Latest news clips 2012.12.06

                Bengo’s latest news clips              2012.12.06

1.      Protesters attack palace, party headquarters in Egypt - CNN.com

CNN      December 5, 2012

Cairo (CNN) -- Protesters marching on Egypt's presidential palace Tuesday night broke through barbed wire around the building and hurled chairs and rocks at retreating police.

Officers lobbed tear gas back at them.

After initial clashes, police drew behind fences and protests were peaceful for several hours.

More violence broke out at the headquarters of the Freedom and Justice Party in Menia, south of Cairo. At least 19 protesters were injured, according to Mahmoud Amin, who is in charge of ambulance operations outside the palace.

The Freedom and Justice Party -- an Islamist political group that has links to the Muslim Brotherhood -- is the party of President Mohamed Morsy.

Party head Dr. Hussein Sultan said the front of the headquarters is damaged, and at least one protester fired a shot in the air.

Egypt's Health Ministry said at least 50 ambulances had been dispatched to locations around Cairo, including 20 to the presidential palace. Hospitals were placed on high alert in anticipation of injured protesters, the ministry said.

Many in Egypt believe a new draft constitution in the country, which will be put to a popular vote on December 15, is unfair in its wording, and is an attempt by Morsy to grab more power.

2.      Turkish delight: A sweet tour of Istanbul

CNN  December 4, 2012

Rows of candied fruit and baklava line a display case at a Turkish confectionary in Istanbul.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Istanbul, at the crossroads of history, is also a hub for sweet confections

Candied fruit, Turkish delight and candy-coated nuts are among the city's sugary bounty

Nut pastes such as marzipan are molded into colorful shapes

(CNN) -- Grandeur defines Istanbul: From architectural icons such as Hagia Sophia to the city's indomitable traffic, Istanbul pulsates with intensity and splendor.

Including sweet splendor.

Istanbul's passion for pastries and its history of inventing some of the world's most delightful desserts tempts visitors and residents to skip dinner and head straight for the meal's concluding course.

Where do you go to eat like a local? Share your photos and tips

Here's a taste of the most inventive, decadent and eccentric sweets from this culinary crossroads:

Sahlep: This mild beverage is Istanbul's answer to hot chocolate. Originating during the Ottoman Empire, sahlep's key ingredient is crushed orchid, which is used to thicken warm milk before being sweetened with sugar and cinnamon.

Common during the winter, but also available at other times, sahlep is great for warming one's insides during a brisk walk along the Bosphorus. It can be found in many of the stands near Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. If you want to sit down to enjoy it, Saray Muhallebicisi, which has locations throughout the city, prepares a particularly delicious mug.

Nut pastes (marzipan) and dragees: Istanbul loves nuts. Travelers can buy crisp almonds, hazelnuts and walnuts by the pound at the Spice Bazaar, but they can also find these nuts at the center of some of Istanbul's finest desserts.

Nut pastes -- literally made from a combination of crushed nuts and sugar -- are common in Istanbul confections, from the traditional almond-based marzipan to hazelnut and pistachio varieties. These pastes are available for purchase as bite-sized ovals, as well as in longer tube shapes or molded and colored to look like fruits.

3.      Palestine likely to dominate Israeli-German talks

DW   2012.12.05

Israel’s settlement plans are set to overshadow the German-Israeli consultations. The German government wants to foster good relations - but is unlikely to shy away from criticizing Netanyahu.

When the German and Israeli leaders sit down this Wednesday and Thursday (December 5 and 6), the items on their agenda are fairly innocuous: innovation, education and sustainability. But the government consultations are likely to be overshadowed by the latest developments in the conflict with Palestine.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's announcement to authorize construction of 3,000 further housing units in East Jerusalem and the West Bank will be a point of contention. An Israeli settlement in the sensitive E1 area east of Jerusalem would practically divide the occupied West Bank in two. It would also cut off East Jerusalem from the remaining Palestinian territories.

The announcement is threatening future peace negotiations, and has been condemned by the German government, as well as by other Western countries wanting Israel to revoke the settlement plans.

4.      Hundreds dead in Philippines typhoon

More than 250 people believed dead, with another 87,000 evacuated as Bopha causes havoc across the country's south.

05 Dec 2012 12:52

More than 250 people have died in the southern Philippines after Typhoon Bopha swept across the south of the country.

The total number of fatalities, which stood at around 90 on Tuesday, jumped as rescuers on Wednesday reached remote mountain villages cut off by floods and landslides.

A government spokeswoman, Fe Maestre, told the Associated Press news agency that at least 151 people died in the worst-hit province of Compostela Valley.

That included 66 villagers and soldiers who died in a flash flood that swamped two emergency storm shelters and a military camp as Bopha devastated New Bataan town the day before.

Maestre said an unspecified number of villagers remained missing in New Bataan.

Army Major-General Ariel Bernardo said 51 people died and 98 others were missing in nearby Davao Oriental province, where Bopha first hit, mostly due to flooding and toppled trees.