Culture

UK scientists discover 66 million-year-old skeleton of ‘nightmarish’ Sea Lizard in Morocco

Published

10 months ago

March 7, 2024

Scientists from the University of Bath, England, have announced the discovery of the fossil of “nightmarish” Sea Lizard which coexisted with iconic dinosaurs over 66 million years ago.

The research team led by Prof. Nick Longrich, said it unearthed the skull and other skeletal remains of the Sea Lizard in a Moroccan mine.

Longrich who spoke to journalists on the discovery on Wednesday, described the species as an orca-sized predator possessing “a demon’s face and teeth like knives, which lived in ancient oceans some 66 million years ago.”

“The creature, the Sea Lizard, scientifically named Khinjaria Acuta, measured a staggering 8 meters in length, boasting dagger-like teeth and a jaw capable of delivering a formidable biting force,” Longrich said.

According to Longrich, the reconstruction image of the Khinjaria Acuta shows the Sea Lizard’s jawline and razor-sharp teeth.

“Its name was derived from the Arabic word for “dagger” and Latin for “sharp.” They belong to the family of giant marine lizards known as mosasaurs. Khinjaria Acuta was among the apex predators that dominated the Atlantic Ocean during the late Cretaceous period.

“These ancient behemoths coexisted with renowned dinosaurs such as Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops,” Longrich said.

He also remarked on the unprecedented diversity of marine life during the period, highlighting the presence of numerous top predators that roamed the seas.

“The creature went extinct in the same event that led to the extinction of all mosasaurs as well as dinosaurs.

“There seems to have been a huge change in the ecosystem structure in the past 66 million years.

“Whether there’s something about marine reptiles that caused the ecosystem to be different, or the prey, or perhaps the environment, we don’t know,” he added.

He noted that the extinction of the earlier reptiles opened the seas up for whales, seals, and fish including swordfish and tuna to thrive.

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Culture

Ghana’s Supreme Court dismisses suit challenging anti-LGBT bill

Published

3 days ago

December 19, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Ghana’s Supreme Court has dismissed two separate suits challenging the legality of one of the proposed anti-LGBT legislations awaiting assent into law by the president.

The separate suits were filed by two legal practitioners, Amanda Odoi and Richard Sky, challenging the bill, seeking to declare it illegal and prevent the president from signing it.

The two cases had challenged the constitutionality of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill.

But in a ruling on Wednesday, the Supreme Court unanimously decided to dismiss the legal challenges to the new anti-LGBT legislation that has been criticised by rights groups.

The controversial bill was passed earlier this year by Ghanaian lawmakers with three years imprisonment for people identifying as LGBT and five years for forming or funding LGBT groups.

While dismissing the cases, presiding judge, Justice Avril Lovelace-Johnson, who delivered the ruling on behalf of the seven-member panel, said the cases were premature.

“Until there’s presidential assent, there is no act, the two cases were “unanimously dismissed,” she said.

The ruling is the latest blow to the LGBTQ community in Ghana and paves the way for the president to sign into law what many say is one of Africa’s most restrictive piece of anti-LGBTQ legislation.

President Nana Akufo-Addo, whose term in office ends on 7 January, had delayed signing it pending the outcome of the Supreme Court challenge but the judges said the case could not be reviewed until it had been signed it into law.

It expected that incoming president, John Mahama, will sign the bill into law as he had always expressed his support for the bill during his electioneering campaigns.

Culture

UNESCO lists Ghana’s Kente cloth as cultural heritage

Published

4 days ago

December 18, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The iconic Ghanaian Kente, a piece of clothing, has been recognized as a cultural heritage on UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The global recognition, according to the UN body, is coming under the 2003 Convention for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage highlights the cultural and historical significance of the vibrant, handwoven textile.

In a citation on its website, UNESCO describes the Kente cloth as “originating from Ghana’s Asante and Ewe communities and renowned worldwide for its bold colors, intricate patterns, and deep symbolic meanings, embodying the creativity and identity of the Ghanaian people.”

Ghana’s Tourism Minister, Andrew Egyapa Mercer, described the recognition as a testament to Ghana’s commitment to preserving its cultural heritage.

“This achievement places Ghana at the forefront of global efforts to safeguard and celebrate cultural traditions,” he noted.

In a statement acknowledging the recognition, Mercer said the “Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MoTAC) expressed gratitude to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, UNESCO, and the artisans, cultural institutions, and traditional authorities who contributed to this milestone.”

“Special acknowledgement is given to the Bonwire and Agotime communities for their enduring role as custodians of the craft.

“As Ghana celebrates this historic moment, MoTAC reaffirms its dedication to promoting and preserving the nation’s rich cultural legacy.”