Scottish Government Unveils World’s First Carbon Budget: Scotland has unveiled the world’s first “carbon budget” which will link emission with government spending. The new budget reveals that the Scottish government’s £30 billion spending on schools, hospitals and farming next year will lead to the release of 11.5 million tonnes of CO2. John Swinney, the Scottish finance minister, said, “(The new budget) will form part of an important discussion taking place across our nation about the carbon implications of activity across the economy and across society.”

Iraqi Man Shot After Throwing Slipper At US Troops: Ahmed al-Jumaili, a 30 year old mechanic, has been shot after he threw one of his slippers at a US army patrol in Falluja. A statement from the US military said that an “object” was thrown at the troops, who then fired “in self-defence, wounding the attacker”. Jumaili told the Associated Press news agency, “When I saw the Americans patrolling the streets of Falluja I lost my temper.” After US troops administered first aid, Jumaili was taken by Iraqi police to hospital where he is being treated for a chest wound and two bullet-grazes.

South African’s Selling Their Saliva: South Africans in an impoverished township are profiting from an illegal trade in saliva from people with tuberculosis. Healthy people are buying the saliva samples - for £8.20 - in order to claim medical disability benefit from the government, a monthly payment that can be up to £80.

Indian Minister Fears For Her Statues: The chief minister of the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Ms Mayawati, has said she will hold opposition parties “responsible” if any statues of her and her mentors are demolished. Critics of the minister say her numerous memorials and statues are self-glorifying - last week, India’s Supreme Court ordered her government to stop building any more statues. India’s Home Minister, P Chidambaram, described Mayawati’s spending on statues as “shameful”. But Ms Mayawait accuses her opponents of conspiring against her and being “anti-Dalit”.

World Bank Says World’s Poor Needs To Be Bailed Out: The World Bank’s managing director, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has told the BBC that people living in the developing world are some of those worst affected by the current economic crisis. Dr Ngozi said that developing countries cannot afford the kind of government stimulus packages that are boosting economies in the West; “There are countries that have no fiscal space for stimulus…low income countries need to be talked about and have the developed countries help them.”

Somali urged to boycott UN books: Sheikh Ali Mohamud Rage, a spokesman for Islamist group al-Shabab, has urged Somali schools to stop using “un-Islamic” textbooks disturbed by the United Nations. Mr Rage urged parents not to send their children to schools which use UN books. Mr Rage told a graduation ceremony for Koranic students, “Some UN agencies like Unesco are supplying Somali schools with textbooks to try to teach our children un-Islamic subjects… I call upon all Somali parents not to send their youngsters to schools with curriculum supported by the UN agencies.”

Australian Coal Power Station Hijacked By Activists: The Hazlewood coal-fired power station, Australia’s biggest source of carbon emissions and one of the ‘dirtiest’ coal plants in the world, has been the site of an eco-protest, with a group calling themselves the Ministry For Silly Walks breaking into the power station. Over 500 activists faced over 250 police officers protecting the power station. Over 22 activists were arrested during the protest. The Hazlewood power station is owned by UK company International Power.