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Sunday, May 17, 2009
The Scene: The Eternal City challenges 'Angels'
'Wolfram Alpha', a search engine that understands
Obama to visit Russia and Ghana
Pakistan to Attack Taliban in Bin Laden's Lair
More than 1,000 militants killed in operation: Malik
The Pakistani government urged on Sunday people stranded in Swat to flee whenever they get a chance, as security forces battled Taliban militants in one of their strongholds in the valley.More than 1,000 militants had been killed in the offensive in Swat, Interior Ministry chief Rehman Malik told reporters.There was no independent confirmation of the toll.The military has reported a similar toll for the militants and has said 48 soldiers have been killed.The offensive in the one-time tourist valley, 130 km northwest of Islamabad, has also forced at least 1.17 million people from their homes, the UN refugee agency said.It has urged the world to respond 'massively' to the humanitarian crisis.The Taliban hold Mingora, Swat's main town, and many civilians are believed to be still there.'I appeal to the people of Mingora and other parts which are under aggression, as soon as they get an opportunity, the curfew is relaxed, they should come out,' Malik said.Malik also said the security forces were hunting for the leaders of the Taliban in Swat.'Those leaders, those commanders, who are controlling the Taliban, obviously we're going to hit them. We're not going to spare them,' he said. 'You'll hear good news soon.'About 15,000 members of the security forces are fighting between 4,000 and 5,000 militants in Swat, the military says.
Kuwait elects first women MPs
Tamil Tigers admit defeat in 37-year independence struggle
Somali fighters capture key town
Army hopes interactive videos make smarter soldiers
‘American Idol’ ousts Gokey as finale looms
Danny Gokey was sent home by ‘American Idol’ viewers on Wednesday in an elimination that set the stage for next week’s showdown between the last two singing contestants on America’s most-watched television show.Gokey, 29, a widowed church music director from Wisconsin, had until this week been one of the leading vote-getters among viewers this season. He lost his wife to heart disease last July.Following his elimination, Gokey sang an encore of ‘You Are So Beautiful,’ the Joe Cocker-popularized ballad he had performed the night before to praise from the judges.Judge Kara DioGuardi sat with her hands clasped as she watched Gokey sing, while fellow panelist Paula Abdul appeared to fight back tears.Afterward, judge Simon Cowell said Gokey’s elimination and the looming showdown between Adam Lambert and Kris Allen, who was considered an underdog, came as a surprise.‘None of us would have predicted this, guys,’ Cowell said. ‘No disrespect, because you were brilliant last night, and just now by the way Danny, congratulations.’Cowell then offered his view on how the final competition could shape up.‘This could be what we call a big ding-dong coming up next week,’ he said.The winner of the show’s eighth season will be announced during a live finale next Wednesday.Lambert, 27, a musical theater actor from California, has long been considered the presumed front-runner on the show, with the judges praising his vocal command and risk-taking.Allen, 23, is a college student from Arkansas known for his abilities on the acoustic guitar and the piano and for giving a new twist to songs with his earnest style.Other highlights of Wednesday's show included performances by 2007 ‘Idol’ champion Jordin Sparks and ‘I Kissed a Girl’ singer Katy Perry.This week's elimination round drew more than 88 million votes from viewers, with slightly more than 1 million votes separating Lambert and Allen, host Ryan Seacrest said.‘American Idol’ pits aspiring singers against one another in a series of competitions leading up to the finale, with the season champion winning a recording contract.The program has more than 25 million viewers per episode, and is broadcast by the Fox network, a unit of News Corp.Past winners, including Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood, have enjoyed Grammy-winning careers, but even runners-up such as Jennifer Hudson and Chris Daughtry have gone on to stardom.