International

Science Brings Back the Extinct Direwolf with Successful De-Extinction Project

Science has achieved what was once confined to the realm of fantasy: the direwolf, extinct for over 10,000 years and popularized by the Game of Thrones series, has been brought back to life thanks to an ambitious de-extinction project led by the biotechnology company Colossal Biosciences.

The Texas-based company announced on Monday the birth of three direwolf pups, created through a combination of cloning and genetic editing. The pups include two males, Romulus and Remus, both six months old, and a three-month-old female named Khaleesi, in honor of the character from the HBO series.

The process that led to these wolves began with the extraction of ancient DNA from a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old skull. Using this genetic material, scientists edited 20 genes in the cells of a modern gray wolf, its closest relative. These cells were then implanted into domestic dog eggs for gestation.

“The birth of these pups is a huge milestone,” said Ben Lamm, CEO of Colossal, who emphasized that this is the world’s first successful de-extinction. “This achievement shows that our technology works and marks the beginning of a new era for species conservation,” he said.

International

Venezuela accuses Guyana of “warlike intentions” after UK defense deal

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez denounced what she called “warlike intentions” from Guyana on Saturday (April 12, 2025), following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Guyana and the United Kingdom aimed at strengthening bilateral defense cooperation.

“Guyana threatens Venezuela with its founding fathers. The UK and the U.S. are the architects behind the territorial dispossession of our Guayana Esequiba. These are the same actors who forged a fraudulent arbitration award in 1899 to strip Venezuela of its land,” Rodríguez stated via Telegram.

Rodríguez, who also serves as Venezuela’s Minister of Hydrocarbons, warned the region about “these drums of war, in clear violation of the CELAC declaration that recognizes Latin America and the Caribbean as a zone of peace.”

“Venezuela will stand firm in defending its legitimate rights, sovereignty, and territorial integrity in all scenarios,” she added.

International

Nightclub Collapse in Dominican Republic Claims 226 Lives

The death toll from the collapse of a nightclub in the Dominican Republic has risen to 226, authorities confirmed on Saturday after completing the recovery and identification of the bodies.

The tragedy occurred in the early hours of April 8, when the roof of the venue collapsed during a concert by popular merengue singer Rubby Pérez, who also died at the scene.

“There were 221 victims found at ground zero and four more who died in hospitals,” said Health Minister Víctor Atallah during a press conference. Later, his office confirmed the death of a Costa Rican national on Saturday, bringing the total to 226.

Atallah added that the number of fatalities could still rise, as several people remain in critical condition.

International

Trump Authorizes Military to Take Control of Federal Land Along U.S.-Mexico Border

In a presidential memorandum issued Friday afternoon, Trump directed the Secretaries of Defense, Homeland Security, Interior, and Agriculture to facilitate the transfer of designated public lands to allow for “military activities” under the jurisdiction of the Pentagon.

According to the document, the land transfer must begin within the next 45 days. The only area specifically named in the order is the so-called “Roosevelt Reservation”, a narrow strip of federally owned land—approximately 20 meters wide—that runs parallel to the U.S.-Mexico border for about 1,000 kilometers, stretching from New Mexico to California.

The memo does not clarify what specific military operations will take place on these lands or what their exact purpose will be.