Metro Herald - 27/11/2009 digital edition

D Friday, November 27, 2009 METRO 13 Santa Claus and Aishling Cullen, age two, arrive at his Grotto in Arnotts on Henry Street. Admission is free until Christmas Eve Picture: Jason Clarke santa claus is coming to town Book store chain is facing closure BOOK chain Borders has gone into administration. The firm, which has around 45 stores in Ireland and the UK, has struggled with severe cash flow pressure this year as sales plummeted and stock levels were hit as suppliers stopped or reduced credit limits. The company is not taking orders on its website and has launched closing down sales at some stores. AUTHORITIES in Australia plan to round-up 6,000 wild camels with helicopters and gun them down after they overran a town in the Outback in search of water. The camels, which grow up to 2m tall and weigh 900kg, have been arriving at Docker River, smashing fences and contaminating supplies as Australia experiences one of its worst droughts on record. 6,000 camels to be gunned down touring taoiseach heckled by flood-ravaged residentsBY ROSS McDONAGH Bush and Blair were so close TONY Blair and George Bush were so close the US President felt the UKs Prime Minister was the only human being he could talk to and thought other world leaders were like creatures from outer space. Former British ambassador to the US Christopher Meyer said the then US secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, told him Mr Bush (pictured) felt understood by Mr Blair. The two leaders became closer after 9/11, said Mr Meyer as he gave evidence to the inquiry into the Iraq war yesterday. TAOISEACH Brian Cowen was confronted by an- gry residents yesterday as he toured the flood dev- astated midlands. A group of homeowners heckled Mr Cowen as he and his party made their way through the flooded streets of Athlone. The group were making their way along the Shan- non area to see the damage caused by the rising wa- ters, including Athlone, where 95 homes have been evacuated. But in Parnell Square, residents criticised the Tao- iseach for not going further into the deep waters to see their wrecked homes and businesses. Youre saying you havent got time to come down? Peo- ples livelihoods have been destroyed here. Its not fair, shouted one woman Its only a publicity thing isnt it? Whats the point in coming now and looking at the flood? Sure I can do that, said one man afterwards. Theyre like a circus coming down here. Like a stonewall, no emotion, somebody wants to say something to him (and he said): I havent time, I have to go, said another. The Minister for the En- vironment John Gormley has indicated there may be more funds made available to victims of the flooding, saying the 10million in humanitarian aid already pledged should be considered an initial down payment. Meanwhile, flood waters are continuing to rise continuing to rise along the banks of the River Shannon in the mid-west. Limerick County Council said yesterday levels had risen by 5cm (2in) during the day, and 14 fami- lies had to be evacuated from their homes. index.html 2.html 3.html 4.html 5.html 6.html 7.html 8.html 9.html 10.html 11.html 12.html 13.html 14.html 15.html 16.html 17.html 18.html 19.html 20.html 21.html 22.html 23.html 24.html 25.html 26.html 27.html 28.html 29.html 30.html 31.html 32.html 33.html 34.html 35.html