Latest news with #European-style
Scotsman
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Scotsman
Readers' Letters: George Street revamp money should be spent fixing roads
The latest pricey attempt by councillors to bring a European-style cafe culture to cold Edinburgh puzzles a reader who's just trying to avoid all the potholes Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Edinburgh Council's Transport and Environment Committee have approved a revamp of George Street at an estimated cost of £35 million. Add to this a further loss of over £3m from parking charge revenue. Further costs to the city are bound to be incurred over the projected two-year period of the construction phase. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The council recently estimated that some £86m would be required to restore the Capital's roads from their current potholed-riddled state. Edinburgh councillors ideal vision for George Street would see the current parking down the centre of the street removed, buses rerouted, the pavement widened and vehicles excluded for most of the day Given that there is a constant claim of underfunding, council officials should concentrate on addressing current issues rather than proposing yet another vanity project – £38m would provide a good start for the restoration of the city's roads and pavements, making it safer for road users and pedestrians alike. Derek Stevenson, Edinburgh Go compare 'The mullahs, enmeshed in corruption and incompetence, have squandered the nation's wealth on funding terror and proxy militias. The Iranian economy now lies in ruins, strangled by mismanagement' (Struan Stevenson, Perspective, 24 June). There are some fascinating similarities here with another regime rather closer to home. Tehran preaches Islamic fundamentalism; the Scottish Government embraces such lunacy as gender identity politics, universal basic income and Green anti-nuclear ideology. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The mad mullahs blame Israel as well as that 'Great Satan' the United States and its allies for problems they themselves have created, while the Scottish Government does likewise by demonising England and Donald Trump. Following a mercifully brief stint as First Minister, former SNP leader Humzah Yousaf and his acolytes seem to spend most of their time nowadays criticising every Israeli air strike and military action in the region, calling for sanctions against the Jewish state. They're clearly far more concerned with the Middle East than tedious old domestic issues. Just as the ruling Iranian clerics have wasted their country's money on arming terrorist organisations, the separatists in charge at Holyrood have poured money down the drain by deliberately implementing policies that diverge from the rest of the UK purely for the sake of being different, no matter how ludicrous or unworkable. And let's not forget the cost of commissioning all those endless independence papers. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and First Minister John Swinney: two clueless fanatics proudly running their respective countries into the ground. Martin O'Gorman, Edinburgh Follow the logic John Swinney believes that Professor Iain Gillespie, the disgraced former Principal of Dundee University, should hand back his £150,000 pay-off, stating: 'Given the awfulness of the handling of the finances of Dundee, it is the reasonable thing to do' ('Return £150K pay off, uni chief is urged', 27 June). Where to start with this total lack of self-awareness? Given the awfulness of Michael Matheson claiming for the astronomical internet bill from the taxpayer, is it not reasonable for him to return the almost £13,000 resettlement grant he pocketed when he stood down as a Minister? Given the awfulness of the ongoing ferry saga, is it not reasonable for a Minister (take your pick as to which one) to have been sacked? Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Given the awfulness of the state of the Scottish NHS, is it not reasonable for Neil Gray to fall on his sword? Given the awfulness of the demise of the Scottish education system, is it not reasonable for Jenni Gilruth to step down? Given the awfulness of the handling of all these devolved issues, is it not reasonable for John Swinney and his Cabinet to step down and call an election so we can get a government of whatever persuasion that actually wants to make Scotland a better place and improve our services? They've been in power for 18 years and they have nothing to be proud of. Jane Lax, Aberlour, Moray Peace plea Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The 120-plus Labour rebels who are prepared to vote against the Welfare Reform Bill reflect the ideals of the Party in standing up for the poor and the vulnerable. They must be dreading next Tuesday's vote. The cuts in PIP and the Disability Allowance are particularly cruel. It takes a former Conservative prime minister to dub them as 'callous'. I'm surely one of many disillusioned voters who feel betrayed by this Labour Government. Where money seems to be tight for welfare, it apparently is plentiful for defence. Largely to pacify Donald Trump, the recent Nato summit has agreed to raise the spending on defence to 5 per cent of GDP with only Spain abstaining, in the biggest increase since the Second World War. Surely a truly scary increase in firepower spells an increased likelihood of war, where the first victims are welfare, and aid to the poorest in the world. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Never has the old cliche 'jaw, jaw, not war, war' sounded more reasonable. Before it's too late, there should be a world summit, convened to cease an arms race in which there is no winner. Only then can we usher in a stampede for peace. Ian Petrie, Edinburgh Welcome help Let's all stand together to make sure our elderly mothers, fathers, grandparents and friends have care in care homes when they need it. Without the dedicated immigrant staff working in care homes, almost all of them would have to shut, leaving nowhere for our relatives to go. Some with families would have to be looked after at home, and others, with no-one to care for them, would be in hospitals. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Sadly, this would cause major bed-blocking problems, and in turn lead to a lack of hospital places for ill patients. We need to accept – we need immigrants. Anne Wimberley, Edinburgh Breathe uneasy H Douglas Lightfoot heaps praise on carbon dioxide but doesn't mention that having too much of it is toxic (Letters, 27 June). High levels in the blood can cause narcosis and death, conditions which intensive care units in Scotland fight hard to prevent every day; and when a cloud of carbon dioxide was emitted from a volcanic lake in Cameroon in 1986 it killed1,700 people. And to opine that high levels of it in the atmosphere don't cause global warming is plain wrong. Scientific evidence caused the Swedish Nobel prize winner Svente Arrhenius to conclude in 1896 that atmospheric carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas. Subsequent research has not shown him to be wrong. Hugh Pennington, Aberdeen High hopes Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad George Herraghty gives a confusing message on the efficiency of wind turbines (Letters, 26 June). While it is true that the maximum efficiency of a turbine, given by Albert Betz, is 59 per cent, the actual working efficiency – which is what we are interested in – depends on how much wind is blowing, and this increases with height. So the SNP have got it absolutely right and they deserve praise, not denigration. H Belda, Edinburgh Broken system For once I can agree with Jill Stephenson, 'the problem in both Scotland and Wales is that we have devolved rule' (Letters, 27 June). What Ms Stephenson apparently fails to recognise, though, is that if the NHS in Scotland is considered to be 'dying' (to quote the seemingly headline-grabbing budding-politician chairing the British Medical Association in Scotland) then in Wales, and in many parts of England, the NHS is already on 'life support'. The demise of Britain's public services is not only reflected in certain NHS statistics and struggling care services but across the spectrum of local council services (Birmingham is already 'bankrupt'), education (lowest UK science and maths PISA scores since 2006 – without England following a wider curriculum as recommended by the OECD) and welfare (due to austerity and continuing cuts to UK budgets). Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Efforts to revive Britain's economy are not helped by unfunded commitments for massive financial spending on more weapons and nuclear power, while interest payments are now exceeding £100 billion per year, but the UK Government could immediately begin to address our failing democracy. The first-past-the-post electoral system for Westminster underpinned by an unelected House of Lords as a Second Chamber is an anathema to anyone sincerely advocating truly democratic representation. Perhaps if Ms Stephenson and others are not prepared to support fundamental change to the current highly flawed UK electoral system, she will now support a constitutional referendum ensuring the end of devolved governance in Scotland by giving the electorate here a simple choice of real change. Either direct Westminster rule or independent Holyrood rule – I look forward to reading Ms Stephenson's arguments promoting a revised Independence Referendum. Stan Grodynski, Longniddry, East Lothian And finally... Evan if Iran did develop a nuclear bomb, it could never be delivered. They have a rotten postal system. Malcolm Parkin, Kinnesswood, Perth and Kinross Write to The Scotsman Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad
Mint
6 hours ago
- Business
- Mint
This new Ahmedabad restaurant puts a fresh spin on clean eating
Ahmedabad's F&B scene is flourishing, and is driven by a young, affluent population, a growing appetite for new culinary experiences, and the presence of varied restaurants, cafes, and pop-up experiences. In the midst of this bustling setup stands Union, a contemporary vegetarian restaurant that aims to shake things up by spotlighting clean eating. Founded by Harshvardhan Sheth and Ishit Patel, the kitchen is helmed by the renowned chef-restaurateur couple Viraf Patel and Prakriti Lama Patel. 'The dining scene in Ahmedabad is evolving rapidly. The amount of exposure and travelling means people are not stuck to traditional cuisine," Prakriti says. 'Our market research revealed a massive shift; people here are now much more open to new tastes and varied flavours." Ahmedabad is still finding its footing in the realm of clean and conscious eating, but there's a growing curiosity for food that is lighter, more ingredient-driven, and transparent in its sourcing. The two founders chose to partner with Viraf and Prakriti on account of past experiences and 'memorable meals at restaurants like Olive, Smoke House Deli and The Salt House". Born and raised in Kolkata, Sheth has an MBA in finance and is working towards completing his chartered accountancy course. Patel, who has studied engineering and worked in advertising, has always felt most at home in a kitchen. 'The demand for pure vegetarian cuisine remains consistently high in the city, supported by a strong local customer base and a growing number of tourists," Sheth says. The menu draws inspiration from European classics with hints of simple Mediterranean and Asian flavours — all reimagined through a local lens. 'I trained and apprenticed in Switzerland, and my cuisine is steeped in traditional European-style techniques. So the dishes differ from traditional Indian offerings, which are typically more focused on the process that creates the sauce (dal or gravy)," says Viraf. In European cooking, the protein is always the star and is complemented by the starch and the veggies, he informs. Prakriti adds they decided to use the European concept and focus on the vegetables as the star. 'We use various processes and textures to let them shine. For example, in the carrots with tamarind yogurt, oven-roasting brings out the sweetness of the carrots, the charring adds another taste profile, and the sour yogurt balances the sweetness," says Viraf. The idea was to allow people to taste the vegetables in a different manner, as they are meant to be, 'not masked in spices and curry". Viraf and Prakriti have worked across India and internationally. They opened Across, a Mumbai restaurant that focuses on the flavours of the Himalayas last year, and Oito, which celebrates the harvest of the sea and the land, in Goa recently. 'We've been consciously incorporating seasonal produce, everything from vibrant heirloom tomatoes and peak-season pumpkin to fresh, local fruits. We are now working with local sitara chillies to make a Middle Eastern-style chilli paste with oil and garlic that we will use on our chilli cheese toast," he says. The menu is also designed considering how people eat today, a preference for smaller plates that allows for variety and sharing: truffle and mushroom arancini, spice-dusted corn ribs, jalapeno, cheddar and lemongrass cutlets, crispy spring rolls, and water chestnut wontons are a few. There's a lot to choose from. A corn and kaffir lime soup that blends classic French techniques with bold Asian flavours, a roasted beetroot carpaccio featuring a creamy goat milk feta alongside vibrant orange segments, sweet potato noodle salad, and jalapeño cheddar and lemongrass cutlets with Thai spices. A congee risotto marries the traditional risotto and comforting congee, infused with spicy, crunchy, and fresh elements. For dessert, a crispy stroopwafel comes with a custard cream base, and is topped with seasonal fruit, which is currently mango. Special attention is also given to heirloom rice varieties of the region, reinforcing their philosophy of celebrating local bounty. The chef offers his take on what would be the ideal meal at Union — 'I'd start with the chickpea hummus served with our stone-baked homemade pita —simple, fresh, and full of flavour. I'd move on to the crispy stroopwafel paired with arugula and smoked scamorza. For mains, the Union Lasagne with lentil bolognese is a hearty, comforting choice. And to finish, an indulgent chocolate and tofu mousse." The restaurant is currently working on collaborations with local artists and designers to celebrate the ethos of the space. They will also host chef's tables bringing in guest chefs. Prakriti says Ahmedabad's vegetarian culture offered an opportunity to reimagine what vegetarian dining could be — bold, creative, and inspiring.'Our aim was to create food that feels both comforting and surprising — familiar ingredients presented in unexpected ways." Teja Lele writes on travel and lifestyle.
Global News
17 hours ago
- Business
- Global News
All the glamorous celebrity looks from the Jeff Bezos, Lauren Sánchez wedding
The Venetian wedding bells will ring out Friday, celebrating the marriage of Amazon's billionaire founder Jeff Bezos and his bride, Lauren Sánchez. While the team of the world's fourth-richest man has kept most details of the lavish and extremely expensive three-day celebration under wraps, paparazzi have been working the city's canals since guests began to arrive earlier this week, giving the public a glimpse of some of the biggest names to make the guest list. Thursday saw stars like Oprah Winfrey, Tom Brady, Orlando Bloom and many members of the Kardashian and Jenner families arrive in the Italian lagoon city before they used water taxis to ferry them to a welcome reception later that evening. View image in full screen Kris Jenner takes pictures of Khloe and Kim Kardashian on a taxi boat as they leave the Gritti Palace Hotel ahead of the wedding of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos with Lauren Sanchez in Venice on June 26, 2026. Marco Bertorello / AFP via Getty Images But that was just the warmup. Story continues below advertisement On Friday, Bezos and Sanchez were both photographed leaving their hotel, presumably for their wedding venue, which is reported to be on San Giorgio island, home to a monumental complex designed by 16th-century architect Andrea Palladio. 2:12 Celebrities arrive in Venice for Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez wedding According to The Associated Press, the island features an iconic bell-tower that is a fixture of the Venetian skyline. The island, once home to a Benedictine abbey, features manicured gardens, an outdoor amphitheatre, a private marina and the Gorge Cini Foundation, dedicated to preserving the island's treasures. While Bezos departed in what is likely the tuxedo he will wear for the wedding, Sánchez's pre-wedding attire featured a decidedly European-style cream-coloured suit and white headscarf. View image in full screen Jeff Bezos leaves a hotel ahead of the anticipated wedding celebrations with Lauren Sanchez, in Venice, Italy, Friday, June 27, 2025. Antonio Calanni / The Associated Press View image in full screen Lauren Sanchez leaves the Aman Hotel on her wedding day with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos in Venice on June 27, 2025. Stefano Rellandini / AFP via Getty Images The A-listers in attendance, as they stepped onto water taxis, looked the part for the black-tie affair — the women wore lavish gowns and dripping jewels, while the men turned up in smartly tailored tuxedoes and bowties. Story continues below advertisement Keep scrolling to see all of the best looks the stars wore to witness the nuptials, as well as some photographs of how they're spending their time in Venice. Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump View image in full screen Antonio Calanni / The Associated Press Vittoria Ceretti View image in full screen Ernesto Ruscio / GC Images Tom Brady View image in full screen Andrea Pattaro / AFP via Getty Images Kris Jenner View image in full screen Ernesto Ruscio / GC Images Khloe Kardashian View image in full screen Marco Bertorello / AFP via Getty Images Kim Kardashian View image in full screen Ernesto Ruscio / GC Images Ellie Goulding View image in full screen Marco Bertorello / AFP via Getty Images Jewel View image in full screen Marco Bertorella / AFP via Getty Images Oprah Winfrey View image in full screen Stefano Rellandini / AFP via Getty Images Sam Altman and Karlie Kloss View image in full screen Marco Bertorello / AFP via Getty Images Leonardo Dicaprio View image in full screen Marco Bertorella / AFP via Getty Images Bill Gates View image in full screen Marco Bertorello / AFP via Getty Images Kylie and Kendall Jenner View image in full screen Andrea Pattaro / AFP via Getty Images Orlando Bloom View image in full screen Andrea Pattaro / AFP via Getty Images Brooks Nader View image in full screen Stefano Rellandini / AFP via Getty Images Earlier Friday, several celebrities were photographed walking the streets of Venice. Story continues below advertisement Sydney Sweeney View image in full screen Ernesto Ruscio/GC Images Dee Ocleppo and Tommy Hilfiger View image in full screen Ernesto Ruscio/GC Images Khloe Kardashian and Kris Jenner View image in full screen Andrea Cremascoli/GC Images
Time Magazine
2 days ago
- Health
- Time Magazine
TIME100 Most Influential Companies 2025: Bobbie
When American parents began ordering infant formula from Europe, where regulations against additives like corn syrup are more strict than in the U.S., a new American company called Bobbie met the demand. The 'European-style' formula has been marketed with slogans like, 'I like it shaken, not stirred' and created viral moments like buying a giant ad in Times Square featuring cookbook author Molly Baz breastfeeding with a can of Bobbie in her hand. Good deeds also helped boost the company's profile: They have provided formula for families impacted by the California wildfires and moms who have had mastectomies. Within 18 months of launching in 2021, Bobbie surpassed $100 million in revenue. Co-founder and CEO Laura Modi, mother of four, recently raised eyebrows with many of her customers when she joined a group that will consult with controversial HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on updating nutrition guidelines for formula. But Modi, who emphasizes the importance of bringing a mother's perspective to the male-dominated group consulting with Kennedy, has long asserted that nutritional standards are a non-partisan issue and wants to impose restrictions on ingredients like sucrose in U.S.-made formulas to make sure the first food that many babies feed on, regardless of cost, are healthful. 'I feel like we've become experts in navigating politics, politicians, the lobbying world,' she told TIME earlier this year on Bobbie's political advocacy work more generally. 'We have an opportunity to really question the status quo to give needed support to parents.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Nueces County officials have doubts about proposed Barisi Village development. Here's why.
Dirt hasn't yet moved on the property of a former golf course where a European-style mixed-use development is planned — a point of frustration publicly aired earlier this month by county officials, some of whom also cast doubt that Barisi Village would be fully realized. Developers have asserted that there remains full commitment to bringing Barisi Village to fruition — and while they had hoped to move faster, 'market timing for a project of this scale and ambition requires careful calibration,' wrote Benjamin 'Jed' Rollins, Blackard Companies senior vice president, in a June 24 email to the Caller-Times. 'We're not in the business of breaking ground just to break ground — we need the right market conditions and capital structure to ensure long-term success,' he wrote. The project, as detailed in presentations, is proposed to redevelop 127 acres of the former Pharaoh Valley Golf Course, bringing to life what was once abandoned property and replacing the empty parcels instead with a largescale mixed-use development. It is anticipated that it would feature a motley assortment of features, including retail space, single-family homes, apartments, a plaza, a bell tower and outdoor recreation options, such as walking paths and sport courts, according to officials. The proposal has been lauded as an avenue to revitalize the area, promote economic development, redevelop long-fallow land and boost property values of the adjacent neighborhood. There are concerns, though, about the timeframe that the development may be accomplished, several governmental leaders said this month, citing the possibility that dirt may not be moved for another 12 to 18 months. County, city and college officials vowed in October 2024 to support the development with tax abatements, calling for reimbursements of certain infrastructure via a tax increment. Seven months later, commissioners raised concerns about the viability of the endeavor — and the likelihood that its vision would be achieved — following a June 11 presentation by Corpus Christi Assistant City Manager Heather Hurlbert. There had been a perception that work was ready to go when signing off on tax incentives, officials said. Nueces County Commissioner Brent Chesney said some community members have begun to lose confidence that the project will be realized, himself included. His precinct includes a portion of the property. The other portion is within the precinct of Nueces County Commissioner John Marez. 'It's frustrating because we all did this because we really wanted to help the neighbors,' Chesney said. The county, like others, remains 'excited about the concept,' Marez said. 'We want that growth and development,' he said. 'But we've also got to see some results.' In his email to the Caller-Times, Rollins wrote that the group continues 'to refine our plans while monitoring market conditions.' A timeline of 12 to 18 months for dirt moving on the property — as quoted earlier this month by city staff — is possible, he wrote. Timing considerations have included 'current market dynamics in Corpus Christi—specifically the combination of depressed rents, rising vacancy rates, and signals of a temporarily oversupplied multifamily sector,' Rollins wrote. 'Our goal remains to deliver a transformative project that succeeds both for investors and the community,' he wrote 'We want to be crystal clear: we are not walking away from Barisi Village. We've invested too much time, capital, and vision into this project. We're simply being responsible stewards of both investor capital and community trust by ensuring we break ground when conditions support long-term success.' City officials have said once Barisi Village is fully built out — a process expected to unfold over 10 to 12 years, the development will hold a taxable value of as much as $1 billion to be added to the rolls for local taxing entities. Local taxing entities' endorsement of the venture came in the way of a tax increment reinvestment zone — also known as a TIRZ — a financial structure in which a portion of a property tax increment, collected in a certain area, is dedicated to improvements in the same area. The funding is drawn from a tax increment — the increased property tax generated by increased value of the property, as compared to before the development occurs. The Barisi Village agreement involves reimbursements for certain kinds of public infrastructure. Development components proposed for reimbursement include public infrastructure, such as parking and street improvements, as well as public spaces such as the plazas and parks. That means there will be no tax reimbursements until specific agreed-upon project elements are complete. As part of TIRZ participation, the city agreed to contribute about $32.1 million in tax increments over a 20-year timespan while Nueces County agreed to contribute $12.7 million over the same timeframe. Del Mar College agreed to contribute about $6.8 million over 10 years. A lengthy TIRZ approval process was among the factors leading to delays, Rollins wrote in his email — 'during which interest rates rose dramatically and construction costs remained elevated.' He named among other factors what he described as weakness in the city's multifamily market, increasing insurance costs and water issues. 'The City's well-documented water capacity constraints create significant underwriting challenges — many lenders tracking this project have explicitly cited this infrastructure limitation as a barrier to lending in this market,' Rollins wrote. A developer agreement is pending finalization, Hurlbert told commissioners June 11. 'We are just as apprehensive about this moving forward, I think, as you are … because it has not moved forward as has been promised,' she said. Should Barisi Village not reach fruition, there would be an option to dissolve the TIRZ, Hurlbert added. The council has expressed interest in incorporating milestones into the developer agreement to ensure 'that the developer continued to move forward,' Hurlbert told the commissioners court. Governmental bodies indicating they may reverse course 'fundamentally undermines our ability to secure financing,' Rollins wrote. 'We've worked collaboratively with the City and County for over a decade to reach this point—having that partnership publicly questioned now, when the project faces other economic headwinds, compounds every other challenge we're navigating,' he wrote. It is anticipated that a presentation will be brought before the City Council in the upcoming weeks, Hurlbert told the Caller-Times on June 20. In a June 24 message, Mayor Paulette Guajardo wrote that she was concerned 'about the continued delay of this long anticipated project.' She wrote, 'After years of planning and preparation, it is disappointing that construction has yet to begin." Guajardo added that the city urges 'the developer to move forward, knowing that further delays to this amazing $800 million investment only increase risk and cost.' Blackard Companies is the sole owner of the property. Since there haven't been improvements to the property, its value remains the same, Hurlbert told the Caller-Times — meaning that the city isn't "losing out on any revenue that would be coming in that could be used for other services.' 'While we don't want it just sitting there, it also is not taking away from something else,' she said. More: A new step taken for new village-themed Barisi development: zoning for abatements More: Del Mar College reconsidered proposed abatements for Barisi Village. Here's what they did. More: Here's what Nueces County decided for a proposed mixed-use development in Corpus Christi More: Del Mar College has voted on Barisi Village development. This is what regents decided. This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Officials have doubts about Barisi Village development. Here's why.
