Taking a cue from more high-end swindlers, a slew of violent gangs, including the Bloods, the Crips and the Latin Kings are branching out into mortgage fraud, identity theft, check counterfeiting and bank fraud, among other crimes.
Exxon Mobil, Chevron and ConocoPhillips are all trading near multi-year highs, and even BP shares have done well recently. Still, while the high oil prices that have been pinching consumers have been great for the industry, there are good reasons not to count on those high stock values lasting.
M.A.C. Cosmetics and fashion label Rodarte created a cosmetics and clothing line inspired by Ciudad Juarez, the violence-ridden border town, featuring products with names such as Factory, Juarez and Ghost Town. Not everyone is applauding.
Tourism accounts for around 20% of Jamaican GDP, but the recent four-day gun battle in Kingston is having an impact well beyond where it happened. Tourists are scared off -- even from resorts far from the unrest -- ending what has been a great year so far.
