Compiled by EUN SIL KANG

Woman sentenced to death for giving the kiss of death

REUTERS

A Chinese woman who killed her lover with a rat-poison-laced kiss when she suspected him of being unfaithful has been sentenced to death, the Shanghai Daily said Thursday.

Xia Xinfeng, from Maolou in the central province of Henan, passed a capsule with rat poison from her mouth to her long-time lover, Mao Ansheng, during a kiss.

Ansheng swallowed the capsule and died soon afterwards.

“The couple had said that if either one of them cheated on the other, he or she would have to die,” the newspaper said.

Xinfeng found Ansheng had been “talking” with another woman and deemed that he broke their promise.

Duck loses its head in brawl

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Minnesota officials are filing a felony charge of animal cruelty against a Denver man accused of tearing off the head of a live duck at a St. Paul hotel.

Scott D. Clark, 26, faces a maximum sentence of two years in jail and a $5,000 fine if he is convicted.

Clark is accused of chasing a tame duck that was swimming in a pond at the Embassy Suites Hotel in St. Paul on Sept 22.

Witnesses told authorities he eventually cornered the duck, grabbed it and tore its head off.

He then allegedly turned to onlookers and said he was hungry and was going to eat the duck.

Authorities say they believe Clark had been drinking.

American University Animal Rights Effort Officer Nicole Davis found the story disturbing.

“But this sort of thing [killing of animals] happens everyday on factory farms,” said Davis.

Marie Stratton, 21, a senior biology major at American University, was shocked to hear the news.

“It’s terrible. It’s completely unnecessary,” said Stratton.

As to the reasoning why someone could potentially do such a thing, Stratton believes a person’s past history can affect his or her current behavior.

“Maybe he has ‘dominance’ issues. It’s man displaying power over animals and nature,” said Stratton.

Eric Barnes, 46, a dietary aide at the Knollwood Retirement Center in Washington, D.C., had similar reactions.

“It’s a little outrageous. Ducks are an attraction for people to see. I think he was wrong for [doing] that,” said Barnes.

Clark is being held at the Ramsey County Jail.

The sergeant’s office at the jail says Clark is turning down requests for interviews.