How to make Apple Crumble Pie

Preparation Time: 20 minutes ~ Cooking Time: 40 minutes ~ Serves 4 portions
INGREDIENTS5 medium cox apples
170g / 6oz granulated sugar
170g / 6oz butter or cooking margarine
280g / 10oz Self-raising flour
1 teaspoon of cinnamon

COOKING EQUIPMENT
1 Medium-sized oven-proof dish
Scales
Fork
Wooden spoon
METHODPre-heat your oven so that it is hot and your pie willl start baking immediately. Set the heating to 180°C / 350°F / Gas Mark 5, slightly lower (170°C / Gas Mark 4) in a fan oven.


Make the 'crumble' mixture using your hands ~  the flour, magazine, butter, half of the cinnamon and two-thirds of the sugar until the mixture resembles bread crumbs.
Peel the apples and cut each one into four parts. Cut out the core from each of the sections
Next slice the apple quarters into medium sized pieces. let's say into four. Add the rest of the cinnamon and sugar, sprinkling them evenly over the apples.
Put then baking pan into the middle of the oven at 180°C / 350°F / Gas Mark 5 for 40 minutes. Change the settings to grill and grill the top of the pie for about 30 seconds to 'brown' the crumble topping. Remove it from the oven and leave it to cool for at least 30 minutes.
Serve hot or cold with ice cream, cream or custard.

African Cup 2012: Ghana secures place in quartre finals

The African cup is getting more exciting. Asamoah Gyan scored a beautiful free-kick for the Black Stars. Unfortunately, Mali was unable to score a free-kick through Cheick Diabate.

Andre ‘Dede’ Ayew then sealed a place in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals for Ghana with a 2-0 win over Mali in Franceville.

Inauguration of New AU Headquarters Celebrates China's Rise in Africa

President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria with his wife

Welcome by the Ethiopians



Prime Minister of Ethiopia Meles Zenawi



Aerial view

Former President of Ghana - Jerry Rawlings

A snapshot of Africa leaders

Addis Ababa AU headquatres

 

 VOICE OF AMERICA - Africa is rising indeed. The African Renaissance has begun." Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi


The African Union has inaugurated a new headquarters with tributes to China's rise in Africa, and to the political prisoners who died in the jail that once occupied the site.


The new $200 million Chinese-built headquarters was officially opened by China's senior political adviser Jia Qinglin, standing in for Premier Hu Jintao.


In a speech to an audience of heads of state and African diplomats in the spectacular 2500-seat Grand Hall, Jia hailed the rapid growth of China-Africa relations. China's trade with African countries reached $150 billion last year, he said, a 13 fold increase in the past decade.


Others at the ceremony praised China as the model for Africa's economic growth.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi derided western economic prescriptions of the late 20th century as “medicine that turned out to be worse than the disease."


He singled out The Economist magazine for criticism, saying policies it advocated a decade ago had set the continent on the path to recolonization.


"The Economist, which espouses the very market fundamentalist ideas that wrecked our economies, had a banner headline in one of its issues which simply read, 'The Hopeless Continent.' Clearly, these pundits, these experts and international magazines had given up on Africa," Meles said.


The Ethiopian leader suggested that the recent rapid growth experienced by many African countries had coincided with the trend toward adoption of China's state-led economic model. He said western economists were having to reconsider their ideas in light of what he called “the African Renaissance."


"The pundits and academics who were publicly advocating for the recolonization of our continent have now refrained from doing so, at least in polite company," said Meles. "The very magazine that came up with the banner headline, 'The Hopeless Continent' a decade ago, has recently come up with a new banner headline that simply read, 'Africa Rising.' Africa is rising indeed. The African Renaissance has begun."


The ceremonies included dedication of a memorial to victims of the Red Terror campaign during the previous Ethiopian government led by Marxist dictator Mengistu Hailemariam. Prime Minister Meles noted that the new AU headquarters had been built over the site of the maximum security prison where opponents of the Mengistu regime were tortured and executed.


"People in Ethiopia used to call that infamous prison Alem Bekagn. Loosely translated it means, 'I have given up on this life.' This building, which will now house the headquarters of our continental organization, is built on the ruins of a prison that represented desperation and hopelessness."


African heads of state will convene Sunday for a two-day meeting in the new conference hall. The summit theme, "Boosting Intra-African Trade," is being overshadowed by several hotly contested elections for leadership posts.

AU Commission chairman Jean Ping's bid for a second term is being challenged by South Africa's veteran freedom fighter and former foreign minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. The election, by a secret ballot of African heads of state, is set for Monday.

China - Africa relationship

The building in Addis is seen as a symbol of China’s new role in Africa. The African Union has inaugurated its newly built headquarters in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. The entire $200m project was funded by China as a gift to the AU, as Beijing continues to strengthen its influence in Africa.



In front of African leaders a huge golden key was handed over and the 100m high building was officially opened. The tower overlooks a vast conference center where African heads of state are expected to meet for years to come. Their first AU summit in the building will take place on Sunday.

The AU chairman, Equatorial Guinea’s President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, said the complex was “a reflection of the new Africa,” the agency reports. The new AU building dominates the skyline of Addis Ababa and is the city’s tallest building.


Most of the materials used were imported from China and even the furnishings were paid for by Beijing, AFP news agency reports.


Construction began in January 2009 and involved 1,200 Chinese and Ethiopian workers.

Trade between China and Africa has increased more than six-fold during the past decade to $120bn in 2011. China is interested in Africa’s natural resources and in return is investing huge sums in African infrastructure.


Roads are being built by Chinese firms at a staggering rate, says the BBC’s Will Ross in Addis Ababa.

African Cup 2012 ~ Fixtures and Tables

Fixtures and tables for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations finals co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

Cup Holder: Egypt

Group A

P W D L GF GA Pts

Zambia 1 1 0 0 2 1 3

Eq Guinea 1 1 0 0 1 0 3

Senegal 1 0 0 1 1 2 0

Libya 1 0 0 1 0 1 0

21/01/12: Equatorial Guinea 1-0 Libya, Bata

21/01/12: Senegal 1-2 Zambia, Bata

25/01/12: Libya v Zambia, Bata

25/01/12: Equatorial Guinea v Senegal, Bata

29/01/12: Equatorial Guinea v Zambia, Malabo

29/01/12: Libya v Senegal, Bata

Group B

P W D L GF GA Pts

Angola 1 1 0 0 2 1 3

Ivory C 1 1 0 0 1 0 3

Burkina F 1 0 0 1 1 2 0

Sudan 1 0 0 1 0 1 0

22/01/12: Ivory Coast 1-0 Sudan, Malabo

22/01/12: Burkina Faso 1-2 Angola, Malabo

26/01/12: Sudan v Angola, Malabo

26/01/12: Ivory Coast v Burkina Faso, Malabo

30/01/12: Sudan v Burkina Faso, Bata

30/01/12: Ivory Coast v Angola, Malabo

Group C

P W D L GF GA Pts

Gabon 1 1 0 0 2 0 3

Tunisia 1 1 0 0 2 1 3

Morocco 1 0 0 1 1 2 0

Niger 1 0 0 1 0 2 0

23/01/12: Gabon 2-0 Niger, Libreville

23/01/12: Morocco 1-2 Tunisia, Libreville

27/01/12: Niger v Tunisia, Libreville

27/01/12: Gabon v Morocco, Libreville

31/01/12: Gabon v Tunisia, Franceville

31/01/12: Niger v Morocco, Libreville

Group D

P W D L GF GA Pts

Ghana 1 1 0 0 1 0 3

Mali 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Guinea 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Botswana 1 0 0 1 0 1 0

24/01/12: Ghana 1-0 Botswana, Franceville

24/01/12: Mali v Guinea, Franceville

28/01/12: Botswana v Guinea, Franceville

28/01/12: Ghana v Mali, Franceville

01/02/12: Botswana v Mali, Libreville

01/02/12: Ghana v Guinea, Franceville

________________________________________

Quarter-Finals:

1. 04/02/12: 1st A v 2nd B, Bata

2. 04/02/12: 1st B v 2nd A, Malabo

3. 05/02/12: 1st C v 2nd D, Libreville

4. 05/02/12: 1st D v 2nd C, Franceville

Semi-Finals:

08/02/12: QF1 winner v QF4 winner, Bata

08/02/12: QF3 winner v QF2 winner, Libreville

3rd place play-off: 11/02/2012, Malabo

Final: 12/02/2012, Libreville

MATCH RESULTS
21/01/12: Equatorial Guinea 1-0 Libya
 
21/01/12: Senegal 1-2 Zambia

22/01/12: Ivory Coast 1-0 Sudan

22/01/12: Burkina Faso 1-2 Angola

23/01/12: Gabon 2-0 Niger

23/01/12: Morocco 1-2 Tunisia

24/01/12: Ghana 1-0 Botswana

24/01/12: Mali v Guinea

Coryton oil refinery in Essex, UK to file for bankruptcy

Hundreds of jobs at the Coryton oil refinery in Essex are under threat after Swiss owner Petroplus said it would file for bankruptcy.

Petroplus has said it will file for insolvency "as soon as possible" after failing to reach an agreement with creditors to extend deadlines for loan repayments.
The government has said the refinery, which supplies 20% of fuel for south-east England, is still operating and administrator PricewaterhouseCoopers says the priority is for work at Coryton to continue without disruption.With the Olympics coming up in a few months, supplies across London and the South East could be affected, and could impact the Olympics.
Prices are expected to rise for a number of reasons a representative of the Retail Motor Industry (RMI) has stated.
The European Union embargo on Iranian supplies of crude oil, the Coryton issues and striking tanker drivers over pay  in Lincolnshire were all creating pressure for the industry.
How much the Nigerian oil crisis has affected the Coryton Oil refinery is presently unknown.

Tension mounts in Iran as Europe bans oil imports

European Union foreign ministers have formally adopted an "unprecedented" oil embargo against Iran over its nuclear programme, banning all new oil contracts with the country to put pressure on Iran to come back to the negotiating table.They also agreed a freeze on the assets of Iran's central bank in the EU. The EU currently buys about 20% of Iran's oil exports.





There was no official Iranian reaction, but one Iranian lawmaker played down the decision, calling it a "mere propaganda gesture".


British Prime Minister David Cameron, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel had said in a joint statement that Iran had "failed to restore international confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of its nuclear programme, we will not accept Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon. Iran has so far had no regard for its international obligations and is already exporting and threatening violence around its region," the leaders added.


The measures were "another strong step in the international effort to dramatically increase the pressure on Iran," US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in a statement welcoming the move.


Meanwhile, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN's nuclear watchdog has confirmed it is sending a team to Iran between 29 and 31 January "to resolve all outstanding substantive issues".


Last November the IAEA said in a report that it had information suggesting Iran had carried out tests "relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device" - sparking the decision by the US and EU to issue tougher sanctions. Tehran insists its nuclear programme is for energy purposes.


Earlier on Monday, the Pentagon said the US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, as well as a British Royal Navy frigate and a French warship, had passed through the Strait of Hormuz at the entrance to the Gulf without incident, in the wake of Iranian threats to block the trade route. A French warship also accompanied US and UK naval vessels through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday. 'Substantial impact' The EU said the sanctions prohibit the import, purchase and transport of Iranian crude oil and petroleum products as well as related finance and insurance. All existing contracts will have to be phased out by 1 July.




Investment as well as the export of key equipment and technology for Iran's petrochemical sector is also banned.  Additional restrictions have been placed on Iran's central bank and in the trade of gold, precious metals and diamonds.

Even western diplomats are uncertain.


There is no doubting that the Iranian economy will suffer. But the nuclear programme is a matter of national pride and ultimately national security.


Iran has seen the demise of regimes in Iraq and Libya and noted the survival of that in North Korea - the one so-called "rogue state" that has nuclear weapons.


Iran's rulers may well believe that having at least the potential for a nuclear bomb is something that could secure the country against outside threat.


Seen in this light one can imagine the Iranian authorities being willing to absorb considerable economic pain to pursue their nuclear research effort.


Impact of EU ban on Iranian oil


Ali Adyani, a member of the Iranian parliament's energy commission, was quoted by the semi-official Fars news agency as saying the EU decision "would only serve some American and European politicians".


"It will not have any effect on Iran's economy," he said, adding that Tehran could sell oil to "any country" despite the ban.


A decision by the EU to stop buying from Iran may damage the Iranian economy - but in itself it won't destroy it. Dubai export goods to Iran and Iran sells most of its oil to countries in Asia. The EU and the United States are now working to persuade Asian countries to reduce their purchases from Iran as well.


Iran has already threatened to retaliate by blocking the Strait of Hormuz at the entrance to the Gulf, through which 20% of the world's oil exports pass.


The US has said it will keep the trade route open, raising the possibility of a confrontation.


Late last year Iran conducted 10 days of military exercises near the Strait of Hormuz, test-firing several missiles.


Oil prices have risen already because of the increasing tension and the expected impact of an EU ban on oil supplies to Europe.So, will the new measures stop Iran from building nuclar weapons? 

Northern Lights - Tonight UK skies set to light up with a dazzling display

The Northern lights spanning the sky over the Shetland Isles

Parts of the UK are set to be illuminated by the Northern Lights tonight thanks to a solar storm according to the Space Weather Prediction Center, maintained by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. On Sunday night dazzling displays could be seen in Scotland, in the north-east of England, Northern Ireland and Ireland. The lights could move even further south tonight if the solar storm erupting on the surface of the Sun intensifies.



WHAT ARE THE NORTHERN LIGHTS?The Northern lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, are caused when eruptions on the Sun throw matter towards Earth causing the matter to glow and creating ethereal displays in the night-time skies. An aurora is common in the high latitude like the Arctic and Antarctic regions.  

The aurora borealis (or the northern lights) is named after the Roman goddess of dawn, Aurora, and the Greek name for the north wind, Boreas, by Pierre Gassendi in 1621. Auroras seen near the magnetic pole may be high overhead, but from farther away, they illuminate the northern horizon as a greenish glow or sometimes a faint red, as if the Sun were rising from an unusual direction. Discrete aurorae often display magnetic field lines or curtain-like structures, and can change within seconds or glow unchanging for hours, most often in fluorescent green.

Occupy Nigeria Protests in pictures - How it happened

Following Christmas day bombing of church in Abuja by an alleged terrorist cell based in Nigeria known as  Boko Haram which killed 65 people and the removal of fuel subsidy by the Nigerian government, Nigerian took their destinies in their hands.  Monday 11, January, thousands of angry Nigerians all over the country took to the streets in a week long peaceful strike now known as 'Occupy Nigeria' to protest against the removal of oil subsidy on January 1 at the orders of Jonathan Goodluck’s administration. Here is how it happened...

Youths organised in a peaceful demonstration

Printed material shows enlightenment and purpose

Doctors and medical practitioners join the protest

All out -75 percent of Nigerians are aged between 18 and 35

Attracting attention - a tyre burns

Leaping over fire to cause a stir

Even children took to the street - everyone feels the pinch

A town meeting thousands gather to listen to the agenda

Union leaders address the masses

And the crowds gather and swell...

Transport workers protest

The week Nigerians turned out en-mass

Deserted motorways as the whole nation stayed at home

A street procession of protesters brandishing flags

 Armed Mobile Police on stand-by

Placards and posters demanding a change

The poster that symbolizes the 'Occupy Nigeria' campaign

The 'handshake' that sealed the deal? IMF head, Christine KLagarde with  President Jonathan 

Speaking in favor of the oil subsidy

The most famous trio in the oil subsidy saga

Who is this?

Protesters try the another tactic...

President Goodluck Jonathan - a dilemma?

All across the nation youths were out on the streets 

The Christmas day bombing was this a catalyst?

Abuja - the seat of the government rocked twice by bombs

As the days went by more people poured out onto the streets

Forrner Head of Sate General Gowon called for President Jonathan to act

Posters with a clear graphic message

A coffin? Of whom?

Even under the bridge and above -  they gathered, old and young

Everyone is affected by inflation

A bomb victim in the Abuja hospital

Making a point with a sticks

A police post is set ablaze 

A colorful protester - but the message is clear

The root of the problems

She tries to help - no one can serve two masters

Who? What is she on about? A Delta state?

The Nigerian flag - who decided on the colors?

Protesters everywhere - even on trucks. As you go higher it gets better

This is just the beginning

And the elders came out as well...

All over the nation north, south, east and west

Woman power

Everywhere they went, everyday they gathered for five whole days...

Powerful caption which drove the point home

Then the police came out in thousands armed to the teeth

Men, women, children all marched, marching towards freedom...

In case you didn't hear, well...

Fire burns to draw more people

and more fires

And more people

And the pain and anger of the poor...

Nigerians know what the problem is - but who is listening?

And more Mobile Police Force come out in full force

But they still protesting peacefully notwithstanding

A President Jonathan? By who?

At last the whole nation moves together in agreement for once

Then the union leaders met with the President and the rest is history

End of protests - Everyone go home or else...

This is serious business - the joke is over...go home

Everyone went home but Nigerians are no longer the same again

They saw death in the face and challenged it

What does the future have in store for Nigeria? Success or failure? Corruption or accountability?