one in the past three years, with the Boomer generation generally picking up the bill. And MSC says 28% of its travellers now cruise with three to five generations, and its ships are designed with activities to suit all ages. But this was different – a "mummer" holiday – proper bonding time, with grandchildren at home. Gavin and Stacey's Ruth Jones goes on cruises with her mum and no one had been thrown overboard, so the combination could work. Mum and I flew to Rome and met MSC Seaview at Civitavecchia Port. We woke up every day in a new location – Majorca, Barcelona, Cannes, Genoa, and La Spezia – before sailing back to Rome. This was my first cruise, so it was completely uncharted waters. We spent the first day at sea, getting lost and acquainted with Seaview's 19 decks, waterfront boardwalk, and dizzying, glass-floored Bridge of Sighs. Seaview was launched in 2017 and has room for 4,100 passengers and 1,000 crew, with a theatre, casino, spa, ten-pin bowling, indoor and outdoor pools, hot tubs and 19 lounges and bars, including a chocolate-themed one. There wasn't a tired-looking part of the ship, save our faces on day one. The atrium is its classy party core, spanning four decks, where there's live music and staircases that sparkle like the sea thanks to hundreds of Swarovski crystals in each step. A cheery mix of ages and nationalities onboard, too – MSC is an Italian-Swiss line, so lots of "fit Italian fellas", as my 76-year-old mother, Janet, noted. The daytime noise, games and kids' splashy-and-sporty zones are considerately confined to deck 16, with its Panorama pool and 425ft zip wire – I strapped in and squealed high above sunbathers, while Mum declined the offer, but took thrilling footage of my ankles. Technology is not Janet's strong point, but she had a go, with me as tech support, scanning her first-ever QR code to read the evening menus at our allocated Silver Dolphin restaurant, where she also had her first taste of octopus and dolphinfish (thankfully no relation to Flipper). She was eventually able to navigate the useful MSC app, smart lifts and touch screens dotted around the decks, where you can access information about the ship and your itinerary. Only one trip to the IT desk onboard was required – very much user error. Pulling back the curtains to a new place each morning felt like a dream. Majorca was a revelation for her, wandering sleepy, sun-dappled cobbled streets, me saying 'watch your step' every step of the way. We cooed at the cathedral, sniffed bougainvillea, and tried on fedoras and sunglasses. Janet loves to shop, and dilly-dally, and talk to anyone who will listen, whether they speak English or not. I'm used to racing about, herding young kids, but by virtue of her wonky knees, we stopped for coffees and ice-cream, and actually finished conversations. Early starts to disembark paid off, as we were back on board to catch a theatre show and seek out the champagne bar – Mum's favourite place to wet her whistle. Our package allowed for 15 drinks each day, which I dare anyone to manage. Barcelona brought more laughter. It was a short shuffle to the stalls of La Rambla, for a long shuffle around the famous La Boquería market, heaving with people, pastries, olives, strawberries… and unmentionable meat counters. My stomach, having valiantly tried to hit my 15-a-day the night before, was ill-prepared for the offal, eyes, teeth and tongues. Stomachs settled down on board. While evening meals at the main restaurant were hit and miss, the two speciality restaurants smashed it – Butcher's Cut (excellent surf and turf) and our favourite, the Teppanyaki restaurant, where Japanese dishes were cooked in front of us and chef Rafael put on a high-energy show, serenading us with with Tina Turner, juggling eggs and pulling surprises from his hat, before throwing morsels at my mum's mouth, and somehow missing. Twin beds had been arranged for us, and drifting off at night was easy – a surprise as we're both used to sleeping solo. Our cabin, on deck 11, near the panoramic lift, had enough space to swing a dog, and was blessed with a balcony, sofa, safe, mini bar, interactive TV, and an impressive en suite with a powerful shower. Admirable storage, too, where Mum could hide her eight pairs of shoes, most of which didn't touch foreign soil. Here, I was the brains (though that's debatable) and brawn, sorting excursions, dragging bags and retracing many, many steps when we'd lost things. Mum, however, was the bringer of order in our cabin. She's used to running a tight ship at home, whereas I just about tread water. We settled into a Bert and Ernie evening routine at bedtime, with silly jokes and unsolicited relationship advice. Any accounts of my snoring should be immediately discounted – and we can now laugh about her falling over my phone charger cable on a 1am flit to the loo. When her bed called for her earlier than mine, I sampled late-night Seaview, its White Party (where guests wear white clothes), silent disco, gay night and karaoke, and watched couples dance or just gazed at the moon. It was really special to wake up, reach out and hold hands in the morning, even if it was then followed by a dash to the mighty breakfast buffet to stuff ourselves and race for the tender. Which we almost missed to Cannes, which was busy setting up for the film festival. We paused for A-list-price orange juice (Janet: '27 euros for three orange juices?! I wanted a drink not the whole plantation') and sauntered past Dior and Chanel stores down glamorous Boulevard de La Croisette, for a paddle in the Med among the beautiful people, with Seaview in the distance. There, was Mum probably the only person singing 'I do like to be beside the seaside', with chocolate ice cream down her best vest. 'She's restless like the sea, your mother,' my dad once beautifully said. These days, you'd call it undiagnosed ADHD. We had two excursions booked in ('school trips for grown-ups!') and saved ours for last, on our two Italian stop-offs. From Genoa, which shares the St George's Cross flag, and is birthplace of that other hardy sailor, Christopher Columbus, we took a bus to the fishing village of Camogli, with its double-take dreamy buildings and clanging church bells, catching a boat to tiny Portofino, loved by Tom Hanks and Michelle Obama for its snorkelling, and where Dolce and Gabbana have a villa retreat. We, however, had free ice-cream vouchers, so we felt like life's real stars. The swooniness continued, arriving in La Spezia, for our seven-hour Italian Riviera Cinque Terre tour, via bus, boat, train and Shank's pony. Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore – a string of five famously pretty ancient fishing villages on rugged coastline, dripping with vineyards, charm and surprising colour – are such head-turners they're now a Unesco World Heritage Site. We got bonus beauty, too, with a guided wander around Portovenere, the Port of Venus, to load up on heavenly pesto and focaccia. It's the jewel of the Bay of Poets, an area that stirred the souls of Shelley and Byron. Dad would have loved it. The boat trip was magical, the train from Monterosso back to Genoa a hoot, the final push to the bus, herding a tired, sweaty pensioner in the 26C heat, less so. 'Are we there, yet, Kay?' Talk about role reversal. It was an early night for both of us for the trip back to Rome, and our flight back home. Time had flown – we'd been having too much fun. We also got friendly with a psychologist from New York (her services were not needed) who was there with her older mum for a belated Mother's Day treat – they'd upgraded to the Yacht Club premium experience, including 24-hour butler service and gourmet dining. Four countries in seven days felt wild, especially as I work from home and struggle to visit four rooms in a week. But it was the enforced closeness with Mum that made it so special – a reminder to make memories before that ship has sailed. A seven-night MSC cruise from Rome visiting: Palma de Mallorca (Baleari Is), Spain; Barcelona, Spain; Cannes (Côte d'Azur), France; Genoa (Portofino), Italy; La Spezia (Cinque Terre), Italy costs from £1,399. Visit
South China Morning Post
16-04-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Twist in Hutchison ports deal as Italian shipping family's role surfaces
A deal by Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings to sell all its overseas ports to a consortium led by US firm BlackRock has taken a fresh twist, with the revelation that the new majority shareholder will not be American, but a low profile Italian-Swiss family with ambitions to control global shipping. Advertisement Sources told the Post that the Aponte family was the mysterious driving force behind the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) that aimed to solidify its dominance at sea and continue the consolidation of container shipping with the US$23 billion deal to acquire a majority stake in CK Hutchison's overseas port operations. The family business owns the world's largest container line which has a 20.3 per cent market share, according to shipping data provider Alphaliner. MSC was spearheading the strategic acquisition of 41 port terminals across 22 countries through its arm, Terminal Investment Limited (TiL), in partnership with investment giant BlackRock, a source said. This move signals the family's aggressive ambition to control critical infrastructure underpinning global trade. The deal, announced earlier this year, will see the BlackRock-led consortium take an 80 per cent stake in CK Hutchison's port assets outside its home base. This massive portfolio includes major hubs in Europe, Asia and the Americas, positioning MSC as potentially the world's largest container terminal operator. Advertisement For the Aponte family, this move represents a significant leap in its strategy of vertical integration, or ship to port operations. By establishing TiL in 2000, the family aimed to secure reliable berthing and terminal capacity for MSC's burgeoning fleet, according to the company. This latest acquisition dramatically expands that control, ensuring smooth operations and potentially lower costs for the shipping business.
Telegraph
27-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Jude Law to play Putin in new biopic
Jude Law has transformed into Vladimir Putin in the first images of the actor filming a new biopic. The Bafta award-winner, 52, is playing the Russian president at the start of his political career in Olivier Assayas's new film The Wizard of the Kremlin. The film is based on a best-selling novel of the same name by Italian-Swiss writer Giuliano da Empoli. Law, who has recently starred as Henry VIII in Firebrand, previously told Deadline his role as Putin 'looks like an Everest to climb'. The new on-set photographs show Law wearing a black overcoat with a suit and tie standing with actors who appear to be playing members of an Arab delegation. The film's plot follows the Russian president's political rise in the early 1990s, in the aftermath of the Soviet Union collapse, through the story of the man who helped him cement his hold on power. The fictional character, named Vladimir Baranov, is based on former Kremlin spin doctor Vladislav Surkov. The synopsis reads: 'Working at the heart of Russian power, Baranov blurs truth with lies, the news with propaganda, directing the entire society like one great reality show. 'Only his love for the magnetic, free-minded Ksenia can turn him away from this dangerous game.' Baranov will be played by Academy Award nominee Paul Dano, who has starred in critically acclaimed films There Will Be Blood and Love and Mercy. Starring alongside Dano and Law will be Oscar-winning Swedish actress Alicia Vikander, who worked with Law on Firebrand in 2023. Speaking ahead of filming, director Assayas said The Wizard of the Kremlin 'is about trying to make sense of the chaos that is transforming our world in the strangest, most disturbing ways'. He added: 'Beyond the passions of men navigating the dangerous fluxes of modern politics, we see the powerful cinematic sweep of history in the making.'
Gulf Today
21-02-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
Christopher Aleo Spotted at Dubai Fashion Week 2025
Dubai Fashion Week recently hosted one of the most anticipated events of the season: the fashion show of renowned designer Manish Malhotra. Famous for his style that blends tradition and innovation, Malhotra has solidified his reputation as an icon of Indian fashion, with creations that merge traditional craftsmanship with a modern and sophisticated aesthetic. His collections have often dressed Bollywood and international celebrities, and his influence continues to grow in the global luxury sector. The event attracted numerous prominent figures, including young Italian-Swiss banker Christopher Aleo, founder of iSwiss Bank. Aleo, already known for his presence at Milan and Paris Fashion Weeks, made his first official appearance at Dubai Fashion Week, confirming the growing interest of entrepreneurs in the city's international scene. His participation also highlights Dubai's strategic importance as a financial and cultural hub capable of attracting investors and influential personalities from around the world. Accompanied by his partner Simona Jakstaite, Aleo expressed appreciation for Manish Malhotra's collection, emphasizing how Dubai's fashion scene is rapidly gaining relevance on the global stage. "Dubai's fashion movement is increasingly capturing the public's attention, climbing the ranks quickly, as is customary for everything done here. I was pleasantly impressed by the elegance and style of Manish Malhotra," Aleo stated. Beyond his interest in fashion, Aleo's presence drew attention for financial reasons. The banker was seen engaging in discussions with representatives of the Pakistani government, fueling speculation about a potential iSwiss Bank entry into the region's market. Reports suggest that investments could range from construction to renewable energy, two sectors in Pakistan that still require significant development and foreign capital. The potential expansion of the bank could represent a significant opportunity for the region's economic growth, also fostering the development of sustainable infrastructure. The event also saw the participation of numerous celebrities from the entertainment and fashion world, including supermodel Adriana Lima, who walked the runway for Malhotra wearing an elegant mermaid gown. The success of the show further strengthened Dubai's position as an international hub not only for fashion but also for business and investment. The fusion of luxury and finance was particularly evident during the event, with numerous meetings between entrepreneurs and economic sector representatives. Christopher Aleo's participation in Dubai Fashion Week highlights the growing intersection between the world of luxury and finance, with Dubai increasingly at the center of global economic and cultural dynamics. The Emirati city continues to establish itself as a key reference point for international business, attracting not only designers and fashion creators but also investors who see it as an ideal platform for expanding their activities on a global scale.
