shameen

Candle light vigil at Indo-Pak border to mark I-Day

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Attari, August 15: A candle light vigil was held at the Indo-Pak border at Attari to mark the country’s 62nd Independence Day, a move that generated an equivocal response from people across the boundary.

Members from Indian chapter of South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) and NGO Hind-Pak Dosti Manch, including guests from Pakistan, gathered at the Attari check post on the international border on the intervening night of 14-15 for the candle light vigil.

Pak Rangers gift sweets to India on Independence Day

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Attari, August 15: Continuing with the tradition, Pakistan’s border guarding force on Saturday presented sweets to their Indian counterpart at the Wagah border in Amritsar.

Border Security Force (BSF) Deputy Inspector General Mohammad Aquil received the gift from Pakistan Ranger Major General Mohhammad Yakoob Khan at Attari joint check post.

The traditional Pakistani sweets from Lahore and Karachi were presented in a tastefully decorated basket, officials said.

Yesterday on Pakistan’s Independence Day, the BSF had gifted baskets of sweets to them.

Advani criticises PM’s silence on Indo-Pak joint statement

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New Delhi, August 15: Senior BJP leader LK Advani on Saturday criticised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for not making any reference to Indo-Pak joint statement in his Independence Day address, saying he was now realising he could not defend the mention of Balochistan in the document.

“Balochistan was mentioned in the joint statement in a manner as if India is also using terrorism to create problems for Pakistan. The country hoped the Prime Minister would clarify on it in his address,” Advani said.

Mayawati criticises Central govt on I-Day

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Lucknow, August 15: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Saturday accused the Central government of not aiding in the state’s development schemes, while pledging to improve the law and order situation and find a “permanent solution” to the power shortage.

She unfurled the tricolour in front of the state Assembly and in her speech alleged that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government was “not co-operating in the development schemes of the state”.

PM announces new measures for women, housing, energy, education

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New Delhi, August 15: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Saturday announced a series of new schemes for women and for the housing, energy and education sectors.

“Our government will make sustained efforts for social and economic empowerment of women. We have decided to launch a National Female Literacy Mission, through which female illiteracy will be reduced by half in the next three years,” he said in his Independence Day address to the nation.

BAIGAN BHARTA RECIPE

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Ingredients:

1 medium Baigan (eggplant)
1/2 cup Cooked green peas
1 Finely chopped onions
1 Finely chopped tomatoes
1 Finely chopped green chilli
1/2 tsp Red chilli powder
1/2 tsp Garam Masala Powder
1/4 tsp Turmeric Powder
3 tbsp Vegetable oil
Salt to taste
Chopped green coriander leaves for garnishing

Preparation of baigan ka bharta :

Brush baigan (eggplant) with oil and roast it on a gas burner over medium heat.
Frequently turn the eggplant upside down, until fully roasted.

FISH PAKORA

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Ingredients:

4 white fish fillets (steamed and cut into pieces)
2 eggs
A large pinch of salt
A pinch of red chili powder
2 tbsp corn flour
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp chopped coriander leaves
Oil for deep-frying paoda

Preparation:

Beat the eggs, salt, chili powder, lemon juice and coriander leaves together to make a batter. Add corn flour and mix well to form a smooth batter.
Heat oil in a kadhai or deep-frying pan.
Dip each fish piece into the batter and fry in batches till golden and crisp all over.
Serve the fish pakora hot with your favorite chutney or ketchup.

MILK BURFI RECIPE

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Ingredients:

4 cup Whole Milk
4 tsp fresh Lemon Juice
4 tblsp dried Milk Powder
6 tblsp powdered Sugar (Cheeni)
6 tbsp Ghee
1 tsp Cardamom Powder
2 sheets Edible Silver Foil (Varq)

How to make milk burfi:

Heat the milk slightly and curdle it by adding the lemon juice.
Then hang it up in a muslin cloth to drain for 3 hours.
The milk solids are turned into cheese now.
Kneed this well with the milk powder and sugar.
Heat the ghee in a heavy pan and add the cheese mixture.
Stir-Fry over very low heat until the ghee separates.

RABDI RECIPE

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Ingredients:

10 cups milk
4 tblsp sugar or as needed
4 green cardamom seeds
4 drops of kewra essence
A pinch of green cardamom powder
A pinch of pistachio powder

Preparation:

Bring the milk to boil in a deep heavy pan.
Add the sugar and cardamom seeds and leave to simmer over a low heat for 2 hours until the milk is reduced to one quarter.
Remove from the heat and add the kewra esscence.
Sprinkle with the cardamom and pistachio powders and serve hot or cold with faluda.

RAS MALAI RECIPE

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Ingredients:

2 lbs ricotta cheese
1/2 cup sugar
32 oz half & half milk
A pinch of saffron
1/4 tsp crushed cardamom seeds
1/2 cup blanched almonds
2 tbsp crushed green pistachios

Preparation of ras malai:

Mix the cheese with sugar and little cardamom powder and spread out on a baking tray.
Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until it sets. It should not get brown.
Remove from oven, cool at room temperature and cut into 2″ squares.
Place them in a dessert bowl.
Mix the other ingredients, except the pistachios well in a separate dish and pour over the squares.

COCONUT BARFI RECIPE (Nariyal Ki Burfi)

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Ingredients:

225 gms Khoya
225 gms coconut (dry and ground)
1 tsp cardamom seeds (ground)
1 tbsp ghee
2 1/2 cups sugar
2 cups water
1/2 tsp almonds (grated)
1/2 tsp pistachios (grated)

How to make coconut burfi:

Mix khoya and coconut and fry them lightly with ghee on a low heat.
Add cardamom and mix well.
Prepare one-string syrup by dissolving sugar in the water.
Now stir the coconut mixture into the syrup.
Grease the plate and spread the grated nuts on it.
Spread the prepared evenly over the plate and allow it to cool.

Chocolate Cake

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Christmas is unimaginable without cakes. So here is a delicious Chocolate cake recipe for you to try out.

Ingredients:

1/2cup sugar
1/2cup cocoa powder
1/2cup water
3 Eggs
1 tsp soda powder
½ tsp Baking powder
2 cups refined flour
11/2 cup powdered sugar
¾ cup Butter
¾ cup Curd
1 tsp Vanilla essence

Ingredients for icing

1 cup icing sugar
1/4cup cocoa powder
A pinch of salt
1 cup water
¼ cup Sugar
½ cup Butter
½ tsp Vanilla essence
1 tsp refined groundnut oil

Procedure:

PM calls for new era as India celebrates Independence Day

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New Delhi, August 15: As India celebrated its 62nd Independence Day on Saturday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called for a new era of cooperation and harmony, saying his government would work for political stability and strengthening economy with an aim of marching towards “a golden future”.

Israel ends search, says no soldier abducted

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Jerusalem, August 15: After setting up roadblocks in central Israel and freezing traffic for hours, the police and Israeli military on Friday ruled out reports that one of its soldiers had been abducted.

The dragnet — starting early on Thursday afternoon and continuing into the evening — stopped traffic around Ben-Gurion Airport, on the highway between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

Israeli media reported the search was mounted after a female soldier told security officials she saw a handcuffed soldier being forced into a car.

Egypt Puts Restrictions on Umrah Pilgrims over Flu Fears

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Jeddah, August 15: Egypt has imposed partial curbs on pilgrims coming to Saudi Arabia for Umrah during the holy month of Ramadan.

“Until further notice Umrah pilgrims who have not been issued visas and who are under 25 or over the age of 65 will not be allowed to perform Umrah this Ramadan,” Egypt Health Minister Hatim Al Jabali Al Jabali said during a programme aired on Egyptian television on Thursday.

He said that only those pilgrims for whom Umrah visas were issued before Thursday would be allowed to travel to Saudi Arabia.

Syria’s Baiti Wins Dh1m ‘Prince of Poets’ Crown

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Dubai, August 15: Syrian Hassan Baiti walked away with the title of ‘Prince of Poets’ and a prize money of Dh1 million at Al Raha Beach Theatre in Abu Dhabi
on Thursday.

The poet put aside the challenge of 34 other contestants in the five-month-long TV event conducted in front of audiences.

The competition in classical Arabic poetry writing and recitals began in April. The young poets vying for the coveted title in the Arab world saw Baiti ultimately making it to the top with the highest number of public votes and judges’ panel points.

Preparations Under Way for Cultural Activities Across Country

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Abu Dhabi, August 15: Preparations are underway for Ramadan festivals across the country with the Western Region outlining cultural, sports and entertainment activities.

Abdullah Saeed Al Hamly, director-general of Al Dhafra Ramadan Festival, said the organising committee had completed preparations of the first Al Dhafra Ramadan Festival of the Western Region has.

Pak Ambassador Appeals for Unity in Community

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Abu Dhabi, August 15: A large number of Pakistani nationals, businessmen and families along with their children gathered at the Pakistan embassy in Abu Dhabi on Friday morning and celebrated the 62nd Independence Day of 
their country.

Children in colourful attires and faces painted with the flag of Pakistan chanted slogans of Pakistan ‘zindabad’ (long live Pakistan), sang songs and enjoyed cakes and food served later.

There are around one million Pakistanis residing in the UAE.

UAE’s Bilateral Relations With India on the Upswing

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Abu Dhabi, August 15: THE UAE’s economic, political and cultural links with India, which date back to more than a century ago, are matured and multi-dimensional.Bilateral trade has been steadily growing over the years and people-to-people contacts are constantly on the increase. Tourists from both sides are visiting for leisure and pleasure, and more and more UAE nationals are availing of healthcare and tourism facilities in India.

Ramadan is About Sharing and Forgiving

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Dubai, August 15: In the week before the holy month, children go from door to door in their neighbourhoods, singing Ramadan songs. In return, they usually receive sweets.

Ramadan is here, here is Ramadan.

Ramadan is coming, the time that is blessed.

Ramadan is coming, the time we love best.

The month in which the Holy Quran was sent.

A time of great blessing, in which to repent.

Fasting for Allah is a great Muslim deed.

Controlling desires and suppressing greed.

The time has come again to hear such songs.

Obama names two officials to work with Iraqi refugees

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Montana, August 15: US President Barack Obama on Friday named two senior officials to work closely with the Baghdad government on the plight of millions of refugees from war and violence in Iraq

Samantha Power, a senior National Security Council official, will coordinate the wider US government effort on the issue, across multiple agencies, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said in a statement.

Pakistani journalist detained by US immigration

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Washington, August 15: Washington immigration officials have detained a Pakistani journalist employed by Voice of America, the US-funded news service said Friday.

Voice of America urged “a speedy resolution of whatever issues led to the detention” of 33-year-old Rahman Bunairee, who was picked up on Sunday at Washington’s Dulles airport.

VOA said Bunairee was in possession of a valid visa and had come to the United States for one year to work for Deewa radio, the organization’s Pashtu-language service which broadcasts to the Afghan-Pakistan border region.

French military official confirms spotting of missing ship

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Paris, August 15: A French military official on Friday confirmed that a Russian-crewed cargo ship that vanished two weeks ago has been spotted off the Cape Verde islands.

Commander Jerome Baroe told AFP that a Portuguese plane had flown over the ship. A Portuguese military spokesman could not confirm the information.

A Cape Verdean coastguard source told AFP earlier that the Arctic Sea had been spotted some 400 nautical miles (740 kilometres) off one of the islands, outside of its territorial waters.

–Agencies

Britons unite to defend health care amid US debate

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London, August 15: Britons love to mock their National Health Service — just don’t let anyone else poke fun at it.

They particularly resent the British universal health care system being used as a punching bag in the battle against President Barack Obama’s proposed reforms.

Conservatives in the United States have relied on horror stories from Britain’s system to warn Americans that Obama is trying to impose a socialized health care system that would give the government too much power.

Time running short for new climate-change deal

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Bonn, August 15: Poor countries stepped up demands on the industrial world to keep the Earth from catastrophically overheating, amid warnings that negotiations are moving too slowly to meet a December deadline for a sweeping accord on global warming.

This week delegates from 180 countries have skirmished over a draft agreement with some 2,500 paragraphs, sentences, phrases and words in dispute. They struggled to whittle down 200 pages of incomprehensible text into a workable document — but left Bonn on Friday after five days’ diplomacy with much work still to do.