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

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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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Moroccan court jails journalist 18 months over remarks about politician

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A Moroccan court on Monday sentenced a journalist, Hamid Mahdaoui, to 18 months in prison after he was found guilty of accusing a prominent politician of fraud, a verdict that has sparked international condemnation from press freedom advocates.

Mahdaoui’s case has garnered international criticism because he is being prosecuted under Morocco’s penal code rather than the press code governing journalistic conduct.

His attorney Mohamed Hedach, told journalists after the judgement that Mahdaoui who is the editor in chief of Badil.info, will serve a 1.5-year sentence and be fined an equivalent of $150,000 after being found guilty of defamation.

Mahdaoui was prosecuted after a complaint from Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi following a video posted on his website accusing Ouahbi of corruption and fraud, both of which the justice minister denied.

The accusations, according to media reports, came after the royalist Party of Authenticity and Modernity, which Ouahbi headed, became enmeshed in controversy last year when an imprisoned Malian drug dealer implicated party members in a sprawling drug trafficking case that shook the North African kingdom.

Reporters Without Borders’ North Africa representative Khaled Drareni had in October, called the prosection of the journalist a “misuse of the justice system to intimidate and silence the press.”

Mahdaoui was imprisoned in 2017 after publicly throwing his support behind activists who led protests over social and economic inequities. He was also sentenced to three years for not reporting to authorities that a Dutch Moroccan man had told him arms were being sent to the protesters. He later said he didn’t report it because he didn’t take the information seriously.

Morocco has in recent years been criticized for imprisoning journalists and activists known for criticizing the government. King Mohammed VI pardoned and released the country’s three most prominent imprisoned journalists — Omar Radi, Taoufik Bouachrine and Soulaimane Raissouni — in July.

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South Africa finally unveils improved King Shaka statue at Durban airport

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After years of complaints by the public, South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, has finally unveiled an improved version of

a long-awaited statue honouring legendary Zulu warrior, King Shaka.

Ramaphosa, who unveiled the new statue of the warrior alongside Zulu King, Misuzulu kaZwelithini, at the King Shaka International Airport in Durban, said the statue “marks the beginning of a renewed focus on cultural tourism, empowering local communities and attracting visitors to experience the depth of South Africa’s traditions, values, and stories.”

The 12-metre-tall figure of King Shaka depicts the man credited with uniting the Zulu nation as a warrior with a spear and shield and replaces a previous artwork that was criticised for making the monarch look like a “herd boy”.

Speaking at the ceremony, KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Thami Ntuli, said:

“This statue of King Shaka stands as a testament to our shared commitment to cultural heritage tourism, which aligns with the government’s grand vision for preserving and celebrating our shared history.”

He went on to say the statue was a symbol of respect and gratitude to King Shaka, a leader who shaped history through innovation and strategic acumen, carving out a legacy that inspires not only the Zulu nation but the province of KZN.

“It is our shared heritage, and today, we stand together to celebrate it,” Ntuli added.

Ramaphosa described the statue as a symbol of unity, integrity, and leadership for all South Africans, expressing hopes that the figure would inspire tourists to learn more about the country’s heritage and history.

Shaka, who was in 1828, is credited with creating a formidable fighting force that dominated the Zulu region.

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