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Fox News
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Olivia Wilde shows off trim figure in beaded string bikini during Italian getaway
Olivia Wilde had some fun under the Mediterranean sun while vacationing in southern Italy. On Saturday, the 41-year-old actress and director was spotted climbing out of the water after enjoying a dip in the Ionian Sea off the coast of Taormina, Sicily. The "House" alum put her svelte figure on full display as she rocked a tan bikini with red beaded strings. Wilde wore her damp hair down around her shoulders and accessorized with a pair of oversized brown sunglasses and a delicate gold necklace. The "Tron: Legacy" actress was later seen reading a book while sunbathing on a lounge chair by the beach. The day before, Wilde attended the 2025 Taormina Film Festival, where she received the Taormina Creativity Award. The "Don't Worry Darling" director wore a sage green gown that featured a soleil-pleated skirt and plunging neckline with a keyhole cutout. Wilde styled her hair into soft waves and completed her look with a gold chain necklace that had an emerald pendant. Earlier in the day, Wilde sported a light yellow silk and lace dress and gold velvet platform sandals along with a gold statement necklace while attending the festival photo call. On June 2, Taormina Artistic Director Tiziana Rocca announced the festival would be honoring Wilde's creative achievements. "We are honored to welcome Olivia Wilde to the 71st edition of the Taormina Film Festival," Rocca said in a statement to Deadline. "Olivia represents a shining example of female creative power, combining elegance, intelligence and determination. Her presence will greatly enrich this year's program and offer the audience a unique opportunity to engage with one of the key figures in contemporary cinema." The festival was held from June 10-14 in the hilltop town. Other stars honored with awards included Martin Scorsese, Michael Douglas, Helen Hunt, Catherine Deneuve and Monica Bellucci. According to Deadline, Wilde's next acting project is the upcoming thriller, "I Want Your Sex," which also stars pop singer Charlie XCX and Cooper Hoffman. She will direct the comedy "The Invite," in which she will also star alongside Seth Rogen, Edward Norton and Penélope Cruz. Wilde's other upcoming directing projects include the comic book adaptation "Avengelyne" and the Christmas comedy "Naughty."
Telegraph
10-06-2025
- Telegraph
I took a pre-parenthood holiday at 31-weeks pregnant – and it changed the way I see motherhood
The sun was just beginning to sink over the Ionian sea as my husband and I hiked down a steep path to a completely isolated beach on the island of Kefalonia. At 31 weeks pregnant, I was not at my most agile, and getting down the rickety path safely had required a superhuman level of care and attention. But once we reached the bottom, and I slipped into the cool, inky sea, every tentative step seemed worthwhile. I gazed up at the mountains which surrounded us, and thought how this would be the last time – for a while, at least – that he and I would be able to make this kind of journey. The next time we have a holiday, it will be with our son. There will be a buggy to drag around, a bag filled with nappies, wet wipes and snacks, and we will be desperately sleep deprived, more inclined to make use of the pool than go off the beaten path in search of perfect, quiet spots like this. It was not the first time I'd mused on the subject. In fact, it was this realisation, some months before, which had led to my planning this trip – despite knowing that I would be, by then, extremely pregnant. On past holidays, I'd seen the ever-alert parents: sunbathing with one eye open, chasing after little ones who'd strayed too close to the water's edge, sun lotion in hand, dealing with tantrums and wiping away tears. I wanted one last holiday just the two of us, one which would reflect the kind of trips I've always loved: relaxing but wild, with good food on tap and a refreshing sea to jump into, far from armies of sunbeds and tourists. I wanted, one last time, to be able to fall asleep under the sun without a care in the world. And it wasn't just that. If I had a pound for every time a parent has told me, over the last few months, to 'enjoy the sleep while you can', I'd be a very rich woman. What I manage not to say in return is that, thanks to the aches and pains of pregnancy, I haven't actually had a good night's sleep in eight months anyway. If I was going to be twisting and turning in the wee small hours, I reasoned, it might as well be on a beautiful island, to the sound of gentle waves lapping the shore. I love Greece. I've been there many times, and knew it would guarantee a holiday that catered to all our needs: sun, sea, friendly locals, good food, and great hotels. Kefalonia – a new island for us – delivered all of this in spades. We spent a large chunk of our trip based at Eliamos, a beautiful spread of five-star villas nestled in the countryside of Spartia, a village 12km south east of Argostoli, the island's capital. The village's name, locals proudly told me, came from the Spartans who used it as a key military base during the Peloponnesian War in ancient times, and its sleepy, simple, rustic offerings were exactly what I'd been hoping for. I had wanted a higgledy-piggledy, time-warp little place with a local taverna, a small shop selling cold beer and groceries, an old church, and a small café; with dusty streets where cats sit on the roofs of old cars, and friendly elderly women wave down from their porches as dusk approaches. It was perfect. So too was smart, stylish Eliamos – a stark contrast from the nearby village, with various activities on offer (I particularly enjoyed the pregnancy Pilates) as well as a private pool beside our delightful villa. It catered perfectly to my desire to slow down, and I spent most of my time drifting between pool and sun lounger, while my husband could take advantage of the resort's guided hikes when he wanted to stretch his legs. There was a beautiful wild beach a short walk away, too, though I surprised myself by opting more often for the pristine infinity pool – my aching back grateful for the softly padded loungers. For the final few days of our trip, we decamped to the nearby Celestial All Suites, a boutique hotel (like Eliamos, part of the Mr & Mrs Smith collection) where each room had a private terrace and plunge pool – a good option when I wanted to bob serenely and cool off, though – as swimming is currently one of the few exercises that doesn't hurt my heavier body – I did also spend time in the 65-metre pool, getting some laps in while surrounded by those beautiful mountains. Our trip was a peaceful experience, and we returned – as I'd hoped – both rested and relaxed. And yet, the most significant outcome was an unexpected one. It was only during our holiday, when I was able to step outside my everyday routine, that I realised my priorities have already started to change. I've only realised that I wanted to become a mother in the last couple of years. It took me meeting the right person, and in the two years since we met, we've travelled together as much as possible – to Europe, Morocco, gorilla trekking in Uganda, on safari in Kenya, and across America, drinking a lot of margaritas and staying up late into the night. Parenthood is something we both knew we wanted, but nevertheless, it is a daunting – and enormous – change, and we were living as though we were on borrowed time. As a result, before this trip, I'd been able to think of this next chapter only in terms of subtraction: not being able to jump spontaneously onto planes; stop at beach-side restaurants on a whim, without checking for kids' food and high chairs; stay up late; drift off on the beach under Grecian sun. But during this holiday, something shifted, and I found that I was looking at these big changes less as limits, and more as new horizons. I looked forward to sitting on a beach, my focus no longer myself, but entirely on the child playing nearby on the sand, and to happily substituting endless days of lying, half-asleep, in the sun for ones in which I show my son all the exciting new things around us, helping him have fun, keeping him safe. The next step is still daunting – but now, it feels more like a gift than ever. The golden rules of holidaying while pregnant Opt for a short-haul flight (especially in your third trimester) While the tropics and the Caribbean were tantalising options, I couldn't face getting on a flight for more than eight hours. Back ache, restless legs and swollen ankles aren't conducive to a long time cramped on an airplane. This may be a moot point if you're travelling on a lie-flat, first-class bed, but as we – and, I'd wager, most hastily saving pregnant couples – were not, we stuck to Europe. Talk to your doctor or midwife Guidelines say that it's safe to travel (and fly) until the late stages of pregnancy, but we're all different, so it's always worth checking in with a professional, especially if you're past the 28-week mark. Some airlines also require a doctor's note. Choose somewhere with a nice pool and plenty of sun loungers A beach within walking distance is also a major bonus, meaning you can have a change of scenery without having to travel far. Find somewhere with good local amenities You don't want to have to jump in a cab every time you run out of bottled water or snacks, so ensuring there is a shop or café close by is a must. Sleep – or at least, try to Good amenities, yes, but by the same token be sure to avoid accommodation in a lively neighbourhood so you're not woken up by noisy party goers in the middle of the night when you've just drifted off, nor building works taking place at the crack of dawn. Likewise, make sure there is good air conditioning. Sleep may be elusive when pregnant, but having the right conditions in place to at least make it possible is key. Pack comfortable footwear I left my heels at home (my balance is off as it is, and this was not the place to risk a broken ankle). Bring twice as much suncream as you normally would Your skin is extra sensitive while pregnant, so it's important to cream up – plus, if your bump is big, there's more than usual to cover. Essentials Danielle Sheridan was a guest of Eliamos Villas and Spa, which has rooms from €759/£650 (including breakfast, based on two people sharing an Amos Sea View Suite with private pool); and of Celestial All Suites Kefalonia, which has rooms from £210 per night (including breakfast, based on two sharing a Special Offer Junior Suite with private pool). Easyjet flies from London to Kefalonia from £74 return.
Daily Mail
09-06-2025
- Daily Mail
This Greek destination is the perfect blend of ancient and new - and the ultimate family holiday spot
As bath times go, it falls short of a Churchillian soak. But the three thousand year old terracotta tub, lined with spiral motifs and roughly the size of a double Belfast sink, brims with majesty and myth. For it was here, I tell my family dragooned into a morning tour of Greece 's best preserved Mycenaean palace, that Telemachus is said to have been bathed by King Nestor's youngest daughter after arriving at the elderly warrior's pile desperate for news of his missing father Odysseus, still not home from the Trojan War. 'Not much room to lie down, is there?' ponders Felix, 13. No, son, but with a panorama like this who can blame Homer's oldest and wisest hero for installing a unit that requires you to bathe bolt upright? With sweeping views of Navarino Bay and the sparkling Ionian Sea, this B.C. bathroom looks out onto heaven. Olive groves as far as the eye can see; perfect unspoiled sands. Not to mention, in an adjoining room, remnants of a wine store fit for Dionysius himself. No wonder, legend has it, Nestor lived for three generations. Similar life enhancing values can be found a few kilometres down the hill at the Costa Navarino resort, a high end collection of world class hotels that include the Peloponnese's first Mandarin Oriental, which blends Homeric hospitality with a sensitivity to landscape and heritage. Founded by Captain Vassilis Constantakopoulos, a shipping company owner and keen environmentalist, his vision was to create a destination that would have sustainability and Messinian culture at its heart. We are staying at the W Costa Navarino, the newest addition to his luxury tribe, where the old is thoughtfully mixed with the brand, spanking new. The spacious central lobby is a case in point: soft grey local stone walls are offset by gleaming floor to ceiling glass doors through which two perfectly appointed infinity pools call like Sirens luring us in for a swim. Without my glasses on, I spy what seems to be a collage of post-it notes covering the wall behind the reception desk. Turns out, it's a modern tableaux of Linear-B, a homage to the script discovered on clay tablets in Nestor's Palace and the earliest known form of Greek. See, kids? Classics can be cool. 'It is here,' concedes Evie, 17, so impressed by her trendy surroundings that her noise/parent cancelling headphones, worn every minute of the three hour drive from Athens airport, finally slide down to her shoulders. It may be nudging thirty degrees, but there's no mistaking the cool vibe among the clientele. If it weren't for the luggage, I'd think we'd stumbled in on a fashion shoot. The pool table in the adjoining W Lounge, home to the funky main bar and games area, has caught Felix's attention. I'm drawn to the stylish shelving units dotted with glossy design books and objets d'art. My husband, as ever, has an eye on lunch. Five minutes later, we're tucking into the tastiest Greek salad and a moreish house white as we sit on the terrace overlooking the sea. Thanks to the islet of Spacteria, which acts as a windbreaker, Navarino Bay is blissfully sheltered from the gusts that can grate with even the most devout Grecophile. I could sit here all day – if the hipsters would let me. Our interconnecting rooms, with gorgeous views of the sea, are light, bright and modern while also being highly absorbent of family mess – a conclusion I come to after a massage at the spa that leaves me comatose with calm. Down at the beachfront pool, the air of serenity continues - a fact my husband puts down to the absence of little ones, as the hotel only permits guests over the age of 12. Parents of toddlers, your time will come. Parents of teens, rejoice; for Costa Navarino has pretty much thought of everything. While days can be spent in a blur of water sports, golf (there are four immaculate courses), tennis, padel and pickleball, nights are enlivened by DJ sets in the central agora for which you can even rent your own statement party outfit. I keep this information to myself. For having tasted dinner at Parelia, a casual-cool beachside restaurant with the sort of oversized wicker lanterns that have me mentally stripping out the dated kitchen spotlights at home, I have no further need of evening entertainment. How could I in the face of its giant pan of ambrosial lamb, garnished with the best part of a rosemary bush and potatoes to die for? The dish would comfortably feed a family for a week. Not for the first time, I look at mine and wonder how half of them ended up vegetarian. Felix, my only carnivore, blinks at the tower of meat before him and vows to do his best. Our final day and we are coaxed out of our comfort zone for a cycling/hiking tour courtesy of Navarino Outdoors. Our charming guide Dinos, an astro-physicist about to start the olive picking season, cycles us to Voidokoilia beach via the flamingos of Limnothalassa lake. It's a beautiful spot, framed by the ruins of Old Navarino Castle and prompts him to break into song. I'm half expecting a Greek folk tune and am taken aback when I recognise the number: Ed Sheeran's Castle on the Hill. It's faintly surreal but we applaud and he laughs. Once again, with the lightest touch, ancient and modern align.
CTV News
03-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
What made Mount Etna's latest eruption so rare
MILAN — Mount Etna, the volcano that towers over eastern Sicily, has again captivated the world with a spectacular show, spewing smoke and high into the sky. But the defining event of Monday's eruption was the more rare pyroclastic flow from the southwestern crater not visible from a distance. The volcano is Europe's most active, and the continent's largest. Etna attracts hikers and backpackers to its slopes while less adventurous tourists can take it in from a distance, most stunningly from the Ionian Sea. Etna's latest eruption caused neither injuries nor evacuations, but sent a group of tourists on its flanks running, as captured by video posted on social media with smoke towering in the background. Authorities emphasized there was no danger to the population, and the pyroclastic flow — a fast-moving mixture of rock fragments, gas and ash — was limited to about two kilometres (more than a mile) and didn't go beyond the Valle del Leone, or Lion Valley, which forms a natural containment area. Etna has been active recently, and this was the 14th episode since mid-March. The most recent pyroclastic flows with significant reach were recorded on Feb. 10, 2022, Oct. 23, 2021, Dec. 13, 2020 and Feb. 11, 2014, Marco Viccaro, president of Italy's national volcanology association, said Tuesday. What's happening now? After a 19-day lull, Etna began to erupt with lively explosive bursts of gas and ash followed by a mild lava flow on the eastern slope followed by a smaller flow to the south. At around 10 a.m. on Monday, Etna exploded with its first major, violent eruption of the year: lava fountains and a column of ash and gas rose several kilometres, or miles, in the air. The event climaxed around 11:23 a.m. when the pyroclastic flow, triggered when magma mixed with snow, travelled two kilometres (more than a mile) to the Valle del Leone within a minute. By late afternoon, scientists said the event had subsided. Imposing figure Etna towers around 3,350 metres (around 11,050 feet) above sea level and is 35 kilometres (22 miles) in diameter, although the volcanic activity has changed the mountain's height over time. Occasionally, the airport at Catania, eastern Sicily's largest city, has to close down for hours or days, when ash in the air makes flying in the area dangerous. An aviation warning was put in place during the latest event, but the airport wasn't closed. With Etna's lava flows largely contained to its uninhabited slopes, life goes in towns and villages elsewhere on the mountain. Among the benefits of the volcano: fertile farmland and tourism. Deadly past Inspiring ancient Greek legends, Etna has had scores of known eruptions in its history. An eruption in 396 B.C., has been credited with keeping the army of Carthage at bay. In 1669, in what has been considered the volcano's worst known eruption, lava buried a swath of Catania, about 23 kilometres (15 miles) away and devastated dozens of villages. An eruption in 1928 cut off a rail route circling the mountain's base. Colleen Barry, The Associated Press
The Independent
03-06-2025
- General
- The Independent
What made Mount Etna's latest eruption so rare
Mount Etna, the volcano that towers over eastern Sicily, has again captivated the world with a spectacular show, spewing smoke and high into the sky. But the defining event of Monday's eruption was the more rare pyroclastic flow from the southwestern crater not visible from a distance. The volcano is Europe's most active, and the continent's largest. Etna attracts hikers and backpackers to its slopes while less adventurous tourists can take it in from a distance, most stunningly from the Ionian Sea. Etna's latest eruption caused neither injuries nor evacuations, but sent a group of tourists on its flanks running, as captured by video posted on social media with smoke towering in the background. Authorities emphasized there was no danger to the population, and the pyroclastic flow — a fast-moving mixture of rock fragments, gas and ash — was limited to about 2 kilometers (more than a mile) and didn't go beyond the Valle del Leone, or Lion Valley, which forms a natural containment area. Etna has been active recently, and this was the 14th episode since mid-March. The most recent pyroclastic flows with significant reach were recorded on Feb. 10, 2022, Oct. 23, 2021, Dec. 13, 2020 and Feb. 11, 2014, Marco Viccaro, president of Italy 's national volcanology association, said Tuesday. What's happening now? After a 19-day lull, Etna began to erupt with lively explosive bursts of gas and ash followed by a mild lava flow on the eastern slope followed by a smaller flow to the south. At around 10 a.m. on Monday, Etna exploded with its first major, violent eruption of the year: lava fountains and a column of ash and gas rose several kilometers, or miles, in the air. The event climaxed around 11:23 a.m. when the pyroclastic flow, triggered when magma mixed with snow, traveled 2 kilometers (more than a mile) to the Valle del Leone within a minute. By late afternoon, scientists said the event had subsided. Imposing figure Etna towers around 3,350 meters (around 11,050 feet) above sea level and is 35 kilometers (22 miles) in diameter, although the volcanic activity has changed the mountain's height over time. Occasionally, the airport at Catania, eastern Sicily's largest city, has to close down for hours or days, when ash in the air makes flying in the area dangerous. An aviation warning was put in place during the latest event, but the airport wasn't closed. With Etna's lava flows largely contained to its uninhabited slopes, life goes in towns and villages elsewhere on the mountain. Among the benefits of the volcano: fertile farmland and tourism. Deadly past Inspiring ancient Greek legends, Etna has had scores of known eruptions in its history. An eruption in 396 B.C., has been credited with keeping the army of Carthage at bay. In 1669, in what has been considered the volcano's worst known eruption, lava buried a swath of Catania, about 23 kilometers (15 miles) away and devastated dozens of villages. An eruption in 1928 cut off a rail route circling the mountain's base.
