Dog Thieves (BC) – Town Bans Gossip (Philippines) – Drugs Tied to Helium Balloons

https://www.castlegarnews.com/news/dog-stealing-women-likely-an-urban-myth-say-local-police/

Castlegar News [BC]

29 April 2019

Dog-stealing women likely an urban myth, say Castlegar police

Police in Castlegar say there are no indications there are dog-nappers working in the West Kootenay area. Despite dozens of “sightings” of two women (and possibly an Asian male accomplice) casing the area, and numerous Facebook posts on the subject, police say there are no indications anyone is looking to steal your dog and use it for nefarious ends. […] A post Monday from the Krestova area warned the duo were “[placing] flagging tape or cloth to mark a house and then come back later. If anyone notices new flagging tape or anything weird on their fence or a tree across the street, keep an extra tight eye.” […]

=====

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/may/01/have-you-heard-about-the-philippine-mayor-who-banned-gossip

The Guardian [UK]

1 May 2019

Have you heard about the Philippine mayor who banned gossip?

When the lethargic heat of summer set in, the residents of Binalonan, a small town in the Philippines, used togather under the trees and share stories about their neighbours, swapping titbits about rumoured scandals, affairs, bankruptcies and divorces. But no longer. In local law imposed on the town, which is north of the capital Manila, such gossip, or “chismis’” as it is known in the Philippines, is now illegal. […]

=====

No Offence (25 January 2017), Series 2, Episode 4. A drug dealer about to be apprehended by police releases his stash attached to helium balloons. This episode of the British cop drama was written by Jimmy Dowdall. 

Electoral Ink Could Cause Death (Cambodia 2018)

https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50507428/prime-minister-orders-inquiry-into-fatal-electoral-ink-rumours/

Khmer Times

2 July 2018

Prime Minister orders inquiry into fatal electoral ink rumours

Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday called for legal action against Situation Room NGOs whom he believed started rumours that electoral ink could cause death, a claim dismissed by one NGO.

Rumours flooded social media feeds over the weekend saying that two types ink are going to be used in the election, one typical and one more diabolical. […]

President Trump’s Generals’ Pact to Prevent War

https://www.economist.com/news/briefing/21731112-americas-president-loves-men-uniform-and-they-often-give-him-sound-advice-it-mr

The Economist

9 November 2017

Donald Trump’s generals cannot control him

WASHINGTON, DC, is a revealingly gossipy place. A favourite tale of the Donald Trump era involves a pact that the generals working for the president are supposed to have sworn. As described by ambassadors, senators and foreign-policy panjandrums, the generals have agreed that one of their number will remain in America at all times, to prevent a war being started by intemperate presidential tweets.

The details change. Sometimes, it is said, the pact involves James Mattis, the defence secretary, aligning travel with the White House chief of staff, John Kelly, a fellow retired four-star Marine general. Others say Mr Mattis is in cahoots with Joseph Dunford, a serving four-star Marine general and chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, or with H.R. McMaster, the national security adviser (an army lieutenant-general still on active service but shouldering a mere three stars). Still others insist the pact includes the secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, a former oil man and a rare civilian among the so-called “grown-ups” who run national-security policy for Mr Trump.

Mr Mattis has told aides that no such pact exists. The Economist recently travelled to South Korea with the defence secretary on the same day that General Dunford was also in Seoul, and Mr Tillerson was in Geneva. The durability of this urban legend is telling, however. […]