JEWELER TO STARS WAS ROBBED

PARIS (Reuters); Armed robbers stole gems worth 85 million euros ($108 million) from luxury jewelers in the heart of Paris, during a raid described by French media Friday as the most lucrative heist in France's history.


A spokeswoman at the Paris prosecutors' office said the Harry Winston store, located just off the Champs Elysees on an avenue of luxury outlets, had declared 85 million euros' worth of losses to its insurers after Thursday's hold-up.

"These are experienced bandits. They got through the main door without drawing attention to themselves. In less than 20 minutes they got up to the first floor, emptied the safes and the display cases and left through the door," she said. A police spokesman said the gang of four men, one or two of them disguised as women, threatened customers and pistol-whipped some of the staff.

They appeared very well-prepared. "Apparently they knew the names of several of the staff," the spokesman said. Experts at the prosecutors' office said the jewels and luxury watches stolen Thursday could not be sold in their present form as they would be too easily recognized. They said organized crime networks capable of finding buyers for the gems outside of France were likely to be involved in the heist.

The firm shows on its website a gem bought by the late shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis to present to former U.S. first lady Jacqueline Kennedy as an engagement ring. It also has more recent pictures of movie actresses Gwyneth Paltrow, Hilary Swank and Scarlett Johansson wearing its jewels.

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VENICE HOTELS OFFER FLOOD PACKAGE WITH FREE BOOTS

VENICE (Reuters); Hoteliers in Venice, trying to lure tourists to the canal city despite floods caused by the highest sea levels in over two decades.Venice Hoteliers Association offering special "High Water" packages complete with free rubber boots.


The Venice Hoteliers Association is offering "Venice and the High Water" promotions at 190 euros for one night's stay plus "free use of rubber boots" and a map with "alternative pedestrian routes during the high water." There is also a reassuring message from hoteliers and Mayor Massimo Cacciari saying: "Don't worry, there is no danger; high water is a phenomenon that quickly disappears."

Heavy rains and high winds left the city almost completely flooded at the beginning of the month, with the landmark St. Mark's Square thigh-deep in water and waterbus services suspended. In the first days of December sea levels in the Adriatic rose by 1.56 metres (61 inches), levels not seen since 1968 and the fourth-highest in a century. With rain and wind continuing in northern Italy, more high water is forecast for Thursday.

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SUGGESTIVE CHINESE SYMBOLS IN GERMAN JOURNAL PRINTS

BERLIN; A German academic journal has apologized for printing sexually suggestive text on the cover of its current issue about China.

The cover of the Max Planck Institute's current research journal features five rows of Chinese characters against a red background.

Spokeswoman Christina Beck says an image agency claimed they were old Chinese characters and an institute sinologist said they were "uncontroversial." Chinese guest professors who saw some of the 55,000 copies disagreed.

Beck said Wednesday the characters were actually
"an employment ad for young women that points in a very specific direction."

The institute has issued an apology to the visiting Chinese scholars. An upcoming run of 22,000 English-language copies will have a new cover.

1:19 PM | Labels: | 1 Comments  

WOMAN AND HER MOM CONVICTED OF SMUGGLING MONKEY INTO US

A woman and her mother have been convicted in federal court on charges of sneaking a monkey into the United States from Thailand.

The woman hid the sedated young rhesus macaque under her blouse, pretending to be pregnant when she successfully passed through U.S. Customs in Los Angeles after a trip to Bangkok, Thailand.

Her mother, 55, of Northport, Wash., also went on the trip in November 2007.

The two women were found guilty Monday by a 12-member jury on separate charges of conspiracy and smuggling goods into the United States. Sentencing is set for March 3.

The monkey is now at a primate rescue facility in Oregon.

11:59 PM | Labels: , | 2 Comments  

2008-12-14
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