Latest News

AUGUST 2002

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Mungiki demonstrates for Uhuru

Mungiki people carried placards, twigs and assorted weapons as they demonstrated their support for Uhuru Kenyatta's bid for the Presidency before converging on Uhuru Park for a rally. - East Africa Standard, Nairobi.

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Horse drinks 15 pints a day

DRAUGHT horse Sultan lives up to his job title — by downing up to 15 pints of beer a day. The big black shire waits in pub car parks while owner Simon Powell nips to the bar. Then he steadies each glass with his teeth and guzzles the contents in 20 seconds flat. The 11-year-old gelding likes a tipple as he and Simon head home to Shackerstone, Warwicks from cart horse displays at farm shows across Britain. Simon, 41, said: “I love people’s faces when he grips the glass and swills his tongue round inside. “He likes lager, Guinness or bitter and he’s such a whopping beast a few now and again do him no harm. The only problem is he never buys a round!" An RSPCA spokeswoman said: “Beer contains barley and grain. It’ll do no harm in moderation.”  - The Sun, London.

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Floods death toll hits 90

Devastation ... flood waters rage past wreckage of a home in eastern Germany

Saved ... man in Grimma, Germany

The death toll in floods swamping Central Europe rose to 90 yesterday as raging torrents wrecked hundreds more homes and other buildings. The states of Bavaria and Saxony in Germany were hit hard with parts of Dresden waist-deep in water. And 200,000 people have now been evacuated from Czech capital Prague. The city’s Vltava river was just inches from the top of flood barriers. Ancient Salzburg in Austria has also been devastated with experts fearing there may be worse to come. - The Sun, London.

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I fancy a cuppa tea NT

Wrecked ... the back was lifted off bungalow when Lucy
McConville sparked explosion by turning on her kettle

A woman turned the kettle on to make a cup of tea — and blew up her house.  A spark from the switch ignited escaping gas and blasted the back wall off Lucy McConville’s home. The explosion was like TNT going off. It threw widow Lucy, 81, to the floor and lifted her roof several inches. She escaped with burns and was in a poorly but stable condition in hospital last night. Neighbour Joe Devine, 67, said: “There was this enormous explosion and then we could smell smoke and hear Lucy shouting for help. “She managed to crawl to the door. Her face and hair were black.” Lucy’s Yorkshire terrier was unhurt but her cat has not been seen since the blast, at 4am on Sunday. Her bungalow in Jarrow, South Tyneside, may have to be demolished — and Mr Devine’s home was also damaged. A fire officer said: “Escaping gas builds up in cavity walls and when it goes off it is like a bomb.”

Blast kills Mary, 71

A FRAIL old lady was killed and 26 neighbours injured yesterday when the oxygen cylinder she used to help her breathe exploded. The blast in 71-year-old Mary Delworth’s ground-floor flat sparked a fire at a sheltered accommodation complex housing dozens of pensioners. Three residents were badly hurt. Others fled as firemen fought the 6.30am blaze on the Isle of Dogs, East London. It is not known what made the oxygen explode. Mary’s pal Bella Insole, 89, said: “She had difficulty breathing and could not move from her chair. She even slept in it.” - The Sun, London.

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Kenya Scouts visiting UK

Westlands Scouts Local Association, Nairobi, Kenya are in currently visiting London. The contingent of 16 scouts (1 girl and 15 boys) together with three teachers and 1 parent Mrs. Bhabra (centre). The three teacher from different schools are Mrs. Luvai (front left) of Braeside School, Nairobi, Mrs. Mwangi (second right) of Visa Oshwal Primary School, and Mr. Mwasi (behind far right) of St. Mary's School Nairobi. The group consisted of children from rich families are from three different school Braeside School, Visa Oshwal Primary School and St. Mary's School, Nairobi.  The Scouts arrived in UK on 22nd July aboard Egypt Air and headed straight to Market Drayton, scouts headquarters at Shropshire. During the 2nd week, they attended Salopia 2002 International Scout Camp from 27th July to 3rd August 2002. The came to London on 4th August and they are residing in a ship at Docklands Scout Project, Isles of Dogs in London. The photo was taken on Tuesday 6th August, 2002 on their ship which is located in the Thames River, Docklands. Among the children  are some children from big names including assistant ministers and directors. They will leave for Nairobi on Thursday 8th August, 2002 to arrive home on 9th August 2002. Their contact is aluvai@yahoo.com or Mobile 07957104942.

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Mid-East shaken by new onslaught

A bomb on a bus in northern Israel killed 10 people and injured more than 40 others. Three more people died in a separate shooting incident in east Jerusalem later on Sunday 4th August, 2002

The roof and sides of the vehicle were torn apart by the force of the blast

Dozens were wounded in the Jerusalem attack

• About three hours after the bus attack, a Palestinian gunman opened fire on an Israeli lorry near the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem's Old City. Police say one Israeli was killed, but the gunman and an Arab bystander also died in the ensuing shootout.
• Four Israeli soldiers were injured, three of them seriously, when their jeep hit a powerful explosive device on a road reserved for Jewish settlers outside the West Bank town of Ramallah. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine claimed the attack.
• An armed Palestinian was shot dead as he tried to break into a Jewish settlement on the coast of the Gaza Strip, the army said. The man, who was wearing a wetsuit, was reported to have been seen emerging from the sea armed with grenades and a rifle.
• A Jewish settler was ambushed and wounded near the West Bank town of Tulkarm, along with two soldiers who tried to rescue him. The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade claimed the attack.  - BBC, London.

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Boy sucked to his death

Shock ... hole where lad vanished

Swum-thing fishy ... bedraggled kids cling to railings after street was turned to river

A teenager  was feared dead last on Wednesday 31st July 2002  after being sucked into a massive hole as flooded ground suddenly opened up beneath his feet. John Storrie, 18, cried out for help as torrents of water rushed over him. But he and his pet dog disappeared into the chasm at the site of a disused coal mine before anyone could reach them. The freak tragedy happened at Riddrie Cemetery, Glasgow, after storms and torrential rain had battered Britain for hours. Witness Anna Reilly, 52, said: “I heard cries for help and saw someone poking out from the hole. Then I saw his body disappearing. It was as if the ground was slowly dragging him down inch by inch.” Anna and hubby James, 55, rushed to try and help, but she said: “All we could see was water gushing into the hole as if it was flushing him away. “There was nothing anybody could do to help the poor soul.” Police were last night continuing the search for John and hoping he survived. Mine rescue experts winched a man down into the hole but found nothing. A local said: “It’s meant to be like a maze underground.” - The Sun, London.