Torres breaks La Liga drought with Atletico win |
- Torres breaks La Liga drought with Atletico win
- Celine Dion is back once again, to return to Vegas residency
- Iran’s top leader rejects US ‘bullying’ in nuclear talks
- Moody Cow’s cheesecakes are sure to boost your mood!
- Be Good to yourself with handmade skincare
- New Orleans airport accused machete attacker dies in hospital
| Torres breaks La Liga drought with Atletico win Posted: 21 Mar 2015 05:49 PM PDT
Torres powered home a Koke free kick after three minutes to claim his first league goal since returning to his boyhood club in the January transfer window from AC Milan. The Spaniard arrived low on confidence following disappointing spells at Chelsea and the Serie A side, and while he has so far proved a useful reinforcement, Atletico coach Diego Simeone feels he has more to give. "He is better and combining with his team-mates," Simeone told a news conference. "We still need more from him and he is a player that is used to the pressure. If we do not demand it then it is not good for him. "He is a player that lives off scoring and he needed to get that goal in the league. He is working hard and has a positive rivalry with (Mario) Mandzukic." Koke also played a part in the second goal before halftime when another free kick was flicked on by Raul Jimenez and Tiago nodded the ball in. Atletico were without several players through injury and suspension but looked sharper up front than of late. The hosts, who eased off in the second half as Getafe caused little danger, are now one point behind third-placed Valencia with 59 points. "I think that responsibility and pressure always exist but the success that we have had in recent years clearly means that there is greater expectation," said Simeone. "Now we also have teams like Villarreal, Valencia and Sevilla that are pushing us." Leaders Barcelona face Real Madrid in the 'Clasico' on Sunday hoping to record a victory that will send them four points clear at the top. "Physically we are in good shape. The squad has been rotated and today there were players who haven't been involved much," said Jimenez who was given a rare chance in attack. "It is good that we now have a break with players going off on international duty," he told reporters. There was no hangover from Tuesday's Champions League penalty shootout victory over Bayer Leverkusen as Torres quickly put Atletico ahead and Koke then hit the post with a drive from the edge of the area. The hosts were without suspended centre half Miranda while Mario Mandzukic and Raul Garcia were injured and Antoine Griezmann began on the bench. Koke should have increased Atletico's lead midway through the first half when he shot straight at keeper Vicente Guaita from close range but he was then involved in Tiago's goal. Midfielder Koke's return to form after injury has coincided with Atletico's improvement and he has given them a boost especially with his delivery from set-plays. Elsewhere yesterday, Xabier Etxeita and Mikel Rico gave Athletic Bilbao a 2-1 win over Almeria whose goal came through Mikel Balenziaga putting the ball in his own net. A Charles Dias strike gave Celta Vigo a 1-0 win away to Levante, Gael Kakuta hit the only goal in Rayo Vallecano's 1-0 victory over Malaga and Granada drew 0-0 with Eibar. — Reuters  |
| Celine Dion is back once again, to return to Vegas residency Posted: 21 Mar 2015 05:45 PM PDT
On her website, the star from French-speaking province Quebec hinted at the news yesterday, exclaiming "Good news on the horizon!" showing her husband and one-time manager Rene Angelil, 73, watching television footage of Dion. Dion, 46, will be resuming her residency at Caesars Palace's Colosseum in late August with a new show, according to People. "It is very emotional for me and I'm anticipating the emotions to grow even more as the date gets closer," Dion told the magazine. Fans reacted with glee. "I am super excited I have been waiting for this moment for a very long time!! I love you Celine and I am so excited for your return!" one wrote on her website. The five-time Grammy winner performed in Sin City full-time for more than three years, wowing crowds with her biggest hits that include the theme song for the 1997 Hollywood blockbuster "Titanic" starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet — "My Heart Will Go On." In 2014, the international sensation suffered from a condition that caused her throat muscles to become inflamed, forcing her to cancel her scheduled shows in Las Vegas since her last performance on July 29 of that year. — AFP |
| Iran’s top leader rejects US ‘bullying’ in nuclear talks Posted: 21 Mar 2015 05:40 PM PDT
With just 10 days remaining until an end-of-March deadline for a framework agreement, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei denounced US "bullying" in the negotiations and repeated Teheran's denial that it was seeking to develop a nuclear weapon. After week-long talks with Iran in Switzerland, US Secretary of State John Kerry flew to London to confer with his counterparts from Britain, France and Germany on prospects for resolving the dispute, which goes back more than a decade and has threatened at times to unleash a new war in the Middle East. In a joint statement, the foreign ministers said they agreed that "substantial progress" had been made with Iran in key areas, but some important issues remained outstanding. "Now is the time for Iran, in particular, to take difficult decisions," they said. British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond told reporters the Western ministers were all in agreement that "we will not do a bad deal that does not meet our red lines". Together with China and Russia, the four countries are trying to reach a deal with Teheran that would restrict the most sensitive aspects of Iran's atomic programme in return for an easing of international sanctions. US ally Israel views Iran's nuclear activities as an existential threat, despite Teheran's strenuous denials that it wants to acquire nuclear weapons. US President Barack Obama said in an interview with the Huffington Post that Iran had not yet made the necessary concessions for a deal to get completed. "What is going to have an effect on whether we get a deal done is, number one: Is Iran prepared to show, to prove to the world, that it is not developing a nuclear weapon, and can we verify that in an intrusive, consistent way?" Obama said. "And frankly, they have not yet made the kind of concessions that are I think going to be needed for a final deal to get done. But they have moved, and so there's the possibility," Obama added in the interview conducted on Friday and published yesterday. Durable solution After 2-1/2 hours of talks in London, the Western ministers said in their joint statement: "Any solution must be comprehensive, durable and verifiable. None of our countries can subscribe to a deal that does not meet these terms." The stress on unity seemed designed to counter the impression of a split between Washington and Paris. US officials have privately bristled at France's outspoken criticism of the negotiating process and its demands for more stringent restrictions on the Iranians. Officials have expressed concerns that the French might block a deal at the United Nations. France's envoy to Washington, Gerard Araud, has been especially vocal, tweeting that setting a March 31 deadline for a framework deal was "a bad tactic" and "counterproductive". The target date for a full agreement is June 30. The full six-power group is due to resume negotiations with Iran next week in Lausanne, Switzerland. The West suspects Iran of seeking the ability to produce atomic weapons and the United Nations has imposed stringent economic sanctions on Teheran. Iran says its programme is intended only for peaceful purposes, such as medical technology and nuclear energy, and wants the swift lifting of sanctions. Iran's Khamenei, who has the last word on all matters of state, reiterated in a speech that Teheran would not be pressured into giving in to Western demands. "What the Iranian people don't want is imposition and bullying from America," he said, at one point repeating the phrase "Death to America" after it was shouted from the crowd. He accused Washington of seeking to foment instability in the Middle East. "They raise the issue of an atomic bomb. They know themselves that we are not pursuing nuclear weapons. But they just use that as an excuse to pressure the Iranian people." He criticised "arrogant" Western countries for what he said was their role in bringing about a halving of world oil prices that has squeezed Iran's economy. "They insist on putting pressure on our dear people's economy. What's their goal? Their goal is to put the people against the system," he said. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani had struck a more positive note earlier, saying there was "nothing that cannot be resolved". — Reuters |
| Moody Cow’s cheesecakes are sure to boost your mood! Posted: 21 Mar 2015 05:38 PM PDT
Almost every table inside the dim cozy sanctuary that is Moody Cow Café displays this quirky little sign and rightly so because anyone who loves smooth, rich cheesecake will find it hard to resist their wide selection. Originally well-known for its rich, fragrant butter cake, the tiny little café quickly became the place for utterly divine and decadent cheesecakes. Today, it is the only place where you can find every imaginable type of cheesecake, all lovingly baked with a multitude of flavours.
"We had initially started this as a hobby, a place for us to sort of enjoy our retirement but my butter cakes turned out to be very popular... then people started asking for cheesecakes and when I experimented with some specialty cheesecakes, we suddenly became cheesecake specialists," Chang said. The former interior decorator started baking as a hobby but now it has become a full-time profession.
Ever heard of salted egg yolks in cheesecake? Try their Beijing Moon for a savoury and rich cheesecake that is given an interesting twist by the saltiness of the salted egg yolks.
For those who love rum, they have D'Rum, a combination of chocolate and rum cheesecake that gives you a burst of rum and smooth chocolate in every bite. If you are adventurous, they have Flossy Walnut; it's a confection consisting of layers of creamy cheese, chocolate cheese and topped with meat floss.
Each flavour is tried and tested till it is just the perfect balance of tastes before it is introduced to customers, Chang said. Chang now has perfected more than 150 types of cheesecakes from colourful fruit-infused concoctions to luscious combinations with peanut butter, nuts, Milo and rum. On any day, the café will offer more than a dozen different types of cheesecakes so better make sure you are not on a diet when stepping into the café!
The Cheesecake Boutique, just next to Moody Cow, will open by April. For now, get your cheesecake fix over at Moody Cow first. Moody Cow Café |
| Be Good to yourself with handmade skincare Posted: 21 Mar 2015 05:35 PM PDT
For James Wong, however, it was his love for travelling, cooking and food that shaped his personal care brand, Be Good. It is so named because he believes in the simple philosophy that we should take care of and be good to ourselves. Currently 30-product strong and growing, the Be Good collection includes lip balms and scrubs, body oils, face scrubs, foot scrubs, body lotions and soaps. James makes all the products by hand using natural ingredients and essential oils. Often, his creation process begins with a scent that he enjoys. "If I like the smell of a flower, I will find out if it's available as an absolute or essential oil, if it's safe and what the benefits are. Then I will incorporate it into my range," he says.
He has found just as much motivation from his travels, particularly when exploring our South-East Asian neighbours. "I love the kampot pepper from Cambodia, Thailand offers a great many oils while Bali was one of the places that sparked off the realisation that I can make my own products." Tea is another source of ideas for James. A soothing cup of tea he enjoyed while staying with a friend's family in France, for example, is now immortalised in the Afternoon Tea face scrub. A blend of almond, green tea, orange and bergamot oils, it has a refreshingly citrusy scent with a hint of rawness from the tea.
Correspondingly, the packaging design is simple and cheerful but all that belies the amount of research (it typically takes at least six months before a product leaves his test kitchen and hits the shelves) that James puts every product through. Not to mention, the rigorous testing he conducts on them — on himself; if it doesn't pass his own test, he won't sell it. In fact, Be Good is an entirely self-taught, self-built endeavour. It came about three years ago when James was facing a lull in his day job in research and insights with a media agency. He had been interested in essential oils for a while and enjoyed pairing oils for his own use, so he decided to dabble in them again. James learned the basics of handmade skincare from watching YouTube videos, and trawls the Internet for information about essential oils and complementary therapies. He concocts the scents much like how one would build a perfume: There are top, middle and base notes that come together in a harmonious blend.
Indeed, the ingredients list for his products does read like food recipes, featuring kitchen staples like sugar (used in the scrubs, as it releases anti-ageing hormones when in contact with skin), herbs, dried plants and flowers. James chooses his ingredients carefully, sourcing them only from trusted brands such as UK-based New Directions for the oils and mineral clays (used in facial creams and masks). Be Good's products are not specific to any skin type but are generally suitable for all, including children above the age of five. Even those with the skin condition eczema have found that they are able to use his products without any negative reactions. Working from home and mostly by himself with the occasional help from friends, James is able to churn out about 30 units each week. He prefers to produce in small batches so as to keep everything as fresh as possible, and offers customisation as well as gift baskets. Recently, he created body soaps as wedding favours and as the bridal party featured lots of baby's breath, James encrusted the tiny blooms into them, making the soaps not just a takeaway gift but also a part of the happy couple's story.
That's among the crucial know-how that he picked up from his research into how raw ingredients react to environmental elements and on the human skin and psyche. Essential oils, James believes, should never be ingested but only used topically. "There are two types of sage, and one of them can cause giddiness," he shares. "Some people may suffer phototoxicity from using certain oils, which is why I choose to work with a begatin-free bergamot oil in my collection."
"Think of them as food." That does not, however, mean that one should literally consider them as edibles. "My customers often describe my products as being good enough to eat. But no, I do not recommend consuming them!" See and shop the full range of Be Good products via Facebook page (www.facebook.com/BeGoodTo) and at www.begoodto.blogspot.com; you can also follow James on Instagram (@begoodto) and WeChat (begoodto). Vivian Chong is a freelance writer-editor, and founder of travel & lifestyle website http://thisbunnyhops.com |
| New Orleans airport accused machete attacker dies in hospital Posted: 21 Mar 2015 05:34 PM PDT
Richard White, 63, was carrying six homemade explosives when he attacked agents at the airport with wasp killer spray and a machete. He had a history of mental illness, officials said. "No one at this point in time has any notion of what triggered this behaviour," Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand said at a news conference earlier yesterday. "His family has been very cooperative. We have been able to determine that there is a mental illness component here." White died after the news conference, at around 4pm local time (2100 GMT), police said. White sprayed the Transportation Security Administration agents at about 8pm on Friday at a security checkpoint at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. A TSA agent threw a bag at White and slowed him down. White then brandished a machete and chased an unarmed TSA agent, until he was shot three times by a sheriff's officer. During the attack White dropped a bag containing a lighter and six glass jars with cloth wicks in gasoline, commonly known as Molotov cocktails, Normand said. Officials found tanks of acetylene, freon and oxygen in White's car at the airport, but do not know what their purpose was. White, who lived near the airport and had worked as a taxi driver, refused some types of medical attention because of religious beliefs, officials said. Federal agents responded to the scene, the concourse was cleared and planes were moved to other concourses. Transportation Security Officer Carol Richel praised Lieutenant Heather Slyve of the sheriff's office, who shot White. "Officer Slyve is my hero," Richel said. "She probably saved my life because he was within inches of whacking me. ... She saved a lot of people's lives. This man was swinging very hard with the machete." In November 2013, a lone gunman walked into the Los Angeles International Airport carrying a semi-automatic rifle and opened fire, killing a TSA agent and wounding three other people. The agent killed in that attack, 39-year-old Gerardo Hernandez, was the first officer slain in the line of duty since the agency was created in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. — Reuters |
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