World Lens: Week of Oct. 25

Reggae icon Gregory Isaacs dies; cholera epidemic in Haiti. Plus more.

Gregory Isaacs Dies - On Monday morning, reggae artist Gregory Isaacs, best known for his album “Night Nurse,” passed away at his London home after a battle with lung cancer. He was 59. Called the “Cool Ruler” for his smooth sound, Isaacs had battled drug addiction for years. The star was still performing though; most recently at The Bill Chill festival in England last August.

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Gregory Isaacs Dies - On Monday morning, reggae artist Gregory Isaacs, best known for his album “Night Nurse,” passed away at his London home after a battle with lung cancer. He was 59. Called the “Cool Ruler” for his smooth sound, Isaacs had battled drug addiction for years. The star was still performing though; most recently at The Bill Chill festival in England last August.

Indonesia Hit with Earthquake, Tsunami - On Monday a tsunami, triggered by a 7.7-magnitude quake, hit the Southeast Asian nation of Indonesia killing at least 408 people, with hundreds more still missing. Almost 13,000 people have been forced into makeshift camps off the coast of Sumatra. To make matters worse, Tuesday, Mount Merapi volcano on the island of Java erupted, killing at least 34 people.

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Indonesia Hit with Earthquake, Tsunami - On Monday a tsunami, triggered by a 7.7-magnitude quake, hit the Southeast Asian nation of Indonesia killing at least 408 people, with hundreds more still missing. Almost 13,000 people have been forced into makeshift camps off the coast of Sumatra. To make matters worse, Tuesday, Mount Merapi volcano on the island of Java erupted, killing at least 34 people.

Eastern Europe’s ‘Obama’ - On Sunday, a city in Slovenia elected its first Black mayor. With his win, Peter Bossman, a doctor born in Ghana, has also become the first Black person to serve that position in all of Eastern Europe. “My victory shows a high level of democracy in Slovenia,” Bossman told the media after his win. He came to the nation over 30 years ago to study medicine, and decided to stay in Slovenia after he completed his program.

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Eastern Europe’s ‘Obama’ - On Sunday, a city in Slovenia elected its first Black mayor. With his win, Peter Bossman, a doctor born in Ghana, has also become the first Black person to serve that position in all of Eastern Europe. “My victory shows a high level of democracy in Slovenia,” Bossman told the media after his win. He came to the nation over 30 years ago to study medicine, and decided to stay in Slovenia after he completed his program.

Did Mugabe’s Wife Have an Affair? - According to rumors reported in a South African paper, the wife of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has been carrying on a five-year affair with a government official appointed by her husband. Mugabe’s sister, Sabina, revealed the news shortly before her death. Grace Mugabe, who is 41 years younger than her husband, has been accused of having affairs before. Some believe that the allegations are an attempt to cast Grace, currently feuding with his family over his wealth, in a bad light.

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Did Mugabe’s Wife Have an Affair? - According to rumors reported in a South African paper, the wife of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has been carrying on a five-year affair with a government official appointed by her husband. Mugabe’s sister, Sabina, revealed the news shortly before her death. Grace Mugabe, who is 41 years younger than her husband, has been accused of having affairs before. Some believe that the allegations are an attempt to cast Grace, currently feuding with his family over his wealth, in a bad light.

Haitians Blame U.N. Workers for Outbreak - On Friday, Haitian protesters, who believe that United Nations peacekeepers from Nepal are responsible for the increasing cholera epidemic in the nation, marched in front of a military base. More than 4,700 people have been hospitalized and at least 330 have died due to the illness, according to the U.N. Experts believe the disease was imported; prior to October, there hasn’t been a case of cholera in the nation since records were kept. The disease is endemic in Nepal.

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Haitians Blame U.N. Workers for Outbreak - On Friday, Haitian protesters, who believe that United Nations peacekeepers from Nepal are responsible for the increasing cholera epidemic in the nation, marched in front of a military base. More than 4,700 people have been hospitalized and at least 330 have died due to the illness, according to the U.N. Experts believe the disease was imported; prior to October, there hasn’t been a case of cholera in the nation since records were kept. The disease is endemic in Nepal.

Bus Carrying Journalists Attacked in Haiti - On Monday night in Haiti, gunmen shot up and robbed a bus carrying journalists, killing the driver. One reporter was also hurt. According to one of the reporters, the driver – an off-duty officer – tried to rush past the armed men when they opened fire and killed him with a shot in the head. The bus then flipped, injuring one of the passengers, and the robbers descended to take money and a laptop. Police were able to track down the suspects the same evening, killing one and arresting three.

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Bus Carrying Journalists Attacked in Haiti - On Monday night in Haiti, gunmen shot up and robbed a bus carrying journalists, killing the driver. One reporter was also hurt. According to one of the reporters, the driver – an off-duty officer – tried to rush past the armed men when they opened fire and killed him with a shot in the head. The bus then flipped, injuring one of the passengers, and the robbers descended to take money and a laptop. Police were able to track down the suspects the same evening, killing one and arresting three.