snakes

From deadly school shooting in Philippines to a Chinese man jailed for breeding 300 snakes, here are highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting

SCMP presents a selection of seven recent news stories. The first highlight details US and Iran talks in Switzerland, which reportedly cooled tensions and led to assets being returned to Iran, though key issues remain unresolved. Other mentioned highlights include a deadly school shooting in the Philippines and a Chinese man jailed for breeding snakes.

Venomous Snakes Raise Concerns for Football Teams at World Cup

Football players from Germany, Switzerland, and Norway have expressed concerns about venomous snakes at their World Cup training camps in the US. Germany's Joshua Kimmich reported an encounter with a copperhead, a venomous snake common in North Carolina.

RFK Jr. Released Snake That Bit Him Into Children's Pool, Sister Claims

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. allegedly released a snake that had bitten him into a swimming pool full of children at a birthday party, according to his sister, Kerry Kennedy. She described the incident, which involved RFK Jr. stuffing the snake into a pillowcase while holding his infant son, before showing it to the children and then releasing it into the pool.

Russia's snakes enter peak mating season, increasing encounter risks

Snakes in Russia are in their peak mating season, making them less cautious and more likely to encounter humans. Experts advise caution near water bodies and warn about venomous species like vipers and the Caucasian viper.

Ukraine's 'Highway of Death' Campaign Targets Russian Supply Lines

Ukraine's 'middle strike campaign' is disrupting Russian supply lines, particularly the 'Novorossiya' route, with drone attacks causing significant damage and traffic reduction. The strategy aims to create a 'logistics lockdown' for Russian forces.

Invasive snakes threaten Balearic Islands' endemic lizards

Invasive horseshoe vipers (Hemorrhois hippocrepis) are rapidly colonizing Ibiza and its surrounding islets, pushing the endemic Pityusic wall lizard to 'endangered' status. Despite eradication efforts, the snakes are swimming to islands, decimating lizard populations and threatening the Balearic ecosystem.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Shares Video of Bare-Handed Snake Removal, Sparks Mixed Reactions

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. posted a video of himself removing two non-venomous black racer snakes from a patio, prompting a mix of joy, incredulity, and concern online. Herpetologists advise against handling snakes by the tail due to potential spinal injuries and stress to the animals.

Sam Campbell's 'Make That Movie' is a Deeply Strange New Channel 4 Series

Australian comedian Sam Campbell stars in 'Make That Movie,' a new Channel 4 series where he plays a director developing bizarre public movie ideas into films. The show, described as a 'show-within-a-show,' blends reality TV with absurdist comedy, premiering each episode's film.

Italian policeman survived 9 days in Sahara, ate bats and snakes

Mauro Prosperi, an Italian policeman and marathon runner, survived nine days lost in the Sahara Desert after a sandstorm during the 1994 Marathon Des Sables. He resorted to eating bats and snakes, and even attempted suicide before being found and recovering.

Not all snakes slither: Scientists decode rare straight-line movement

Young Chinese Woman Raises 60,000 Venomous Snakes, Earns Over $147,000 Annually

A 1995-born woman surnamed Qin from Guilin, Guangxi province, returned to her village two years after graduating from university to help her father raise snakes. She now manages over 60,000 venomous reptiles, including 50,000 five-step snakes and nearly 10,000 cobras, earning more than 1 million yuan (US$147,000) annually. Her father initially opposed her entering the dangerous snake farming industry.