Month: December 2009

Recipe: Almond Cake

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Beat the winter chill by digging into this delicious cake filled with the goodness and health of almonds.

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened
2 cups white sugar
6 eggs, room temperature
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons almond extract
8 ounces almond paste
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
4 tablespoons milk
1/2 cup blanched almonds
4 drops red food coloring
4 drops green food coloring

Procedure:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10 inch Bundt pan.

Presidency College all set to become university

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Kolkata, December 02: The city’s 192-year-old Presidency College, which played a sterling role in the 19th century renaissance besides churning out scholars and luminaries in various walks of life till date, is now all set to be upgraded to a university.

Israel warns EU over Jerusalem issue

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Jerusalem, December 02: Israel on Tuesday warned the European Union against its purported plan to recognise a unilateral Palestinian declaration of statehood by dividing Jerusalem, saying it would harm efforts to renew peace negotiations.

“The process being led by Sweden harms the European Union’s ability to take part as a significant mediator in the political process between Israel and the Palestinians,” the Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Australia’s Parliament defeats global warming bill

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Sydney, December 02: Australia’s Parliament defeated legislation to set up a greenhouse gas emissions trading system on Wednesday, throwing a central plank of the government’s plans to combat global warming into disarray.

The Senate, where Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s government does not hold a majority, rejected his administration’s proposal for Australia to become one of the first countries to install a so-called cap-and-trade system to slash the amount of heat-trapping pollution that industries pump into the air.

Pakistan has become safe haven for al Qaeda: Obama

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Washington, December 02: Defeated by the US-led international forces in Afghanistan, al Qaeda leaders have established a safe haven in Pakistan, President Barack Obama has said.

“After escaping across the border into Pakistan in 2001 and 2002, al Qaeda’s leadership established a safe-haven there,” Obama said in his Afghan-policy speech at the West Point Military Academy in New York.

Although a legitimate government was elected by the Afghan people, it has been hampered by corruption, the drug trade, an under-developed economy, and insufficient Security Forces, he said.

Swiss minaret ban violates Muslim rights: Arabs

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Geneva, December 02: Arab League chief Amr Moussa on Tuesday denounced a vote in Switzerland that banned the construction of any further minarets as the top United Nations rights official said the ban was linked to a growing wave of “anti-foreigner scaremongering.”

Moussa, who heads the 22-member organization, told reporters that the ban, approved by almost 58 percent of Swiss voters on Sunday, was a “violation of the rights of Muslims living in Switzerland.”

Messi wins Golden Ball award

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Paris, December 02: Argentina’s Lionel Messi won the Golden Ball awarded to the European Footballer of the Year with the biggest margin ever on Tuesday following an exceptional season with Barcelona.

Messi became the sixth Barcelona player to take the award and the first since Brazilian Ronaldinho in 2005. He beat last year’s winner Cristiano Ronaldo into second place while Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez finished third in the poll results released by France Football.

Israel warns EU over east Jerusalem dispute

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Jerusalem, December 02: Israel sternly warned the European Union on Tuesday against recognizing east Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital, saying such a move would damage Europe’s credibility as a Mideast mediator.

Public Acceptance of AIDS Patients in Bahrain

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Manama, December 02: Bahrain has shown progress in public acceptance of AIDS/HIV patients within three years of the implementation of the UN five-year plan to improve their lives.

The manager of the National Sexually Transmitted Diseases Programme Dr Somaya Al Jowder told Khaleej Times on Tuesday on the occasion of the World AIDS Day that the main objective of the plan is to protect the health and human rights of all AIDS/HIV patients through easy access to treatment and integration into society.

J’khand polls: Policeman killed in blast during Phase 2

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Ranchi, December 02: A policeman was today killed in a landmine blast triggered by Maoists in Giridh district of Jharkhand where nine per cent turnout was recorded in the initial hours of voting in the second phase of polls for 14 Assembly seats.

Maoists triggered the landmine at Teliabahiar in Jharkhand’s Giridih district when policemen were on a foot patrol, Deputy Commissioner, Vandana Dadil, said.

The polling process in three assembly segments in Giridih district, however, was unaffected by the blast.

In a separate incident in Giridih, the Maoists blew up a culvert at Matiobera.

Khalifa Urges UN, Nations to Stop Israeli Aggression against Palestine

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New York, December 02: The United Arab Emirates has renewed its support before the United Nations for the rights of Palestinian people to self-determination and establishing their independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.

It urged the international community to strengthen its support politically and provide developmental, economic and relief assistance to the Palestinian people and their national authority to enable them attain freedom, independence and decent living.

Lanka make brisk start in deciding Test

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Mumbai, December 02: Openers Tillakaratne Dilshan and Tharanga Paranavitana struck half centuries as Sri Lanka reached 117 for one in their first innings at lunch on the opening day of the third and final cricket Test against India here today.

Test cricket returned to the Brabourne Stadium after 36 years in front of a sparse crowd as Sri Lanka opted to bat first after skipper Kumar Sangakkara won the toss for the first time in the series.

We Will Meet Challenges with Perseverance

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Dubai, December 02: Shaikh Mohammed said on Tuesday that the people of his country and his emirate have the willpower and perseverance to meet any challenge including those posed by prejudice.

Talking to a group of journalists at the Media City, Shaikh Mohammed said that he was not worried about the exaggerated commotion and confusion being spread by a section the media regarding the restructuring of Dubai World announced last week, and hoped journalists would convey the truth and end the confusion.

World’s Largest Flag to be Unfurled Tomorrow

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Sharjah, December 02: A UAE flag of the size of four football grounds that has gained entry into the Guinness Book of World Records for being the largest will be unfurled over an area stretching from Qanat Al Qasba to Corniche on December 3 and 4 as part of the National Day celebrations.

The flag was made by Sedar company in coordination with the Sharjah Department of Planning and Surveying.

Powerful bomb found inside hospital complex in Imphal

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Imphal, December 02: A bomb was found inside the campus of Regional Institute of Medical Science and Hospital (RIMSH) here in Imphal West district of Manipur, police said today.

The explosive, weighing about 5 kg, was detected yesterday by a security patrol.

Bomb disposal squad personnel later defused the explosive, which was attached with a long wire and could have been triggered by a remote control device, they said.

Expressing shock over the incident RIMSH Director L Fimate urged all sections of the society not to create disturbances within the hospital and institute.

98 leaders coming to climate summit: Denmark

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Copenhagen, December 02: Ninety-eight world leaders have confirmed they will attend the UN climate conference in Copenhagen this month, Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said on Tuesday.

Such a turnout by heads of state and government would mean that leaders of more than half of the United Nations’ 192 members would be present at the conference aiming for a new deal to combat climate change.

EU to give east Jerusalem to Palestinians: report

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Jerusalem, December 02: An irate Israel slammed the European Union on Tuesday for the group’s planned proposal to call for east Jerusalem to be named the capital of a future Palestinian state, dividing what Tel Aviv labels its “eternal capital.”

The official proposal is set to be put forward by EU foreign ministers on Dec.7 when they will call for Jerusalem to be divided to serve as capitals for both Israel and Palestine, Israel’s Haaretz reported, citing a copy of the draft document it obtained.

An Israeli left wing activist during a demonstration against Jewish settlements

IAF grounds all Sukhoi fighter planes

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New Delhi, December 02: Two days after a Sukhoi fighter jet crashed, the second this year, the Indian Air Force has grounded its entire fleet of 100 SU-30 aircraft.

“Following the crash at Jaisalmer in Rajasthan on Monday, the IAF has stopped flying all its Sukhoi planes and is conducting precautionary checks on each of the aircraft,” an IAF official said here today.

A Sukhoi fighter jet had crashed during a routine training sortie south-west of Pokharan firing ranges. The two pilots, Wing Commander Srivastava and Flight Lieutenant Arora had bailed out to safety.

‘Apocalypse Now’ voted best film of last 30 years

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London, December 02: Veteran filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola’s war movie Apocalypse Now, has been voted the best film of the last 30 years by the top critics.

The 1979 drama, starring Marlon Brando and Martin Sheen, ranked number one on a new poll celebrating 30 years of the London Film Critics’ Circle Awards, Contactmusic reported. Apocalypse Now, which won Best Film at the inaugural ceremony in 1980, raced ahead of Steven Spielberg’s Holocaust epic Schindler’s List, which was voted the second best.

India’s swine flu death toll jumps to 580

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New Delhi, Dec 02: Five swine flu deaths were reported in the country Tuesday, taking the toll to 580, health authorities said here.

A record 198 new cases were also recorded. This takes the number of people affected with the virus to 18,396. While two deaths were reported from Rajasthan, one death each was recorded in Delhi, Punjab and Maharashtra.

According to officials, the death in Punjab had occurred earlier, but was confirmed Tuesday. In Punjab, four people have died due to the flu so far.

Kingsley to play Shah Jahan with Aishwarya as Mumtaz

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Panaji, December 02: Twenty-seven years after his Oscar-winning portrayal of Mahatma Gandhi, Hollywood veteran Ben Kingsley is back in India with plans to play Mughal emperor Shah Jahan with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as Mumtaz Mahal in the epic love story Taj.

Genes found to be main cause of graying hair

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London, Dec 02: While many consider environmental factors such as stress, diet and smoking as the main factors leading to graying hair, a new study finds genes to be more important.

According to the study published in PLoS One, genetic factors and family history are more important than environmental factors in causing hair to turn gray.

Govt concerned over disruption of CAT

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New Delhi, December 02: The government on Tuesday expressed concern over ongoing disruption of the computer-based Common Admission Test (CAT) and said precautions should have been taken much before to avoid such problems.

“Steps should have been taken much prior to the holding of the examination to ensure that such kind of problems should not have happened. We are very concerned about it as government,” HRD Minister Kapil Sibal told reporters here.

Exclusive: HIV +ve sex workers endanger customers

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Guwahati, December 02: 40-year-old Aktara is a former sex worker. However, the flesh trade still sustains her as she supplies girls and arranges customers. The trade has not just given her money but has also infected her with the HIV virus.

Former sex worker and HIV positive Aktara, “I did not join the profession on my own will. It was only after my marriage. My husband filed for divorcee. My child was one year and half year old and to look after my, child I became a sex worker. I tried other jobs but there was no luck.”