In Short

A round-up of other world news in brief

Lloyd Webber diagnosed with cancer 

LONDON – British composer Andrew Lloyd Webber (61) has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, the BBC reported yesterday.The broadcaster quoted a statement from Lloyd Webber’s spokesman as saying the condition had been caught in its very early stages.

“Andrew is now undergoing treatment and expects to be fully back at work before the end of the year,” the spokesman said. – (Reuters)

Senator confident on health reform 

WASHINGTON – US Senate Democratic leaders are close to securing enough votes to advance a sweeping healthcare reform backed by US president Barack Obama, a senior Senate Democrat said yesterday.

Charles Schumer said he was pushing a compromise that would create a national health insurance plan and allow states to opt out. The public plan would compete with other insurers. – (Reuters)

Madonna visits Malawi school 

BLANTYRE – Madonna has arrived in Malawi to visit a girls’ school she is building in the impoverished country where she adopted two children, an official for her African charity has said.

The official, who could not be named because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said Madonna (51) arrived at about 2.30pm yesterday on Ethiopian Airlines. The singer was accompanied by her daughters Lourdes and Mercy and sons Rocco and David. – (PA)

Israeli police storm mosque 

JERUSALEM – Israeli police stormed Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa mosque compound yesterday, hurling stun grenades at Palestinians who threw rocks at them in another outbreak of violence at the holy city’s most sensitive site.

A Palestinian Red Crescent medic said 18 Palestinians were injured. Police said three officers were hurt.

The unrest did not appear to herald any immediate slide into widespread violence that could disrupt US-led efforts to revive Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. – (Reuters)