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Despite international protests, Singapore carried out its first female execution in nearly two decades on July 28, marking the second capital punishment case this week tied to drug trafficking. Activist groups are sounding alarms as another execution is slated for the coming week. In 2018, 45-year-old Saridewi Djamani was condemned to death for trafficking approximately 31 grams of pure heroin, also known as diamorphine, according to a statement from the Central Narcotics Bureau. The agency claimed the quantity was “adequate to sustain the addiction of nearly 370 users for a week.” Under Singaporean law, the death penalty is obligatory for anyone found guilty…

In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru, in collaboration with Niigata University in Japan, have uncovered remnants of an ancient ocean within the Himalayas. The discovery was made across the expansive stretch of the western Kumaon Himalayas, encompassing regions from Amritpur to the Milam glacier and Dehradun to the Gangotri glacier. The team identified droplets of water encapsulated within mineral deposits, dating back an estimated 600 million years. These deposits, rich in calcium and magnesium carbonates, have been likened to a “time capsule for paleo oceans” by lead author Prakash Chandra Arya, a Ph.D. student at the Centre…

As a brutal heatwave blankets North Africa and southern Europe, forest fires have erupted in Algeria’s mountainous regions of Bejaia and Bouira, claiming the lives of 25 people, including 10 soldiers, on Monday. Algerian authorities are currently battling to control the flames that continue to consume the region. Approximately 7,500 firefighters are engaged in arduous efforts to control the blazes, the interior ministry stated. The operations are currently focusing on the regions of Boumerdes, Bouira, Tizi Ouzou, Jijel, Bejaia, and Skikda, according to Reuters. The severity of the wildfires has necessitated the evacuation of around 1,500 people thus far. The situation has been exacerbated by the sweeping…

Global citizenship and residence advisory firm, Henley & Partners, has placed Pakistan at the 100th position among 227 nations, rating it as the fourth worst passport worldwide. The report reveals that Pakistanis had visa-free or on-arrival visa access to 35 countries until the beginning of the year, a number that has since declined to 33. The London-based advisory firm had previously ranked Pakistan among the five worst passports earlier this year. The ranking is determined by the number of countries their citizens can visit without needing a prior visa. Pakistan, with a population exceeding 220 million, continues to grapple with limited…

The United States has reaffirmed its status as the world’s leading military superpower, according to the latest global military strength ranking. The newly released 2023 Military Strength list by Global Firepower, a reputable data aggregator of defense-related information, places the US at the top, with Russia, China and India following in the second and third positions, respectively. The detailed assessment by Global Firepower uses a unique in-house formula to rank the military prowess of 145 nations worldwide. Criteria such as the number of military units, financial resources, logistical capabilities, and geographical considerations play significant roles in shaping the final list. The process also includes special modifiers, such…

In an unanticipated development, Anas Haqqani, a key leader of the Taliban, has entered the ongoing social media feud between Twitter and Threads. He publicly stated his preference for Twitter, attributing his choice to the platform’s commitment to upholding freedom of speech. In a Twitter post, Haqqani lauded Twitter’s liberal free speech policies and appreciated the credibility the platform offers, showing his explicit support for Elon Musk’s social media venture. Haqqani’s assertion sheds light on the comparison between Twitter and other platforms, notably Meta. The Taliban leader’s tweets highlighted that while Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and Threads,…

Italy’s national statistics office revealed on Friday that the number of people aged over 100 in the country reached a record high last year, as Italy’s population ages at a faster rate compared to its European Union counterparts. In its annual report, ISTAT disclosed that the share of the population aged over 100 has tripled since the beginning of the century. As of January this year, the number of centenarians in Italy totaled almost 22,000 individuals, with a majority being women. This surge in centenarians reflects a growing trend of increased longevity within the Italian population. On the other end…

A significant ancient Maya city, previously unknown to researchers, has been unearthed deep within the jungles of southern Mexico, announced the country’s anthropology institute on Tuesday. The city, believed to have thrived over a millennium ago, is presumed to have served as a vital hub during its time. According to the INAH institute, the recently discovered city, named Ocomtun in the Yucatec Maya language, boasts remarkable features such as large pyramid-like structures, stone columns, and three plazas adorned with imposing buildings. These architectural marvels, along with other structures arranged in near-concentric circles, provide valuable insights into the ancient Maya civilization.…

The OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have pledged to jointly bolster Thailand’s pursuit of sustainable growth. The collaborative effort hinges on a co-financing agreement aimed at underpinning the country’s evolving economic model designed for enduring development. The OPEC Fund is earmarking a $500,000 technical assistance grant for a project aimed at consolidating Thailand’s bio-circular green (BCG) economy. This project aligns with the country’s robust vision for a paradigm shift into an innovation-driven, value-based economy, a transformation encapsulated in the “Thailand 4.0” initiative. Abdulhamid Alkhalifa, Director-General of the OPEC Fund, articulated that the technical…

In a significant development aimed at strengthening bilateral relations, the United Arab Emirates and the State of Qatar have jointly announced the restoration of diplomatic representation between the two countries. This comes as a result of the Al-Ula agreement and the shared commitment to enhance ties. Effective from Monday, 19th June 2023, the Embassy of the UAE in Doha will resume its operations, while the Embassy of Qatar in Abu Dhabi and its consulate in Dubai will also be fully functional once again. The decision to restore diplomatic representation underscores the strong resolve of the leaderships of both nations and…