Latest news with #IntangibleCultural
Cairo 360
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Cairo 360
Honouring an Italian Maestro at Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza
In a remarkable evening blending culture and cuisine, Chef Stefano Maffioli Ferrari, Chef de Cuisine at Riviera, Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza, was honoured as an 'Ambassador of Italian Cuisine in Egypt.' The recognition took place during a formal gala aboard the historic Italian naval ship, Amerigo Vespucci, docked in Alexandria for the first time in over 90 years. A Voice for Italian Culinary Culture at Four Seasons Cairo at Nile Plaza From Milan to Megève: Four Seasons Kitchens Chef's Culinary Path Chef Maffioli Ferrari's journey spans some of Europe and the Middle East's most respected kitchens, including stints by Four Seasons kitchens in Florence, Milan, and Megève. Mentored by Michelin-starred chefs, he has shaped a culinary style that brings refined simplicity and deep-rooted tradition to every plate. Vespucci Meets Egypt: A Celebration of Culinary Diplomacy Amerigo Vespucci's visit to Egypt was more than symbolic—it was a celebration of Italian cuisine as a contender for UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Organised by Italy's Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Culture, the evening reflected a shared appreciation for quality food and the cultural ties that unite Egypt and Italy through the art of cooking. Riviera at Four Seasons Cairo at Nile Plaza: Tradition with a Contemporary Touch At Riviera, Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza's signature coastal Italian restaurant, Chef Maffioli Ferrari curates a menu that bridges tradition and creativity. His work embodies the values of La Cucina Italiana, a global initiative dedicated to preserving Italy's culinary roots while adapting to the tastes of today's diners. A Legacy that Sails Beyond Alexandria While the Amerigo Vespucci continues its Mediterranean voyage, its stop in Alexandria leaves behind more than photographs—it leaves a tribute to the chefs and artisans who keep Italian food culture alive, one dish at a time. Chef Maffioli Ferrari's recognition is not only personal but part of a broader story of culinary exchange between Egypt and Italy.
Yomiuri Shimbun
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Skyrocketing Rice Prices to Cause Sake Rice Prices to Rise as Increasing Growers Shift to Table Rice Production
The Yomiuri Shimbun Keiki Hane, president of Fumigiku Sake Brewery, discusses the serious situation in front of washed sake rice at the brewery in Toyama on May 7. TOYAMA — The skyrocketing prices of rice as a staple food is also impacting sake production. While rice for sake production has long been traded at a higher price than table rice, the price of table rice is now higher than that of sake rice, causing an increasing number of growers to shift to table rice production. Since this will cause a sake rice shortage, the price of sake rice harvested this year is expected to increase. The registration of traditional sake brewing techniques as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage last December was a tailwind for the sake industry, however, the industry has been shaken by this unexpected turn of events. 'The purchase price of sake rice harvested in 2025 will be more than 30% higher than rice harvested in 2024, which is an unprecedented increase,' said Keiki Hane, president of Toyama-based Fumigiku Sake Brewery. Toyama Prefecture is said to be where riots caused by the high price of rice that erupted across Japan in the Taisho era (1912-1926) began, and the brewery was established in 1916. The brewery uses about 250 tons of brown rice a year for sake brewing. The purchase price per 60 kilograms of Gohyakumangoku rice grown in the prefecture was ¥16,000 in 2023 and ¥18,000 in 2024, but the brewery has been informed by producers that the price of the rice harvested in 2025 is expected to be ¥24,000. A simple calculation shows that the brewery's expenses will increase by ¥25 million. 'Sake rice accounts for nearly 60% of raw material costs. Our efforts can't do much to overcome the situation,' Hane said. The company plans to raise the prices of its products by at least 3-5% around this autumn. In general, the grains of sake rice are larger than those of staple rice, and the stalks are taller. Since sake rice plants are more susceptible to the effects of wind and rain and require labor to cultivate, it has been traded at a higher price than staple rice. According to the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry and others, staple rice produced from 2013 to 2023 was traded between sellers and buyers at prices ranging between ¥11,000 to below ¥15,000 per 60 kilograms, excluding tax. Over the same period, the price of Yamadanishiki, a popular sake rice variety grown in Hyogo Prefecture, ranges between ¥23,000 to ¥24,000 while the price of Gohyakumangoku rice from Niigata Prefecture was in the ¥16,000 range. However, the price of staple rice has soared in 2024, and in March, the average price was ¥24,500 including tax. This has prompted many rice growers, who are in the midst of rice planting for the 2025 harvest, to switch from sake rice production to staple rice production. An official of the Hyogo prefecture's sake rice promotion association comprised of sake rice producers, said, 'That farmers switch to staple rice is inevitable.' The price of sake rice is likely to surge due to the expected decrease in the production of sake rice. According to the Tokyo-based Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association, the impact is already apparent. The price of sake rice purchased by sake breweries is often determined through negotiations between prefectural sake brewers' associations and sake rice producers. 'Sake brewers' associations across the country are facing tough price negotiations,' said Takeshi Nagata, director of the association. 'I am very concerned about the situation because the results of price negotiations could directly lead to a business crisis, especially for small and medium sake breweries.' Prof. Yasuyuki Kishi, vice director of Niigata University's Sakeology Center said: 'As far as agricultural products are concerned, there are always unstable factors such as prices. It is important for sake brewers to cooperate with farmers and create a business strategy that enables competitive sake production.'
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First Post
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- First Post
What is Al-Ayyala, the hair-flipping welcome that Donald Trump received in UAE?
When Donald Trump arrived at Abu Dhabi's presidential palace, he was greeted by an eye-catching visual of girls in white robes flipping their hair side to side, while men beat rhythmic drums and chanted in sync. The Unesco-honoured dance form known as Al-ayyala blends music, poetry and is popular in the UAE and Oman read more Children perform a traditional Al Ayyala dance, on the day US President Donald Trump meets United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, at Qasr Al Watan, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Reuters When Donald Trump arrived at Qasr Al Watan, the presidential palace in Abu Dhabi , the US president was welcomed with a lively and eye-catching cultural show. Women in flowing white dresses lined the walkway, flipping their long hair from side to side in unison as the president walked alongside the UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Behind them, men added to the rhythm with beating drums and traditional chants, catching Trump's intrigue. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The welcome ceremony in UAE continues! 🇺🇸🇦🇪 — Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) May 15, 2025 'What a beautiful city! I love it!' said the US president after taking in the cultural greeting at the presidential palace. The traditional performance that stole the spotlight is called Al-Ayyala, a well-known dance form across the Gulf that blends music, poetry and movement to symbolise pride, unity, and heritage. Here's everything we know about it. A dance form honoured by UNESCO Al-Ayyala is a traditional dance form popular in the UAE and parts of Oman. In 2014, it was recognised by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. According to UNESCO, the performance includes poetry, drumming, and choreographed movements that symbolise a battle scene. In a typical Al-Ayyala, girls in traditional dresses stand at the front, swaying their long hair from side to side. Behind them, two rows of men face each other, holding thin bamboo sticks that represent spears or swords. The dance is a big part of official ceremonies and is performed at weddings, national celebrations, and cultural festivals in Oman and the UAE. Al Ayyala dance is a big part of official ceremonies and is performed at weddings, national celebrations, and cultural festivals in Oman and the UAE. AFP Unlike other countries in the West Asia, such as Iran, there are no laws in the UAE forcing women to cover their hair, hence they can participate in the dance form. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Further, what makes Al-Ayyala unique is how inclusive it is. People of all ages and backgrounds can take part. The lead performer is usually someone who has inherited the role and is responsible for training others and and ensuring the transmission of this cultural heritage to future generations. Trump's grand West Asia tour The UAE was the final stop in Donald Trump's West Asia tour, after earlier visits to Qatar and Saudi Arabia. In each of these Gulf nations, he was welcomed with grand displays of fanfare. In Saudi Arabia, Trump's arrival was marked by a six-fighter jet escort as Air Force One landed on Tuesday morning. In Qatar, his plane was again flanked by fighter jets, and his cybertruck motorcade was greeted by a camel parade. In Qatar, Trump's plane was flanked by fighter jets, and his cybertruck motorcade was greeted by a camel parade. AFP He was also gifted a $400 million luxury jet by a Qatari royals, a move that drew a lot of attention. In the UAE, authorities closed the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi to the public for the first time to welcome Trump. The Burj Khalifa was lit up in red, white, and blue — the colours of the US flag — in his honour. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A glowing close to a historic day. 🇺🇸🇦🇪 As midnight falls over the UAE, @BurjKhalifa shines with the U.S. flag—a powerful symbol of the respect, friendship, and growing partnership between the United States and the United Arab Emirates. — US Mission to UAE (@USAinUAE) May 15, 2025 According to Al Jazeera, Trump claimed that the deals signed during his three-nation tour, spanning tech, defence, and business, were worth $10 trillion. 'Coming to Saudi Arabia, Qatar was very important to me because of personal relationships that I had, maybe more than anything else. So it's been an amazing period of time,' he said. 'We're developing a lot of fans.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'People have said they've never seen anything like taking place over the last four days, in terms of investment,' Trump added. 'In terms of the kind of money coming back into the United States. And all that money, the money is a nice word, but it's really jobs. We have jobs that are at a level that we very soon will not be able to—nobody can duplicate it.' With input from agencies
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
UNESCO-honoured Al-Ayyala dance welcomes Donald Trump — here's what the UAE's hair-flipping tradition at Qasr Al Watan signifies
As part of his Gulf region tour, US President Donald Trump received a culturally rich reception at Qasr Al Watan, the presidential palace in Abu Dhabi. A group of men and women performed Al-Ayyala, a traditional Emirati dance that includes drum beats, poetic chants, and hair-flipping by women in white gowns. The performance, steeped in heritage, was a standout moment in Trump's Middle East visit. What the dance looked like In the widely shared visuals, women in long white dresses lined both sides of Trump's walkway, flipping their hair in rhythm as men behind them beat drums and chanted. The women's synchronized movements added a striking visual element to the performance, which took place as Trump passed through the palace. 'What a beautiful city! I love it!' Trump said, watching the dance unfold. Cultural significance of Al-Ayyala Al-Ayyala is a well-known folk performance from the UAE and north-western Oman. It blends music, poetry, and movement to simulate scenes of battle and celebration. Typically, men stand in two rows holding swords or bamboo sticks while moving in harmony to drumbeats and verse. The women often join at the front, adding emotion and rhythm by flipping their hair with the music. UNESCO has listed Al-Ayyala as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Beyond special occasions Though Al-Ayyala was performed for Trump's arrival, it is not limited to state visits. The dance plays an important role in weddings, national celebrations, and local festivals in both Oman and the UAE. Its inclusive nature allows participation from different age groups and genders. In recent times, more women have been actively participating in public performances, reflecting a gradual shift in traditional roles. Meaning behind the hair-flipping In contrast to some nearby countries, the UAE does not mandate women to cover their hair, allowing them to engage more freely in cultural displays like Al-Ayyala. The hair-flipping seen during the dance isn't just decorative—it serves as an expression of joy and identity. It plays a rhythmic and emotional role, reinforcing themes of unity and national pride. Ties and trade agreements Trump's UAE visit was also significant for diplomatic and economic reasons. Wrapping up his three-country Gulf tour—which included Saudi Arabia and Qatar—Trump announced $200 billion in agreements with the UAE. Discussions included cooperation in fields like artificial intelligence, underscoring the evolving partnership between the two nations.
Euronews
10-03-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Anti-waste wrapping tax causes anger among French bakers
By Sarah Miansoni A new tax on wrapping papers and cardboard boxes for baguettes and pastries has caused anger among French bakers. ADVERTISEMENT In France, there is seemingly nothing controversial about going to your neighbourhood boulangerie and asking for your daily baguette or croissant on your way to work. But a new eco-minded policy might change that. In recent weeks, French bakers have expressed anger over a new recycling tax targeting the paper sheets and cardboard boxes used to wrap baguettes, pastries and cakes. For each client coming to the till, boulangeries are now expected to pay a tax of 0,0075 cents. The goal is for them to contribute to the recycling costs of their packaging and eventually reduce waste, in an attempt to protect the environment. The idea of a contribution to the fight against waste is not new. Boulangeries were formerly required to declare every single packaging item they used in order to calculate their annual contribution to anti-waste efforts. The new wrapping tax is designed to simplify this complex administrative system. Similar contributions have been introduced for other professions, including butchers and cheesemongers. Mylene Poirier puts baguettes in a bag for a customer at a bakery, in Versailles, west of Paris, Tuesday, 29 November 2022. Credit: AP Photo One too many taxes But bakers argue this tax is a new burden in an economy already plagued by rising energy costs and inflation on basic ingredients, such as flour or sugar. Since 2022, the French government has released various aid packages to help bakers who struggled with soaring electricity and gas prices following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. For some, this wrapping tax is simply one too many. 'This is the straw that breaks the camel's back', said Dominique Anract, president of the National Confederation of French Boulangerie-Patisserie, in French newspaper Le Figaro. The average boulangerie welcomes 300 clients in a day, six days a week, which would make for an annual wrapping tax of about 700€. Dominique Anract advised bakers to slightly raise the price of their products to counter the effects of the tax on their revenues. Bakers also worry about the effects the tax could have on their customers, in a country where independent boulangeries still account for 52% of bread sales. Every day, 12 million French people buy a baguette. More than a piece of bread, it is also a cultural symbol. In 2022, UNESCO listed it as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The solution might simply be to adopt reusable cloth bags, traditionally known as sacs à pain and once broadly used. Wrapped in paper or not, French people seem far from ready to give up their beloved baguette.
