Martin World News: Screw the Hearings edition

I've been hearing a lot of people complaining about the hearings, but right now they are beyond MY hearing.  So I thought, what are people doing today in locations far from the hearings?  Let's find out! 


ACCRA, Ghana (5,273 miles away)

Well, news isn't much better there- corruption and accusations of corruption, arsons and rapes, and a battle between the two main "representatives" of the Ghana cocoa farmers, COCOSHE and COCOBOD.  If they can't get together, at least they make the rhythm section for a nice doo-wop song...


BEIJING, China (6,941 miles away)

Trying to find news specifically about the city is like going through a wet haystack for a needle.  But I did learn something- that the China Central bank is going to support the city in fintech experiments.  WTH is that?  Is this fish related?  More and better goldfish?  Naw, it's just the new hot word for "financial technology."  So now you know.


CAPE TOWN, South Africa (7,892 miles away)

Well, this should have been more of a "funny headline " post for this one, as it gave me a chuckle...


Cape couple go from Mr and Mrs to Dr and Dr Bam at PhD graduation ceremony

There you have Dr and Mrs Bam, or DR and Mr Bam, as you prefer.  I wounder if Dr and Dr Bam have a son, will they name him....

BAM BAM?????

YANGON, Myanmar (8,572 miles away)

Ameeramsa Musthafa and family got awarded by the airport for being their 6 millionth customer of the year, which I believe was some kind of record.  His prize was "gifts of K1 million (US$665) in cash and other valuables ".  Don't spend it all in one place, Mr Musthafa!


AUKLAND, New Zealand (8,620 miles away)

Two stories I looked at had a common theme.  The first involved a pay dispute between NZ Bus (the city contractor for public transport) and the drivers, who have been suspended; the second involves a story in which a billionaire's golf course built- apparently illegally- a tiny dam on a nearby stream...

...which holds up the spawning of native fish, and thus threatens the life of the remaining 37 Fairy Terns in New Zealand.  The common theme is that old American game, Pass The Buck.  The mayor sympathizes with the strikers- and maybe the citizens stuck hoofing it, I dunno- but says it isn't his job to get involved.  The golf course, the environmental agency in charge, and anyone else involved with the dam- which has now been (presumably) starving out the fairy terns for the last 5 years- all agree, "It's not our job to dismantle it."    A judge has stepped in, though, in the dam case- he has given all parties a deadline to come up with a plan.  "It is not our place to dictate to parties how they might proceed," the judge ruled.


SOUTH POLE (8,892 miles away)

As of 7 AM local time it is -10 F, looking at a high today of -8, with winds making it feel like -23.  Looking at a low tonight of -28.  Be sure to keep a trickle of water running!