Retailing giants like Tesco and America's Walmart have been trying to get deeper into India's huge market of 1.2 billon people for years. Both companies do already have a presence here, yet until now restrictions on foreign investment have prevented them from setting up their own branded stores. India's
beleaguered
government beset by corruption scandals is gambling by
loosening up
such controls. It can revive both the sagging economy and its own political fortunes.
The South African government says it will not tolerate what it calls illegal gatherings as it tries to end a wave of strikes in the mining industry. The Justice Minister Jeff David said the carrying of dangerous weapons and threats of violence would be dealt with accordingly. Shortly afterwards police fired tear gas to break up a demonstration by miners who want a substantial pay rise. Four of South Africa's gold and
platinum
mines have now been closed.
Brazilian police are sweeping through a poor neighborhood at the city of Rio de Janeiro after the murder of a policeman on Thursday. They say they have arrested a suspect and seized ammunition of the same type used in the killing. The policeman was shot dead on patrol in the Rocinha neighborhood. Police and soldiers moved into the
sprawling
neighborhood in November last year as part of their efforts ahead of the 2014 football World Cup to restore order to areas largely run by gangs.