Londoners mourn the deaths of five cyclists who have lost their lives over the past nine days. Source: LondonCycleCampaign/Twitter
NAPLES
“Tens of thousands of people have protested in Italy’s southern city of Naples against illegal dumping of toxic waste blamed on the local mafia. Demonstrators carried photos of relatives who they said had died of cancer as a result of the pollution. BBC News
LONDON
“Boris Johnson has been accused of “gross insensitivity” and “dodging responsibility” after he suggested that the deaths of five cyclists on the streets of London over the past nine days underlined the need for cyclists to obey the laws of the road. The mayor of London also appeared to shrug off calls for an urgent, independent review of cycling safety in the capital, arguing that, if cyclists did not follow the rules, “there’s no amount of traffic engineering that we invest in that is going to save people’s lives”.
JOHANNESBURG
TORONTO
“Residents carrying signs and megaphones took to Toronto City Hall on Saturday, demanding that Toronto’s embattled mayor step aside. The protest came after a dramatic week in Toronto that saw fresh allegations surface against Mayor Rob Ford, including partying with a suspected prostitute and sniffing cocaine.
LIBYA
“The vast majority of Tripoli’s public and private sectors went on a general strike on Sunday to force Libya’s government to drive out militiamen blamed for clashes that killed at least 45 people. The streets of Tripoli were deserted as the city’s businesses and schools were closed but shops like pharmacies, hospitals and gas stations remained open.
MADRID
“Madrid’s street cleaners are now on strike for a second week, protesting substantial pay cuts and layoffs proposed by their employers. And each day, the city’s sidewalks become more and more awash in garbage. Private contractors run Madrid’s waste collection services.
CAPE TOWN
‘Somerset West and Strand were worst affected by flash flooding in the Western Cape on Friday, as emergency services remained on high alert, with weather forecasters saying Cape Town should expect pouring rain throughout Saturday. Streets were turned into torrents as a flash flood half-swallowed Main Road in Somerset West late Friday afternoon in the worst flooding seen in the area in years.
LAGOS
“The Lagos State Government Wednesday announced the award of a contract for the extension of the light rail (blue line) that would start from the National Theatre, Iganmu and terminate at Marina. Managing Director, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, told journalists yesterday in Lagos, that the Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), had awarded the contract to the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).