As The World Turns

As The World Turns

Mexican police ask spirits to guard them in drug war

Police running scared from drug gangs in one of Mexico's deadliest cities are using bizarre rituals involving animal sacrifice and spirit tattoos to seek protection from raging violence on the U.S. border.

In secret meetings that draw on elements of Haitian Voodoo, Cuban Santeria and Mexican witchcraft, priests are slaughtering chickens on full moon nights on beaches, smearing police with the blood and using prayers to evoke spirits to guard them as drug cartels battle over smuggling routes into California.

Other police in the city of Tijuana, across the border from San Diego, tattoo their bodies with Voodoo symbols, believing they can repel bullets.

"Sometimes a man needs another type of faith," said former Tijuana policeman Marcos, who left the city force a year ago after surviving a drug gang attack. "I was saved when they killed two of my mates. I know why I didn't die."

Mexico's drug war takes growing toll on Americans

Sceptic challenges Indian guru to kill him live on TV

When a famous tantric guru boasted on television that he could kill another man using only his mystical powers, most viewers either gasped in awe or merely nodded unquestioningly. Sanal Edamaruku’s response was different. “Go on then — kill me,” he said.

Mr Edamaruku had been invited to the same talk show as head of the Indian Rationalists’ Association — the country’s self-appointed sceptic-in-chief. At first the holy man, Pandit Surender Sharma, was reluctant, but eventually he agreed to perform a series of rituals designed to kill Mr Edamaruku live on television.

Millions tuned in as the channel cancelled scheduled programming to continue broadcasting the showdown.

First, the master chanted mantras, then he sprinkled water on his intended victim. He brandished a knife, ruffled the sceptic’s hair and pressed his temples. But after several hours of similar antics, Mr Edamaruku was still very much alive — smiling for the cameras and taunting the furious holy man.

You can see video of the 'incident' here and here.

China to begin trial of 4 Rio Tinto employees

An Australian executive and three other employees of mining giant Rio Tinto face charges of stealing secrets and offering bribes in a Shanghai trial beginning Monday that is viewed as a barometer of China's handling of foreign business.

Volcano Erupts In Iceland, Hundreds Evacuated

Authorities evacuated hundreds of people after a volcano erupted beneath a glacier in southern Iceland, Iceland's civil protection agency said Sunday.

The eruption occurred around 11:30 p.m. Saturday (1930 EDT) beneath the Eyjafjallajokull glacier, the fifth largest glacier in Iceland.The volcano is covered by an ice cap.

Fearing flooding from the glacier melt, authorities evacuated some 400 people in the area 100 miles southeast of the capital, Reykjavik, said Vidir Reynisson, the department manager for the Icelandic Civil Protection Department.

The last time the volcano erupted was in the 1820s.

"We do not at this moment know the full extent of the eruption but a team is flying over the site now to evaluate the situation," said Reynisson.

US doctor charged in deaths pleads not guilty 

In Brisbane, Australia an American doctor accused of repeatedly botching operations and performing surgeries he was not capable of handling pleaded not guilty Monday to three manslaughter charges and one of grievous bodily harm. Jayant Patel, an Indian-born doctor, replied "not guilty, your honor" when the charges were read to him in a crowded courtroom just before jury selection began in the trial that is expected to take four to six weeks and hear some 90 witnesses.

The trial comes more than 25 years after questions were first raised about his competency, and five years after a government inquiry found he may have directly contributed to patient deaths because of an unacceptable level of care at the hospital.

Patel, 59, has not spoken publicly about the charges. He faces life in prison if convicted.

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Southern Taiwan carpet bombed with bee droppings

Swarms of bees have showered parts of southern Taiwan with their droppings, leading locals to believe plane toilets were being emptied over their homes, authorities said.

"Bee droppings are harmless to human health but it's very difficult to wash off," Kaohsiung city's environmental protection bureau said. "The bureau can't doing anything about the bees so we urge the public to be careful."

The bureau said it had received many calls complaining about strange yellow "flakes" left on cars and laundry, and angry requests that airline companies clean up their act.

However, a lab analysis found the flakes were in fact bee droppings while airlines explained that all in-flight toilets are only emptied on the ground, it added.

German baby food giant hails hungry adult market

Can't be bothered to chew your food? Too tired to cook and looking for a quick meal? It seems that in such circumstances a growing number of adults may consider opening a jar of baby food.

The world's largest baby food manufacturer, Hipp, has said an increasing number of adults are turning to its pre-cooked, pureed meals because they find them easier to swallow and digest.

About a quarter of those who eat the Bavaria-based firm's 100 varieties of pulped meals – from apple and cranberry breakfast to vegetable and beef hotpot – are adults, it says.

Claus Hipp said in recent years his firm's products had grown in popularity, particularly among elderly people, with stewed apple said to be a favorite.

He said the 50-year-old company – the world's largest producer of baby food, with 46% of the market – was increasingly turning its attention to the adult market rather than babies as Europe's population ages.

"Not so long ago, we had twice as many births as now, and that, of course, has a knock-on effect. As our society gets ever older, baby food is showing that it has a future in the adult market."