Mainstream News

In-Flight Thieves Targeting Airline Travelers’ Carry-On Bags

"Travel experts such as Hobica say theft on planes is a growing problem, with bags getting swiped, valuables stolen and pockets picked. Jewelry, money and medications are often the sought-after prizes. One of the reasons in-flight thefts are rising is because more travelers are trying to avoid checking their bags these days. 'People don’t want to pay the check-bag fee,' Hobica said, adding, 'They also know there can be a lot of theft from baggage handlers.' More passengers carrying on luggage means overhead bins are packed. Travelers often cannot use an overhead bin near their seats, putting their valuables out of sight." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIn-Flight Thieves Targeting Airline Travelers’ Carry-On Bags

$625K in gold stolen at Miami International Airport

"A box containing $625,000 in gold arrived in Miami but disappeared about an hour and a half later, Miami-Dade police say. An American Airlines plane arrived at Miami International Airport from Guayaquil, Ecuador, and docked at Gate D3 at 4:42 a.m. Tuesday, according to a Miami-Dade Police Department incident report. A tug arrived at the plane from Gate D6, according to the report. It then drove away with the cart holding the plane's cargo at 5:22 a.m. Surveillance video showed the tug continue to D37 before it entered an alley and disappeared from the video. The cart was found in front of Gate D19 at 6:20 a.m. but without the box containing the gold." Continue reading →

Continue Reading$625K in gold stolen at Miami International Airport

As Thieves Troll Spanish Farmland, Villagers Begin Patrols

"Police officials say they have seen a steady rise in the crime rate in rural areas since 2009. Just about everything is a target. Three hundred onions one night. A rubber irrigation hose the next. In Albelda, thieves have taken diesel fuel, nail guns, electric clippers — even shampoo and soap that workers use. Elsewhere in Spain, particularly in coastal regions like Valencia where there is a lot of farming, villagers are organizing themselves into patrols, too. It is not a trend that police officials like much. But they understand it. In many areas, there are too few officers to cover acres and acres of farmland. And yet there are few useful alternatives to a watchful eye." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAs Thieves Troll Spanish Farmland, Villagers Begin Patrols

Switzerland reintroduces immigration quotas after sudden influx of Europeans

"Switzerland will begin restricting residence permits to citizens from 17 European Union countries, including the UK, on June 1st. The measure, approved by the federal government and announced by the immigration department on Wednesday, was triggered by a safeguard clause in the freedom of movement agreement signed by the Swiss with the EU. The clause allows for the Swiss to restrict immigrants from the EU unilaterally until May 31st, 2014. It can be enacted if the number of residence and short stay permits issued to EU workers exceeds by at least 10 percent the average number of annual permits issued in the previous three years." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSwitzerland reintroduces immigration quotas after sudden influx of Europeans

Tories begin defecting to Nigel Farage’s UKIP over ‘loons’ slur

"Local Conservative party campaigners, including the chairman of one constituency association, will this week pledge their support for Nigel Farage after one of David Cameron’s allies described grassroots Tories as 'mad, swivel-eyed loons'. Six members of the Tory group on Merton council in south London are quitting. One, Richard Hilton, who has been acting chairman of the local Conservative association, said he would join Ukip because the insult was 'the final straw'. Lord Howe, the former chancellor, claimed Mr Cameron was 'losing control' of the party to growing euroscepticism." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTories begin defecting to Nigel Farage’s UKIP over ‘loons’ slur

German Anti-Euro Party a Growing Challenge for Merkel

"Though the German left is splintered among three, or even four, parties, the right is a monolith. There is the CDU, its Bavarian wing known as the Christian Social Union, and its favorite coalition partner, the Free Democrats (FDP). But this election year is different. With the birth of the anti-euro party Alternative for Germany (AfD), Merkel is facing competition from within her own clientele. Furthermore, though her preferred strategy has been that of maintaining complete silence about the AfD so as not to lend it credibility, there are many in Merkel's party who disagree with that approach. And they are increasingly giving voice to their displeasure." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGerman Anti-Euro Party a Growing Challenge for Merkel

Europeans Rapidly Losing Faith in EU Project

"Europe's ongoing economic crisis and lasting currency woes are beginning to rapidly erode faith among Europeans in the EU project. That is the result of a new survey undertaken by the renowned Pew Research Center in Washington D.C. and released on Monday evening. In just one year, the share of Europeans who view the European Union project favorably plummeted from 60 percent in 2012 to just 45 percent this year. Furthermore, only in Germany does a majority continue to support granting more power to Brussels in an effort to combat the ongoing crisis." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEuropeans Rapidly Losing Faith in EU Project

France mulls ‘culture tax’ on smartphones

"The French government is considering creating a new tax on smartphones and tablets in a bid to raise millions to support the creation of digital cultural content inside France. The proposal, handed to President Francois Hollande Monday, outlines a 1 percent tax on the sale of Internet-compatible devices, targeting companies such as Google, Apple and Amazon. The tax would yield about 86 million euros per year. The revenue would help cultural industries create French content such as music, images and videos. The proposal is part of France's 'cultural exception,' a policy that protects French cinema and music industries, and other creative sectors, against competition." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFrance mulls ‘culture tax’ on smartphones

Taxes on 8,000 French households were greater than 100% of income last year

"More than 8,000 French households' tax bills topped 100 percent of their income last year, the business newspaper Les Echos reported on Saturday, citing Finance Ministry data. The newspaper said that the exceptionally high level of taxation was due to a one-off levy last year on 2011 incomes for households with assets of more than 1.3 million euros ($1.67 million). President Francois Hollande's Socialist government imposed the tax surcharge last year, shortly after taking office. The government has been forced to redraft a proposed bill to levy a temporary 75 percent tax on earnings over 1 million euros, which had been one of Hollande's campaign pledges." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTaxes on 8,000 French households were greater than 100% of income last year

Bank depositors to suffer losses in new EU law

"A draft European Union law voted on Monday would shield small depositors from losing their savings in bank rescues, but customers with over 100,000 euros in savings when a bank failed could suffer losses. From 2016, large depositors in the European Union might suffer losses if a bank gets into serious trouble, echoing a deal in Cyprus where wealthy depositors were hit hard at two banks to save the country from bankruptcy. Under the EU proposal, a bank would only dip into large deposits of over 100,000 euros once it had exhausted other avenues such as shareholders and bondholders." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBank depositors to suffer losses in new EU law