World's Third Largest Diamond Discovered in Botswana

A blue diamond, weighing over 20 carats, is seen in this undated handout picture released by Okavango Diamond Company (ODC) in Gaborone, Botswana, April 17, 2019. (Reuters)
A blue diamond, weighing over 20 carats, is seen in this undated handout picture released by Okavango Diamond Company (ODC) in Gaborone, Botswana, April 17, 2019. (Reuters)
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World's Third Largest Diamond Discovered in Botswana

A blue diamond, weighing over 20 carats, is seen in this undated handout picture released by Okavango Diamond Company (ODC) in Gaborone, Botswana, April 17, 2019. (Reuters)
A blue diamond, weighing over 20 carats, is seen in this undated handout picture released by Okavango Diamond Company (ODC) in Gaborone, Botswana, April 17, 2019. (Reuters)

A huge raw diamond with silver reflections, which appeared to be the third largest in the world, was recently found in Botswana, Canadian firm Lucara announced.

A 1,174-carat diamond has been unearthed on June 12, trumping another huge precious stone found by another company in the country last month, AFP reported.

"This is a historic discovery for us and Botswana. It ranks third among the world's largest stones," Lucara's managing director Naseem Lahri proudly told AFP during its presentation before the Gaborone government.

This latest discovery confirms Botswana's position as a world leader in the world's largest stone with six large diamonds.

President Mokgweetsi Masisi welcomed the "riveting moment" and the growing frequency of diamond discoveries in the country.

The diamond discovered on June 1, weighs 1098 carats and belongs to the state-owned diamond firm Debswana and South African company De Beers.

The biggest diamond ever discovered in the world was the 3,106-carat Cullinan, found in South Africa in 1905.



Dwarf Bees Spotted in Saudi Arabia's Northern Borders Region

Dwarf bees are known for their remarkable ability to withstand extreme heat. SPA
Dwarf bees are known for their remarkable ability to withstand extreme heat. SPA
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Dwarf Bees Spotted in Saudi Arabia's Northern Borders Region

Dwarf bees are known for their remarkable ability to withstand extreme heat. SPA
Dwarf bees are known for their remarkable ability to withstand extreme heat. SPA

The Northern Borders region of Saudi Arabia has witnessed the emergence of the dwarf honey bee (Apis florea) in several locations in the city of Arar, with experts attributing it to the growing number of nature reserves and the resurgence of diverse native flora in the region, The Saudi Press Agency reported Sunday.

The dwarf bee, typically found alongside larger bee species like the giant honey bee and the eastern honey bee, constructs small, open-air combs no larger than a human palm. These combs yield a modest amount of honey, usually less than 500 grams, SPA said.
Despite their diminutive size, dwarf bees are known for their remarkable ability to withstand extreme heat, often thriving in temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius. This unique characteristic sets them apart from other bee species and makes them well-suited to low-lying areas, the news agency added.