Girl breaks with Albanian tradition

TIRANA, Albania: Katerina Munguli, 16, defeated over a dozen boys in an Orthodox tradition, recovering a metal cross from the bottom of the Ionian Sea. Diving for the cross is an age-old tradition in many Eastern European countries to mark Epiphany. Boys have customarily been the only participants, but in Albania, Katerina rushed before them and became the first Albanian girl to break the tradition. According to Reuters, Munguli dove several metres into freezing cold water, winning the prize of 10,000 leks (80 €) and an additional prize from the Orthodox priests supervising the event.

Tot plays with chopstick, impales brain

BEIJING, China: Doctors successfully removed a chopstick from a toddler’s sinus cavity after the tot fell on the stick. CNN reported the chopstick was 4 cm up 14-month-old Li Jingchao’s nose and was touching the child’s brain. Jingchao’s mother took him to a walk-in clinic but doctors there were scared to remove the stick for fear of massive bleeding. He was suffering paralysis on his right side due to the placement of the stick on the brain. Neurosurgeons were prepared to perform surgery on the boy, but Dr. Sun Wei simply pulled the chopstick out. The doctors concluded that had the utensil entered further into the boy’s head, massive hemorrhaging or permanent paralysis could have occurred.

Ugandan government discouraging acceptance of homosexual death penalty law

KAMPALA, Uganda: The Ugandan government will ask Parliament to throw out a bill that would impose the death penalty for HIV-positive individuals who engage in homosexual sex. Ministers in the government, including President Yoweri Museveni, feel the proposed law is too severe and could affect international investments in the country as well as its reputation in the international community. President Museveni has asked the ruling party to throw out the death sentence condition of the bill, reported CBC News. The bill also calls for life imprisonment for people convicted of homosexual acts.

Model dies after plastic surgery

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina: Former model and Miss Argentina 1994 Solange Magnano died after plastic surgery complications. Argentina is one of many South American countries with a high rate of plastic surgery, charging a lot less for procedures than other industrial countries. According to CNN, statistics show one in 30 Argentines have had cosmetic surgery, making Argentine plastic surgeons some of the most experienced in the world. Magnano died in hospital after she was transferred from a clinic where she underwent buttocks surgery. The circumstances of her death are under investigation. Magnano was an accomplished model and former Miss Argentina winner. She was a mother of twin boys and owned her own modelling agency.