The Great Kuwaiti Cat-meat Scandal (1937)

http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-magazine-monitor-31057350

BBC News Magazine Monitor

31 January 2015

The great Kuwaiti cat-meat scandal

In 1930s Kuwait, an accusation that a restaurant was serving cat meat might easily have ended badly for the owner. But in one case British diplomats decided it was a matter for the Crown - and rode to the rescue of the unlucky man, writes Matthew Teller.

Perhaps the stew was a bit chewy. Or maybe someone heard mewing at night. Or was it in fact a plot to defame an immigrant restaurant owner and drive him out of business?

Kuwait in 1937 was abuzz with rumour and counter-rumour, as the mayor put it about that Abdul Muttalib bin Mahin had been serving cat meat disguised as mutton. Uproar ensued. […]

David Beckham Ruined My Favela!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2927065/David-Beckham-ruined-favela-Slum-dwellers-attack-star-shanty-town-turns-luxury-enclave-rumours-bought-trendy-shack.html#ixzz3QCm7boLe

Daily Mail [UK]

27 January 2015

'David Beckham ruined my favela!' Slum-dwellers attack star after Rio shanty-town turns into luxury enclave because of rumours he hadbought a 'trendy shack'

By Matt Roper In Rio De Janeiro For Mailonline

Rumours that David Beckham has bought a trendy 'shack' in a notorious Rio de Janeiro slum have driven up house prices and turned it into a luxury enclave, residents say.

The football star was said to have spent £250,000 on a seaview home in the Vidigal favela last year.

Since then, slum houses that originally fetched £2,500 are being marketed as trendy 'shanty shacks' with spectacular views for as much as £400,000 - even though the rumours are false. […]

Thieves Get High on Powder from Plasma TVs

http://allafrica.com/stories/201501150926.html

GroundUp via AllAfrica

14 January 2015

South Africa: Plasma TV Rumour Surfaces Again

By Mary-Anne Gontsana

New rumours of a "plasma gang" stealing TV's in order to retrieve a powder have surfaced in Cape Town, but police and scientists are unconvinced. […]

Solomzi Booi from Khanya Neighbourhood Watch in Gugulethu, said these thefts were "definitely happening".

"We've had reports about this. These people are getting high off whatever it is that they are getting from these TVs. People are being held at gunpoint in their homes for their plasma TVs," he said. […]