Category Archives: Zeitgeist Movement

As a celebration of women in music, National Album Day this weekend [October 16] is honouring Shirley Manson with a special vinyl edition of Garbages debut album. The record is now widely regarded as one of the most significant albums of the last 30 years with definitive tracks such as Stupid Girl and Only Happy When It Rains. It has also found a new generation of fans.

However, the Edinburgh-born singer admits she had serious reservations about the band after joining them to cut the eponymous debut. It was 1994 in the middle of a bleak mid-western winter and while recording the album Manson entered a black mood wondering why she had even bothered to try out for a band who just didnt cut the mustard.

Twenty-seven years on and 17 million worldwide album sales later, she admits she thinks differently now. It was my own immaturity, she says. I was looking at it from a superficial standpoint. I felt we werent going to make a record good enough to transcend how we all looked.

I had grown up in a band (Goodbye Mr Mackenzie) where we were looking at the coolest rock stars like David Bowie, Iggy Pop and Nick Cave thinking there is no way we can compete with that legacy.

It didnt help that Manson was left to her own devices in a lonely Midwestern hotel unable to drive or go anywhere while the band went home to their families. It was a kind of lockdown and when she experienced something similar many years later, because of the pandemic, she found being stuck indoors had its advantages.

I fell in love with the San Antonio Spurs and learned a lot about how they handled themselves in triumph and defeat, she says. I love basketball and baseball and it got me through. The Spurs coach, Gregg Popovich is arguably the greatest coach in sports history.

Manson describes last years lockdown at her home in LA as a ghastly experience though before adding: Im married to an incredible husband (record producer Billy Bush) who brought good cheer and made incredible cocktails every day. We would sit and listen to a piece of vinyl and study it; that has kept me alive.

Her seventh album with Garbage, No Gods No Masters, released earlier this year, features a photograph taken by Manson in an Edinburgh necropolis. I happened to be in the Dean Cemetery and these two sister angels appeared out of nowhere, I was like thats it. I sent the picture to our graphic artist and he used one of the iconic angels.

While the re-release of Garbages first album arrives in pink, the colour of No Gods No Masters became an unlikely source of rage. I fought with the record company who didnt want the vinyl to be neon green. I wondered why they had such a bee in their bonnet until I found out green is the most expensive, at which point I said to my manager; this is a hill I will f****** die on. She said, dont worry; well get you the green.

The daughter of a theologian, Manson grew up in a Church of Scotland family and was taught at Sunday school by her father. Since her early teens, she has distanced herself from organised religion but suggests people have pointed out one of the apparent themes of the new record.

God is all over this record, she says. It never occurred to me before for some inexplicable reason. I dont know why other than Im middle-aged, Im questioning everyone, Im challenging everything and I guess Im frustrated at how organised religion is shoring up this patriarchal system that isnt benefiting anyone apart from old white men.

The albums opening cut The Men Who Rule The World is an arresting listen, and lyrically her target is firmly fixed: The men who rule the world/Have made a f****** mess/The history of power/The worship of success. Manson describes it as a futurist modern retelling of Noahs ark where she is Noah on George Clinton's Mothership. I come down to save everything beautiful, divine and worth saving while leaving everything thats wretched, cruel and violent behind. The band just really killed it and met the energy of the song; all of us were laughing what a weird song.

I suggest the tracks jagged and funky riffs recall Bowies Fame as well as a hint of his maligned 90s output. Were such big fans, his name thrills any time we can get close to that genius, she says. He was treated abysmally (during the 90s). Then when he died, they were started playing Bowie on the radio. What a joke. How about playing him while he was alive?

Manson knows herself how strange fame can be. She struggled when the band quickly hit a zeitgeist moment around the globe. She soon became an alternative pin-up and cover girl not long after the band released their 1995 debut, which was followed by Version 2.0 three years later. Both albums went on to shift four million copies apiece but fame proved to be a strange and demanding mistress.

We found ourselves in some ludicrous situations, she says. I think one that strikes me and that also highlights the ludicrousness of the industry was Bob Dylan. Can I underline that Bob Dylan, was going on before Garbage! It was on a festival stage, also Patti Smith and Nick Cave. We were mortified that these three amazing icons of song-writing and artistry were going on before a relatively new band.

How come festival organisers and so on are not noticing how disrespectful and outrageous that is? At what point as a culture are we going to value things of depth and importance. Why are we valuing money and ten-a-penny artists that will be never remembered? Some of these artists are struggling to get on the page; thats a joke!

With sexual misconduct allegations in the music industry among prominent figures such as the Garbage singers namesake Marilyn Manson, who she recorded a duet with in 2005, a number of artists are now being dropped as part of the Metoo movement. How does she feel about the recent shift?

I dont know one single artist that is without sin, says Manson of musicians being cancelled. Theres no one without failings as human beings. For us to expect perfection from artists in particular but humans in general is naive and sort of unrealistic. If a human being makes a beautiful or essential piece art that brings you joy, that art exists whether the person behind it is flawed or not and if we were to cancel anyone who has ever done anything wrong we would end up with s**** music, movies and s**** everything; it would be the blandest world you could imagine. You could cancel the great David Bowie if you care to for numerous things or Iggy Pop the list is endless and they are all capable of great mistakes as are we all.

Another of Mansons great heroes is Sean Connery who died last year. Manson was born in the same city as the first Bond and he was a significant inspiration when she was growing up in the 1970s.

I was very moved by Sean Connerys death, she says. He represents a lot of beautiful things for me. I wrote about it on my Instagram page at the time of his death. He was the representation of dreams for a lot of Scottish people; we didnt have anyone at that level or in Hollywood and there was Sean in this incredible iconic role representing Scotland on the world stage. Wed never seen anything like that before.

With Garbage, Manson was also the third Scottish female after Lulu and Sheena Easton to sing a Bond theme recording The World Is Not Enough for the nineteenth 007 film in 1999. It makes sense to me that Scottish singers would be well represented in the litany of Bond themes because of course Ian Fleming, the writer was a Scotsman (by descent), she says.

Theres an inherent understanding culturally of what that franchise is trying to do and does, so to get invited to be part of the longest and most important film franchise in the history of cinema was spectacular, Im very, very proud of that and its a glorious part of our history.

Garbage is out now on special edition pink vinyl as part of National Album Day to mark the contribution of women in the music industry

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Shirley Manson: At what point as a culture are we going to value things of depth? - HeraldScotland

During a recent TechRadar interview, Fall Guys head game designer Joe Walsh said that the Mediatonic development team is considering resurrecting an unused minigame from the scrap heap. And its all because to Squid Game, Netflixs newest original series.

While Fall Guys world and themes arent half as sinister as Squid Games, its premise allows for a lot of overlap. Take Red Light, Green Light for example, the well-known childrens game which takes up much of the shows first episode. While developing Fall Guys, Mediatonic also considered its own version of Red Light, Green Light that ultimately never saw the light of day. With Squid Game now dominating the cultural zeitgeist, Walsh feels the time is right for revisiting the unused concept.

Squid Game, written and directed by South Korean filmmaker Hwang Dong-hyuk, concerns a deadly, 456-player competition that promises to pay a single winner enough money to escape their crushing debts. Intended to be an allegory on modern-day inequality, Squid Games similarities with properties like Battle Royale and The Hunger Games (not to mention the entire video game genre those properties ultimately inspired) has made it a hit among viewers.

Within a video game, theres something about movement, Walsh told TechRadar. n real life its very hard to stay still, but in a video game, you just put your controller down. And so, at the time, I think we were like, Well never do Red Light, Green Light, it doesnt make sense. But now, seeing how popular Squid Game is, Id love for us to have another crack at something like that and see if we could do it in Fall Guys.

Fall Guys has enjoyed several seasons of new content since launching in August 2020, some of which was even branded with crossover appearances from franchises like Among Us, Nier: Automata, and Godzilla. A collaboration with Squid Game, whether officially or just via homage, wouldnt be the wildest thing to happen to the bouncy battle royale. In any case, its cool to see Mediatonic recognize the non-gaming media to which the genre owes so much.

News Summary:

Continued here:

Fall Guys have been inspired to revisit unused minigames thanks to the Squid game - Gaming News - BollyInside

Flora MoreauLiterature Editor

Is Sally Rooney boycotting Hebrew? Twitter would certainly lead one to believe so.

Rooney trended on Twitter once again this week after news broke that she had declined to sell translation rights to an Israeli publishing house, despite the fact that her two previous novels had been translated into Hebrew. The timeline then promptly set itself alight with discourse. But no, Rooney is not boycotting Hebrew. The award-winning author released a statement following the backlash saying that she refused to allow her new novel to be translated into Hebrew due to her support of the cultural boycotts of Israel. The cultural boycotts in question are those sanctioned by the BDS movement (boycott, divestment and sanctions), a Palestinian-led worldwide movement. In a statement from Faber and Faber, Rooney said that she would be pleased and proud to have her recently published Beautiful World, Where Are You translated into Hebrew if I can find a way to sell these rights that is compliant with the BDS movements institutional boycott guidelines.

So whats the problem?

While all popular authors are subject to some form of public scrutiny, Rooney in particular seems to be constantly examined for hypocrisies within her politics the online rows after she described herself as a Marxist despite the fact she writes books about over-privileged Trinity students comes to mind (not the mention the fact that there was literal merchandise for her newest novel). Misreporting on her decision to not sell the translation rights to this particular Israeli publisher quickly led to hundreds of spurious, if not defamatory, tweets labelling Rooney an anti-Semite looking to boycott an entire culture and community rather than a government.

Misreporting on her decision to not sell the translation rights to this particular Israeli publisher quickly led to hundreds of spurious, if not defamatory, tweets labelling Rooney an anti-Semite

Would this have happened with another writer? Perhaps. A tweet by the editor of Tribune Magazine Ronan Burtenshaw remarked: Will there be an apology to Sally Rooney from those who defamed her yesterday? No. Because the story about her refusing to publish in Hebrew was a deliberate distortion designed to paint support for Palestinian human rights as antisemitic. Thats how it works.

Twitter does not leave room to expansively articulate the implications of Sally Rooney choosing not to have her novel translated into the language of a country on one side of a long, complex conflict. But she can be called anti-Semitic in 280 characters.

Rooney is not the first author to boycott Israeli publishers: in 2012, Alice Walker decided against publishing The Colour Purple in Hebrew because she believed Israel to be guilty of apartheid and persecution of the Palestinian people. This is not the first time Rooney expressed support for Palestine, either in May, she signed the Letter Against Apartheid that called for an immediate and unconditional cessation of Israeli violence against Palestinians, and asked governments to cut trade, economic and cultural relations. So why did this particular incident create such a storm?

It seems sometimes with Rooney shes damned if she does and damned if she doesnt. After previously being lambasted for not being politically active enough, she now weathers very pointed criticism after publicly supporting what she believes in. While of course there will always be detractors and disagreements, an alarming amount of the criticism of Rooneys decision appears to have been made in bad faith for example, having weathered the brunt of the finger pointing and releasing a statement, Rooney was then accused of not anticipating the backlash to her actions quickly enough there is no need to spell out how eye-rollingly online these detractors actions are.

While there are always healthy critiques to be made and debates to be held about a public work of art (no, I will not be debating calling Normal People art) and a public figure, criticism directed at Rooney always seems painfully personal something that is rooted in the publics decision to conflate her with her waifish, sharp-witted protagonists. As a result, critics often perceive, or search for, political hypocrisy that might not actually exist. This, coupled with becoming (somewhat unwillingly) part of the cultural zeitgeist, means that the Sally Rooney discourse wheel just keeps on turning, no matter how mind-numbingly petty or uninteresting it is. It is easy to hate people who are more successful than ourselves a key part of being a Twitter user is being a hater after all but Rooney-related discourse stopped being interesting a long time ago after it was quickly discovered to be motivated by hatred for who she is perceived to be rather than actually informed, insightful discussion.

Read more:

We Need to Talk About Sally Rooney. Or Do We? - The University Times

Theres been a shift in recent years around how the world thinks about investing. We explore the who, what and why behind the ESG surge.

There used to be a time when investing for values and investing for profit were considered diametrically opposed.

Nowadays, theres a lot more crossover.

In this article:

ESG investing has become somewhat of a buzzword in recent years. It stands for environmental, social and governance a way to weigh up how companies are performing in line with their ethical imperatives.

That covers everything from reducing carbon footprints, implementing equal employment strategies and managing waste effectively.

As the world races to curb emissions ahead of 2030, ESG investing is becoming an increasingly important part of an investors portfolio.

But how do you find an ethical investment thats right for you?

ESG investing covers a broad spectrum of considerations.

Essentially, its a way to put your money behind companies that could potentiallymake a return on your investment and make the world a better place. That could involve environmental, social or governance-related targets.

The CFA Institute, a global non-profit that aims to provide investment professionals with a finance education, is on a mission to promote ethical trading across the industry.

Its outlined some of the considerations in ESG investing below:

In a September webinar on the trends, challenges and opportunities linked to ESG investing, RBC Global Asset Managements director of corporate governance and responsible investment, Maia Becker, said this kind of investment strategy wasnt breaking news.

ESG investing and integration has been around for quite some time now its not a new concept.

But what has probably changed is the attention and the role that ESG integration has.

Theres no one event or reason for that. We do know that younger generations are more interested in ESG factors whether theyre prepared to invest in line with that is still perhaps a bit of an open question.

Youre starting to hear more about the ESG investment universe because its gained traction in recent years.

A Morningstar report, released in February 2021, indicated that ESG-centric investments in the US more than doubled in 2020.

Specifically, ESG funds brought in US$51.1 billion in investments over last year, a sharp increase on the $21.4 billion captured in 2019.

Speaking to the jump, Morningstar stated: The turbulent events of 2020 the global coronavirus pandemic, continued weather extremes, the movement for racial justice in the United States and the US presidential election underscored the salience of sustainability concerns to investment managers and strengthened the rationale for end investors to invest in a sustainable way.

It seems investors are embracing sustainable investments now more than ever: a study from November 2020 estimated that one in three dollars of overall US assets under management is now subject to some type of sustainable investment strategy.

In much broader terms, the Global Sustainable Investment Alliance reported in 2018 that global sustainable investment has surpassed $30 trillion.

Thats 68% higher than the 2014 metrics, and 10 times greater than investment in 2004.

This trend towards ESG investing comes as the world works to pump the breaks on carbon emissions and better the planet as part of the 2030 Agenda.

Management consulting company McKinsey believes the zeitgeist is here to stay.

The acceleration has been driven by heightened social, governmental and consumer attention on the broader impact of corporations, as well as by the investors and executives who realise that a strong ESG proposition can safeguard a companys long-term success.

The magnitude of investment flow suggests that ESG is much more than a fad or a feel-good exercise.

Director at financial services firm Crystal Wealth Partners, Lousie Lakomy, told Proactive shed seen a sharp uptake in ESG investing interest over recent years.

Initially it started with excluding tobacco, alcohol and gaming. But then over time, we've been able to develop something better than just screening out those [investments].

For me it's beenquite a large shift over the last five years in clients wanting to have the conversation about investing in something that's going to make a difference.

For Sarah Bratton Hughes, head of sustainability in North America at asset management firm Schroders (LSE:SDR), policy is key to the uptake in ESG investing.

Youre seeing an explosion in sustainable investing policy. The flag is in the ground in Europe, but youre seeing pockets of it happen globally, she stated during an ESG webinar in September.

You also have major countries like the US, Japan, China and South Korea all making net-zero commitments.

Youre seeing this policy backdrop that is really favourable for ESG investing and actively starting to move capital.

As investors start to look for ventures that bank more than a return, companies are tuning in.

Lakomy told Proactive: If it's going to hurt their bottom dollar then they're going to make changes.

They don't want to be the one that's left on the bench.

As part of a report on ESG considerations, McKinsey has tracked five ways a companys focus on a strong ESG proposition can create value:

This kind of thought leadership indicates more companies are thinking of the ESG considerations they need to evolve within their business.

At the ESG webinar, Becker continued: Were starting to see that shift happen very rapidly in relation to the data we have relating to how a company is identifying, managing, assessing and disclosing material ESG issues.

Something thats really starting to shape the ESG measures companies undertake is a global framework developed by the United Nations, known as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The 17 goals, devised in 2015, make up a to-do list for people and planet, paving the roadmap to 2030.

Among the broader goals, 169 targets aim to end extreme poverty, reduce inequality and protect the planet an ambition that spans sectors, geographies and cultures.

Kylie Porter, executive director of the UNs Global Compact Network in Australia, said of the SDGs: These goals are a call to action, to develop innovative solutions to some of the worlds most complex societal and environmental challenges: fight inequality, tackle climate change, support responsible production and consumption practices and drive more innovative partnership models that aim to achieve these global goals.

At the heart of Australias values is this notion of a fair go for all.

The SDGs provide this they allow for business to actively participate in the creation of a better, more just and sustainable world that provides the opportunity to unlock opportunities, create new markets, drive innovation and create long-term, transformational change that delivers longer-term benefits for people and planet.

Since their announcement six years ago, a suite of ASX-listed small caps have considered which SDGs align with their operations and incorporated these to guide their practices.

Bardoc Gold Ltd (ASX:BDC) is one such example, releasing its inaugural sustainability report this year.

The paper was founded on 10 of the SDGs, bringing its operations in line with the framework well ahead of its first gold pour.

Other companies have gone down a similar route energy stock Tamboran Resources Ltd (ASX:TBN) has also aligned its business with some of the goals, as has Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX:EVN).

These are just a few of the companies that have taken up the gauntlet, and many of Australia and New Zealands largest companies are also using these reporting methods.

The number of public Australian and New Zealand companies who are reporting using the SDGs is growing.

With the race to 2030 on, its clear ESG criteria is becoming a big factor in how companies run their businesses and investors choose which horse to back.

As the world focuses on bringing leaner, greener modes of transport online and countries reach for net-zero emissions, youll no doubt be hearing more about this investing universe in the years to come.

View original post here:

ESG Investing what is it, and how does it impact your portfolio? - Proactive Investors UK

What is it that makes something era-defining? Its a question that has had art historians scratching their eccentric heads for decades, and it would seem that when it comes to the second half of the 1990s, The Cardigans have the answer. If offshoots of eras can be dubbed as genres, then it would seem that songs like Lovefool, Sweet Like Chocolate, the awfully named Sixpence None The Richer classic Kiss Me and pretty much everything by The Cranberries parade as paradigms of late nineties alternative pop.

However, music isnt alone in capturing the zeitgeist, films have forever mimicked the feat. In the 1960s, you had movies likeEasy Riderembodying the counterculture movement. 30 years later, you had flicks likeCruel IntentionsandRomeo + Julietcapturing the loose-fitting MTV teen aesthetic of the era with frightening fidelity. Much likeEasy Riderand hundreds of other era-defining movies that went before them, an essential part of transposing the spirit of the age onto the big screen is in getting the soundtrack finely tuned.

Music is a shortcut to a time and place for all of us in a mental sense. A song can almost literally transport you back to a scene in the diegesis of your life like an exs perfume or cologne. This memory conjuring knack is a crutch that movies can lean on gladly and bring moments of the past back to life. While crystalising the present is somewhat trickier, it can still be done with enough fortuitous alchemy. This feat is perfectly embodied by the involvement of Lovefool in Baz LuhrmannsWilliam Shakespeares Romeo + Juliet.

Although Lovefool was released in 1996, it wasnt until Luhrmanns modern-day reinvention of the Bard that the song gained serious international traction outside of The Cardigans native Sweden. While no doubt having the fresh-faced Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes helped to launch it towards stardom, it also just seemed to have found its time and place in the film. For the likes of Vampire Weekends Ezra Koenig, the songs hand in glove moment in the movie helped to open a new bohemian window into the world of happening music scenes. The following year,Cruel Intentionswould once more drop the song amongst teenage melodrama with stirring effect for 15-year-olds the world over.

Even the origin of the track captures the poster-clad bedroom feel of the era. As The Cardigans Peter Svensson explains:To me, that song is still that moment when I wrote it in a small room, sitting on my bed in our home town. It was supposed to be some kind of a bossa nova: a totally different song, slow and mellow and sad. The production on it, though, and the disco drums made it all shinier.This is a notion mimicked by Lead singer Nina Persson who penned the song while waiting in an airport and remarked: I do find that the biggest hits are the ones that are the easiest to write.

The second element that I have not yet afford the song when discussing its era-defining ways is the simple pop-perfection of the songwriting itself. Its a piece of Swedish honeyed belle that would brisk any movie along with its purring guitar tones, after all, youd be hard pushed being a paradigm of the zeitgeist if you were condemned to the ash heap of history.

In short, the bittersweet bop is wrapped up in all kinds of coming of age millennial miasma and as such movies of the era saw fit to use it as a perfect vehicle to uphold the atmosphere of the times in their picture. For me, as for many of a certain generation, Lovefool and the two huge movies that housed it will forever be woven into the tapestry of youth, like little wormholes to a time when your main focus was how to achieve tightly curled hair.

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How The Cardigans ended up in two of the biggest movies of the 1990s - Far Out Magazine

OPINION: In May 1943, Allied forces finally squeezed the Germans out of North Africa in a pincer movement, with the help of the Americans. What should have been an easy victory had instead turned into a long, hard battle.

In our current battle, against Covid-19, were less at the end of the beginning, to borrow from Winston Churchills 1942 quote, and more at the beginning of the real war ushered in with a zeitgeist change this week, when it dawned on many that restrictions were going to drag on for the foreseeable future.

In both wars it was the respective leaders strategic decisions that dictated success or failure. Jacinda Arderns latest strategic decision her most important since Covid arrived was an extraordinary omnishambles 4pm Moment of Truth from the Podium of Truth announcement of the end of the elimination strategy.

ROBERT KITCHIN/Stuff

Covid Response Minister Chris Hipkins has announced a 10-day vaccine drive, culminating in a National Day of Action.

Except, instead of the roadmap transition that she purported it to be, it was more like a long three-stage tunnel without any light at the end and no timeframes, aside from a vague Please get vaccinated.

READ MORE:* Covid-19: GPs need more resources to help increase Mori and Pasifika vaccinations* We need to make vaccination passports work* Covid-19: Speed, size of cluster puts alert level system on notice

Auckland remains steadfastly stuck at level 3 for at least the next four to eight weeks, with the prospect of Covid-19 cases piling up and more deaths seeming more certain, while the rest of the country remains at Delta 2.5. Whats becoming increasingly obvious is that what worked 18 months ago; short, sharp, messaging based on the science, has been replaced with obfuscation and flip-flopping.

Now the Government focus is resolutely on vaccination rates, ironic given it once made a virtue out of being at the back of the queue.

Confirmation of Cabinet and bureaucracys tardiness came this week when a letter from Pfizer, sent in June to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, emerged. It showed that Pfizer pressured the ministry to meet and discuss its vaccine, six weeks before a meeting actually took place.

This criticism is rear-view mirror, woulda-coulda-shoulda thinking. We must prepare for what lies ahead because it is potentially chaotic and traumatic.

With 80 per cent of Kiwis having received their first dose of the vaccine and 50 per cent having had two doses, the push for the vaccine summit of 90 per cent is on.

ROBERT KITCHIN/Stuff

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has, at times this week, looked and sounded panicked and unsure, Janet Wilson writes.

On Wednesday Covid Response Minister Chris Hipkins announced a 10-day vaccine drive, culminating in a National Day of Action on October 16 when vaccination stations will be open all day and into the evening. Its a jingoistic call-to-arms that is unlikely to reach the hardiest of the vaccine-hesitant, young Mori and Pasifika, many of whom dont trust official channels, relying instead on social media and their peers for their information.

In the middle of the maelstrom, whats exacerbating frustration is a series of ongoing U-turns. First it was the vaccine passport; in early August Ardern ruled them out, but on Tuesday a Ministry of Health data geek outlined how they will work at the 1pm briefing.

Then theres the Governments decision to go back to shorter wait times between jabs, a screeching U-ey on the advice it gave two months ago. Back then, it was telling Kiwis to wait six weeks and advising that that gave better protection from the virus.

RICKY WILSON/STUFF

Northland Covid-19 vaccination centre sees "massive" rise in visitors following positive case in the region

Now were being told that it should be three weeks because more people could be vaccinated sooner, which would increase community immunity. Say what? Aside from suggesting that the Government cant be trusted to tell us whats true now, it also exposes its current panic.

And when it comes to the final vaccine frontier, the issue of mandates, theres further vacillation, with the Government refusing to impose them. Its easy to see why; its a grey area of law. The Bill of Rights includes the right to refuse medical treatment.

And considering the Governments rapidly weakening social contract with the public, maybe a blanket ban on the unvaccinated would be useless in any event. Its time for businesses to step up, especially those who work with the public. Air New Zealand has already answered the call by imposing a mandate for around 4000 staff, as has the Port of Tauranga, although to show just how difficult this will be to implement, workers have challenged that. They have filed a judicial review, claiming the port has removed their freedom of choice. It will be small businesses, with fewer resources, that will struggle with mandates the most.

John Cowpland/Stuff

Janet Wilson: Delta has vanquished the triumphs of 2020 and an altogether different battle lies ahead.

In the War on Covid, this week has been marked by indecision, obfuscation, and missteps, which has led to an edgy mood change.

This has been a perilous week for this second-term Labour Government, and especially for the prime minister, who at times has looked and sounded panicked and unsure.

Delta has vanquished the triumphs of 2020 and an altogether different battle lies ahead. Ardern was right to transition away from elimination. It is the way she has done it thats being called into serious question. It will be this battle that decides her fate.

Janet Wilson is a former journalist until recently working in PR, including a stint with the National Party.

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A perilous week for the Government as the real war begins - Stuff.co.nz

The Violin Channel recently sat down with Antje Weithass and Oliver Wille, newly-appointed Co-Artistic Directors of the 2021 Joseph Joachim International Violin Competition in Hannover, Germany.

This year's edition of the competition, featuring a number of significant changes, will be held from September 27 to October 10, and will be streamed LIVE here on The Violin Channel.

Our readers are obviously very familiar with the Joachim International Violin Competition in Hannover, with many of your laureates having gone on to have successful careers, including yourself, Ms. Weithaas. Can you please talk us through its history and milestones?

The competition has always developed and reflected the zeitgeist, which was very exciting for us to discover. The competition was founded in 1991 by Prof. Krzysztof Wegrzyn, then concertmaster of the Lower Saxony State Orchestra, along with the Stiftung Niedersachsen. It aimed to establish a first-class, internationally oriented promotion of excellence in Lower Saxony.

It was also created to strengthen the city of Hanover and the state of Lower Saxony, in addition to the visibility of the Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media. The promotion of excellence was also reflected in the highly endowed prizes for many years the JJV was the world's most highly endowed violin competition.

The close connection with the large federal state of Lower Saxony has been evident since 1994, with the concert series "Zu Gast in Niedersachsen." This sees selected participants of the competition travel from the state capital of Hanover to smaller concert venues throughout the state.

Music outreach has also been a high priority. Since 2003, for example, the competition has been "Zu Gast im Klassenzimmer" (A guest in the classroom). A large number of schools throughout the state are visited by violinists, and the pupils then experience the competition live in Hanover. It is our aim to continue this, even if this year has restrictions due to the pandemic.

The competition distinguished itself early on with strong, contemporary commissioned works. Certainly, Arvo Prt's "Passacaglia," Rebecca Saunders' "Hauch," and this year's Manfred Trojahn are worth mentioning. We are very excited about the performances of the composition "Im Garten zu spielen" in the final round.

Another important milestone is the live streaming of all competition concerts. Since 2006, interested people all over the world have been able to watch the JJV live!

The competition is always accompanied by a wonderful audience and the participants are hosted by very warm host families. This is a trademark we are very proud of.

There have been some major advancements this year with the competition, including the appointment of both of you as new Co-Artistic Directors. Can you please talk us through how this decision came about to make such changes and revitalization?

After 30 competition years and 10 competition editions, the question was how to make the JJV future-oriented. We asked ourselves, what kind of musicians should be addressed? What demands do the current concert and musical life place on young up-and-coming artists? How can the competition continue to act as a marking point in the participant's future career?

It was clear that the competition wants to continue to bring together the finest young violinists. Those who, as soloists, have the power to inspire and carry away audiences worldwide. In conversation with the Stiftung Niedersachsen, the organizer of the competition, our vision of a forum for concert life for more mature musical personalities was quickly met with open ears. We are very grateful and happy for the trust placed in us by the Foundation, but also for the support of Krzysztof Wegrzyn, who remains closely connected to the competition as Honorary President.

With two of you now at the helm, how do you share or divide the responsibilities? Do you work as one mind or split the duties?

This question comes up a lot, but we never really thought that we have to split responsibilities. Our first long brainstorming session showed that we share many values, thoughts, visions, doubts, and hopes about competitions and the young generation we feel responsible for.

Of course, we decide who is contacting whom about what, and we are in close contact about all fields and subjects regarding the competition. It's actually very inspiring to have each other to complement and deeply discuss all issues and ideas before they turn into action.

You have made a number of innovative changes to the structure of the competition this year, including the addition of a new chamber music round, where the candidates will lead a string quartet. Please talk us through why you felt these changes were necessary in order to test every element of the young violinists musicianship and abilities?

After the horrible time of forced silence, with no one having the chance to be on stage and play for a live audience during the pandemic, we decided to make some structural changes. We love the fact that everyone is given the chance to play twice before the first jury decision is made. We also gave more repertoire options for both parts of the first round, consisting of solo and duo.

The semifinal also has two parts. The first one is a partnership with Camerata Bern: A Mozart concerto as a soloist and leader, and the first movement of Bartks Divertimento from the concertmaster position. This idea actually came from the Camerata, as they are always curious to find new artistic partners for their exciting projects. They will also offer an opportunity to create a project together in the next season. We loved the initiative and also think that the ability to communicate with a rehearsed team can be an important aspect of musicians' life today and in the future.

For the second part of the semifinal, we gave a carte blanche, inspired by the following quote, a textby the German author Carolin Emcke (who received the "Friedenspreis des Deutschen Buchhandels" in 2016):

"Home is where we start from, and it is no more and no less than that. It is where we begin, where we set off from. Its not where we stay; it's not somewhere that accompanies us unchanged. When we set off on our wanderings in pursuit of our desire, we are driven by a restless and a sense of exile to search for another home, another homeland." (Emcke, Carolin: How we desire, Melbourne/Australia 2018 [translated by Imogen Taylor], page 209-210)

The candidates received the text on August 9. They were asked to shape a program within two weeks and add a short personal introduction, which will be presented in writing to the audience.

But there is more: everyone has to include the first movement of a Haydn string quartet with members of Kuss Quartet. The specific string quartet will only be announced 40 hours before the performance. It is a difficult task, but we are very much looking forward to seeing and hearing musical phantasy, spontaneity, and program ideas and to experience different personal sides of our participants, thoughts they want to share, and things they have to say with the violin.

Last but not least, every finalist will "premier" our commissioned solo piece by Manfred Trojahn and play one of the violin concertos Joachim felt especially close to: Beethoven, Brahms, Mendelssohn, or Schumann. Together with Andrew Manze and the NDR Radiophilharmonie Orchestra, this day will happen in the Big Hall of NDR Hanover (Northern German Broadcasting), along with the gala.

What was your major priority when inviting your jury this year?

We wanted to welcome people we admire for their musicianship or listening qualities, who share our overall views and thoughts. We also wanted those who are not regularly involved in competitions.

What qualities do you feel your jury is searching for in this year's laureates? How do you feel your prize winners may potentially differ from those who have won prizes at other major competitions?

We realize the jurys job is really difficult. We ask our young musicians to show a large variety of talents, and they will probably have strengths in different things. There has to be a certain technical standard to fulfill and survive those two weeks. But beyond that, we start to focus on aspects that cannot be as easily measured, which are open to subjective discussion.

More than in other competitions? Yes, maybe we will see. But in the end, if the performances don't touch and reach our hearts and minds, you cannot win. At least, that's what we hope for!

What initiatives do you have in place to ensure fairness and transparency in your judging process?

We are not part of the jury or any decision. They decide and discuss completely on their own. We connected the competition to many concert presenters, festivals, and Warner Classics all of whom are free to choose who they invite to their artistic homes for concerts, residences, and recordings.

This year, you have also introduced many new innovative prizes for potentially a large number of your candidates, not just the winner. Can you please talk us through this new concept?

Our laureates will be awarded cash prizes, but also additional incentives, such as the 30 or more concert engagement and the Warner recording contact. These will be awarded by the promoters to any candidate from the semi-final or final round they feel the most personally connected with.

Why do you think it's so important to help move multiple candidates from student prize winners to professional musicians?

Pre-pandemic, we observed a shift towards parallel worlds: violinists who win competitions vs those who play concerts. Seldom they are the same people.

We got in touch with many presenters, festivals, and Warner Classics, presenting our idea to use the competition as a launching point for young musicians. There was great interest, especially since individual concerts or festival seasons can offer special opportunities for debuts.

Hanover is a place where many talented people come together and show a broad variety of their art for the competition, our preselection, and the jury. We thought we should offer those connections not only to the selected winner of the "Joseph Joachim Prize," but to everyone from the semifinal.

After the semifinal rounds, we arranged a "meet the pros," in which all 8 participants can talk to a group of presenters and agents about their recital programs, dreams, and visions outside the competition.

You have also implemented a number of external initiatives for young people with an interest in music-making. Tell us about these and why you feel it is important?

Classical music is in danger among the upcoming generations. Politics and society seem to rather deal with other things. But if we dont take care of culture and art with all its diversity and variety, if it is not part of our daily life we are all in danger!

It comes down to the responsibility to keep music alive. We are convinced that our music and initiatives will help do just that. We bring adventure to school classes who get to watch the first rounds of the competition, and we have a "Young Reporter" and "Showtime" program which turn young people into filmmakers and interviewers for the final concerts.

What ultimate impact on our industry, as a whole, are you Ms. Weithaas and Mr. Wille searching for?

We search for musicians who actively create the future of our concert and cultural life.

Read the original:

VC INTERVIEW | Co-Artistic Directors Antje Weithass & Oliver Wille on the New Joseph Joachim Competition - The Violin Channel

Theres been a shift in recent years around how the world thinks about investing. We explore the who, what and why behind the ESG surge.

There used to be a time when investing for values and investing for profit were considered diametrically opposed.

Nowadays, theres a lot more crossover.

In this article:

ESG investing has become somewhat of a buzzword in recent years. It stands for environmental, social and governance a way to weigh up how companies are performing in line with their ethical imperatives.

That covers everything from reducing carbon footprints, implementing equal employment strategies and managing waste effectively.

As the world races to curb emissions ahead of 2030, ESG investing is becoming an increasingly important part of an investors portfolio.

But how do you find an ethical investment thats right for you?

ESG investing covers a broad spectrum of considerations.

Essentially, its a way to put your money behind companies that could potentiallymake a return on your investment and make the world a better place. That could involve environmental, social or governance-related targets.

The CFA Institute, a global non-profit that aims to provide investment professionals with a finance education, is on a mission to promote ethical trading across the industry.

Its outlined some of the considerations in ESG investing below:

In a September webinar on the trends, challenges and opportunities linked to ESG investing, RBC Global Asset Managements director of corporate governance and responsible investment, Maia Becker, said this kind of investment strategy wasnt breaking news.

ESG investing and integration has been around for quite some time now its not a new concept.

But what has probably changed is the attention and the role that ESG integration has.

Theres no one event or reason for that. We do know that younger generations are more interested in ESG factors whether theyre prepared to invest in line with that is still perhaps a bit of an open question.

Youre starting to hear more about the ESG investment universe because its gained traction in recent years.

A Morningstar report, released in February 2021, indicated that ESG-centric investments in the US more than doubled in 2020.

Specifically, ESG funds brought in US$51.1 billion in investments over last year, a sharp increase on the $21.4 billion captured in 2019.

Speaking to the jump, Morningstar stated: The turbulent events of 2020 the global coronavirus pandemic, continued weather extremes, the movement for racial justice in the United States and the US presidential election underscored the salience of sustainability concerns to investment managers and strengthened the rationale for end investors to invest in a sustainable way.

It seems investors are embracing sustainable investments now more than ever: a study from November 2020 estimated that one in three dollars of overall US assets under management is now subject to some type of sustainable investment strategy.

In much broader terms, the Global Sustainable Investment Alliance reported in 2018 that global sustainable investment has surpassed $30 trillion.

Thats 68% higher than the 2014 metrics, and 10 times greater than investment in 2004.

This trend towards ESG investing comes as the world works to pump the breaks on carbon emissions and better the planet as part of the 2030 Agenda.

Management consulting company McKinsey believes the zeitgeist is here to stay.

The acceleration has been driven by heightened social, governmental and consumer attention on the broader impact of corporations, as well as by the investors and executives who realise that a strong ESG proposition can safeguard a companys long-term success.

The magnitude of investment flow suggests that ESG is much more than a fad or a feel-good exercise.

Director at financial services firm Crystal Wealth Partners, Lousie Lakomy, told Proactive shed seen a sharp uptake in ESG investing interest over recent years.

Initially it started with excluding tobacco, alcohol and gaming. But then over time, we've been able to develop something better than just screening out those [investments].

For me it's beenquite a large shift over the last five years in clients wanting to have the conversation about investing in something that's going to make a difference.

For Sarah Bratton Hughes, head of sustainability in North America at asset management firm Schroders (LSE:SDR), policy is key to the uptake in ESG investing.

Youre seeing an explosion in sustainable investing policy. The flag is in the ground in Europe, but youre seeing pockets of it happen globally, she stated during an ESG webinar in September.

You also have major countries like the US, Japan, China and South Korea all making net-zero commitments.

Youre seeing this policy backdrop that is really favourable for ESG investing and actively starting to move capital.

As investors start to look for ventures that bank more than a return, companies are tuning in.

Lakomy told Proactive: If it's going to hurt their bottom dollar then they're going to make changes.

They don't want to be the one that's left on the bench.

As part of a report on ESG considerations, McKinsey has tracked five ways a companys focus on a strong ESG proposition can create value:

This kind of thought leadership indicates more companies are thinking of the ESG considerations they need to evolve within their business.

At the ESG webinar, Becker continued: Were starting to see that shift happen very rapidly in relation to the data we have relating to how a company is identifying, managing, assessing and disclosing material ESG issues.

Something thats really starting to shape the ESG measures companies undertake is a global framework developed by the United Nations, known as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The 17 goals, devised in 2015, make up a to-do list for people and planet, paving the roadmap to 2030.

Among the broader goals, 169 targets aim to end extreme poverty, reduce inequality and protect the planet an ambition that spans sectors, geographies and cultures.

Kylie Porter, executive director of the UNs Global Compact Network in Australia, said of the SDGs: These goals are a call to action, to develop innovative solutions to some of the worlds most complex societal and environmental challenges: fight inequality, tackle climate change, support responsible production and consumption practices and drive more innovative partnership models that aim to achieve these global goals.

At the heart of Australias values is this notion of a fair go for all.

The SDGs provide this they allow for business to actively participate in the creation of a better, more just and sustainable world that provides the opportunity to unlock opportunities, create new markets, drive innovation and create long-term, transformational change that delivers longer-term benefits for people and planet.

Since their announcement six years ago, a suite of ASX-listed small caps have considered which SDGs align with their operations and incorporated these to guide their practices.

Bardoc Gold Ltd (ASX:BDC) is one such example, releasing its inaugural sustainability report this year.

The paper was founded on 10 of the SDGs, bringing its operations in line with the framework well ahead of its first gold pour.

Other companies have gone down a similar route energy stock Tamboran Resources Ltd (ASX:TBN) has also aligned its business with some of the goals, as has Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX:EVN).

These are just a few of the companies that have taken up the gauntlet, and many of Australia and New Zealands largest companies are also using these reporting methods.

The number of public Australian and New Zealand companies who are reporting using the SDGs is growing.

With the race to 2030 on, its clear ESG criteria is becoming a big factor in how companies run their businesses and investors choose which horse to back.

As the world focuses on bringing leaner, greener modes of transport online and countries reach for net-zero emissions, youll no doubt be hearing more about this investing universe in the years to come.

See more here:

ESG Investing what is it, and how does it impact your portfolio? - Proactive Investors Australia

From achingly hip treats to chefs favourites making a comeback, in vogue recipes that are taking social media by storm and lesser-known ingredients suddenly making a splash, theres a whole lot going on in the food world.

With that in mind, heres our round up of the 15 zaniest food trends around right now.

Think of Basque burnt cheesecake as the cooler and edgier, but no less delicious, cousin of traditional sweet and fluffy baked New York cheesecake. The rule-breaking dessert (scorched edges are actively encouraged) was invented in San Sebastian in Spains Basque Country decades ago, but its only now that the dish is having its moment in the culinary sun. One taste and youll wonder what took it so long. Boasting a barely set, silky-smooth, custardy centre and characteristic crackled and crinkled crme brle-like crust (no biscuit base necessary here), this is the sort of pudding that can silence a crowd.Where to get it: For a first-rate rendition of the increasingly popular dish, the version served up by the husband-and-wife team behind online dessert delivery shop The Kakao Guy is the one that those in the know whisper about reverentially. Want to go out for cheesecake? Head to Nightjar at Time Out Market Dubai for a cracker of a dish, with deliciously creamy cheese in a burnt crust.From Dhs35. thekakaoguy.com (055 229 8823). Dhs40. Time Out Market Dubai, Souk Al Bahar, Downtown Dubai, timeoutmarket.com/dubai.

Theres an old-school revival going on: beef wellington is back. All the rage in the early 2000s, until relatively recently the once iconic wellington might well have been considered pass. In these uncertain, post-lockdown times though theres something that just feels right about the rich regality, sumptuous luxury and sense of comfort that a fillet of beef wrapped in golden pastry provides.Where to get it: This is a signature Gordon Ramsay dish so it seems only fitting to suggest sharing a wellington with someone special at either his Bread Street Kitchen restaurant or at one helmed by his alumni, Jason Atherton at Marina Social.Bread Street Kitchen. Dhs286. Atlantis The Palm, Palm Jumeirah (04 426 2626). Marina Social: Dhs450 (for two). InterContinental Dubai Marina, marinasocialdubai.com (04 446 6664).

The phrase best of both worlds might well have been invented for garlic bread crumpets, otherwise known as the latest food craze to takeover TikTok. Here we see the quintessentially English teatime treat meeting everyones favourite Italian restaurant side dish in an alliance that might well be lasting.The idea itself is simple: quartered crumpets are arranged in an ovenproof dish, drizzled with melted garlic butter, scattered with Parmesan and baked. The genius lies in the way in which the punchy, garlic-flecked butter permeates through the crumpets signature holes, drenching them in flavour from top to the bottom. A quick flash in a hot oven turns the cheese gooey and oozy and gives the crumpets a texturally pleasing toasted element.Where to get it: If youve ever wondered if theres anything better than a dripping-with-butter crumpet, we say fling a pack in your shopping basket, try this trend at home and report back.

Reliable, quick-to-cook and family-friendly as it may be, its been a while since gnocchi could be considered cool. But much like Sandy (Grease) and Andy (The Devil Wears Prada), the Italian potato dumplings have been given a makeover and the internet is very happy indeed.

The key to gnocchis reinvention lies in the cooking method and heads-up: regular boiling or blanching is out. Instead, barbecue fiends advocate slinging fresh gnocchi skewers on a searing hot grill for an end result thats crispy and crunchy with smoky undertones. A fast-food twist on the traditional preparation method meanwhile sees gnocchi pieces battered and deep-fried to golden, bite-size, nugget-like perfection.Where to get it: To taste gnocchi truly transformed in Dubai the best place to do so has to be the always inventive Carnival by Trsind, where crisp on the outside, pillowy soft in the centre potato pieces are served on a bed of garlicky shredded spinach.Burj Daman, DIFC, carnivalbytresind.com (052 242 4262).

If you thought that sunflowers were just there to billow cheerily in the garden, TikTok wants you to think again. Foodie hipsters first started talking about munching on grilled sunflower heads last year, but its a recent second wave appearance that has really caused a stir with videos of people eating them corn on the cob-style going viral.Where to get it: To get in on the action you will of course need to be in possession of a sunflower head and ideally one that isnt fully mature and has light, soft seeds. So, take a trip to the garden centre, and on your return lop the head off the sunflower and peel away the leaves. Drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper and grill, face side down, for 15 minutes. After that, its snack time.

Cans of fizzy soda no longer cut it and the days of syrupy sweet juices are well and truly numbered. In their place, fridges are being filled with premium, complex-tasting drinks that feel grown-up. This increased thirst for high-end domestic drinks has been reported around the world, with many attributing the trend to clean living millennials and a post-pandemic desire to spend more time at home.

The movement is very much in evidence in the UAE. Take a quick saunter down the drinks aisle at your local supermarket and youll encounter a growing array of soft drinks including flavoured tonic and bespoke botanical-based blends.Where to get it: Online shop Drink Dry was launched with exactly this shift in attitude in mind and has a well-curated selection of sophisticated soft drinks, from sparkling options to speciality hops, mocktail bundles, aromatic infused sodas and more.UAE-wide next day delivery on orders placed before noon (except Fri). drinkdrystore.com (056 415 0041).

How do you make pasta more appealing? Why you serve it up in pretty pie form, of course.

Otherwise known as rigatoni pie, honeycomb pasta cake ticks all the right boxes when it comes to social media food trends: easy to prepare, makes a star of everyday ingredients and looks impressive, too.

A carb-fest of a recipe (were in real comfort food territory here), blanched rigatoni pieces are packed into a springform cake tin to create the all-important honeycomb effect, before being stuffed with string cheese, doused in sauce, covered with more cheese and baked. Once released from the pan, youve got yourself a towering, layered creation that can be sliced as you would a cake. Genius, right?Where to get it: Weve yet to spot rigatoni pie on a Dubai restaurant menu, so until the idea catches on youll need to make your own at home which, lets be honest, is really no hardship.

Fashionable omurice only calls for two core ingredients (rice and eggs) and initially the fusion recipe seems rather simple: a light and fluffy Western-style omelette is draped over Japanese fried rice and finished with a little sauce (sometime a rich demi-glace, more often than not ketchup).

Dont be fooled though, theres serious skill required to achieve the picture-perfect presentation that has seen the dish become a sensation on social (were talking a plump omelette cylinder with a thin, just-set exterior wrapped around a gooey, cheesy interior brimming with flavoursome fried rice).Where to get it: You could absolutely try this trend at home, just dont be too hard on yourself if it doesnt look quite like the photos. Alternatively, local favourite Bentoya dishes up a decent version, stuffed with chicken-fried rice and slathered in ketchup.Dhs53. Al Kawakeb Building, Sheikh Zayed Road, bentoya.info (04 343 0222).

Simple to make and dangerously easy to eat, pasta chips might just change the way you snack forevermore. The trend originated on TikTok (where else?) and calls for pasta pieces to be boiled, tossed with olive oil, seasoning and plenty of umami-rich grated parmesan, before being air fried until crisp, crunchy and golden with a pleasingly chewy centre.

As usual with chips (crisps to the Brits, but lets not get into that one), these are best served with dips. We think youd be well within your rights to call it a gourmet feast if you offer them with bowls of pasta sauce for dunking try melty, molten cheese sauce for a riff on mac n cheese, chilli-spiked marinara or people pleasing pesto.Where to get it: Get that air-frier on standby, theres carb-eating to be done.

While an Italian might well snigger into their pre-11am cappuccino at the thought of this hundred-year-old technique being considered a new trend, until recently the Roman-style pizza preparation known as pinsa was relatively unknown outside of its home country.

Now though pinsa is well on its way to going global, with pinsa-style pizzerias proving popular all over the world, including deep-dish loving Chicago (a feat in itself). A long-fermented, hand-stretched and often double baked dough sets pinsa apart from its contemporaries; made from a blend of rice, soy and wheat flours, the result is a crisp and crunchy, thin, bubbly crust thats lighter and arguably easier for the body to digest than regular dough.Where to get it: The Pinza version is a cross between pizza and flatbread, and it has fewer calories than a regular pizza so you can dig in guilt-free. The totally twisted pinza comes with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, green, red, and yellow pepper, black olives, wagyu sausage, and basil. Alternatively try Pinsanity, a spin-off from the pizza maestros behind 800 Pizza, coming particularly highly recommended.Pinza.com; tastepinsanity.com.

Put that soy latte order on hold, theres a new plant-based, gluten- and lactose-free milk in town. Pale mint-green pistachio milk is the hipster drink of choice thats currently pushing oat, almond, coconut and the aforementioned soy milk out of the limelight.Where to get it: The first brand to launch a pistachio milk in the US and the one thats on everyones lips when the conversation turns to the coolest nut milk around is Tche, a family-run, US-based company founded by half-Persian Roxana Saidi. The good news is that their made-from-Middle Eastern-pistachios milk is available in the UAE courtesy of Kibsons, so you can make up your own mind as to whether this trend is a keeper.kibsons.com (800 5427667).

Before you call us out on it, were well aware that its not breaking culinary ground to identify ramen as on-trend, but like the broth itself, this one just seems to get better with time. There is also a newish addition to the foodie zeitgeist that goes by the name of TikTok ramen noodles currently being whipped up in kitchens the world over. Here instant noodles are given an upgrade thanks to being stir-fried in a buttery, sweet, soy-sauce-forward sauce, with egg and Kewpie mayo whisked in for good measure. Further additions to the pan are optional, but omitting the sachet of seasoning that comes with the noodles themselves is mandatory.Where to get it: If the above seems verging on the crazy and you just want to slurp the perfection in a bowl that is ramen done well, there are two standout places to do so in Dubai: Reif at our very own Time Out Market Dubai and Kinoya in The Greens. Go hungry to both, and get ready to dig into a silky smooth, comforting hug-in-a-bowl.Kinoya: From Dhs50. Tower 2, The Onyx, The Greens, kinoya.ae (04 548 6776). Reif Japanese Kushiyaki: From Dhs65. Time Out Market Dubai, Souk Al Bahar, Downtown Dubai, timeoutmarket.com/dubai.

The King of the smoke, brisket maestro, trailblazer for low-and-slow cooking in the UAE and the force (and all-round good guy) behind Time Out Market Dubais Local Fire, Hattem Mattar spent part of the summer out of town launching a The Mattar Farm Egypt pop-up.

And while his signature slow-cooked meats were very much in attendance, we couldnt help but notice a new, locally-inspired addition to the ensemble in the form of smoked brisket fteer. Unsurprisingly the limited-edition dish featuring that incredibly juicy, insanely tasty pulled meat scattered with cheese and encased in layer upon layer of light, golden pastry sold out every time it made an appearance. So, were putting it out there, calling this a trend in the making and asking ourselves (and Hattem) the question: when is smoked brisket fteer going to make its debut in Dubai?Where to get it: Until that happy day though, carnivores are certainly not short of options for sating cravings for something meaty and delicious at Local Fire, so head to Time Out Market Dubai and youll be one happy diner.Prices vary. Time Out Market Dubai, Souk Al Bahar, Downtown Dubai, timeoutmarket.com/dubai.

Say hello to the dish thats currently making its mark on brunch menus everywhere. Essentially a vegan version of scrambled eggs, the silky, creamy nature of protein-rich bean curd means turmeric tofu scramble has the potential to taste just as good as the original.

No stranger to it-ingredient lists, turmeric plays a pivotal role in this recipe giving the dish a pleasing (Instagram-friendly) sunshine yellow hue and adding an earthy flavour note. The endless ways in which turmeric tofu can tweaked only adds to its appeal: tomato salsa and black beans take it in a huevos rancheros direction, while maple syrup-drizzled vegan bacon brings a taste of the US to the party.Where to get it: Were predicting that youll be seeing much more of this dish in the weeks to come, but for now you can tuck into turmeric spiced tofu scramble with portobello mushrooms, avocado, kale and roasted peppers at The Coffee Club as part of its new plant-based menu.Dhs49, various locations including Dubai Marina and Sheikh Zayed Road, thecoffeeclubme.com.

For the uninitiated, ube (pronounced ohh-bae) is a purple fleshed yam native to the Philippines. When boiled and mashed the tuberous vegetable has a mild and mellow, slightly nutty flavour and has been used in Filipino desserts for years. As the cuisine has increasingly come to global attention so too has ube, with keen cooks experimenting with the veg-in-dessert idea and Instagram grids lighting up with lavender-hued sweet treats from doughnuts to waffles, macaron to cheesecakes. We think theres something about the taste and texture of ube that lends itself particularly well to ice cream though.Where to get it: For an on-trend lick of the action, Jelly Belly and iScream both serve up tasty scoops in a vibrant purple dish.Jelly Belly: Prices vary. Various locations including Bluewaters Dubai. jellybellyicecream.com. iScream: Prices vary. La Mer, Jumeirah 1 (04 220 8648).

More here:

Food trends 2021: where to find the globe's most-talked about dishes in Dubai - Time Out Dubai

PARIS Showrooms in Paris were back up and running and accessories brands presented highly optimistic spring 2022 collections to tap into womens newfound appetite for dancing shoes, high shine and plenty of drama. At Roger Vivier, Gherardo Felloni proposed some of the highest heels he has ever designed for the Parisian house; up-and-coming brands like Mach & Mach and Iindaco quickly gained commercial traction for their candy-colored, crystal-embellished accessories, while contemporary mainstays such as By Far and Paris Texas were banking on the Y2K trend with hologram leather, trendy baguette bags and animal prints galore.

Here, WWD rounds up some of the strongest accessories for the upcoming season.

Mach & Mach: Georgian label Mach & Mach is probably one of the biggest new success stories on the footwear scene. Its signature pastel-hued pumps, embellished with the sparkliest, most photogenic bows, kept gaining steam in the last year and as the world opens up the label is becoming firmly established across major international retailers from Net-a-porter to Browns, Moda Operandi and Harrods. For spring 2022 its doubling down on all things glamorous and sparkly with new iterations of its popular pumps that now come in a rainbow of colors, ranging from trendy neon green to hologram leather and deep purple. Designers Nina and Gvantsa Macharashvili also played with new embellishments in the form of pearl strands and extra-large crystals and added some very of-the-moment, satin baguette bags to the mix featuring crystal embellishments spelling out words like Princess. The range cant help but bring Paris Hilton and the booming Y2K trend to mind.

By Far: By Far is one of the contemporary labels that managed to hold on to its relevance, even as the market becomes saturated, thanks to its ability to tap into the zeitgeist, create Instagram buzz, and gain the favor of some of the internets most followed fashion personalities, from Kendall Jenner to Hailey Bieber and Margot Robbie. They are all regularly seen in its trendy baguette bags and barely there sandals. For spring 2022, presented via a digital showroom, founders Valentina Ignatova and Sabina Gyosheva went all in with the 90s references, ticking many a trend box with their mini top handle and baguette bags, brightly hued clogs and PVC sandals. The hologram leather on some of the mini shoulder bags and neon green and pink hues seen all across summer sandals will no doubt keep Instagrams trendy community coming back for more.

Paris Texas: The Roaring Twenties are finally here and women are showing real appetite for embracing the moment and partying in some of the loudest and highest heels theyve worn in a long time. Italian shoe label Paris Texas, already known for its brightly hued boots and flair for all things animal print in the middle of lockdown some of its bestsellers included limited-edition crystal-encrusted stiletto boots is standing firmly behind the trend for spring 2022 with one of its boldest collections to date. Think turquoise croc-effect or metallic zebra print boots; extra-high platform mules; crystal and PVC sandals, and metallic-hued wedges, which the designers refer to as a super trend for next spring. We were very inspired by the party lifestyle and the idea of people celebrating, going out with friends and having fun. It seems like our customers are going out again and looking for heels for fun and special occasions. We cater mostly to this market and so theres a big interest in Paris Texas from our customers who are looking to dress up again, said Annamaria Brivio, the labels cofounder.

Christian Louboutin: Christian Louboutin created his first genderless capsule for spring 2022, dubbed Our Angels and paying tribute to glam-rock icons with a range of block-heeled, platform boots that feature monochrome shades, animal print, or more elaborate floral embroideries as pictured here. The new capsule, which is available in sizes 36 to 46, was Louboutins way of continuing the conversation of inclusivity and the joy of being ones authentic self.

Nodaleto: Its all about magic, said Julia Toledano. For her latest spring 2022 shoe collection for Nodaleto, she wanted to capture the energy of natural light through feel-good pastel colors and rainbow patterns and pass on a message of optimism, as the world reopens. Cue lilac hues the color of hope according to the designer jewelry embellishments featuring good-vibration stones, and ombr textured fabrics capturing the colors of the sunset. They were applied on the brands signature square-toe, block heel Mary Janes and sandals as Toledano is set on offering timeless designs that dont follow trend cycles. Some additions included square-toe flat boots and lace-up sandals done in sumptuous purple brocades.

Manu Atelier: Manu Atelier is introducing a handbag style for spring 2022, featuring a thicker strap than its usual dainty baguette styles and chunky chain embellishments. Instead of hosting its usual showroom space in Paris to launch the collection, the Istanbul-based label kept up to speed with the shifts in the market, sticking to the digital realm for sales appointments, and investing more in creating the right content and consequently enough buzz around its new season styles. To mark the opening of Paris Fashion Week, the label hosted a small lunch with some of its favorite content creators, who were then seen sporting the bag on their Instagram Stories. Its also did a lot of wild posting of its new campaign shot by Harley Weir and spotlighting the new bag all over Paris.

Roger Vivier: Roger Vivier creative director Gherardo Felloni thinks its time to party again and is feeding his clients newfound appetite for dancing shoes with some of the highest heels hes ever designed for the label. Cue glossy pink platform mules, glitter pumps, and metallic sandals featuring a new stiletto heel adorned with a large crystal cube a nod to the crystal ball heels Roger Vivier had designed for Marlene Dietrich in the 40s. Its a lot of party shoes, everything is joyful because we have to go out and be happy again. Ive been a big fan of flats and kitten heels, but I now realize that women want to have that choice of higher heels and most shops now mostly sell sneakers and low heels only, said Felloni.

Iindaco: Designers and friends Pamela Costantini and Domitilla Rapisardi started Iindaco amidst last years lockdown in order to bring sustainability and more democratic pricing into the world of luxury footwear. Drawing from past design experience in houses like Roberto Cavalli and Givenchy, they created fun, edgy collections with crystal heels featuring flame motifs, sequined embellishments and sexy, lace-up silhouettes. By using moir fabrics instead of leather, biodegradable leather linings, and recycled materials for their heels they are keeping their sustainability standards high, too.

GiaBorghini x Rosie Huntington-Whiteley: Rosie Huntington-Whiteleys minimalist flair has translated into big sales and plenty of buzz for Florentine footwear label Gia Borghini. Earlier this month, the second iteration of their collaboration, exclusively launched on Mytheresa, sold out within two days and during Paris Fashion Week, the brand unveiled the upcoming spring drop to buyers and press. Drawing from Borghinis and Huntington-Whiteleys mutual obsession with interiors, the collection features wooden wedges and heels made out of quartz or jade crystals, reflecting the color palette and materials in the models own home.

GiaBorghini:Gia Borghini debuted the first main-line collections designed alongside Danish influencer Pernille Teisbaek, who was tapped as the brands creative consultant earlier this year. The focus was on a natural color palette and fuss-free silhouettes featuring plenty of padding which is fast becoming a brand signature. The idea was to offer comfortable shoes for women, who like Tesibaek and Borghini, lead busy lives, juggle motherhood with work, and need smart solutions.

Marici: Sustainable label Marici launched last year in direct response to the environmental crisis and fashions impact on the planet. It offers an alternative to leather or faux leather bags, using the plant-based material Pinatex derived from offcuts from the pineapple industry. Given the increased focus on conscious consumption it quickly built an audience, launching its accessories collection in Selfridges and more recently opening its first standalone store in Londons South Kensington area. For spring 2022, its expanding its offer with stylish mini totes and clutch bags in neutral and metallic shades.

Kassl: Handbags might have started as a small side project for Kassl it was a creative way to use up the fabric leftovers from its signature coats but theyve now grown into a full-fledged business. The Amsterdam-based label has kept expanding its offer of coated cotton tote bags roomy and puffy enough to double as pillows and is introducing a hobo style in everything from supersized shapes for travel to more compact ones for everyday use. The label has been flexing its muscles in new categories, too, with an Asics sneaker collaboration launching later this year and a set of cozy chairs made out of its signature leathers that Bottega Veneta has also picked up for its boutiques.

Malone Souliers: London-based Malone Souliers opted out of Paris Fashion Week this season, connecting with buyers digitally and turning its focus on new projects, like the brands upcoming collaboration with the hit Netflix show Bridgerton and a digital made-to-order service launching this month. In the same spirit of doing things a little differently, founder Mary Alice Malone channeled a new energy in her spring 2022 designs with novelty heels shaped like diamonds a first for the brand extra large embellishments and pastels galore. Its bright, upbeat and carefree and I had so much fun playing with tone and translucency. I want people to feel energetic and happy, she said.

Wandler: Elza Wandler keeps refreshing and refining her core bag collections with striking colors and sleek, minimal shapes. For spring 2022 she kept things fresh with a palette of soft pastels and highlighted new bag styles, like the Penelope crossbody bag. There should be a balance showing new items and yet not overload the market, said Wandler who makes a point to add touches of newness every season while returning to bestsellers like her Hortensia moon-shaped totes and Georgia baguettes.

JiiJ: Ieva Juskaite launched footwear label JiiJ amid the lockdown, following much introspection and understanding the need for fashion-forward shoes at a more inclusive size range. As someone who wears size 43 shoes, Juskaites options had always been limited to sneakers or made-to-order shoes, so shes addressing the issue with JiiJ, which offers cool Mary Jane pumps, loafers and cutout leather boots that work across genders and are available from sizes 36 to 46. The shoes, which are made using apple leather, are already gaining traction among the fashion community and the labels debut campaign was splashed all across Paris streets during fashion week.

Okhtein: With fresh investment from Bidayat the investment vehicle founded by Valentino board chairman and Mayhoola chief executive officer Rachid Mohamed Rachid Okhtein is feeling confident and doubling down on its core aesthetic, which is all about glamour and paying homage to its Egyptian heritage. Its new spring range featured bold styles with plenty of crystal and feather embellishments or carved brass details. As it looks ahead, the label said that it plans to use the funds from Bidayat to strengthen its e-commence business and expand its store network, following the opening of its Cairo flagship.

Pierre Hardy debuts new Planet sustainable range.

Pierre Hardy: Hardy is ramping up his sustainability commitments with a range called Planet. The footwear maverick has worked with suppliers to create his most sustainable collections to date for fall 2021 and spring 2022, using sustainable nylon fabrics, vegetable-tanned leather and recycled packaging. This isnt a look or a style, its a way of thinking and a new approach, said Hardy, explaining that he kept signature styles in the line, like his graphic-printed mules and sporty heels, reworking them in more eco-friendly materials. Its a new way of creativity and I think it will merge more and more with the regular collections, simply because it will have to be.

Vanina: Beirut-based Vanina has kept going despite the instability in Beirut, by keeping close ties with the Lebanese capitals artisans and producing one-of-a-kind, handmade pieces featuring shells and glass beads. Structured circle-shaped styles and mini tote bags featuring beaded fringes were among the highlights offering a refreshing departure from the more generic minimalist leather pieces seen all across the market. The brands clear point of difference has caught the eye of retailers like Net-a-porter, Browns and Luisa Via Roma and there are also plans to expand into clothing from next season, which will adopt the same heavily embellished, handmade approach.

Aeyde: For all the demand for high platforms and sparkly Princess shoes, some labels are staying committed to minimalism and functionality for spring. Berlin-based Aeyde is one such label, building on the commercial success of its contemporary-priced boots a wardrobe staple for many fashion insiders with the launch of the Luis, a sleek new take on the cowboy boot, refined with curved lines that reference the Bauhaus movement.

Moynat: New creative director Nicholas Knightly has been spending much time in the houses archives and slowly but surely introducing new bag styles, informed by the brands long trunk-making history. Among the highlights were a series of minaudire bags, modeled after archival trunks. The circular Wheel bag was inspired by the shape of old Moynat cases designed for car owners to hold tires.

Delvaux: Belgian luxury handbag label Delvaux also stuck to the digital realm for spring 2022, introducing a new bag style that aims to bring its rich past into the present. The bag, which can be worn cross-body, has a more laid-back feel and features an oversized D buckle made out of a single brass bar.

Pellegrino: Veteran accessories designer Renaud Pellegrino designed the Noor, a glamorous day-to-night bag with a detachable bejeweled chain that can be worn as a belt, with two women in mind: former jewelry editor Anne-Sophie Mignaux-Kamar, and his labels CEO Sotvy Ly, who had bonded over their shared commitment to charities supporting women and children. Named after Mignaux-Kamars newborn daughter, profits from the sales of this limited-edition purse will be donated to Plan International, a development and humanitarian organization working across the world to advance childrens rights and equality for girls.

Herms: At Herms, the sheer luxury of its ready-to-wear line and iconic status of its best-known purses often drown out the tongue-in-cheek outlook of its designs, which turn its equestrian and leather craft heritage into a seemingly bottomless well from which spring everything from enamel ear cuffs and lacquered bangles to a pixelated mini version of its Kelly bag and finger-skate bag charms. Leading the race, the Maximors bag, a miniature duffel shape with an extra-large horsebit as a handle.

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Spring 2022 Accessories Market: The Greatest Hits WWD - WWD