Researchers have recovered ancient viral DNA from South American mummies, providing the first direct molecular evidence of the smallpox pathogen brought from the Old World during the Spanish colonization, according to a study published on Thursday in the journal Science. Smallpox DNA Recovered from Chilean Mummies According to geneticists at Trinity College Dublin, the ancient … Read more
On Thursday, July 30, 2026, thousands of migrants broke through border fences into Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta from Morocco after overwhelming police forces at the city’s breakwater, according to Spain’s Guardia Civil. State television TVE reported that between 2,000 and 3,000 people crossed the border, though Reuters was not immediately able to confirm … Read more
Samsung Electronics expects global memory chip shortages to worsen and extend into 2028, according to company executives, even as surging semiconductor prices drive massive profit growth while simultaneously squeezing the firm’s mobile division. The memory giant posted an operating profit of 89.2 trillion won ($61.7 billion) for the second quarter, marking a more than 250-fold … Read more
Saudi Arabia is currently working to build an international maritime coalition to protect commercial shipping in the Red Sea following a series of Houthi attacks, according to two people familiar with the deliberations who spoke on Wednesday. The coalition’s composition remains unfinalized while discussions continue with dozens of countries. Red Sea Security and Houthi Blockade … Read more
Iran executed two men on Tuesday for their alleged roles in nationwide anti-government protests, according to state media. The executions underscore escalating pressure on Tehran during a five-month conflict with the United States that authorities view as existential. Executions in Isfahan Tied to Security Force Deaths Abolfazl Sepahi-Badjani and Amirhossein Safari-Hosseinabadi were executed following accusations … Read more
India youth protests over the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) paper leaks have forced Prime Minister Narendra Modi into a major political climbdown, culminating in the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and a government commitment to exam reforms. The movement, fueled by viral online organizing through the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), highlights deep-seated economic anxieties … Read more
Oman has presented Iran with a Gulf-backed proposal to manage the Strait of Hormuz by collecting voluntary service fees from passing commercial vessels, according to a Gulf source and a Western diplomat who spoke to Reuters on Tuesday. The diplomatic push aims to resolve trade disruptions caused by the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, which … Read more
President Donald Trump stated on July 27, 2026, that the United States is having “good talks” with Iran and sees a chance for a deal, while warning that U.S. air strikes will resume if negotiations fail. According to Reuters, the diplomatic opening follows an abrupt U.S. suspension of a two-week bombing campaign, though regional drone … Read more
Global funding for the HIV epidemic fell by nearly a fifth last year to $7.3 billion, reaching its lowest level in nearly two decades and threatening a resurgence of the disease, according to a report released by the U.N. body fighting AIDS. According to the UNAIDS report, Washington previously accounted for 75% of international HIV … Read more
Iran will halt its own military attacks as long as the United States maintains its latest pause on air strikes, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Sunday. According to the senior Iranian source, Tehran’s position remains attack for attack, meaning that if the U.S. air strikes stop, Iran will also halt its operations, and … Read more