Elton John says wants to adopt Ukrainian boy
LONDON — Elton John wants to adopt a 14-month-old boy from the Ukraine, saying Saturday that the toddler has “stolen my heart” after meeting him at an orphanage.
The singer-songwriter, visiting the Ukraine with his AIDS charity foundation, performed for children at the orphanage, some of whose parents had died of the disease.
Asked at a press conference later with his partner David Furnish, 42, whether they had ever considered adopting, John said he wanted to adopt 14-month-old Lev.
“David and I have always talked about adoption, David always wanted to adopt a child and I always said ‘no’ because I am 62 and I think because of the travelling I do and the life I have, maybe it wouldn’t be fair for the child.
“But having seen Lev today, I would love to adopt him,” he said on Sky News.
“I don’t know how we do that but he has stolen my heart. And he has stolen David’s heart and it would be wonderful if we can have a home.
“I’ve changed my mind today.”
John said the recent death of his long-term keyboardist, Guy Babylon, had also helped change his mind.
“It broke my heart because he was such a genius and so young and has two wonderful children,” he said.
“What better opportunity to replace someone I lost than to replace him with someone I can give a future to.”
Ukraine has one of the fastest rising HIV rates in Europe.
Two years ago the iconic singer gave a free concert in the main square in Kiev attended by tens of thousands of people to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS.
John has sold more than 250 million records worldwide, with 29 consecutive Top 40 Hits and 35 gold and 25 platinum albums.
23 militants killed in Mohmand Agency clashes
23 militants killed in Mohmand Agency clashes
Updated at: 0907 PST, Tuesday, July 14, 2009
PESHAWAR: twenty-three militants and three volunteers have been killed in Mohmand Agency clashes.According to sources, clashes between militants and lashkar reported in tehsil Anbar of Mohamand Agency in which 23 militants and three lashkar men have been killed. Militants also set on fire five houses of lashkar men.
Bangladesh claim early wicket after making 238
Updated at: 1001 PST, Saturday, July 11, 2009
KINGSTOWN: West Indies’ disciplined seam attack limited Bangladesh to 238 all out on the second day of the first cricket test at Arnos Vale.
The visitors hit back late in the day as the home team reached17-1 in reply at the close.
Bangladesh, resuming on 42-0 after a rain-curtailed opening day, stumbled against the pace of Kemar Roach (3-46) and TinoBest(2-58). The probing medium pacers Dave Bernard (2-30) and Darren Sammy (1-38) also supported well.
No Bangladesh batsman managed to reach 40 and it was left to captain Mashrafe Mortaza, who hit a top score of 39, and fellow fastbowler Shahadat Hossain, with a career-best 33, to boost the total.
Best struck in the day’s second over as Tamim Iqbal (14) snicked an expansive drive to skipper Floyd Reifer at first slip at 45-1. Four runs later, his opening partner and fellow left-hander Imrul Kayes perished in unlucky circumstances.
Imrul notched four boundaries in 33 off 66 balls before he was ruled leg before as he played no stroke to a Sammy delivery that struck him high and was heading past off stump.
Junaid Siddique and Raqibul Hasan shared a stand of 30 for the third wicket before four wickets tumbled for 42 runs in the final 45minutes before lunch. Bernard accounted for Siddique and Raqibul, his maiden test wickets. Raqibul (14) edged a drive low to gully, while Siddique(27) miscued a pull straight to midwicket.
Mohammad Ashraful, the most experienced of the visitors, followed soon afterward as Best struck in his first over of a second spell. Ashraful (6) drove at a full-length delivery and feathered a catch to wicketkeeper Chadwick Walton.
All rounder Shakib-al-Hasan (17) perished just before the break, deflecting a catch to Dale Richards at gully to provide Roach with his first test wicket.
Debutant Mahmudullah (9) fell to Roach as he sliced a drive to Omar Phillips in the gully. Bangladesh’s lower order produced a rearguard after taking tea at149-7, with the last three wickets adding 89 runs. Mortaza, lucky to survive a caught behind appeal off Roach before he scored, batted with typical freedom.
He and Mushfiqur Rahim (36) shared an enterprising stand before a mix up ended with the run out of Rahim.
Rahim was sent back late and Sammy’s accurate return to bowler Nikita Miller found the diminutive wicketkeeper well short.
The West Indies reply was authoritatively launched by opener DaleRichards, who got off the mark in test cricket with a cracking pullover midwicket for six.
But he perished before the close, plumb leg before toShakib-al-Hasan. Omar Phillips, yet to score, and Ryan Austin (1), like Richardsamong the seven West Indian debutants, survived to the close.
Rain after windstorm in interior Sindh
Updated at: 0336 PST, Saturday, July 11, 2009
HYDERABAD: Thirty-two feeders have been closed in Hyderabad and its suburban areas following heavy rain with thunderstorm in interior Sindh due to which supply of electricity has been disconnected in many areas.
Heavy rain began late night following thunderstorm in various areas of interior Sindh including Hyderabad, Jamshoro, Tandojam, Tando Mohammad Khan and Nawabshah while power supply is suspended in many areas.
According to HESCO sources, grid stations of Hala, Saeedabad and Sakrand have been closed due to thunderous rain.
HESCO spokesman Sadiq Kambhar told that following the persistent rain after stormy winds, supply of electricity is suspended to many areas after closure of 32 feeders including eight of Hala and Saeedabad including Qasimabad, six of Lateefabad grid station and four feeders of NTPS.
According to the spokesman, power supply to these areas would be restored only after rain is over.
Iran deadlock drags on as Mousavi rejects part recount
| Updated at: 0204 PST, Sunday, June 28, 2009 TEHRAN: Political deadlock continued in Iran as opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi on Saturday rejected a panel set up to hold a partial recount of votes in the disputed presidential election. Refusing to be cowed by a raid on the offices of a party that backed him or by an aide turning against him and blaming him for deaths during protests, Mousavi again demanded a full re-run of the election. “Limiting the probe into complaints about electoral irregularities to recounting 10 percent of the ballot boxes cannot attract people’s trust and convince public opinion about the results,” the moderate candidate said on his campaign website. Top political arbitration body the Expediency Council urged all candidates to cooperate with the panel, set up by electoral watchdog the Guardians Council. But Mousavi said, “Reaching a just judgement is not within the domain of the Guardians Council and above all a board which is appointed by this council. “I insist again on cancelling the election (results) as the most suitable way out of the problem,” he said. The issue should be referred to a body which observes (Islamic) Sharia law, has legal status and is independent, said the former prime minister, who trailed in 11 million votes behind incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad according to official results from the June 12 election. The Guardians Council said that although it has ordered a partial recount, no “major irregularities” have so far been found and the elections were the “cleanest we have had.” |
UN rights council divided over Sri Lanka
AFP - 2 hours ago
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