Latest news with #Mini
The Guardian
3 hours ago
- Automotive
- The Guardian
Cars and steps do not mix: why The Italian Job has a lot to answer for
The 1969 caper The Italian Job spawned a Hollywood remake, helped drive the cool-factor of the Mini and launched decades of dad-jokes about bloody doors being blown off. It may also have inspired one driver who got stuck trying to travel down the Spanish Steps in Rome this week. The film ended with Michael Caine teetering on the edge of a cliff in a coach, claiming to have a 'great idea'. In Rome, the 80-year-old's navigational error on his way to work ended with emergency services having to bring in a crane to winch his vehicle off the Italian capital's landmark. But it is not only in Rome where steps, or indeed navigational issues, can create havoc for drivers. In the slightly less celebrated surrounds of north London's Maitland Park estate, residents have been complaining about drivers getting their cars stuck trying to rehash one of the film's most famous scenes by driving down a small flight of steps. According to the Camden New Journal, five cars met their match on the five concrete steps within the space of a month last year, with some of the drivers reportedly blaming their satnav apps for leading them there. One resident, Aron Kennedy, posted online about the phenomenon, which he referred to as a 'new Camden tourist attraction along with Karl Marx'. He told the paper: 'If it happens one more time I think we might have to get a living statue of a car stuck there permanently.' In Plymouth in 2017, it was reported that a driver turned off a road, through the gap in railings at a pedestrian crossing, across the pavement and through a covered walkway leading under a block of flats and a small supermarket, before parking the silver Vauxhall Corsa facing downwards on a flight of steps. All because the satnav had reportedly said to turn left at Tesco. And so many lorries have got stuck following their satnavs down a narrow country lane in Cornwall that one man reportedly paid £150 for a large yellow sign that read, in block capitals: 'Do not follow satnav. This route is unsuitable. You will get stuck.' According to a local newspaper report last month, this was not enough to stop it happening yet again. In Somerset, by a 6ft-wide lane, stands a house that has reportedly sustained £50,000 of damage over several years of HGV drivers trying to force their way past while following directions on their devices. And those are just domestic tales of driving woe. Driving when abroad can be particularly confusing. Guardian readers have been sharing some of their own experiences. Otieno Okatch said he and his wife, from California, rented a car in Switzerland during the annual Fasnacht celebrations. 'One day, we ended up in downtown Lucerne and got lost. The streets were oddly empty. We turned the corner and had inadvertently entered the city Fasnacht parade. We were mortified. A police escort had to help us get out as thousands stared at the two foreigners.' Anand Ranganathan, also from California, told of an experience when he and his wife were in Arles, France while touring the country about 14 years ago. Forced by hefty mobile roaming charges to follow printed-out Google Maps directions to their hotel, they were sent down a 'one-lane road that had a retractable bollard in the middle of it'. He said: 'Only drivers who had a special code were allowed to go through it ... Of course, we didn't realise this until we got close to the bollard. Now we were stuck. There was a line of cars behind us and a bollard in front of us … The cars behind us were honking, the driver immediately behind us was cursing us in well-considered French, and I was standing there gesticulating to indicate that I was but a lost tourist.' To stairs in London and Devon, narrow lanes in Cornwall and Bouches-du-Rhône, add for one driver: a picturesque flight of steps in the heart of the Italian capital.
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
NYT Mini Crossword Answers and Clues for June 20, 2025: Time to solve the puzzle
The New York Times Mini Crossword is a short-form version of the traditional crossword. It is part of the Times' growing games collection. Unlike the full crossword, the Mini can be solved in just a few minutes. The June 20, 2025 edition offered a mix of cultural, daily and fun clues. Across Clues and Answers Organization linked with civil rights 1-Across clue: Org. defending individual rights Answer: ACLU The American Civil Liberties Union works on protecting constitutional freedoms in the United States. Phrase building up to a cheer Live Events 5-Across clue: Repeated words that lead up to ... Answer: HIPHIP This is often followed by a cheer or celebration in group settings. Direction crossword players value 7-Across clue: What puzzle solvers don't look down on Answer: ACROSS This answer refers to the direction of crossword entries, often completed before the downs. Final part of a cheer 8-Across clue: ... a big cheer! Answer: HOORAY This commonly comes after 'hip hip' in celebratory chants. Actress in 'The Princess Diaries' 9-Across clue: Hathaway who starred in "The Princess Diaries" Answer: ANNE Anne Hathaway played the lead role in the popular teen film. Also Read: Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Rivals Event: How to earn rewards? See start date, time, rewards and when is next scheduled event Down Clues and Answers Kitchen wear often stained 1-Down clue: Garment on which it's totally acceptable to get food stains Answer: APRON Aprons are used during cooking to protect clothing. Task done at home 2-Down clue: Doing the dishes or mowing the lawn Answer: CHORE Chores are routine duties typically handled by household members. Also Read: Netflix July 2025 Removals: Here's complete list of movies and shows Middle child in a cartoon family 3-Down clue: Younger sister to Bart, older sister to Maggie Answer: LISA Lisa is a key character in 'The Simpsons' TV show. Playful expression 4-Down clue: "___-daisy!" Answer: UPSY A casual exclamation often used in lighthearted situations. Small burst of amusement 5-Down clue: Bit of laughter Answer: HAHA This is a simple expression used to show amusement or laughter. App symbol on Safari browser 6-Down clue: Image of a compass, for Safari Answer: ICON Icons help users quickly identify apps or software tools. FAQs What is the NYT Mini Crossword? The Mini is a short version of the NYT Crossword. It can be solved quickly and features easier clues. How often is the Mini Crossword updated? The Mini Crossword is updated daily by The New York Times with new puzzles every morning.
Indian Express
13 hours ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Pune on My Plate: How Tamil restaurants in city keep their signature flavours, traditions alive
In the lanes of Pune, a quiet cultural revolution is simmering — in the form of piping hot sambar, crispy dosas, soft pongal, and filter coffee. Tamil food, with its regional diversity and deep-rooted cultural significance, has a loyal fanbase in the city. From temple-style meals to spicy street food, restaurants across Pune are offering a taste of Tamil Nadu to the people. 'We don't just serve food, we serve memories of home,' says Aravindh Subramanian, 47, manager of Akshayapatram Restaurant in Pimpri. 'Most of our customers are working professionals or families from Tamil Nadu who miss the taste of traditional meals. Our core strength lies in serving full Tamil-style vegetarian meals — what we call 'Virundhu Sappadu'. It includes rice, sambar, rasam, poriyal, kootu, appalam, pickle, and payasam — all served on banana leaves, just like it is done back home,' he says. On maintaining the authenticity of Tamil food, Subramanian says, 'We source our ingredients like sundakkai, manathakkali, and even our nalla ennai (gingelly oil) from suppliers in Tamil Nadu to retain the same taste. The preparation of our sambar is still done using the stone-ground masala we make fresh every morning — no shortcuts. The rasam here is made with crushed garlic, jeera, pepper, and real tamarind pulp — not readymade powders.' The most popular item on their menu is the Special Mini Tiffin. 'It's a combo of idli, medu vada, pongal, masala dosa, kesari and filter coffee. It costs just Rs 150 and gives a complete breakfast feel. On weekends, we serve over 700 thalis and 900+ tiffin plates,' Subramanian says. 'During Pongal, we serve sakkarai pongal, ven pongal, thalagam kuzhambu, and aviyal — all prepared using temple-style recipes. Customers queue up from 8 am on Thai Pongal day. For us, it is not just business, it is a way to bring Tamil culture alive in Pune.' 'Tamil food is also spiritual food — made with intention, devotion, and love,' says Suresh Kannan, 35, the store manager of Ayyappa Center in Pimple Nilakh. Kannan adds, 'The Ayyappa Center started as a small prasadam counter during Ayyappan puja gatherings, and now it has grown into a must-visit for Tamil folks in Pune. We are famous for our authentic Kanchipuram idli, puli aval, and nei appam — all made using traditional techniques, with no compromise.' Their Kanchipuram idli is a favourite for many. He says, 'It is steamed in lotus leaves and has pepper, jeera, ginger, and curry leaves — just like it is made at temples in Tamil Nadu.' The highlight is their Ayyappan Prasadam Combo, which includes lemon rice, tamarind rice, curd rice, sakkarai pongal, sundal and appalam — all for Rs 90. 'We keep the prices low because our goal is to serve people, not profit,' he adds. During the grand Ayyappa Swamy Makara Jyothi celebration, 'we serve ellu sadam, chakkarai pongal, and kadalai paruppu sundal to over 2,000 devotees who gather from all over Pune. Volunteers help us serve meals continuously for six to seven hours.' Deepa Rajalakshmi, head of Aph Aparna Hotel in Baner, 76, says, 'We bring that ooru (village) feel — whether it is in our Madurai kari dosa, Chettinad chicken curry, or nethili fry. Here at Aph Aparna Hotel, we specialise in street-style Tamil food that you would find in towns like Madurai, Thanjavur, and Trichy. Everything is made with freshly ground masalas, and we don't use frozen meat or canned gravies.' On the dish that is most in demand at their store, she says it is 'our Madurai bun parotta with mutton salna — a soft, layered parotta soaked in spicy gravy. Priced at Rs 210, it sells out every night by 9 pm.' Other crowd favourites include meen kuzhambu and Thalappakatti biryani, besides grand festival menus. 'During Deepavali and the Tamil New Year, we go all out with a 20+ item saapadu, including thengai sadam, inji puli, kari kola urundai, and boondi laddu. We also prepare adhirasam and Mysore Pak in-house — just like our grandmothers used to,' says Rajalakshmi. 'Our sales peak during the Tamil New Year and Pongal. We do 2,500+ parcels a day during those festivals. Tamil food is about diversity, tradition, and bold flavours, and we celebrate that in every dish.' Mr and Mrs Iyer's Kitchen, a humble home-style eatery in Ghorpadi, focuses on sadhya-style meals served on banana leaves. 'It is essential to understand the originality of the authentic Tamil experience. The most famous dishes are part of the sadhya — sambhar, rasam, payasam, avial. Meals are something special during sadhya servings,' says Iyer. They also serve fast-moving items on regular days. 'The Tamil variant of ghee podi dosa is very famous. Ghee podi, sponge onion uttapam, and pongal are fast-moving items. Chakkarai pongal, arisi payasam, chana dal payasam, kesari, yellni payasam, and coconut water payasam are other popular items,' he says, adding, 'It is essential to understand the originality of the authentic Tamil experience through which we forge a deeper sense of culture and belonging in the Indian subcontinent.' Alister Augustine is an intern with The Indian Express. With inputs from Tanay Iyer
New York Post
a day ago
- New York Post
Reckless driver launches Mini Cooper off ferry dock into Puget Sound during high-speed police chase, killing 2 passengers
A wild high-speed police chase ended in tragedy when a reckless driver launched his Mini Cooper off a ferry dock into a Washington waterway this week — killing two passengers as the car sank, according to reports. Harrowing police bodycam footage obtained by KOMO News captured officers frantically trying to save the 29-year-old driver and his four passengers as the car submerged in Puget Sound after flying off a dock at Edmonds Ferry Terminal at more than 100 mph late Tuesday night. Screams of panic echoed from the vehicle as cops tossed life vests and flotation devices into the frigid water, instructing the victims on how to use them, the chilling footage showed. 4 First responders frantically try to rescue passengers from the car submerged in the Puget Sound. Edmonds Police Department Four people, including the erratic driver suspected of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol, were rescued and taken to a nearby hospital, while two others died in the car, the outlet reported. It remains unclear if the victims — a 45-year-old Lakewood woman and a 48-year-old Auburn woman — drowned. 4 Bodycam footage of first responders rushing to save people from a car that drove into Puget Sound. Edmonds Police Department The horrific ordeal began around 11 p.m. when a Washington State Patrol trooper tried to stop the speeding Mini on Interstate 5 in Edmonds, sparking a brief pursuit, the outlet reported. A Snohomish County Sheriff's deputy launched another chase after spotting the same car dangerously weaving through traffic at speeds of up to 120 mph before exiting the highway and plowing through a gate at the ferry terminal. 'They went around the cones and went through the gate up there at the head of the dock and off,' Randal Viernes, a Washington State Ferries employee, told the outlet. 'Sounded like he launched it. He did not slow down at all.' 4 Screams of panic echoed from the car as cops tossed life vests and flotation devices into the frigid water. Edmonds Police Department 4 Aerial view of a car that drove off a ferry dock into the water. KOMO News Ferry service was temporarily suspended following the crash, with recovery crews hauling the Mini Cooper from 40 feet of water around 3:30 a.m., according to KING 5. The careless Tulalip motorist — whose identity hasn't been revealed — was taken into custody, though no charges have been filed. 'It is super tragic,' Edmonds resident Pam Blanchard told the outlet. 'Thank heavens another ferry wasn't docked there because if people were coming to get off of the ferry more people would have been involved. Honestly, it is really lucky that nobody else was involved.'
NZ Autocar
a day ago
- Automotive
- NZ Autocar
members-only luxury car storage opens in Auckland
Auckland has just welcomed an unprecedented offering for the country's automotive elite: Matchbox, New Zealand's first members-only luxury car storage facility. The brainchild of property developer Mark Francis and business partner Zlatko Filipchich, Matchbox is located conveniently between Auckland Airport and the city's CBD. The facility has been purpose-built to meet the needs of classic, performance and collector car owners. The secure, climate-controlled garage uses car stacking systems to maximise space, with each unit accommodating up to four vehicles. But the service goes beyond storage as Matchbox offers full concierge support including WOF checks, insurance and registration management and pick-up/delivery services across Auckland. 'Matchbox is about more than just storage, it's about creating a home for cars and a community for those who love them,' says Francis. 'We saw a real need for a facility where vehicles could be cared for as works of art.' Filipchich adds, 'Whether it's a classic Mini or a modern supercar, every vehicle gets the same meticulous attention. We take care of everything, so members can simply enjoy their cars when they want to.' The facility is designed with lifestyle in mind, featuring a members' lounge, private lockers, and an automotive library. Its location makes it attractive to not only Auckland residents but also out of town property owners and international clients, who can fly in, pick up their vehicle and head directly to their destination. Matchbox aims to cultivate a vibrant community, with regular events and social opportunities for members. 'Matchbox is a club as much as a facility,' Francis explains. 'We're building a community around a shared passion.' Find out more at
