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In Congo, Lure Of Quick Cash Turns Farmers Into Miners

Credit Jonny Hogg / Reuters /Landov

Gold miners pass up pans of sediment from an open-cast mine near the town of Mongbwalu, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, last April.

Credit Jonny Hogg / Reuters /Landov

Gold miners pass up pans of sediment from an open-cast mine near the town of Mongbwalu, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, last April.

Credit Jonny Hogg / Reuters /Landov

A gold miner carries a sack of sediment from tunnels in an abandoned industrial shaft at Makala Mine, near the town of Mogbwalu.

Credit Jonny Hogg / Reuters /Landov

Miners crush tin ore before it is washed and bagged for sale.

Credit Jonny Hogg / Reuters /Landov

Miners work in a tin mine near the small town of Nyabibwe, in the eastern Congo, in October.

Credit Jonny Hogg / Reuters /Landov

A miner works in a tin mine near Nyabibwe.

Credit Marc Hofer / AP

A woman sells mining supplies from a stall in Nyabibwe.

Credit Marc Hofer / AP

Nyabibwe is an outpost fueled by cassiterite mining.

Credit Marc Hofer / AP

A Congolese miner sifts through ground rocks to separate out the cassiterite.

By Jacob Kushner

Originally published on Thu March 28, 2013 5:27 pm

One day while he was watching TV, farmer Emmanuel Tshiteta saw a news segment about people digging.

With shovels and picks, they forged deep holes, then packed the rocks they uncovered into plastic mesh bags. They carried the bags to a river to wash away the dirt, revealing handfuls of aqua-colored ore. The next day, they sold the ore for quick cash.

2:41 pm

Thu March 28, 2013

Thieves Target Political Ad Consultants On New FCC Site

Credit Karen Bleier / AFP/Getty Images

A woman views a Mitt Romney campaign ad in September, a month after the launch of an online government database that is supposed to make it easier for the public to see what political ads air in big markets, and how much is spent on them.

By Peter Overby

Poke into the obscure corners of the Federal Communications Commission's website, and you can find one of the deepest disclosures in campaign finance.

2:28 pm

Thu March 28, 2013

Chocolatiers Lindt Loses Final Appeal To Trademark Golden Easter Bunnies

Credit Heinz-Peter Bader / Reuters /Landov

Chocolate Easter bunnies by Swiss company Lindt, left, and Austrain company Hauswirth, which agreed to stop making chocolate Easter bunnies that look like those made by Lindt & Spruengli in 2012.

By Eyder Peralta

Originally published on Thu March 28, 2013 3:02 pm

After 12 years, a federal court in Germany has settled an epic Easter battle: It ruled Lindt & Spruengli, the Swiss chocolatier, could not trademark its gold-foil wrapped easter bunny chocolates.

Germany's international broadcaster Deutsche Welle reports:

1:30 pm

Thu March 28, 2013

Mortar Hits Syrian University; Turkey Denies It Deported Refugees

Credit AP

A photo released by the official Syrian Arab News Agency shows bloody tables and chairs in a Damascus University cafeteria that was struck by a mortar Thursday.

By Korva Coleman

Originally published on Thu March 28, 2013 2:55 pm

A mortar shell hit part of Damascus University in Syria's capital on Thursday, killing at least 10 students and wounding a number of others, according to the official Syrian news agency, which says the shell fell on an outdoor café in the architecture department.

NPR's Susannah George is following the attack from neighboring Lebanon: "State TV footage shows puddles of blood in a colorful school cafeteria, and an awning is torn above where the mortar allegedly landed."

1:20 pm

Thu March 28, 2013

'Love Your Butt' Ads Try To Conquer Colonoscopy Fears

Credit loveyourbutt.org

Cute it may be. But will it convince you to get a colonoscopy?

By editor

Originally published on Mon April 1, 2013 1:50 pm

The billboard in Washington, D.C.'s Metro stopped me in my tracks on the way to work: "Love Your Patooty."

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3:27 pm

Thu March 28, 2013