Chefs Benoit Bruel, Fabien Montellanico, with others, broke the World Record.
Two French chefs, hungry for a record, joined forces with a cheesemaker and YouTube star to craft a cheesy masterpiece: a pizza topped with a mind-blowing 1,001 cheeses. Benoit Bruel and Fabien Montellanico, along with Sophie Hatat Richart-Luna and Florian OnAir, surpassed the previous record of 834 cheeses, etching their cheesy feat in the Guinness World Records.
According to GWR, Benoit has achieved this record once before, in 2020, when he made a pizza with 254 different cheeses. He has now almost quadrupled that number after spending five months scouring France for more varieties of cheese. His efforts earned him an additional record for the largest display of cheese varieties (1,001), taking the title from fellow Frenchman Philippe Marchand, who procured an assortment of 730 cheeses in 2016.
Watch the video here:
Benoit shared that numerous farmers and cheese producers generously provided him with their cheeses without charge, drawn to the notion of contributing to a global record. Among the cheeses, 940 originate from France, with the remaining 61 sourced from diverse countries across the globe.
“It’s been a real feat being among the cheesemakers as well as being on the farms to meet the producers who are so passionate about their profession,” Benoit said.
A cubic piece weighing two grams from each cheese was sliced and positioned atop the pizza crust, arranging the softer cheeses over the firmer ones.
“We had to pre-cook the pizza dough to prevent it from tearing up with the weight of all that cheese,” Benoit explained.
Israel’s indiscriminate strikes have killed dozens more civilians across Gaza, with refugee camps being the main targets of the regime’s genocidal war.
More than 20 people were killed on Thursday after an air attack hit a residential building in the city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip.
People and paramedics pulled out a toddler alive from the rubble.
Israeli air attacks also hit other residential areas across the Palestinian territory.
At least ten people were killed in the bombing of a house in Khan Yunis. Eight others lost their lives in an attack on the Maghazi refugee camp.
Health officials in Gaza said Israeli strikes have killed 210 Palestinians on Thursday.
At least 21,320 people, mostly women and children, have been killed during the war, which the Israeli regime launched on October 7 following an operation staged by Gaza’s resistance groups.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees, UNRWA, has warned that 40 percent of Gaza’s population is at risk of famine amid Israel’s curbs on entry of much-needed aid trucks to the territory.
In addition, the UN Human Rights office expressed alarm at the rising rate of violence by Israeli settlers towards Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
The head of the UN office in the occupied Palestinian territories said comments by Israeli officials emboldened settlers and the regime’s forces to intensify violence against the Palestinians.
Ajith Sunghay added that the lack of accountability and impunity has also led to a spike in violence there.
He made the comments after the UN released a report calling on Israel to end unlawful killings and settler violence in the occupied West Bank.
In a report released earlier on Thursday, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights detailed the quickly worsening human rights situation in the West Bank, including East al-Quds, since October 7, when the regime’s military began bombing Gaza.
The office strongly urged Tel Aviv to end its unlawful killings and settler violence against the Palestinian population in the occupied territory.
The report confirmed the deaths of 300 Palestinians from October 7 to December 27, including 79 children, in the occupied West Bank, including East al-Quds, adding that of these, at least 291 Palestinians were killed by Israeli security forces, eight were killed by Israeli settlers, and one Palestinian was killed either by Israeli security forces or settlers.
The insurgent group ULFA now has bases in Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Myanmar.
Guwahati:
The Centre is today set to sign a peace deal with the pro-talk faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), marking a significant breakthrough in the decades-old problem of insurgency in the northeast. Home Minister Amit Shah and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma will be present during the signing ceremony, underscoring the gravity and importance the government attaches to this historic moment.
The negotiation, spanning over a decade, is a commendable achievement for the Narendra Modi-led central government. The pact, set to be signed today evening, involves the pro-talk faction led by Anup Chetia and Aravinda Rajkhowa, while the ULFA (Independent) faction, led by Paresh Barua, remains opposed to the talks.
Decades Of Armed Insurgency
The ULFA was formed on April 7, 1979, with the aim of “restorating Assam’s sovereignty”. The group has been responsible for several attacks in its four-decade existence.
The insurgent group now has bases in Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Myanmar. Some of its cadres even received training in China and Pakistan. ULFA was widely regarded as the most dreaded among all northeast rebel groups and, at one point, was considered highly potent in Southeast Asia, second only to the LTTE.
ULFA predates the Assam Agitation, gaining momentum in its aftermath. Throughout its existence, internal differences among the top leadership were evident.
The Rajkhowa-led ULFA faction in 2011 began negotiations with the government, despite strong opposition from the hardline wing led by Paresh Baruah. Baruah has expressed his decision to stay away from the peace deal being signed today and thereafter formed ULFA (Independent).
Government’s Recognition Of Core Issues
The peace deal signifies a shift in the government’s approach. In 2005, the Indian government for the first time agreed to discuss core issues raised by ULFA, including sovereignty. The accord is not only a resolution to insurgency but also a crucial step towards addressing long-standing concerns that have plagued Assam.
One of the main demands by the ULFA is the formal acknowledgment of six communities in Assam — Moran, Muttock, Tai-Ahom, Koch-Rajbongshi, Sootea, and Tea Tribes — as Scheduled Tribes (ST). Should these communities be granted tribal status, it would result in approximately 50 percent of Assam’s population attaining tribal classification, potentially transforming the state into a predominantly tribal-inhabited region.
What Does The Peace Deal Include
According to sources, the peace deal may encompass a financial package, new land reservation measures, rights for Assam’s indigenous communities and also a review of the citizenship list.
A financial package would not only address the economic concerns of the region, but also aide the rehabilitation of former ULFA members.
Another significant concern flagged in ULFA’s charter of demands was a review of the citizenship list to address the issue of illegal immigrants.
The deal would also have provisions for political, economic, and cultural safeguards for the indigenous communities in Assam, sources said.
Noted journalist and author Rajeev Bhattacharyya, who has extensively covered ULFA, believes that the accord is a step in the right direction. He says while the BJP may gain political mileage, the real challenge lies in the effective and timely implementation of the agreement.
The pamphlet behind the chairs featured Rahul Gandhi’s image.
Nagpur:
The Congress put bar codes behind the chairs for crowdfunding during a rally in Maharashtra’s Nagpur on Thursday.
As a part of the Congress Crowdfunding Campaign ‘Donate for Desh’, which was launched earlier this month, a barcode was pasted behind all the chairs on the ground and attendees of the ‘Hain Taiyyar Hum’ rally were urged to donate.
The pamphlet behind the chairs featured Rahul Gandhi’s image along with a bar code.
The pamphlet read, “In this struggle of 138 years for the formation of a better India, Congress needs you. India needs you. Scan now to donate.”
The pamphlet further mentioned that among all the donors, five “lucky donors” will be awarded a donation appreciation certificate by Rahul Gandhi.
Rahul Gandhi in his address at the ‘Hain Taiyyar Hum’ rally exuded confidence that the grand old party will win elections in Maharashtra and across the country.
“This is a fight of ideologies. Together we are going to win elections in Maharashtra and the country,” Gandhi said.
The Congress leader, during his address, also mentioned that there is an ongoing conflict between two opposing ideologies in the country.
“There is a fight of ideologies going on in the country. People think that it is a political fight, a fight for power, it is, but the foundation of this fight is of ideology, of two opposing ideologies. (Desh mai vichardhaara ki ladai chal rahi hai, logo ko lagta hai rajneetik ladai hai, satta ki ladai hai, vo hai, magar iss ladai ki neev jo hai vo vichardhara hai, do vichardhara hai,” Rahul Gandhi said.
Meanwhile, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, while speaking to ANI about the ‘Hain Taiyyar Hum’ rally, said, “I think today the eyes of the entire country were on the Congress party and on the day of its foundation day, the party has done a very good job giving the message that we are ready to fight in defence of the Constitution and democratic values of this country. We are committed to the unemployed youth and farmers of the country.”
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also spoke to ANI about the Nagpur rally and said, “Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi today sounded the trumpet of 2024 Lok Sabha elections. There will be a meeting of the PCC president and CLP leaders in Delhi on January 4, 2024, and the route for Bharat Nyay Yatra, which will start under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, will be finalized.”
The Congress kickstarted its campaign for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections with the ‘Hain Tayyar Hum’ rally in Nagpur on Thursday.
The Grand Old Party also celebrated their 139th Foundation Day on December 28.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Her wealth jumped to $100.1 billion on Thursday, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
Francoise Bettencourt Meyers became the first woman to amass a $100 billion fortune, marking another milestone for the heiress and for France’s expanding fashion and cosmetics industries.
Her wealth jumped to $100.1 billion on Thursday, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. The milestone came as shares of L’Oreal SA, the beauty products empire founded by her grandfather, rose to a record high, with the stock set for its best year since 1998. She’s the 12th-richest person in the world, just behind Mexico’s Carlos Slim.
Despite the gain, Bettencourt Meyers’ fortune is still significantly less than that of French compatriot Bernard Arnault, founder of luxury goods purveyor LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE, who is second in the global ranking with $179 billion. France’s growing domination of luxury retail has spawned several other ultra-rich families, including the clan behind Hermes International SCA, who have amassed Europe’s largest family fortune, and the Wertheimer brothers who own Chanel.
The reclusive Bettencourt Meyers, 70, is vice-chair of the board of L’Oreal, a globe-spanning 241 billion pounds ($268 billion) company in which she and her family are the single biggest shareholders with a stake of nearly 35%. Her sons, Jean-Victor Meyers and Nicolas Meyers, are also directors. Run by executives from outside the family for decades, the firm was founded in 1909 by Bettencourt Meyers’ chemist grandfather, Eugene Schueller, to produce and sell a hair dye he had developed.
Bettencourt Meyers keeps her life private, shunning the glitzy social life sought by many the world’s wealthy. She has written two books – a five-volume study of the Bible and a genealogy of the Greek gods – and is known for playing piano for hours every day.
Stock Rebound
As an only child, Bettencourt Meyers came into her wealth following the 2017 death of her mother, Liliane Bettencourt, with whom she had an at times contentious relationship. A legal battle in the aughts grew from a family feud to a political scandal that centered on whether the elderly mother was fit to manage the family’s wealth. Last month, Netflix Inc. came out with a three-part documentary, L’Affaire Bettencourt, relating the saga that featured a former French president and secret recordings made by a butler.
L’Oreal grew rapidly in the decade leading up to the pandemic but took a hit during the health crisis when people under lockdown used less makeup. That was followed by a rapid rebound as consumers splurged on luxury items, sending the shares up 35% this year.
The company’s stock could rise another 12% over the next year as its product and geographic diversity shows resilience, according to Consumer Edge Research analyst Brett Cooper.
Bettencourt Meyers also chairs her family’s holding company, Tethys, which has the L’Oreal stake. Her husband, Jean-Pierre Meyers, is chief executive. In 2016, the two set up subsidiary Tethys Invest SAS, which bets on areas that don’t compete with the company.
With the stated intention of making “direct long-term investments in entrepreneurial projects,” the CEO of Tethys Invest is Alexandre Benais, a former Lazard Ltd. investment banker.
Tethys Invest recently acquired a stake in French insurance broker April Group. Last year, it bought into decade-old fashion brand Sezane, and has also invested in French private hospital operator Elsan. The firm is partly funded by L’Oreal dividends.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
The deceased has been identified as Shivaramakrishna (40), Madhavi (38), Veda vaishnavi (15), Jahnavi Lakshmi (13), Kusuma Priya (9).
Updated On – 08:47 AM, Fri – 29 December 23
Representational Image
Anakapalli: Five members of a family were found dead here in a suspected case of a suicide pact, police said on Friday. Financial problems are believed to be the reason behind the extreme step.
The deceased has been identified as Shivaramakrishna (40), Madhavi (38), Veda vaishnavi (15), Jahnavi Lakshmi (13), Kusuma Priya (9).
Police have registered a case and the investigation is underway.
Mangaluru was one among the multiple airports in the country that received similar emails on Tuesday night by the sender who claimed to be a terrorist group named ‘Funing,’ they said.
Updated On – 10:43 AM, Fri – 29 December 23
Mangaluru: A security check was conducted at the Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) after the airport authorities received an email claiming that explosives had been planted in a plane at the airport, police said.
Mangaluru was one among the multiple airports in the country that received similar emails on Tuesday night by the sender who claimed to be a terrorist group named ‘Funing,’ they said.
The email from ‘xonocikonoci10@beeble.com’ read: “There are explosives inside of one of your planes. But also inside of your airport. The explosives are well hidden, and they will go off in a few hours. I will kill you all. WE ARE A TERRORIST GROUP CALLED; ‘Funing’”.
The airport authorities noticed the email at 11.20 am Wednesday and immediately informed the city police, who carried out a detailed search at the airport.
City police commissioner Anupam Agarwal said security was tightened outside the airport by setting up additional check posts. An anti-sabotage check and bomb detection and disposal squad check were carried out, he said.
The Bajpe police inspector also held a meeting with the airport authorities. Later, based on a complaint by the Adani airport authorities, Bajpe police registered a case for an offence punishable under Section 507 of the IPC after getting permission from the local court.
Arsenal missed out on the chance to return to the Premier League summit on Thursday, losing 2-0 to West Ham as Tottenham went down in a six-goal thriller at Brighton. Mikel Arteta‘s Gunners were top of the tree at Christmas for a second successive year but trail leaders Liverpool by two points at the halfway point of the season. Last year’s runners-up dominated possession at the Emirates but lacked a cutting edge against the disciplined visitors, for whom Tomas Soucek and former Arsenal player Konstantinos Mavropanos scored the goals.
Soucek opened the scoring from close range in the 13th minute following a pass from Jarrod Bowen, with the goal confirmed after a lengthy VAR check looking into whether the ball had gone out of play.
Arsenal surged forward in relentless waves and West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola made a fine reaction save from a Bukayo Saka header on the half-hour.
The England winger hit the post from a tight angle as the clock ticked down towards half-time but Arsenal trailed at the break despite enjoying nearly three-quarters of possession.
The Gunners came out determined to find a response but instead they found themselves 2-0 down when Mavropanos’s bullet header cannoned in off the crossbar from James Ward-Prowse‘s corner.
Gabriel Jesus failed to beat Areola with a header when well-placed and shortly afterwards missed another glorious opportunity with his head at the back post.
Arsenal continued to bombard the visitors’ goal but could not find a breakthrough and it could have been worse had Said Benrahma managed to convert a late penalty.
Defeat leaves the Gunners in second place on 40 points, one clear of Aston Villa and three ahead of Manchester City, who have a game in hand.
Arteta said his team deserved more for their dominance.
“We want to be at the top and today we are very, very disappointed,” he told the BBC.
“We had so much dominance in the game. We are in a really good position. Today is a disappointing night. We have to pick ourselves up for a big game against Fulham.”
He added: “The players put an enormous effort in. It’s a difficult dressing room right now but we have another game in 72 hours. This is football, we have to improve in certain areas.”
West Ham manager David Moyes celebrated his team’s rise to sixth in the table.
“We are not one of the top teams,” he told Amazon Prime. “We are trying to get up and grow the team. For West Ham to be in Europe (they topped their Europa League group) is a great period.”
Spurs drama
Tottenham, this season’s early pacesetters, remain in fifth spot after losing 4-2 despite threatening an astonishing comeback from 4-0 down against Roberto De Zerbi’s Brighton.
Jack Hinshelwood finished with brutal power to put the home side ahead following a weaving run from Joao Pedro along the edge of the penalty area.
Brighton doubled their lead from the penalty spot in the 23rd minute through Pedro, who took full advantage after Dejan Kulusevski was penalised for a pull on Welbeck.
Brazil forward Richarlison twice had the ball in the net after the break but both times he was ruled offside.
Pervis Estupinan stretched the lead with a thunderbolt from 30 yards in the 63rd minute and Pedro scored a second penalty 12 minutes later.
Alejo Veliz grabbed what appeared to be a consolation goal in the 81st minute but it galvanised the visitors.
Ben Davies headed home Pedro Porro’s deep cross as Spurs threatened to cut through every time they poured forward, with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg hitting the post during nine frantic minutes of stoppage time.
But Brighton withstood the intense pressure to take all three points.
“I am really lucky to be this coach of this team with these players,” De Zerbi told the BBC. “I am very pleased with the passion they have, they have everything.
“You can’t forget we are Brighton. Sometimes they forget we are Brighton. We are not Manchester United, Manchester City, Newcastle or Arsenal, we are still Brighton.”
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Kirsty Bortoft was placed into a medically induced coma.
Kirsty Bortoft, mother of three kids, planned a cozy night with her partner Stu, but hours later, he found her “lifeless” on the sofa. Doctors revived her after 40 minutes, but during that time, Kirsty claims she saw various things, according to The Metro. Eyes wide open, she described “strange” patterns on her skin and witnessed unknown happenings. Now, she shared her near-death experience, leaving everyone curious about what she saw in those 40 lost minutes.
Ms Bortoft, who hails from Scarborough, North Yorkshire, faced a significant medical challenge and defied the odds by surviving despite a low chance of recovery. She persevered through several instances of cardiac arrest and underwent a medically induced coma, reported the news outlet.
She said, “The first night was crucial, and it wasn’t looking good. Stu was told he should prepare for me not making it, but he wasn’t having any of it.”
“No one at this point knew what was going on apart from my immediate family, but my psychic friend got in touch with my sister and asked what was going on. She said my spirit was in her front room, and I was asking her to write lists for my boys and dad. I told my friend that my body was breaking down and I didn’t think I could get back into it, but she got stern with me and told me to go back,” Ms Bortoft said, recounting the events that transpired while she was unconscious.
“Meanwhile, in the hospital, my family was being told to prepare themselves for the end,” she added.
After waking from her coma, Ms Bortoft instantly asked for Stu. Miraculously, scans showed almost no damage to her heart or lungs, defying expectations mere weeks after her near-death experience.
“I recall, upon finally coming back into my body, that I knew exactly what I needed to do to heal, like a download of information. I realised you don’t die; only your body moves on, and that my mission here isn’t over yet,” Ms Bortoft told The Metro.
“I told the doctor I healed my lungs, and he asked how, so I shared my story. I left feeling elated and excited about my recovery.”
“During search ops, documents, including bank statements, were seized,” an official said (File)
Kolkata:
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday conducted raids at nine different places in Kolkata in connection with its investigation into the alleged teachers’ recruitment scam, a senior official said.
The raids that started early in the morning continued till late at night, he said.
Nine ED teams conducted raids at the offices, residences, and other premises of various people, primarily chartered accountants, in Burrabazar, Kankurgachi, Alipore, and Salt Lake areas, he said.
“The raids are related to our investigation into the primary school jobs scam. These people were involved in routing the money. We are looking for various documents,” the official told news agency PTI.
During the search operations, documents, including bank statements, were seized, he said.
“The sleuths are scrutinizing computers and hard disk drives for files related to monetary dealings associated with the scam,” he said.
The search operations started early on Thursday following a tip-off from a person who was arrested in connection with the ED’s probe into the cow smuggling scam.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
