Israel interior minister quits over sex crime accusations |
- Israel interior minister quits over sex crime accusations
- Turmeric candy ― A wonderful gift for friends or for yourself
- ‘Real Housewives of New Jersey’ star to be released from prison, says report
- Hyundai poised to miss sales target for first time since global financial crisis
- Two more arrested as Belgian cops raid home in Paris attacks probe
- Dollar climbs against yen as Fed rate increase outlook holds
| Israel interior minister quits over sex crime accusations Posted: 20 Dec 2015 05:06 PM PST
"Under these circumstances I have decided to resign from my position as minister and member of parliament," he said in a statement. "My family is giving me full support but there is no justification for the price being exacted from it." Israel's attorney-general instructed police to investigate the reports, said a justice ministry report issued after Shalom's announcement. Israeli media, led by the left-leaning Haaretz, have reported multiple allegations by former members of Shalom's staff of sexual misconduct. Last week, the paper reported that an ex-staffer accused the minister but did not lodge an official police complaint. "The woman said that more than a decade ago, Shalom asked her to perform oral sex, abusing his authority over her. However, that case cannot be prosecuted because of the statute of limitations," the paper reported. That same allegation surfaced last year as Shalom, of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's rightwing Likud party, was tipped as a presidential candidate to succeed Shimon Peres. Its resurrection has brought other complaints in its wake. "Following the report," Haaretz wrote on yesterday, "several other women also alleged that the minister sexually assaulted them." The Jerusalem Post reported that 11 women had alleged "inappropriate sexual advances toward them." The English-language daily added that his seat in parliament would pass to Amir Ohana, whom it said would become the first "openly gay" Likud MP. Israel has been plagued by many high-level sex cases, notably the December 2010 conviction of president Moshe Katsav for rape and sexual assault. He started a seven-year prison sentence the following year. In January 2015, attorney general Yehuda Weinstein urged the public not to lose faith in Israel's police force despite sex and sexual harassment scandals reaching as high as the deputy national commissioner, the chief of police in the occupied West Bank and the Jerusalem police chief. Similar cases have blighted the army. — AFP  |
| Turmeric candy ― A wonderful gift for friends or for yourself Posted: 20 Dec 2015 04:56 PM PST
The ingredient in Indian and southeast Asian cuisines that colors curries and other dishes gold, turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a staple in Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicines. Studies suggest that the rhizome may be helpful in treating osteoarthritis, viral and bacterial infections, stomach ulcers, cancer and other conditions. I've known of turmeric's usefulness in treating the common cold since 2008, when I stumbled upon sugar-coated slices of the rhizome at the central market in Hoi An, Vietnam. I'd been nursing a scratchy throat and runny nose for three chilly, drizzly days. When a vendor heard me cough, she pushed a bag of candied turmeric in my direction and motioned toward my throat and red eyes. I ate several slices then and there and intermittently snacked on the turmeric for the rest of the day. By morning, my sore throat was gone. By day two, I felt good as new. A not-so-common cure for the common cold Over the last few years I've incorporated turmeric into my daily diet, usually combined with green tea, ginger and lemongrass in the form of a powerhouse infusion. I drink the refreshing, slightly spicy and astringent elixir iced, as a preventive. I haven't suffered a cold since late 2011. So this Christmas, I'm giving friends the gift of good health in the form of jars of candied turmeric slices (and making extra for myself to carry with me on travels). The lovely orange flesh of the rhizome has a slight bitterness that proves a wonderful foil for a coating of white sugar. To increase the snack's healthfulness, I add black pepper ― believed to increase the body's ability to absorb turmeric's beneficial ingredient, curcumin ― to the simple syrup in which I poach thin slices of turmeric. An unexpected extra that you can tip your glass to At the end, I'm left with a bonus: a beautiful, astringent-bitter simple syrup that makes a great flavouring for cocktails. Like ginger, turmeric peels most easily with the edge of a spoon. The rhizome stains anything it touches (wear an apron) and will leave a dark orange, tacky goo on your spoon and knife. To remove it and the color that's left on your hands, cutting board and other kitchen surfaces, wash with a kitchen cream cleanser. Look for fresh turmeric at Whole Foods and other specialty grocery stores, gourmet markets and southeast Asian and Indian groceries. Candied turmeric Prep time: 15 to 20 minutes to peel and slice the turmeric plus up to 6 hours to dry the turmeric slices. Cook time: 20 to 25 minutes Yield: 3/4 to 1 cup candied turmeric slices Thin slices are paramount here, as is allowing ample time for your turmeric to dry after poaching. Rush this step and you'll end up with unattractive clumps of sugar and rhizome. Ingredients 3/4 pound fresh turmeric 1 cup water 3/4 cup sugar, plus 1/3 cup for tossing the poached turmeric Directions Prepping the turmeric: 1. Break any small knobs off of the main turmeric root and use the edge of a spoon to peel the skin off of all of the rhizome pieces. Use a paring knife to peel away any stubborn bits of skin. 2. Rinse the peeled turmeric and slice it as thinly as possible into coins and strips. To candy the turmeric: 1. In a medium saucepan, heat the water. Add 3/4 cup sugar and stir to dissolve. 2. Add the turmeric, stir to submerge all of the pieces and bring the syrup to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer briskly until the turmeric slices are tender but not limp, about 25 minutes. 3. Drain the turmeric in a colander or sieve placed over a bowl, then transfer the turmeric slices to a cooling rack set over a baking sheet or piece of foil or parchment paper. (Set the turmeric syrup aside to cool and use to flavor sparkling water and cocktails.) Arrange the turmeric slices on the rack so that they do not overlap and place in a well-ventilated spot (underneath a ceiling fan is ideal). Allow the turmeric to dry until the slices are slightly tacky but no longer wet, at least 3 hours and as many as 6 hours, depending on the temperature and ventilation in the room. 4. Toss the turmeric slices in 1/3 cup of sugar until coated. (Don't throw away leftover sugar; it's delicious in tea.) Store the turmeric in a clean, dry jar or other container. If you live in a hot, humid climate you may need to refrigerate it to keep the sugar from dissolving. The orangutang Yield: 1 cocktail Syrup and orange juice make this pretty and potent bourbon cocktail a little bit sweet. Campari and turmeric add a nice astringent-bitter edge; lemon juice adds a hint of tartness. Ingredients 2 ounces bourbon 1 ounce Campari 1 ounce orange juice 1 tablespoon (1/2 ounce) turmeric simply syrup (see Candied Turmeric recipe, above) 2 teaspoons lemon juice Orange slice, for serving Directions Pour all of the ingredients except for the orange slice into a cocktail shaker. Add a handful of ice. Shake and pour the cocktail and ice into a short glass. Garnish the rim of the glass with the orange slice. ― Reuters |
| ‘Real Housewives of New Jersey’ star to be released from prison, says report Posted: 20 Dec 2015 04:49 PM PST
Teresa Giudice, 43, pleaded guilty in March 2014 to charges related to hiding income to maintain her lavish lifestyle, portrayed on the Bravo channel program that shows her and her husband living in luxury. She is due to be released on Wednesday from the low-security federal prison in Danbury, Connecticut, where she began serving her sentence in January, The Record newspaper of New Jersey reported on Sunday, citing her attorney, James Leonard Jr. Her husband, Giuseppe Giudice of Towaco, New Jersey, pleaded guilty to similar charges and was sentenced to a 41-month prison term, which a judge ordered him to serve after Teresa Giudice was released from prison to ensure that their four daughters were properly cared for. Leonard and prison officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment yesterday. The couple appeared in six seasons of the "Real Housewives" show, with Bravo channel show, once paying US$120,000 (RM514,980) in cash to furnish a room in their house styled after a French chateau. In their plea deals, they admitted that from 2001 through 2008, they submitted fraudulent applications for mortgages and other loans, falsely claiming to have substantial salaries. The couple filed for bankruptcy protection in 2009, concealing businesses they owned, income from rental property, and Teresa Giudice's income from the show, prosecutors said. Giuseppe Giudice is an Italian citizen and the judge that sentenced the couple warned that he could be deported after he finishes his sentence. — Reuters |
| Hyundai poised to miss sales target for first time since global financial crisis Posted: 20 Dec 2015 04:47 PM PST
South Korea's largest automaker company will have to sell at least 50 per cent more than its monthly average this year in December to reach its full-year target of 5.05 million vehicles. Such a feat is unlikely, according to five analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. They also predict that Hyundai's 2016 sales will be lower than the target set for this year given the absence of new best-selling models and continued weakness in Russia and Brazil. Hyundai has benefited in recent years from the surge in demand for automobiles in China, which became the largest market for the carmaker in 2009. The increasing reliance turned into a drag after economic growth moderated this year and a summer stock-market rout dented consumer confidence. Hyundai's push into emerging markets has also met with a slump in the real and ruble this year. "I don't think anyone expected sales in China to plummet as it did this year because we were all used to China being the white knight," said Lee Sang Hyun, an analyst at IBK Securities Co. "Although sales in China may improve in 2016, from how the market situation is expected to play out, things don't look all that exciting." The last time Hyundai missed its sales target was in 2008, when the company fell about 327,000 units short of its 3.11 million goal as US demand tanked in the wake of the financial crisis that led to a global recession. The automaker didn't issue a target the following year. Hyundai declined to comment and plans to report its full-year sales figures on January 4. US sales have been a bright spot for Hyundai this year. Deliveries outpaced the industry and rose 5.6 per cent to 698,202 units in the first 11 months, spurred by sales of the Tucson and Santa Fe SUVs amid a decline in gasoline prices. In China, Hyundai's sales fell 6.9 per cent through November to 934,806 units, dragged down by the economy and a shift by consumers from sedans to small crossovers. Deliveries rebounded in October after a government tax cut on smaller vehicles. There are also plans to introduce a new round of subsidies for auto purchases in the country's rural areas, people familiar with the matter said this month. Even with a recovery in China, Hyundai will struggle in Russia and Brazil, where a plunge in the ruble and real have lowered the value of repatriated earnings, according to KTB Securities Co, which expects the two currencies to remain weak against the won in 2016. "It's unlikely that the situation in Russia and Brazil will turn around next year," said Moon Yong Kwon, an analyst at KTB Securities. "In 2016, the key will be to take advantage of the tax break in China to recover sales and production rate in the country." ― Bloomberg |
| Two more arrested as Belgian cops raid home in Paris attacks probe Posted: 20 Dec 2015 04:39 PM PST
Special forces and federal police were involved in a raid which lasted around five hours and took place close to the city's popular tourist area, authorities said. "They have been taken in for questioning," Eric Van Der Sypt, spokesman for the federal prosecutor, said of the men, but gave no further details about them. However he confirmed the detained suspects did not include not fugitive Salah Abdeslam, who is one of Europe's most wanted men over his alleged involvement in the November 13 attacks that left 130 dead in the French capital. Federal prosecutors will release a statement today with further details on the arrests, the spokesman said. The search took place in a building on the outer limits of Molenbeek — an area with a large immigrant population — and less than a kilometre away from Brussels' central Grand Place square, one of the city's most popular tourist sites. Pedestrians were evacuated as the raid took place, from 6pm to 11pm local time (1700-2200 GMT). Belgian police are still actively looking for 26-year-old, Brussels-born Abdeslam, suspected of having played a key role in the Paris attacks and understood to have returned to the Belgian capital the day after the bloodshed. An international arrest warrant is out on Abdeslam, who lived in Molenbeek. A source close to the Belgian investigation told AFP earlier Sunday that Abdeslam made it past three police checks when friends drove him from Paris to Brussels in the hours after the coordinated gun and suicide attacks. Belgium has so far arrested eight people on suspicion of involvement in the terror assaults, which have been claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group. — AFP |
| Dollar climbs against yen as Fed rate increase outlook holds Posted: 20 Dec 2015 04:35 PM PST
A gauge of the dollar climbed 0.7 per cent last week, the biggest gain since the start of November, after the Federal Reserve raised interest rates for the first time since 2006. Futures show the odds of an April rate hike increased to 50 per cent. The euro was little changed as results from Spain's election yesterday left the country with no clear governing majority after Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's People's Party lost more than a third of its support. "Markets are either going to sustain a rising dollar trend on the back of expectations for more interest-rate increases next year or be lackluster amid the holiday mode overseas," Masafumi Yamamoto, chief currency strategist at Mizuho Securities Co in Tokyo, wrote in a note to clients. The greenback advanced 0.1 per cent to ¥121.25 (RM4.28) as of 8.39am in Tokyo after falling 1.1 per cent on Friday. The US currency was unchanged at US$1.0868 per euro from December 18 when it fell 0.4 per cent. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index, which tracks the currency against 10 major peers, was little changed at 1,234.77. The gauge reached the highest in data going back more than 10 years on December 17 after members of the Federal Open Market Committee unanimously voted to raise the benchmark from a record low. ― Bloomberg |
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