Despite poaching, South Africa plans for rhino horn trade

South Africa’s government is moving ahead with plans to allow a domestic trade and limited export of rhino horns, alarming many international conservationists who believe rhinos will be more vulnerable to poachers who have killed record numbers in the past decade. Draft regulations would allow a foreigner with permits to export “for personal purposes” a maximum of two rhino horns.

British man shot to death in Kenya during ranch invasion

Rancher Tristan Voorspuy was shot sometime after going to inspect some of his lodges, which had been burned by the attackers Friday, said Simon Kipkeu, commander of police in Laikipia County. Kipkeu said the victim’s body was found Sunday lying next to his injured horse and witnesses were being interviewed about the incident 190 kilometers north of Nairobi.

Detections dogs used to help eradicate weed species in national parks

Dogs are not usually permitted in national parks, however Parks Victoria has made an exception for two working spaniels called Sally and Connor. Parks Victoria, New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Services and ACT Parks have worked together to train two weed-eradication detection dogs to help find hawkweed in the Alpine areas.

Meghan Markle hoped to join Prince Harry on charity trek

Sense of humor failure? Trump is ridiculed with memes after PULLING OUT of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in shocking break with tradition – as his war with the media heats up Husband shoots his school teacher wife and her new lesbian lover dead before turning the gun on himself in horrific double murder-suicide shootout ‘This administration is abhorrent’: Casey Affleck blasts Trump as ‘un-American’ during Best Actor acceptance speech at the Independent Spirit Awards Pope cuts penalties for paedophile priests – including one let off with just a lifetime of prayer for abusing five young boys Food blogger is busted for cheating in half marathon by eagle-eyed viewer who spotted the WRONG distance on her GPS watch – as she is forced to confess taking shortcut AND using a BIKE Bill Maher defends giving Milo Yiannopoulos a platform on his show just days before a video emerged of the … (more)

Underwood Wetland hailed as ‘far-sighted’ joint project

Northland Fish & Game is joining with the Department of Conservation and Nature Heritage Fund to officially open an important wetland area near Dargaville, described as the result of a “far sighted” joint conservation effort. The Underwood Wetland, to be opened next Sunday, 19 February, by Association Minister of Conservation Nicky Wagner, gives protection to an area of native forest, wetland and river flats near Dargaville.

Can Norwich City’s midfield cope with Alex Tettey’s suspension?

It was only a matter of time before Alex Tettey picked up his 10th yellow card of the season and therfore incurring a two-match ban. Ever since he picked up his ninth yellow in the 2-2 draw at Southampton, the Norwegian has been walking the proverbial tightrope and never looked likely to make the March 12 amnesty when all bookings are wiped from the slate for the season in the Football League.

Prince Harry bests William, Kate in London royal run

Prince William may be closer in line to the British throne, but brother Prince Harry bested him at a finish line. Harry, William and William’s wife, Kate, the duchess of Cambridge, raced a 50-meter sprint against each other Sunday at London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park as they promoted a mental health campaign called Heads Together .

Duke and Duchess of Cambridge outsprinted by grinning Prince Harry as …

The royal trio laced-up their trainers and took to the track at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in east London for their mental health campaign Head Together Prince Harry sprinted past his brother and sister-in-law during a relay race at a training session for runners taking part in the London Marathon. The royal trio laced-up their trainers and took to the track at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in east London for their mental health campaign Head Together.

Why we should ALL be taking notes from the Scandis

Why we should ALL be following the Scandi lifestyle for a happy, healthier life They brought us hygge – the creation of a cosy atmosphere – and lagom – adopting a frugal approach to life – and now it seems that we are going to be going full Scandi with our entire lifestyle. Indeed, the Scandi lifestyle is one of the healthiest and happiest in the world.

USOC: Foreign athletes to get expedited access to US events

The U.S. government has told the U.S. Olympic Committee that the travel ban put in place over the weekend shouldn’t impact athletes traveling to the United States for international events. In a statement Monday, USOC leaders said the government told them it would work to ensure athletes from all countries would have expedited access to the United States for international competitions.

Young Aussie surfer photo bombed by shark that shared wave

In this photo from Jan. 24, 2017, provided by Chris Hasson, 10-year-old Eden Hasson, Chris’ son, surfs near what is believed to be a great white shark at Samurai Beach, Port Stephens, Australia. James Cook University shark researcher Andrew Chin says the photographed shark is possibly a small great white.

The Latest: 36, 35, 34 _ Serena says 30s is the new 10

Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic makes a backhand return to Croatia’s Mirjana Lucic-Baroni during their quarterfinal at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2017. . Croatia’s Mirjana Lucic-Baroni makes a backhand return to Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic during their quarterfinal at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2017.

Unending vigil for S. Koreans camped near sex-slave statue

In this Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017 photo, college student Choi Hye Ryeon, left, sits with others in a tent made of plastic sheets to protect a statue of a girl representing thousands of Korean women enslaved for sex by Japan’s imperial forces before and during World War II, during a rally in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, South Korea. “Whenever I see the statue, I think about how that could have been me if I’d been born during those times,” said Choi.

Video of skeletal sun bears begging for food at Indonesian zoo sparks Internet storm

A VIDEO showing overly skinny sun bears begging for food from visitors at Indonesia’s Bandung Zoo has triggered a firestorm of protests online, with netizens demanding better treatment for the poorly kept animals. The footage, which has received thousands of angry comments, was posted online by Scorpion Wildlife Trade Monitoring Group , an animal rights group which has since launched several petitions calling on the government to improve the living conditions of the sun bears.

Tokyo run

A trial run for the Tokyo Marathon has inspired Josh Harris to a breakthrough win in his maiden Hobart race. HOBART HEROICS: Josh Harris flaunts the marathon sponsor’s name returns on his return to Launceston after clocking up a win in Hobart at his first attempt.

Suffolk-based addiction charity plans new running event

A Bury St Edmunds-based addiction charity will host a new running event in Risby this summer in celebration of its 20th anniversary. The event – set to take place at The Highwaymans, in Risby, on July 30 – will have a festival atmosphere and is aimed at novices and seasoned runners alike, with three runs of varying lengths to encourage everyone to get involved.

Regional maritime piracy agreement broadened to cover other illicit maritime activity

An international agreement that has been instrumental in repressing piracy and armed robbery against ships in the western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden has seen its scope significantly broadened to cover other illicit maritime activities, including human trafficking and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. A high-level meeting of signatories to the Djibouti Code of Conduct , held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia has adopted a revised Code of Conduct, which will be known as the “Jeddah Amendment to the Djibouti Code of Conduct 2017”.

Rusty patched bumblebee declared endangered

This 2012 photo provided by The Xerces Society shows a rusty patched bumblebee in Minnesota. Federal officials said Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017, that the rusty patched bumblebee has become the first bee species in the continental U.S. to be declared endangered after suffering a dramatic population decline over the past 20 years.

APNewsBreak: Rusty patched bumblebee declared endangered

This 2012 photo provided by The Xerces Society shows a rusty patched bumblebee in Minnesota. Federal officials said Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017, that the rusty patched bumblebee has become the first bee species in the continental U.S. to be declared endangered after suffering a dramatic population decline over the past 20 years.

Hayle Runners take a leap in the dark in Norway

The attached photos show Club members at the start of the Polar Night Half Marathon in Tromso and Emma Paull with her 3rd lady and 2nd in age category trophies. To start the New Year, Hayle Runners again sent a strong contingent to Tromso in Norway for the Polar Nights Half Marathon.

13 rescued – not one between the flags

Five holiday-makers in their 20s, a 10-year-old boy and 13-year-old girl were pulled to safety by a jetski when they became caught in a gutter at Tangalooma Resort on Moreton Island. Lifeguards rescued another five swimmers caught in rips near Coolum on the Sunshine Coast, while another received help off Noosa northshore.

Paddle skills vital for survival

Kayaks make great Christmas presents, but recreational boating project officer Marine and Safety Tasmania Ian Ross said using them safely is important. Marine Safety Tasmania have began to host Paddle Safe days across the state to ensure paddlers are using their boats safely.

Rotorua’s new night-time wildlife experience

Rotorua, 4 January 2017: A new interactive night-time experience at Rotorua’s Rainbow Springs Nature Park offers visitors the opportunity to explore the park after-hours this summer, in a relaxed ‘Kiwi backyard’ setting. ‘In the Shadows: Dine + Discover’ runs every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 5 January to 25 February 2017 and includes a stylish three-course BBQ-style dinner, guided night walks, entertainment, animal encounters and the chance to see kiwi as they wake from their slumber.

US-trained dolphins to help locate Mexico’s vaquita porpoise

U.S. Navy-trained dolphins and their handlers will participate in a last-ditch effort to catch, enclose and protect the last few dozen of Mexico’s critically endangered vaquita porpoises to save them from extinction. International experts confirmed the participation of the Navy Marine Mammal Program in the effort, which is expected to start sometime this spring.

Odisha

Finance executive Sam Patnaik, 32, a resident of Rasulgarh, was elated when the Reserve Bank of India tried to provide relief to the demonetisation-hit people by increasing the ATM withdrawal limit… Police penalised around 150 party revellers in the twin cities last night for drunk driving and rash driving during New Year celebrations. Zero hour saw city party animals letting their hair down at various glitzy locations in the twin cities on New Year’s Eve.

Reaction to Cecil the lion’s 2015 death reviewed

In this age of social media, where the policy is say-anything-you-want-even-if-untrue, we have almost completely lost sight of a legal principal that is central to our nation’s founding: innocent until proven guilty. Perhaps the most remarkable example of this occurred in coverage of the killing of a 13-year-old male lion named Cecil in July 2015 in Zimbabwe.

See More Than the Beach in Belize

I had heard that Belize has long stretches of lovely beach backed by magnificent multihued tropical foliage — and it does. I knew that its dense jungles hide intriguing Mayan ruins, some dating back to before the birth of Christ — and they do.