As The World Turns
Tourist imprisoned in Australia for importing tea
A Filipino tourist spent five days in custody after Australian officials mistook packets of tea for amphetamines. Maria Cecilia Silva, 29, was stopped as she arrived in Melbourne airport when drug-detection dogs reacted to tea in her luggage.Ms Silva, traveling from the Philippines, was handed over to the Australian Federal Police after customs determined there were amphetamines in three packets of lemon-flavored iced tea. Follow-up tests, however, were negative, and prosecutors withdrew the charge of importing drugs.
A tearful Ms Silva clung to a female prison guard as she was led through the court to a waiting friend.
"She's a totally innocent young lady who has experienced five days in an horrendous situation having her liberty taken away and placed in cells with some serious offenders," said her lawyer, Michael Penna-Rees. "She's traumatized, she's lost a lot of weight and she'll be seeing a doctor."
He said the tea was purchased in a Philippine supermarket and had never been opened.
Melbourne Judge Jack Vandersteen ordered the director of public prosecutions to pay 5,000 Australian dollars ($4,600) to Maria Cecilia Silva for her ordeal.
TV Presenter Gets Death Sentence for 'Sorcery'
Amnesty International is calling on Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah to stop the execution of a Lebanese man sentenced to death for "sorcery." In a statement released Thursday, the international rights group condemned the verdict and demanded the immediate release of Ali Hussain Sibat, former host of a popular call-in TV show.
Chinese man 'ate child's brain' to cure epilepsy
A Chinese cannibal allegedly killed an 11-year-old boy and ate his brain in order to cure his epilepsy.It was said that Wang Chaoxu, of Qixian village in Yunnan, southwest China, believed an old wives' tale that eating a child's brain could cure fits.
Police said the boy, Li Xuetang, was found buried nearly 5km away in a grain field in a neighbouring village.
The top of his head was peeled back and part of his brain removed.
Wang Chaoxu was arrested and told police he believed eating the brain with earthworms and ants would cure his illness.
Wang said he was married to a nurse, but she left him because his illness meant he was unable to work.
Five Indian children may have been 'sacrificed' by childless couple
Five children poisoned to death in a village in India may have been "sacrificed", police say.They say that the children were killed in Digras - close to the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra by a childless couple in a suspected black magic ritual to enable them to conceive.
The couple and parents of the accused husband have been arrested. Officials say post-mortem results are awaited.
Police say they are looking for the tantrik, or witch doctor, who advised the couple to "sacrifice" 11 children in accordance with black magic rituals.
They say that Vitthal and Vandana Mokle were married for 12 years but were unable to conceive despite frequently visiting doctors.
Investigating Officer Sheikh Abdul Rauf said that after initial inquiries they suspected foul play in the deaths of the children. All the children were aged between two and four and were related to each other.
Lion Mutilates 42 Midgets in Cambodian Ring-Fight
 An African Lion much like this is responsible for the death of 28 Cambodian Midgets |
Spectators cheered as entire Cambodian Midget Fighting League squared off against African Lion Tickets were sold out three before the much anticipated fight, which took place in the city of Kâmpóng Chhnãng.
The Cambodian Government allowed the fight to take place, under the condition that they receive a 50% commission on each ticket sold, and that no cameras would be allowed in the arena.
North Korean finance official blamed for currency crisis executed by firing squad
A government official in North Korea blamed for the nation's currency devaluation has been executed by the state. "Pak Nam-gi, who was reportedly sacked in January as chief of the planning and finance department of the ruling Workers' Party, was executed at a shooting range in Pyongyang."Afghanistan: Taliban chops off nose, ears of 19-year-old girl for "shaming" her in-laws
"When they cut off my nose and ears, I passed out." Bibi Aisha, 19, of Afghanistan, who was punished by the Taliban for "shaming" her in-laws when she ran away to escape torturous domestic abuse. Her father sold her to her abusive husband when she was 10. Atia Awabi, a CNN International correspondent based in Kabul, says "If you are moved by [this] story you can help by donating to womenforafghanwomen.org." CNN interviewed this young woman in January, and ABC News followed recently.
Women for Afghan Women has posted an update on her story here (some people may find the full image of her brutally disfigured face disturbing).
Her husband "kept her in the stable with the animals until she was 12 (when she got her first menstrual period)."
More:
Aisha has been recovering these past months from the unimaginable trauma she has suffered. She has brought criminal charges against her father for giving her away in the illegal practice of "baad." She would like to also bring charges against her husband, but since he is a Talib in Uruzgan, he is unreachable. Aisha has decided after weighing all the options before her that she would like to come to the United States for her surgery and post-operative care. Just as important as her surgery, will be the support system we organize for her recuperation. We are currently engaged in setting up that support system for Aisha.
You can donate here.
Mexican Marines Raid Rown Police Force, 8 Cops Arrested
Mexican marines detained more than half the police force of a northern rural town Wednesday for suspected ties to drug cartels.
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