Mayor of Falluja, Iraq, killed

On Nov. 13 Adnan al-Jalbawi, the mayor of Falluja, Iraq, was shot and killed while bombs in Falluja and in other cities across Iraq killed 24 others. Al-Jalbawi had been the mayor for three years. The attack happened while al-Jalbawi was visiting a sewage pumping station, and police officials in the Anbar province were contacted. Al-Jalbawi’s body guard was critically wounded, too. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack. Twenty people were also killed in various attacks throughout Iraq.

Twenty-seven people die after train crashes into cars in Cairo

On Nov. 17, a cargo train crashed into two cars just south of Cairo, killing at least 27 people. It isn’t clear what led up to the crash. Over the past few years Egypt has had many deadly train crashes, one in Jan. killing 19 and injuring 107, one in Nov. 2012, killing 51 and injuring 17, and a third in Oct. 2009, killing 15.

Gunman on the loose in Paris

A gunman was on the loose in Paris, France, on Nov. 19 after he opened fire at a newspaper office, The Liberation, and at a major bank, before hijacking a car. A photographer’s assistant was seriously wounded before the shooter left. A little over an hour later, the gunman opened fire at the lobby of Societe Generale in the La Defense business district. The shells found at the crime scene are currently being tested for DNA evidence.

China becomes the world’s top gold consumer

So far this year China has purchased a little over 723 tons of gold, and become the top gold consumer in the world. India had been the highest consumer last year, but their consumption has dropped 10 percent. Some think that the jump in consumption is caused by China’s large middle class, which is currently at 1.5 billion people. Gold and stocks are currently China’s two most popular investments.