Jose Manuel Albares on Trump’s strategy, NATO, Ukraine, and Spain’s plan for a viable Palestinian state.
Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares discusses Trump’s new national security strategy and what it means for Europe’s security, NATO and the war in Ukraine.
The Football Interview is a new series in which the biggest names in sport and entertainment join host Kelly Somers for bold and in-depth conversations about the nation’s favourite sport.
We’ll explore mindset and motivation, and talk about defining moments, career highs and personal reflections. The Football Interview brings you the person behind the player.
No-one has played more games under Pep Guardiola than Bernardo Silva.
Silva has been picked more than 400 times by Manchester City manager Guardiola, who signed the Portugal midfielder in 2017.
They have won six Premier League titles together, while Silva has also won the Nations League title twice.
Kelly Somers: Well, Bernardo, thank you for your time today. Let’s start with why football? How did you end up in this sport?
Bernardo Silva: It was an easy choice because it was always my passion. Since I remember, I always had the ball with me at home, even when my mum was a bit upset at my dad because I would break a few paintings or jars or whatever. I always had the ball with me and it was always my passion.
Kelly: Did you have brothers and sisters as well? Was it a family thing?
Bernardo: Two sisters. It was not a family thing. Obviously my dad is also a big football fan and he likes to play as well. And even my mum, she always went to football games, even though she’s not from my club, she’s from the rivals. So my dad’s side of the family is from one team, my mum’s the other side of the city.
Kelly: So is your dad’s team Benfica?
Bernardo: Yeah, my dad’s team Benfica, my mum’s team Sporting.
Kelly: That must have been controversial when you went to Benfica. What did she make of that?
Bernardo: No, she was happy. Actually, it was also my grandfather’s idea from my mum’s side. He was a Sporting supporter. They were always very supportive. I played 12 years at Benfica. Nine years at City now, but at Benfica from when I was seven until I was 19.
Kelly: Who would you say has had the biggest influence on your career and the player you are today?
Bernardo: It’s difficult to say. I would say between Benfica and Man City for the time, because Monaco was three years – even though I was really happy there, it was only three years – Man City nine now. But I think it shaped me from when I was seven until 19. They gave me not only the football knowledge as a player, but also they shaped me a little bit as a man. They made me tougher and stronger.
At Monaco, even though it was shorter, they gave me the opportunity to start at the higher level, and at Man City I achieved everything and more than I ever dreamed for. I always dreamt of winning the Premier League, but I never imagined myself winning six. So, you know, Man City gave me more than I hoped for as a young kid, honestly.
Kelly: What about a team-mate or coach that shaped you particularly?
Bernardo: Pep is obviously a very big influence for me in terms of managers. Players… when I arrived at Monaco, I was very lucky to have Joao Moutinho there – a Portuguese player that is, for me, one of the most intelligent players that’s ever played for our country. So he also was a mentor for me and he was in a way also a manager because I learned a lot from him.
He was a big influence, but at Man City also I had a lot of really good players that taught me a lot – from Vincent Kompany to David Silva to Fernandinho. Different types of players and you learn different types of things, but I definitely had a lot of different influences in football.
Kelly: Did you hear what Pep said about you recently – that you’re one of the best he’s ever trained?
Bernardo: Yeah, I saw that and I’m happy that he feels that way because the players that he manages are not bad players! I think I’m the player with the most games played under Pep, so obviously he has that special affection for me because it’s been so long – but, as I said, the influence from Pep on me is massive. Nine years and I learned a lot.
Kelly: Pep has an interesting relationship with his players. It always looks, as outsiders, when we see him on the pitch at the end you might have won 4-0 and then he goes up and he’s really intensely talking to you. Have you been on the end of any of those?
Kelly: If there was one game from your career that you could relive, what would it be?
Bernardo: Easy answer – Champions League final [2023, when City beat Inter Milan 1-0]. But even bad days for us… for example, if we talk about the game against Tottenham in the quarter-finals of the Champions League [2019] that we got knocked out, that was a fantastic game to be part of. So I have a lot of fantastic games, fantastic memories that I could choose.
Kelly: What about the toughest moment?
Kelly: You mentioned there the word frustrating. Is that how you sum up parts of the last couple of years here at Manchester City?
Bernardo: Well, yeah, we’re trying to bring that culture back knowing that at this level it’s not easy. I would love to tell you that what we did in my first seven years is something normal but it’s not, because in seven years winning six Premier Leagues, winning a Treble, winning a domestic quadruple, doing 100 points, breaking the record of goals… obviously I’m a bit biased, but I could argue that that generation was the best ever in English football.
So that is not normal, so you cannot expect that to last forever. Obviously, if you look at the Champions League final, for example, from that team, seven or eight players already left – very important players. You’re talking about big names like Kevin de Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, Manuel Akanji, Kyle Walker, Jack Grealish, Julian Alvarez, or Cole Palmer – he left, he wasn’t playing much but he left – and he was a very good player.
And there’s a new generation coming that needs time to adapt. I’ve been through that process once and it went really well because when Vincent Kompany, Fernandinho, Sergio Aguero, David Silva left, the change was made a bit slowly because we were winning, so it’s easier. When you’re losing, it’s more difficult to make that change, and you put more pressure on the young guys. I still believe that this club and these players have a lot of potential, a little bit of time and patience.
I know it’s tough in football at this level, but I really think that this club can turn things around and go back. I don’t know to the standards that were, because that’s not easy, it’s the reality, but hopefully… I will try to help them as much as possible for them in the future to be in a good place to fight for that.
Kelly: How much would it mean, then, given all you’ve just said if you were to lift silverware this season?
Bernardo: Well that’s the aim. It would mean a lot because at this club it is not acceptable not to win. If you don’t win, the club will make decisions again and it’s normal. It’s part of the business, and that’s the way it is – that’s good. If you want to play for Man City, you need to win. If you don’t win, you don’t deserve to be here. So that pressure that’s on us, it’s a good one and we take it.
Kelly: Do you think you’re in a position to win silverware this season compared to where you were last season?
Kelly: I want to take you back to a young Bernardo. What were you like as a child?
Bernardo: I was very energetic. I liked to believe that I was a very happy kid and with a lot of passion to try and succeed in life.
Kelly: What was your earliest non-football memory?
Bernardo: Fighting with my older sister… is that a good one?!
Kelly: You have two sisters. Are they into football? Do they come and watch or is it quite nice to talk to them about it differently?
Bernardo: I still believe that nowadays they have no clue what an offside is, but they support me! Wherever I am, they support me – I know that.
Kelly: Who’s your best friend in football?
Bernardo: Ruben Dias. Ruben is three years younger than me. So I remember him from the Benfica academy, but he wasn’t a friend back then. I’ve known Ruben really well on a daily basis for five and a half years now.
Kelly: How do you escape from football?
Kelly: What’s your ideal day off?
Bernardo: Depends on where I am. If I was in Portugal, I would go to the beach, I would go to the pool, I would chill. Here in Manchester, when it’s too cold, it’s difficult. But on a normal day, I would say get my two dogs, go walk them, go with my wife, go to like a park or something and enjoy a bit of fresh air with them.
Kelly: What are your dogs’ names?
Bernardo: John and Charles. John is named, you know, after John Stones a long time ago. I got Charles from Wales. At that time, Prince Charles from Wales. So I thought Charles. I wanted an English name as well, because I had John already. So I chose Charles as well.
Kelly: Tell me one thing about yourself that would surprise me.
Bernardo: I think that I’m really good at football and I always dedicated my life to that. I actually have no clue what I would do if I wasn’t a football player. I never had the chance to explore hidden talents because I dedicated my life to football.
Kelly: My next question was going to be: ‘If I wasn’t a footballer I would be…’
Bernardo: I don’t know. It’s a very difficult question. I would love to know, because when I finish football, if I don’t want to stay in the game, I want to do something. I don’t want to stop, so that’s a very good question. I’m still going to try to find that out when I finish my career.
Kelly: I had a chat with your Portugal head coach, Roberto Martinez, recently, and he actually said: ‘When Bernardo finishes playing, he will be a manager.’ Is he right?
Bernardo: I don’t know. I think I could. I think I have a really good understanding of the game. I don’t know, because I dedicated so long and so much time of my life to this. When I finish my career, I want to spend time with my kids or travel with my wife or who knows… I love football. I think I’m going to miss it. I’m not sure. But if I miss it and I come back, probably it’s going to be to be as a manager.
Kelly: You’ve got a bit of time to decide. You’ve got a few more years in you, haven’t you?
Bernardo: A few more years, yeah.
Kelly: What’s the best bit of advice you’ve ever been given?
Bernardo: I would say that I know it’s a bit of a cliche, but don’t be afraid of failing. You know, like, go for it. If you fail, it’s all right. Also to have fun. When you enjoy what you do, you do it better.
Kelly: If you could achieve only one more thing in your career, what would it be?
Midfielder Bernardo Silva reflects on his success at Manchester City and how the team is trying to adapt and incorporate a new generation of players.
Watch The Football Interview with Bernardo Silva on Saturday 13 December on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website & app, and watch more episodes on BBC iPlayer.
Christmas dinner is steeped in tradition, but let’s be honest: not everyone actually likes the traditional turkey dinner we spend hours prepping for. For those looking to try something a bit different, or perhaps serve up a showstopper for Boxing Day, Waitrose may have answered your prayers. The supermarket has has teamed up with the premium meal-kit service Dispatch to offer a new collection of boujee dinner boxes that are supposed to take the faff out of the festivities.
They’ve enlisted a culinary Avengers squad (including Angela Hartnett, Michel Roux, and Andi Oliver) to create nine “finish-at-home” dishes. I decided to test the waters with Rick Stein’s Seafood Celebration, which contains a Lobster & King Prawn Velouté Pie and Classic Fish Soup.
Costing a cool £105 for two courses, it’s far from cheap. The Cornwall-based chef, restaurateur, author and presenter has clearly stuck to his love of British seafood for this menu, but how does it actually fare in my kitchen? And is it good enough to replace the classic Christmas spread? I reviewed the fancy box ahead of December 25th, judging it on ease of prep, quality of ingredients and of course that all-important taste…
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The biggest selling point of the Dishpatch range is the promise of “chef-standard flavours with total ease.” In this regard, the box absolutely delivers.
If you are the designated chef used to the chaos of Christmas morning, this feels like cheating. The soup and pie comes largely prepared; you are essentially just finishing it off. There is no chopping, no making your own pie base, and zero stress.
One detail I loved was the packaging. The pie arrived with its own ceramic dish. It’s a lovely touch that elevates the experience from a “ready meal” to a proper gift or occasion. Plus, you get to keep the crockery, which helps – slightly – to soften the blow of the extortionate price tag.
Once out of the oven, the soup looked perfectly presented and the pie was golden and definitely a showstopper. But does it taste like Rick Stein cooked it?
This is a world away from supermarket puff pastry bakes. The filling is a rich, indulgent velouté infused with tarragon and parsley that perfectly complements the lobster and king prawns.
It feels decadent, creamy, and undeniably special. If you are looking to impress guests without lifting a finger, this will do the trick. It tastes like a restaurant meal, eaten in your pyjamas.
The Classic Fish Soup made with saffron, tomato, fennel and prawns is served with Harissa Croutons, combining harissa and Parmesan for a rich, spiced twist. Though this was a nice dish, the pie definitely topped it on flavour.
The idea of having two courses to serve takes a lot of the pressure off, but your guests will definitely have to like seafood to enjoy this.
This convenience comes at a premium. With individual dishes starting around £25 and the full two-course experience (including the fish soup) costing up to £105, it’s world’s away from Aldi or Lidl’s cheap and cheerful Christmas dinner deals.
While the quality is high, the portion sizes are a point of contention. The box states it serves four, but these are “chef portions,” not “hungry family at Christmas” portions.
If you are feeding a group with hearty appetites, you might find yourself eyeing up the cheese board immediately after the main course. It is undeniably a luxury experience rather than a budget-friendly feed.
The Rick Stein Classic Fish Soup and Lobster & King Prawn Velouté Pie is a fantastic option for foodies, couples, or smaller families who want to ditch the traditional roast for something more sophisticated. It removes the stress entirely and delivers a delicious, high-end flavour.
However, be prepared to pay for the privilege. It’s not a value option, but for a hassle-free, decadent treat (perhaps better suited to Christmas Eve or Boxing Day than the big day itself), it’s a winner.
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Stacey Solomon is always sharing her homeware finds with fans, and this week is no different as she showcases to fans what she’s opted to decorate her home with instead of traditional “bulky” and “ugly” night lights. Taking to Instagram, Stacey revealed that she’s been adoring these Amazon smart lights, which look more elegant and decorative than average models.
In an Instagram post, Stacey announced she was “so happy” with these LOHAS-LED Plug-In Night Lights, which are currently available for £18.99. Available in a range of patterns and designs, it’s the warm-white bubble glass option that has captured Stacey’s heart and earned a spot in her Amazon basket.
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Described as being crafted from robust acrylic material, the LOHAS night lights are set to combine durability with a sleek aesthetic. Their distinctive inner bubble design, paired with a gold-tone square ring, is sure to add an elegant touch of lighting to any room.
However, it’s their dusk-to-dawn sensor that has won Stacey’s approval, as she showed her Instagram followers. These night lights will automatically turn off during the day and on at night, sparing you the hassle of turning them on and off at the switch or leaving them turned on all day by accident.
Additionally, these night lights feature a brightness control, allowing you to adjust the light from 0-100LM, ensuring your needs are met in any room throughout the house.
Designed with a compact wall-plug design and 3000K warm white light, these beauties are ideal for bedrooms, hallways, staircases, nurseries, bathrooms, kitchens, and garages, providing gentle illumination wherever needed, whether you’re placing them in children’s rooms or throughout hallways to light the way to the bathroom during the night. These LED night lights produce a soft, glare-free illumination, making them especially suitable for those children who are afraid of the dark.
And it isn’t just Stacey who adores these lights, as plenty of customers have left glowing 5-star testimonials. One buyer beams: “A beautiful little night light, there is a slider switch on the side to lower the brightness of the light, fantastic value for money and really attractive.”
Further praise comes from this customer who says: “This lamp is lovely! It didn’t work on x3 of my functioning sockets, then wiggled the plug pins tried to push it down a little in the socket and it worked, every socket it works. It’s bright enough for my purpose. I ordered the long round lamp too, but the lowest and highest setting was the same brightness. The square plug in lamp is slim, not as bulky as expected. Lovely design. Might need a second one!”
And a third notes: “I love this little light. Brightens up the whole hallway and comes on automatically when it’s dark. You can keep as bright or low as you desire. And a dimmer slide on the side.”
Venezuela’s oil exports have plummeted since the United States seized an oil tanker off the country’s coast this week and imposed new sanctions on shipping companies doing business with the embattled Latin American country.
Oil tanker movements into and out of Venezuelan waters have almost come to a standstill, the Reuters news agency reported on Friday, after the US announced that it would seize more vessels as part of its military pressure on Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro.
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The seizure on Wednesday of the Skipper tanker marked the first US capture of Venezuelan oil cargo since Washington imposed sanctions on Caracas in 2019. It also comes amid a US military build-up in the Caribbean, which appears designed to remove Maduro from power.
Threats of more seizures have now left tankers – loaded with about 11 million barrels of oil and fuel – stuck in Venezuelan waters and fearing to venture further, according to data and documents reviewed by Reuters.
Only tankers chartered by US oil giant Chevron have left ports and sailed into international waters carrying Venezuelan crude since the seizure of the Skipper, according to Reuters. Chevron has US government authorisation to operate in Venezuela through joint ventures with state-run oil company PDVSA and can export its oil to the US.
Chevron confirmed this week that it was operating in Venezuela “without disruption and in full compliance with laws and regulations applicable”, according to Reuters, and had exported two cargoes of Venezuelan heavy crude to the US since the seizure of the Skipper.
As the Skipper was taken to Houston, Texas, on Friday for the unloading of its confiscated fuel cargo, Trump reiterated that the US military will start carrying out strikes on land against drug trafficking targets in Latin America.
Speaking at the White House, Trump said that US forces – which have been attacking vessels in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean for weeks, killing some 90 people – had stopped 96 percent of drugs trafficked to the US by water.
The US also claims it is attacking drug trafficking vessels but has provided no evidence, while international law experts say the attacks amount to extrajudicial killings by Washington in international waters.
The Agencia Venezuela News site reported on Friday that Venezuela’s Executive Vice President, Delcy Rodriguez, filed a formal complaint with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) denouncing Washington’s “violation of freedom of navigation in the Caribbean”.
Rodriguez told the IMO of the “vulgar robbery” of Venezuelan oil by the US, which was an “internationally illegal act”, the news agency said. “The Vice President also reiterated that Washington’s threatening actions are not related to a supposed fight against drug trafficking,” it added.
On Monday, Trump said in an interview that Maduro’s “days are numbered” while also declining to rule out a ground invasion of Venezuela by US forces.
Washington has offered a $50m reward for Maduro’s capture, accusing the Venezuelan president of leading the alleged “Cartel of the Suns”, which the US has branded a “narco-terrorist” organisation.
On Thursday, the US Treasury announced sanctions on three relatives of Maduro and six shipping companies and six vessels involved in transporting Venezuelan oil, a move that could imperil his leadership.
“If there are no oil exports, it will affect the foreign exchange market, the country’s imports… There could be an economic crisis,” Elias Ferrer of Orinoco Research, a Venezuelan advisory firm, told the AFP news agency.
“Not just a recession, but also shortages of food and medicine, because we wouldn’t be able to import,” Ferrer said.