English News

German Almond Crescent Cookies

Mandelsichel, traditional German almond cookies, are simple shortbread cookies enriched with almond meal and shaped into a crescent, like many classic baked goods in Europe, which are said to emulate the Ottoman half-moon and celebrate the empire’s greatness when the bakes were first developed. These cookies are a delightful treat at tea time and beautiful addition to any Plätzchenteller (cookie platter) during Advent and all through the Christmas and holiday season. Sometimes made on Christmas Eve, these cookies are left as a special treat for…

6 signs you shouldn’t do a keto or low-carb diet, according to a doctor

The low-carb, high-fat keto diet has become popular for weight loss. Keto can be helpful for improving metabolic health, but it isn’t for everyone. Avoid low-carb diets if you’re stressed or seeking quick results, or have a history of disordered eating.Keto diets have increased in popularity in recent years as people have turned to high-fat, low-carb eating plans to lose weight and improve their health. There’s evidence to support the keto diet as a tool for certain…

Lebanon’s Financial Meltdown and the Prospects for Recovery

Lebanon’s financial and socio-economic crises have been unfolding for nearly 18 months. The Lebanese pound is hitting all-time lows against the US dollar. Food prices have soared more than 400% in just one year. In the meantime, foreign currency reserves at the central bank are dangerously depleting. Citizens have lost access to their life savings and more than half now live below the poverty line. The country’s entire financial system is in dire need of…

Russian Billionaire Abramovich Sues Author Catherine Belton for Defamation

Russian billionaire and Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich has launched a defamation lawsuit against author Catherine Belton over claims that he had bought the club at President Vladimir Putin’s orders. According to Belton’s critically acclaimed 2020 book “Putin’s People,” Abramovich allegedly bought Chelsea in 2003 at Putin’s direction as part of an effort to raise Russia’s profile in Britain and the wider West. Abramovich’s legal team said it issued legal proceedings for defamation on his behalf…

Bats in Minecraft: Everything players need to know

The bat is a rare Minecraft mob occasionally found in caves. Players can find them flying around passively or hanging peacefully on overhangs or the ceiling of the cave. Bats will often fly into lava falls as they do not register them as a threat for some reason. While not being useful in any way, bats can serve as friends for the lonely miners down in the caverns. The only way they can be even remotely useful…

Anthony Scaramucci defends Elon Musk’s bitcoin holdings amid recent energy-use concerns, says the Tesla CEO has done more than anyone to fight climate change

Anthony Scaramucci said Musk wouldn’t invest in a “dirty asset” and the future of bitcoin mining is in renewable energy. Maja Hitij/Getty Images Anthony Scaramucci tweeted Friday that Elon Musk’s bitcoin investments don’t conflict with the Tesla CEO’s mission to fight climate change. Scaramucci said Musk wouldn’t invest in a “dirty asset,” and said that bitcoin mining can be powered by renewables. His comments come amid concerns bitcoin mining is wasting energy and harming the…

Ronaldo gives condition for a return to Real Madrid

Cristiano Ronaldo has been linked with a return to Real Madrid this summer after getting frustrated by the criticism levelled on him at Juventus. He joined the Bianconeri from the Spanish champions in 2018 and has failed to deliver the Champions League. They might even miss out on the Italian league title that they have won over the last nine seasons in this campaign. Madrid is one destination that cannot be ruled out considering what…

How the UAE’s largest Islamic bank helped 54,000 customers during pandemic

The UAE’s largest Islamic bank on Wednesday said it has provided relief measures totalling AED9 billion ($2.45 billion) to more than 54,000 customers to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) made the announcement as it reported a strong performance despite regional economic challenges brought on by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemi. Its annual general meeting also included the approval of a dividend of 20 percent aggregating to an amount of AED1.44…

South Africa’s banks are ‘too big to fail’ – but government is drawing up a plan in case they do

South Africa’s major banks are currently ‘too big to fail’ – where the collapse of just one bank would result in devastating and far-reaching problems for the entire economic system, says Ismail Momoniat, deputy director-general for Tax and Financial Sector Policy at the National Treasury. Momoniat presented the Financial Sector Laws Amendment Bill to parliament’s standing committee of finance on Tuesday (16 March). Among other changes, the bill proposes a number of additional protections for…

LAU Is Ordered To Accept Tuition Fees At The Official Exchange Rate

A court in Beirut has ruled in favor of students of the Lebanese American University (LAU) who paid their tuition fees at the official exchange rate rather than the higher exchange rate the university wants to adopt. The Judge of Urgent Matters in Beirut, Hala Naja, has ordered the university to accept the payments and allow students to obtain all services as other students. Otherwise, LAU will receive a 10,000,000 LBP fine for each day it violates the decision for a period of…