Sir Elton John and David Furnish on becoming fathers

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SIR ELTON JOHN and "hubby" DAVID FURNISH have become DADS - as it yesterday emerged a surrogate mum bore them a baby on Christmas Day.

The healthy boy - named Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John - was born weighing 7lb 15oz in California.

Last night celebs flocked to congratulate the new parents - as rock legend Sir Elton declared himself "overwhelmed with happiness" to become a dad at 63.

It was not revealed who the biological father was. The identity of the surrogate mum was also being kept a closely-guarded secret.

Sir Elton and Furnish, 48 - who "wed" in a 2005 civil partnership - were last night in America preparing to jet home to the UK with their new son.

They said in a joint statement: "Zachary is healthy and doing really well, and we are very proud and happy parents."

Last night a friend of Furnish told The Sun: "Both are thrilled but it is Elton in particular who is overwhelmed with joy."Zach is now Sir Elton's life. This means there is now an heir to his throne, his millions and his legacy.

Anyone who thinks that he won't change nappies and getting up in the night is wrong. His new focus is family life with David and their son.

New York's rat population out of control

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City workers are  trapping  hundreds of rats that are emerging in basements, and trash cans, terrorizing residents who can’t rid them from their neighborhoods.

“April is breeding season,” said John Meaney, director of environmental services at Boston’s Inspectional Services Department. “It’s warm weather. People are eating outside more and littering more.” And that means more rats.

“I was so traumatized,” said Stein, a music theory professor who once caught a rat as large as a cat. “You are constantly listening for them. You constantly wonder if you smell another dead rat. It was really horrible.”

Meaney said residents can guard against infestations by keeping trash lids tight, cleaning yards, making sure doors and windows are sealed and checking for holes, even small ones, in home foundations. “Any hole over the size of a quarter in a foundation is potential entry for a rat,” he said.



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France ban the burka - Sound on

Listen (don't watch) to the video with no image. Interpret the news. Describe it to your partner.

Read this information to help you understand the video better. Use wordreference.com.

Approximately two women were detained in France while they had been

wearing the Islamic veils across their faces, after a law banning the

garment in public had came into force.

Police stated that they had only been held not because of their veils

but because of joining an unauthorised protest against the ban.

France is the first country to ban the wearing of the burqa

which many Muslims regard as a religious farz (duty).

Anyone who are caught breaking the law will be held responsible 

to a pay the fine of 150 euros and a citizenship course.

People who are forcing the women to wear the veil face a much larger

fine and also face a prison sentence of at least two years.

It is unclear whether the women who are detained at the protest will also

face a fine for their veils.

They were taken part in a demonstration just outside the Paris'

Notre Dame cathedral. Police had reported that the protest 

was not authorised and so people had been asked to move on.

When they had refused, they had been arrested.

Under the law, any woman who are walking on the street or in a park

in France and are wearing a face-concealing veil could be stopped

by the police and then given a fine.

Guidelines issued to the police state that they must not ask the women

to remove their veils in the street, but must escort them to 

a police station where they will be asked to uncover their faces for identification.

The French government stated that the face-covering veil undermines

the basic standards which is required for living in a shared society and

also it relegates the wearers to an inferior status who are incompatible

with the French notions of equality.

The ban on face coverings had angered many Muslims and libertarians.

France ban the burka - Sound off

Watch the video with the sound off. Interpret the news. Describe it to your partner.


Read this information to help you understand the video better. Use wordreference.com.

Approximately two women were detained in France while they had been
wearing the Islamic veils across their faces, after a law banning the
garment in public had came into force.

Police stated that they had only been held not because of their veils
but because of joining an unauthorised protest against the ban.

France is the first country to ban the wearing of the burqa
which many Muslims regard as a religious farz (duty).

Anyone who are caught breaking the law will be held responsible 
to a pay the fine of 150 euros and a citizenship course.

People who are forcing the women to wear the veil face a much larger
fine and also face a prison sentence of at least two years.

It is unclear whether the women who are detained at the protest will also
face a fine for their veils.

They were taken part in a demonstration just outside the Paris'
Notre Dame cathedral. Police had reported that the protest 
was not authorised and so people had been asked to move on.
When they had refused, they had been arrested.

Under the law, any woman who are walking on the street or in a park
in France and are wearing a face-concealing veil could be stopped
by the police and then given a fine.

Guidelines issued to the police state that they must not ask the women
to remove their veils in the street, but must escort them to 
a police station where they will be asked to uncover their faces for identification.

The French government stated that the face-covering veil undermines
the basic standards which is required for living in a shared society and
also it relegates the wearers to an inferior status who are incompatible
with the French notions of equality.

The ban on face coverings had angered many Muslims and libertarians.