Fewer Spiritual Tourists After Sweat Lodge Deaths

An American tour operator has been sentenced to 15 years of hard labor in North Korea for alleged “hostile acts” against the repressive regime, according to its official state news agency.Kenneth Bae, who is in his mid-40s and lives in Washington state, has been described by friends as a devout Christian who took tourists on trips to North Korea, The Associated Press reported.He was detained in No    

The planned ruling would eliminate protection for the top predators, but scientists and conservationists say the proposal is flawed.Federal authorities intend to remove endangered species protections for all gray wolves in the Lower 48 states, carving out an a exception for a small pocket of about 75 Mexican wolves in the wild in Arizona and New Mexico, according to a draft document obtained by The Times.    

The fishing trip off the rugged north coast of St. Lucia was supposed to last all day, but about four hours into the journey, the boat's electric system crackled and popped.

South African officials say an elephant has overturned a vehicle carrying two tourists, injuring one of them. A statement from Kruger National Park says the tourists are of "Chinese origin." The statement says an elephant in the park attacked the vehicle on a road at 6:30 a.m. Monday, and a medical team in a helicopter rushed to help the injured male driver. He was taken to a hospital for further treatment. Park spokesman William Mabasa says it is unclear why the elephant became aggressive. But he is appealing to the public to be alert in the park and try not to get too close if they see an elephant approaching on the road. The vast Kruger park lies in South Africa's northeast, next to Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

Judge had withheld reports in the investigation from the public for 2 years.