Has the dire wolf come back to life? Here is what we know
The dire wolf, a species that went extinct some 12,500 years ago but was made famous by the Game of Thrones series, has been brought back to life, according to Texas-based biotech firm Colossal Biosciences. The company has described the dire wolf as the “world’s first successfully de-extinct animal”. On Monday, the company announced that its research had led to the birth of three pups — Romulus, Remus and Khaleesi. But the recently born wolves have DNA which is very close to that of the grey wolf, leading to criticism of the company’s claims. So are Romulus, Remus and Khaleesi truly dire wolves? Here is what we know about them: What is a dire wolf? The dire wolf, the real-life inspiration behind the wolves in HBO’s Game of Thrones, was once a dominant predator across North America. Fossils suggest that dire wolves were built for strength, not speed. They had more muscle and a heavier build than other ancient or modern wolves. But despite their size, fossils show that the dire wolf could still move well through different environments, Colossal Biosciences said. It could hunt big animals and live alongside other species. Their powerful bodies made dire wolves strong predators. Advertisement These carnivores hunted large Ice Age animals like bison, horses and possibly mammoths. As many of their prey species disappeared, likely in part due to human hunting, dire wolves may have been driven to extinction, paving the way for the grey wolf to move down from northern Canada and Alaska to take over its ecological role. SOUND ON. You’re hearing the first howl of a dire wolf in over 10,000 years. Meet Romulus and Remus—the world’s first de-extinct animals, born on October 1, 2024. The dire wolf has been extinct for over 10,000 years. These two wolves were brought back from extinction using… pic.twitter.com/wY4rdOVFRH — Colossal Biosciences® (@colossal) April 7, 2025 “Many people view dire wolves as mythical creatures that only exist in a fantasy world, but in reality, they have a rich history of contributing to the American ecosystem,” said Game of Thrones author George RR Martin, who is also an investor and cultural adviser to Colossal. “I get the luxury to write about magic, but [they] have created magic by bringing these majestic beasts back to our world.” How are dire wolves different from more common wolves? According to Colossal, at first glance, dire wolves — their formal, scientific name is Aenocyon dirus — appeared more heavily built, with thicker legs, broader heads and shoulders, a stockier frame, and a more pronounced snout. Although they look alike, dire wolves are not closely related to grey wolves and are not their ancestors. Genetic studies reveal that the two species diverged millions of years ago and evolved separately in the Americas. How did scientists bring a dire wolf ‘back’? Scientists extracted and sequenced DNA from two ancient dire wolf specimens — a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old ear bone. This analysis identified 20 key genetic differences between dire wolves and their closest living species, grey wolves. Advertisement Using CRISPR technology, a kind of molecular scissors to cut DNA at a specific spot, researchers edited the genomes of grey wolf cells to incorporate these 20 specific genetic variants associated with dire wolf traits, such as larger size, broader heads and thicker fur. The genetic material was inserted into an egg cell from a domestic dog. Once the embryos were developed, they were implanted into surrogate dogs. Sixty-two days later, the genetically engineered pups were born. What do we know about Romulus, Remus and Khaleesi? Romulus and Remus, both males, were born on October 1, 2024, while Khaleesi, a female, was born on January 30, 2025. Romulus and Remus, at six months old, each measure nearly 4 feet (122cm) in length and weigh approximately 80 pounds (36kg), with projections to reach 6 feet (183cm) and 150 pounds (68kg) at full maturity. Khaleesi, at three months, is developing similarly. The wolves exhibit physical characteristics such as white coats, larger body sizes, and broader heads. When the first dire wolf pup was delivered by Caesarean section, Colossal’s chief animal officer, Matt James, recalled gently rubbing the newborn between two towels to stimulate its first breath. “Good lord, this thing is huge,” he remembered thinking. The first two pups that were genetically engineered [Colossal Biosciences via AP] Are dire wolves really back? While Colossal Biosciences referred to these animals as “de-extincted” dire wolves on Monday, some experts argue that they are genetically modified grey wolves rather than true representations of the extinct species. Advertisement “We call them dire wolves,” Ben Lamm, founder and CEO of the Dallas-based startup, said. Love Dalen, a professor in evolutionary genomics based at the Centre for Palaeogenetics at Stockholm University and adviser to Colossal, also argued this is more of a philosophical question. “There’s no secret that across the genome, this is 99.9 percent grey wolf. There is going to be an argument in the scientific community regarding how many genes need to be changed to make a dire wolf, but this is really a philosophical question,” Dalen said. “It carries dire wolf genes, and these genes make it look more like a dire wolf than anything we’ve seen in the last 13,000 years. And that is very cool,” he added. The two newly born baby Dire Wolves, brought back from extinction by genetic engineering, seated on the Iron Throne. 🐺 George R.R. Martin serves as a Colossal Biosciences cultural advisor and investor, with Peter Jackson loaning his Iron Throne prop for the photoshoot. pic.twitter.com/Yax9WjCp7a — westerosies (@westerosies) April 7, 2025 Why bringing it back? According to Colossal, the project helps push the boundaries of genetic engineering and could provide tools for conservation, especially for species with shrinking genetic pools. The dire wolf also served as a high-profile case to demonstrate these capabilities. “This project demonstrates the awesome potential for advances in genetic engineering and reproductive technologies to recreate lost diversity,” Andrew Pask, Colossal advisory board member, said.
Devastation after deadly flooding in DR Congo’s capital
[unable to retrieve full-text content] Hundreds of people have been moved to emergency shelters after flooding in DR Congo’s capital, Kinshasa.
Dombivli SHOCKER: Two women assaulted for not speaking Marathi, thrashed for saying…
As a video of the incident went viral, police said they were conducting preliminary probe. The incident took place in the morning when the women, who were on a two-wheeler, were entering the premises of the housing society where they lived.
Meet man who quit as an IPS officer, now launches his party to contest elections in…; son-in-law of former minister
He is a 2006-batch former officer and considered the Bihar his ‘karmabhoomi’.
Gabbard establishes new Intelligence Community task force to restore transparency
EXCLUSIVE: Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard established a new task force charged with restoring transparency and accountability in the intelligence community, Fox News Digital has learned. The group, dubbed the Director’s Initiative Group (DIG), is starting by investigating weaponization within the intelligence community. TULSI GABBARD REVOKES SECURITY CLEARANCES, ACCESS TO CLASSIFIED INFORMATION FOR BIDEN, HARRIS, CLINTON, OTHERS Officials said the group will also work to root out politicization and expose unauthorized disclosures of classified intelligence. It will also work to declassify information “that serves a public interest.” So far, the Director’s Initiative Group has reviewed documents for potential declassification, including information related to the origins of COVID-19 and the JFK, RFK, and MLK assassination files; the original Trump-Russia investigation; anomalous health incidents; the Biden administration’s domestic surveillance and censorship against Americans and more. Officials told Fox News Digital that the Director’s Initiative Group also is leading assessments of the structure of the intelligence community, its resources and its personnel to “approve efficiency and eliminate wasteful spending.” Gabbard told Fox News Digital that she established the group “in order to rebuild trust in the intelligence community and execute the tasks required by President Trump’s intelligence-related executive orders.” “We are already identifying wasteful spending in real time, streamlining outdated processes, reviewing documents for declassification, and leading ongoing efforts to root out abuses of power and politicization,” Gabbard told Fox News Digital. GABBARD SAYS BIDEN ADMIN IGNORED ‘HIGHLY INAPPROPRIATE’ CHATS HAPPENING AT NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCIES “President Trump promised the American people maximum transparency and accountability,” she continued. “We are committed to executing the president’s vision and focusing the intelligence community on its core mission: ensuring our security by providing the president and policymakers with timely, apolitical, objective, relevant intelligence to inform their decision-making to ensure the safety, security and freedom of the American people.” Gabbard also has held employees who participated in sexually-explicit NSA chatrooms accountable, and is pursuing action on those who have made unauthorized leaks of classified information within the intelligence community. In February, Gabbard said former President Joe Biden’s administration was aware of “very sexually explicit, highly inappropriate and unprofessional chatter” happening on internal agency messaging boards across national intelligence entities for years, but they allowed it to go on. She said the chatrooms “were set up because of DEI policies.” DNI TULSI GABBARD MOVES TO TERMINATE, REVOKE SECURITY CLEARANCES OF NSA EMPLOYEES TIED TO EXPLICIT CHATROOMS Federal employees are still under investigation for allegedly misusing an internal agency messaging board to dish on their sexual fantasies under the guise of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), officials say. Chat logs from the National Security Agency’s (NSA) “Intelink” messaging platform, obtained by researchers from the conservative Manhattan Institute reportedly via sources within the NSA, revealed employees from various intelligence agencies discussing their experiences with gender-reassignment surgery, artificial genitalia, hormone therapy, polyamory and pronoun usage. Some of these agencies reportedly include the Defense Intelligence Agency, U.S. Naval Intelligence and the NSA. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP After the Intelink chat logs were released Monday, an NSA spokesperson indicated to Fox News Digital that it was “actively investigating” potential abuses of the agency-operated messaging platform. Meanwhile, since becoming director of National Intelligence, Gabbard revoked the security clearances of several people, including former President Joe Biden, former Vice President Kamala Harris, Hillary Clinton and other Trump political opponents. She also revoked the security clearances of “the 51 signers of the Hunter Biden ‘disinformation’ letter.”
Trump-backed bill to rein in federal judges gets House-wide vote
The House of Representatives is expected to vote Tuesday on a bill to limit federal district court judges’ ability to block President Donald Trump’s agenda on a national scale. The No Rogue Rulings Act (NORRA) was introduced by Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., earlier this year and quickly became a priority for House GOP leaders after Trump made clear he supported the bill. House Republicans see it as a way to fight back against “rogue” judges blocking Trump’s agenda. The Trump administration has faced more than 15 nationwide injunctions since the Republican commander in chief took office, targeting a wide range of Trump policies from birthright citizenship reform to anti-diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. HOUSE FREEDOM CAUCUS CHAIR URGES JOHNSON TO CHANGE COURSE ON SENATE VERSION OF TRUMP BUDGET BILL Issa’s bill would limit district judges – of which there are more than 670 – from issuing rulings with nationwide effect. Instead, they would be forced to tailor those rulings to the specific parties named in the lawsuit. It has broad support from House Republicans and the backing of GOP leadership. However, Issa told Fox News Digital that he was skeptical it would get any Democratic support. “Sadly, I’m not sure that it will. It obviously should,” Issa said last week. “The administration can win 15 times, and they lose once—they get an injunction. That’s not the way it’s supposed to be.” Issa pointed out that district judges overstepping was not just a Republican complaint. “I mean, we could have called [President Joe Biden’s] former solicitor general and ask, have you changed your opinion in less than a year? Of course, the answer would be no,” he said. Former Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar argued in a December filing to the Supreme Court, regarding a district judge barring the Biden administration from enforcing a financial crimes law, “Universal injunctions exert substantial pressure on this court’s emergency docket, and they visit substantial disruption on the execution of the laws.” MEET THE TRUMP-PICKED LAWMAKERS GIVING SPEAKER JOHNSON A FULL HOUSE GOP CONFERENCE The legislation advanced through the House Rules Committee on Monday night with no Democratic support. It was expected to get a vote last week, but an unrelated fight about remote voting for new parents derailed House proceedings and sent lawmakers home less than 24 hours after they had returned to Washington for the week. That matter has since been resolved. A procedural vote is expected on Tuesday at about 1:30 p.m. ET. If it passes, as expected, lawmakers will debate and vote on the final bill later in the day. It must pass the Senate – where it would need at least some Democratic support to reach its 60-vote threshold – before heading to Trump’s desk for a signature.
SHOCKING negligence! Thane woman dies of complications ahead of sterilisation procedure
Hospital authorities said the woman was given a blood transfusion as her condition was weak, and doctors decided to proceed with the surgery on Monday after signs of improvement.
Trump admin fires Navy admiral at NATO targeted by conservative group
The Trump administration has sacked a senior NATO official who was recommended by a conservative research group to be fired as part of a broader effort to purge wokeness from the Pentagon. Navy Vice Admiral Shoshana Chatfield, the only woman on NATO’s military committee, was dismissed from the alliance over the weekend without explanation, according to multiple reports. She is one of only a handful of female Navy three-star officers and was the first woman to lead the Naval War College, a job she held until 2023. Chatfield reportedly got a call from Adm. Christopher Grady, the acting chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and was told the administration wanted to go in a different direction with the job, according to the Associated Press, citing officials. The officials said they believe the decision was made last week by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, but it was unclear whether he received any direction from President Donald Trump. Reuters was first to report on her termination. CONSERVATIVE GROUP COMPILES LIST OF ‘WOKE’ SENIOR OFFICERS THEY WANT PETE HEGSETH TO FIRE It was unclear if her firing was related to any U.S. policy direction on the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Trump and Hegseth have been vocal in their insistence that so-called woke policies are dead and have vigorously sought to remove leaders who promoted diversity, equity and inclusion and to erase DEI programs and online content. The U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, is ditching almost 400 books from its library with DEI content. In December, the American Accountability Foundation (AAF), a conservative research group, sent a letter to Hegseth with a list of 20 general officers or senior admirals whom it said were excessively focused on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and other similar left-wing initiatives. AAF wrote that focusing on such policies is an impediment to national security and Chatfield was one of eight women who made the list. Chatfield made the list due in part to a 2015 speech where she bemoaned that lawmakers in the House of Representatives at the time were 80% males, proclaiming that “our diversity is our strength.” The group said she also quoted a slide from a presentation by the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute highlighting “Investing in gender equality and women’s empowerment can unlock human potential on a transformational scale.” Chatfield, a Navy helicopter pilot who also commanded a joint reconstruction team in Afghanistan, had been serving as one of the 32 representatives on NATO’s military committee. The panel is the primary source of military advice to the North Atlantic Council and NATO’s Nuclear Planning Group, according to NATO. It serves as the link between the political decision-makers and NATO’s military structure. NAVAL ACADEMY TOSSES 400 BOOKS FROM LIBRARY FOLLOWING TRUMP DEI EXPULSION ORDERS Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, said that he was “deeply disturbed” by her sacking while blasting President Donald Trump. “Trump’s relentless attacks on our alliances and his careless dismissal of decorated military officials make us less safe and weaken our position across the world,” Warner wrote on X. Senator Jack Reed, D-R.I., the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, also sounded off on the president for the firing of Chatfield, describing it as “disgraceful.” Admiral Chatfield is among the finest military officers our nation has to offer, and she has distinguished herself as the U.S. Military Representative to NATO. Her 38-year career as a Navy pilot, foreign policy expert, and preeminent military educator—including as President of the Naval War College—will leave a lasting legacy on the Navy and throughout the military. Admiral Chatfield’s record of selfless service is unblemished by President Trump’s behavior. Reed also called out Republicans for not voicing their displeasure at her sacking, noting that Trump has fired 10 generals and admirals since taking office. It follows Thursday’s removal of General Timothy Haugh, the head of the National Security Agency and U.S. Cyber Command. For the Navy, it follows the firing of its top officer, Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the first woman to become Chief of Naval Operations. “I cannot fathom how anyone could stand silently by while the President causes great harm to our military and our nation,” Reed said. “I will continue to call out this unconscionable behavior and sound the alarm about the dangers of firing military officers as a political loyalty test. I urge my Republican colleagues to join me in demanding an explanation from President Trump and Secretary Hegseth.” Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Noem offers Homeland Security employee buyouts in move to shrink department
Secretary Kristi Noem reportedly sent an email Monday night offering employees at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) three options to voluntarily exit and shrink the size of the federal government’s second-largest department. A copy of her email, titled “Reshaping the DHS Workforce,” was obtained by Politico and Axios. In it, Noem reportedly said employees had until April 14 to apply for deferred resignation involving a “brief period of paid administrative leave to complete key tasks, submit retirement documentation and prepare for departure,” a buyout to receive a payment of $25,000 “or an amount equal to severance pay if lower,” or an early retirement program offering reduced pensions and healthcare benefits. “I am writing to share important news regarding new voluntary workforce transition programs approved for immediate implementation across the Department,” Noem wrote, according to Politico. IRS AND DHS REACH HISTORIC DEAL TO AID IN PURSUIT OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS SUBJECT TO DEPORTATION She said the options “reflect our commitment to aligning our workforce with the evolving mission needs while supporting the personal and professional goals of our dedicated employees.” “By offering these options, we intend to provide flexibility for employees who may be considering a change, retirement or new career opportunities while also supporting the Department’s operational readiness,” Noem added, according to Axios. A DHS spokesperson told Axios about the voluntary exit offers that “the American people deserve a government that works for them, something President Trump has promised.” NOEM’S HOMELAND SECURITY ‘UNAPOLOGETIC’ ABOUT USING LIE-DETECTOR TEST ON SUSPECTED INTEL LEAKERS “Every dollar spent and position filled at DHS should be focused on our core mission of securing our homeland and keeping the American people safe,” the spokesperson reportedly added. Noem is aiming to reduce the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) by as much as a third, and if the voluntary offers don’t adequately shrink the agency, “reduction in force” notices could come next, Axios reported, citing sources familiar with the matter. At a Cabinet meeting last month, Noem said she would “eliminate” the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as the Trump administration moves to hand powers on disaster response back to the states. It’s unclear if Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) could also be impacted by cuts, as the Trump administration prioritizes closing the border and deporting criminal illegal immigrants. Politico reported that the memo did not exempt any agencies from the buyout offer. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Fox News Digital also reached out to DHS for comment on the reported employee exit plans.
New 6-figure ad touts Trump policies that have key industry ‘booming’: ‘You voted for it’
FIRST ON FOX: A conservative energy group has debuted its latest ad as part of a seven-figure campaign supporting President Donald Trump’s “all-of-the-above energy” agenda. “You voted for it, you got it, America is booming,” the 30-second ad from The Restoring Energy Dominance Coalition, a conservative nonprofit organization headed up by former U.S. Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette and former U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt, says. “Meeting a quickly growing energy demand with an all-of-the-above approach will make good on President Trump’s promise to restore American energy dominance,” the ad continues. “Solar and storage, wind, nuclear, oil and gas. All forms of energy, all across the country.” H2GO: HOW EXPERTS, INDUSTRY LEADERS SAY US HYDROGEN IS FUEL FOR THE FUTURE OF AGRICULTURE, ENERGY, SECURITY The ad then cuts to Trump, who says, “All forms of energy, yep”, before the ad says, “And that means more jobs and higher wages for you.” “In America, we show up, we get to work, we win.” The RED Coalition ad is supported by a six-figure ad buy that will air on broadcast, cable TV and digital platforms. TRUMP ENERGY CHIEF DECLARES CLIMATE CHANGE A ‘GLOBAL PHYSICAL PHENOMENON’ AMID REVERSAL OF BIDEN-ERA POLICIES This ad is the fourth major television ad launched by the group since the start of this year as part of a broader seven-figure campaign to “support the administration’s energy priorities.” Last month, RED Coalition, along with Trump pollster Tony Fabrizio, put out a polling memo stating that 51% of registered voters are in favor of Trump’s “All-of-the-Above Energy agenda,” as well as 65% of GOP voters. Trump has vowed to use his second White House term to re-exit the Paris Climate Accord, undo strict emissions standards for vehicles and power plants, and bolster production of U.S. oil and gas, including through fracking, which is the controversial technology by which pressurized fluids are used to extract natural gas from shale rock. In the days after his victory, industry groups representing the nation’s biggest oil and gas producers told Fox News Digital they have little doubt Trump will make good on these promises in a second term. “Energy was on the ballot” in the 2024 elections, American Petroleum Institute President and CEO Mike Sommers said in a statement. Fox News Digital’s Breanne Deppisch contributed to this report.