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Shakespeare is Britain's most esteemed sonLONDON: It's official: English playwright William Shakespeare is Britain's most respected son. ...

Shakespeare is Britain8217;s most esteemed son
LONDON: It8217;s official: English playwright William Shakespeare is Britain8217;s most respected son. A survey by Heritage magazine found the celebrated bard, who lived from 1564 to 1616, was considered an even greater Briton than scientist Isaac Newton, who first determined the principles of gravity, or wartime Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill who came second and third respectively. The magazine8217;s readers chose printing press inventor William Caxton, Charles Darwin, the Duke of Wellington, Queen Elizabeth I, William the Conqueror, Alfred the Great and Captain James Cook to complete the list of the country8217;s 10 most esteemed citizens.

Former conservative prime minister 8220;Iron Lady8221; Margaret Thatcher was the only living Briton to make the survey8217;s top 50.

Actor Will Smith wants to be first black US president
London: Hollywood superstar Will Smith wants to be the first black president of the United States and says he will give it a try in 10years8217; time.

In the meantime, Smith is to get a feel for the job by spending millennium eve night with the Clintons at the White House.

8220;I8217;ve always thought I8217;d like to become America8217;s first black president,8221; the actor and rap singer told The Sun tabloid. 8220;I8217;ve got a lot of other things I8217;ve got to do first but I think I8217;ll get round to it in about 10 years8217; time.8221;

The star of the box office hits Independence Day and Men in Black said: 8220;I will be spending new year with the Clintons and I think I could get a taste for it. We get to stay in the Lincoln bedroom the best in the house.8221;But Smith may have to sing for his supper with the Clintons.

8220;I8217;m going to be partying with him, Steven Spielberg and Quincy Jones,8221; he said. 8220;I think we are going to put on some sort of show for the Press they want me to do something. I don8217;t know what but it will probably be something stupid.8221;

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Israel to slay million geese stricken with Nile fever
JERUSALEM: Israel has ordered the slaughter ofaround one million geese infected with Nile fever, a disease transmitted by mosquitoes which can prove fatal for humans, the agriculture ministry said on Sunday.

quot;The head of the veterinary service has ordered the immediate destruction of infected geese and the vaccination of all other geese being bred for consumption,quot; a ministry spokesman said. quot;The virus is spread by mosquitoes and not consumption of meat,quot; the head of the ministry8217;s poultry section Shimon Pokomolsky told Israeli radio.

Israel is a major exporter of foie gras, a pate made from goose liver. Several cases of Nile fever, some of them fatal, have been discovered in the United States caused by infected migratory birds captured in Israel and shipped there illegally, the radio said.