KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s most well-known chef, Yevhen Klopotenko, calls himself a “culinary independence fighter.” His longtime weapon is borsch, the meaty beet stew that’s synonymous with Ukrainian identification. And he even wielded it final month on Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

“Your life will probably be divided into two: Earlier than you tried my borsch and after you tried my borsch,” Klopotenko instructed Blinken, who dined on the 37-year-old chef’s Kyiv restaurant, 100 rokiv tomu vpered (100 years again to the long run), throughout an official go to. (Usually written “borscht” in English, the stew can also be extensively eaten throughout Jap Europe and Russia.)

Klopotenko is finest recognized for main the profitable marketing campaign to checklist borsch on UNESCO’s checklist of cultural heritage in pressing want of safeguarding. This was a part of his longtime quest to, as he calls it, “de-colonize” Ukraine’s delicacies, which he says has been stifled for hundreds of years by Soviet communism and Russian imperialism. Klopotenko has labored for years with historians to pore by way of Ukrainian literary manuscripts for references about dishes cooked tons of of years in the past.

His English-language cookbook, launched earlier this yr, The Genuine Ukrainian Kitchen: Recipes from a Native Chef, was cast as Russia’s full-scale conflict on Ukraine raged.

“Should you converse concerning the conflict, day after day, it’s not supplying you with good feelings,” Klopotenko says. “However while you cook dinner, you’ve got good feelings. It’s like a continuation of the story about Ukraine.”

Recipes embody borsch (after all), together with a vegetarian model with a plum butter known as levkar, as properly small fluffy cheesecakes (syrnyky) from Lviv, garlicky pork roast and buns (pyrizhky) filled with quite a lot of fillings (cabbage and meat). He factors out that the recipes are designed for a house cook dinner to make simply.

“That’s the concept of this e book: to offer alternative [to] all individuals who converse English to the touch our delicacies and to place our tradition inside your self,” he says. “I need to share our tradition.”

NPR first met Klopotenko simply earlier than Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. He was carrying a Christmas sweater, holding a beet and nervously joking that he had stockpiled two years’ value of buckwheat to assist survive a brand new invasion by “our loopy neighbor.” Days later, as Russian troops marched towards Kyiv, his restaurant, recognized for its connoisseur tackle conventional Ukrainian delicacies, grew to become a bomb shelter. Sheltering along with his household simply exterior the capital, Klopotenko cooked like every meal can be their final.

“Should you noticed the movie Don’t Look Up, and so they have been sitting and consuming collectively within the final scene,” he instructed NPR simply after the invasion, referring to the moments within the movie earlier than a comet killed everybody on Earth. “I felt one thing the identical.”

In early 2022, as hundreds of Ukrainians fled cities bombed by Russian troops and headed to western Ukraine, Klopotenko drew inspiration from Spanish chef José Andrés and his charity group World Central Kitchen and opened a pop-up restaurant within the metropolis of Lviv.

“I used to be standing within the Lviv railway station, I used to be cooking borsch and I noticed the folks … crying as a result of [they were] working from the bombing,” he says. “And I felt like there was no extra future, solely in the future, right now. And it’s nonetheless the identical. [The war] is a part of life.”

Oksana Parafeniuk for NPR /

Now, talking at his bustling restaurant, Klopotenko is noticeably extra subdued than he was earlier than the conflict. But along with his green-painted nails, mohawked curls (an tailored Cossack coiffure) and joyous giggle, he nonetheless vibrates with vitality. He waves at a crew organising on the restaurant to tape a scene for Grasp Chef Ukraine, a contest he received in 2015. He talks excitedly about plans to open extra eating places, even exterior Ukraine, and relishes telling a narrative about how his borsch grew to become an ice cream taste as a part of a charity fundraiser for navy drones.

“You eat meat ice cream,” he says. “It’s ice cream with out the sugar, simply frozen borsch. Even for me it was like …. whoa.”

Klopotenko additionally cooks on his YouTube channel, the place he exhibits his practically half-million subscribers methods to make not solely borsch and different Ukrainian staples but additionally a very good lasagna bolognese. As well as, he travels round Ukraine in search of undiscovered native recipes and desires to peruse the 400-year-old diaries of monks to attempt to discover misplaced Ukrainian dishes.

Oksana Parafeniuk for NPR /

The Soviet Union “killed all our paperwork about meals,” he says, “so we don’t know what Ukrainian meals was like within the sixteenth century or seventeenth century. I’ll dig for it. It’s vital.”

Klopotenko senses that the world, immersed in new conflicts and atrocities, is shedding curiosity in Ukraine’s plight. He’s seen it occur with different lengthy wars, just like the one which subsumed Syria. He adopted information of that conflict carefully and remembers cooking Syrian recipes, “attempting in my method to join with the tradition, to help it.” Then the world started tuning out, as if Syria “had simply disappeared.”

“I don’t need Ukraine to vanish in such a manner,” he says. “That’s my largest motivation in doing what I do.”

NPR’s Polina Lytvynova contributed to this report from Kyiv.

Copyright 2024 NPR

Invoice Burr returned to Saturday Night time Reside to host for his second time and was joined by musical visitor Mk.gee. Burr beforehand hosted in October of 2020 and turned some heads with what some dubbed an offensive and crass monologue. Equally, this week’s episode was slightly crass; nevertheless, apart from a disappointing monologue from Burr, this episode was very humorous. After Tuesday’s election, possibly we might all use amusing.

Total, this episode showcased extra of the solid than in previous weeks and delivered some nice laughs. There have been a few missteps and a stunning variety of jokes about abuse sprinkled in. Nonetheless, this episode additionally has lots of laugh-out-loud sketches and felt like a robust week for the present.

Chilly Open

This week’s chilly open featured a message from Bowen Yang, Heidi Gardner, Kenan Thompson, Colin Jost, Marcello Hernadez, Sarah Sherman and Ego Nwodim, particularly that they have been pro-Trump this entire time. SNL has develop into synonymous with its political chilly opens, and their apparent lie actually works right here. Coming again after the election was a tough process, and this might have simply gone fallacious, however this chilly open dealt with it masterfully.

Monologue

Burr’s monologue was simply the low level of the week. It’s stunning when a humorist’s monologue goes fallacious. Perhaps audiences maintain comedians to greater requirements than pop stars or actors. Perhaps Burr’s model of humor is a poor match for SNL. Even with these elements, this monologue actually doesn’t work. Final week, John Mulaney began with a disappointing joke about Asians however saved his monologue by the top. This week, Burr began with a disappointing joke about Asians however didn’t win the viewers again over, and it’s fairly palpable.

Rorschach Check

This sketch follows a psychological take a look at at a firehouse the place one firefighter retains seeing sexualized artwork of cartoon characters. This sketch is crude and slightly dumb however actually humorous. There’s something nice about how the viewers is proven each what he’s seeing and what the opposite firefighters see.

Buffalo Wild Wings

The sketch is a business for Buffalo Wild Wings that will get interrupted by a really Boston fan. Whereas this sketch is similar to a Dunkin Donuts business parody from 2016, Burr actually sells his efficiency as a disgruntled Patriots fan. It isn’t breaking any molds, however it has lots of nice little moments.

Intercourse Rock CD

Intercourse Rock CD follows a son speaking to his father a couple of hair metallic band from the Eighties. The framing machine is considerably complicated, because it begins as a business for a Better of CD that isn’t completely carried all through tonally. Nonetheless, it doesn’t actually matter as a result of this sketch is admittedly enjoyable. It’s arduous to not giggle each time they reduce to the band, Snake Pores and skin. Andrew Dismukes, Sherman and Johnson are simply so likable because the band.

The Janitor

A Good Will Searching Parody doesn’t really feel precisely well timed in 2024, however this one is admittedly good. The sketch follows a mathematically good MIT janitor who fails to wash up a big pile of puke. Whereas the humor is slightly gross, the eye to element (even the music is evocative of Good Will Searching’s iconic rating), the heightening, Johnson’s Robin Williams impression and bodily comedy make this sketch nice.

Calling Dad

On this sketch, Devon Walker and Dismukes attempt to name their dads to speak on the cellphone. Whereas this sketch is humorous, there’s a quiet heartbreak to it because it explores how males usually don’t really feel empowered about their emotions, even with these near them. Lots of the sketches on this episode take a look at masculinity and this one actually works.

Mk.gee

Mk.gee performed two songs: ROCKMAN and Alesis. Whereas this author was not conversant in the rocker earlier than this episode, Mk.gee’s performances have been cool in a dreamy, Eighties-evocative, indie type of method.

Weekend Replace

This week’s Weekend Replace had some good jokes. There’s something humorous about Michael Che consuming on the desk. Nwodim and Thompson delivered stable characters. Nonetheless, general, it wasn’t wildly memorable.

Bald Guys

Final week, Mulaney introduced again a long-running musical sketch about New Yorkers ordering meals at odd locations. Whereas the primary time he did the premise, it felt impressed (when it was about ordering lobster at a diner set to the music of Les Miserables), it had develop into stale the a number of occasions they’ve completed it since. Nonetheless, this sketch appears like a religious successor to Diner Lobster. It takes a giant swing which may not be for everybody, however it feels ingenious and dangerous. The sketch begins with two folks on a date the place nothing unusual has occurred and ends with an authentic musical quantity about being bald.

Trauma Help Group

There may be nothing fallacious with this sketch. Nonetheless, it’s eclipsed by different sketches this week. Yang delivers a characteristically good efficiency as a person who makes his group remedy session all about him. If this had aired one other week, it might have even been a stand out, however this episode had some actually wonderful sketches.

I Bought One

This sketch appears like traditional SNL. Newcomer Ashley Padilla shines as a lady who tries to inform a joke at a piece dinner. It’s weird in all the correct methods.

SNL returns subsequent week on November 16 with Charlie XCX as each the host and musical visitor.

Within the twenty fourth minute, Neto sized up Ben White, jinking and feinting this fashion and that, soundtracked by the rising mockery of the travelling Arsenal supporters solely a few metres away. It appeared he was going nowhere.

Then within the blink of an eye fixed, he dug out a pinpoint cross to the again submit, the place the coming Malo Gusto headed over from shut vary. It ought to have been the opening aim and served discover that Neto was sharp.

On one other day, that may have been the excessive level for Neto, however as a substitute, the second half delivered the signature second of his Chelsea profession, driving diagonally infield into a big pocket of house, and lashing a low shot confidently past David Raya.

It offered a launch for Stamford Bridge and aid for Sanchez, who had allowed himself to be crushed at his close to submit by Martinelli for the opener. On present type, Neto is Chelsea’s most harmful winger and must play when it issues most.

British Columbia’s Ministry of Well being says the primary suspected human case of hen flu contracted in Canada has been detected in B.C. 

A press release from the workplace of the provincial well being officer says a teen within the area lined by Fraser Well being examined optimistic for hen flu, and the teenager is presently getting therapy at BC Kids’s Hospital. 

The assertion says the optimistic take a look at was performed by the BC Centre for Illness Management, and samples are on their approach to Winnipeg’s nationwide microbiology lab for confirmatory testing.

It says public well being officers are additionally wanting into the case to search out the supply of publicity and determine any contacts. 

Provincial well being officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says it’s “a uncommon occasion” and solely a handful of instances of hen flu, brought on by the H5N1 pressure of the avian influenza virus, have been detected in people within the U.S. and overseas. 

The assertion says the supply of the teenager’s publicity to the virus may be very more likely to be from an animal or hen, whereas public well being officers and the province’s chief veterinarian examine. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Nov. 9, 2024. 

Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan and the remainder of the “Thunderbolts*” stars are kicking much more ass in a particular take a look at Marvel‘s upcoming movie.

The prolonged trailer debuted on the first-ever Brazil D23 fan occasion on Saturday. David Harbour, who performs Crimson Guardian within the movie, was there to current the trailer to the viewers.

The Thunderbolts are basically the reply to DC’s Suicide Squad — each are groups of villains and antiheroes compelled to endure harmful missions for the nice of mankind. Along with Pugh, who reprises her “Black Widow” function of Yelena Belova, the solid contains Harbour, Stan because the Winter Soldier, Olga Kurylenko (Taskmaster from “Black Widow”), Hannah John-Kamen (Ghost from “Ant-Man and the Wasp”), Wyatt Russell (John Walker from “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier”) and Julia Louis-Dreyfus (as mastermind Valentina Allegra de Fontaine). “Prime Gun: Maverick” star Lewis Pullman performs a mysterious character named Bob.

Primarily based on Kurt Busiek’s comedian sequence of the identical identify, “Thunderbolts*” is directed by Jake Schreier, with Kevin Feige producing. Louis D’Esposito, Brian Chapek, Jason Tamez and Scarlett Johansson function government producers. The screenplay is written by Eric Pearson (“Black Widow,” “Thor: Ragnarok,” “Transformers One,” “The Unbelievable 4: First Steps”), “Beef” creator Lee Sung Jin and co-showrunner of “The Bear” Joanna Calo.

Pullman informed Selection that his audition for “Thunderbolts*” was so secretive, it was nearly like assembly with the FBI.

“It was a hell of an expertise going on the market and check screening. It felt like I used to be going into the FBI or one thing. It was all very locked and sealed. They’re like, ‘You’re fortunate to carry onto a set of sides for longer than an hour.’ There have been shredders all over the place. However Jake Schreier, the director, sat down with me and he informed me the story, however I couldn’t learn any script or something. It was cool. It was form of quaint in that sense. It was like, ‘And now by the campfire, I’ll inform you the story of Thunderbolts.’”

The superhero tentpole is releasing in theaters on Might 2, 2025. Watch the particular look under.

A youngster in British Columbia, Canada has been hospitalized with a presumed case of H5N1 hen flu, the primary detected human case within the nation from the latest outbreak. The person is presumed to have contracted the virus, additionally known as avian flu or avian influenza, from publicity to wild birds, however testing is ongoing to substantiate this.

“Our ideas are with this younger individual and their household throughout this troublesome time,” stated Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial well being officer in a information launch. “This can be a uncommon occasion, and whereas it’s the first detected case of H5 in an individual in B.C. or in Canada, there have been a small variety of human circumstances within the U.S. and elsewhere, which is why we’re conducting an intensive investigation to completely perceive the supply of publicity right here in B.C,” stated Henry.

All shut contacts of the contaminated particular person are being contacted and investigations are underway to determine how {the teenager} was contaminated. Canada has been testing wild birds, discovering strains of the virus much like these circulating in each elements of the U.S. and Japan, however that is the primary time the virus has been present in a human. The case represents solely Canada’s second ever detected case of H5N1, after a traveller getting back from China in 2014 died from the illness.

Since March 2024, the U.S. division of agriculture has confirmed outbreaks in 440 dairy cattle herds throughout 15 states, with the outbreak persevering with. The virus has additionally been detected in 45 industrial poultry flocks and 30 yard flocks. Canada has been testing milk and livestock, however in contrast to within the U.S. there was no confirmed circumstances of the identical pressure of the H5N1 virus from the U.S. in both cattle or poultry farms in Canada.

In line with the World Well being Group, 903 circumstances of H5N1 in people have been detected since 2003 throughout 5 nations. Of those circumstances, 464 had been deadly, leading to a fatality uncommon of 51%. Nevertheless, that is prone to be an overestimate as people who’re extra sick usually tend to be hospitalized and be examined for H5N1. Most of the signs of H5N1 overlap with different viral infections reminiscent of influenza and Covid-19, which means folks could not know they’re contaminated with H5N1.

The primary case of the present dominant H5N1 pressure in people within the U.S. was detected in April 2024, with 44 circumstances in whole now detected, in keeping with the U.S. CDC. These circumstances are thought to principally come from both contact with contaminated dairy cows, poultry farms or wild birds. Nevertheless this quantity is prone to be a big underestimate, with many circumstances prone to go undetected. Earlier this month, the virus was detected in wastewater testing in a Los Angeles County, suggesting that infections in people could also be much more prevalent than believed.

A brand new group of antiheroes is getting ready to take over the MCU subsequent yr, teasing loads of Avengers-sized motion sequences.

Forward of the movie’s Could 2, 2025 premiere, Disney and Marvel Studios debuted a brand new particular have a look at Thunderbolts* throughout Saturday’s D23 Expo in Brazil, beginning with an explosive desert chase scene.

The sneak peek options the titular crew of antiheroes touring a abandoned freeway in Alexei Shostakov/Pink Guardian’s (David Harbour) huge purple limo when a navy convoy begins tailing them and opening hearth. As Yelena Bolova/Black Widow (Florence Pugh) hangs out the passenger’s aspect window to return hearth, the humvees are someway blown to items.

Sebastian Stan‘s Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier rides via the wreckage on a bike with a a lot larger weapon in hand. “That man’s so cool,” raves Pink Guardian, shortly earlier than Bucky stops and shoots up their car with an expolosive.

The scene precedes a brand new trailer, during which Julia Louis-Dreyfus‘ CIA director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine assembles the group at Tony Stark’s Avengers tower, which now belongs to the US authorities.

“How loopy is it to consider all of the monumental fights that occurred precisely right here the place you’re standing,” says Valentina. “I imply, the place wasn’t low cost, however it’s acquired good optics.”

The trailer additionally introduces Hannah John-Kamen‘s Ava Starr/Ghost, Wyatt Russell‘s John Walker/U.S. Agent, Olga Kurylenko‘s Antonia Dreykov/Taskmaster and Lewis Pullman‘s Bob/Sentry.

The newest sneak peek comes amid the MCU’s Section 5, which incorporates Captain America: Courageous New World and Daredevil: Born Once more, in addition to Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, The Marvels and Deadpool & Wolverine. The section additionally consists of the reveals Secret Invasion, Season 2 of Loki, Season 2 of What If…?, Echo, Agatha All Alongside, Eyes of Wakanda, Your Pleasant Neighborhood Spider-Man and Ironheart.

A Federal Emergency Administration Company employee has been fired after she directed staff serving to hurricane survivors to not go to properties with yard indicators supporting President-elect Donald Trump, the company’s chief mentioned in a press release Saturday.

“It is a clear violation of FEMA’s core values and rules to assist folks no matter their political affiliation,” FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell mentioned. “This was reprehensible.”

The company didn’t establish the worker, nor did it say the place it occurred.

However Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, calling it “focused discrimination” of Florida residents who assist Trump, mentioned it occurred in Florida.

DeSantis mentioned he has directed the Florida Division of Emergency Administration to start an investigation into the matter.

“The blatant weaponization of presidency by partisan activists within the federal forms is but another excuse why the Biden-Harris administration is in its ultimate days,” DeSantis mentioned on social media.

“New management is on the best way in DC, and I’m optimistic that these partisan bureaucrats will likely be fired,” he mentioned.

There have been no particulars in FEMA’s assertion or DeSantis’ feedback about the timeframe or group the place the incident occurred. FEMA staff have been within the state serving to residents get better from Hurricane Milton, which devastated many Florida communities final month.

Criswell mentioned she is decided to carry workers accountable.

“I’ll proceed to do all the pieces I can to ensure this by no means occurs once more,” she mentioned.

The Related Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Judith Jamison, an internationally acclaimed dancer who later served as inventive director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater for 20 years, has died. She was 81.

Jamison died Saturday after a quick sickness in New York, surrounded by shut pals, Ailey firm spokesperson Christopher Zunner confirmed to The Related Press.

“We keep in mind and are grateful for her artistry, humanity and unimaginable gentle, which impressed us all,” Zunner stated.

Jamison grew up in Philadelphia and skilled there in ballet from a younger age. At a time when Black dancers have been uncommon in ballet, she started with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1965.

READ MORE: Alvin Ailey’s stunning imaginative and prescient for dance, captured in hundreds of photographs

Tall, sleek and expressive, she grew to become one of many firm’s most well-known performers and a muse for Ailey. Jamison had star turns in two of Ailey’s signature dances, “Revelations” and “Cry.” She danced with the Ailey firm for 15 years earlier than leaving to carry out on Broadway and as a visitor artist with different ballet corporations.

Jamison later returned to the Ailey firm as its inventive director for 20 years. She is extensively credited with serving to to make it one of the crucial profitable dance corporations within the U.S.

As a dancer, choreographer, director and speaker, her distinguished profession leaped over limitations of race and gender.

“She was a novel, spectacular dancer who was majestic and queenly. She danced with eloquence and integrity,” Sylvia Waters, Ailey II Inventive Director Emerita, stated Saturday following the brand new of Jamison’s demise.

“To bounce together with her and to be in her sphere of power was mesmerizing,” Waters stated. “I used to be lucky to carry out together with her and she or he set the bar very, very excessive.”

Jamison’s directorship of the Ailey theater “sustained the corporate and helped it to develop. She was an eloquent speaker, robust chief and ran a decent ship,” Waters stated.

Putting photographs of Jamison together with photographs, video and a sculpture are at present displayed at an exhibition in regards to the work of the Ailey firm at New York’s Whitney Museum of American Artwork in New York.

Jamison was awarded the Kennedy Heart Honors in 1999. Different honors included the Nationwide Medal of Arts and the Handel Medallion, the best cultural award from New York Metropolis.

AP journalist Amy Taxin in Santa Ana, California, contributed to this story.

(Bloomberg) — A Federal Emergency Administration Company worker who ordered staff to bypass properties with yard indicators supporting President-elect Donald Trump has been fired, the company’s head mentioned Saturday. 

“This can be a clear violation of FEMA’s core values and rules to assist folks no matter their political affiliation,” FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell mentioned in a press release. “This was reprehensible.” 

The incident occurred in Lake Placid, Florida, when a supervisor for the catastrophe aid company instructed their workforce to “keep away from properties promoting Trump” whereas canvassing residents who may qualify for federal support following Hurricane Milton, in response to the Day by day Wire. 

No less than 20 properties with Trump indicators or flags have been skipped from the top of October and into November as a result of steerage, the information outlet reported Friday. 

Criswell mentioned the incident concerned a single worker of the company’s greater than 22,000 and the matter had been referred to the particular counsel’s workplace for additional investigation. 

“I need to be clear to all of my workers and the American folks, the sort of conduct and motion won’t be tolerated at FEMA and we are going to maintain folks accountable in the event that they violate these requirements of conduct,” Criswell mentioned. “I’ll proceed to do every little thing in my energy to verify by no means occurs once more.” 

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