Nations establish $47-m insurance pool against disasters

WASHINGTON, USA (AP) – Caribbean countries, joined by outside donors and international and regional organisations, have established a $47-million (euro35.7-million) insurance pool to soften the blow from earthquakes and hurricanes.

Called the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility, the programme grew out of member governments’ determination to rebuild quicker after catastrophic natural disasters.

The World Bank helped the 18 contributing governments to create the facility. It said they would save about 40 per cent in premium payments by pooling their risks and would have money available immediately should disaster strike.

The facility will operate by allowing governments to buy catastrophe coverage similar to coverage for businesses to protect against interruption of operations by providing them with early cash payments after a major hurricane or earthquake.

Anna Nicole Smith’s body to remain in the US until.

WEST PALM BEACH, Florida (AP) – A Florida appeals court has issued a stay in the dispute over Anna Nicole Smith’s body, ruling that her remains cannot be moved to the Bahamas until the court considers a challenge from the starlet’s estranged mother.

The Florida 4th District Court of Appeal is considering a petition filed Monday by Virgie Arthur, who challenged Circuit Judge Larry Seidlin’s decision last week that gave control of her daughter’s body to an attorney for the centrefold’s infant daughter, Dannielynn.

The advocate for the daughter, Richard Milstein, had said he would bury Smith in the Bahamas beside her 20-year-old son, who died last year. Arthur wants Smith buried in her native Texas.