Latest news with #Paz
Times
a day ago
- Times
The Faroe Islands: majestic, eerie — and only 90 minutes away
I am standing below an amphitheatre of rocky crags. Below me, a cluster of grass-roofed houses; out to sea, the strange, spectacular Tindholmur islet rising sheer from the waves, its snaggletoothed summit shrouded in cloud. The Faroe Islands may only be a 90-minute flight from Edinburgh, but my goodness they feel like a whole other world. From the hamlet of Gasadalur, I take the short stroll to Mulafossur waterfall, which cascades over a cliff into the Atlantic swell. Near me a few dishevelled sheep munch nonchalantly away, oblivious to the majestic scene below. Then it's off to the equally picturesque village of Bour, famed for its sunset views over the jagged Drangarnir sea stacks. I would love to linger, but I have a dinner date in Miovagur. My date is Solvi Simonsen, one of a number of Faroe Islanders serving traditional meals in their own homes. I arrive with some trepidation — Faroese delicacies include fermented lamb, boiled pilot whale, and braised seabirds — but Simonsen's home-cooked fried cod, boiled cod and caramelised onions are very nice. Less nice? Skerpikjot — or wind-dried fermented lamb. It is moister and earthier than I was expecting, with a slight ferric tang, and aftertaste of dank sheep. Let's just say it's an acquired taste. Ferric tangs and aftertastes of dank sheep not your thing? Paz ( has just won two Michelin stars in the Faroes' colourful capital, Tórshavn and two other restaurants get a mention. The first is Raest (tasting menu £190, — it means 'fermented', which is the focus of its menu — the second is Roks (tasting menu from £79, which specialises in seafood. I dine at the more modestly priced Katrina Christiansen (£62 for five courses, an atmospheric restaurant housed in a 300-year-old building that has been a barbershop, a shop and the childhood home of a Faroese writer. I am staying at Hotel Foroyar (doubles from £88, room-only, a sleek, turf-roofed Bond villain's lair clinging to the slopes above Torshavn. The interior oozes mid-century vibes, and there is a superb spa, but the highlight for me is the view from the hotel's Ruts restaurant, out over the fjord and towards Nolsoy island. A gentle 20-minute wander downhill from the hotel — be warned, it's a less than gentle march back up — lie the pretty streets of Torshavn. I look for souvenirs in Gudrun & Gudrun (knitwear) and Ostrom (homeware), but mostly I just mooch, soaking up the otherworldly vibe, wondering where else on Earth you'll find a parliament building clad in red timber and roofed in turf. Sadly, I don't have time to visit Suduroy, the southernmost of the Faroe Islands (it's said to be even more otherworldly than Streymoy, the main island), but do visit the excellent National Museum (£9, which houses an original Faroese rowing boat, traditional clothes and Viking finds, plus some exquisitely carved 15th-century pews. A 30-minute drive north from Torshavn, you can join guided tours of the now defunct Vid Air whaling station (£3.40), which was founded in 1905 by a company based in Leith. Perhaps the Faroes' most surprising attraction is the extraordinary network of inter-island tunnels. One has a giant jellyfish-inspired roundabout, complete with light artwork and continuously looping soundscape installation, which you connect to via your car radio. The artist who made it, Jens L Thomsen, says he still tunes in when driving the tunnels. 'Just to check it's still playing.' Driving the tunnels feels like an eerie journey to the centre of the Earth. The hairs on the back of my neck prickle ominously as I descend deeper into the underworld, a foreboding sense of doom only lifting as I emerge, blinking into daylight. • Best things to do in the Faroe Islands Above water, I drive the poetic route to Sydradalur, a sinuous, snaking route with breathtaking views of Hestur and Koltur islands as the road tightly hugs the coastline. I step out of the car and inhale deeply, closing my eyes to listen to the lullaby of the whispering sea and babbling waterfall, interrupted now and then by the sharp, insistent peeping of an oystercatcher. Thomsen is right: 'There is something about the music of this place that seeps into your DNA.'Cat Thomson was a guest of Visit Faroe Islands ( Fly to the Vagar from Edinburgh from about £200 return (
USA Today
a day ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Fuerza Regida on making history, performing in LA amid turmoil
Beyond hard work and humility, manifestation has been part of Fuerza Regida's recipe for success. Frontman Jesús "JOP" Ortiz Paz remembers watching "Tengo Talento, Mucho Talento" (the Latino version of "America's Got Talent") with his parents at home in San Bernardino, California, and saying, "I'm going to be on that TV. I'm going to be right there," he tells USA TODAY. "Ah, you're crazy," Paz, 28, says his parents responded. That was during a June 2023 interview with USA TODAY ahead of Fuerza Regida's sold-out show at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, part of their "Otra Peda" tour. Fast forward two years, and the band finds itself reaching new career heights. Fuerza Regida − Paz, along with Samuel Jáimez, Khrystian Ramos, José "Pelón" García and Moisés López − makes its historic debut at both New York's Madison Square Garden June 20 and LA's Hollywood Bowl June 21. They'll be performing their latest album, the 12-track "111XPANTIA," in its entirety. "Us bringing corridos to these venues, I'm pretty sure it's for the first time, so we're really happy that our genre is growing and growing," Paz says ahead of the shows. "We're excited, we've been breaking all these records and making history." Interview: Fuerza Regida on Mexican music going global and why they're the pioneers In May, the all-genre Billboard 200 album charts, saw for the first time Spanish-language albums in the No. 1 and No. 2 spots at the same time − Bad Bunny's "Debí Tirar Más Fotos" and Fuerza Regida's "111XPANTIA," respectively. More than that, it marked Fuerza Regida's highest-charting album to date, and the highest-charting Spanish-language album by a duo or group, or a regional Mexican music album, ever, according to Billboard. With nearly a decade in the industry under their belt, reaching the top of the charts isn't new territory for the group members anymore. Their 2023 album "Pa Las Baby's Y Belikeada" peaked at No. 2 on Billboard's Latin Albums chart and reached the Top 15 of the Billboard 200, and also earned them a pair of awards — Top Duo/Group and Top Latin Duo/Group at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards. With 2024's "Pero No Te Enamores," the band's eighth studio album, Fuerza Regida dabbled in Jersey club music, reggaeton, hip-hop and bachata and embarked on a 76-date tour. Manifestation brought Fuerza Regida new album '111XPANTIA' to life Before Fuerza Regida made its mark in arenas and stadiums all over the United States and Latin America, the band was performing small gigs in backyards and at quinceñeras in 2016. Now, the band boasts numerous chart-topping albums, sold-out stadium and arena shows, multiple brand deals (including their latest partnership with Dos Equis for the Ni Perdón Ni Permiso campaign) and performances on late-night talk shows like "Jimmy Kimmel Live." In January, Paz became the first performer to bring regional Mexican music to Paris Men's Fashion Week during KidSuper's runway show ("It was my first time in Europe and we love fashion as well, so I was like a little kid at Toys 'R Us," Paz says). In 2018, he founded the independent record label Street Mob Records, which has signed other rising stars in the genre, including Chino Pacas, Calle 24, Clave Especial, and more. Still, Fuerza Regida keeps both feet planted on the ground. "We just keep on working hard, that's the key," Paz says. "We just act like we still haven't done anything − act like you haven't hit, act like you just started." López, who plays tololoche for the band, echoed a similar sentiment: "(We) stay working 24/7 and stay hungry," he says. "I've been saying that since I started my career, we work harder than a lot of other artists out there, and that's why I think we're more successful," Paz adds. "We don't just do the artist stuff. I also have my record label, and everything we have is because of all the hard work we've put in. So, of course, you gotta' have a little bit of talent, but the rest is all hard work." Paz and López also break down the meaning of the album's name, "111XPANTIA," which serves as a double entendre for manifestation. "111" is usually regarded as an "angel number" or a lucky sign whenever one comes across it, and "ixpantia" is the Nahuatl word for manifestation. "It was time to name an album that," Paz says. "Manifesting has been ever since I can remember. Everything I've wanted, I've almost got and the days go by, you want more things, you want better things for your family and better things for your business." The entire project is dedicated to the manifestation of dreams and constant hard work. It also marks a return to their corrido roots featuring stand-out tracks like "Peliculiando," "Por Esos Ojos," "Marlboro Rojo" and "Godfather." 'We've always fought for our music and our culture' In recent years, Latin musicians including Peso Pluma, Grupo Firme, Grupo Frontera, Junior H, Àngela Aguilar and Becky G have worked to put Mexican music, in all its variations, on the mainstream map. It's no longer just regional, as it's long been categorized in award show categories, but rather international and intentional. "We've just always fought for our music and our culture" to be respected like any other genre, Paz says. "It took a little longer for Mexican music," he adds. "Back in the day, Mexican music was just a little more in this bubble, and I feel like a couple years back, Fuerza Regida and a bunch of other pioneers − I don't want to just include myself − made this genre what it is now." Paz recognizes that many other bands and solo artists went through their own struggles and battles to be recognized, but now "we're accomplishing the goal of making our culture hit now." How Fuerza Regida shows up for the immigrant community during turmoil Although the show must go on, Fuerza Regida's Hollywood Bowl debut comes at a raw time in the city amid ongoing protests rejecting the continued presence of federal immigration enforcement. On June 10, Fuerza Regida shared a statement on Instagram, sending their "love and strength to our Latino community during this difficult time." "We've been deeply moved by the events of this past week," the band wrote. "These are our people, our fans, the very communities that inspire our music. We see your strength and resilience." Days later, they released limited-edition merch and 100% of profits from sales were donated to "support our communities impacted by the recent ICE raids," read the band's Instagram post. More: Jimmy Kimmel slams Trump, calls him 'arsonist with a hose' over ICE sweeps in LA This isn't the first time this year Fuerza Regida has put their money where their community is. Earlier this year, after Los Angeles was dealt another blow with the wildfires that ravaged the neighborhoods of Pacific Palisades and Altadena, the band helped provide shelter to 270 people. "Family is No. 1, and I feel like the way you're raised, it reflects a lot on how you're going to be and my parents raised me pretty well and taught me to always care about the community," Paz says. "If we're blessed, we gotta' share a little bit of the blessings."
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Report – Real Madrid Set To Activate Buyback Clause For Inter Milan Target Only To Sell Him To Bayer Leverkusen
Report – Real Madrid Set To Activate Buyback Clause For Inter Milan Target Only To Sell Him To Bayer Leverkusen Real Madrid could re-sign Nico Paz from Como this summer, only to sell him to Bayer Leverkusen for a profit. Per German outlet Bild via FCInterNews, Los Blancos are about to trigger a buyback clause in their agreement with the Serie A club. Advertisement Nico Paz left the Santiago Bernabeu to join Como last year, with the Italians forking out €6 million to sign the youngster. However, Real Madrid can bring the 20-year-old back to La Liga for a measly €9m this summer. And that's what they intend to do. Real Madrid Set to Re-Sign Nico Paz Only to Sell Him to Bayer Leverkusen COMO, ITALY – JANUARY 20: Nico Paz of Como 1907 celebrates after scoring their team's fourth goal during the Serie A match between Como 1907 and Udinese Calcio at Stadio G. Sinigaglia on January 20, 2025 in Como, Italy. (Photo by) Despite a relatively meager release clause, Real Madrid could earn around €30m from Paz's sale to Bayer Leverkusen. Indeed, they are open to offloading the teenage sensation to the BayArena. It would be Xabi Alonso's way of thanking Die Werkself for helping him launch his senior managerial career. Meanwhile, it would leave Inter Milan empty-handed. Though the San Siro giants are Paz's long-term admirers, they cannot do anything to prevent this scenario.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Nico Paz the strongest candidate to replace Florian Wirtz at Bayer Leverkusen
Sport Bild (via @bayer04Xtra) reports that Como's former Real Madrid player, Nico Paz, is the strongest candidate to replace Florian Wirtz at Bayer Leverkusen this summer. Through a buyback clause worth around €8m, Real Madrid are set to bring the Serie A Young Player of the Year back to the club, after only a year away, so he can play in the Club World Cup. After the inaugural edition of the tournament, Madrid will look to sell the 20-year-old on. Advertisement Paz wants to play regularly for a coach who can help him develop even further, and in the Champions League. All the things that Leverkusen can offer next season. The 20-year-old has already stated that he will not stay at Como this season. Madrid will demand around €30m for Paz, which will not be a problem for Leverkusen once they sell Wirtz. The LaLiga side could also look to include a buy-back clause in the deal, similar to when Dani Carvajal swapped the Bernabeu for the BayArena. What also plays into Leverkusen's hands is that they were so cooperative with Madrid when the Spanish side came for Xabi Alonso. GGFN | Jack Meenan
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Report – Inter Milan Don't Lose Hope Of Signing Como Starlet Despite Real Madrid Buyback Clause
Inter Milan remain firmly in the running for Como starlet Nico Paz despite Real Madrid's buyback clause. Per Gazzetta dello Sport via FCInterNews, the San Siro giants haven't lost hope of signing the Argentine prodigy. Advertisement Away on international duty, Nico Paz is currently with La Albiceleste, preparing for the latest set of World Cup qualifiers. Meanwhile, Inter captain Lautaro Martinez has also linked up with Lionel Scaloni's squad for upcoming games. Indeed, the two have reportedly become close friends, which could benefit the Nerazzurri this summer. Inter Milan Still Confident of Signing Como Ace Nico Paz COMO, ITALY – JANUARY 20: Nico Paz of Como 1907 celebrates after scoring their team's fourth goal during the Serie A match between Como 1907 and Udinese Calcio at Stadio G. Sinigaglia on January 20, 2025 in Como, Italy. (Photo by) It's no secret that Inter want Paz to be among the club's marquee signings this summer. However, Real Madrid's buyback clause threatens to undermine their quest to land the 20-year-old. New Los Blancos boss Xabi Alonso reportedly sees the versatile forward as a perfect fit for this squad. Advertisement Therefore, the Spaniards could soon activate the clause. Meanwhile, Inter are lurking in the shadows, waiting for their chance to strike. Paz has made a name for himself in Serie A and may prefer to stay in Italy, which would hand the Nerazzurri a crucial boost.
