ATTLEBORO SECT TRIAL - "THE BODY" MASSACHUSETTS Ex-sect member describes boy's death The Sun Chronicle "TAUNTON -- Former Attleboro religious sect member Dennis Mingo has talked publicly before about his experiences in the sect and how he broke free." Former member tells court of cult's bizarre journey The Boston Herald "TAUNTON -- An ex-member of a mysterious Attleboro cult vividly described yesterday the bizarre inner workings of the separatist sect that prosecutors say led to the starvation of a baby boy in 1999." Leader's Diary Describes Son's Decline The Associated Press "TAUNTON -- A religious sect leader accused of starving his infant son to death blamed the devil for making his wife doubt that God wanted them to withhold solid food from the boy, according to diary entries read at his murder trial Thursday." Dennis Mingo, former member of "The Body" (Photo, Sun-Chronicle)

FLORIDA
Ex-'Miami Vice' star wins first round against psychic network
Court TV
"He didn't have to chase down Colombian drug runners, bust a diamond-smuggling ring, or catch a bribe-taking politician in the act, but former "Miami Vice" star Philip Michael Thomas scored a big takedown Wednesday -- this time in the courts."

NEVADA
Silverton UFO sightings in the eyes of the beholders
The Las Vegas Sun
"John Darger and his family came all the way from Salt Lake City to catch a glimpse of a UFO predicted to appear in Las Vegas on Thursday."

OKLAHOMA
Psychic's future foretold in Oklahoma
The Associated Press
"Self-proclaimed telephone psychic Miss Cleo agreed Thursday to stop soliciting business in Oklahoma and to provide cash refunds to consumers, Attorney General Drew Edmondson said."
ALSO:
COURT TV's Full Coverage of Miss Cleo or COURT TV's Miss Cleo Special Report, including legal documents and script which "psychics" read to callers.

PENNSYLVANIA
Amish told to put symbols on buggies
Safety concerns outweigh beliefs
Pittsburg Post-Gazette
"EBENSBURG -- In a case pitting religious freedom against highway safety, a judge yesterday rebuffed a fledgling, 80-member Amish community -- a group that, after more than two dozen traffic citations, doggedly spurns state-mandated reflective orange triangles for its black buggies."
Read Judge's court opinion.

UTAH
BYU Professor Settles Lawsuit Over Alleged 'Blacklist'
The Salt Lake Tribune
"PROVO -- Brigham Young University has agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by a professor who alleged BYU tried to force him out of his tenured post and blacklisted him."

ENGLAND
Geller to get vibes going for England
Reuters
"LONDON - Spoonbender Uri Geller is planning to send positive vibes over the airwaves to the England soccer team to boost them on the eve of their World Cup match against fancied Argentina today."

ICELAND
Falun Gong Barred From Iceland
The Associated Press
"REYKAJVIK -- The government on Friday barred all Falun Gong members from entering Iceland in a bid to prevent a large demonstration against Chinese President Jiang Zemin when he visits the country next week."

INDIA
Couple hacked to death
Deccan Herald
"A young couple was hacked to death at their residence in Kodihalli on Wednesday night for marrying outside religion against the wishes of the girl’s parents. The deceased have been identified as Paulraj (32) and Sameena (22), residents of Balappa Lane in Kodihalli village."

JAPAN
Setagaya to submit `no Aum' ordinance
The Asahi Shimbun
"Tokyo's Setagaya Ward will submit an ordinance to its assembly next week to regulate the activities of groups like Aum Shinrikyo, the cult accused of indiscriminate murder through sarin gas and other attacks."

KENYA
Kenyans Mark Islam Founder's Birth
The Associated Press
"LAMU -- Galloping donkeys and fervent prayer marked the anniversary of the birth of Islam's founder Thursday, as residents of this nearly 1,000 year-old Kenyan town celebrated the festival of Maulidi with a Swahili feel, mixing African drums with Arabic verses from the Quran."

NIGERIA
OPC= Declares War On Cultists
P.M. News
"LAGOS -- Due to the incessant cult wars at The Polytechnic, Ibadan which has spread to the neighbouring settlements, members of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) in Ibadan have been drafted to curb the activities of the cultists."

PHILIPPINES
Ecleo cult a mix of great faiths, the occult
First of three parts
The Manila Times
"CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - Former mayor Ruben Ecleo Jr. of San Jose, Surigao del Norte, is a wanted man. He is accused of killing his own wife Alona in Cebu last January and has been ordered arrested to stand trial for parricide."

DISCLAIMER: Sect News Daily is not responsible for the content of any external links or news items written for any newspaper or news agency, nor are we responsible for the length of time external links are available online. Although Sect News Daily is intended for an evangelical audience interested in current events, we do not promote any specific denomination or church. This is to prevent us from unintentionally promoting a group or a group's teachings that may be in conflict with the spiritual beliefs of the staff of Sect News Daily. Sect News Daily does not regard all religious or spiritual groups listed in news items as cults. Some articles are posted to keep the evangelical Christian informed as to events in Christendom.