Stephen Gately was ”real-life Peter Pan”, says his widower

London, May 13 (ANI): Boyzone star Stephen Gately was a real life ‘Peter Pan’, his widower has said.

In an interview with ITV’s This Morning, he said that his husband viewed the world through the eyes of a child and refused to grow up, reports The Mirror.

“Stephen was incredibly childlike, he loved Disney – every year we went to Disney [World] in Florida.

“I just think he never really grew up, he was like a child and children can maybe see more than the rest of us as well.

“They see the world in a different way and Stephen was like that. He was incredibly shy and private as well, but he liked to show off and be the centre of attention – but only in the way that a child does,” he said.

Gately spent four years penning his fantasy novel, The Tree of Seasons, which Cowles called his ‘legacy’.

The star had difficulty in getting the novel published while he was alive due to his lack of formal education.

“His education hadn’t been that great, so he didn’t use any grammar, any punctuation, any capitalisation, so it would be blocks of text that was quite tricky to read actually.

“Every few months, I would take chunks of it and send it to a proof reader and we’d get back a nicely formatted version that I could read!,” Cowles added.

“This is hard work, I’m quite private,” he said. “Stephen always kept me out of the limelight.

“I don’t want to be a celebrity, I don’t like cameras very much and I’m coping day to day, you know… I miss him terribly.

“The picture on the back of the book has been great comfort to me and I find myself kissing him goodnight sometimes because it’s a good size picture to kiss.

“Last night I was asking him for strength for today because I was fearful about coming on the telly but I’ve got to do it for him, because if he was around he’d be doing it himself. And this is his legacy in a way,” he said. (ANI)

Mohammed Al Fayed sells iconic Harrod’s for 1.5 billion pounds

London, May 8 (ANI): The iconic Harrod’s department store, has been sold by owner Mohammed Al Fayed for a whopping 1.5 billion pounds to the Qatari royal family.

Septuagenarian Al Fayed took the decision to sell the store he helmed for over 25 years so that he could retire peacefully and spend more time with his children and grandchildren, Sky News reports.

Ken Costa, chairman of Lazard International, which advised Al Fayed on the deal, said in a statement, “In reaching the decision to retire, he wished to ensure that the legacy and traditions that he has built up in Harrods would be continued, and that the team that he has built up would be encouraged to develop the foundations that he has laid. Qatar Holding will become only the fifth owner of Harrods since its creation, in 1840. Qatar Holding was specifically chosen by the Trust as they had both the vision and financial capacity to support the long term successful growth of Harrods.”

The flagship luxury store, which had humble beginnings as a small shop in the year 1834, now sprawls over 4.5 acres of land. Its motto is Omnia Omnibus Ubique — All Things for All People, Everywhere. Several of its departments, including the seasonal Christmas department and the Food Hall, are world famous.

(ANI)

European Top 100 Albums for the 4/3/2010 issue

Now Last Weeks Peak

1 3 2 A Curious Thing – Amy MacDonald (/Melodramatic/Mercury)

2 1 2 Plastic Beach – Gorillaz (/Parlophone)

3 4 62 The Fame – Lady Gaga (/Streamline/Konlive/Cherrytree/Interscope)

4 2 6 Soldier Of Love – Sade (/Epic)

5 7 41 The E.N.D – The Black Eyed Peas (/Interscope)

6 5 2 Valleys Of Neptune – Jimi Hendrix (/Legacy/Columbia)

7 6 14 The Element Of Freedom – Alicia Keys (/J)

8 0 Glee:The Music Season One. Vol 2 – Soundtrack (/Columbia)

9 9 2 Brother – Boyzone (/Polydor)

10 10 4 Grosse Freiheit – Unheilig (/Interstar/Fansation)

Indigenous media pioneer Mick Thaiday dies

The north Queensland Indigenous community is in mourning the death of one of its leaders, Palm Island councillor Mick Thaiday.

Mr Thaiday died in Townsville late last week.

Mayor Alf Lacey says he made his name with ABC Radio and was fundamental in setting up Indigenous media networks across Australia.

“Mick, yes leaves a big legacy behind,” Cr Lacey said.

“Particularly in the early days with his involvement with ABC as a sort of journalist back in those days.

“Both he and his brother Bill established a lot of Indigenous broadcasting services across the country.

“He played the role in terms of reconciliation when reconciliation wasn’t fashionable. It was people like Mick that worked alongside with a lot of non-Indigenous people to make things happen.”

Younis Khan wants his son to be a champion squash player

Karachi, Sep.10 (ANI): They say fathers always want their sons to follow in their footsteps, but Pakistan cricket captain Younis Khan does not want to see his son playing cricket for the country.

Instead of pursuing a vastly lucrative career in cricket, Khan wants his son to become a world class squash player.

“I want my son to become a squash champion and once again take our country on the top in that sport,” Khan said.

Khan regretted that Pakistan, which once produced several champion squash players like Hashim Khan, Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan, now does not have any squash player to carry forward the legacy of the erstwhile world champions.

“We have won so many laurels in squash in the past and it’s a pity that we are no more the champions. I would appeal my countrymen to encourage their children to take up games like squash, hockey and football. As for myself, I would love to see my son become a world champion in squash,” The News quoted Khan, as saying.

In an interview with a private television channel, Khan revealed that he also loved football and said ‘the global sport’ was his favourite.

Khan said he would love to participate in a football match involving both the national cricket and football team.

“It’s a great idea and I would love to have cricket and football matches against the national football players as soon as we can get time for it,” he said. (ANI)

MJ set to become world’s top earning celebrity

London, September 7 (ANI): Michael Jackson has been predicted to become the world’s top earning celebrity next year.

The late King of Pop’s estate is expected to amass up to 150 million pounds from beyond the grave, thanks to merchandising contracts, album sales, and other royalties.

The top 1,000 licensing and merchandising experts across Europe, participating in the Brand Licensing trade event in London, made the predictions.

“Michael Jackson’s image and legacy is licensed on anything from coins and clothes, to coffee table books and singing, stuffed animals,” the Daily Express quoted Ciaran Coyle, The Beanstalk Group chief, as saying.

Other high profilers to feature among the top 20 stars, dead or alive, include Elvis Presley, Heath Ledger and Jade Goody. (ANI)

Ted Kennedy autobiography to hit shelves in September

Washington, Aug.27 (ANI): Senator Ted Kennedy’s autobiography, “True Compass,” will hit shelves next month, but the talking point is the publisher, who has announced a 1,000 price tag for a limited number of pre-signed books.

According to Politico, standard editions of “True Compass” will sell for 35 dollars and will hit stores on September 14.

The book, published by Twelve, will join the rarified ranks of posthumously published books written by political figures, such as Richard Nixon’s “Beyond Peace” and Ronald Reagan’s “The Reagan Diaries.”

Twelve’s publisher and editor-in-chief Jonathan Karp, who worked closely on the book for the past two years, said in a statement: Kennedy “worked valiantly to finish the book and make it the best it could be. As always, he was true to his word. The result is a great and inspiring legacy to readers everywhere, a case study in perseverance.” (ANI)

Goody’s cancerous end prompts 20-pct leap in Scotland smear tests

London, August 26 (ANI): Scottish officials have noticed a 20 per cent rise in cervical smear tests linking it to Jade Goody’s high-profile battle against the disease.

The British reality TV star, who lost her life to cervical cancer aged 27 earlier this year, left a lasting legacy, prompting tens of thousands of Scottish women to attend examinations.

Authorities observed more than 45,000 cervical smears were processed north of the Border in 2008-09, the highest number for almost a decade.

“The rise in uptake coincides with the HPV immunisation campaign, which promotes the importance of cervical screening, and the very sad illness and death of Jade Goody, who worked hard to raise awareness of cervical cancer,” the Telegraph quoted Shona Robison, Scottish public health minister, as saying.

“This is clear proof that being more open about this illness and the need for screening can and does encourage women to come forward,” Robison added.

The largest increase in tests was recorded among women aged between 20 and 24 with the figures jumping from 50.2 per cent to 56.4 per cent, while for those between 25 to 29 years of age, the leap was from 63.3 per cent to 68 per cent.

NHS statisticians confirmed this “most likely reflects the impact of the publicity surrounding Jade Goody’s death from cervical cancer.”

Elspeth Atkinson, Macmillan Cancer Support’s director for Scotland, said: “It is good news that more women are attending for routine screening and we hope this is a trend that will continue.

“Abnormalities that are detected early by a smear test can usually be treated successfully. This is why it’s also vitally important that women attend any follow up appointments for further tests.” (ANI)

Clarke backs Ponting to show his class at The Oval

Surrey, Aug 20(ANI): Australia vice-captain Michael Clarke has warned England that they should fear the Australian captain Ricky Ponting as he plays the fifth and final Ashes Test match at The Oval that will determine his legacy.

“You see Punter in World Cup finals or huge matches and he always stands up,’” The Daily Telegraph quoted Clarke, as saying.

“I think that is probably one of his greatest assets as a leader, in big games he always does stand up and lead from the front. That is certainly something I think England should fear,” he added.

The Oval Test would be the last of Ponting’s 18 Tests on English soil and will also determine his legacy as Australian captain, as a loss will mean that Ponting will go down in history as only the second captain to lead Australia to consecutive Ashes defeats in England. (ANI)

Ponting’s legacy as Oz captain on the line at The Oval

London, Aug.19 (ANI): The fifth Ashes Test, which begins at The Oval from tomorrow, will be a defining one for Australia captain Ricky Ponting.

Victory at The Oval will hand Ponting something that is demanded of any Australia captain worth his salt, a series victory over England, in England, reports Fox Sports.

A draw or worse and Ponting will have failed in two attempts to overcome the old enemy – each series with the world’s No.1 team.

That Ponting engineered only the second 5-0 Ashes whitewash in between times will be remembered fondly, but, unfairly, it will be overshadowed by his failings in England.

A stalemate will be enough for Australia to retain the Ashes, but the man they call Punter will have just one outcome in mind: victory.

Ponting’s standing as an all-time batting great is secure, but for a captain who’s leadership qualities constantly come under question, it’s not stretching things to say his legacy is at stake.

“The pressure is on. Your captaincy gets rated on series wins, but also on how we go against the old enemy. It wouldn’t please Ponting to have another series defeat in England on his CV,” says ex-captain Allan Border.

“I’ve said from the start about how much it would mean to me to win here. It’s a chance I’ve been waiting for this whole tour and a chance the whole team has been waiting for,” Ponting adds.

Should Australia lose, Ponting will join Billy Murdoch as the only captains of Australia to lose two Test series in England. It would be an immovable blemish on his record, and grist to the mill for Ponting’s numerous detractors.

“He’s probably not saying too much publicly, but privately it would be burning that he wants to right that wrong. He wants to come away as an Ashes-retaining captain,” Border told Fox Sports.

Pushing 35, this will almost certainly be Ponting’s last tour of England. The Oval might even be his last Test match against the Poms. He’s had a mixed series with the bat and as a tactician, all the while contending with the goading of British media and fans who have not forgotten Ponting’s ill feeling in 2005.

Ponting’s vice-captain and heir apparent, Michael Clarke, has meanwhile been in astonishing form. Probably the player of the series to date, Clarke led by example with two very Ponting-like knocks, backs-against-the-wall centuries, at Lord’s and Edgbaston.

Despite Ponting’s advancing age and Clarke’s obvious leadership potential, Border does not believe The Oval result will have any influence on Ponting’s position as captain of Australia.

“I get the feeling Ponting’s very comfortable with where he’s at, both as a player and as a captain,” said Border, who started Australia’s long-running hold over in England in 1989, and who was an Ashes-winning captain three times.

“Stepping down as captain and continuing as a player doesn’t work in our system. Ricky will know when it’s the right time to hand over the reins,” he adds. (ANI)

PM condoles demise of noted Sikh writer Bhai Patwant Singh

New Delhi, Aug.9 (ANI): Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh expressed grief over the demise of the noted writer, philanthropist and activist Bhai Patwant Singh on Sunday.

In his condolence message, the PM said: “Shri Patwant Singh had made a mark in the literary arena with his creative sensitivities. His vast knowledge on wide ranging issues along with his vision made a difference to innumerable human lives.”

“Shri Patwant Singh’s legacy will continue to live through his writings, the Prime Minister added while offering his condolences to the members of the bereaved family,” the PM’s message further stated.

Patwant Singh passed away in the national capital following a cardiac arrest on Saturday (Aug.8). He was 84.

Singh, who died at his residence, is survived by wife Meher and adopted son Satjiv Singh Chahil.

Singh wrote over 10 books on history, politics and international affairs. His latest ‘Empire of the Sikhs: The Life and Times of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’ was released in Washington DC on June 18. (ANI)

MJ’s new songs not to be released anytime soon

London, July 10 (ANI): While sales of Michael Jackson’s earlier albums have boosted in the past few weeks, the new music recorded by the late King of Pop before his death is not expected to be release anytime soon, revealed president of his record label Epic.

Jackson had been working on new music for several years with hip-hop and R and B stars like Will.i.am, Ne-Yo and Akon.

“We just want to pay our respects to Michael. We don’t want to be seen to be jumping on any bandwagon associated with his death,” the BBC quoted Amanda Ghost as saying.

In an interview with BBC 6 Music, Ghost said that “the appetite is definitely there” for new material.

“If we do release anything of unreleased material, it has to be fantastic and it can’t damage in any way his legacy or his legend and I won’t let that happen at Epic.

“I have no idea when it’s coming out, but it will come out on Sony/Epic. We haven’t made any decisions because we just want to be respectful for his memory and not be seen in any way as trying to cash in,” she added.

In fact, the release of new music could also be delayed as legal negotiations over his estate continue.

Bruce Swedien, a producer and engineer who worked on ‘Off The Wall’ and ‘Thriller’, has said that he believed Jackson was working on instrumental music as well as a pop album. (ANI)

Mariah Carey dissatisfied with her performance at Jackson memorial service

New York, July 09 (ANI): Mariah Carey has admitted that she is dissatisfied with her performance at the Michael Jackson public memorial service held at Staples Center on July 7 in Los Angeles.

She stated on the social network site Twitter that the moment was too emotional for her to be at her best, the New York Daily News reports.

She said: “Trying to sing today was basically impossible for me, I could barely keep myself from crying.

“I’m sorry that I wasn’t able to pull it together and really do it right, but I was literally choked up when I saw him there in front of me.”

The singer further wrote: “One thing I know is, we will never really have to say goodbye to MJ. His legacy lives on through his music and the millions of people he inspired with his timeless music. He will be forever in our hearts.”

Carey had performed cover of The Jackson 5 hit, “I’ll Be There,” with Trey Lorenz. (ANI)

Jackson ‘wanted to clone himself’

London, July 7 (ANI): Michael Jackson wanted a mini-version of himself cloned to carry on his legacy, it has emerged.

The ‘King of Pop’ reportedly became ‘obsessed’ with the idea of cloning after attending a conference on human cloning with spoon bending psychic Uri Geller in Las Vegas in 2002, reports the Mirror.

Jacko’s chauffeur Al Bowman, who drove the singer and Geller to the event, said: “Jackson was very excited.

“He bounced out of that conference like a small child. He was smiling and on a high. I heard him and Uri talking in the back of the limo.

“He was talking about the prospect of being cloned. He grabbed Uri by both arms and told him, ‘I really want to do it Uri, and I don’t care how much it costs’.

“Michael said he wanted a mini-version of himself cloned to carry on his legacy. He was hoping that Michael Jackson could live for ever,” Bowman added.

The conference was held by Clonaid, the scientific arm of the Raelian movement, a bizarre sect that believes cloning is the key to eternal life. (ANI)

Michael Jackson wanted to clone himself

London, July 7 (IANS) Michael Jackson was so scared of dying that he wanted to clone himself. He wanted to live forever, says the singer’s driver.
Mirror.co.uk reports that Jackson, who died last month of cardiac arrest, had apparently attended a conference in Las Vegas on human cloning with his friend Uri Geller, the spoon bender. Jackson was also interested in the teachings of a sect called Raelians and asked them if they could clone him.

“Jackson was very excited. He bounced out of that conference like a small child. He was smiling and on a high. I heard him and Uri talking in the back of the limo. He was talking about the prospect of being cloned,” said Al Bowman, Jackson’s chauffeur who drove him to the event in 2002.

“He grabbed Uri by both arms and told him, ‘I really want to do it Uri, and I don’t care how much it costs’. I always remember Jackson talking about the cloning of Dolly the sheep in Britain in 1996 – he was totally fascinated by it. Then when he heard about the Raelians, he became utterly convinced this weird religious group could clone humans.

“It was really oddball stuff, but it interested Michael. One day in the limo he said, ‘They did it with Dolly’. I said, ‘Dali… you mean Salvador Dali’. We both laughed. Michael said he wanted a mini-version of himself cloned to carry on his legacy. He was hoping that Michael Jackson could live for ever.”

Water should be a basic human right, say researchers

Washington, June 30 (ANI): Researchers, in a recent article in the journal PLoS Medicine Editorial, have argued that despite recent international objections, access to clean water should be recognized as a human right.

At the March 2009 United Nations (UN) meetings, coinciding with the World Water Forum, Canada, Russia, and the United States refused to support a declaration that would recognize water as a basic human right.

But, this flies in the face of considerable evidence that access to water, which is essential for health, is under threat.

The UN has estimated that 2.8 billion people in 48 countries will be living in conditions of water stress or scarcity by 2025.

Three reasons are outlined for why access to clean water should be declared a basic human right.

Firstly, access to clean water can substantially reduce the global burden disease caused by water-borne infections.

Millions of people are affected each year by a range of water-borne diseases including diarrhea, which is responsible for 1.8 million potentially preventable deaths per year, mostly among children under the age of five.

Secondly, the privatization of water, as witnessed in Bolivia, Ghana and other countries, has not effectively served the poor, who suffer the most from lack of access to clean water.

As Maude Barlow, senior advisor on water issues to the president of the General Assembly of the UN, has argued, “high water rates, cut-offs to the poor, reduced services, broken promises and pollution have been the legacy of privatization.”

Thirdly, the prospect of global water scarcity, exacerbated by climate change, industrial pollution, and population growth, means that no country is immune to a water crisis.

The United States is facing the greatest water shortages of its history, and in Australia severe drought has caused dangerous water shortages in the Murray-Darling river basin, which provides the bulk of its food supply.

According to researchers, a human rights framework offers what the water situation needs-international recognition from which concerted action and targeted funding could flow; guaranteed standards against which the protected legal right to water could be monitored; and accountability mechanisms that could empower communities to advocate and lobby their governments to ensure that water is safe, affordable, and accessible to everyone. (ANI)

Australians warned to beware of Rashid’s spinning talent

Sydney, June 30 (ANI): Australians have been warned of a rare talent, an exciting young leg spinner on the verge of Test selection. The tourists are to be introduced to Adil Rashid in their final tour game at Worcester on Wednesday.

Rashid, 21, is the third spinner in England’s 16-man Ashes squad, behind Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar.

He is a graduate of the England and Wales Cricket Board’s elite wrist-spinning program founded by Australian spin mentor Terry Jenner a decade ago.

Jenner has worked with Rashid since he was 13, and believes the Australians will encounter a rare talent when they play the England Lions in the four-day game that precedes the first Test, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

“At the age of 13 he got all 10 wickets in a second XI game of league cricket, against seniors.

He’s got an amazingly talented wrist and he can bowl most of the variations and he’s got a lot of courage. When blokes give him a bit of tap he still comes back for more,” Jenner said.

Rashid is more likely to feature in the 2010-11 Ashes in Australia than the impending series, he is a stark reminder of Australia’s failure to nurture a legacy for the greatest leg spinner of them all, Shane Warne.

“In a country where they say leg spin doesn’t work, five kids out of this program have gone on and played first-class cricket – that suggests to me that we could do with a program in Australia,” said Jenner.

Rashid learnt his trade in Bradford. His father, Abdul, converted the basement of the family home into indoor nets as a way of keeping his three sons out of trouble.

He debuted for England at the Twenty20 world championships, and can hold a spot in most sides as a batsman.

The bright young leg spinner will be desperate to make an impression against a full-strength Australian team in the shadows of Worcester Cathedral. (ANI)

The Ojs – The Original O ‘Jays – Eddie Levert – Gerald Levert – Ojs – O’Jays set to be honored at BET Awards in Los Angeles – “Love Train”- In honor of Michael Jackson

The Ojs – The Original O ‘Jays – Eddie Levert – Gerald Levert – Ojs – O’Jays set to be honored at BET Awards in Los Angeles – “Love Train”- In honor of Michael Jackson

The “Love Train” is chugging to the BET Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday.

The O’Jays, Alicia Keys and Wyclef Jean were handed special awards. The O’Jays got Lifetime Achievement Award for their notable contributions to music industry, and Alicia and Wyclef received Humanitarian Award for their contributions to charitable work .

In honor of Michael Jackson, the show paid homage to his legacy and featured various aspects.

Jacko was working on new song with his kids

London, June 29 (ANI): Michael Jackson was writing a new song with the help of his three young kids, it has emerged.

The King of Pop started writing the number – titled River Ripple – after spending a day playing traditional games with son Prince Michael, 12, daughter Paris, 11, and six-year-old Prince Michael II – nicknamed Blanket.

He wanted to perform the emotional ballad with an African choir on the final nights of his 50-date concert run in London.

According to a source, Jacko, 50, decided to write the song after his children moved him to tears by singing “like Earth Angels”.

“Michael had always wanted his children to be passionate about music and dance,” the Sun quoted an insider as saying.

“But he wanted them to love music for its own pleasure – not feel forced into performing like he felt he was.

“Michael’s oldest son Prince sings beautifully and all three children love to dance.

“It had long been Michael’s wish to write a song with his children – he joked about ‘The Jackson Four’.

“He said River Ripple is all about unconditional love, the sort that binds families and gives them courage.

“It was also Michael’s wish that his sons and daughter feel part of his London gigs – that the event be a family adventure.

“I don’t think he intended to bring the children on stage with him, but Michael wanted to announce to the crowds that his kids had helped him to write a song.

“If he had been alive and well enough to pull it off, it would have been incredibly moving,” the insider added.

River Ripple is now set to join more than 200 unreleased songs as a money-spinning legacy for the kids. (ANI)

Prime Minister sends “Chadar” at Ajmer Sharif shrine

Ajmer, June 28 (ANI): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh sent a “Chadar” or, the holy cloth as his offering at the revered shrine of Sufi saint Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chisti in Ajmer Sharif on Sunday.

Union Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Prithviraj Chavan and Minister of State Sachin Pilot presented the sacred cloth on Prime Minister’s behalf on the shrine.

Dr. Singh in a message stated that the teachings of the great Khwaja is more relevant in today’s strife torn world.

“He equated feeding the hungry, redressing the aggrieved and helping the distressed, to prayers…the legacy of the great Khwaja is more relevant in today’s strife torn world, than ever before,” said Chavan read out from PM’s message.

The Dargah of Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chisti is hosting the religious fair or “Urs” marking the 797th death anniversary of the Sufi saint that began on Friday (June 26).

“Urs”, as the congregation is called in Urdu, marks the death anniversary of Moin-ud-din Chisti who is popularly called “Garib Nawaz”, or the “messiah of the poor”.

Millions of devotees from all across the world visit the saint’s shrine during the Urs ceremony. The shrine also attracts devotees from Pakistan.

Moin-ud-din Chisti is believed to have been born in 1142 AD. Since his ancestors belonged to a town named Chisti, people began calling him by that name.

Chisti, who preached tolerance and unity of all religions, died in Ajmer where his tomb has become a shrine for millions of people.

In 1236 AD, the saint entered his cell to pray in seclusion for six days, at the end of which he died. Since then Urs has been celebrated for six days every year.

It is believed that praying at the tomb of the saint fulfils a person’s wishes.

Devotees visiting the shrine offer fresh flowers as a symbol of their devotion. Some even go up to the extent of offering large amounts of money and expensive jewels. (ANI)