IKO NINI one AUGUST 2010

An Anglican church in Canada has become the focus of controversy after a vicar gave Holy Communion to a dog.

A priest at St Peter's Anglican Church in Toronto, gave Holy Communion to an Alsatian cross dog called Trapper

he priest gave the Host – considered by Christians to represent the body of Jesus Christ – to an Alsatian cross called Trapper.

St Peter's Anglican Church in Toronto has since been deluged complaints from Christians all over Canada. Donald Keith, the dog's owner, said he had taken his pet to the church because he had been told animals were welcome. He said that because he was newcomer the vicar invited him up in person to receive communion. "The minister welcomed me and said come up and take communion, and Trapper came up with me and the minister gave him communion as well," said Mr Keith. "Then he bent his head and said a little prayer," Mr Keith said. "I thought it was a nice way to welcome me into the church," he said. "I thought it was acceptable." He added: "There was an old lady in the front just beaming when she saw this. "Ninety nine-point-nine per cent of the people in the church love Trapper and the kids play with him." He said one member of the congregation was unhappy about the vicar giving the dog communion and complained to the archbishop, Colin Johnson. The dog has since been banned from receiving the sacrament. "It was just one person who got his nose out of joint and went to the head of the Anglican Church," said Mr Keith. "Holy smokes. This is small stuff. I thought it was innocent and it made me think of the blessing of the animals. "This has blown me away. The church is even getting emails from Catholics," he said. Peggy Needham, the deputy people's warden at the church, said that no further action would be taken. "The backlash is from just one person," she said. "Something happened that won't happen again. Something our interim priest did spontaneously. "This person went to the top and emailed our bishop to make a fuss and change things. But he misjudged our congregation."

Road Police To Get 'Drugalyser' Test Kits

UK, Friday, August 6th, 2010. Drugs testing kits to catch motorists high on illicit substances could be available to police before the end of the year.

The kits will at first only be at police stations but officers will soon carry them

The "drugalysers" will mean officers will no longer have to get a doctor's permission to take a blood test that can be used as evidence in court. The first devices are due to be rolled out within months as part of the Government's crackdown on drug driving and by 2012 ministers hope all stations will have one. Road safety minister Mike Penning said: "It is vital that the police have the tools they need to tackle those who drive while impaired by drugs. "This selfish minority show a flagrant disregard, not only for their own lives, but for the safety of others and we are determined to tackle this menace. "That is why we are taking urgent steps to make drug screening technology available as soon as possible. "This equipment will make it easier for the police to prosecute the irresponsible minority who put the lives of the law-abiding majority at risk." The first version of the "drugalyser", expected to be ready in September, will be initially made for use in police stations. But the Government has put £300,000 towards designing a device that officers can use at the side of the road. It is thought new technology would allow police officers to use a swab to take a sweat or saliva sample which could lead to an immediate blood test. Home Office spokesman said: "Motorists who drive while under the influence of drugs are a menace to the roads and we have already given the police powers to test drivers for signs of impairment. "We also want them to be able to test drivers for drugs in their system. "By the end of September we aim to have issued a final draft specification for a testing device, setting out the drugs we want to detect. "As soon as manufacturers have produced devices that satisfy our specification, we will approve them for police to use." Thousands of people are killed on Britain's roads every year. In recent studies, 10% of drivers between 18 and 29 have admitted getting behind the wheel after taking illegal drugs.

The great higher education squeeze

Pupils across England and Wales have been receiving record grades in their results released this morning. A record of 660,953 students are seeking university places this autumn but only about 500,000 places will be on offer. Almost 40,000 teenagers are expected to receive a string of perfect results, triggering the toughest ever competition for university places The University and College Union (UCU) said it was concerned that many students would miss out on places.

Universities will start the new academic year with thousands of unfilled places, despite turning record numbers of youngsters away because fear of swingeing fines for over-recruitment will prompt universities to cut back on offers to students.

This comes at a time when the lack of job prospects has led to a record 660,953 applications – almost 200,000 more than there are places. One lecturers' leader described the situation as "tragic". Vice-chancellors are fearful of recruiting too many students through the clearing system in case they incur massive government fines. Last year those that went above the target number of students set by the Government faced fines totalling £4m – which would be crippling when coupled with public-spending cuts.

Some of the UK, Thursday, 5th August 2010, National Daily Newspapers' frontpage news

The Daily Telegraph says the pension age could be raised to 66 within five years - far sooner than expected. Family doctors have demanded even more money to provide safe out-of-hours care, the Daily Express reports. The Chinese Government is the mystery backer behind a bid for Liverpool football club, The Times reveals

Still so crazy in love!

EVEN by wartime standards Violet and Albert Key's wedding was a modest affair. There was no wedding cake, no celebration, and Albert was on leave from the Army. But it didn't matter, the couple are still together and have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. Violet said: "It was just like going next door to get married. It was horrible, but we were married and we are still married now." Violet, 89 and Albert, 91, of Havering Road, Romford were married at the Liverpool Road Registry Office in Islington on July 29, 1940. Violet said: "He walked to the wedding from his house in Holloway and I walked from mine in Islington. "We could not afford a big celebration, he was on leave from the Army and my sister offered to give us a big wedding, but we didn't think that it would have been fair." The pair had met two years earlier in Chapel Market, Islington, where Albert was a butcher. Violet said: "He was riding a bike and I do not know how I stopped him, but I did. "He was short and had ginger hair, but I thought I am going to have him and I did, he was the best bloke out there. "All those big tall blokes are nice, but its true what they say that all good things come in small packages." But the course of true love never runs smoothly and months after getting engaged the couple went their separate ways. Violet said: "I can't remember what happened it was just a tiff, but I guess it was just the usual, me wanting my own way." But they later made up their differences and fell madly in love. Soon after getting married, Albert was called back to the Army and served as a member of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. When the war ended, Albert was able to meet his daughter, Christine, for the first time, who was two, and they moved to Violet's sister's house in Islington before moving to Romford in the 1960s. Violet said: "People always say that they don't know how Albert puts up with me, but I always say that it's because he loves me.

Four stowaways found in Bathgate bound lorry

Uk, Wednsday, August 04 2010. Four foreign nationals were prevented from illegally entering the country in Calais, France after they were caught hiding in a lorry load of sweets heading for Bathgate. The stowaways were discovered by UK Border Agency officers using a body detection dog called Wax as they checked vehicles before they headed for Dover. Four Eritreans, two men and two women were discovered on the Greek registered lorry when the officers working at Calais stopped it on Wednesday 28 July at 0330. The officers were alerted to their presence by the specially trained detection dog, and discovered them hiding amongst the load of sweets. The men and women were removed and handed over to the French authorities and the lorry and the load were allowed to continue. The drivers and haulage company concerned now face a potential fine if they are unable to prove they took steps to secure the vehicle. Carole Upshall, the UK Border Agency's director for European operations, said: 'Finds such as this one highlight the determination and expertise required by UK Border Agency officers to stay one step ahead of illegal immigration. In 2009 we stopped over 29,000 individual attempts to cross the channel illegally and searched over 1,000,000 freight vehicles. 'The UK Border Agency's strong presence at the frontier, not only in the UK but also in northern France, helps protect the whole country from people illegally entering the UK and then heading for towns across Britain - in this case Bathgate.' UK Border Agency officers use hi-tech search equipment to combat immigration crime and detect banned and restricted goods that smugglers attempt to bring into the country. They use an array of search techniques including detection dogs, carbon dioxide detectors, heartbeat monitors and scanners as well as visual searches to find well-hidden stowaways, illegal drugs, firearms and cigarettes.

Kibaki leads ministers in 'Yes' win as IIEC starts releasing official results

President Mwai Kibaki casts his vote at Munaini Primary School in Othaya Constituency (left) and centre is the Interim Independent Electoral Commission chairman, Ahmed Isaack Hassan, during a briefing on the Kenya referendum at the Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi. Right, some voters began queuing before polling stations opened on Wednesday, August 4, 2010.

The official final results for the referendum vote started coming in on Thursday morning, with President Kibaki leading ministers in delivering the 'Yes' vote.

As of 9:20am, results from 42 out the 210 constituencies had been announced by the Interim Independent Electoral Commission, with the official tally standing at 1, 406,576 for Yes and 632,626n for the No side. Those who rallied their constituents to sing the President’s ‘Green’ anthem were Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Environment Minister John Michuki, Water Minister Charity Ngilu, Trade Minister Amos Kimunya and Gender and Children Minister Esther Murugi. Ms Ngilu resisted the ‘No’ tide that had swept Ukambani and delivered all the votes in her Kitui Central constituency to the ‘Green’ pot. She’ll be a proud woman knowing that many of her constituents listened to her. The ‘YES’ had 19,416, ‘NO’ 16,201, votes valid 35,617, and rejected votes were 1,069.

However, Housing assistant minister Margaret Wanjiru failed to woo her Starehe constituents to the ‘Red brigade’. In Starehe YES got 68,815, while the NO camp got 25,529 votes. 4,612 votes were rejected. The valid votes cast were 94,344.

The other results as released are from Gideon Ndambuki’s Kaiti constituency, Maina Kamau’s Kandara, Elias Mbau’s Maragua, Jamleck Kamau’s Kigumo, David Njuguna’s Lari and Luka Kigen’s Rongai.

‘YES’ in Kaiti got 13, 506 and the ‘NO’ 15, 465, while 384 votes were rejected. In Kandara, YES got 48,630, NO had 6,278, while 1,728 votes were rejected. In Maragua YES had 41,025, NO 6,319, while 1,409 were rejected.

Kigumo constituency had 38,060 voters vote ‘YES’, ‘NO’ 5,765, and 923 votes were rejected. Lari constituency saw YES get 34,032, NO 7,672, while 1, 501 were spoilt.

Gatundu South, Mr Kenyatta’s constituency, saw YES 32,422, NO 10,209, rejected votes were 541. Rongai YES 24,182, NO 20, 391 rejected 1,878 valid votes 44,178. Mr Michuki’s Kangema saw YES reap 26,924, NO 2,589, rejected votes were 429.

Peter Mwathi’s Limuru ‘YES’ 39,127, NO 8,392, rejected votes were 1,392. Mr Victor Munyaka’s constituency went ‘Red’ just like he wanted with YES getting 22,069, against NO’s 27,654. Rejected votes 1,627.

Transport assistant minister Harun Mwau delivered his Kilome constituency to the ‘Red brigade’ with 12,316 votes against YES’s 9,572. Rejected votes were 494. Mr Kimunya’s Kipipiri had YES at 25,976, NO at 374, and rejected votes at 531.

The 15 constituencies enter Kenya’s history books as the first ones to tell the country –officially, that is—the people’s verdict on Wednesday’s constitution referendum. The first results opened the day–for the Interim Independent Electoral Commission—and the gate—for the 210 constituencies—after what seemed like a static night, at least as far as the vote count for the provisional referendum results was concerned.

The simultaneous official release of the results came as good news to the dozens of journalists and the tens of observers who braved the chilly night and a very cold morning awaiting the national vote count at the Bomas of Kenya.

The agony of the wait was experienced mostly between 2am and 5am when only 37 polling stations delivered results to the IIEC server via the special mobile phones given to returning officers.

Looked at against the backdrop of the flood of results –14,100 that had hit the big screen display within just six hours after the close of the vote—then one can understand the mounting anxiety at the delay. Not just because those present wanted to confirm the winner, but because they also wanted to go sleep.

However, IIEC commissioner Davies Chirchir had warned that the flood of results would end and from then on, the results were expected to hit the IIEC server at a much slower pace.

The national agents who had braved the cold night in a quiet deserted auditorium reaped the fruits of their patience, when they were finally –at 5.30am—called to the IIEC boardroom to vet the results that had been brought in from the two constituencies.

They retreated to the room for one hour and when they came out they had unanimously agreed that the returning officers had done a good job in safeguarding the verdict of Kenyans as exhibited in Wednesday’s quiet and expectant vote.

The total number of valid votes cast when the official results of the 42 constituencies came up had ‘YES’ in the lead with 4,170,813 and ‘NO’ trailing at 2, 068,687. For Automatic Results........

Wedding between Michael Wanjiru of Essex (son of Mama Wambugu of Dagenham) and Juliet Saituru of Essex, the wedding will be held on 14th August 2010 at CCBC Swahili church in Barking IG11 7TR and the reception will be held at Eastbury Comprehensive School, Hulse Avenue, Barking IG11 9UW. For more information you can contact Michael on 07852291534 or Juliet on 07970161745 or Mama Wambugu on 07983772410. Email - julietsaituru45@hotmail.com

Or a three-bedroom home for Sh300,000, complete with a title deed. However, you must belong to the ‘underprivileged’ group.

Nairobi, Wednesday, August 4 2010. A three-bedroom house may sound modest by some people’s standards, but it is the ultimate dream home to many Kenyans. With innovation, most hurdles can now be overcome, enabling people earning less than Sh25,000 a month to own this type of house. One home ownership model, piloted by microfinance organisation Bora — now a bank — seems to be taking shape, giving hope to low income earners. For 2,000 families living in Mathare, Kibera, and Mukuru Kwa Njenga slums in Nairobi, the dream of owning their own home is coming true. About 250 families have already moved into their houses in Kaputiei, Kajiado District. Ms Ingrid Munro, the founder of Bora, says the idea was successful because it was based on the simple logic that you do not own a house until you have fully paid for it, and you are free to sell it if you wish. “But I doubt anyone would want to sell,” she says. A shift from informal settlements to permanent two-bedroom houses — complete with a sitting room and a bathroom — that cost Sh150,000 does not sound like a bad idea, especially when you factor in the Sh2,500 monthly payment. The low-cost housing model incorporates what mortgage financiers have not been able to offer. Members receive loans from Bora, repayable with an annual interest of 8.5 to 10 per cent. The microfinance organisation members can chose from different house models. They are organised in groups to guarantee each other mortgages of Sh300,000 for a three-bedroom house or Sh495,000 for a four-bedroom one. Such houses would cost between Sh3.5 million and Sh20 million at current market rates, depending on their location. “People need to get out of the slums into better places, where they can bring up their children. But there is no affordable housing for them in Kenya,” says Ms Munro, an architect. The microfinance organisation spent Sh300 million to construct 2,000 houses and a similar amount on supporting infrastructure.

Half of the cost of infrastructure is charged on the residential area and the rest on the commercial zone. The homeowners pay the microfinancier a Sh500 monthly maintenance fee. In this low-income housing estate, residents organise themselves into neighbourhood management associations to develop and maintain their open spaces, parks, and playgrounds.

So, how did Ms Munro manage to secure building materials for only Sh150,000? The trick lay in on-site production of building blocks, prefabricated materials, and windows. This guaranteed that the cost of -the materials was cut by up to 50 per cent. Construction time was also considerably reduced. The cooperative model has also helped low income earners to own their own homes. The government has mandated cooperative societies to deliver up to 25 per cent of the 200,000 housing units that Kenya needs annually, according to official State estimates. To this end, the Ministry of Cooperative Development and Marketing has launched a strategic plan for the period running up to 2012. One of its most important activities is the provision of decent shelter to Kenyans through cooperatives. “By coming together and working towards a specific goal, members are able to attract resources and technology to help accelerate their development agenda,” said assistant minister Lina Jebii Kilimo during the ground-breaking ceremony for 300 pre-fabricated houses in Athi River. The houses were commissioned by the National Cooperatives Housing Union (NACHU) in partnership with Afrohomes Ltd. When completed, the Sh1.5 billion structural insulated panels (SIPs) housing investment will see each unit cost Sh4.9 million instead of the Sh10 million it would have cost if it was constructed using conventional building materials. (The figures change depending on the level of inflation).

The SIPs are manufactured under factory-controlled conditions by sandwiching a core of rigid foam plastic insulation between two structural skins of oriented strand board. The panels can be used as floors, walls, and roofs for residential and light commercial buildings. “The Kenya Bureau of Standards has certified the panels and we had no problem getting insurance firms on board as the products have a 50-year guarantee,” says NACHU chairman Francis Kamande. The public and private sectors have in the recent past shown a keen interest in tackling the housing problem in the country, even though clear ownership plans that would benefit the low-income groups have yet to be developed. For instance, past efforts like the Mathare 4A project by the Catholic Diocese of Nairobi and the Kibera Highrise project spearheaded by the government failed to give ownership of the housing units to the targeted beneficiaries. NACHU plans to provide mortgages to its members through a five-year repayment plan in partnership with the Kenya Commercial Bank’s mortgage subsidiary, S&L. The Cooperative Insurance Company (CIC) has come on board to provide cover for the construction sites and the homes, once they are completed. In the cooperative model, according to an official, members will be allowed to save a minimum of Sh200 a month over a certain period of time. They will then qualify to get a loan up to five times their total savings, depending on their ability to repay. A gradual financing method will be used to assist those who already have land to build the houses. Under the scheme, a member would get a loan to build a two-room house, starting with one room, to enable him/her move out of the rented house and get financing for the rest of the building. In such a case, a house that would cost Sh2 million may be financed in instalments of Sh500,000. In another model, groups that want to pool their resources to buy land for later subdivision only need to raise 20 per cent of the price; the remaining 80 per cent would be financed.

It is with humble acceptance of God’s will that we announce the death of the following persons;

FROM L to R: THE LATE DOMINIC MUBURI MUITA-29.07.2010; THE LATE MRS. MARY NGONYO HEZRON MWANGI (MAMA GRACE)-30/07/10 AND THE LATE JOHN WACHIRA NDIRANGU-31.07.10.

This is to inform you that our beloved sister, Benadeta Hatim known as (Mama Mustafa) of Jileh Hair Salon, in South Harrow, West London was promoted to glory on 30th/07/2010. To be able to give her a befitting send off, funds are urgently needed. I am appealing to you to please join us daily for a fund drive at Southall Baptist Church, Western Road, UB2 5DS. From 6.30pm.

Major funds drive will take place at the same venue on Thursday 05/07/10 from 6.30 pm.
I beseech you brethren, let us stand together behind this family financially in this time of need.
Should you not be able to come, you can send your contribution to:
Name- A. K. Wainaina; Barclays Bank-Acc:- 30443344, Sort code:- 202748.
Should you have any queries, you can call:-
Pastor Simon on 07960849554,
Patrick on 07832975294,
Beth 07540191981,
Mary 07328450720.
God bless you as you give and please pass this to all.
Remember a burden shared is no burden at all.
Pastor Simon.

LIVE TEXT: Kenya holds referendum on new law

09:35 In North Mugirango constituency, polling was delayed at Mogusii due to lack of rubber stamps, our reporter, Henry Nyayora, says.

09:30 "I've already voted at Kituvu Pri. Sch in Kathiani constituency. Voter turnout was low then (because it was early and its a market day today), but it will pickup as the day goes by. The IIEC staff were very organised. Kudos IIEC," Saulo Matheka on Facebook.

09: 25 Voting will close at 5 p.m. after which tallying will begin. Respective polling stations will channel their results to the constituency tallying centre for onward transmission to the national tallying centre at the Bomas of Kenya.

09: 20 "I am in the booth. Ready 2 vote 4 Yes. Dujis const, GARISSA TOWN," Akmaldin Ihsaan Ogloo Digale on Facebook.

09: 15 The Bishop, who is opposing the proposed constitution due to clauses on abortion and kadhi courts appealed to Kenyans to uphold peace throughout the vote and maintain it whatever the outcome. He said that life was precious sand urged Kenyans to restrain from acts of violence.

09:10 Catholic Bishop John Cardinal Njue casts his vote at Parochial Primary School.

09:08 Mr Kenyatta said he was confident of a Yes win and urged Kenyans to turn out in large numbers for the vote and do so peacefully.

09: 05 Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta has voted at Mutomo polling centre in his Gatundu South constituency.

09:00 Former President Moi, who is opposed to the proposed law, cast his ballot at 7.30 a.m. at Kabarak Primary School in Nakuru.

08:53 "Kamukunji-PUMWANI SOCIAL HALL has a queue stretching more than 800 meters, a people quing (sp) with dignity. Harmony and peace is manifest," David Lutta on Facebook.

08:46 Early trends across the country point to a huge turnout for the plebiscite on the proposed constitution with virtually all polling stations reporting long queues.

08:40 "It is great seeing Kenyans of all walks of life waking up early and queuing patiently waiting to take their destiny into their own hands. All these are huge steps towards real democracy based on respect and freedom. Let's hope the day continues this way," Shaugi Said on Facebook.

08:35 "I have voted in Eldoret east. The turnout is impressive, kudos IIEC," pmwangi on twitter.

08:30 Prime Minister Raila Odinga was recently interviewed by the Sunday Nation where he outlined his hope for Kenya http://bit.ly/aRXiPU

08:18 38 prisoners have cast their ballot at the Kitui GK Prison, where the Nation's Benjamin Muindi reported a heavy presence of observers, local and international.

08:13 "I have voted at Lumakanda township primary school Lugari and the turn out is great," Edwin Anagava on Facebook.

08:07 At the Kilimani Primary School in Westlands constituency, voters congratulated the Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC) officials for being well organised.

07: 59 In his first media interview, President Kibaki spoke to the Sunday Nation and the enactment of a new constitution would herald a new dawn for Kenya. For the full interview go to: http://bit.ly/dA2eJj

Kenya braced for poll clashes in first vote since deadly 2007 elections

Nairobi, Tuesday August 3, 2010.More than 60,000 police have been deployed to guard polling stations as Kenya votes on Wednesday for the first time since violence after the 2007 presidential election left 1,300 people dead.

Kenyans will vote in a referendum on a new constitution, which would curb presidential powers, overhaul the corrupt judiciary and devolve responsibility and resources to the country's regions. But the draft, which 60 per cent of voters support according to opinion polls, has drawn criticism for clauses seen as easing policy on abortion and Muslim-only courts, emotive issues in majority-Christian Kenya.

Violence is not widely expected, but the Rift Valley province - scene of the worst fighting after the last elections and the heartland of those opposed to the draft - is on high alert. Already hundreds of people are moving away from main towns, fearful that rival tribes could launch attacks. Three MPs were charged with incitement to violence during the campaign, and leaflets warning those supporting the new constitution to leave their homes have been found in several flashpoint areas. Britain and Kenya's international donors see the draft as key to addressing underlying causes of regular election-linked violence in East Africa's economic powerhouse. he new measures reduce the "winner takes all" nature of Kenyan politics, which encourages the power-hungry elite to inflame ethnic divisions at election time. "There is a great sense that the new constitution will bring far greater economic and political stability, which can only be good for business," said Aly Khan Satchu, an economic analyst in Nairobi.

Kenya is Britain's main trading partner in East Africa, and is the base for regional headquarters of firms including Unilever, Diageo and Barclays. It is also a frontline ally in the global campaign against Islamist terrorism and Somali piracy. "It's pretty clear that if we get this new constitution, Kenya's on a much more stable footing, and that is crucial to our interests locally and regionally," said a European diplomat in Nairobi. Opposition to the draft has focused on. There are concerns that the constitution is badly drafted, and discriminates against international investment because foreigners will in future be allowed only to own land n a 99-year maximum lease. Key figures opposing the new constitution, including former president Daniel arap Moi, have faced criticism that they oppose the draft because it will encourage investigations into past corruption.

Settlement protection route

New government unveils Europe's largest immigration removal centre

UK, Monday, August 2, 2010.The opening of two new wings at Harmondsworth immigration removal centre (IRC) will make it Europe's largest, Immigration Minister Damian Green announced today. The unveiling of additional detention space comes as the UK Border Agency is intensifying enforcement activity across the country to crackdown on illegal working, sham marriages, bogus colleges and organised immigration crime. The new high security accommodation is ready for use, and at full capacity it will house 364 of the UK Border Agency's most difficult detainees, significantly enhancing the new government's ability to remove foreign criminals from the UK. Immigration Minister Damian Green said: 'I am pleased to be able to open the new wings at Harmondsworth today, which make it Europe's largest detention centre and a welcome addition to the UK Border Agency's estate. 'It will provide 364 new bed spaces, increasing our capacity to remove people with no right to stay in the UK. 'The beds will be used for some of the most challenging detainees the UK Border Agency holds, the vast majority of whom are former prisoners who have committed serious offences. I believe foreign criminals should be sent home at the earliest opportunity, and today we have taken another step in that direction." The first detainees were accepted earlier this month, and the current plan is that it will take approximately seven to eight weeks to have the new accommodation fully occupied. Already under the new government, there have been more than 1900 failed asylum seekers and more than 990 foreign national prisoners removed from the UK. After opening the new wings, the Minister visited Heathrow Terminal One to see the frontline checks in place at the border, including anti-forgery equipment and drug detection scanners. On visiting Britain's busiest airport, he added: 'Keeping Britain's border secure is a priority for this government - which is why it is crucial that we have vigilant border staff utilising the latest technology in our fight against the people traffickers, drug smugglers and illegal immigrants determined to come here and cause harm.' During his visit, he met frontline UK Border Agency staff, was given a demonstration by detection dogs, and watched as officers used the latest technology to search bags for hidden, smuggled substances.

Police maintain tight security to avert chaos

Nairobi, Sunday August 1, 2010. More than 150 police sniffer dogs and officers were deployed at three major events that took place in Nairobi on Sunday. Police said they wanted to ensure incident-free events at Uhuru Park, where the ‘Yes’ team campaigned, Jamhuri Park, the venue for the ‘No’ group and Nyayo National Stadium, where the continent’s athletics event closed.

It was a show of numbers as the 'Yes' ( picture on right - President Kibaki addresses the masses during the 'Yes' campaign rally at Nairobi's Uhuru Park on Sunday ) and 'No' (picture on right - Higher Education minister William Ruto addresses a 'No' rally at 64 Stadium in Eldoret town July 31, 2010. He called on Kenyans to peacefully participate in the referendum on the proposed Constitution ) teams went to the heartland of their key supporters as the referendum day on the Proposed Constitution drew nearer

Sources said 50 sniffer dogs were deployed to each of the events to detect narcotics and any form of explosives. A police chopper hovered above the three venues close to one another. At Nyayo Stadium, some security personnel donned track uniforms in disguise as athletes just to be sure. Nairobi Area PPO Anthony Kibuchi told The Standard they wanted to ensure the city remained calm before and after the rallies. "We deployed accordingly, and this will continue till after the referendum. We, however, want the public to help us in policing the city and the country," he said. Kibuchi said they had many dogs to boost their vigilance and alertness. More personnel from General Service Unit, Administration Police and regular police were deployed to the venues to ensure safety. Some of them were in civilian wear and mingled with the crowds at the events. There were fears that criminal elements could cause chaos at either of the places. Some of the deployed officers were asked to physically screen those attending the events to be sure of safety. A ‘No’ crusade was two months ago bombed at Uhuru Park, leaving six people dead and scores injured. Across the country, Commissioner of Police Mathew Iteere said they had deployed accordingly, with the last batch of the personnel leaving Nairobi on Sunday. Close to 50 lorries full of security personnel were spotted on Waiyaki Way on Sunday, headed for Rift Valley and western Kenya. Iteere said they had profiled and sent enough security personnel to places believed to be hotspots ahead of Wednesday, the referendum day. "Let me assure the public that the possible insecurity flashpoints have been profiled and adequate measures taken to prevent any possible breakdown of law and order." Mr Iteere said the hotspots also included places in Nairobi and Western Kenya. So far, Iteere has commissioned 10,000 security personnel from National Youth Service, Prisons and Kenya Wildlife Service ahead of the event.

The Interim Independent Electoral Commission had announced it needed 63,000 personnel to man the more than 25,000 poling centres.

Chelsea Clinton Marries Childhood Sweetheart

UK , Sunday August 01, 2010. Bill and Hillary Clinton's daughter has married investment banker Marc Mezvinsky in what has been dubbed America's royal wedding.

Chelsea Clinton, the only child of the former US president and the US secretary of state, tied the knot with her childhood sweetheart just outside Rhinebeck, around 100 miles north of New York City.

Ever the statesman, Bill stands proud as he prepares to give his daughter away (left) and in the picture on the right, it was an interfaith ceremony between Jewish Marc and Methodist Chelsea

Bill and Hillary Clinton said in a statement: "Today, we watched with great pride and overwhelming emotion as Chelsea and Marc wed in a beautiful ceremony at Astor Courts, surrounded by family and their close friends." "We could not have asked for a more perfect day to celebrate the beginning of their life together, and we are so happy to welcome Marc into our family," the statement said. "On behalf of the newlyweds, we want to give special thanks to the people of Rhinebeck for welcoming us and to everyone for their well-wishes on this special day." The statement did not indicate exactly when the nuptials took place. On Friday night, Bill and Hillary Clinton waved to crowds of onlookers as they arrived for a late-night cocktail party for some of the wedding guests.

Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mezvinsky have been together since their teens, left. Right picture, Marc, Hillary, Chelsea and Bill pose after the exchange of vows

Chelsea Clinton, 30, and Mezvinsky, 32, have known each other since they were teenagers. He is an investment banker, whose parents Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky and Edward Mezvinsky were once Democratic US House of Representatives members. Chelsea Clinton studied at the University of Oxford and Columbia University and has worked at a New York hedge fund.

The Sunday Times reveals some of the secret missions undertaken by British special forces in Afghanistan following the leak of thousands of documents to whistleblower website Wikileaks The Independent On Sunday focuses on the diplomatic row sparked by David Cameron's comments about Pakistan and terrorism. A new study says mothers can go back to work within months of giving birth without any negative impact on their baby's wellbeing, reports The Observer.

Kibaki, PM confident of 'Yes' win

President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga held a joint rally in Kisumu for the first time in a month exuding confidence that nothing will stand in the way of the proposed Constitution.

President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga during a Yes rally at Moi Stadium, Kisumu July 31, 2010. The two principals exuded confidence that the Yes camp will carry the day at the referendum on the proposed Constitution. Photo/JACOB OWITI

The President showered praises on Mr Odinga – in whose political backyard the rally was hosted - for putting up a brave fight for the Yes camp even in his illness. Mr Odinga declared that a tsunami that would sweep aside those opposed to the proposed law, a political euphemism to predict victory for the Yes camp. The principals rallied the voters to turn up large in large numbers to give the proposed laws a landslide victory. The President insisted that he was looking forward to celebrating the birth of a new constitution on August 5, a day after the vote. "We shall go out and cast our votes and wait to celebrate on the 5th of August. The tallying process has been improved and Kenyans will get results on time,” said the President during the rally at Moi Stadium Saturday.

Mr Kibaki renewed his attack on former President Moi saying that he should not be a stumbling block to reforms in the country. He insisted that he had time to give Kenyans a new constitution but failed. “We have no time to talk about an individual who failed to give us a new constitution after along time,” he said.

He asked the proponents of the proposed Constitution to continue educating those who are opposed to it so that they can understand it even after the referendum. Mr Odinga was jovial even as he joked about his ailment. A month ago, the PM underwent head surgery at the Nairobi Hospital to relive pressure from outside his brain. “Somebody had called me to Heaven, but when God heard that I was on the way going, He summoned Paul and asked him who had called Raila. Paul said that it was a wrong number. Then God asked me to to come back and serve my people as I had a lot of work to do and I am back,” Mr Odinga said. Mr Odinga said that Kenyans can forgive Mr Moi for what he did to them but will never forget and he should leave voters alone to pass the new laws. His speech was interrupted at several points with chants from frenzied supporters.The PM lauded President Kibaki for spearheading the Yes campaign when he recuperating. “The game had to continue and Kibaki had to come from the defence to the forward so that he can lead the Yes campaign. He was the Iniesta of Spain who scored the sole goal during the World Cup against Netherlands,” said the PM who is fond of using football analogies in his political speeches. The Kisumu rally saw leaders Uhuru Kenyatta, Kalonzo Musyoka and Musalia Mudavadi share the same platform with ten other cabinet ministers and a host of MPs in what underlined the government’s commitment to push for victory at the plebiscite. Lands minister James Orengo said the dawn of a a new constitution was imminent since many Kenyans had resolved to give the country a new lease of life. “After 50 years of struggling to liberate Kenyans, this baby called a new constitution will be born even if the father will be away,” said Mr Orengo amid cheers from the crowd.

Immigration minister Otieno Kajwang’, and Public Works minister Chris Obure thanked President Kibaki for remaining steadfast in the absence of Prime Minister Raila Odinga by leading from the front to give Kenyans a new constitution.

No Fly Zone In NY For Chelsea Clinton Wedding

Bill and Hillary Clinton's daughter Chelsea will get married today, although details of the wedding have been shrouded in secrecy.

The only thing that has been officially confirmed is the date, but earlier the former president arrived in the tiny New York town of Rhinebeck, confirming the long-suspected location of the Big Day. As crowds of people and cameras followed him down the street, Mr Clinton said: "We're all fine…We love it here… Chelsea loves the area as well."

A sign in Rhinebeck where the wedding will take place(left), Bill Clinton, his first daughter Chelsea Clinton, her fiance Marc Mezvinsky and Chelsa and her mother Hilary Clinton(right)

Thirty-year-old Chelsea is expected to marry her long term boyfriend investment banker Marc Mezvinsky at Astor Courts, a grand estate that is well protected from prying eyes and cameras. A no fly zone in place over the area, as well as high security, are all part of the operation to keep the wedding as private as possible. Mr Mezvinsky is Jewish and Chelsea is Methodist, leading to speculation it will be a multi-faith ceremony. But one of the biggest questions is over the dress. Chelsea has been photographed going in to the celebrity designer Vera Wang's showroom, apparently for a fitting. But her mother, secretary of state Hillary Clinton, was reportedly spotted going in to an Oscar de la Renta bridal shop, prompting speculation that he would be designer of choice for the big day.

With a price tag of an estimated two to three million dollars, some are saying there will be anything up to 500 guests attending the evening ceremony. Steven Spielberg and Barbra Streisand are rumoured to be going. But President Barack Obama and his family have not been invited. Speaking on ABC's "The View" he said: "I think Hillary and Bill properly want to keep this as a thing for Chelsea and her soon-to-be husband." "I'm letting you guys know now, y'all probably will not be invited to Malia's wedding or Sasha's wedding," Mr Obama said, referring to his own daughters. Chelsea Clinton has always been protective of her privacy, but she has had to grow up in front of the cameras. She arrived at the White House a slightly awkward young girl but matured quickly, credited with helping her mother and father survive the Monica Lewinsky scandal. Chelsea then went on to study at the University of Oxford and got a masters in public health at an American university. She has also helped out on the campaign trail and become a very popular figure, admired for her style.Wedding consultant Liz Sellasie told Sky News: "In America we don't have royals, so these families, the Clintons and the Kennedys… they are our equivalent. Chelsea is our Princess Diana."
Interest in the event is so intense, the American media have variously referred to it as the wedding of the year, decade, or even century. Chelsea may be considered royalty but unlike many royal weddings, there will not be any coverage of the actual event.

Curious fans will just have to wait to see what pictures, if any, the Clintons decide to release.

KEEPING BUSY MAKES YOU HAPPY

UK, Saturday, July 31, 2010. The key to happiness is having lots to do, scientists have revealed. Even doing meaningless or unnecessary tasks makes you feel better than just sitting round getting bored. Being forced to wait for a quarter of an hour in the airport luggage lounge, for instance, leaves many of us feeling miserable.

But if it was placed further away and we had to spend the same time walking there we would be much happier about it. Unfortunately, our instinct is to be lazy because unless we have a reason for being active we choose to stare blankly into space – an evolutionary development that ensures we conserve energy. Behavioural scientist Professor Christopher Hsee, of the University of Chicago, asked students to complete a questionnaire and then wait 15 minutes.

They could drop off the completed survey nearby and wait out the remaining time or leave it at a place further away, where walking back and forth would keep them busy. Afterwards the students who decided to walk reported feeling significantly happier than the idle ones. Professor Hsee believes it may be possible to use this principle to benefit society. “If we can devise a mechanism for idle people to engage in activity that is at least not harmful, I think it is better than destructive idleness,” he said.

“Householders may increase the happiness of their idle housekeepers by letting in some mice and prompting the housekeepers to clean up. “Governments may increase the happiness of idle citizens by having them build bridges that are actually useless.” In fact, according to Professor Hsee’s team, such interventions already exist, with some airports having deliberately increased the walk to the luggage carousel so as to reduce the time passengers spend waiting.

A Church of England vicar was found guilty yesterday of carrying out the biggest fake wedding scam Britain has ever seen.

The Reverend Alex Brown abused his position to marry 360 illegal immigrants to complete strangers.

Armed with a marriage certificate, the immigrants were then able to hoodwink the Home Office into giving them a visa to stay in Britain as a 'spouse', with access to education, healthcare and benefits. At his Victorian parish church in the seaside town of St Leonards, East Sussex, Brown married up to eight couples a day between2005 and 2009, a court heard.

Passport to UK: Alex Brown conducting one of the 360 phoney marriages, left, and right, Brown conducted the ceremonies at The Church of St Peter and St Paul in St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, between July 2005 and July 2009.

Ninety couples were registered as living in one road and 52 in another. There were several brides and grooms from the same house, and one husband-to-be went under the name of 'Felix Spaceman'. A bride changed into her borrowed wedding gown in the vestry before the ceremony, then stuffed it back into a plastic bag afterwards, while a groom produced a ring that was far too small for his wife's finger. Nevertheless Brown, 61, protested his innocence, but he was convicted with a Nigerian immigration solicitor - whose clients paid up to £15,000 for a dodgy wedding - and a Ukrainian who supplied hard-up Eastern Europeans willing to marry for £3,000 cash. Michael Adelasoye, 50, a qualified immigration lawyer, found Africans who were desperate to stay in the UK after outstaying their visas.

Guilty: The court hear that Brown(left) abused his position to marry 360 illegal immigrants to complete strangers in a lucrative fraud operation and on the right are accomplices: Immigration lawyer Michael Adelasoye, 50,centre, found Africans who wanted to stay in the UK, while Vladymyr Buchak, 33, right, himself living in the UK illegally, recruited Eastern European brides and grooms

Judge Richard Hayward adjourned sentencing to September 6 but warned the three, who all live in St Leonards, he was considering jail. He told them: 'You have been convicted on very clear evidence of a serious offence.' Adelasoye and Brown were released on conditional bail, and Buchak was remanded in custody. The vicar walked from court without a word, but Adelasoye, who is a pastor of the Ark of Hope church in St Leonards, protested: 'I don't think it's a fair verdict. God looks after the righteous.' Later, the Archdeacon of Lewes and Hastings, the Venerable Philip Jones, said he was 'shocked and saddened' by Brown's betrayal. He said: 'We are particularly sorry for those who have been deceived and hurt by his actions. The church and the community are faced with a betrayal of trust on the part of Father Brown, who was a very trusted figure.' He promised that churches would be more vigilant to fraud in the future, and said the Church of St Peter and St Paul was unlikely to be used for worship again after Brown's tarnished tenure. Brown's motivation remains unclear. Police believe the oncerespected priest threw away his career, his reputation and potentially his freedom to feather a nest for his retirement. But although they found £5,000 in cash at his home, this was not nearly as much as they would have expected if Brown's sole desire was to make money, rather than to help immigrants. The case, which police believe was part of an international multi-million pound scam, has once again exposed the lax regulations that have led to a booming racket in sham marriages over recent years. Numerous attempts to curb the thousands of fake unions every year have been stymied by EU and human rights laws. A total of 529 suspect marriages were reported to the Home Office in the 11 months to December last year - a rise of 54 per cent on 2008 levels. Read more......

Revealed: The British towns where one worker in two is a migrant
A map today reveals parts of Britain where more than half of jobs are held by workers who were born overseas. The workforce in large parts of London is dominated by people born abroad – despite Labour’s repeated promises to deliver ‘British jobs for British workers’. But foreign-born employees also have a strong foothold in other British towns and cities, from Slough and Reading to Manchester.Campaigners said the focus of employers and Whitehall should be on finding jobs for the young Britons out of work in many of these areas.

And last night, immigration minister Damian Green said: ‘This shows why we need a limit on work visas as well as a better trained British workforce. 'British workers need to be able to benefit and take the jobs available.’ The most startling figures, based on information from the Office for National Statistics, relate to Newham – the East London borough hosting the 2012 Olympics. Here, almost seven in every ten jobs are filled by workers who were not born in the UK – or 65,100 out of 93,700 posts. Many of the jobs are on the Olympic site itself. The number of British-born people in Newham who are not in work is 25,600. This is a combination of the unemployed and those classed as ‘economically inactive’, such as students and the long-term sick. There are six local authority areas where more than 50 per cent of the jobs are filled by migrant workers – and a further 18 where those born outside the UK take up more than one in every three jobs.

Outside London, the areas where the biggest proportion of jobs are taken by immigrants are Slough, Leicester, Luton, Reading, Cambridge, Manchester and Oxford. Crawley, in West Sussex, and Elmbridge, in Surrey, are also at the top of the list.

Many overseas workers in places such as Slough and Reading are Eastern Europeans who do not need work permits.

Experts say this makes it more important for the Government to impose a strict cap on non-EU migrants in an attempt to bring the total number of foreign workers under control. The coalition unveiled an interim cap this week, along with a plan to make employers provide non-EU migrants with private healthcare to ease pressure on the NHS. The final level of the cap will be decided later this year. Alp Mehmet, of MigrationWatch, said: ‘Where there are gaps in the UK labour market we should be filling them from the UK population. ‘There is a laxness and a looseness about the way people are allowed in. What we want is closer control.’ -The area with the smallest proportion of foreign-born workers is Newark and Sherwood, in Nottinghamshire, at 1.5 per cent. Under Labour more than 1.1million jobs – half the total created – were taken by non-EU immigrants requiring work permits, according to the independent House of Commons Library. In October 1997, British-born workers made up 92.5 per cent of the workforce. By 2009, this had fallen to 87.1 per cent.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1290690/The-British-towns-worker-migrant.html#ixzz0vFgiia6W

President Kibaki has declared a public holiday on August 4 to allow the full participation of Kenyans at the referendum on the proposed Constitution.

"Public Officers, who will need to travel upcountry to cast their vote, will be allowed to travel on the afternoon of August 3rd, 2010. The Government urges the Private Sector to accord similar consideration to their employees," said a statement posted on the government spokesman's website. Kenyans will go to the polls to either approve or reject the proposed Constitution on Wednesday at a referendum, whose campaigns have pitted two rivals- the Yes and No camps. The Yes camp is led by President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who are pushing for the passage of the new law at next week's vote. Also in this group are senior government leaders, including Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, deputy prime ministers Uhuru Kenyatta and Musalia Mudavadi. Higher Education minister William Ruto and former president Moi represent the face of the No camp opposed to some provisions in the document touching on land, abortion, devolution among others. "It is important that all Kenyans come out and vote for this historic moment that will define the development of our country and the generations to come. The vote is critical because it will bring important changes in the country. Adequate measures have been put in place to ensure the smooth conduct and security of the referendum. Kenyans have nothing to be worried about but should come out and exercise their right to vote," said Dr Mutua statement.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga is expected to make a comeback on the campaign trail Saturday at a Yes rally in Kisumu. A statement from his office said that "he will join President Kibaki and other Yes leaders for the Green Rally in Kisumu".

The campaign rally will mark the first since the PM was hospitalised about a month ago. On Friday, the Prime Minister attended he ongoing 17th edition of the African Senior Athletics Championships at the Nyayo National Stadium, Niarobi to cheer on Kenyan athletes. He was admitted to Nairobi Hospital where he underwent head surgery after his doctors diagnosed him with subdural haematoma. The operation was meant to relieve pressure that had built outside his brain. Mr Odinga was discharged from hospital and his doctors recommended that he takes time off from his hectic schedule. He has since been recuperating at his Nairobi home. However, Mr Odinga has been hosting delegations at his home and he has urged his visitors to back the proposed Constitution. The PM's last campaign rally was at the Masinde Muliro Gardens in Kakamega last June.

London, Thursday, July 30, 2010. Thousands of commuters took to two wheels on Boris Johnson's new hire bikes today as the Mayor heralded the start of a cycling revolution. More than 1,000 of the “Boris bikes” were hired in the first three hours of the central London scheme, jumping to more than 2,000 by midday. Despite a few temporary glitches — at least three docking stations failed to release the bikes and some cyclists complained of problems with the electronic bike-release key — many Londoners quickly switched their travel habits.

Giving keen interest in bike-sharing, the world financial giant Barclays Bank buys the naming rights to London's pending "Cycle Hire." According to the London Evening Standard, for £25 million ($36.4 million USD) every one of the 6,000 bikes will carry six Barclay Bank logos. The Bank is so keen on bike-sharing that it wants to add more stations to the planned 400 as to service its banking headquarters in East London. The selling of the naming rights gives a big return on London's investment in bike-sharing even before the system begins operating. Barclays Cycle Hire starts on July 30, 2010. This is a very good development for funding large systems throughout the world. Read on...

The three Kenyans who appeared in a Ugandan court on with 76 counts of murder, the first such cases opened against suspects in the July 11 bomb attacks in Kampala during the World Cup final.

Kampala, Friday, July 31, 2010. A Ugandan court on Friday charged three Kenyans over the Kampala bombings, the first such cases opened against suspects in the July 11 suicide attacks. Hussein Hassan Agad, Mohamed Adan Abdow and Idris Magondu were charged before a Kampala magistrate's court, but did not enter a plea. They face 61 counts of murder for those killed while watching the World Cup final at the Kyadondo Rugby Club in the east of the Ugandan capital and 15 counts for those killed at an Ethiopian restaurant. Mr Mogandu, 42, is an employee of Flexible Trading Company based in Nairobi and hails from the sprawling Kawangware estate, while Mr Agad, 27, lives in Athi River while Mr Abdow, 25, a hails from Tawa in Makueni. At 3. 35 p.m., the three men appeared before chief magistrate Deo Sejjemba, who asked the suspects whether they understood English. Mr Abdow said he only understood Kiswahili and an interpreter was immediately made available. “You are charged with 79 offences, I will summarise and read them to you, your work is to listen and say nothing because this Court has no Jurisdiction over the offences. You will be allowed to answer to the charges before a High Court judge who will try you on the matter,” Sejjemba said.

Prosecution led by Joan Kagezi, Principal State Attorney from the Director of Public Prosecution, said the men on July 11, 2010 committed the offence of terrorism, murder and attempted murder in three separate places- Kyadondo Rugby Club Lugogo in Nakawa division, Ethiopian Village Restaurant in Kabalagala, Makindye Division and Makindye House, a popular hangout place in the same area. The State Prosecutor said investigations into the matter were still going on and the Magistrate remanded the men to Luzira Maximum Prison until August 27. Security sources said the three men were part of the inner ring of terrorists who were involved in moving the bomb blast materials from Kenya to Uganda having received them from the Somalia based al- Shabaab militants.

They were reportedly involved in recruiting the suicide bombers who executed the grisly bomb blasted that killed football lovers and inflamed emotions in the country.

According to security agents, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the matter is sensitive, the three suspects reportedly helped establish Al-Shabab operations in Uganda. After the bomb attacks, al Shabaab claimed responsibility of the Kampala attack.

“Hassan Agade and Magondu were Christians. The terrorists use them because they understand Christian behaviour and can hide in that knowledge to elude security,” said a senior officer familiar with the investigations.

Three Republican congressmen have accused President Obama’s administration of spending at least Sh1.8 billion to support the ‘Yes’ side

Kenya’s quest for a new constitution has stirred American politics yet again, with 42 congressmen stopping short of calling on Kenyans to endorse the proposed law in next week’s vote. The 42, who are members of the Congressional Black Caucus, allied to US President Barack Obama, criticised their colleagues and non-governmental activists who have sided with the ‘No’ camp.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the congressmen described the involvement of foreign organisations and American lawmakers in the referendum campaigns in Kenya as “shameful” and “harmful”.

“We, as members of the Congressional Black Caucus, strongly support the people of Kenya in their efforts to maintain peace and promote democracy,” the group declared. “The referendum on a new constitution is an important measure in meeting these objectives.”

“Unfortunately,’’ the statement added, ‘‘there have been foreign organisations and individuals who have engaged in a shameful and harmful campaign to derail the constitutional reform process,” the African-American contingent declared.

It says the critics had misconstrued both the nature of the Obama Administration’s support for constitutional reform and the content of the draft constitution.

Kenya’s profile in the US has risen since Mr Obama, whose father was Kenyan, became president. Mr Obama’s conservative critics have accused him of using American tax payers’ money to finance the ‘Yes’ campaign. Some of them have responded by working to frustrate the passage of the new laws.

The Black Caucus specifically attacked “American pro-life groups [who] have financed several Kenyan churches to defeat the proposed constitution because of a provision on abortion.”

The US pro-life groups, the congressmen charged in a statement, were behind the push to include a clause on abortion in the proposed constitution and were now financing churches opposed to the new laws.

“These foreign elements deliberately misrepresent what is in the constitution in the hope of galvanising an anti-abortion movement across East Africa,” the statement adds. “The draft constitution simply does not authorise abortion on-demand, and to state otherwise is misleading.”

“It should be clear that the constitution was written by Kenyans and for Kenyans. Parties to the drafting process have carefully weighed in to ensure that the constitution, among other provisions, balances right to life, respect for existing laws and programmes, and consideration of environment.”

The Black Caucus was responding to claims by three Republican congressmen who have accused President Obama’s administration of spending at least Sh1.8 billion to support the ‘Yes’ side.

Congressman Chris Smith has been behind a campaign to question the use of US taxpayers money on the Kenyan constitution stating that even though Washington had pledged to give $2 million (Sh160 million) to support civic education, the figure had risen to $23 million (Sh1.8 billion).

“There is no doubt that the Obama Administration is funding the ‘Yes’ campaign in Kenya,” he said. “By funding NGOs backing the ‘Yes’ votes, the administration has crossed the line,” he said. “Directly supporting efforts to register ‘Yes’ voters and ‘get out the Yes vote’ means the US Government is running a political campaign in Kenya. US taxes should not be used to support one side,” he added.

Congressman Smith provided a list of organisations that had benefited from the money channelled through the United States Agency for International Development (USAid). Vice-President Joe Biden and the US embassy in Nairobi have refuted the claims.

The Black Caucus also criticised US anti-abortion NGOs that have admitted channelling money through churches to defeat the proposed constitution on grounds that it allows abortion.

Even though the proposed constitution declares abortion illegal, it gives a window to “trained health professionals” to procure an abortion should the mother’s life be in danger.

Three weeks ago, an American-based group told the Sunday Nation that it was working through its office in Nairobi to tell Kenyans that the proposed constitution would allow abortion on demand.

When William O'Driscoll saw his car being lifted onto a tow truck, unfairly in his opinion, he took matters into his own hands by jumping into the car and refusing to budge.

Sit-in protest driver, Mr. O'Driscoll, in both pictures, refused to badge when Police tried to convince him to move. The car was released but he still have to pay the fine for parking illegally.

Mr O'Driscoll's car was parked outside his flat "around two or three feet over a yellow line" when a private clamping firm began to tow it away. He was so incensed that he ran out of his house, opened the passenger side door and got in - while the car was in the air. "I asked the driver not to lift the car any further but he carried on anyway," he said. As traffic built up around the scene, which happened on Blucher Street in Birmingham, the police were called. It was reported that “a man had mounted a truck and was threatening staff from a private vehicle recovery company." But the police were unable to convince Mr O'Driscoll to move, so the tow company eventually conceded and released the car. No arrests were made. The parking fine will still stand, said Birmingham City Council in a statement. 'Because he returned as the car was being loaded onto the tow truck, the car was released and the towing fee was waived. He will, however, still need to pay the fine for being parked illegally,' it said. Not fully satisfied with winning the battle against the towing company, Mr O'Driscoll is reportedly considering legal action against the Council for unlawfully moving his car.

Mum Reunited With Baby Lost In Haiti Quake

UK, Thursday, July 29, 2010. A mother who thought she had lost her baby in the Haiti earthquake has been reunited with her daughter six months after she last saw her.

Mum Marie Miracle Seignon with the baby she thought she had lost. Baby Landina's treatment still has a long way to go

Landina, who is now eight months old, was being treated in hospital in the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, when the earthquake struck. The little girl had been receiving treatment for burns after a fire at her family's home. She was in intensive care when the quake happened, killing some of the nurses caring for her. Her 26-year-old mother Marie Miracle Seignon had given up hope that her daughter could be alive. But, amazingly, the little girl had survived, although she was badly injured. First, doctors operated on her to amputate an arm before moving her to another hospital. She was then taken to London where she came to the attention of surgeon David Nott, a specialist who operated on her badly burned skull at the world famous children's hospital in Great Ormond Street. Meanwhile, the charity Facing The World was trying to track down her mother, using documents found in the rubble of the earthquake. After DNA tests confirmed the relationship, the charity arranged a passport and visa so mother and daughter could be reunited. "I thought she was dead, so my feelings were very, very strong," Ms Seignon said through an interpreter as she held Landina at a hospital in London. "But when I saw her I was amazed. I couldn't believe she was alive - this is a very happy moment." Landina is now being treated at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and an appeal has been set up for funds to pay for her continuing treatment.

French Mum Admits Killing Eight Babies

A Frenchwoman has confessed to suffocating eight of her newborn babies and hiding their bodies in a village, a prosecutor has said.

A Frenchwoman, Dominique Cottrez, 47, left, confesses to killing eight of her newborn babies and hiding their bodies in a village. Her husband, Pierre-Marie Cottrez, right, has been released

Dominique Cottrez, 47, and her husband Pierre-Marie were arrested over what could be France's biggest infanticide case. The woman from Villers-au-Tertre, about 125 miles north of Paris, is accused of "murder of minors under the age of 15". Her husband, a carpenter in his 40s, has been freed because there was not enough evidence to charge him. He denied knowing about the babies being born or killed. We've heard from a police source that this woman may have been systematically killing her babies since 1988, Sky's Alex Rossi in Villers-Au-Tertre, said. Dominique Cottrez, 47, and her husband Pierre-Marie were arrested over what could be France's biggest infanticide case. he woman from Villers-au-Tertre, about 125 miles north of Paris, is accused of "murder of minors under the age of 15". Her husband, a carpenter in his 40s, has been freed because there was not enough evidence to charge him. He denied knowing about the babies being born or killed. We've heard from a police source that this woman may have been systematically killing her babies since 1988. Cottrez initially confessed in custody to smothering two children at birth about 10 years ago, before admitting she killed the other six. The killer said, after a bad experience with her first pregnancy, that she never wanted to see a doctor again. rosecutor Eric Vaillant said: "She explained that she didn't want any more children and that she didn't want to see a doctor to take contraceptives."

(Including those who have returned to their country of origin following refusal and/or those who submitted their applications from abroad)

Are you a student in the UK or Post Study Work applicant and/or you submitted your application from abroad and your application was refused on or before 22nd July 2010 solely on maintenance grounds i.e. you did not have 800 pounds for three months? There is good news regarding these cases following a Court of Appeal judgement.

These include those who may have returned to their country following refusal and/or those who submitted their applications from a broad and were subsequently refused on the same grounds.

If your application was refused from 2007 to 23rd July 2010 and you fall under these category and you are in the UK with no leave or have since left the UK then seek legal advice as soon as possible because there is a deadline for submission of application to the Home office for reconsideration.

If you claimed asylum in UK and your application was refused and you subsequently submitted afresh claim for asylum, which is still pending at the Home Office, seek legal advice as you could be entitled to take up employment in the UK whilst your application is still pending. More information: Martynsrose solicitors; Tel: 0208 538 1397, 07931 116 124.

UK, July 2010. Medical Justice, a group that helps detainees, wins case against government over removal of people with little or no notice.

A fast-track process for deporting failed asylum-seekers, which gives them little or no notice of their immediate removal, is unlawful, the high court ruled today.

The decision will have an impact on Home Office deportation practices and could lead to more last minute, legal challenges on behalf of those fighting to remain in the UK.

The case was brought by Medical Justice, an organisation that provides independent medical advice to detainees in immigration removal centres, and helps them get legal advice if needed.

It argued that the practice of deporting "with little or no notice" was unlawful and targeted the most vulnerable groups such as unaccompanied children and those deemed to be at risk of suicide. Medical Justice claimed that immigration officers had increasingly used the powers to swoop late at night and escort distressed people to flights leaving only a few hours later, depriving them of the chance to speak to a lawyer and launch last-ditch challenges to removal.

Emma Ginn, of Medical Justice, said the UK Border Agency (UKBA) admitted that the fast-track removal process was initially used in 24 cases, but that the figure has now risen to 145. The practice was growing, she said.

"The UKBA were only using it in exceptional circumstances," Ginn said, "for example when they were dealing with unaccompanied children or those at risk of suicide. What's so vile is that it was the most vulnerable who were being targeted by this policy.

"They will now have to give 72 hours notice but since they can give it on a Friday night it will still only provide people subject to immigration controls with one working day's notice of deportation."Mr Justice Silber, sitting at the high court in London, gave the Home Office permission to appeal against his decision, saying the case raised issues of general public importance, including the constitutional right of access to justice.

There is a general Home Office practice of giving those facing deportation 72 hours notice of removal directions.

Today's legal challenge was triggered by an "exceptions policy", introduced by the government in March 2007, and widened in January this year.

The policy creates categories in which an individual can be given little or no notice. The categories include vulnerable people who are at risk of suicide or self-harm, and also children who arrived in the UK unaccompanied and may abscond because they cannot be detained.

Dinah Rose QC, appearing for Medical Justice, said Border Agency officers had used the policy to swoop late at night and escort people to flights leaving only a few hours later.Home Office lawyers argued at a hearing at the high court last month that the exceptions policy was "sufficiently flexible" to ensure there were no human rights breaches. They said detainees were given as much notice as possible and safeguards had been put in place.

But today, the judge rejected the Home Office case. He said the new policy failed to ensure that those who received reduced periods of notice were able to obtain legal advice before they were removed. He declared: "The policy is unlawful and must be quashed."

Responding to the ruling, the Home Office spokesman said: "We are disappointed with the court's judgment and we will be appealing.

"The policy of making limited exceptions in special circumstances to 72-hour notification of immigration removal has been an important element of our management of removals."The government remains committed to removing individuals with no right to be in the UK as quickly as possible."

This article was amended on 27 July 2010. The original said that Medical Justice's activities included providing independent legal advice to immigration detainees. This has been corrected.

The Daily Telegraph leads on a story claiming that four babies died at an NHS unit where managers had been trying to raise the number of patients being treated in order to avoid closure(left) while The Independent (centre) claims microscopic life that supports the marine food chain is dying out and says the consequences could be catastrophic and the Metro (right) shows a mother reunited at last, with 'dead' daughter, the mother called Miracle.

Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI) is an independent national charity which exists to campaign for justice in immigration, nationality and refugee law and policy.

President Kibaki on Tuesday strongly criticised his predecessor Daniel arap Moi for his opposition to the proposed constitution.

Describing the retired President’s campaign against the proposed law as a “shame” and “panic”, Mr Kibaki asked Mr Moi to join the government to ensure the country gets a new constitution. Though the President’s remarks were given in a good-natured way, they were the more pointed in that Mr Kibaki was publicly attacking Mr Moi for first time in the seven years he has been in power.

Mr Kibaki, without naming him, accused Mr Moi of misleading Kenyans and asked him to stop doing so: “Wazee wengine wanazunguka wakisema katiba ni mbaya (Some old men are moving around saying the constitution is bad).” Mr Kibaki said he felt sorry for Mr Moi, whom he said was embarrassing himself with these activities. Mr Moi was in leadership for decades but failed to deliver the new constitution that the Kenyan people yearned for, the President said. “Ni aibu kubwa kwa wazee kama hawa. Awache wasiwasi na aungane na sisi tupitishe katiba (It is a shame for such old men. He should stop panicking and join us so that we can pass the constitution),” he said. The President told Mr Moi to give up his campaigns so that he could be respected by Kenyans once the constitution is endorsed in the August 4 referendum. Mr Moi is probably one of the most politically active retired leaders not just in Africa, but anywhere in the world. In democracies such as the United States and the United Kingdom, it would possibly be unthinkable for a retired President or Prime Minister to campaign against the policies of their successor. Mr Moi robustly campaigned against another draft in 2005, which was defeated, and has been at the forefront of the ‘No’ campaigns, addressing rallies in Meru and Embu only last week. President Kibaki was campaigning in parts of the region generally referred to as Mt Kenya and spoke in Embu, Mbeere and Wang’uru Stadium in Kirinyaga South District. He asked Kenyans to turn out in large numbers and make history by taking part in constitution-making. Addressing a well-attended rally in Runyenjes Town, the President asked the residents to wake up early on August 4 and vote, saying the new law will be of great benefit to the common man. “There are just a few days remaining before the referendum and because the constitution will make your lives more bearable, you should wake up early and vote for it in huge numbers,” he said. Accompanied by Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Energy minister Kiraitu Murungi and his Trade counterpart Amos Kimunya, Mr Kibaki said he was happy with the public’s enthusiasm for change. “I am glad that you came in large numbers and it is certain that you have decided to vote for the draft. It is now obvious that the new constitution will go through at the referendum so that we concentrate on something else,” the President said. The constitution debate had dragged on for many years and was now becoming tiresome, he said. Mr Musyoka asked the residents of Eastern Province to vote in huge numbers for the draft which, he said, will be a good legacy for the President. And Mr Kenyatta said: “Recently, we were complaining that youths are being arrested without good reason but this will end with this constitution. “Police will salute you before any arrest and tell you “tafadhali naomba kukushika” (may I arrest you please),” he said.

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Nairobi, July 28, Kiprop Wilson of Kenya (L) and Geoffrey Mutai (R) raise the Kenyan flag after emerging first and third respectively in the 10,000 metres men's finals during the 17th CAA African Atheletics Championships in Nairobi. Some 1000 African athletes are expected in the Kenyan capital this week for the five-day event.

Former President Daniel arap Moi has dismissed accusations that he failed to deliver on reforms during his time in power

Nairobi, Wednesday, July 28, 2010. Kenya's former president Daniel arap Moi has dismissed accusations that he failed to deliver on reforms during his time in power. Mr Moi was responding to criticism from President Kibaki, who succeeded him as president, that he failed to give Kenyans a new constitution despite being in power for 24 years. President Kibaki said, during a Yes rally in Embu, central Kenya on Tuesday, that Mr Moi was misleading Kenyans on the Proposed Constitution, which will be subjected to a referendum on August 4. But in a swift rejoinder, the former president said President Kibaki had no right to criticise him. "Kuna wengine waliahidi katiba kwa siku mia moja, lakini mpaka sasa bado hawajaitimiza (There are those who promised a new constitution within 100 days, but they are yet to deliver)." said Mr Moi during a No rally in Wote, Eastern Province on Wednesday.

"And they are quick to blame," he added. The former president said he will continue to stick to issues in the Proposed Constitution as opposed to personalities since he was not interested in any gain or political seat. On Tuesday, President Kibaki, without naming him, accused Mr Moi of misleading Kenyans and asked him to stop doing so: “Wazee wengine wanazunguka wakisema katiba ni mbaya (Some old men are moving around saying the constitution is bad).” He said he felt sorry for Mr Moi, whom he said was embarrassing himself with these activities. “Ni aibu kubwa kwa wazee kama hawa. Awache wasiwasi na aungane na sisi tupitishe katiba (It is a shame for such old men. He should stop panicking and join us so that we can pass the constitution),” he said.

The former president maintained that all he was interested in was a united Kenya, where all lived in peace. Mr Moi said to make a good constitution there it was important to ensure that the needs of every Kenyan were safeguarded, failure to which the country will be divided "Some are saying Moi was a dictator, but for me I was interested in peace and love among Kenyans and I strived to ensure that the country was united," he said. The former president said constitution making was not like everyday politics saying it needed thorough consultations to ensure no one was left out of the process. Mr Moi said during his tenure as president he ensured that Kenya was united and in peace unlike today where people are divided along tribal lines. He told residents of Maukeni at Wote bus stage that he will not support a constitution that allows abortion, same sex marriages and disciplined forces to picket.

"How will the country respond to any security threat if the soldiers were picketing?" he posed. He was referring to Article 26 (4) in the Proposed Constitution that empowers doctors to end a pregnancy only if it endangers the woman's life or she needs emergency treatment. The document also provides that no Kenyan will be discriminated against on grounds of age, marital status, disability, sex, religion among others and does not refer to same sex marriages. While the Proposed Constitution acknowledges that every Kenyan has the right to join association, protest, hold demonstrations and picket, it removes the right for the security agencies.

Britain's oldest Twitter user Ivy Bean, who regulary updated her 56,000 followers, has died aged 104.

Ivy Bean (left andcentre) tried to tweet to her followers at least once a day and right she meets singer Peter Andre

The great-grandmother passed away at her care home in Barkerend, Bradford, where she had lived for three years. Ivy was an active user of Twitter and had also been on Facebook for the past two years, gathering a star-studded fan base. Among her followers was singer Peter Andre who she met last year and later starred on his television show. A picture of the Australian singer kissing Ivy's forehead is the profile picture on her Facebook and Twitter pages. She was also followed by Hollywood star Ashton Kutcher and presenter Chris Evans. The announcement of her death was made by care home manager Pat Wright, who had been keeping Ivy's followers updated after she was taken ill with jaundice."Ivy passed away peacefully at 12.08 this morning," she tweeted. "I'm sorry it took me so long to tell you but it was a very difficult thing to do." Hundreds of tributes have poured in for Ivy on Twitter and Facebook, where a page entitled RIP Ivy Bean has been set up. Fans have called her an "amazing woman" who was an "inspiration". They commended her "humour, spirit and love of adventure". Ivy tried to tweet at least once a day andher Friday "fish and chip" tweets became legendary among her followers. "I always enjoy fish and chips they are my favourite hope you all have a good day its dinner time soon," read one of her tweets. She had recently tweeted a picture of her new great-granddaughter. Ivy also posted the video of her meeting Peter Andre, which featured on his ITV2 reality show.

She is cited as being his oldest fan. At the time, she tweeted: "I have been to meet my friend peter it has made me feel a lot better now and looking forward to my tweets."

Pakistan Plane Crash: Dozens Feared Dead

A passenger plane carrying 152 people has crashed in dense forest on the outskirts of the Pakistani capital Islamabad.

Smoke rises from the plane wreckage (left) in the hills near Islamabad and volunteer rescue workers look toward the crash site

At least 25 bodies have so far been recovered from the wreckage amid fears no one will be found alive. Earlier reports said at least five people had survived, but rescue officials now say there are no signs of life at the crash site. The aircraft crashed in the Margalla Hills as it was coming in to land, according to Pervez George, a spokesman for the country's civil aviation authority.

"The plane was about to land at the Islamabad airport when it lost contact with the control tower, and later we learned that the plane had crashed," he said. There were 146 passengers and six crew on board the plane, an Airbus 321 model operated by private company Airblue. Bodies are lying all around and very few might have survived in the accident, Bin Yameen, senior police official in Islamabad, said. The flight, which began in Karachi, came down amid reports of heavy rain in the area.

The office of Pakistan's Prime Minister has declared a day of national mourning over the tragedy. A witness told local TV he was on a family outing in the hills when he saw the plane looking unsteady in the air. "The plane had lost balance, and then we saw it going down," Saqlain Altaf said. The Margalla Hills area is a national park and there are few roads, hampering rescue workers from reaching the crash site.A senior police official from Islamabad said the dead were being lifted from the wreckage by helicopters. "Bodies are lying all around and very few might have survived in the accident," Bin Yameen said. "We are removing wreckage with our hands. There is fire. There's smoke, which has made the rescue job very difficult." It is understood Airblue flies within Pakistan as well as internationally to the UAE, Oman and the UK. The only previous recorded accident for Airblue, which started up in 2004, was a tailstrike in May 2008 at Quetta airport. There were no casualties and damage was minimal, according to the US-based Aviation Safety Network.

Prime Minister David Cameron and dozens of delegates have arrived in India in a bid to create a "new special relationship" with the country.

Cameron arrives in India(left) and right, David Cameron's also been improving relations with Turkey's PM

Mr Cameron has arrived in Bangalore joined by six government ministers, 50 leaders of British companies, Olympic gold medallists and academics in his attempt to woo the emerging economy. he coalition government has identified India as a country that should be at the heart of its foreign strategy to increase trade and improve Britain's economy. "This delegation is unprecedented in its scale and ambition," said Jo Johnson, a Conservative Party lawmaker who previously lived in New Delhi and is joining the trip. "The government has made a very clear statement of intent, that India is rising to the top of Britain's diplomatic priorities." Some of the UK's most senior chief executives and chairmen are among the 68-strong delegation, including Richard Olver of BAE Systems and John Varley of Barclays bank. There is a belief that we haven't benefited as much from India's growth as we should have, Jo Johnson, a Conservative Party law-maker says. Former Olympic athletes Dame Kelly Holmes and Sir Steve Redgrave are among a sporting contingent. The Prime Minister has pledged to renew relations with the former colony, where the economy is growing at a rate of 10% a year. Britain was the 5th largest exporter to India in 2005, but has since fallen to 18th. "There is a belief that we haven't benefited as much from India's growth as we should have," said Ms Johnson. In the last decade Afghanistan and Iraq have dominated British foreign policy but Mr Cameron now wants to concentrate on the relationships that have been left to "wither or stagnate". "From now on we will not neglect the wider world," Foreign Secretary William Hague, will also be in India, said last month. The Prime Minister will hold talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Pratibha Patil. He will also meet leading legislators, potential investors and seal a round of trade deals. Chancellor George Osborne is taking British executives to Mumbai for talks with their Indian counterparts. Sky's political editor Adam Boulton is in Bangalore and said the visit is designed to show that Britain means business and is impressed with India's economic growth. But he said that India might not be happy that ministers will discuss aid spending, which is likely to see the UK cut the £300m it offers the country each year. However, some experts have speculated that the charm offensive may be overshadowed by larger rivals like the US and Japan, who are equally aggressive suitors. "There are a whole number of countries who recognize that India is a fast growing economy and is going to be an important ally - not just the UK," said Gareth Price, a member of a British government trade organization's Asia task force. The visit comes one week after Mr Cameron's first visit to the White House where talks were dominated by the release of the Lockerbie bomber and the BP oil spill disaster. And he arrived in India from Turkey, another country the coalition is targeting as a future ally and potential trading partner. On his visit he declared himself the "strongest possible advocate" of Turkey's ambition to join the European Union.

A Facebook 'joke' saw a student win £10,000 in damages after a former friend accused him of being a paedophile on the social networking site.

Raymond Bryce outside the High Court following his £10,000 Facebook libel victory

Raymond Bryce took offence when Jeremiah Barber posted an image of child sex abuse on his page with the comment: ‘Ray, you like kids and you are gay so I bet you love this picture, Ha ha.’ The 24-year-old said more than 800 people would have been able to view the page and he was too scared to leave his home because he did not know who had seen it. Yesterday, he was awarded £10,000 in libel damages in a High Court case which experts said highlighted the dangers of posting even light-hearted material online. Dr Ian Brown, from the Oxford Internet Institute, said: ‘This is worse in some ways than putting offensive posters on lamp posts because it’s going directly to your friends.’ The two friends fell out when Mr Bryce, who suffers from Asperger syndrome, obtained a county court order to recover an £80 loan. Barber, a chef, posted his message in November 2008. He took it down within 24 hours but was later sentenced to 150 hours’ community service for making and distributing an indecent image of a child. Law student Mr Bryce, of Stone, Staffordshire, was angry that he never received an apology for the libel and said he had been shocked when he saw the ‘repulsive and disgusting’ picture. His mother, Diana, told the court: ‘It was a horrible and really stressful time for all of us. ‘It wouldn’t be nice for any family, not knowing how many people have read it and what people are thinking. Some people just think there’s no smoke without fire.’ Dr Brown said the ruling should make people ‘a lot more careful’ of allowing friends to post pictures or comments on their pages in future. Facebook added: ‘We strongly encourage all our users to review their privacy settings on a regular basis to make sure information they are sharing on Facebook and that others post on their profile is only seen by the people that they want.’

The Independent leads with a debate over whether mice should be used for medical research while The Daily Mail claims the coalition government is at war as Liberal Democrat Vince Cable leads a rebellion over the Conservative pledge to impose a strict limit on immigration. The Daily Express says that a surge in the value of the pound means summer holidays will cost us less and The Daily Star leads on an advertisement featuring women in burkas.

Are you a student in the UK or Post Study Work applicant and your application was refused on or before 22nd July 2010 solely on maintenance grounds i.e. you did not have 800 for three months? There is good news regarding these cases following a Court of Appeal judgement. If your application was refused and you fall under these category from 2007 to 23rd July 2010 then seek legal advice as soon as possible. For more information contact MartynsRose Solicitors on Tel: 0208 538 1397, 07931 116 124. ww.martynsrosesolicitors.co.uk.

Protesters shut down BP stations in London

London, Tuesday, July 27, 2010. Environmental campaigners shut down between 30 and 50 BP petrol stations in London on Tuesday in a protest against deep-sea drilling, as the oil giant appointed a new chief executive, both sides said. he Greenpeace demonstration in central London was timed to coincide with the announcement that Bob Dudley would replace Tony Hayward at the helm of BP, as the group posted record losses caused by the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Hayward was heavily criticised over his handling of the spill, sparked by an explosion at a deep-water drilling rig in April. "Bob Dudley should overturn current plans to extract oil from risky deep-water wells off Libya and in the Arctic, where a spill could have consequences even more devastating than in the Gulf, as well as from the tar sands of Canada," said Greenpeace International Executive Director Kumi Naidoo.

"A change in leadership is a key opportunity for BP to cut its losses in more ways than one, by turning away from high-cost and environmentally reckless sources of oil, like deepwater drilling and Canadian tar sands, towards an energy revolution based on clean energy sources." Greenpeace claimed to have closed 50 BP stations in central London, using a shut-off switch to stop the flow of fuel at each location and then removing the switches so they could not be turned on again. Activists put up signs outside saying: "Closed. Moving beyond petroleum." Beyond Petroleum is the slogan introduced when BP was rebranded in 2001 to appear more environmentally friendly. A BP spokesman confirmed the protest, although he put the number of sites closed at "about 30". "They've taken a rather important piece of safety equipment from the petrol stations so therefore they have closed down," he told AFP. "These acts show a total disregard for the safety of motorists and staff at those sites," he said, adding: "As soon as we can safely reopen the sites we will do."

UK, Tuesday, July 27, 2010. BP has confirmed Tony Hayward will step down after the company posted losses of £11bn for the second quarter of the year. The under-fire BP chief will instead be nominated for the role of non-executive director of Russian joint venture TNK-BP, as American Bob Dudley will replace Mr Hayward from October 1, becoming the company's first foreign chief executive.

BP Chief Executive Tony Hayward appears on BBC journalist Andrew Marr's television program in London June 6, 2010.

BP also confirmed it will write off £20.8bn to cover the cost of the spill and sell assets for up to £19bn over the next 18 months to maintain financial liquidity. Mr Hayward said the firm would pay most of the direct costs by the end of the year, although the remaining bill - including longer-term compensation as well as fines and penalties - is "likely to be spread over a number of years".

Dispatches goes undercover in some African Churches in the UK, where evangelical pastors perpetuate a strong belief in witchcraft. They preach that some people are possessed by evil spirits, and that these spirits bring bad luck into the lives of others. The only way to rid the possessed from the witchcraft spell and lift their curse is to 'deliver' them: a kind of exorcism that can be very traumatic. Some pastors charge significant sums of money to perform these deliverances. Often it is children who are denounced as witches by these pastors, and this labeling can lead to the physical and emotional abuse of those children at the hands of their families. In extreme cases it has led to the deaths of some children. In parts of Africa, branding a child a witch is now outlawed, but in Britain this practice is perfectly legal, despite the fact it can have horrific consequences. Dispatches reveal just what goes on behind closed doors in these African churches, exposing the pastors who exploit the religious beliefs of the most vulnerable. MORE

US President Barack Obama on Sunday announced that Washington would seize money stolen by corrupt African leaders and hidden in the America and the West. The announcement was made in a special message delivered for him by US Attorney General Eric Holder at Speke Resort Munyonyo where African heads of state are meeting. Mr Holder was part of the American delegation to the Kampala summit led by Mr Johnnie Carson — America’s top diplomat in Africa. In a wide-ranging speech which touched on the terror attacks and America’s help to Uganda, Mr Holder — the first black man to hold the position — then delivered a stinger on the touchy issue of corruption.

“The Kleptocracy recovery effort” he said would target large-scale corruption perpetrated by foreign nationals.

“ I have assembled a team of prosecutors (to deal exclusively with this)” he said. According to him, the US was also willing to support the development of African judiciaries to deal with corruption.

International corperation over money leaving national treasuries and entering tax havens and western banks has long been a sticking issue. The United Nations in 2005 pioneered the Convention Against Corruption, which sought to cast a wide net against criminality across borders. Sunday’s announcement, coming amidst the focus on security corporation to fight terrorism, could be seen as an attempt by Mr Obama to stay on governance issues despite Washington’s more pronounced interests on transnational terror. Many African leaders some of who were present have long been accused of personal extravagance at the expense of their populations. Gabonese president Ali Ben Bongo Ondimba, whose father Omar Bongo was till recently the longest-serving president, sparked outrage when just months after his election he bought an $85 million house in Paris. On Sunday, Mr Holder, however, promised more support for the African Union force in Somalia saying that America was bound “not only by friendship and partnership but loss’ from the 7/11 attacks.

Teenagers Jailed Over Pensioner's Death

Two teenagers have been jailed over the manslaughter of 67-year-old Ekram Haque as he walked home from a mosque last August.

Ekram Haque was attacked by Leon Elcock, 16, and Hamza Lyzai, 15, in Tooting, south London.

Mr Haque cracked his head after falling to the ground and suffered irreparable brain damage. He died a week after the assault.

Elcock and Lyzai, both from Tooting, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and also admitted their parts in other assaults in which, the court heard, they had "targeted people for fun". Mr Haque's death was the culmination of a series of "happy slapping" incidents which were recorded on mobile phone footage and showed youths running off and laughing afterwards. Elcock was jailed for four-and-a-half years and Lyzai for three-and-a-half years by Old Bailey judge Martin Stephens. "As a result of your so-called bit of fun he was deprived of a full and contented life and his family of a devoted, inspiring and beloved father and grandfather," The judge told Mr Haque's killers. He lifted restrictions on naming the pair as a warning to others "who may be tempted to indulge in such appalling behaviour". A third youth, aged 15, who cannot be named, was locked up for six months after admitting, with Elcock, to actual bodily harm against a couple in their 70s.

Chopper stoned as 'Yes' rivals face off

A helicopter takes off after dropping members of Parliament for a past referendum rally. On Sunday, a chopper carrying Forestry and Wildlife minister Noah Wekesa, Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa and former Kimilili MP Mukisa Kituyi was blocked from landing by villagers in Bungoma.

Nairobi, Sunday, July 25, 2010. Villagers on Sunday pelted a campaign helicopter with stones to block the pilot from landing, risking the lives of passengers, among them a Cabinet minister. The chopper, carrying Forestry and Wildlife minister Noah Wekesa, Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa and former Kimilili MP Mukisa Kituyi was coming in to land at Chwele Market in Bungoma West District when a group blocked it. On the third attempt, the pilot was able to land safely after a rival group overpowered and chased away the stone throwers. Three people were injured in the confrontation, though there were no details of how badly hurt they were. Earlier, an announcement was made that the meeting, called to drum up support for the proposed constitution had been postponed. The group that did not want the meeting to go ahead was said to be made up of supporters of Foreign Affairs minister Moses Wetang’ula, the area MP. Mr Wetang’ula is away in Uganda attending the African Union heads of state meeting with President Kibaki. There is rivalry between Mr Wetang’ula and Mr Wamalwa with both being potential candidates for the presidency on a Ford Kenya ticket in 2012. Police had not provided security and the lone Administration Police officer on duty had a difficult time controlling the clashing groups. The Chwele meeting was one of the scores of rallies across the country as campaigns for and against the new constitution hit top gear. A referendum is scheduled for Wednesday next week. In President Kibaki’s Othaya constituency, Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta led 11 Cabinet ministers and more than 30 MPs in campaigning for the proposed constitution. In Kitui, retired President Moi, addressing “No” supporters, argued that the new constitution ought to garner 65 per cent of the vote for it to have credibility. The law requires a simple majority.

At Moi Stadium, Kinoru in Imenti North District, Higher Education minister William Ruto led “No” team of Information minister Samuel Poghisio, Assistant minister Margaret Wanjiru and MPs Silas Muriuki, Mithika Linturi and Charles Keter in accusing the government of rigging by using the provincial administration and permanent secretaries in the referendum campaign. There were other “No” rallies in Machakos, Nakuru, Keiyo and Tigania, among others. In Nairobi, a Cabinet minister and two MPs addressed a big meeting in Kangemi, Nairobi, called by Mr Maina Njenga, the former Mungiki supremo who claims to have quit the illegal sect, and called on Nairobi residents to turn up in large numbers and vote for proposed constitution on August 4.

Regional Development minister Fred Gumo, Kamukunji MP Simon Mbugua and nominated MP Rachel Shebesh, spoke at the meeting that was also attended by former Starehe MP Maina Kamanda. Read on......

Nurse Stabbed To Death In Hospital Car Park

UK, Monday, July 26, 2010. A murder hunt has been launched after a 26-year-old nurse was found stabbed to death in the staff car park of a Blackpool hospital. Meanwhile, A man, believed to be a paramedic, has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a nurse was found stabbed to death in the staff car park of a hospital.

Police believe the woman knew her attacker and ( right) a police officer stands guard at the car park

Lancashire Police have appealed for help in tracing a white man, described as being in his 30s and stocky, who may have been on a bicycle. Police believe the woman knew her attacker. Officers received a call at 8.25pm reporting that a victim had been stabbed at Blackpool Victoria Hospital in Lancashire. By the time officers arrived, her death was confirmed. A spokesman for the hospital said the woman was taken to A&E, where she died. Detective Superintendent Ian Critchley said: "We have launched a murder investigation following this incident and I would appeal for anyone with information to get in touch with us as a matter of urgency." Anyone with information should call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or Blackpool police on 01253 407 236.

We regret to announce the death of our beloved Son, brother and father; the late Mr. Joseph Kinani Karanja AKA Mr. King’ang’i of Wanstead East London, UK. He passed away after a short illness at Whipps Cross Hospital, London, UK. on Tuesday 20th July 2010. He was the son of Ernest Karanja Karuri and Angelina Wanjiku Karanja of Kiambu, Kenya. He was the father of Paul Gucu Kinani, Angelina Kinani and Wambui Kinani of Nairobi Kenya. Brother to Jane Wanjohi ( Mama Jimmy) of Coventry, Samuel Karanja of Swansea, Wales, Elizabeth Karanja ( Mama Charity) of Luton and Nancy Muchiri (Mama Purity) of Coventry. Brother-in-law to Mr. Wanjohi of Coventry, Teresia Karuri of Wales, George Njenga of Luton and John Mbiriri of Coventry, in UK. He was Uncle to Dennis and Maureen of Wales, Edwin and James of Coventry, Charity, John, Ernest and Grace of Luton, Purity and Precious of Coventry. The body will be transported to Kenya for burial on Tuesday, 27th July, 2010 and put to rest on Thursday, 29th July, 2010 at his home in Kikuyu Division, Kiambu District, Kenya.

109 g Almond Tree Avenue, Coventry, CV2 1JX, from 6pm to 8pm and at Mama Charity’s place: Paignton Close, LUTON LU4 9DG. We are requesting well wishers for support in transportation of the remains to Kenya.

Jane (Mama Jimmy) 07961589158, Beth (Mama Charity) 07957986901 or John ( Baba Purity) 07939114556.

Stampede Deaths: 'Festival Over Forever'

UK, Sunday July 25, 2010. A major German music festival where 19 people died in a stampede will never be held again, according to the event's founder.

Revellers scramble for safety after escaping the stampede at the Love Parade event, left, and on the right, before the chaos: The event is one of the biggest of its kind in Europe

Overcrowding at the entrance tunnel to the Love Parade techno event has been blamed for the tragedy, which also left 342 injured. A police investigation is underway to establish exactly what happened. At least half of those killed are believed to be young women who were trampled to death. Love Parade founder Rainer Schaller said: "The Love Parade was always a peaceful event and a happy party" but would forever be overshadowed by the horrific scenes. "It's over for the Love Parade," he added.

The festival, which police said drew 1.4 million people, was not immediately cancelled because authorities feared an abrupt halt could spark a second panic.

Left, more than 1.4m people are thought to have turned up for the festival. Right, shocked and injured revellers are treated at the scene

British DJ Mark Knight said he was ordered to play on as the incident was dealt with. He said: "The organisers were quite adamant. They've been in liaison with the authorities and the stance that they're taking is we really cannot make people aware of it for fear of more panic. "So we had to keep playing which was very odd." Organisers finally called the event off late into the evening after news of the deaths. Apparently some tried to enter the area by climbing a fence along a ramp and then fell,

Rescue work was initially hampered by the huge crowds attending the event - one of Europe's biggest electronic music festivals.

Live images from WDR television showed thousands of festival-goers streaming out of the event towards a train station, as rescue helicopters circled overhead. North Rhine-Westphalia state interior minister Ralf Jaeger, at the scene, said 5,500 police and emergency workers had been mobilised. German President Christian Wulff expressed sympathy in a statement and Chancellor Angel Merkel sent a message of condolence to the relatives of the victims. "These young people went to party and instead found death and injury. I am appalled and saddened by so much suffering and pain," she said. Duisburg mayor told Adolf Sauerland told reporters: "This accident is so horrible it is impossible to grasp." No further details were immediately available about the dead, which earlier police reports said included nine women and six men. The annual event, featuring electronic dance music like House, Trance and Techno and flamboyant outfits, was first held in Berlin in 1989. It aims to promote peace through music. Internationally, similar Love Parades have taken place in Zurich, San Francisco, Mexico City, Acapulco, Vienna, Cape Town, Tel Aviv, Sydney, Santiago, Rio de Janeiro, Oslo and Budapest. More.......

Left, in a special report, the Independent on Sunday looks at how, after 30 years, the first of the Khmer Rouge torturers in Cambodia is facing a day of reckoning, and in the centre, The Observer says that there are plans being considered by the Prisons Minister where criminals could cut jail sentences by persona apologies to their victims.

One bright morning 39 years ago, as founding President Jomo Kenyatta prepared to preside over a military function, his telephone rang. Read More

BP is to begin deep-water drilling off Libya, despite environmental concerns following the Gulf of Mexico spill and an international row over the release of the Lockerbie bomber.

BP drilling in Libya comes amid international concerns about Lockerbie

The plans, reported in the Financial Times, come in the shadow of controversy, as the oil giant faces new scrutiny of its 2007 deal to acquire gas and oil fields off the Libyan coast at a cost of $900 million. At a depth of more than 1700 metres below sea level, the new site in Libya’s Gulf of Sirte will be 200 metres deeper than the Gulf of Mexico well that exploded on April 20, killing 11 oil workers and causing immeasurable environmental damage.The 2007 agreement has since come under fire from American politicians, after BP revealed that it lobbied the UK government over a prisoner transfer agreement between Britain and Libya. Despite increased pressure from senior officials, including US President Barack Obama, the UK oil group has vigorously denied any involvement in the release of Libyan terrorist Abdel Basset al-Megrahi, after the Lockerbie bomber was freed by the Scottish government on compassionate grounds. The issue was raised last week when British Prime Minister David Cameron met President Obama for talks in Washington. Mr Cameron has indicated there could be an inquiry into the release.

BP maintains it was "not involved in any discussions with the UK government or the Scottish government about the release of Mr al-Megrahi”. A US senator has begged Alex Salmond, Scotland's First Minister, to assist a hearing into the release of the Lockerbie bomber. In a letter, Frank Lautenberg said he was "pleading" with the Scottish government to reconsider its decision not to send officials to a hearing into the release of Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi. The company’s Chief Executive, Tony Hayward, is expected to appear before US Senators on Thursday to deny the claims. A spokesman for BP confirmed the Libya drilling, saying: “Drilling at the new site will start within a few weeks”. BP’s first new platform in the gulf will begin exploratory drilling within Libya’s controversial “line-of-death”, the border claimed by Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi in the 1980’s which prompted US President Ronald Reagan to challenge the leader's claim to the region. In 1986 US Naval forces sank two Libyan ships, killing thirty men, during the conflict. While Libya’s right to minerals in the region is now unchallenged, environmental campaigners have expressed horror that new drilling will begin before inquiries into the Gulf of Mexico disaster have concluded. Despite BP’s pledge to “move forward with great caution”, Antonio D’Alli, chairman of the Italian Senate’s environment commission, told the Financial Times he was “very worried” about the plans, and has called on other states for a united front. Mr D’Alli added: “The problem is not BP or Libya. The sea has no boundaries and when accidents happen, in national or international waters, effects are felt in the whole Mediterranean,” Mr D’Alì said. “Considering it is already one of the most oil-polluted seas in the world, the impact of a major spill could be irreversible.”

Repayment of fees paid for certificates of approval

UK. If you applied for a certificate of approval for marriage or civil partnership between 2005 and 2009, you may be eligible for the repayment of the fee you paid. To be eligible, you need to show that paying the fee caused you real financial hardship at the time of payment. You should apply using request form COAFR, which also contains more information about the qualifying criteria for a request. The request form can be downloaded from the right side of the Certificates of approval page, under the heading 'Related documents'. All requests for repayment should be made by 31 July 2010.

The late Lucy Nyawira Nderitu's Funeral

The funeral of the late Lucy Nyawira Nderitu will be held on Friday 30th, July 2010 at North Watford Cemetery North Western Avenue (A41) Watford, Herts WD25 0AW at 12pm Contact Details: Tony 07828718004, Carol 07960203919, Steve 07903552001 or shiku 07983219959.

Tory 'Mocked Brokeback Cowboy Coalition'

Saturday, July 24, 2010. David Cameron and Nick Clegg have reportedly been compared to the gay cowboys in the Hollywood film Brokeback Mountain by a senior Tory MP.

Unguarded comments by David Davis were allegedly overheard by journalists sitting in the same restaurant as the former shadow home secretary. Mr Davis is said to have approvingly repeated the description of the partnership between Prime Minister Mr Cameron and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg as "Brokeback Coalition". He also allegedly mocked the PM's vision of the "Big Society" as "Blairite dressing" that was designed to hide his desire to shrink the state. According to the Financial Times, Mr Davis made his remarks to businessmen, including former colleagues from Tate & Lyle. The comments were apparently made during a private lunch at the Boot and Flogger wine bar in Southwark, south London, on Thursday. The MP reportedly said Lord Ashcroft, the ex-Conservative Party deputy chairman, had referred to the Government as "Brokeback Coalition". That is a reference to the Oscar-winning film Brokeback Mountain, about a gay relationship between two cowboys. Discussing the Big Society, Mr Davis reportedly made clear his belief that the concept was merely "a Blairite dressing".

"The corollary of the big society is the smaller state. If you talk about the small state, people think you're Attila the Hun," he is said to have told guests. "If you talk about the big society, people think you're Mother Teresa." Mr Davis joined the Tory frontbench after losing a leadership contest to Mr Cameron in 2005 before resigning to campaign against Labour's civil liberties policies. He apparently also noted that there were not many jobs "unless you're female". This was, he said, because the Lib Dems had brought few women into office. Mr Davis reportedly continued that he would be unfussed about the Lib Dems splitting internally. He apparently insisted many right-leaning Lib Dems held "seats that should be Tory", and proposed that the party could agree not to run against "20 or 25" such Lib Dems as part of an electoral pact. Given their party's weakness, this would be "an offer you can't refuse" for a "guaranteed seat for life", he reportedly said. The FT said Mr Davis insisted he had been misheard when contacted over the remarks later.

UK's major banks pass CEBS stress tests

The UK's four biggest banks have all passed their Committee of European Banking Supervisors (CEBS) stress tests.Checks were carried out on 91 of Europe's leading banks as part of measures introduced to help prevent a further banking crisis.

The tests were designed to ascertain the banks' ability to cope with economic problems and Lloyds, RBS, Barclays and HSBC were given the all clear. The Financial Services Authority (FSA), which carried out the tests for the CEBS in the UK, said it was pleased with the results, as they showed efforts to strengthen Britain's banks were working. "As expected the outcomes of the stresses demonstrate the preparedness and resilience of the UK banks under unlikely adverse economic scenarios," the FSA said. The news was less positive in other EU countries, as seven of the 91 banks failed the tests. Hypo Real Estate of Germany and ATEbank of Greece both failed, along with five regional banks in Spain. The CEBS said the seven banks would be given time to improve the condition of their balance sheets and that they would need a combined figure of around £3 billion worth of capital to pass the stress tests.

Luton restaurant faces £50,000 fine

London, Thursday, July 22, 2010. Five people were arrested following a raid on a restaurant in Luton by our officers. Yesterday evening's enforcement operation was part of a nationwide summer campaign to tackle illegal working, sham marriages, bogus colleges and organised immigration crime. As our officers arrived at Aroma, shortly before 1800, three members of staff made an attempt to run from the rear of the premises. However, they did not get further than the back door where they were apprehended by officers from Bedfordshire Police, who were supporting the operation. The restaurant, in the Galaxy Centre, Bridge Street, was temporarily closed while staff were questioned to ensure they had the right to work in the UK. Of the 10 employees who were on site at the time of the visit, five people, all from China, were arrested for a variety of immigration offences. Four remain in detention pending their removal from the UK all worked as front of house staff in the buffet restaurant. The fifth has been granted immigration bail while we takes steps to deport him. Aroma has been issued with a warning that they could now be fined up to £50,000 for employing the illegal workers, unless bosses can prove they carried out the correct right-to-work checks on their employees. Damian Green, the Immigration Minister, said: 'The Government has tasked the UK Border Agency with carrying out an intense period of enforcement activity over the summer. We are determined to create a hostile environment which makes it harder than ever for illegal immigrants to come to the UK and put down roots. 'Illegal immigration puts untold pressure on public services at a time when this country cannot afford to support people not entitled to it. That's why the UK Border Agency is working day in, day out to cut out the routes - such as sham marriages, bogus colleges and organised traffickers - being used by foreign nationals to try and stay in the UK permanently'. Inspector Rob Tompkins, Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire West local immigration team, UK Border Agency, said: 'We are committed to striking at the heart of illegal immigration and tackling those who break the rules. 'In cases where employers are found to be employing illegal workers, we often find they are also undercutting the minimum wage and by-passing health and safety laws. 'We are happy to work with businesses to ensure the right pre-employment checks are carried out, but those intent on operating outside the law should be warned that they will be found and they will be punished.' Advice for employers about how to employ migrant workers legally is available from this website. Anyone who suspects that illegal workers are being employed at a business can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where anonymity can be assured.

NGOs call on Kenya to keep peace after vote

Left, 'Yes' - green meeting and the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Kenya Aeneas Chuma, right, who has urged Kenya to maintain peace regardless of the referendum outcome

Nairobi - Humanitarian and development agencies want Kenya to maintain peace regardless of the referendum outcome. In a statement ter a meeting in Nairobi to review measures put in place to ensure a successful referendum process on August 4, the non governmental organisations called for priority to be given in ensuring peace and tranquillity. The Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Kenya Aeneas Chuma, commended the work already undertaken to develop preparedness and strengthen coordination among partners on the ground. “Working in partnership with the Government of Kenya, United Nations agencies, civil society and other national and international organisations, including the Kenya Red Cross, we have developed a harmonised action plan aimed at maximising existing capacities and minimising gaps in response for the pre- and post-referendum scenario,” he said. Kenya Red Cross secretary general Abbas Gullet and the Head of Office for the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Kenya, Ms Jeanine Cooper, used the occasion to present the coordination mechanisms and operational roles, functions and responsibilities detailed in the inter-agency preparedness plan.

The Kenya Red Cross is the designated lead agency. Together with the government, it will co-lead operational coordination in the field. With OCHA’s support, the Humanitarian Coordinator will coordinate international humanitarian support and be the main liaison to the national response. In response to concerns over possible violence triggered by hate speech, humanitarian partners assured the meeting that adequate structures have been put in place to ensure the atmosphere remains calm and peaceful leading up to and immediately after the referendum, while at the same time maintaining operational neutrality. The Uwiano Platform for Peace — a joint initiative of the government and civil society — supported the establishment of peace committees in districts identified as potential hot spots ahead of the referendum. Mr Dickson Magotsi from the National Steering Committee of Peace Building and Conflict Management talked of the conflict-prevention strategy, which includes deployment of “peace brigades” as focal points to monitor and share information as the situation unfolds on the ground. “As the referendum campaigns come to an end on August 2, peace rallies and a night vigil will be held to continue to spread the message of peace using the slogan ‘Choose Kenya, Choose Peace’,” said Mr Magotsi. Peaceful campaigns were encouraged to continue to avert polarisation of the country. The humanitarian and development partners have pledged their support for the government’s leadership in the referendum period to ensure a stable, peaceful and cohesive country.

Kibaki, Raila Plot to Get 'No' Bosses to Defect

Nairobi, Thursday, July 21, 2010 — PRESIDENT Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga have been holding private talks with MPs and religious leaders to persuade them to switch sides on the proposed constitution. Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta have also been working hard to convert some leading politicians in the No Camp.

More prominent defections from the No camp are likely in the run-up to the August 4 referendum, according to sources close to the two principals. They said that Kibaki and Raila have been "reasoning" with the No leaders on the importance of supporting the proposed constitution. "We are going to talk to people from the other side so that they can be able to join us so we can move together," President Kibaki said at a Yes rally in Kigumo last week. Among those targeted are Special Programmes minister Dr Naomi Shabaan, Information minister Samuel Poghisio along with MPs Mithika Linturi of Igembe South, Peter Mwathi of Limuru, Victor Munyaka of Machakos town, Sillas Rutere of Imenti North, Daniel Muoki of Mwala, and Mutava Musyimi of Gachoka. Religious leaders targeted include John Cardinal Njue, head of the Catholic Church in Kenya, his Anglican counterpart Bishop Eliud Wabukala, Bishop Mark Kariuki, Starehe MP Margaret Wanjiru and retired Bishop Arthur Kitonga.

Kariuki, Wanjiru and Kitonga have spearheaded the alliance of evangelical churches opposed to the constitution and have been conducting No rallies across Kenya. President Kibaki met with ten evangelist leaders last week.

"He asked us to sign a memorandum of understanding that the proposed constitution will be amended soon after August 4 to remove contentious issues but we told him the people will decide," said a well known evangelical church leader.

Kalonzo, Uhuru and President Kibaki's nephew Ndiritu Muriithi, an assistant Industrialization minister, have spoken to Poghisio asking him to ditch the No campaign. "They have told him that he is the one giving Higher Education minister William Ruto a lot of strength. Some have even threatened him with the sack. The last meeting was last week but he told them that his conscience will not allow him to decamp," said a source close to Poghisio, chairman of Kalonzo's party ODM-Kenya. Yesterday Poghisio confirmed that he had been approached last week but said he had foreseen untold victory coming his way. Igembe South MP Mithika Linturi yesterday confirmed that Agriculture assistant minister Kareke Mbiuki and the Njuri Njeke chairman had approached him and asked him to defect. He said that he will not waver. "This is about my conviction that the document is flawed. My people are in a county which has 1.2 million people while other counties have 30,000 people. How can there be equity in this document?," said Linturi. Linturi noted that the Yes camp had become desperate by pursuing the No team members to defect. "They are offering money among other goodies. I will not be intimidated or be cowed, however much money they offer," declared Linturi. Kalonzo reportedly approached Mwala MP Daniel Muoki who opposes the draft on religious grounds.

"I can't disclose what we said with the VP, because those are personal issues, but really what does it profit a man to gain the whole world then lose his life?," he said paraphrasing Mark chapter 8 verse 36 of the New Testament.

"This is a personal matter, people from Eastern who are in Yes side have vested interests. I will say No and I am with the people," Munyaka said. Kalonzo has dispatched his key allies led by Justice minister Mutula Kilonzo and assistant Defence minister David Musila to salvage areas of Ukambani against the proposed constitution. Last week a Synovate opinion pill identified 21 per cent of voters in the region as undecided and Kalonzo's team is hoping they can vote Yes. identified. Last week's poll indicated that 49 percent of the voters in Ukambani would vote for the proposed constitution while 30 per cent were opposed. Over the weekend, Kigumo MP Jamleck Kamau decamped to the Yes side. "I met the President and he assured me the issues that I raised concerns about will be looked at after the referendum. The Prime Minister phoned me on Friday and reassured me on the same. I got satisfied and said better Yes," Kamau said. Kamukunji MP Simon Mbugua however attributed Kamau's change of heart to the growing pressure on Central Kenya politicians in the No camp. "Jamleck was not going to survive the tide. The people forced him back to green because the wave is too strong for any one person," he said. In several constituencies whose sitting MPs are in the No camp, their rivals have been tasked with running the Yes campaigns to build their profile before the next elections. In Limuru, local mayor Anthony Macharia who harbours parliamentary ambitions is running the Yes campaigns while local MP Mwathi is firmly in the No team. In Machakos, former MP Daudi Mwanzia and businessman Dee Kivuva, a key ally of the VP, are running the Yes campaigns while Regina Ndambuki is co-ordinating the Yes campaigns in John Harun Mwau's Kilome constituency. Mutito MP Kiema Kilonzo who is firmly No accused Kibaki, Raila and Kalonzo of blackmailing No supporters. "If they approach me, I will tell them politely, that let us amend this law, let us not blackmail each other, and then let us pass it together," Kiema said. Assistant Minister Gideon Ndambuki said Eastern province had switched to the Yes side. "Things have changed here. Everyone has followed Kalonzo to Yes. Those running against the tide are seen as outcasts, we can't afford to embarrass the VP," Ndambuki said.

Phone Recycling Firm Dials Up A Green Profit

As companies seek to reduce their carbon footprint, we have tapped into the green market by offering to recycle the UK's estimated 70m unwanted mobile phones.

ShP Limited, our electronics recycling firm, collects thousands of old phones, ipods and laptops every week. They are refurbished where possible, stripped of their data and sold to developing countries. Craig Smith, my business partner, and I formed ShP in 2002 after we met when we were both working for one of the UK’s largest network operators. Whilst we were employed there, we realised that there was a market for mobile phone reuse.

Simon Walsh's firm ShP receives around 60,000 unwanted handsets every month (left) and on the right, the old handsets are repaired where possible and stripped of personal data

ShP (second hand phones) started life in a garage in Wimbledon, south London. Once we had tested the market and devised our business plan, we moved up to a small office in Lancaster - where Craig is from - and employed his sister and mum to help with admin and operations. The office doubled up as a warehouse – which we soon outgrew! In our first year we had a turnover of £30,000 and employed two people. By 2009 we were turning over just under £9m, with a workforce of approximately 75 people.

We have become one of the UK’s leading electronic recycling companies both online and offline through our various brands including mopay.co.uk – the first online phone recycling website. We were also recently named one of the 'top 100 companies to work for' by the Sunday Times. Although the core business remains mobile phone recycling (we receive around 60,000 per month) – the business now recycles laptops, MP3 players, digital cameras, sat navs, desktops, printers and other small consumables. The need for consumers to recycle redundant electronic devices is more pertinent than ever as the WEEE (waste electrical and electronic equipment directive) has been introduced to set out how electrical items should be binned. If disposed of incorrectly, electronic devices can end up at UK landfill sites where they can potentially cause serious harm to our eco-systems and environment. he sheer growth of the recycling sector has meant we have had to grow rapidly to save been left behind.

One of the main challenges has been the organic expansion of the business with no outside investment. As our company has developed, we have ensured that our staff have drive and determination, understand the company ethos and enjoy been part of a young exciting business. ShP has strong links with leading European retailers which are constantly being developed and have recently set up partnerships in multiple countries including UAE, Spain and Italy. As a member of the Federation of Communication Services (FCS), the business has a duty to introduce businesses and consumers to the world of recycling. Our recycling services are a leading example of sustainable reuse and recycling of e-waste. In terms of plans for the future, by 2011 we hope to build on our recent expansion into the Middle East and open new ventures around the world.

Motorists face ban for breaking 5mph speed limit

London. King's Lynn & West Norfolk Borough Council has been slammed for using handheld speed guns to catch drivers going more than 5mph.

Anyone caught breaking the limit three times will be banned from the refuse centre at Harwick Industrial Estate in King's Lynn, Norfolk. Council officials claim the speed crackdown is necessary to protect the health and safety workers and members of the public using the site. Drivers entering the site are met by 5mph speed limit signs and a speed camera sign identical to those used on public roads. There is also a surveillance camera which could easily be mistaken for a fixed speed camera. Motorists caught ignoring the speed limit cannot be fined, prosecuted or have points on their licence because the industrial estate is not a public road. But anyone caught breaching the limit is sent a warning letter and 'three strikes' will lead to a permanent ban.

Hot on the heels of news nine in ten Brits now use social media, with Facebook perched firmly at the top of the popularity pile, the social networking behemoth's members are about to reach the 500 million mark.

Mark Zuckerberg (left) is poised to announce Facebook's 500-million-user milestone and Metro(Newspaper-right) reports that almost 8% of the world's population now use social networking site Facebook to connect with friends, family and colleagues.

Mark Zuckerberg, the 26-year-old founder of the site, is scheduled for an appearance on America's ABC World News with Diane Sawyer this evening to coincide with the announcement. The milestone comes just five months after Facebook revealed it had 400 million members - in January last year, the site boasted a mere 150 million users. Zuckerberg can now lay claim to nearly eight per cent of the world's population with his 500 million users - including more than a third of the UK, where 26 million people are members. Though the exact moment the 500 millionth member joins Facebook has not been pinpointed, the occasion is timed nicely in line with the release of The Social Network, which chronicles the birth of the site. Its tagline reads: 'You don't get to 500 million friends without making a few enemies.' Mark Zuckerberg predicted just last month that Facebook will have a billion users in the next three to five years.

Kibaki dishes out new districts and varsity as 'No' cries foul

President Kibaki landed in Garissa town for a ‘Yes’ rally, and when he left he had literally changed the landscape of North Eastern Province by dishing out three new districts. The President’s ‘generosity’ in the heat of the referendum campaigns — he promised he would put up a public university in the vast, arid and marginalised province, which does not have one. The President’s declaration rekindled memories of his 2005 referendum and 2007 presidential campaigns when he doled out out new districts, in the process taking the number up from 71 to 277. Yesterday’s referendum ‘gifts’ took the number to an all high of 280.

The President yanked open his basket of referendum goodies on a day the ‘No’ team called for the levelling of the political playing field, saying the ‘Yes’ side was unfairly riding on the wave of State coffers and freebies.

President Kibaki switches into 2005-2007 mode by dishing out three new districts and one public university in Garissa ‘Greens’ rally.

They also expressed outrage at the fact the State, which is backing the ‘Yes’ vote, had deployed Permanent Secretaries to campaign for ‘Yes’ in their rural homes along with provincial administrators, and other senior civil servants.

The President carved out Tarbaj, Habaswein, and Mbalae from Wajir East, Wajir South, and Garissa Central Districts at the time a section is fighting against the Proposed Constitution because of what it claims was disproportionate and discriminatory delineation of 47 counties.

Financial burden

The President appeared to ignore both the ongoing review of boundaries by Interim Independent Boundary Review Commission’s work and the heavy financial burden of running the existing districts if only to soften the ground for ‘Yes’ in North Eastern. There is a standing agreement crafted by Parliament that constituencies should share boundaries with districts, meaning even the three he created yesterday could end up as districts. The ‘Yes’ side seemed keen to leave nothing to chance, as it rode on the back of State machinery — literally on the backbone and network of Provincial Administration, Government vehicles, and choppers, among other resources. In November 2005, for example, the President received a delegation of leaders from the larger Kisii District and gave them three more districts and promised to upgrade Kisii Campus to a fully-fledged university. Present in the Garissa rally were 13 Cabinet ministers, and 11 MPs from the province. Separately, sources within the Provincial Administration told The Standard 15 districts the President created do not have DCs, while others do not have offices. "About three quarters of the 280 districts are being run by DOs who were promoted to DCs," said the source. Apart from the personnel crisis, there is a standoff between the Public Service Commission (PSC) and Harambee House because the latter has refused to promote the DO IIs to DCs. "The morale is low because the DOs who are enjoying the status of DCs are still earning the salary of DOs because they are not qualified to serve as DCs," said the Harambee House source. But the districts appear to be serving sentimental value rather than aiding the provision of services to the people. DCs are also assisting in distributing copies of Proposed Constitution at public meetings.

Under the proposed law, offices under the Provincial Administration at district level will cease to exist in their current form because they would be restructured to serve under county governments in seven years. But the ‘No’ side led by its director Tom Namwamba reacted angrily, saying it was wrong for the President to dish out ‘goodies’ to voters only two weeks to the referendum. Four Members of Parliament – Julius Kones, Kiema Kilonzo, Wilfred Machage and Charles Keter termed unacceptable the creation of the new districts. Keter argued even if Garissa residents deserved a district, its timing was suspect and would be seen as aimed at influencing the outcome of the referendum. Desperate moves "He (the President) is hoodwinking people to believe districts would not be done away with, knowing well they would not be there under the new constitution," said Kilonzo.

Dr Kones, who is Konoin MP, asked: "How can he create districts when, their existence is in doubt in the Proposed Constitution?"

He added: "This is one of the many desperate moves by the Government to bribe, cajole, and entice the people to vote ‘Yes’. I believe this amounts to impunity, which we are supposed to be fighting against in the new dispensation."

A section of local leaders asked for the ‘freebies’ during the ‘Yes’ rally at Garissa Primary School. Defence Minister Yussuf Haji led North Eastern leaders in demanding Garissa Teachers Training College be elevated to a university. The President said the draft constitution catered for the development of bad roads in the province. "While the region’s roads will be expanded from the money already allocated, what is remaining is for you to vote ‘Yes’ and more development would follow," he said. "I have no doubt you will vote ‘Yes’, with the rest of the country because the new constitution is good for you," he said. In a thinly veiled reference to Al-Shabaab Islamic militant group, the President said security would be boosted to protect Kenyans. - "We don’t want trouble with anyone. We are peace-loving," he said. On Wednesday an al-Shabaab attack in Liboi, Garissa, left a General Service Unit officer seriously injured. Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, Deputy Prime Ministers Uhuru Kenyatta and Musalia Mudavadi, and Internal Security Minister George Saitoti accompanied the President. Mudavadi said the ‘No’ camp had sensed defeat at the referendum.

Port workers witness the arrival of the new two ferries, Mv Likoni and Mv Kwale, at the Likoni Channel, Mombasa June 2, 1010, left, while on the right, survivors are helped out of the water at Kasenyi landing on the shores of Lake Victoria in Uganda. Fifty people are missing after a boat capsized in the lake Victoria on Wednesday morning. The Ugandan police, military and relief workers are searching for survivors.

Nairobi, Wednesday, July 21, 2010. Fear gripped hundreds of commuters on Wednesday when one of the new ferries drifted away and knocked two vessels that were docked at an engineering firm’s jetty. The ferry, Mv Likoni, developed mechanical problems just as it was about to dock and drifted away, courtesy of the strong waves. During the 5am incident, two motor tankers belonging to Southern Engineering Company (Seco) were damaged.

A witness, Mr Juma Karisa, said the vessel was about to dock at the Island side when the incident occurred. Commuters were aboard the ferry at the time, he added. “The coxswain could not control the vessel, which drifted away past the Kilindini dock as commuters called for help,” Mr Karisa said. According to a Seco officer, who requested anonymity because he is not authorised to speak to the media, one of their vessels was badly damaged. Kenya Ferry Services (KFS) communications and marketing manager Elizabeth Wachira confirmed the incident and said that the ferry was also damaged. Ms Wachira said the coxswain had been summoned to record a statement over the incident. She also said that KFS officials are investigating the incident to determine the loss caused by the ferry after it knocked the two vessels at the Seco jetty. Tragedy in Lake Victoria

The boat was sailing from Jjaana islands in Kalangala District to Kasenyi Landing Site in Wakiso District with 60 people, most of them traders with their merchandise.

At the time of going to press, the Marine Police, Uganda People’s Defence Forces and Red Cross had rescued only four people.

David Mugole, Samalie Teru, Gideon Kazungi and another person only identified as Akello was saved by pieces of wood and sacks of fish she held on to after the incident. Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesman Ibin Ssenkumbi said the accident happened at 5.30am. “We have rescued four people and the search for 58 others is still going on,” Mr Ssenkumbi said on Wednesday. Police suspect the cause of the accident to be overloading. Beach Management Unit officials, however, put the number of occupants in the boat at 37. Jjaana Island Local Council chairman Nelson Musisi said the boat was overloaded with timber and sacks of fish. “The survivors said strong waves hit the vessel, shattering it into pieces,” he said. This is the third most serious ferry tragedy in East Africa. In May 1996, the Bukoba ferry sank on its way to Mwanza in Tanzania, killing around 800 people.

London, Wednesday, July 21, 2010. Tesco has been reprimanded by the advertising watchdog for "misleading" customers by claiming its bread is baked fresh in store.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has banned the ad, saying the company went too far by implying customers could get fresh bread, baked from the ingredients on site, from all Tesco outlets with a bakery. In reality, only a limited number of stores bake from scratch - most make from frozen or re-bake loaves. The ad read: "Fresh bread. Baked from scratch in our in-store bakery. Using 100% British flour. So every single loaf is genuinely British... Born and bread." But the small print continued: "Subject to availability. Selected UK stores. British flour used in all products that are baked from scratch in store as stickered in pack."

The Real Bread Campaign, a not-for-profit initiative campaigning for better quality bread in Britain, complained about Tesco's claims. It said the small print contradicted, rather than clarified the claim. Tesco said it bakes bread from scratch in 504 supermarkets and uses part-baked bread in 1,288 outlets, which is later "finished" in store. The company says the small print explained the issue. But the ASA said: "We considered that Tesco's claim was likely to be interpreted by readers as meaning that all Tesco stores with an in-store bakery baked their loaves from scratch. "We understood that most Tesco stores had a bakery facility but that only 504 stores baked bread 'from scratch'. "Because we considered that the ad implied that all Tesco stores with a bakery facility baked bread from scratch, which was true of only a limited number of stores, we concluded the ad was likely to mislead."

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after the bodies of two women were found at a house. Police were called to the address on Holdgate Close in Hulme, Manchester, at around 7.20pm on Tuesday.

The bodies of the women, aged 57 and 34, were found. A post-mortem examination is due to take place to establish a cause of death. A 57-year-old man at the address was arrested on suspicion of murder. A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Police said: "Inquiries into the circumstances surrounding this incident are ongoing." Neighbours said the two dead women were a mother and daughter who lived at the house with the father, Christopher Rothwell. Police confirmed the women's names were Jean Rothwell and her daughter Rachel. Both were found inside the end terrace which police had cordoned off while forensic experts combed the scene. The family had lived at the address for more than a decade, according to neighbours in the quiet cul de sac. 7 and 34, were found. A post-mortem examination is due to take place to establish a cause of death. A 57-year-old man at the address was arrested on suspicion of murder. A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Police said: "Inquiries into the circumstances surrounding this incident are ongoing." Neighbours said the two dead women were a mother and daughter who lived at the house with the father, Christopher Rothwell. Police confirmed the women's names were Jean Rothwell and her daughter Rachel. Both were found inside the end terrace which police had cordoned off while forensic experts combed the scene. The family had lived at the address for more than a decade, according to neighbours in the quiet cul de sac.

Parents' fury as teenage daughter dies just days after doctors sent her home and 'told her to take paracetamol'

A schoolgirl suffered multiple organ failure and four heart attacks just days after doctors sent her home with paracetamol and told her to take 'plenty of rest', an inquest heard.

Amy Carter, 15, begged doctors not to discharge her, telling them 'I'm dying' but medics assured her she would be fine.

She developed septicaemia after being released by doctors who had diagnosed her with glandular fever.

Two days later on Christmas Eve, Amy - who had not been able to eat for 19 days and weighed just six stone - was taken to hospital and died hours later.

Amy Carter, on the day she was released from Worcestershire Royal Hospital (right). She died three days later after suffering multiple organ failure and four heart attacks

She developed septicaemia after being released by doctors who had diagnosed her with glandular fever, an inquest heard. A post-mortem examination revealed Amy, from Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire, died from glandular fever and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome - a lethal combination of conditions never before seen in a patient. But despite the hospital's evidence that Amy was treated in the correct manner being accepted, her parents Richard, 43, and Jacqueline, 48, are still demanding answers. Mrs Carter told the inquest: 'I can't express myself properly to emphasise how poorly she was. She wasn't well enough to go home. 'I had to reassure her she was going to be alright. She even asked if she was going to die because she was that frightened. 'If they [the doctors] had stood there and watched her properly they would have told she was poorly but no one spent any time with her. 'Is a child who has not eaten for weeks well enough to go home?' Read more......

More than 20 passengers have been injured on a United Airlines jet which experienced severe turbulence over the US.

United Flight 967 was en route from Washington's Dulles International Airport to Los Angeles when it hit the turbulence above Kansas. Passengers were thrown about the aircraft and it was forced to divert to Denver International Airport."There were storms in the area," said United spokeswoman Jean Medina. "The flight crew immediately diverted the aircraft to Denver to get medical attention as quickly as possible for those injured." The plane had been carrying 225 passengers and 10 crew members.

It landed safely just after 7pm local time on Tuesday. A spokesman for Denver Fire Department confirmed that at least 21 people had received "moderate" head, neck and back injuries and were being treated at five local hospitals. Officials say the plane was undamaged.

Plans to open up the city by rebuilding key roads and bypasses are in jeopardy due to a dispute between the World Bank and the government over the integrity of a company that won the building tender. This means highways like Thika Road could experience massive jams unless the standoff is resolved.

Nairobi. A transport crisis is feared in the city due to a stand-off between the World Bank and the government over a company that won a Sh67 billion road building tender. The WB has questioned the integrity of the Nairobi Motorway Group but the government yesterday responded with threats to cancel the WB-funded tender and reopen the bid. Speaking to the Daily Nation on Monday, Roads minister Franklin Bett said the government would not allow the dispute to delay the upgrade of Uhuru Highway and the Southern Bypass. “It (the row) is an issue outside the scope of the republic and the people of Kenya. We have been caught in the crossfire,” said Mr Bett in a phone interview. He said the ministry had already delinked the Southern Bypass from the concession and work was set to begin “very soon”. The minister said he met World Bank country director for Kenya Johannes Zutt two weeks ago and got assurances that the dispute would be resolved in due course to allow the construction to start. Mr Zutt has flown to the WB headquarters in New York and will not be back in the next two weeks as the row persists with Strabag, one of the concessionaires in the consortium. Housing & Construction Company, a subsidiary of Israel’s Shikun Binuy Arison Group, and Strabag, an Austrian-German company, won the concession to operate 106 kilometres of Kenya’s main highways. As an incentive to the concessionaire, the government in March 2009 decided to cushion it from all tax liabilities.

The concessionaire was exempted from paying customs and excise duties, and value added tax on construction equipment and any goods needed to complete the job. One of the stretches of the road in the deal, the Southern Bypass, starts at Kyumvi (the Machakos turnoff on the Mombasa-Nairobi highway) and runs all the way through Nairobi city centre to Rironi near Limuru.

In our todays' papers, The Sun publishes a picture of a black couple who have had a white baby. The couple describe the newborn as a "miracle" while the Daily Mail reports that councils are secretly rifling through thousands of dustbins to find out about families' race and wealth, and Syria's ban of the full Islamic face veil in universities by the country's secular government is the splash in the Daily Star.

Information about how to obtain passports and visas, and who to contact for immigration and asylum applications.

Limit on non-EU workers

A temporary limit on the number of non-EU workers allowed into the UK has been announced by the Home Secretary. A consultation will help decide the permanent limit which will be imposed from April next year. Read the full news story.

Passports

The Identity and Passport Service is responsible for issuing UK passports, including:

All the latest information on how to apply for a passport, how much you need to pay, and the timetable for how long it takes is available on the Directgov website (new window).

Immigration and asylum

Visas

London. From today, Monday, July 19, 2010, a temporary limit on the amount of people from outside Europe who can work in the UK comes into force. This limit will operate until March 2011 when a permanent limit comes into effect. The government is consulting business about what the permanent limit should be. Immigration minister Damian Green said, 'The interim measures we have put in place will ensure that the number of work visas issued will stay below 2009 levels while we consult on our tough new limit.From today, a temporary limit on the amount of people from outside Europe who can work in the UK comes into force. This limit will operate until March 2011 when a permanent limit comes into effect. The government is consulting business about what the permanent limit should be. Immigration minister Damian Green said, 'The interim measures we have put in place will ensure that the number of work visas issued will stay below 2009 levels while we consult on our tough new limit. 'Alongside our limits will be action to get people back to work and provide business with the skills they need from the British workforce — reducing the need for migrants at the same time as we reduce their number.'

Skilled workforce

Under the interim limit, the number of highly skilled people without a job offer entering the country is 5,400. To raise standards in this category of the government's points-based system, the pass mark for eligibility will rise by five points. Meanwhile, the number of skilled migrants allowed to enter the country with a job offer is 18,700. These figures equate to a five percent reduction when compared to the same period last year.

No rush

A consultation with business will help determine a permanent limit. The Home Secretary has also asked the Migration Advisory Committee, the government’s independent adviser on migration issues, to launch a separate consultation looking at social and economic impacts. Read more...

A heat wave is miserable for adults as well as children. Playing outdoors is out of question due to the risk of heat stroke and sunburn. Rolling blackouts become a common occurrence because everyone is draining the power supply running air conditioners and fans. People suffer from dehydration and heat exhaustion. Follow these steps to learn how to survive a heat wave.

Drink plenty of fluids to survive a heat wave. This includes water, juices and caffeine-free beverages.

Play outside in the early morning during a heat wave when the air quality is at a healthier level and the temperatures are a little cooler.

Run high energy appliances at night. Running the dryer and dishwasher during the day heats up the house and puts a strain on the electrical system. With the heat outside you can hang clothes up and the sun will dry them just as fast as a dryer would.

Call your utility company and notify them if someone in your house is on life support. Heat waves increase the frequency of rolling blackouts. If a planned interruption is going to occur you will be notified so you can provide emergency life-saving measures with a generator or move the patient to a hospital if needed to survive during the heat wave.

Keep the air flowing in your house. Use fans to circulate the air conditioner. Put heavy shades on the windows to block the sun which can heat up the house.

Use the microwave to cook your meals. The stove and oven add heat to the house but, of course, you need to eat to survive. Eat light meals with less protein to reduce your metabolic heat.

A temporary cap on the number of immigrants entering Britain comes into force today.

The limit will only apply to non-Europen Union workers. The scheme is being trialled by the government ahead of the introduction of a permanent cap next year. Before the election, David Cameron promised to cut the annual immigration numbers from the "hundreds of thousands" to the "tens of thousands". The Home Secretary Theresa May said: ‘This government believes that Britain can benefit from migration but not uncontrolled migration. I recognise the importance of attracting the brightest and the best to ensure strong economic growth, but unlimited migration places unacceptable pressure on public services." With the cap in place only 5,400 professionals will be able to work in Britain. A further 18,700 workers in skilled jobs will also be allowed to work here. The government claims the temporary cap is aimed at preventing a surge of applications, ahead of a permanent limit to be put in place by the 1st of April next year. But businesses fear that arbitrary limits could prevent them bringing in the specialist and highly-skilled employees they are looking for and hamper economic growth. Read more.....

At least 48 people have been killed and hundred injured in a high speed train collision in eastern India.Anil Saxena, a spokesman for eastern railways said:"About 48 bodies have been pulled out and more casualties are expected."

The crash happened in the early hours of Monday morning when an express train slammed into a stationary train at Sainthia station in Bengal. The force of the crash was so intense the roof of one carriage was forced up on to a bridge above the tracks. A huge crowd gathered as people climbed through the mangled wreckage searching for survivors. India has one of the world's largest rail networks. It is not known how the accident happened at this early stage. More to follow......Sky News.

The man said to be a pastor and arrested by police while ferrying key bomb-making materials, was to arrive in Mombasa on the night preceding on Sunday’s ‘No’ rally in the Coastal city, security sources have revealed.

Investigators have also established the man, who was carrying a safety pin and detonator for the bomb, and who calls himself Pastor John Kamau of Victory Church, is a nominated Party of National Unity (PNU) Council. Gitau’s fellow civic leaders are, however, unsure if he is in the ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ side. Members of the church he was said to belong to told The Standard he was excommunicated a while back.

Bishop Amos Njoroge (right) of Vision Victory Church yesterday said Pastor John Kamau, who was arrested with a bomb on Saturday, had long been excommunicated from the church. Reverend Peter Njenga (centre with clerical collar) and Pastor Steven Mwaura (left) accompanied him.

The Anti-terrorist Police Unit (ATPU) has taken over the investigations. Kenya’s anti-terror police chief Mr Nicholas Kamwende termed the arrests a ‘breakthrough’ and said their investigations were progressing well. He conceded his team had ‘good’ hints it was chasing. "This (anti-terrorism) is a war that all Kenyans should join to win. It can affect you or your loved ones, and it must be stopped at all costs," said Kamwende. But police were unwilling to reveal what Kamau had planned to do with the explosives in Mombasa, though they said the suspect booked himself on a Mombasa-bound bus, which was to leave Nairobi at 10pm on Saturday. He had another ticket for his colleague, a ‘man from Dagoretti’ from whom he bought his lethal ware, including ammonium nitrate. Read more.....

Banning the wearing of burkas in public would be "rather un-British", the Immigration Minister said today as he attacked efforts to make it illegal in this country. Damian Green said it would be "undesirable" for Parliament to try to pass such a law which would be at odds with the UK's "tolerant and mutually respectful society".

Fellow Tory MP Philip Hollobone introduced a private members' bill which would make it illegal for people to cover their faces in public. More than two thirds of voters back a ban like that approved almost unanimously by French MPs last week, according to a recent opinion poll. But Mr Green insisted such a move was "very unlikely" to be copied here: "Telling people what they can and can't wear, if they're just walking down the street, is a rather un-British thing to do." There were occasions when it was important to be able to see someone's face, he said. "But I think it's very unlikely and it would be undesirable for the British Parliament to try and pass a law dictating what people wore." Unlike France, the UK was not "aggressively secular", he said, suggesting the proposed ban across the Channel was being brought in to make a point. The French legislation, which is backed by President Nicolas Sarkozy, will pass to the upper house, or Senate, in September.

Former President Daniel Moi has criticised the Proposed Constitution, saying it will divide Kenyans along ethnic lines.

Moi said the document proposes to address land injustices yet it is not specific on the period to be covered. He hit out at those talking about land grabbing in Rift Valley, adding the original inhabitants of the province could not be accused of grabbing their ancestral land. "I know the history of Rift Valley, and if pushed, I am prepared to spill all," he said. Moi said it was reckless to talk about land injustices without specifying the parameters and guidelines to be used to address the issue. "What will they look at; colonial government, Kenyatta or Moi’s administrations?" he posed. Speaking at Kapsabet Bible College during a fundraiser, the former Head of State accused some people of using provocative language. He said those who refer to some people as Moi orphans were engaging in hate speech and should be dealt with. He said there was no possibility of having Moi orphans while he was still alive. Addressing another rally in Eldama Ravine, Moi said last week’s opinion polls downplaying supremacy of those opposed to the Proposed Constitution in Rift Valley were laughable.

An ecstatic Kigumo MP Jamleck Kamau (3rd right) with Nairobi Metropolitan minister Njeru Githae (centre) and Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta after they welcomed him to the ‘Yes’ team.

The change of heart by Kigumo MP Jamleck Kamau on Sunday is evidence that a revitalised effort by the ‘Yes’ team to win over leaders in Central Province is bearing fruit. Kamau was welcomed to the Green campaign by Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta during a well attended ‘Yes’ rally in the latter’s Kigumo constituency. Campaigning alongside Uhuru was Environment minister John Michuki, another of the recent converts in the ‘Yes’ brigade that has intensified its tours of the province.

Michuki joined the Green campaign last week during a rally by President Kibaki, after initially expressing reservations about the Proposed Constitution. Two weeks ago, Kamau opted to join the ‘No’ camp, after his move to have the referendum on the Proposed Constitution postponed failed. He even sponsored a Motion in Parliament seeking to have the referendum date moved to a later date to facilitate consensus building, but it was stillborn. On Sunday, the MP said he had received assurances from President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga that the contentious issues would be addressed once the Proposed Constitution was passed. "Having got that assurance, I need not doubt the word of the President, and thus I have decided to join the ‘Yes’ team, which I am sure will win at the referendum," said Kamau. The MP also asked church leaders to take the word of the two coalition leaders contentious issues would be addressed after the referendum, and urge their followers to vote yes.

Uhuru urged Central Province residents to overwhelmingly vote for the draft during the referendum, saying it catered for their interest, including on matters of representation. "We appear to have forgotten very fast what pain the current Constitution has occasioned us. We have suffered due to its inadequacies, and that is why we must own the new draft up and support it at the referendum," said Uhuru at a rally at Kirere market. The Deputy PM was accompanied by Michuki, Nairobi Metropolitan minister Njeru Githae and 10 MPs in the weekend campaigns. Michuki urged Central Province residents to especially vote for the draft to honour President Kibaki’s legacy as the President who promulgated a new constitution. "Join us and ensure we give our President this big honour as the one who will sign a new Constitution for the nation," said Michuki. Githae said the ‘Yes’ team was ready to hunt for votes among those who are still undecided. "Even the Bible tells us to leave the 99 goats, and go for the one that is lost. That is what we have done in the search for Kamau, and we will also go and hunt for more," he said. Others present were assistant Minister Lewis Nguyai, and MPs Elias Mbau, David Ngugi, Johnstone Muthama, Ferdinand Waititu, David Njuguna, Maina Kamau and Clement Wambugu. Elsewhere, Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka led a strong team of ten MPs, including three Cabinet, and several Assistant ministers in drumming up support for the Proposed Constitution in Meru North. The VP urged the Meru community to vote as a bloc for the Proposed Constitution, saying it liberates the country from many years of misrule as a result of too much powers vested on the Executive in the current constitution. Only two days after retired President Moi took the ‘No’ campaigns in the same area, the ‘Yes’ team descended in Maua town and urged Kenyans to pass the Proposed Constitution, saying it guaranteed equitable distribution of national resources, besides empowering citizens.

Kalonzo urged Eastern Province to vote for the draft, saying it would herald a new dawn for Kenya. "I urge you to vote to a manfor the proposed law, and support the President. I know Kibaki beat me in the presidential vote here in Meru, and I want you to stand with him even now," said the VP. Energy minister Kiraitu Murungi castigated the former President for joining the ‘No’ campaigns, and accused him of having frustrated reforms including efforts to write a new constitution during his 24 years in power. "I was saddened and shocked when I saw the former President coming here and urging you to reject the Proposed Constitution, yet he locked all efforts for reforms in this country for more than two decades," said Kiraitu. Other Cabinet ministers, who addressed the huge crowd and urged Kenyans to vote in favour of the Proposed Constitution, were Joseph Nyaga, Najib Balala, as well as Assistant ministers Mwangi Kiunjuri, Nderitu Mureithi, Kareke Mbiuki and Dr Kilemi Mwiria.

Nyaga praised the two principals, (Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga) and the VP for uniting to give Kenyans a new law.

"The current constitution is favourable only to the rich man. Let us pass the Proposed Constitution which empowers everyone," said Nyaga. Balala, who is the Tourism Minister, said Coast Province is solidly behind the proposed law. "A new constitution would ensure stability. The current one largely contributed to violence during general elections. It was worse in 1997," said the Mvita MP. Balala asked Kibaki and Raila to tolerate ministers and their assistants who are opposed to the Proposed Constitution, saying they should not be sacked.

President Kibaki was once famously accused by then opposition leader Uhuru Kenyatta of having a “hands-off, eyes-off, everything-off” style of leadership.

President Kibaki waves to wananchi at Karatina town on his way to Nyeri to address a “Yes” campaign rally two weeks ago. Whether it’s a desire to leave a positive legacy or a drive for future stability, the President’s new hand-on no-nonsense approach has left friend and foe confused.

Mr Kenyatta would not recognise the Kibaki that has emerged in the last three months. In public and private, the President has launched a determined bid to sell the proposed constitution in a fashion that has left his aides off-balance and confounded even his closest allies. Where he was content to delegate duties to ministers and the Head of the Public Service in the past, this time Mr Kibaki appears to have made the decision to launch himself into the battlefield. In the process, he has helped to raise support for the proposed constitution in the crucial Mt Kenya region while ensuring that a ‘Yes’ vote might come to be seen as his most enduring achievement. In multiple interviews with some of the President’s oldest friends over the last few months, a picture emerged of a man determined to correct the mistakes of his first term, when he sought to achieve a clean break from the Moi presidency and allowed ministers to drive the government’s agenda with minimal interference from State House.

While that approach is said to have helped promote creativity and to have contributed to accelerated economic growth, it can also be partially blamed for creating a chaotic political scene that contributed to the 2008 post-election crisis. “Kibaki has always been the gentleman of Kenyan politics,” says veteran politician John Keen, who has known Mr Kibaki for the last half a century.

“He is a polished man and not a stone thrower. Despite his laidback politics, he has managed to outpace the development record of both Kenyatta and Moi. But his European style will not always work here. You must have an element of dictatorship when you are dealing with Africans, especially Kenyans.” Mr Kibaki’s approach in whipping his allies and top civil servants into line has verged on the dictatorial, according to various sources interviewed for this story who requested anonymity to freely discuss government affairs. The President has used Head of Public Service Francis Muthaura as his enforcer in a bid to stamp out the quiet opposition to the proposed law among some top civil servants. Mr Kibaki’s approach has been a “you are with us or against us” policy, made famous by President George W. Bush. At a briefing with Permanent Secretaries before they visited Prime Minister Raila Odinga at his Karen home two weeks ago, Mr Muthaura made it clear that the constitution was not a political matter but the central cog in the Vision 2030 government masterplan. He said that without a new constitutional order, it would not be possible for Kenya to be a middle income economy by 2030 as the plan envisions. Mr Muthaura issued a veiled warning that dissent against the draft law would lead to sackings. The President’s closest allies have taken the cue from his blunt approach and understood that those who fail to deliver the vote in their respective regions will have an uncomfortable time in the post-referendum period when attention will turn to the Kibaki succession. In the last month, Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka has been active in pushing the campaign for a ‘Yes’ vote in his Ukambani backyard where the ‘No’ team appeared to have found strong support. Mr Kenyatta has also moved to coordinate the campaigns in Central Province in a bid to shore up backing for the proposed law. Former Cabinet minister Joseph Munyao, who launched the Democratic Party together with Mr Kibaki, Mr Keen and Mr Njenga Karume in 1992, says he (Munyao) is not surprised by the new Kibaki. “If you look at our manifesto in the run-up to the first multi-party elections, we were the only ones who made it clear that Kenya needed a comprehensive constitutional review and not merely the removal of Moi,” said Mr Munyao. The DP secretary-general said Mr Kibaki’s party had offered some of the most forceful memoranda calling for a new constitution, including to the Ghai commission when party official Kiraitu Murungi memorably called for the taming of the “imperial presidency”.

Words are containers. They carry faith, or fear, and they produce after their kind. - Charles Capps.

This is how things were at Seattle. Asked to comment Rev Stephen Mwangi Wachira who was the host pastor for Bishop Muya said "This man of God is moving under a heavy anointing as a preacher, a motivational speaker, a teacher with allot of revelation and like his late brother Masanduku arap Simiti a great comedian, people need to hear this man." "He has taken us to another level as people received the Lord and signs following the preaching". Bishop Muya is in St Stevens church, Lowell, Massachusetts this weekend (17th & 18th July 2010) for yet another great revival and leaders seminar and the launch of Sarah Mbogo's new release CD hosted by Rev Samuel Kimuhu. Bishop Muya's contact in USA is 0015086157632.

The Rotary Club of Barking held its 82nd Induction Ceremony for its New President and board members at the Fairlop Waters Restaurant, in Barkingside, Essex, UK, on the night of Wednesday, 7th July, 2010.

Rotarian Duncan Githu Ngari, who has been a member of the Club since 2002, was elected as the New President. This was the 82nd Induction Ceremony to be held by the Barking Rotary Club which was started in 1929. The appointment is not made lightly as it is the highest honour within the powers of the Club to bestow upon a Rotarian as it is made in recognition of his service to Rotary in general and to the Club in particular.

The Immediate Past President, Rotarian Med Bucktowonsing, right,(picture on the left), holding the 'Regalia'-the Rotarian's Chain of office, in preparation of inducting Duncan G. Ngari as the New President of Barking Rotary Club, for the year 2010-2011 and, in the picture on the right, Mrs. Med, 2nd right, hands-over and pins the Rotalian Lady's Badge of office to the Newly inducted President's wife, Mrs Norah Githu, 3rd from right.

The Immediate Past President, Med, congratulated the Newly elected President, Mr. Ngari, and said, “With the Presidency you are assuming new duties, new obligations and new responsibilities, which will make severe demands upon your thoughts time and energy. We are confident you will carry out your tasks with the same zeal you have always shown in Rotary and you are assured of the utmost cooperation from every one of your members’, the immediate past President, Rotarian Med Bucktowonsing, said.

Mr. Ngari, in his capacity as the newly elected President of Barking Rotary Club, immediately, named his Committee Chairmen who will make up the board for the 2010-2011 year. Rotarians, David Burns, President Elect, Ben Aimuan, Vice-President, Laurie Ford, Secretary General, Nigel Schulz, Treasurer, Allan Cooper, Sergeant-At-Arms, Med Bucktowonsing, Membership Specialist, Robert Hunter, Foundation Specialist, Alec Everitt, Communication Specialist, Malcolm M. Brockman and Dennis Bloomfield were named as the heads of International Services and Community & Vocational Services respectively.

The Newly elected President, Mr. Ngari, left, prepares to induct his board members, centre, congratulates the President Elect, David Burnsand far right, inducts his Vice-President, Rotarian Ben Aimuan.

Right, The President inducts his General Secretary, Mr. Laurie Ford, centre, his treasurer, Salvation Army Major Nigel Schultz, and far left,

Present during the colorful occasion were, the Kenya High Commission representative, Mr. Abraham Mwaura, who is the Immigration Attachés’ in the Kenya High Commission’s office, Councilors Elizabeth Kangethe and Ashraf, both from Barking & Dagenham Wards, among the others. MORE

Kenya warned that terrorists linked to the al-Shabaab militia group were about to stage attacks in the East African region three days before the blasts that left 76 people dead in Kampala, Uganda.

. Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni visits a victim in Kampala's Mulago hospital after twin bomb blasts which tore through crowds of football fans watching the World Cup final, killing 64 people, including an American, and wounding scores others. Somalia's Shebab insurgent group claimed responsibility for overnight bomb blasts in Kampala that left at least 74 people dead. The Al Qaeda-inspired movement's top leader had warned in an audio message earlier this month that Uganda would face retaliation for its role in supporting the western-backed Somali transitional government.

Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetang’ula told the Associated Press that there was credible intelligence that the fighters were upping their game and appealed for help from the United States to keep the militants at bay. The minister said in the interview with the American wire service that the situation in Somalia was “very, very dire” and that Somalia’s immediate neighbours, including Kenya, faced potential attacks from the militants. He said that veteran insurgents from Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan had relocated to Somalia in large enough numbers to worry the international community. “There have been Afghans, there have been Pakistanis, there have been certain Middle Eastern nationalities, quite a number. Intelligence reports indicate that there’s quite a cocktail of them,” Mr Wetang’ula told The Associated Press last week. Mr Wetang’ula has complained that the US and other rich nations are doing little to help prop the government in Somalia and to fight off the militia group. “They spend billions of dollars in Iraq and Afghanistan. With just a small fraction of that amount, we can strengthen the TFG and capacitate them with tanks, aerial power, armoured vehicles so that they are able to secure their people. They run on a war economy,” said Mr Wetang’ula. “A country is no country if it cannot guarantee security to its people. Somalia runs on a war economy. The US is not doing enough and is not willing to sufficiently listen to the concerns.” Forewarn the militia Contacted by the Sunday Nation, Mr Wetang’ula said that it would be “inappropriate” for him to disclose the information Kenyan intelligence officers have since it would forewarn the militia group. But, asked whether the Kampala attacks would have been averted had the international community acted, he said “possibly yes”. He spoke ahead of the African Union Summit which begins in Kampala on July 25 and whose theme of maternal and child healthcare is highly likely to be overshadowed by the events of last Sunday’s terror attack on football fans watching the World Cup final in the city. Al-Shabaab has since claimed responsibility for the attacks. “In the face of what happened it would be inappropriate either to the terrorist or even to us. Let’s leave it at that. We have intelligence and we are using it and perpetrators must know that no one will sit back and watch them cause mayhem,” the minister said. The minister said that some Kenyan residents of Somali origin were under constant watch but said the country had no problem with those whose status is properly verified by authorities. “Some are on a watch list. We are continuously on a high alert to ensure that whatever information we get . . . we must evaluate it and see how valuable it is. Even when a mad man comes in, we must look for a lucid moment in his madness,” said Mr Wetang’ula. Somalia has been without a government since 1991 and various international efforts to establish a government in Mogadishu have largely floundered. The Transitional Federal Government has been unable to establish its authority beyond the area protected by African Union peacekeepers and has repeatedly asked for help. In March, three mosques in Nairobi were named in a United Nations investigation report as recruiting fighters for Somalia’s Islamist groups and their preachers marked by authorities for preaching extremist messages.

Nairobi. President Yoweri Museveni’s vow to crush the Somali-based al Shabaab extremist group after the deadly bomb attacks in Kampala is typical of a leader who values his warrior credentials. The Ugandan president said: “Our troops will pursue and crush al Shabaab right inside Somalia. We will commit up to 20,000 troops for the mission,” he said and vowed to eliminate the terror-linked group. Even before the Uganda attacks, the regional Inter-Governmental Authority on Development had announced plans to send 2,000 more African Union peacekeeping troops to beef up the present 6,000-strong contingent supporting the beleaguered Transitional Federal Government’s hold on just a small section of Mogadishu. The warrior in Museveni wants not just revenge, but to steeply escalate the mandate of the AU peacekeeping mission made up essentially of soldiers from Uganda and Burundi, the countries receiving threats from al Shab. Read more....

BP shares bounced up today amid hopes that the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster was finally coming to an end. Video cameras studying the latest repairs to the mile-deep well showed the cap apparently holding firm early today, while millions crossed their fingers and hoped. It was the first time since the rig exploded that thousands of gallons of oil did not gush into the Gulf waters. But the real proof of success will only be known when tests on how much pressure the cap can withstand have been completed. Experts say there is still a chance of a rupture.

Friday, July 16, 2010. At least 29 people including a number of foreigners, have been killed in a hotel fire in northern Iraq. Officials in the city of Sulaimaniyah said at least 22 others were injured in the blaze that was blamed on an electrical fault.

Four Americans and a Canadian were among those killed at the Soma Hotel. Witnesses reported seeing guests leaping from the burning building in an attempt to save themselves. "I saw three people jump from their floor to escape the fire, but they were killed when they hit the ground," said Kameran Ahmed, who owns an electrical supply shop next to the hotel. Some of the victims worked with foreign oil companies in the northern Kurdish region, according to local authorities. Chief of police Brigadier General Najim-al-Din Qadir said the dead also included people from Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Ecuador, Venezuela and China. Telecommunications engineers from the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Cambodia were also killed, according to the chairman of the company they worked for. Sulaimaniyah, the second largest city in the Kurdish autonomous region, is located 160m (260km) northeast of Baghdad. Sky News.

Almost a quarter of a million students will miss out on a university place after worries about the economy helped to produce a sharp rise in applications, reports The Daily Telegraph,left, while The Guardian says the biggest shake-up of Britain's universities in a generation has been signalled by the government, meaning the highest-earning graduates could have to pay extra taxes to fund their degrees, centre, and the Daily Express says a single flu jab that kills off any strain of the virus for decades will soon be a reality

LONDON. Man with horns and tattooed neck held by police after woman claims he ran her over But although the culprit sounded more like the Devil, the victim was not exaggerating. Despite the bizarre description, cops went straight to Jesse Thornhill.

A landlady run over by a van told police the driver had a tattooed throat and eyebrows – and two HORNS

The 28-year-old is now accused of trying to run over the woman with his minivan in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Thornhill’s horns are noted in the police report’s “personal oddities” section along with his tattoos and studs implanted in his head. It’s not clear if the alleged victim picked him out at an identity parade. But it wouldn’t have been difficult.

Archaeologists working at the World Trade Centre site in New York have found the remains of a wooden ship apparently buried there more than 200 years ago.

The remains of the 30ft length of a wood-hulled vessel were found when workers excavating the site, where a new World Trade Centre is being built, hit a row of wood timbers, The New York Times reported. "They were so perfectly contoured that they were clearly part of a ship," said archaeologist A. Michael Pappalardo. The archaeologists have been working on the site - scene of the 9/11 terror attacks in 2001 - to document historical material uncovered during construction. They estimated that the vessel could date from the mid to late 1700s. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries wooden cribbing was used to extend lower Manhattan further into the Hudson River. The vessel was discovered about 20 to 30 feet below street level on the World Trade Centre site.

The area under excavation had not been dug out when the original Twin Towers were built in the 1960s and 1970s. Mr. Pappalardo said the whole vessel may have been two or three times longer than the portion found. He and his team believe the the hull had been deliberately truncated and had probably been used as landfill material. Workers also found a 100lb anchor in the same area on Wednesday, but they are not sure if it belongs to the ship.

A third of young people have tatto. Nearly a third of young people now has a tattoo. But a quarter of those who have one regret it. Among Brits of all ages, 20% have a tattoo. But there is still significant disapproval, with one in three calling them "awful". Fifty per cent of men find inked female bodies a turnoff, while 40% of women hate tattoos on men, the Ask Jeeves website found. Firm's Nadia Kelly said: "This suggests it's one of the things that seems a great idea at first but which many regret when they grow older."

London. David Cameron branded the benefit system “completely out of control” after a Somali family were housed in a £2.1million mansion costing £8,000 a month. The Prime Minister admitted being “outraged” at the lavish handouts to Abdi and Sayruq Nur and their seven children, who moved into a property in fashionable Kensington, west London after complaining about living in a “poorer” area.

Mr Cameron told MPs that the case was a vindication of a strict new £400 weekly limit on housing benefit claims.

“The situation, particularly in central London, has got completely out of control. The idea that a family should be able to claim £2,000 a week for their house is an outrage for people who work every day, pay their taxes and try and do the right thing for their family.

“That is why we will cap housing benefit levels from April next year. Even £400 a week, many people on ordinary incomes will look at that and find that very, very generous, and every penny comes out of hard-earned taxes.” The changes were announced in last month’s Budget, when Chancellor George Osborne said the cost of housing benefit had risen to £21billion – more than was spent on the police and universities combined. Former asylum seekers Mr Nur, 42, an unemployed bus conductor, and his 40-year-old wife, who has never worked, are totally dependent on state benefits. Mr Nur said they moved from a £900-a-week home in Kensal Rise because they did not like living “in a very poor area” and were unhappy with the shops and schools.

Nairobi. The ‘No’ team upped its campaigns and assured supporters of victory on August 4, even as the leaders continued their unrelenting attacks on US Ambassador Michael Ranneberger for his perceived support of the Proposed Constitution. With 19 days to the historic referendum, Higher Education Minister William Ruto led other ‘No’ camp leaders in asking the Greens to prepare for a tough battle. "Kenyans should not be moved by the Government’s attempts to frustrate their efforts to enlighten Kenyans on the real deal concerning the proposed constitution," said Ruto. Earlier in the morning, Ruto had led nine MPs to hit out at Ranneberger, whom they accused of "abdicating his diplomatic role and turning out to be a ‘Yes’ activist going round the country bribing voters". However, the US has strongly denied that it was providing money to support the "Yes" campaign nor was its Nairobi envoy nor embassy intimidating opponents to the Proposed Constitution. Ruto spoke as five Permanent Secretaries from Western Kenya were spotted campaigning for the Proposed Constitution amongst their community. The PSs claimed that President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga had instructed them to lobby their Luhya community to support the new law. But Ruto said that even though the ‘Yes’ side had marshalled the whole Government machinery to its advantage, the ‘No’ side had covered much ground and was ready for a tough duel.Last week, more than 40 PSs and accounting officers of ministries who were led by Head of Public Service Francis Muthaura had visited the Prime Minister, who urged them to be part of re-writing the history of the country.

Religious leaders at the funeral of Bishop Joseph Segel at his Ongata Rongai home, Thursday. Segel, who was one of the clerics opposed to the Proposed Constitution, was shot on the night of July 3.

Raila has reiterated that the Proposed Constitution is Government project, a position that has been criticised by the ‘No’ brigade. Yesterday, Ruto was upbeat about a victory. "I have no doubt over where victory will be after the August 4 referendum" he said when he spoke at the funeral of Bishop Joseph Segel in Ongata Rongai. Unknown assailants gunned down Segel, who was one of the Church leaders opposed to the draft, on the night of July 3. At the funeral, Internal Security Minister George Saitoti said police would do everything to apprehend Segel’s killers. Starehe MP Margaret Wanjiru and Redeemed Gospel Church Bishop Dr Arthur Kitonga also expressed confidence that the ‘No’ side would triumph come the plebiscite. Wanjiru called on the ‘Reds’ supporters to "remain steadfast and not to be swayed by ‘false interpretations on the Proposed Constitution’. In criticising the US envoy, who has been on the forefront in supporting good governance and reforms in Kenya, the ‘No’ team protested at what they said was the US Government’s partisan role. "The interference by the US Government smirks of imperial arrogance and patronage and is an intolerable invasion on the sovereignty and national pride of the people of Kenya," they said in a statement read by Igembe MP Mithika Linturi.

The leaders asked Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetangula to summon Ranneberger to protest what they called "blatant breach of diplomatic etiquette." "It is now official that the Obama Administration is funding and financing the ‘Yes’ team and its envoy, Ambassador Michael Ranneberger, has recently descended from his diplomatic high ground to the murky realm of political activism as a ‘Yes’ crusader," claimed Linturi. But in a statement on Monday, the United States Embassy had declared: "These claims are categorically false, and those making such allegations are lying". As the attacks on the envoy escalated, a group of ‘Yes’ politicians sprung to the defence of the envoy, with some saying Ranneberger had a right to express his opinions and that ultimately Kenyans held the trump card. They included Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi, Water and Irrigation Minister Charity Ngilu and Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa, the deputy chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of Parliament. On Wednesday, a US Congressman, Mr Chris Smith, had said the American Government had given funds to several groups to win voters over to the ‘Yes’ side.

INTERDENOMINATIONAL WORLD REVIVAL MINISTRIES (I.W.R.M) INVITES YOU TO THE GREAT AWAKENING CONFERENCE FROM TODAY 16TH JULY 2010 TO SUNDAY 18TH JULY 2010 WITH BISHOP J.B. MASINDE.

LEAK of secret report exposes corrupt web · More than £1bn moved to 28 countries · Property in London, New York , Australia

The breathtaking extent of corruption perpetrated by the family of the former Kenyan leader Daniel Arap Moi was exposed last night in a secret report that laid bare a web of shell companies, secret trusts and frontmen that his entourage used to funnel hundreds of millions of pounds into nearly 30 countries including Britain.

The 110-page report by the international risk consultancy Kroll, seen by the Guardian, alleges that relatives and associates of Mr Moi siphoned off more than £1bn of government money. If true, it would put the Mois on a par with Africa's other great kleptocrats, Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo) and Nigeria's Sani Abacha.

The assets accumulated included multimillion pound properties in London, New York and South Africa, as well as a 10,000-hectare ranch in Australia and bank accounts containing hundreds of millions of pounds.

The report, commissioned by the Kenyan government, was submitted in 2004, but never acted upon. It details how:

· Mr Moi's sons - Philip and Gideon - were reported to be worth £384m and £550m respectively;

· His associates colluded with Italian drug barons and printed counterfeit money;

· The threat of losing their wealth prompted threats of violence between Mr Moi's family and his political aides;

· £4m was used to buy a home in Surrey and £2m to buy a flat in Knightsbridge.

Kroll said last night it could not confirm or deny the authenticity of the report.

The Kroll investigation into the former regime was commissioned by President Mwai Kibaki shortly after he came to power on an anti-corruption platform in 2003. It was meant to be the first step towards recovering some of the money stolen during Mr Moi's 24-year rule, which earned Kenya the reputation as one of the most corrupt countries in the world.

But soon after the investigation was launched, Mr Kibaki's government was caught up in its own scandal, known as Anglo Leasing, which involved awarding huge government contracts to bogus companies.

Since then, none of Mr Moi's relatives or close allies has been prosecuted. No money has been recovered. Three of the four ministers who resigned after the Anglo Leasing scandal was exposed have since been reinstated.

Last night, the Kenyan government confirmed that it received the Kroll report in April 2004. But Alfred Mutua, the government spokesman, said it was incomplete and inaccurate, and that Kroll had not been engaged to do any further work.

"We did not find that the report was credible. It was based a lot on hearsay." He said the leaking of the report was politically motivated and insisted Kenya was working with foreign governments to recover the stolen money. "Some of the money is in UK bank accounts. We have asked the British government to help us recover the funds, but so far they have refused."

The report was obtained by the website Wikileaks, which aims to help expose corruption. The document is believed to have been leaked by a senior government official upset about Mr Kibaki's failure to tackle corruption and by his alliance with Mr Moi before the presidential election in December.

On Tuesday Mr Moi said he was backing Mr Kibaki for a second term, saying he was disappointed that "selfish individual interests have been entrenched in our society". Mr Moi remains an influential figure in Kenya and his endorsement is expected to go some way to ensuring his successor's re-election.

In the Kroll report the investigators allege that a Kenyan bank was the key to getting vast sums of money of out of the country via its foreign currency accounts. The same bank had already laundered $200m (£100m) on behalf of the late Mr Abacha, with the assistance of a Swiss-based "financier".

"It is believed that twice as much was laundered through the same system by the Mois," the report said.

Kroll confirmed last night that it had previously done work for the Kenyan government. A company spokesman was given extracts of the report seen by the Guardian. "We cannot confirm or deny that this report is what it purports to be," he said. "Nor can we talk about the scope, content or results of any work we have done for the government of Kenya, which remains confidential."

Gideon Moi is an MP and Philip Moi is a businessman. Daniel Arap Moi's spokesman did not return calls last night.

KBC, Nairobi, Wednesday, July 14, 2010. Several posh houses standing on the Eastern and Northern road bypasses in the city's Kitisuru estate have been flattened to pave way for road construction.

Roads Minister Franklin Bett who supervised the demolitions vowed that no one will be allowed to encroach on road reserves. He said notices issued to property owners had expired adding that contractors were ready to begin work. Shocked residents and property owners watched in disbelief as armed police and private security guards kept vigil to ensure the demolition exercise progressed without a hitch. Bett said all structures standing on the road reserves will be brought down saying obstruction is causing inordinate delays and losses on the part of the government as road contractors are unable to plan for the construction works. But one of the property owners complained bitterly that the Minister ignored a court order claiming that the demolitions were done maliciously. Bett however cautioned against court injunctions saying they were being misused to perpetuate illegalities. The minister urged the Ministry of Lands to investigate officers who are involved in issuing fake title deeds and stern action be taken against them. The owners of residential and other permanent structures have not been compensated as most of the buildings were constructed where others had previously been brought down for the road project. The Northern by-pass, the Eastern by-pass, and the Ngong road-Westlands link are expected to ease traffic congestion as those who do not need to pass through the city centre will use the new routes. The Ngong Road-Westlands link, also known as "the missing link", will enable motorists from Ngong, Lang'ata and Karen to drive directly to Westlands, reducing traffic on roads like Argwings Kodhek and Dennis Pritt.

LONDON, July 14, 2010 Britain leads the world in the quality of care it provides for the dying, leaving many developed nations lagging a long way behind, according to a study released Wednesday. State support for end-of-life care and an effective network of hospices put Britain top of the list of 40 countries. despite not having the best healthcare system overall, said a report by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).

Researchers looked at factors including public awareness, availability of training and access to pain killers and doctor-patient transparency to compile the "quality of death" index. Australia ranked second on the global list followed by New Zealand and Ireland, with Germany, the US and Canada also featuring in the top 10. Many rich nations were in the bottom half of the list, including Denmark (22nd) and Finland (28th). India scored worst at number 40, with Portugal, South Korea and Russia also in the bottom 10. In the worst cases, the study found the quality and availability of care was often poor and policy co-ordination was lacking. It said "few nations, including rich ones with cutting-edge healthcare systems" incorporate end-of-life care strategies into their overall healthcare policy. In many of these countries, increasing longevity and ageing populations mean demand for end-of-life care "is likely to rise sharply", said the study.Falling birth rates, especially in developed countries, are likely to complicate the situation and, for the first time in history, the number of people over 65 will outnumber children under five years old, it added. "For the end-of-life care community, this presents a new and complex set of problems," the report said. It also found the availability of pain-killing drugs, rated in the report as the most important practical issue in the standard of palliative care, was "woefully inadequate across much of the world". This is mainly due to concerns about the drugs' illicit use and trafficking, and a lack of training among medical personnel on how to administer them. "The result of this state of affairs is an incalculable surfeit of suffering, not just for those about to die but also for their loved ones," the study said. Among the challenges faced by countries seeking to improve their end-of-life care is the task of overcoming perceptions of death and cultural taboos about dying. In Chinese culture, death and dying are stigmatised to such an extent that both are considered taboo, said the study, adding that in Western societies curative treatments are given priority over palliative care. The report recommended more training for potential home carers, stating that palliative care need not mean institutional care and that many patients choose to die at home. It cited data showing that more than 100 million patients and their family care-givers need palliative support annually, but fewer than eight per cent of them actually receive it. "Governments and providers are in a race against time," said the study, warning that the spread of ageing was rapidly outpacing efforts to provide much-needed care. Researchers interviewed doctors, specialists and other experts across the 40 countries listed, including 30 nations within the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and 10 others for which data was available.

A paralysed man whose life-support machine was about to be switched off signalled to doctors that he wanted to live by moving his eyes.

The incredible moment when father-of-two Richard Rudd, 43, managed to communicate his will to live was filmed for a BBC documentary about patients with serious brain injuries. Between Life and Death followed the progress of Mr Rudd and two other patients over six months at the Britain's leading brain injury unit at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge. Mr Rudd was seriously injured after his motorbike collided with a car pulling out of a petrol station last October. He was left completely paralysed and non-responsive.His family believed he would not want to live in such a state and gave doctors permission to withdraw treatment.

But as staff were poised to switch off his life-support machine Mr Rudd began to move his eyes. Asked by doctors if he wanted to live, he replied "yes" by moving his eyes.

The Daily Express,left, says Britain is under pressure to follow France and ban the Burka while The Independent, centre, warns of a toxic legacy of debt for future generations. The Government should slash student places, not funding, at some universities to protect "world class" research institutions, the head of University College London tells The Guardian, right).

The chief of Britain’s top prisons watchdog slammed a privately run jail on Sunday for migrants and immigrants as “fundamentally unsafe” and rife with “bullying, violence and drugs.” Brook House, a notorious immigrant removal centre near London’s Gatwick Airport, is run by privateer security contractors G4S on behalf of the government’s UK Border Agency. It is supposed to hold arrested migrants for just a couple of days before they are forcibly deported. However Chief Inspector of Prisons Anne Owers tore into G4S bosses, who raked in more than £400 million profit last year after snapping up security contracts outsourced by government ministers, for running “one of the least safe” centres in Britain. Ms Owers revealed that the jail was designed on the assumption that imprisoned immigrants would stay for only one night, but she confirmed that an investigation had discovered that many were in fact confined for weeks or even months before being deported or released. “We were disturbed to find one of the least safe immigration detention facilities we have inspected, with deeply frustrated detainees and demoralised staff, some of whom lacked the necessary confidence to manage those in their care,” she reported. Ms Owers related that inspectors had found more than two-thirds of the 400 detainees in Brook House confiding that they felt unsafe on their first night in the jail, while the incidence of the use of force by “embattled” staff was high. Ms Owers’s damning indictment is just the latest event discrediting the government’s hard-line detention policies. A series of scandals included Yarl’s Wood jail being burnt down by inmates allegedly in response to private security guards refusing medical treatment to a detainee, and a previous report by Ms Owers that attacked bosses at the Colnbrook centre near Heathrow for treating immigrants like “parcels.”

Although UK Border Agency detention director David Wood grudgingly admitted failings at Brook House, more than 20 refugee and asylum support groups united to demand a “moratorium on the opening of further immigration removal centres” pending an independent inquiry into the government’s detention policy. Turning the Con-Dem coalition’s mantra of spending cuts into an argument against imprisoning immigrants, organisations including Migrant Rights Network and Gatwick Detainees Welfare Group, which provides legal help for those jailed in Brook House, insisted that continuing to run such detention centres “is expensive, inefficient and damaging.” “This system unnecessarily deprives large numbers of their liberty indefinitely and fails to respect the civil liberties of those detained,” they said in a letter to Immigration Minister Damian Green. “Detention reform is therefore entirely consistent with this government’s commitment to upholding civil liberties and making substantial cuts in public spending,” they concluded. Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants spokesman Iman Sajid demanded more compassion from the government and added that “the problem we have is that these people feel they

are treated like criminals when their crimes are simply fleeing their own country for whatever reason.” Asylum Rights Campaign chairman Eiri Ohtani emphasised that “the continuing use of immigration detention without due diligence needs to be seen as what it is – a failure to seriously engage with the issues of human rights and dignity of those who happen to cross the border into this country.

UK Sky News. A cleaner who handed in £33,000 worth of cash after discovering it in a Pakistan hotel room will be rewarded for his remarkable honesty. Hotel employee Essa Khan found the wad of $100 notes left in a safety deposit box in the room of a Japanese NGO worker at the Serena hotel in Gilgit. The 51-year-old father-of-five, who earns about 21,000 rupees (£153) per month, told the BBC that he never considered keeping the money. He hoped his honesty would portray Pakistan in a positive light after allegations of Government corruption and incidences of state terrorism. Hotel manager Rajid Uddin also told the BBC that there had been similar instances where lostitems had been returned, but none "of this magnitude".

Hotel manager Rajid Uddin also told the BBC that there had been similar instances where lost items had been returned, but none "of this magnitude". Mr Uddin said the guest had been relieved when the cash was found. "He was naturally very worried as he wasn't able to figure out where he had lost the money," he said. Mr Khan has really shown that honesty is the best policy as the governor of Punjab has named him a 'national hero' and will hold a special ceremony in his honour, reports Australian newspaper, The Age.

PNU candidate in the Matuga by elections Mr Ali Chirau Mwakwere celebrates his victory with MPs Philip Kaloki of Kibwezi (right) and Johnstone Muthama inside the Goverment Training Institute at Matuga on Monday night.

It was a foregone conclusion in Mombasa that former Transport minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere would be trounced in the Matuga by-election.How, then, did he turn the tables on his opponents, particularly Orange Democratic Movement’s Hassan Mwanyoha to win convincingly? Mr Mwakwere garnered 16,350 votes to recapture the seat he lost after the High Court nullified his December 2007 election. Running on a Party of National Unity ticket, he beat his nearest and fiercest rival, Mr Mwanyoha, by a 5,463 vote margin. Mr Mwanyoha got 10,887 votes, Mr Kassim Tandaza of United Democratic Movement, 5,165 votes and Mr Isaac Mutula of Labour Party of Kenya 134. While the by-election was expected to be a neck-and-neck race, featuring the two top perennial rivals, who have run against ach other three times, the margin by which Mr Mwakwere carried the day was a shock to both friends and foes. For Mr Mwakwere, it was all down to his clever tactics. Mr Mwanyoha and the other candidates did not take Mr Mwakwere seriously when he stated during the campaigns that he had “a secret weapon” that he would use to take the seat. Read moe...

French lawmakers have voted to ban full-length veils in public places, putting France on the road to becoming the second European country to take steps to make wearing the burqa or niqab a criminal offence.

Headscarves worn by moslem women come in a myriad of styles. From left, is a Chador, which leaves face open, next is a Niqap, which leaves only eyes'area openand Burka which covers the entire face.

The French Parliament voted in favour of the law, with 335 votes in favour and one against. The law, which must still be approved by the Senate, would mean women wearing a full face veil in public can be fined 150 euros. It now goes to the constitutional council for a review. French Justice Minister Michelle Alliot Marie said: "These are values that remind us that France is never as big, as strong, as recognised in the world as when it is united around its values - humanitarian values, which today as yesterday forge our unity, our uniqueness and the greatness of France." The Belgium lower house of parliament voted in April to ban all clothing that covers or partially covers the face. French lawmakers have voted to ban full-length veils in public places, putting France on the road to becoming the second European country to take steps to make wearing the burqa or niqab a criminal offence.

London, July 13, 2010. From 31 July 2010, the British High Commission in Nairobi will no longer issue British passports. Passports will be issued at the new regional Passport Processing Centre in Pretoria, South Africa. Diplomatic passports will continue to be issued by the British Embassy in Paris. Detailed instructions on how to apply for a British passport in light of the new arrangements will be available on our website http://ukinkenya.fco.gov.uk/en/ or directly from Consular Section from 31 July 2010.

Left, a UK passpor, centre, the front cover of a contemporary British biometric passport and right inside front cover and first page of a non-biometric British passport (1988-1999) version.

If you are a British national and want to renew your British passport after 31 July you will be required to send your application directly to Pretoria using a courier service at your own expense. In addition to the passport fee, there will be an additional cost to the customer to cover the cost of the return courier fee. Payment can be made either by bank draft (in South African Rand) or by credit card (the customer will complete a credit card mandate) either of which will be enclosed with the passport application.

Passports will be returned to the British High Commission in Nairobi from Pretoria and customers may collect them personally or pay to have them sent by courier from Nairobi to elsewhere in Kenya. If you need to apply to replace a lost or stolen passport or if you are applying for a British passport for the first time, you will still be able to submit your application at the British High Commission in Nairobi but the application will ultimately be processed in Pretoria. In addition to the passport fee, there will be an additional cost to the customer to cover the cost of forwarding the application to Pretoria and back again to Nairobi by courier. Applicants will be able to pay either in cash (Kenya shillings only) or by bank draft (in Kenyan shillings). A public communication on these changes will issue on our website in the course of this week. A further public communication with details of how to apply under the new process will be issued on 31July. In the meantime, please do share this information with British nationals known to you. You may wish to advise anyone who has a British passport that is expiring within the next 9 months that they might considering applying to renew it at this office before 31 July. The validity of a new passport can be extended by up to 9 months. MORE

Death toll reaches 74

Left, President Museveni visits Ethiopian Village Restaurant yesterday. President Museveni declared a week of national mourning for victims of the bomb blasts starting today, Tuesday 13th. A statement from Presidency Minister Beatrice Wabudeya said the President had taken the decision “due to the barbaric and cowardly act”

Kampala, Tuesday, July 13 2010.The death toll following Sunday night’s bomb explosions that ripped through a city restaurant and sports club climbed to 74 yesterday, as reports trickled in that the Somali Islamist militia group, al Shabaab had claimed responsibility for the attacks. The development came as President Museveni declared a week of national mourning for victims of the bomb blasts starting today. A statement from Presidency Minister Beatrice Wabudeya said the President had taken the decision “due to the barbaric and cowardly act”. Reuters news agency quoted Sheikh Ali Mohamud Rage, al Shabaab’s spokesman, telling reporters in Mogadishu: “Al Shabaab was behind the two bomb blast in Uganda.” A report by the Chinese news agency Xinhua said a senior member of the Somali terrorist group had said the blasts were reprisal attacks against Uganda for sending peacekeepers to Mogadishu under the auspices of the African Union. “We have reached our object,” said the senior al Shabaab militant, who reportedly declined to be named. “We have killed many Christians in the enemy capital (Kampala).”

Three explosive devices were detonated on Sunday at the Ethiopian Village Restaurant in Kabalagala and at the Kyadondo Rugby Club where hundreds of revellers were watching the World Cup final match between Spain and the Netherlands.

Suspects arrested
Security agencies yesterday made some arrests in connection with the attacks. The police declined to give details, saying the investigations were ongoing. However, a source said one of the suspects was arrested at Oasis Mall in the heart of Kampala. Read more...... & Video

It may look like the stuff of science fiction but this unmanned jet could be the combat craft of the future.

left, a £142.5m combat aircraft unveiled recently and a modern combat jet, right.

Named Taranis, after the Celtic god of thunder, the £142.5 million prototype has been unveiled by the Ministry of Defence.

Dubbed the "pinnacle" of British engineering and aeronautical design, it is the size of a light aircraft and has been equipped with advanced stealth technology making it virtually undetectable. Almost invisible to ground radar, it is designed to travel at high jet speeds and cover massive distances between continents. The plane is built to carry out intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance on enemy territory using onboard sensors. And it has been designed to carry a cache of weapons - including bombs and missiles - giving it a potential long-range strike capability. It can be controlled from anywhere in the world with satellite communications. Experts say the cutting-edge design is at the forefront of world technology and as advanced as any US development. Gerald Howarth, minister for international security strategy, said: "Taranis is a truly trailblazing project.

"The first of its kind in the UK, it reflects the best of our nation's advanced design and technology skills and is a leading programme on the global stage." The jet was unveiled at a ceremony at BAE Systems in Warton, Lancashire. Flight trials are due to start next year.

Left, a victim at Mulago Hospital, left, in Kampala on Monday after twin bomb blasts tore through crowds watching the World Cup final and on the right Uganda Police seen in Uganda, Kampala, after the bomb blast

At least 64 people, including an American, have been killed in twin blasts in the Ugandan capital Kampala. Another 65 people were injured by the blasts, which police said went off at a rugby club and a restaurant as football fans watched the World Cup final. "These bombs were definitely targeting World Cup crowds," Inspector General of Police Kale Kayihura said. Somali militants have in the past threatened to attack Kampala; Ugandan troops are deployed in Mogadishu.

About 5,000 African Union troops from Uganda and Burundi are based in Mogadishu to protect the fragile interim government.

The Amisom force is engaged in frequent firefights with Islamist insurgents which control much of southern and central Somalia.

Insp General Kayihura said he believed Somalia's militant group al-Shabab could be behind Sunday evening's attack. If true, it would be the first time the group has carried out attacks outside Somalia. In Mogadishu, an al-Shabab commander said he was happy" with the attacks in Uganda. But Sheik Yusuf Sheik Issa refused to confirm or deny that al-Shabab was responsible.

He told AP news agency: "Uganda is one of our enemies. Whatever makes them cry, makes us happy. May Allah's anger be upon those who are against us." Insp General Kayihura, speaking at the scene of one blast, said: "The information we have indicates the people who have attacked the Ethiopian Village were probably targeting expatriates." US President Barack Obama said the explosions were "deplorable and cowardly". Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the US would work with the Ugandan government "to bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice". The US embassy in Kampala has confirmed that one American was among the dead. "The nationalities of all the fatalities will be released later," said police spokeswoman Judith Nabakooba.

'Screaming and running' At least three Americans, members of a Church group from Pennsylvania, were wounded at the Ethiopian restaurant. One, Kris Sledge, 18, said from his hospital bed: "I remember blacking out, hearing people screaming and running." MORE

Kibaki effect working in favour of draft

After weeks of perception that voters in Mount Kenya, especially Central Province, were wavering between ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ a wind of change now appears to be sweeping through the populous region. This is largely because of President Kibaki’s sustained campaign for ‘Yes’ on his home turf, and a personalised message about his legacy and appeal for his word to be trusted.

President Kibaki chats up jubilant Meru residents on arrival for a ?Yes? rally at Kinoru Stadium on Saturday and on the right, a section of the crowd of youths that heckled speakers at a rally organised by the ‘No’ team in Kakamega, on Sunday.

After weeks of perception that voters in Mount Kenya, especially Central Province, were wavering between ?Yes? and ?No? a wind of change now appears to be sweeping through the populous region. Read More

Spanish fans at the World Cup final in South Africa - and back home in a jubilant Madrid - celebrated in fine style as their national team lifted sport's most famous trophy for the very first time, beating Netherlands 1-0 after extra time.

Spain captain Iker Casllas lifts the World Cup trophy, left, and on the right, the Spanish fans celebrate Andreas Iniesta's goal as they watch a live broadcast at Recoletos' in Madrid

Their joy was mirrored back home in the Spanish capital of Madrid, where fans lined the streets and packed into public squares to watch the action on big screens across the city. It meant Holland have now lost three World Cup finals, in 1974, 1978 and now 2010, but the purists will argue the better team won.The Oranje's destructive tactics and frequent foul play were designed to dampen the fluent Spanish passing style, and they largely succeeded until a late sending off for John Heitinga opened up their defence. It allowed Cesc Fabregas time to pick out Iniesta, who took his time to fire home from 12 yards and spark jubilant celebrations among players and fans alike.

South Africa's former President Nelson Mandela waves as he arrives to attend the 2010 World Cup football final Netherlands vs. Spain on July 11, 2010 at Soccer City stadium in Soweto, suburban Johannesburg.

European duo Holland and Spain are hoping to end an 80-year wait for World Cup glory in Johannesburg.

JOHANNESBURG, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Nelson Mandela's family said that the world soccer body FIFA has pressured South Africa's former president to attend the World Cup final on Sunday. The 91-year-old icon missed the World Cup opening ceremony after his great-granddaughter died in a car crash. His grandson, Mandla Mandela, complained that his family should be left alone to mourn Zenani, who was killed while returning home from a World Cup concert in Soweto on June 10. He told BBC Radio the family has "come under extreme pressure from FIFA requiring and wishing that my grandfather could be at the final" between Spain and the Netherlands. FIFA should "understand we've had a loss in the family and we are in mourning, and that for me would be enough reason to leave the family to be for now," he added.

Somali asylum seeker family given £2m house... after complaining 5-bed London home was 'in poor area'

A family of former asylum-seekers from Somalia are living in a £2.1million luxury townhouse in one of Britain's most exclusive addresses at a cost to taxpayers of £8,000 a month.Abdi and Sayruq Nur and their seven children moved into their three-storey property in a fashionable area of London last month because they didn't like the 'poorer' part of the city they were living in.

Abdi Nur, centre, at the door of the £2million Kensington townhouse, right, that he, his wife and seven children have moved into from their former home in Brent, left, which matched their family's needs, but they didn't like living in a 'poor' part of London

Smart: The Nur family's new home has five bedrooms, two bathrooms and a fully fitted kitchen as is nearby several celebrities' London homes. Mr Nur, 42, an unemployed bus conductor, and his 40-year-old wife, who has never worked, are now living in Kensington despite the fact that they are totally dependent on state benefits. They live close to celebrities, including artist Lucian Freud, singer Damon Albarn and designer Stella McCartney, and their home is just minutes from the fashionable Kensington Place restaurant which was a favourite haunt of the late Princess Diana. The family's new home is believed to be one of the most expensive houses ever paid for by housing benefit, which is administered by local councils but funded by the Department for Work and Pensions.The disclosure that a single family has been paid so much will embarrass Ministers, who last month pledged to rein in Britain's £20billion-a-year housing benefit bill. Mr Nur said his former five-bedroom home in the Kensal Rise area of Brent, which cost £900 a week in housing benefit, was suitable for the family's needs but he said they had felt compelled to move because they did not like living 'in a very poor area' and were unhappy with the quality of local shops and schools.

He said he found the new house through a friend who knew the landlord, arranged to rent it through an estate agent, then approached officials at Kensington and Chelsea council who said 'it would be no problem' to move. Rules allow anyone who is eligible for housing benefit to claim for a private property in any part of the country they wish. -The £2,000 per week is paid directly to Mr Nur and his family, who then pay their landlord. Read more........

Britain's secret eavesdropping centre, GCHQ, has been criticised for failing to recruit enough ethnic minority staff to help fight terrorism. An official report, leaked to the Sunday Times, also said black and Asian intelligence officers had complained of discrimination at the complex near Cheltenham, in Gloucestershire.

A GCHQ spokesman told the BBC policies and practices were now being improved. Much of GCHQ's work involves monitoring calls and e-mails from terror suspects. But the report, authorised by the head of the civil service, Sir Gus O'Donnell, says a lack of officers with specialist knowledge of languages like Urdu and Arabic is hampering efforts to spot codes and cultural nuances in intercepted conversations. "It is critical to have a diverse staff group who are able to profile and recognise certain behaviour patterns and communications," the document says. The report recommends better engagement with ethnic minority communities in order to boost recruitment and improve the image of the organisation. "This is critical to good national security intelligence," it adds. The report says GCHQ has tried to improve its equality and diversity, but "the culture of the organisation has not been receptive to this" and it "is seen as a people issue which only applies to some people". It points out that there are no black or Asian senior managers. Several dozen ethnic minority intelligence officers were interviewed during its preparation, and among the complaints recorded was: "I wasn't born here and although I have been security cleared, I am constantly challenged about my loyalty to Britain by my colleagues." Another employee said: "The security officers ask questions which are culturally inappropriate, insensitive and offensive." A third said they felt that ethnic minority employees had to work harder than white colleagues "and for less reward". Targeted recruitment The director of communications at GCHQ, Chris Marshall, said the organistation had "long recognised that strict nationality and residency requirements for staff, and the specialist nature of our work, have made it challenging to develop a workforce which represents the diversity of the UK population". He said the organisation had tried to improve things with a targeted recruitment campaign, but a review in 2009 "reflected that GCHQ continued to fall short in meeting our targets". Mr Marshall said that in response to it, GCHQ was "making a number of improvements to our policies and practices", including employing a dedicated diversity officer and focusing recruitment on specific universities with large ethnic minority populations. "GCHQ is regularly recognised as a good employer but we aspire to be the best," he said. "We recognise that recruiting a diverse range of people, treating them in a non-discriminatory way and supporting them to achieve their full potential is key to that aspiration."

Nairobi, Saturday, July 2010. Parliament digs in for its third major money battle against the Treasury next week, with MPs basking in self-belief that nothing will stop them from getting the proposed hefty perks before the August 4 referendum.

The highest salaries in the world, based on size of economy, are weeks away for Parliament in a simple plan that involves shooting down all government motions, Bills and policy papers to cripple business

Their game plan is straightforward: Shoot down all government motions, Bills and policy papers, including the Finance Bill and the Appropriations Bill. As a result, the government will be starved of money such that unless and until the new pay package is legalised they will cripple government activities. This has to be done before the referendum. Besides, now that they don’t want to go on recess, they are also determined to quietly campaign against the proposed Constitution, if the government doesn’t budge.

London, Saturday, 10th July, 2010. Fugitive killer Raoul Moat, has died after, apparently, shooting himself in the early hours of this morning at around 1.15 am following a tense six-hour stand-off with armed officers in the riverside area of Rothbury in Northumberland, police sources say. Police said earlier that "no shots were fired by police officers" and no officers were hurt in the incident.

Raoul Moat, left, was cornered last night after being on the run for a week. Police officers are seen, centre, negotiating with him, right, before he shot himself twice.

Moat was taken to hospital in Newcastle, but sources told the BBC later that he had died. Police had been negotiating with him close to a river in the town of Rothbury after a week-long manhunt. BBC producer Claire Kendall said she heard two shots fired. Eyewitness Peter Abiston, whose house overlooks the scene of the incident, told the BBC: "There's been a shooting. Paramedics have gone into him. "From what I can see he shot himself. He lay down and shot himself. Eyewitness Susan Ballantyne, whose house overlooks the scene of the stand-off, said police crowded around Moat and jumped on him. TV reports revealed that shouting police officers leapt on to Moat in attempt to stop him shooting himself a second time, ending the 7-day man hunt in the ‘space of less than 10 seconds’. No officers have been injured.

Moat is taken to hospital in Newcastle in an ambulance with a convoy of police escorts.

An ambulance left the scene accompanied by two police cars and later arrived at Newcastle General Hospital. Chief Superintendent Mark Dennett said the circumstances surrounding the shooting "have yet to be established". Police discovered an armed man on the riverbank at about 1900 BST on Friday. Expert negotiators were brought in to speak to him. Unconfirmed reports suggested a friend of Moat was also brought inside the police cordon.

Moat, 37, had been on the run for a week after allegedly shooting his ex-girlfriend Samantha Stobbart and killing her new partner, Chris Brown. The attacks took place in the Scafell area of Birtley, near Gateshead, on Saturday 3 July. In the early hours of Sunday 4 July, Moat is alleged to have shot Pc David Rathband as he sat in his patrol car in East Denton, near Newcastle. Moat was released from prison on Thursday 1 July. Northumbria Police said he appeared to have a grudge against the force and in a letter purportedly written by him, he threatened to keep shooting officers until he was dead. The focus of the manhunt moved to Rothbury when a black Lexus car, which Moat was thought to have been using, was discovered in the town on Tuesday. Police imposed a 10-mile (16km) exclusion zone around the town and armed officers from forces across the country were brought in to assist in the search.

The Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) will hold talks with the Government on contentious clauses in the Proposed Constitution only if it postpones the August 4 referendum. Announcing the demand yesterday after a meeting, the Bishops Synod, led by ACK head, Archbishop Eliud Wabukala, said holding the poll could spell doom for the country. "The foul mood in the country is not conducive for a referendum, and we still believe in the postponement of the referendum with a view to building consensus in the long term interest of the nation", said the Synod in a implementation of the salary and allowance increases proposed by Justice Akilano Akiwumi Commission. MORE

London, Thursday 8th July, 2010. Police hunting for Raoul Moat left a magazine of bullets in child's bedroom after searching a family home, it was revealed today.

Left, the clear plastic magazine of bullets which is branded with the words 5.56x45mm calibre - high-powered bullets used in M16 American assault rifles was left in a house in Kenton. The centre picture shows the 20 copper-tipped 5.56 calibre bullets and on the right, a policeman collects the ammunition from the house.

A SWAT team left a clip containing 20 copper-tipped 5.56 calibre bullets - capable of piercing steel. The armed team had raided the Newcastle home of a couple and their 11-year-old daughter after reports Moat was in hiding at their address in Kenton. But after the parents were handcuffed and led into the street by armed police in front of neighbours, police found no trace of the fugitive and left. They left behind a magazine containing at least 20 rounds of ammunition which were discarded in the bedroom of the couple's daughter. The couple, who did not want to be named, relived the raid on their home the Kenton area of Newcastle which has been the scene of a series of similar swoops. The 30-year-old father said: 'There were just 10 guns pointing at my face as soon as I opened the door. I'm not angry with the police - they are just doing their jobs - but why are people saying that Moat is round at our house? 'I've come down the stairs and there are about 10 guns pointing straight at me. They've left the cartridge and that's made me angry - I don't want my kid finding that. 'My daughter was at school and it's a good job she wasn't here to see what was going on.' The mother, 26, added: 'I was told to stand in the window with my hands showing while they took out my husband and made him kneel in the street. 'I heard shouting but I didn't think anything of it. All of a sudden I realised what was happening.They were pointing guns at me and shouting. They handcuffed him and then I was led out'. They made me give them a layout of the house and then they just went in and started looking round. We didn't even know Moat that well. We used to see him on the estate but that's as close as we got to him. We're told the police were phoned and told he was here - it's absolute rubbish. It was a frightening experience because they were carrying these big guns. The street has been full of people. I can't believe this has happened.' Northumbria Police were alerted to the security scare and a spokesman promised a full investigation into the matter. 'We will fully investigate the circumstances,' he said. A neighbour who saw the swoop said: 'The dogs were on their chains outside and I heard them barking so I opened the door. There was a policeman right outside with a great big gun. 'I was terrified. He shouted at me to get back in the house. Looking out of the window I could see the police going into the house. There were about five police cars and a van, as well as dogs. They got them out of the house, I could see how frightened they looked. I felt so sorry for them."

London. Police powers, in UK, to stop and search people without suspicion under terrorism laws are to be scrapped, ministers announced today. Home Secretary Theresa May said Section 44 searches, introduced under the Terrorism Act 2000, would no longer be permitted against any pedestrian. Instead, searches will only be allowed if police have "reasonable suspicion" - effectively bringing anti-terror powers into line with those that apply to ordinary policing. The only exception will be for vehicle searches, which will still be permitted without grounds for suspicion. The new interim guidelines will last until a wider review of counter-terrorism legislation is completed. Today's decision comes after innocent people, including photographers and tourists, complained they were stopped and searched just for taking pictures. The European Court of Human Rights ruled this year the powers were unlawful because of a lack of "adequate legal safeguards against abuse", and the risk that they could be used in a discriminatory manner. In a statement to MPs, Mrs May said: "The first duty of government is to protect the public. But that duty must never be used as a reason to ride roughshod over our civil liberties. I believe the interim proposals give the police the support they need and protect those ancient rights.

Stricter controls: (left), Police will not be allowed to stop and search individuals unless they 'reasonably suspect' them of being a terrorist. Grant Smith, right, who works as a photographer, told how he was searched nine times while taking pictures

"Officers will no longer be able to search individuals using Section 44 powers. Instead, they will have to rely on Section 43 powers - which require officers to reasonably suspect the person to be a terrorist." The change was welcomed by Grant Smith, an architecture photographer who has been stopped and searched nine times in three years while taking pictures of buildings, including a church, and the capital's skyline. The 53-year-old from Hackney said: "In all but one case I was stopped under Section 44 in the City of London. In all these cases I was just doing my job. It is fairly innocuous. I have always looked forward to the day when I can work without fear of harassment." The Government's watchdog on terrorism laws, Lord Carlile, has pointed out that not one arrest for terror offences had resulted from more than 200,000 such searches last year. But shadow home secretary Alan Johnson warned that the move, combined with fewer police because of the Government's public spending cuts, would leave the nation at greater risk from terrorism.

Moat: Now I’ll shoot anyone

Fugitive gunman Raoul Moat has threatened the public as well as the police, it was revealed today.

As the manhunt entered its sixth day, officers revealed a heightened danger and predicted the search for the bodybuilder would take time. The warning came as it was revealed that two more men were arrested in the rural Rothbury area of Northumberland last night on suspicion of helping the killer. Two other alleged accomplices appeared in court today charged with conspiracy to murder and possession of a weapon. At the same time police released new CCTV images of Moat, showing him with a distinctive mohican haircut. The former nightclub bouncer was filmed in a Newcastle shop last Friday — only hours before the start of his shooting spree. He wore a tight, bright orange T-shirt with dark jeans and white trainers as he entered a branch of B&Q and appeared to have lost weight. The images are the most recent pictures police have of him. They were taken the day before Moat, 37, shot ex-partner Samantha Stobbart and killed her new boyfriend at 2.40am on Saturday. On Sunday he also critically injured a policeman. He was videoed browsing the aisles of the hardware store in Scotswood Road, suggesting he may already have been planning to go on the run. Northumbria Police's temporary Chief Constable Sue Sim said today: “From the outset we stressed Mr Moat's threats are largely directed towards police. Information has now emerged that he has made threats towards the wider public.

Manhunt: Raoul Moat caught on CCTV in a shop in Newcastle,left, and right, Flummoxed: A group of firearms officers gathered by a wall as they ontemplate their next move

“I want to stress we have the resources and resilience to deal with this situation and my officers are out in large numbers.” She said her force had received advice from the military and brought in armoured vehicles from Northern Ireland because they are better suited to the rugged terrain. Mrs Sim said Northumberland was “extremely difficult to search” due to its landscape of caves, ravines, dense woodland and deep water. She said: “This search will take time and we must protect those involved.”

Det Ch Supt Neil Adamson said that based on “intelligence and information” police believed Moat was still in the Rothbury area. He also revealed officers think Moat was getting help from friends and associates and said officers had received a hoax call from someone pretending to be Moat. Police said officers supported by dog handlers had continued searching through the night. The bodybuilder has been on the run since he shot dead karate instructor Chris Brown, 29, just 48 hours after being released from jail. As well as killing Mr Brown, Moat shot 22-year-old Miss Stobbart, leaving her with critical injuries. A day later he blasted Pc David Rathband, 42, as he sat in his patrol car. The traffic officer has also been left critically injured. Moat vowed he would not stop killing “till I'm dead”. Pc Rathband's twin brother Darren today said the officer still had a long road to recovery. He added: “This coward not only wrecked his life but the lives of so many people, including his child. Moat, you are a coward and will be remembered as just that.” Moat's mother Josephine Healey, who has had little contact with him for 18 years, said: “I feel he has not been my son since he was 19. He now has a totally different character. “If I was to make an appeal I would say he would be better dead.”

The Bank of England is expected on Thursday to keep its key interest rate at a record-low 0.5 percent as it mulls the impact of the government's austerity measures on Britain's fragile economic recovery. The central bank's monetary policy committee (MPC) is predicted by most economists to hold its key lending rate after a two-day meeting despite stubbornly high inflation that sparked dissent from one policymaker last month.

Bank of England expected to keep interest rates on hold while the markets remain concerned over the potential of a so-called "double dip" recession

The coalition government last month delivered a deficit-slashing emergency budget which contained a package of higher taxation and spending cuts amid intense concern about soaring state debt levels in Europe. "The risks to a still-fragile UK recovery coming from the intensified tightening of fiscal policy that will increasingly kick in ... mean that most members of the MPC are likely to maintain the view that it is premature to raise interest rates despite persistently above-target and sticky consumer price inflation," said IHS Global Insight economist Howard Archer. Archer said the policymakers would also anticipate that the budget measures "could negatively impact on consumer and business behaviour." The economy clawed its way out of a record-length recession late last year but market concerns remain over the potential of a so-called "double dip" or second phase of economic downturn.

Last month, a single MPC policymaker voted to lift hike the central bank rate to 0.75 percent, according to minutes from the June 10 gathering. Andrew Sentance argued that an increase was necessary due to a spike to inflation -- the first time for almost two years that an MPC member had voted for tightening. In the event, the MPC voted 7-1 to keep borrowing costs at 0.50 percent. "The MPC is getting increasingly nervous about the current rise in inflation, as evidenced by Andrew Sentance's vote for an interest rate rise last month," said Capital Economics economist Vicky Redwood. "However, most members still seem prepared to wait and see if the spare capacity in the economy starts to pull inflation back down." Worries persist about inflation, which softened in May but held above the BoE's government-set target of 2.0 percent. Consumer Price Index (CPI) 12-month inflation, the government's target measure, fell to 3.4 percent in May from a 17-month peak of 3.7 percent in April, official data showed. Most economists predict that inflation will spike in the longer term after finance minister George Osborne last month announced a sharp hike in tax on goods and services. Value-added tax (VAT) will increase to 20 percent from the current 17.5 percent in January 2011. Meanwhile ahead of the meeting, the government appointed a top economic forecaster to the MPC.

Martin Weale, director of the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, will replace Kate Barker, who left the panel at the end of May. The MPC will comprise only eight members this week, instead of the usual nine, because Weale will not take part until August.

A mysterious race of ancient Britons who had much in common with people today but belonged to another human species lived in Norfolk almost a million years ago, scientists believe.

Examples of their stone tools were found close to the seashore at Happisburgh, near the Norfolk Broads, where coastal erosion has exposed a treasure trove of fossils. Evidence suggests they were hunting mammoth and deer and hiding from sabre-toothed cats in the area more than 800,000 years ago, making them the oldest known human settlers in northern Europe. The find pushes back the date when humans were first known to have occupied Britain by at least 100,000 years. No bones of the tool-makers have yet been discovered, but scientists believe they may have been related to a species called Homo antecessor (Pioneer Man) that lived in southern Europe at the same time. They were not ancestors of people living today, but represented a "dead end" branch of the human evolutionary tree. Yet scientists believe they looked similar to modern humans, and probably wore animal-skin clothes and built shelters. They might even have known how to master fire. During this pre-glacial period Britain had a climate similar to southern Scandinavia today, with mild summers but bitterly cold winters that would have been hard to survive.

Professor Chris Stringer, one of the scientists who reported the discovery on Wednesday in the journal Nature, said: "This was a species that was fairly human in terms of walking upright; these were not ape-men.

Teachers, in UK, are to get tougher powers - and clearer guidance on using physical force - to deal with unruly pupils, the Government will announce

Courts will be told to heed new guidlines on force being used to remove youngsters from classrooms or restrain troublemakers.

Search powers are to be beefed up too, allowing kids to be checked for mobile phones, fireworks, cigarettes and legal highs, as well as weapons and drugs. Teachers will also be granted anonymity if complaints are made about them in a bid to prevent careers being ruined by "malicious" claims. The raft of measures will be unveiled by Schools Minister Nick Gibb in an effort to give schools "the powers and freedoms they need to maintain discipline". There are rare occasions when young people may be carrying and concealing dangerous materials. The NUT's Christine Blower, says. Official figures show 2,230 pupils were permanently excluded last year for physical assaults on teachers or fellow pupils. Tens of thousands more were suspended. One in five secondary schools is rated "satisfactory" or worse by Ofsted for behaviour and two in five teachers have witnessed physical aggression - a quarter of them being the victims of it.

Anyone handling complaints about teachers will be "made aware that teachers can apply discipline in the classroom for the safety of all the pupils... and in the interests of maintaining order", the Department for Education said. Under present search powers, authorised staff can only force pupils to be searched if they suspect them of carrying knives or other weapons, drugs or alcohol. Mr Gibb wants to extend the list to include electronic devices like mobile phones and music players, pornography, fireworks, tobacco products and so-called "legal highs". He will also say he wants to make the power even wider to cover any item which teachers believe could pose a threat to safety or order in the classroom. The National Union of Teachers' Christine Blower said: "There are rare occasions when young people may be carrying and concealing dangerous materials. "In those situations, teachers have to make a judgment call on the spot. In doing so, they should not be subject to the potential for accusations that they are acting illegally."

Searches of woodland and countryside are continuing around a town in north-east England in the hunt for suspected armed killer Raoul Moat. Officers carried out a "systematic operation" around Rothbury, Northumberland, throughout the night in a bid to trace the 37-year-old. A two-mile exclusion zone around the town which was put in place on Tuesday has been relaxed and schools are open. Moat is wanted over the shooting of three people. One man was killed. The former nightclub bouncer's ex-girlfriend Samantha Stobbart, 22, was shot twice and her new partner Chris Brown, 29, killed in Birtley, Gateshead on Saturday.

Teams of armed police officers, left, scoured fields and woodland in search of Moat Raoul, right, who says he has "declared war" on police

Pc David Rathband, 42, was shot in his patrol car in Newcastle on Sunday. Northumbria Police have urged people in the area around Rothbury to report anything suspicious. Armed officers were brought into the town on Tuesday after the discovery of a black Lexus car which police had been searching for in connection with Moat. The public need not fear me but the police should as I won't stop 'till I'm dead. Raoul Moat's letter to police. Vehicles entering and leaving the town were checked and teams of armed officers scoured fields, woodland and empty farm buildings in search of Moat, who is from the Fenham area of Newcastle. Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Jim Campbell said the air search had been hampered on Tuesday night by heavy rain and the search was proving a "challenge". He said: "We were aware a search of this open farmland area with many abandoned buildings and dense areas of woodland posed a particular challenge. "Despite a large-scale search conducted by specialist teams we have not yet located Moat. "Officers are continuing the search today and are renewing their appeals for help from the public in locating this man. "Our message remains the same - if you see this man who has a distinctive appearance call the police straightaway. "We have resources available throughout the force area who can be deployed." He also said a "stringent two-mile exclusion zone" around the town had been downgraded but warned officers would still be patrolling the area and vehicles entering and leaving the town would be checked. "We want to reassure residents in the Rothbury area that despite this activity it is still very much 'business as usual' for local residents," he said. "Schools in Rothbury will be fully open on Wednesday and police resources will be in place to reassure parents that they can safely take their children to and from school," he added. "We will continue to keep a large and highly visible police presence in the town of Rothbury for as long as necessary while the search continues." On Tuesday, Northumbria Police revealed two men believed to have been taken hostage by Moat had been found and subsequently arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder. A third man was also arrested earlier in the Wrekenton area of Gateshead in connection with the investigation. Pc Rathband suffered wounds to his face and upper body in the shooting and is critical but stable after undergoing surgery. Miss Stobbart's condition was said to be "improving". Moat was released from Durham Prison on Thursday after an 18-week sentence for assault. Officers had been warned he may have been planning to harm his former girlfriend and Northumbria police said they had referred the case to the Independent Police Complaints Commission. Police have since been handed a a 49-page handwritten letter apparently from Moat in which he "declared war" on them. In the letter, Moat said: "The public need not fear me but the police should as I won't stop 'till I'm dead." Moat is described as 6ft 3in (1.9m) tall and of muscular build. Family members said that he used body-building steroids. These have been linked to aggressive behaviour. His family have also said he was prone to "eruptions of anger".

Miriam Segel, the widow of Bishop Joseph Segel of Redeemed Church Ongata Rongai, who died after being shot by thugs inside the church compound on the 4th July 2010. At right is his son Emmanuel Segel.

Gunmen, shot dead a bishop in a midnight raid at a church in Nairobi’s outskirts on Sunday. Bishop Joseph Segel of the Redeemed Church, Ongata Rongai was shot twice in the chest as he attempted to block the attackers from entering the church. His wife Miriam hid at the altar while the gunmen beat up and frisked church faithful for valuables. Internal Security minister George Saitoti visited the area on Wednesday last week and ordered the local police to beef up security, in response to yet another attack in which two people were hacked to death and 11 others injured a day earlier at Oloo Sirkon Village, seven kilometres away. The church is located about 300 metres from the Ongata Rongai police station. The gunmen entered the church compound minutes after Miriam drove in, with the bishop on the passenger seat and three women were riding at the back. They were returning to the church late after attending a week-long “religious mission” in Matuu. The three women are church faithful who had accompanied them for the mission. “It was some minutes to midnight. I took a turn from the tarmac road and was driving towards the church’s gate. I saw a vehicle following from behind and I got nervous. I drove faster,” Miriam said. She stopped at the gate and asked one of the ladies to alight and open the gate. “I also told her to close and lock it immediately after I drove in,” added Miriam. She parked the vehicle and entered the church through the office door while the ladies were unloading shopping bags when a gun appeared. “I saw a very tall man with a rifle at the door. He was struggling with another man who is also a member of our church,” said Miriam. The other man is Mr George Kamau, who said had been waiting to pray with the bishop, then spend the night at the church ahead of the morning service. “It was 10 minutes to midnight. I helped open the gate and mama (Miriam) told me to monitor the other vehicle. It took a turn and drove past. But three men carrying firearms started to alight before the vehicle stopped and I dashed back,” he said. He rushed back and alerted the ladies as they unloaded bags from the vehicle. “I told them to rush and hide in the office. I followed them but as I entered the one with a rifle was right behind me. He kicked the door as I closed from inside. I fell on the floor and the bishop rushed to help. He shot him then ordered us to lie on the floor, then shot him again,” added Mr Kamau. Two men had entered the church, the other had a pistol and another kept watch outside. “They demanded for the car keys and money. They also took a handbag and mobile phones and sped off,” Mr Kamau said. A woman who had been left in the bishop’s car was taken hostage as the gunmen sped off. MORE

Unemployment in UK among recent graduates has risen significantly, with men worse affected than women, a think tank says. The Higher Education Policy Institute said unemployment among graduates aged under 24 rose by 25% from 11.1% in December 2008 to 14% in December 2009. It said at the end of 2009 17.2% of male graduates were out of work compared with 11.2% of women. However, the independent think tank said that men still earned more on average once in work. The institute's report comes a day after a research body warned graduate unemployment could hit record levels as a result of planned public spending cuts. The Higher Education Careers Service said that because so many college leavers join the public sector, they were especially vulnerable to cuts. To compile its report, the institute analysed the most recent data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency and the Office of National Statistics. The report suggested discrimination in the workplace and the different subject or career choices made by men and women as reasons for the difference in their earnings - with male graduates receiving 50% more money on average when first employed and 30% more after three years. This inequality in pay levels among young graduates has persisted despite women generally performing better than men at university, it said. The institute said this anomaly needed further investigation. The report said that 44% of graduate jobs were held by men, with this lower employment rate being attributed to less male participation in higher education, and their poorer overall performance at university compared with women. Drawing on data from a separate survey on the destination of university leavers in 2007 and 2008, the institute nevertheless suggested a more mixed picture with regard to other graduate experiences. It said that male and female graduates enjoyed similar levels of job satisfaction upon entering the workplace and that they tended to gain jobs of comparable quality. The report - Male and Female Participation and Progression in Higher Education: Further Analysis - also found that women's participation in higher education rose further than men's between 1994 and 2005 - from 29% to 32% for men and from 35% to 40% for women.

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, left, is greeted by Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki, right, at the Nairobi State House, Kenya on Tuesday 6th July, 2010. Photo AP

Intense competition for graduate jobs means that more than three quarters of employers require at least a 2:1 degree grade, a survey suggests. The Association of Graduate Recruiters says there are more graduates chasing fewer jobs - with vacancies down by 7%. Applications have soared, with an average of 69 people chasing each graduate job. In response, 78% of employers are now filtering out applicants who have not achieved a 2:1 degree. About two thirds of students achieve either a first class degree or a 2:1 - so this means the remaining third, who will still have passed their exams and paid their tuition fees, will not even be considered by these employers. "While this approach does aid the sifting process it can rule out promising candidates with the right work skills unnecessarily," says the AGR's chief executive, Carl Gilleard. "We are encouraging our members to look beyond the degree classification when narrowing down the field of candidates to manageable proportions." The most recent figures - for 2008-09 - show that 64% of students achieved either a first class or upper second degree. But there are substantial differences within this average. For instance, men are less likely than women to achieve these higher grades and part-time students are less likely to do so than full-time ones. When these factors are combined, less than half of male part-time students achieve a 2:1 - with this survey suggesting that many will now struggle in the jobs market. Degree classification was more widely used as a selection criterion than relevant work experience (34%) or degree subject (33%) or going to a particular university (7%). This annual survey provides a snapshot of the graduate jobs market, based on the experiences of almost 200 leading employers.

It shows that a growing number of graduates are competing for a shrinking number of vacancies. This has been intensified by graduates from last year still looking for jobs and adding to the pressure on vacancies. This was the second year of falls in graduate vacancies - and the average number of applicants per vacancy has risen from 49 to 69. Starting salaries remain at £25,000. This AGR survey, carried out twice a year, concludes that the recovery is "going to be slower than previously thought". This is the third survey of the graduate jobs market in a week - and taken together they show uncertainty over whether there is a fragile recovery or a continuing decline. The AGR survey suggests that opportunities for university leavers are getting worse. The current average of 69 applicants for a job contrasts with only 28 in 2006. But last week, another survey of the graduate jobs market, from High Fliers, found a mixed picture - with a resurgence in vacancies in banking and finance and a decline in vacancies in the public sector. At the weekend, research from the Higher Education Policy Institute showed that graduate unemployment had risen from 11.1% to 14% - but that it was male graduates in particular who were failing to find jobs. Such concerns about a tough graduate jobs market comes as a review considers whether universities should be allowed to charge higher tuition fees. Aaron Porter, president of the National Union of Students, warned that spending cuts could cause even greater difficulties for university leavers. "We are concerned that the savage cuts to the public sector will create further unemployment, and will make the lives of graduates tougher in an already difficult jobs market," he said. David Willetts, Minister for Universities and Skills, said: "The job market remains challenging for new graduates, as it does for others. But a degree is still a good investment in the long term, and graduates have a key role to play in helping Britain out of the recession."

A family in India kept their 72-year-old uncle in a coffin for two years after he refused to hand over his farm to them. Authorities in Porbunder, western India, say that the family took the lid off the coffin just once a day to feed Rajan Killaker before nailing it down again, and that they drilled holes in the casket so he could breath. They kept him trapped after he had refused to sign over his farm, worth around £100,000, to them 'We have arrested eight of his relatives who confessed to torturing him,' said a police spokesman.

Police in Kirinyaga, Central Province, Kenya on Monday released a picture of a suspected serial killer wanted in connection with the murders of several women in the district. The pictures taken by CCTV cameras mounted in several banks in the area show the suspect withdrawing money from the accounts of some of his victims. Kirinyaga police boss Patrick Oduma, said the suspect is believed to have killed more than five women in the district including a nurse and a senior employee of Kirinyaga county council in the past few months. The suspect is also linked to the murder of a business woman last month and a house girl three months ago. Oduma said the suspect belongs to the Kikuyu tribe, aged between 35-40 and works in a gang of four which operates from Githurai in Nairobi. Oduma who was briefing the press in his office termed the suspect as a dangerous and merciless murderer who kills at the slightest provocation. The suspect allegedly gains access into his victims' homes using a master key, catching his victims unawares, before raping them and slitting their throats using a knife. Police say that efforts to nab the suspect have been fruitless and are calling on members of public to assist the police with any useful information that may lead to his apprehension. The security situation in Kirinyaga district has deteriorated in the past few months with traders in Kerugoya town closing shop early this year and vowing not to resume business until the situation was addressed. Their action was triggered by various cases of unresolved murders that have hit Kerugoya town and its environs in the recent past. In May armed gangsters raided the home of an employee of Kirinyaga County Council in and brutally murdered her, raped her eight year-old-daughter before setting her house ablaze. The four gangsters armed with crude weapons are said to have raided the home of Anne Thanji and demanded to be given money and the deceased's ATM card. She complied but gave them the wrong PIN number and after attempts to access her bank account failed, they went back to the house and ferociously attacked the woman, raping her and her daughter before setting the house a blaze. The little girl managed to escape but the woman who had deep cuts all over her body could not pull herself out of the blaze.

This is how things were at St Louis (Missouri), USA when Bishop Muya was preaching. The power of the Lord rocked the place as God confirmed His word with Signs following. Bishop Muya leaves St Louis for Seattle Washington on Wednesday 8th July for the weekend 10th and 11th great revival meetings. His contact in USA is 0015086157632.

The Home Office has been accused of telling gay and lesbian asylum seekers to avoid persecution back home by keeping their sexuality secret. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees claims the UK is turning international convention "on its head". The UK Supreme Court will rule on the legality of the advice on Wednesday involving countries where it is frowned upon or even illegal to be homosexual. The Home office says it is committed to safeguarding gays and lesbians at risk. The UNHCR told the BBC that under the so-called "discretion-test", in use by immigration officials and courts since 2006, gay or lesbian asylum seekers are regularly told to go home and keep their sexuality secret to avoid repercussions. Many are from countries where homosexuality is unacceptable - such as Iran, Cameroon and other African nations.In a BBC interview Alexandra McDowall, the UNHCR's legal officer in London, says the discretion test "introduces an element that shouldn't be there". She says it forces failed gay and lesbian applicants to live "under a veil of secrecy" back home. People facing threats because of their sexuality count as a "protected group," alongside those facing religious or political persecution, she adds. "Would we have asked a Jew to hide in the attic to avoid being sent to the concentration camps?," she told the BBC. "Persecution does not cease to be persecution just because an individual can take avoiding action by being discreet." A Home Office spokesman says the new coalition government was "committed to ending the removal" of gay or lesbian claimants facing "proven risk of imprisonment, torture or execution". The government does not keep official figures on how many failed or successful asylum seekers claimed on the basis of their sexuality or gender identification. But according to a recent report by the gay lobby group Stonewall, 98% of all gay or lesbian asylum claims are refused in the first instance.In almost all of these cases the "discretion test" was used, it adds.In one case, currently before the UK Supreme Court, a gay man from Cameroon was told he should relocate elsewhere in his country and be "more discreet" in future. The man, only identifiable as "HT", was attacked by an angry mob back home which had seen him and his partner kissing in public. "Some people stopped me and said we know you are a gay man," HT told the BBC. He has been fighting removal from the UK for the past four years. "I cannot go back and hide who I am or lie about my sexuality," he says. The Supreme Court is due to announce its decision on HT's case on Wednesday. Also under consideration is the case of a 31-year-old Iranian gay man, who was attacked and expelled from school when his homosexuality was discovered. Like HT, he has been told he could be "reasonably expected to tolerate" conditions back home that would require him to be discreet and avoid persecution.

Heart Attacks And Drinking Warm Water

* This is a very good article. Not only about the warm water after your meal, but about

* Heart Attacks. The Chinese and Japanese drink hot tea with their meals, not cold water, maybe it is time we adopt their drinking habit while eating.

* For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you. It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion. Once this 'sludge' reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.

Common Symptoms Of Heart Attack...
A serious note about heart attacks - You should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting . Be aware of intense painin the jaw line.

You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack. Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms. 60% of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know the better chance we could survive.

Abused, humiliated and abandoned. What really happens when the UK deports failed asylum-seekers. On a sunny April morning earlier this year, a plane took off from Heathrow's northern runway at a little after 6.30am and turned towards the South coast. Unlike other flights, this one didn't appear on any of the airport's departure boards. Nor were those on board holidaymakers or businessmen. Instead, this secret flight carried 15 failed asylum-seekers, who were being forcibly removed from the United Kingdom by 45 private security guards. One of those on board was Yves Yitgna Njitchoua, a 34-year-old from Cameroon. "People were screaming and crying because they feared for their lives," he said in an interview with The Independent. Mr Njitchoua says his wrists and legs were handcuffed for the whole flight. He was allowed to go to the toilet only with the door open and four guards standing outside. Such flights are being used by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) with increasing frequency to return failed asylum-seekers. They are shrouded in secrecy, but an investigation by The Independent has put together details of the process, including the companies and airlines involved, the conditions on board, the techniques permitted, and the contracts of those paid to escort deportees. Though the records of activists, charities, befrienders, and the testimony of deportees themselves, it is possible to build up a picture of chartered and scheduled removal from Britain. The Independent has found that:

*British Airways, BMI and other leading airlines are among those paid to transport failed asylum-seekers;

*A criminal record, even for assault, is not a barrier to someone becoming a private-security escort;

*Escorts are authorised to use a variety of techniques to restrain deportees including a "Goose Neck" lock and a procedure called "Nose Control";

*Escorts have a financial incentive to ensure removals are successful because the majority of their income is an hourly wage.

Yves Yitgna Njitchoua arrived in Britain and applied for asylum in 2005, claiming he had suffered persecution and been tortured by the police in Cameroon because of his political views. His brother, a local councillor, had been killed because of his involvement in the opposition party. - FULL STORY

Mr. Kariuki wa Laban (left) from Kinyona Village, Kigumo, Muranga is in London. Mr. Kariuki from the slopes of Aberdare Ranges arrived in London last week for a graduation of his relative this month. He is one of the leading tea growers in his area. The man from Mr. Seed's village who is now over 60 years has never left home all his lifetime. Posing together is Mr. William Munene Waruhiu (right) a constructor from Nakuru, Kenya. Mr. Waruhiu of Waruhiu Construction Ltd. is Nakuru arrived in London last week. If you have been looking for a modern Building Techniques and Civil Engineering Works, he is the right man. His telephone contact in UK is 07404380357, in Kenya is 0722254977 or email waruhiu.construction@yahoo.com. Mr. Kariuki wa Laban contact in UK is 07805626210 all the way from Chief Njiiri's village.

A KILLER gunman last night taunted police after he went on the run, saying: “You can’t catch me.” Bouncer Raoul Moat made the chilling boast after blasting his ex- girlfriend in the stomach and chest and executing her new lover with a shot to the head. Hours later the bodybuilder, who had been released from prison two days earlier, gunned down a police officer carrying out traffic checks at the side of the road. Last night a huge police manhunt was under way as terrified locals were advised not to approach “dangerous” Moat under any circumstances. It emerged that the 37-year-old, who had been in prison for assault, wrongly believed the man his ex-partner Samantha Stobbart, 22, had left him for while he was in jail was a police officer. In a press conference yesterday police appealed directly to Moat, revealing that he had contacted them in a 999 call at about the time the officer was gunned down. Detective Chief Superintendent Neil Adamson said: “It was clear that you believe certain things to be true which I would like to clarify with you now. You have told us that police are not taking you seriously. I can assure you, we are. I want you to know that you have our full attention. “Innocent people have been hurt, this must stop now. “You believe that Sam was having an affair with a Northumbria police officer. Sam has told us this is not true. Our inquiries have verified this to be true.” He added that he knew Moat was concerned for the future well-being of his three children. “For their sake, this has to stop now,” he said. “These are not the memories that your children need to have of their father. “Enough people have been hurt. You need to make contact with us now.” Det Chief Supt Adamson said Chris Brown – the man shot dead in the early hours of Saturday in Scafell, Birtley, Gateshead – had never been a Northumbria police officer and was not connected with the force in any way.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga has been discharged after five days in hospital. Odinga left the Nairobi Hospital shortly before 11 am Sunday accompanied by his wife Ida, doctors and aides. He planted a tree at the hospital grounds which he said was a sign of appreciation to God, doctors and his family following his recovery. The seedling was donated by members of the Mau Secretariat, who were also present to wish him well. Odinga was admitted to the hospital last week after complaining of a headache and general fatigue. Doctors opted to perform an operation immediately after initial investigations indicated he had a build up of pressure outside the brain leading to the headache. Dr Olunya said the pressure might have occurred after the PM hit his head while in a car three weeks ago. Doctors who attended to the Prime Minister recommended that he adheres to a light work schedule once he is discharged from hospital. Odinga addressed the press briefly after he was discharged where he thanked Kenyans for their support. In his usual jovial mood, he acknowledged cheers and songs from women groups and children who had gathered to wish him well.

In pictures: Queen's Canada tour

Queen Elizabeth II arrives in Winnipeg on the latest stage of her nine-day tour of Canada and on right the Queen has said that Canada, which she has visited 22 times during her reign, feels like a home away from home

DR Congo fuel truck victims buried in mass graves

The bodies of some of the scores of people killed in a fuel truck explosion in the Democratic Republic of Congo have been buried in mass graves. At least 230 people were killed when the overturned oil tanker exploded and sparked a fire in Sange village. Some of those who died were trying to collect leaking fuel but others were trapped inside buildings, including a cinema, by the blaze. UN peacekeepers, aid workers and troops have been helping the injured. As Saturday wore on, Red Cross teams carried bodies wrapped in plastic sheeting to two mass graves outside the village, the Associated Press reports. Jean-Claude Kibala, South Kivu's vice-governor, said scenes in the village were "terrible". "There are lots of dead bodies on the streets. The population is in terrible shock - no-one is crying or speaking," he said. Above - some of those who died in Friday night's blaze, in Sange village near the border with Burundi, were trying to collect fuel leaking from the overturned vehicle. Peacekeepers had reportedly urged people to leave the area before the explosion.

Africa in pictures: 26 June-2 July

The continent began the week on Saturday backing the Black Stars - the last African side left in the World Cup. The Ghana team did not disappoint with a 2-1 win over the US. It was followed by celebrations through the night..... And for Africa the week has been one big build-up for Friday's game, which sees Ghana take on Uruguay on Friday when this fan in Durban was photographed showing off the Black Stars' colours.

World number one Serena Williams powered past Russian 21st seed Vera Zvonareva in 66 minutes to win a fourth Wimbledon and 13th Grand Slam title. The American came into the final having not dropped a set and with 80 aces, and she stormed to a 6-3 6-2 victory. Zvonareva, playing in her first Grand Slam final, was outplayed and could not force a single break point. The victory takes Williams past Billie Jean King to sixth in the all-time list of female Grand Slam singles champions. Looking towards her illustrious compatriot in the royal box afterwards, Williams said: "Hey Billie, I got you, it's number 13 for me." And she added: "It's amazing to be among such great people. Vera has been through so much and everyone should give her a big cheer - she really defines what a champion and never giving up means." Williams, 28, retains the crown she won in 2002, 2003 and 2009, and ensures that between her and sister Venus, the title has stayed within the family for nine of the last 11 years. With just one win in six matches against the world number one, and that victory four years ago, it was imperative that Zvonareva stayed in touch in the early stages. An ace and a backhand winner down the line in the opening game served notice that Williams was not suffering any pressure as the overwhelming favourite, but Zvonareva did well to see off the first break point of the match on her way to levelling at 3-3. Williams was furious with herself for missing a second break point in game eight when she hammered a backhand return into the net off a Zvonareva second serve, but a brilliant lob and a running forehand pass ensured the chance was not wasted. Fifteen winners could not mask the fact that it was not yet vintage Williams but she was serving well enough to stay ahead and wrap up the first set in 36 minutes.Zvonareva, the second-lowest ranked woman to play in a Wimbledon final, had performed well enough without threatening to break the American's serve for only the fourth time in the tournament. And when the 25-year-old from Moscow dumped a mid-court forehand into the net to drop serve at the start of the second set, Williams was already within sight of victory. Zvonareva had remained impressively calm and focused on her way through the draw, but the emotional side of her character threatened to take hold when she double-faulted to fall two breaks down at 4-1. It was brilliant, brutal stuff now from Williams as she totally dominated on serve, moving forward at every opportunity, and although Zvonareva managed to stem the tide briefly with a final service hold, there was no doubting the outcome.Serving for the championship, Williams opened the game with a huge 122mph ace - her 89th of the tournament - and moments later thumped away a smash on match point before throwing her racquet into the air in celebration. Zvonareva, who slipped out of the world's top 10 last year after she underwent ankle surgery, said: "I'm a little bit disappointed at the moment, I was not able to show my best today. Serena just didn't allow me to. She was playing really well." The Russian added: "It means a lot - those people in my box were here for me today, also the surgeon who did my surgery last year, because of him I was able to be here today. I was doubting I would be able to play tennis again."

A British DJ was sentenced to four years in prison by a Dubai court this week after tests revealed traces of cannabis in his blood. Sure, it's not exactly legal at home, but FOUR years?! Of course he's not the first Brit to wind up behind bars or deported because they're not clued up about the strict United Arab Emirates laws. According to the Foreign Office, 1.1 million Britons visited the UAE last year and 294 of them were arrested or detained by police - making it more likely to happen there than in any other country in the world. So if getting banged up abroad is on your 'to do' list of life experiences, here are some easy ways to break the law in Dubai...

Do some dirty dancing
Ever thought your dance moves ought to be illegal? Then head to Dubai, where they just very well might be. Unless you're at a licensed club or in the privacy of your hotel room then dancing is considered indecent and provocative and could get you arrested. During Ramadan you won't even find a dancefloor to throw some shapes on risk-free - dancing, loud music and live music are forbidden during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, so nightclubs usually close and all the bands go on holiday.

Give someone the finger
Back home it's just a bit rude but making insulting gestures in Dubai is regarded as obscene and totally unacceptable – as 56-year-old Brit Simon Andrew discovered in March this year when he was accused of showing an aviation student his middle finger during a row and was arrested. He denies flipping the bird but has had his passport confiscated while awaiting trial. It has been known for offenders to get a 6-month sentence for such an act and some have been deported.

Have sex on the beach
For a surefire way to wind up behind bars, break a couple of laws at once. Because of their strict laws about indecency, public sex is beyond unacceptable and do it with someone you're not married to – a crime that entails prosecution, imprisonment and/or a fine and deportation – and you're firing on all cylinders. Michelle Palmer, 36, of Oakham, Rutland, and Vince Acors, 34, of Bromley, SE London, did just that last year and were banged up for three months before being deported, as well as fined 1,000 dirhams (about £180).

Snog in a restaurant
Don't assume you have to go all the way to infringe on their decency regulations – the law extends to kissing and even holding hands, unless you're married. British marketing executive Ayman Najafi and Charlotte Adams – both in their 20s - were arrested and accused of public indecency after an Emirati woman claimed they exchanged a passionate kiss in a restaurant. They were given a one-month jail sentence for public indecency and illegal drinking, fined 1,000 dirhams, then deported. The pair maintain it was merely a peck on the cheek.

If you thought we were talking about the vodka-based cocktail before, that could work too. Buying drinks in licensed hotels or bars is allowed but drinking – or being drunk – is illegal in public. You'll stand out particularly well in the resort of Sharjah where booze is banned full stop, apart from for residents with a licence to drink at home. It is also an offence in the UAE to drink and drive, no matter how tiny the amount. If you're arrested on alcohol-related offences you'll likely be jailed while you await trial and penalties entail hefty jail sentences and large fines.

Smoke some wacky baccy
Drugs are almost always a law breaker, but Dubai is about as far from Amsterdam as you can get. Possession and consumption is treated very seriously in the UAE and – as the British DJ who had no drugs on him recently discovered – possession includes anything in your system, so even if you have a cheeky joint before you get on the Dubai-bound plane and you could end up falling foul of their regulations, and wind up with their mandatory minimum of four years in jail.

Other laws you should know about
Shopping in shorts could attract attention from the authorities - unless you're on the beach or by the pool, then anything tight, transparent, short or displaying your stomach, shoulders or back if you're a woman, is considered indecent. Same if you're a man in shorts or displaying a bare chest. Photography of certain government buildings is also illegal, as is perusing any form of pornographic material. If all else fails, smuggle in a bacon sandwich – pork is banned – and a poppy seed roll will add to the criminality of the action, as poppy seeds are also on the UAE's forbidden list.

Those depending on Social Services in the UK should wake up and start looking for a way to survive. Things are no longer the same. How do you expect a country with a Net Debt of £903 billion to keep the house running. Jipange - otherwise you will be caught an aware. Further your education, learn a skill, work part-time etc. Hata kwetu hatupatiwi hella mbure.

The house construction now remains roofing and plastering and this will make a difference to Mrs. Lucy Wanjiru Maina (right) - a mother of six

It all started in a fellowship in London several years ago. A visiting preacher from Nakuru, Kenya was preaching in a Kenyan family house in London where they had lost their parent in Kenya. As the preacher was preaching she narrated the meaning of the word "poverty". "You people, you don't know what poverty is. When I talk about poverty you might not exactly understand but I can narrate what poverty is all about with an example of a widowed lady who was left by the husband with 6 children. The children do not go to school and the family is like nomads. They have been evicted from their rented houses for more than 9 times. They rent house, at the end of the month they cannot afford to pay the rent hence they are evicted. You are evicted until you don't know which estate you belong." the preacher explained. After the fellowship Pastor Jane Njiiri, the wife of Mr. Seed, enquired from the preacher about the woman and her where abouts. She contacted the lady and immediately she started to educate her children. It has been all along the desire of Pastor Njiiri and her family to build a home for this poor widow to make a difference in her life. Whenever Mr. Seed's family are in Kenya they always contact the lady who always join them in their family tour and she has become like a part of their family.

If you would like to help her in any way please contact her through Mrs. Lucy Wanjiru Maina on 0727307672 - FULL STORY

You can donate whatever you like AND the Seeds family will buy whatever will not be donated.

(10) KPLC Power connection from main (KShs. 42,000) we have done all the wiring)

Whatever someone is touched to donate is highly welcomed. The Bible says in Proverbs 19: 17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

Kesom Freight International Limited are pleased to announce the opening of their OWN office in Bristol.

This office can offer a full Freight forwarding service, including Imports, Exports by air & sea worldwide plus receiving & handling of cargo for our KENYAN consolidation service

Vicar gives Holy Communion to dog