South Africa

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Amazing Race Producer Poisoned in Africa

Jeff Rice dead in Uganda following failed shakedown by thugs

(Newser) - An American Amazing Race producer was found dead of poisoning in an African hotel following a failed shakedown by local thugs, Fox News is reporting. Freelance producer Jeff Rice's assistant was also discovered critically ill from poisoning in the same Uganda hotel after the pair refused to comply with...

Lion Kills S. African Zookeeper
 Lion Kills S. African Zookeeper 
Feb 15, 2012 1:00 AM CST

Lion Kills S. African Zookeeper

Employee came out of retirement because of staff shortages

(Newser) - A Johannesburg Zoo employee who came out of retirement because of staff shortages was killed by a lioness at a breeding facility outside the city. The 63-year-old, who had nearly 40 years of experience working with animals, was attacked while feeding the lions, the BBC reports. An enclosure was found...

Rhino Dies in Anti-Poaching Demonstration

Spencer couldn't be revived after sedation

(Newser) - A demonstration of a new anti-poaching procedure came to a tragic end in South Africa yesterday. A white rhino that had been sedated in order for veterinarians to implant a tracking device in his horn—and inject it with dye and a pesticide toxic to humans—died under anesthesia in...

Shark Kills Another Swimmer on 'Most Dangerous Beach'

6th victim in 6 years in South African spot

(Newser) - Yet another swimmer has been killed by a shark on a South Africa beach considered the most dangerous in the world. The victim this time was a 25-year-old swimmer who was standing up to his waist in water at a beach in Port St. John's. The shark nearly severed...

South African Farmer Marius Els Killed by Pet Hippo
 Farmer Killed by Hippo 'Son' 
Nov 15, 2011 12:36 AM CST

Farmer Killed by Hippo 'Son'

Dangerous pet turns on South African

(Newser) - They tried to tell Marius Els that a hippo couldn't be domesticated. Unfortunately for the South African farmer, they were right. The 40-year-old army major was killed by Humphrey, a 6-year-old "pet" hippo he considered one of the family, the Guardian reports. The 2,600-pound animal bit Els,...

Zulus Urged to Switch to Fake Fur

Biologist looks to save endangered leopards with synthetic pelts

(Newser) - A leopard can't change its spots, but can South Africa's Zulus trade their traditional leopard-pelt adornments for a cheap knockoff? For the sake of protecting the country's dwindling population of the big cats, conservation biologist Tristan Dickerson hopes they can. Dickerson has created a fake version he...

Record Number of Rhinos Killed in S. Africa

Meanwhile, Interpol joins effort to save Asian tigers

(Newser) - Two stories of note on the wires about animal conservation:
  • Rhinos: Poachers have killed a record 341 rhinos this year in South Africa, according to the World Wildlife Fund. The horns fetch big money on the black market for use in traditional medicine or as ornamental daggers, reports the BBC
...

South Africa Blocks Dalai Lama Visit

Desmond Tutu slams ANC after visa denied

(Newser) - The Dalai Lama helped in the fight against apartheid but now South Africa won't even allow him in, a furious Archbishop Desmond Tutu charged yesterday. The Tibetan spiritual leader canceled a planned trip to South Africa this week after it became apparent that he would not receive a visa...

Old Racist Photo Stirs New Facebook Furor

Hunter photo a fake, but authorities worry about hate groups

(Newser) - A 4-year-old racist photo on Facebook, ostensibly of a white hunter standing over a dead 3-year-old black boy, has ignited a media frenzy following a report by South Africa's Sunday Times . Although the pic was quickly found to be an fake—the "hunter" paid the boy to pose...

Grandpa Wakes Up Screaming in Morgue

Needless to say, the South African man was not actually dead

(Newser) - A South African grandfather is apparently just fine after spending 21 hours inside a morgue—but we're guessing family dinners are going to be awkward for a while. His family assumed he was dead when they were unable to wake him up, and called for an undertaker. But he...

'Bladerunner' Pistorius Shatters Personal Record

'Bladerunner' Oscar Pistorius headed to world championships

(Newser) - Double amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius achieved a career goal by qualifying for the world championships yesterday, fulfilling a five-year-long quest to compete at the highest level against able-bodied athletes. Pistorius said his achievement still felt "weird" and "surreal" and hadn't sunk in yet; he clocked 45.07...

'Jaws' Leaps Into Research Boat

It takes crew more than an hour to get killer back where he belongs

(Newser) - A great white shark proved a bit too cooperative, and leaped into a boat full of researchers who were luring the killer creatures off South Africa by throwing bait into the water. "Next thing I know I hear a splash, and see a white shark breach out of the...

Foodies, Meet Your New Obsession: Rooibos Tea

South African import has lots of buzz and the requisite health claims

(Newser) - Move over quinoa and acai berry. The next big thing in the culinary world just might be rooibos (roy-boss) tea. "It's a robust herbal tisane (not technically a tea), and its flavor has an almost tobacco-like, nutty quality," writes Jessica Grose at Slate . Full of antioxidants, the...

Michelle Obama, Girls Visit Nelson Mandela

Daughters, mother join her on South African trip

(Newser) - Arriving in South Africa today, Michelle Obama met Nelson Mandela for the first time and said her husband was unhappy he couldn’t join them. “Michelle Obama certainly convinced the dignitaries she is excited to be here, and said her husband is 'pouty' that he isn't,”...

'Worms From Hell' Could Mean Life on Mars

Discovery of complex life deep below the Earth's surface raises new questions

(Newser) - Scientists have discovered the first complex creatures living a mile or more below the surface of the Earth, unlocking the possibility that similar organisms are elsewhere in the universe, the Washington Post reports. Researchers found the group of nematodes, or roundworms, in water flowing through several gold mines in South...

Rugby Star Charged With Axe Murders

Ntshongwana claimed to be avenging daughter's rape

(Newser) - A retired South African rugby star who allegedly went on a killing spree with an axe in one hand and a Bible in the other has been charged with three murders. Joseph Ntshongwana claimed to be taking revenge on a gang that raped his daughter and infected her with HIV,...

Lightning Kills Mom and 4 Kids
 Lightning Kills 
 Mom, 4 Kids 
Mar 11, 2011 12:13 AM CST

Lightning Kills Mom, 4 Kids

Father was away at work

(Newser) - A mother and her four children were struck dead by lightning when a bolt struck their thatched home in South Africa. Busisiwe Mdluli, 36, dropped dead alongside her children, ages 6 months to 12 years old. Three other children survived but were badly burned. The father was away at work...

Dead Baby Linked to Oprah's School

Teen student brought infant in bag to hospital while seeking treatment

(Newser) - More bad news for Oprah Winfrey's scandal-plagued school in South Africa: A dead infant was discovered in a bag belonging to a student brought to the hospital for excessive bleeding, reports E! The 17-year-old girl remains in the hospital, and officials believe she gave birth at Winfrey's Leadership Academy for...

Bono Slammed for 'Shoot the Boer' Song Stand

Controversial lyrics part of political protest, says singer

(Newser) - Bono is in hot water in South Africa after he appeared to support a song whose lyrics include the line "shoot the Boer." In an interview, the U2 frontman indicated such music is part of political protest and compared it to songs linked to the Irish Republican Army,...

Mandela Discharged From Hospital

'No need to panic': surgeon-general

(Newser) - Nelson Mandel’s longer-than-usual hospital visit sparked a flurry of concern and press speculation , but the former South African president left the ward today, having responded well to treatment for acute respiratory infection, the AP reports. The 92-year-old will receive care at home, said the surgeon-general. “Dr. Mandela is...

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