New Zealand: ‘Climate refugee’ fighting to stay in NZ
A man from one of the lowest-lying nations on Earth is trying to convince New Zealand judges that he’s a refugee suffering not from persecution, but from climate change.
The 37-year-old and his wife left his remote atoll in the Pacific nation of Kiribati six years ago for higher ground and better prospects in New Zealand ...
New Zealand Herald
Uzbekistan: Lola Karimova–the better dictator’s daughter
Lola Karimova’s recent BBC interview presents her in a better light than other members of her family, but her attempts to justify her luxurious Western lifestyle – arguably afforded by stealing money from her country – hardly invoke sympathy.
The Uzbek president’s two daughters – Gulnara and Lola – resemble two sisters from the well-known Russian fairy tale Morozko. The oldest, 41-year-old Gulnara, also known as GooGoosha, is definitely Marfusha, whose slew of corruption charges from several European countries has forced her to retreat back under her father’s roof for protection and wait for the cards she is dealt to decide her fate. Will she inherit her father’s throne or come up empty handed? ...
UZ News
Lola Karimova (Wikimedia Commons)
Uzbekistan, north of Afghanistan. (Google Maps)
Italy: Ligurian hamlet gets first baby in 67 years
‘Sign of hope,’ five other residents say
A hamlet in the Ligurian Riviera hills is feting its first baby in 67 years, an arrival that has boosted its population to six.
Francesco was born last week to Michele and Sabrina Isella, a couple who said they moved to the tiny village of Lissa five years ago “because we love the woods around here”...
ANSA
Kuwait: Obamacare could spark world war: Bukhudoor
A world war could take place if the situation over budget issues in the US worsens, a Kuwait-based economist alerts.
According to Dr Hajjaj Bukhudoor, a Kuwaiti economic analyst, this is likely to happen since the US government officially entered a shutdown after a politically deadlocked Congress could not pass a bill to extend funding. US lawmakers worked late into the night but could not overcome a partisan split over President Barack Obama’s signature healthcare law. “With all this on the table right now, the worst case scenario would be a world war and total chaos in the world; it is very possible,” Bukhudoor noted.
He pointed out that a powerful country which is aiming to exit a recession needs a big thing (such as a war). ...
One of the reasons for his concern is the influence US economy has on oil prices. Bukhudoor asserted that the US government shutdown will also affect oil prices and the income of oil-producing countries (OPEC). ...
Kuwait Times
Kuwait, east of Iraq, north of Saudi Arabia. (Google Maps)
Zimbabwe: Govt to Monitor Calls, Emails in Zimbabwe
The government has gazetted a new regulation which allows security agents to access personal information through monitoring phone calls, emails and other communication technologies.
A government spy program will now monitor phone calls, text, email and the details will be kept in a national database for use on demand by the state security agencies.
Under a new government regulation gazetted last week Friday, authorities will order broadband providers, landline and mobile phone companies to save the information for up to five years. This is under a security scheme contained in the new constitution that seeks to safeguard national security. ...
All Africa
Zimbabwe (Google Maps)
Canada: Federal inmates go on strike to protest pay cuts
Prisoners say cuts will leave no money to support families, pay for education
Inmates in several federal prisons across Canada have gone on strike to protest against a 30 per cent cut in their pay that took effect this week.
The government began deducting the money from prisoners’ paycheques as part of a move to recover costs under the federal government’s Deficit Reduction Action Plan. The move was first announced in May 2012 by Public Safety Minister Vic Toews.
Until now, the top pay an inmate could earn was $6.90 a day, but only a small percentage of inmates received that. The average is $3 a day.
That rate was set up by the government in 1981. It was based on a review by a parliamentary committee and it factored in a deduction from inmates for the cost of room, board and clothing at the time. ...
CBC
Solomon Islands: Gabugasi mourns chief’s death
Villagers of Gabugasi, in Saghalu ward, West Guadalcanal are mourning the passing of their first paramount chief, the late Albert Bosa (OBE).
The late Bosa, once a World War II veteran with the US naval forces during the battle of Guadalcanal, was a very well recognised leader not only in his native West Guadalcanal region, but also throughout the country.
Appointed as paramount chief in 1966, the late Bosa was instrumental in advocating law and order and social development within the West Guadalcanal. …
Solomon Star
Solomon Islands, northeast of Australia. (Google Maps)
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