Brit Gets 4 Years in Dubai Prison For Speck of Pot Smaller Than a Sugar Grain on His Shoe

West Midlands youth worker Keith Brown has received a four-year jail term in Dubai for a piece of cannabis found on the bottom of his shoe so small that it can't be seen with the naked eye. He was returning from Ethiopia where he has family and land.

Another man has awaited sentencing since November for a similar amount of cannabis. The UAE's zero-tolerance drug laws have also jailed a Swiss man who customs officials found with three poppy seeds that fell off a bread roll at Heathrow Airport.

Another man was arrested for melatonin supplements used for jet lag. Fair Trials International said last night that extreme caution should be used for those traveling to Abu Dhabi or Dubai, who note that cases like these have soared in recent months.

Hockey Player Has Close Shave With Death

On February 10th Richard Zednik of the Florida Panthers nearly lost his life when a fellow teamate slipped and caught Zednik in the neck with his skate.

Zednik quickly made his way to the bench where he practically fell into the trainer's arms. Zednik was helped from the ice by the team trainer, and teammate Jassen Cullimore. Zednik is now in a stable condition.

This was not the first time that such an incident has occured on Buffalo Ice. In 1989 Sabres goalie Clint Malarchuk also received a skate to the neck, cutting his jugular. Malarchuk made a quick recovery and was back at practice within 4 days.

Chavez Threatens to Cut Oil to the US in Response to Exxon Mobil's Court Injunction for Compensation

In response to the court injunction brought against the Venezuelan government for compensation to oil giant Exxon Mobil, president Hugo Chavez has charged that Exxon Mobil is acting on behalf of the US government and has threatened to cut oil sales.

“If you end up freezing our assets and it harms us, we’re going to harm you,” Chavez said. “Do you know how? We aren’t going to send oil to the United States. Take note, Mr. Bush, Mr. Danger.”