SCIENTISTS REVIVE DIRE WOLF IN FIRST ‘DE-EXTINCTION’

Wed 09 April 2025: A wolf species that disappeared 12,500 years ago, the “dire wolf,” has been revived by a US-based biotech company, marking the world’s first “de-extinction” in a ground-breaking achievement. Colossal Biosciences, the Texas-based genetic engineering company behind the creation of the colossal woolly mouse, announced Monday that scientists used ancient DNA, cloning […]

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SAUDI ARABIA HALTS VISAS FOR INDIA, PAKISTAN, INDONESIA AMONG 14 COUNTRIES AHEAD OF HAJJ

Tue 08 April 2025: Saudi Arabia will temporarily suspend the issuance of short-term visas for citizens of 14 countries — including India, Pakistan, Egypt and Indonesia — from 13 April, in a bid to better manage the influx of travellers ahead of this year’s Hajj (pilgrimage) season. According to Gulf News, the freeze applies to business […]

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MICROCHIPS & MISSING PETS: WHY PET OWNERS SHOULD TAKE NOTE

Tue 08 April 2025: In a country where animal welfare is often challenged by resource constraints, microchipping emerges as a small act with a big impact. Whether you live in the suburbs of Johannesburg or the rural outskirts of Limpopo, the benefits of microchipping your pet are significant — and increasingly essential. “It’s a cost-effective […]

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WHATSAPP TO INTRODUCE ENHANCED PRIVACY FEATURE FOR IOS USERS

Tue 08 April 2025: WhatsApp, Meta’s messaging app, is developing an enhanced chat privacy tool to restrict message forwarding, set to roll out in an upcoming update. This new feature is designed to give users greater control over their conversations by disabling automatic media downloads to the device gallery and restricting the ability to export […]

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DEADLY BACTERIA IMMUNE TO DRUGS DETECTED IN MALAYSIAN HOSPITAL

  Image is for illustration purpose. Tue 08 April 2025: A deadly, highly antibiotic-resistant strain of Acinetobacter baumannii has been detected in a hospital in Terengganu, Malaysia. Scientists identified the strain as belonging to the globally prevalent GC2 lineage, posing a serious public health threat. Researchers analyzed 126 bacterial samples collected between 2011 and 2020, revealing strong resistance to […]

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WAVE OF KASHMIR DISAPPEARANCES, MYSTERY DEATHS SPOOK TRIBAL COMMUNITY

A group of Gujjar men gather to mourn and talk about the recent disappearances and deaths in Kulgam, Indian-administered Kashmir [Sajad Hameed/Al Jazeera] Tue 08 April 2025: Young men disappear, their dead bodies found weeks later in canals. Authorities claim they drowned or died by suicide. Kashmir’s Gujjars refuse to believe that. Kulgam, Indian-administered Kashmir […]

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SECTARIAN LIES, SOCIAL MEDIA WARS, AND THE BATTLE FOR SYRIA’S TRUTH

Tue 08 April 2025: A systematic disinformation campaign backed by influential people like Elon Musk is stoking a new fire in Syria as the country strives to emerge from the shadows of Assad’s notorious regime. Last month, colleagues and I gathered in Istanbul for a workshop titled ‘Syria: Religion in Revolution, War, and Displacement’.  As […]

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FIREARMS AMENDMENT BILL SPARKS DEBATE OVER SELF-DEFENCE AND SECURITY

Mon 07 April 2025: The proposed Firearms Control Amendment Bill has ignited widespread public opposition and political backlash across South Africa. At the centre of the controversy is the Bill’s attempt to overhaul the Firearms Control Act of 2000 — with critics warning that it could disempower law-abiding citizens while failing to address the core issues fuelling […]

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