SAfrican ministry says Semenya to keep gold medal

Nov 19, 2009 - ILE - This is an Aug. 28, 2009, file photo showing South African runner Caster Semenya, center, surrounded by local children at her welcome home celebration at the Masehlong village in Moletjie, South Africa. Semenya says she isn't comfortable with her fame since her world championship title was obscured by gender-test revelations. - 14 Comments

Barrick shuts hedge book as world gold supply runs out

Nov 11, 2009 - Barrick shuts hedge book as world gold supply runs out Global gold production is in terminal decline despite record prices and Herculean efforts by mining companies to discover fresh sources of ore in remote spots, according to the world's top producer Barrick Gold. By Ambrose Evans-Pritchard, International Business Editor Published: 7:20PM GMT 11 Nov 2009 Comments 11 | Comment on this article Pouring gold bullion - Barrick shuts hedge book as world gold supply runs out Liquid gold: Gold is poured from the induction kiln Photo: JULIAN SIMMONDS Aaron Regent, president of the Canadian gold giant, said that global output has been falling by roughly 1m ounces a year since the start of the decade. Total mine supply has dropped by 10pc as ore quality erodes, implying that the roaring bull market of the last eight years may have further to run. - 1 Comment

Spooky new spider weaves monster webs

Oct 29, 2009 - One of the largest orb-weaving spiders had remained hidden from entomologists in plain sight. The new species of giant golden orb weaver (Nephila komaci), which builds meter-wide webs, entangled a doctoral student who stumbled upon a specimen in a museum collection. "It was surprising to find a giant female Nephila from South Africa in the collection…that did not match any of the described species," Matjaz Kuntner, who is now chair of the Institute of Biology of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts and co-author of the paper, said in a prepared statement. - 10 Comments