Kenya

Hippo kills tourist

A hippopotamus flipped and trampled an Australian tourist to death at a popular resort in central Kenya, police said Tuesday.

Vicky Elizabeth Bartlett, 50, was with a group of 12 tourists at Lake Naivasha on Monday night when the hippo attacked, said Simon Kiragu, the regional police chief.

“The hippo attacked the woman, flipping her into the air before tossing her on the ground and trampling her,” he said.

Bartlett was rushed to a hospital but died while undergoing treatment. No one else was injured in the attack.

Wildlife experts say hippos can pose extreme danger to humans. The animals come on shore at night to graze and will attack anything that comes between them and the water, where they feel safe.

The attack took place at Fisherman’s Camp, a popular lakeside campground, where signs warn tourists to beware of hippos after dark.

John Mwangi, the group’s tour guide, said the woman had seen a hippo the night before and was going to look for one again without telling him.

London

Rice disappointed by Canada’s missile stance

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Tuesday told Canadian diplomats of her disappointment over Ottawa’s decision to opt out of a U.S.-led anti-ballistic missile shield program.

U.S. officials have made no secret of their unhappiness with the Canadian stance.

Last week Rice deferred plans to visit America’s northern neighbor early in her tenure at the State Department, although her spokesman said the change was not a sign of Rice’s displeasure.

Canadian diplomats requested a short meeting Tuesday with Rice on the sidelines of an international conference on Palestinian reform. She met for 10 to 15 minutes with Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew, said a Bush administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The official said Rice made clear her disappointment with Canada’s stance.

Vatican City

Pope making strides with regained speech

Pope John Paul II managed to speak in two languages with a top Vatican official Tuesday, the first clear sign the pontiff was regaining his voice after throat surgery.

The meeting with Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger reinforced Vatican statements that the 84-year-old pope was making strides in vocal and respiratory therapy less than a week after receiving a breathing tube. It also sent a message that John Paul can remain engaged in key church affairs from his 10th-floor suite at Rome’s Gemelli Polyclinic hospital.

“The pope spoke with me in German and in Italian,” said Ratzinger, a German who runs a powerful Vatican office that deals with issues of Roman Catholic doctrine. “I am happy to say that the Holy Father is fully alert mentally and also able to say the essential things with his voice.”

Ratzinger did not elaborate on what the pope said or how long he spoke, but his rare meeting with reporters strengthened the image the Vatican is putting forward: The pope is rebounding and remains in control.