Last week, police in the French capital arrested three people as part of a widening grave robbery investigation. There was further public outrage after two masked intruders shot dead a 52-year old precious metal worker when he tried to stop them stealing gold from his foundry in the chic central Parisian district of Le Marais.
First day of legal pot ends in shoot-out
Two suspected robbers believed to be targeting an alleged home-based marijuana growing operation were killed in a shootout on the first day of legal marijuana in Washington state, authorities said. The 35-year-old homeowner told detectives he shot the masked intruders Thursday after they broke into his home near Puyallup, Pierce County Sheriff spokesman Ed Troyer
Alstom gets $5,8 billion South African rail tender
The South African government on Wednesday announced a consortium led by Alstom had won a $5,8 billion tender to overhaul the country’s passenger railways. Transport Minister Ben Martins announced that a group led by the France-based firm would build 3 600 vehicles over a 10-year period from 2015 to 2025. The deal includes heavy black
Read more: Alstom gets $5,8 billion South African rail tender
Anglo American CEO blames ‘apartheid’ for mine violence
Violence witnessed in the mining sector this year stems from apartheid, outgoing Anglo American CEO Cynthia Carroll said on Tuesday. “The violence we have seen in the mining sector this year has its seeds in the legacy of apartheid and the underlying social problems that remain,” she said during a discussion at the Gordon Institute
Read more: Anglo American CEO blames ‘apartheid’ for mine violence
‘Tuigdorpen’: Word of the year
Amsterdam residents with a record of harassing their neighbors will be exiled, the city’s mayor announced. After being forced out, they will live under police supervision in special container housing units with only basic amenities. Authorities in the Dutch capital have formed a task force to identify the worst offenders behind the 13,000 complaints of
China surpasses US as trading partner
In just five years, China surpassed the US as leading a trading partner in the world. With 124 countries considering China their largest trading partner and only 76 having that relationship with the US, the Asian country’s influence is on the rise. In 2006, the US was the larger trading partner for 127 countries, while
Drone media?
Here comes the fly-by media. Preliminary use of diminutive drones is under way among those who see the potential of drones in news gathering, not to mention invasive “gotcha”-style journalism. Deadline Detroit — “a homegrown media revolution” manned by former veteran journalists — has already used footage made by “Tretch5000,” an anonymous hobbyist who used
Ten reasons why Chinese are despised in Africa
Living in the Rainbow Nation Codrin Arsene writes from a black man’s perspective. About one hundred Algerian and Chinese residents clashed in Algeria’s capital a couple of years ago. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated phenomenon. Violent clashes between Chinese immigrants and Ten reasons why Chinese are despised in Africa discontented Africans have occurred all
New colonists in Africa
A truly South African vuvuzela. Or not The new colonials have arrived. Without as much as a whisper the South African government allowed at least 400 000 Chinese to swamp the country during the past six years. Chinese migrants, mainly from the overpopulated Fujian province in China, have been shipped off to South Africa at
The new UK breadwinner
A woman in her late 20’s came to the hospital today with her 8th pregnancy. She said to me me “My mum told me that I am the breadwinner for the family.” I asked her to explain. She said that she can make babies and babies get money from the State for the family. It
France backs Palestinians
France has announced it will vote in favor of recognition of Palestine as a non-member observer state at the UN General Assembly later this week. The French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told parliament that France “will respond ‘yes’” when the issue is put on a vote at the UN General Assembly. France, a permanent UN
Young black women adore Obama
While Obama carried the youth vote overall, his support declined from 2008 among all young voters and among key subgroups. In particular, Obama lost ground among young whites, men and independents. Only 44% of white voters under 30 backed Obama, while 51% voted for Romney. This is a substantial change compared with 2008, when Obama
Smoking ‘rots’ brain
Smoking “rots” the brain by damaging memory, learning and reasoning, according to researchers at King’s College London. A study of 8,800 people over 50 showed high blood pressure and being overweight also seemed to affect the brain, but to a lesser extent. Scientists involved said people needed to be aware that lifestyles could damage the
Texans have ‘secession fever’
Move over, “Everything is bigger in Texas.” The Lone Star state has a new favorite bumper sticker and it’s a simple one-worder: “Secede.” Yes, it appears that “secession fever,” as some columnists are calling it, has taken over the red-leaning state following the post-election petitions — and sales of the stickers are just one sign. Among