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NI MAMBO GANI MAPYA?

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JUNE 2002 - PART ONE

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Miss Tourism Kenya 2002

 

Won after stiff competition of 19 girls at Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi.

 

Miss Ann Waithira Maina (right) the new Miss Tourism in Kenya.

 

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Kanu’s big day at Kamukunji Grounds on Sat. 29th June 2002
 

A man covered in feathers imitates Kanu’s symbol of a cockerel at Kanu’s Kamukunji Grounds meeting on Saturday 29th June 2002.

It was Kanu’s big day even though the ruling party did not make the promised and much-awaited major policy announcements during their rally at Kamukunji Grounds, Nairobi, on Saturday.. Attended by a huge crowd of party supporters, the colourful rally was the first convened by Kanu at the historic grounds in decades. The climax of Kanu’s two-day merger celebration in style had started on Friday with a dinner at the Inter-Continental Hotel. Party Chairman President Daniel arap Moi used the occasion to urge party adherents to put their house in order ahead of the General Election. President Moi, who was categorical that he will take a rest once his term of office expires, said he will soon hold meetings with both the Young Turks and elder politicians in Kanu to come up with a compromise successor. Reiterating that he does not want the life of the current Parliament extended, the President urged Kenyans to differentiate between his wishes and those of MPs. His secretary-general, Raila Odinga, however, used the same podium to pitch for the extension of the life of Parliament terming his opposition colleagues opposed to the plan as “political chameleons”. The Head of State discounted claims that he was pushing for the extension of Parliament saying he was neither a member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on reforms nor a commissioner in the Constitution of Kenya Review Commission- the two bodies charged with the responsibility of overseeing the constitutional review work. - Sunday Standard.

 

 

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Hunting for waves

The season is on for the wave hunters - keeping their ears open

 to hear where the big waves are located

Getting out of it: Big 50ft waves travel at about 20 mph, so 'wave runners' or jet skis pull surfers into the wave on a tow rope. Huge 'stick' required. The longer the board, the more stable and better at cutting through the water. - BBC.

Where the wild things are:  Mavericks, Half Moon Bay, California, USA. It's a dangerous wave, surrounded by jagged rocks, the water is cold and white sharks hang out there. It only became recognised as a big wave spot in the 1990's. The legendary Mark Foo died there in 1994, drowned after wiping out on the massive, thick waves, proving that the sea has no mercy.

 

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Sword man shot by police in UK

Check-up ... Gifford’s wounds are treated before he is taken to hospital

London, 25th June 2002 - A crazed gunman who charged at police firing a pistol and waving a sword was fighting for his life last night after being shot. A police marksman hit Jason Gifford, 27, in the stomach. Earlier drunken Gifford had confronted his terrified estranged wife Carol, 34, cut off one of his fingers with the sword and squirted his blood over her. He then fired a shot and told her he would “go out in a blaze of glory”.
 Neighbours called 999 after hearing the shot at the house in Aylesbury, Bucks.

A police source said: “Gifford was hanging out of the window waving his gun and ranting and started throwing loads of money out into the front garden.” Soon afterwards Gifford came out and ran towards the police. The police source said: “He was shot once in the stomach and went down. He was rolling around on the floor and was disarmed.” He added: “The victim has a history of violence and threats to kill, is a known drug abuser, and had been drinking. “We had no choice but to shoot." - The Sun, London.

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Going for a joy ride

A visitor to the Bamburi Nature Trail in Mombasa, Edward Chennel of England, holds 13-months-old Junior Krishin Fajini as they both take a ride on the back of one of the massive tortoises at the park - East Africa Standard, Nairobi.

 

 

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Jets in near-miss scare

 

Click pic to enlarge

 

Two British Airways jets heading into Heathrow were put on a collision course by a bungling trainee air traffic controller, it was revealed yesterday June 21st June  2002. And when an instructor tried to take over he found the override button on the trainee’s console did not work. The planes — carrying a total of 346 passengers and crew — were just 15 seconds from disaster when one pilot was ordered to take emergency avoiding action by radio. The near-miss, which happened at 8.10am on Monday over South East England, was being investigated by air safety experts last night. It is the latest drama to hit the National Air Traffic Service’s £600million centre at Swanwick, Hants, which has been plagued by computer failures since it opened in January. The scare began when the trainee told the pilot of a Boeing 777 heading in from Sao Paolo to descend 8,000ft while a Boeing 737 flying from Barcelona was 3,000ft below.

 When the supervisor’s override button failed, the trainee ordered the pilot to stop his descent 1,000ft above the other plane. But by that time the 777 was only 500ft away — and the pilot was told to bank urgently.  The planes, travelling at 400mph, ended up just 200ft apart vertically and two miles horizontally. The official safety margin is 1,000ft vertically and five miles horizontally. Investigators will quiz the pilots and controllers involved. And staff have been told to check equipment used by trainees. An industry official said: “There was a system problem — no doubt about that.” Union chiefs have warned that senior controllers at Swanwick are suffering additional stress because of the number of trainees being processed.

The controllers are currently threatening to strike over a pay claim and further talks are to be held with NATS bosses next week. British Airways said they were “assisting with the investigation”. But a spokeswoman added: “As well as being in touch with air traffic control there was visual contact. At no point was there any danger to the passengers or crew.” Trainees are always under the instruction of an experienced supervisor while handling a plane. The number of near misses over Britain rose slightly last year — mainly due to incidents involving military aircraft, a Civil Aviation Authority report reveals. Of 101 incidents reported from January to June 2001, 16 were listed as Category A, the most serious. That’s two more than the 2000 figure.

Mutiny hits Transjet

HOLIDAY-makers sta-ged a mutiny yesterday — by refusing to fly home from Greece with troubled airline Transjet. The 120 passengers are staying put in their hotels on the island of Lefkas until they are promised another airline.  Spokeswoman Sarah Snaith, 29, a cop from Barnsley, South Yorks, said: “This is a mutiny. No one is going to go home with Transjet.”  They are scheduled to fly home at noon tomorrow with their holiday company Golden Sun. But many are in fear after the outward flight was aborted on take-off with smoke pouring from an engine. - The Sun, London.

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Pole sana ndugu

Nakuru Provincial General Hospital nurse Jessica Mung’au vaccinates five-year-old Effi Achieng of St Joseph’s Primary School during the launch of the Measles Immunisation week. - East Africa Standar, Nairobi.

 

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End of the road for this gangsters

Police in Nairobi on Thursday 20th June 2002 shot dead two suspected gangsters in a major operation aimed at flashing out suspected gangsters. The two were gunned down in a police ambush at a beer depot in Gikomba and two pistols with three rounds of ammunition recovered from them.  Speaking at the scene, Nairobi Provincial Police boss, Geoffrey Muathe said police were under firm instructions not to spare anyone found indulging in criminal activities..- KBC, Nairobi.

 

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Fire plane crash kills three

ALL three crew members died when their plane fighting a massive forest fire horrifically broke up in mid-air. An amateur video captured the C-130 tanker’s wings tear off after it dumped fire retardant on the 10,000-acre blaze. A witness said: “The pilot went to jerk it up and the right wing exploded.” The cause of Monday’s tragedy at Walker, Northern California, is still being investigated. The bush fire was one of 20 raging in the US.- The Sun, London.

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Israel/Palestinians struggle continues

The bus had been travelling into Jerusalem when the bomb blew it across the road on Tuesday 18th June 2002.

20 People Killed a Palestinian bomb attacker A Palestinian suicide bomber blows himself up on a packed bus in Jerusalem, killing or wounding dozens of Israelis, many of them schoolchildren.

 

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Snake gives trainer a hiss

Fang you very much ... Peter and the snake

REPTILE tamer Peter Morningstar has a bite of trouble — with a ten foot carpet snake. Peter was called to remove the 15lb monster from a roof in Brisbane, Australia. But the snake turned nasty and sunk its fangs in his face. Luckily the python is nonvenomous and usually kills by squeezing its prey to death. Peter was soon freed and dashed to the pub to steady his nerves. Own up, cobbers, who ordered the Snakebite? - The Sun, London.

 

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Tyson to buy £3 million Croc house

Palatial ... Hogan's £3million home set in 325 acres

The mansion has a swimming pool, state-of-the-art gym and a two-bedroom guest cottage. Its grounds are home to wallabies and rare black cockatoos. Byron Bay is popular with Australian celebs.

BATTERED boxer Mike Tyson plans to flee to Australia following his defeat at the hands of Lennox Lewis — to buy a mansion belonging to Crocodile Dundee star Paul Hogan. The humbled tough-guy aims to fly Down Under to view the £3million beachfront pad, once he’s recovered from Sunday’s defeat by Britain’s world heavyweight champ. But 35-year-old ‘Iron Mike’ faces a battle with Aussie authorities, who could refuse him a visa following his conviction for rape ten years ago. Hogan’s palatial retreat called Cedar Springs is set in 325 acres in the millionaire’s playground of Byron Bay, 200 miles from Brisbane. Ex-Aussie boxing ace Jeff Fenech, 37 — a close pal of Tyson — revealed the former champ wanted to buy it after Lewis, 36, KOd him in Memphis, Tennessee. Fenech said: “He’s coming to have a look at Hoges’ house. He’s very keen on buying a property here.”

The mansion has a swimming pool, state-of-the-art gym and a two-bedroom guest cottage. Its grounds are home to wallabies and rare black cockatoos. Byron Bay is popular with Australian celebs. But Cedar Springs has been on the market for two years, forcing Hogan, 61, to knock £1million off the asking price. The actor decided to spend more time at his homes in Sydney and Los Angeles with two-year-old son Chance and wife Linda Kozlowski, 42, who he met on the set of Crocodile Dundee. Tyson served three years’ jail for raping a beauty queen and a year for a road rage attack. - The Sun, London.

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The sheep eater

Visibly relieved villagers in Taita Taveta District view the carcass of the lioness that was felled by KWS rangers after she killed 53 sheep, seven goats and a dog in the village. East Africa Standard, Nairobi.

 

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Fan killed in Russia riot

Anger erupts ... cars are engulfed by flames as soccer fans rampage in Moscow

Mob frenzy ... yobs overturn parked cars as up to 400 go wild

One man was stabbed to death and about 100 were hurt yesterday as Russian fans rampaged near the Kremlin following their team’s shock 1-0 World Cup defeat to Japan. Mass brawls erupted after up to 8,000 supporters gathered to watch the match on a giant outdoor screen. Police had expected 500 and said many were drinking throughout the game. One officer was critically ill last night after being knifed and 11 more were injured. The over-stretched force failed to prevent the mob torching seven cars, overturning a dozen others, smashing windscreens and hurling missiles during 90 minutes of violence just 100 yards from government buildings. First aid teams were attacked as they bandaged bleeding bystanders.

Up to 400 hooligans smashed shop windows and looted expensive boutiques. Some attacked a Japanese restaurant. Even before the game four Japanese music students were attacked before being rescued by embassy staff. There were reports one drunken fan in a car had run down three pedestrians. Their condition was not known. A government spokesman said the riot “discredits millions of normal people who supported the national team”. One fan said: “We came to enjoy the match and instead got caught up in all this. It is just not right.” Police spokesman Sergei Shevtsov said 60 people were being held. - The Sun, London 10th June 2002.

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Storms lash Europe

8th June 2002
 

The storms triggered mudslides and flash floods, partially submerging houses in France

Two people died when this underground garage flooded

Up to eight people were feared killed as fierce storms swept across Europe, flooding roads, triggering mudslides and cutting power to hundreds of homes. Germany, France, Austria and Italy were the worst affected, with three people killed in Bavaria in Germany, including a woman who died when her house collapsed and two men who drowned in an underground car park. A state of emergency was declared in north-eastern Italy, while soldiers in Austria were deployed to help combat the effects of the flooding.

At least 17 people have died and hundreds of thousands have been left without electricity by storms, which have ripped across northern Europe, overturning vehicles, bringing down power cables, and uprooting trees. Ships in the Baltic Sea and the North Sea have been returning to port amid warnings of hurricane-force winds. Eight people died in some of the worst storms in a decade to hit northern England and Scotland, five of whom were in lorries swept over by winds gusting at up to 160 km/h (100 mph). In Poland, three men were killed in the west of the country when trees fell on their cars, while a woman cycling in the central city of Konon died when a lamp post fell on her bicycle. Another eight people were reported to have been injured in the south of the country. The authorities in the Russian Baltic enclave of Kaliningrad, which borders Poland and Lithuania, declared a state of emergency as gale force winds reached speeds of 120km/h.

Residents were advised on state radio and TV broadcasts to stay at home and schools were closed for the day after a car was crushed under a falling tree, killing both passengers inside. One man died and a woman was seriously injured when a tree fell as they walked in the grounds of a hotel in Perthshire, Scotland, and in the northern city of York a woman was killed when a piece of masonry fell from a church. And in the northern German town of Bremen, a man was killed when a tree fell on his car, while a second man died in a similar incident in Oranienburg, in the east of the country. In Wuelfrath, near Duesseldorf, an elderly woman died after being struck by a falling tree.

Powerless

In Denmark, residents living on the North Sea coast were evacuated from their homes overnight as the sea level rose, reaching more than four metres (13 feet) above its usual level in some areas. A key bridge linking the country with southern Sweden was also closed due to the high winds, but was re-opened early on Tuesday morning. Nearly 100,000 homes in Sweden were left without electricity when power cables came down in the storms, and dozens of houses were reported to have lost their roofs. In Scotland, some 90,000 homes were deprived of electricity, and engineers in the UK were still trying to restore electricity to many homes on Tuesday. Continuing strong winds hampered efforts to use helicopters to locate broken cables. More than 6,000 homes and businesses in Northern Ireland were also left without electricity as 155-km/h (98mph) winds affected supplies. Power has now been restored to all but 300 homes. Power cuts blamed on the atrocious conditions also hit around 20,000 homes in the Tyne Valley, close to the northern English city of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Delays

The severe weather has also caused severe disruption to traffic. Airports in Latvia and Lithuania were closed due to the high winds. In Travemuende, on the German Baltic coast, the wind blew a ferry into a tugboat, and both vessels ran aground - causing damage estimated at 250,000 euros ($215,000) In Scandinavia, many roads and mountain passes stayed closed all day on Tuesday as winds continued to gust across the region. - BBC, London.

 

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A Football Fun Goes Crazy for World Cup

Brief encounter ... shoppers see Derek skate in bikini

WAITRESSES at Argentinian Luis Seygas’s Chelsea restaurant will wear the Argie AND England strips as 200 diners watch the big match on a giant screen.   DIEGO Maradona’s No10 shirt from the infamous “hand of God” match in 1986 is worth £300,000 and kept in a bank vault by its owner, ex-Spurs ace Steve Hodge.

ONE ENGLAND fan was so desperate to get today off work he agreed to roller-skate down a high street in a bright PINK BIKINI. British Gas customer service manager Derek Mwanza, 30, missed all the holiday slots and said he would do anything to get his supervisor to change her mind. Fun-loving boss Michelle Pilkington agreed as long as he had waxed his arms and legs, put on a tight-fitting bikini and collected £300 for charity by skating through Southampton shopping centre. Derek, of Netley Abbey, Hants, had to skate up and down three times to raise £470. He said: “I never expected it and was absolutely dreading it. I couldn’t believe how many people were out there laughing. “The waxing hurt like hell and I had never worn a pair of skates before but it was well worth it to watch the game.” Michelle said: “He’s a great sport.”

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Yasser's bed bombed

Destruction ... wrecked building in Arafat's Ramallah compound yesterday 6th June Picture: REUTERS

Shocked ... Yasser finds living bombed

YASSER Arafat stares wide-eyed at his debris-strewn bed yesterday Thursday 6th June 2002 after his living quarters were blasted by Israeli forces. A shell punched a hole in the wall just 5ft from the Palestinian leader’s bed as troops stormed his Ramallah compound. Furniture was wrecked and a large mirror near his bed blown into jagged shards. The walls were pocked with bullet marks — and an adjoining bathroom left knee-deep in rubble. Arafat’s living room, where he eats breakfast every day, was reduced to a mess of twisted metal and smashed plaster and tiles.
The Palestinian leader claimed the 2am raid was intended to kill him. But he escaped injury because he was working late in a downstairs office.- The Sun, London 7th June 2002.

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Representing the East African

Agape Dancers Ugandans living in London represented the East Africa through East Africa Women Community Association. Posing with the group is the pastor in-charge Pastor Musoke (right) and the chairlady of East African Women Community Association Mrs. Margaret Kamau (second right). The photo was taken minutes before they joined the parade to the queen jubilee.

 

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Amazing Grace Ministry expanding in UK

Rev. Grace Kariuki of Amazing Grace Ministries  Virginia, USA praying for members in a crusade in London. The crusade started on Friday 31st May 2002 and ended up on Monday 3rd June 2002 with a Dinner. She is due to come back in August for another crusade. Contact: kariukigrace@hotmail.com

 

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Israel Bus torn into pieces by Palestinian terrorists

 

The bomber drove this car alongside the bus before detonating the explosives

It was the deadliest attack since Israel's recent West Bank offensive

A suspected suicide bomber has blown up a bus near Megiddo, close to Israel's border with the West Bank, killing himself and at least 16 others.

The bus had left Tel Aviv bound for the town of Tiberias at 0550 local time (0250GMT) - most of its passengers were soldiers returning to their bases.  About 90 minutes later, when it was near the Meggido junction, the bus was reduced to scrap after a car packed with explosives was detonated next to it. "I saw a vehicle just in front of us. Then I heard the explosion and everything was fire and smoke," soldier Anton Borodnik said speaking in hospital.  "I kicked the door open with another soldier. I pulled my girlfriend off and then went back and pulled my mother off and then went back and pulled my aunt off." Another soldier, Sharon Levinger, who was sitting in the front of the bus said: "I saw a car passing and then there was an explosion. The bus turned over at least twice." - BBC, London, June 5th 2002.

 

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Buckingham Palace in London blaze out
 

The smoke rose over London for an hour

"The fire is now out. The only concern is water damage and how to contain that," he said. "There will be Dunkirk spirit there tonight - I can't wait to get back in there. "We are not using the inside of the Palace at all, we are outside in the gardens - then I'm absolutely confident the concert will go ahead, unless there is something we do not know."

 

 

 

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Foreigners advised to leave India