World In Brief

Pussy Riot appeal postponed

RUSSIA: A court today postponed an appeal by jailed rockers Pussy Riot until October 10 after one member fired her lawyers.

The band was jailed for two years for performing an anti-Putin “punk prayer” at a Moscow cathedral.

UN makes appeal for elderly care

UN: The UN Population Fund urged governments today to make sure older people have income security and access to health and social services.

It is worst for women, who often have less access to jobs and health care and restricted property rights. One in nine people are over 60 and by 2050 it will be one in five.

California governor vetoes workers’ rights

US:California Governor Jerry Brown has vetoed a law that would have given overtime pay, meal breaks and other rights to over 200,000 carers, nannies and house cleaners in the state.

Yes to contracts

CANADA: Chrysler car workers have ratified a new contract, with 90 per cent voting to accept a four-year deal that includes lump-sum payments and improves job security.

Shell closes pipeline

NIGERIA: Shell has shut down a pipeline in the southern delta on Sunday after a fire and attempted oil theft which left a ship burning nearby.

It didn’t say how much oil had been spilt.

Ex-president refuses to attend his trial

MALDIVES: Ex-president Mohamed Nasheed refused to turn up to court today on abuse of power charges because he doesn’t believe he will receive a fair trial.

He had ordered the arrest of a judge, sparking protests and a police mutiny which ended in his resignation, which he said was forced.

Loss-making bank on sale for €1

GREECE: Alpha Bank is in talks with France’s Credit Agricole to buy its loss-making Emporiki Bank for a nominal price of €1.

Credit Agricole wants rid of it having already pumped in €2.3 billion (£1.8bn), with another €550 million (£440m) injection due soon.

Power firm files for compensation

FINLAND: Power privateer TVO filed a claim for €1.8 billion (£1.4bn) in compensation from plant builder Areva-Siemens with international arabitrators today over a five-year delay in the construction of the Olkiluoto 3 nuclear plant, which began in 2005.

Egypt crackdown prompts protests

GAZA: About 100 people joined a Hamas protest on Sunday against an Egyptian crackdown on cross-border smuggling tunnels.

They have been the lifeblood of Gaza’s economy since Israel imposed five years ago, when Hamas took direct control.

Lack of evidence ends nazi probe

GERMANY: Prosecutors have shelved an investigation into 17 former soldiers who were part of a unit involved in a 1944 nazi massacre of 500 civilians in Sant’Anna di Stazzema, Italy, because of a lack of evidence.