Pelican Press

Kashmir: Why India and Pakistan fight over it Kashmir: Why India and Pakistan fight over it Within Kashmir, opinions about the territory’s rightful allegiance are diverse and strongly held. Many do not want it to be governed by India, preferring either independence or union with Pakistan instead. Religion is one factor: Jammu and Kashmir is more than 60% *******, making it the only part of India where Muslims are in the majority. An armed revolt has been waged against Indian rule in the region since 1989, claiming tens of thousands of lives. India accuses Pakistan of backing militants in Kashmir – a charge its neighbour denies. In 2019, Indian-administered Kashmir was stripped of its semi-autonomous status by the government in Delhi amid a huge security crackdown. For several years after, the revocation of the region’s special status, militancy waned and tourist visits soared. What happened after previous Kashmir militant attacks? In 2016, after 19 Indian soldiers were killed in Uri, India launched “surgical strikes” across the Line of Control – the de facto border between India and Pakistan – targeting alleged militant bases. In 2019, the Pulwama bombing, which left more than 40 Indian paramilitary personnel dead, prompted Indian airstrikes deep into Balakot – the first such action inside Pakistan since 1971 – sparking retaliatory raids and an aerial dogfight. Tensions rose again in April 2025 after years of relative calm when militants killed 26 people in an attack on tourists near the resort town of Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir. It was the deadliest attack on civilians in two decades. India responded two weeks later with missile strikes on targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, once again raising fears of further escalation and calls for restraint. Kashmir remains one of the most militarised zones in the world. Source link #Kashmir #India #Pakistan #fight Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Infinity sells Leonora copper asset to focus on core projects Infinity sells Leonora copper asset to focus on core projects Infinity Mining has executed a binding share ***** agreement to transfer its interest in the Leonora Goldfields copper project in Western Australia as part of a tenement merger. The tenements will be transferred to ASX-listed WA and Northern Territory-based explorer Evergreen Lithium via private company U Resource. Under the deal, Infinity will become a substantial shareholder in Evergreen (EG1) and retain exposure to any upside from the Leonora Goldfields project. Management says the arrangement supports Infinity’s longer-term strategy to liberate value from the company’s non-core assets and sharpen its focus on advancing its core assets. This agreement provides a clear outcome for Infinity. By partnering with EG1, we align with a company that is well positioned to advance the Leonora Goldfields project and we retain exposure through our shareholding in EG1, while focusing on our core projects. We are confident that the Leonora Goldfields project will progress under EG1’s stewardship. Infinity owns a diverse portfolio of gold and copper projects in New South Wales, Victoria, WA’s East Pilbara and the Central Goldfields. The company’s immediate priority will be further exploration and development of its flagship Cangai copper project, about 50 kilometres northwest of Grafton in northeastern NSW. Infinity acquired Cangai, with its three exploration licences, last October. The project has a JORC (2012) compliant mineral resource estimate of 4.4 million tonnes inferred in-situ mineralisation at a grade of 2.5 per cent copper. The estimate includes an additional indicated resource of 0.2Mt at 1.35 per cent copper in historic stockpiles for about 114,000t of contained copper metal, with additional credits for zinc, gold and silver. Under the ***** agreement, Evergreen will pay Infinity a $35,714 cash deposit within five days of execution. In turn, Infinity will be issued an upfront consideration of 8,928,571 Evergreen shares valued at $446,439 at a deemed price of $0.05 per share on completion of the transaction. Infinity will also be issued deferred Evergreen shares valued at $267,857, subject to shareholder approval, based on a 14-day volume-weighted average price (VWAP) measured between April 11 and April 30, with a floor of $0.035 and a cap of $0.065 per share. Additionally, Infinity will receive a milestone consideration of $89,286 in Evergreen shares, based on a 14-day VWAP, which will be issued if Evergreen announces a JORC-compliant inferred resource greater than 100,000 ounces of gold within three years. The upfront and deferred considerations will be escrowed for 12 months from the date of issue of the upfront consideration. Infinity says the deal provides the additional funding it requires to advance its core projects. The deal opens the door for immediate value realisation and potentially to long-term growth, as the Leonora project is advanced by Evergreen’s strong leadership team. Evergreen is chaired by Simon Lill, who played a key role in Northern Star’s $5 billion acquisition of De Grey Mining. He is accompanied at Evergreen by newly-appointed non-executive director Steven Morris, who brings extensive gold mining expertise that includes previous roles at De Grey Mining and Auric Mining. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: *****@*****.tld Source link #Infinity #sells #Leonora #copper #asset #focus #core #projects Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

My Greek Breeze: A Box of Snacks, A Taste of Greece My Greek Breeze: A Box of Snacks, A Taste of Greece There’s something special about Greek snacks. Whether it’s a bag of corn sticks from a childhood memory, a sweet that tastes like summer holidays, or a chocolate bar you always picked up at the periptero, they’re part of everyday life in Greece – and a small way to feel closer to home. That’s the idea behind the My Greek Breeze Subscription Box. Once a month, we fill a box with a mix of the most loved Greek snacks – both sweet and savory – and ship it from Santorini to doorsteps around the world. No two boxes are exactly the same, but each one is full of what you’d actually find in a Greek supermarket or kiosk. Think treats that kids and adults enjoy, from old-school favorites to popular new picks. How It Works You choose your subscription: Shipping is always free, and prices include VAT—so there are no surprises at checkout. Each box is carefully packed and sent out on time every month. Quantities are limited, so it’s best to subscribe early. A Fun Gift Idea Looking for a unique gift? The Greek Breeze box is a great way to send someone a taste of Greece – especially for friends or family abroad who might miss the little things from home. Why People Love It It’s a fun surprise every month It feels like opening a piece of Greece It’s full of snacks people actually eat here – not just touristy stuff And we really do ship with care (from Santorini, no less!) If you miss Greece, or just love discovering new snacks from around the world, this is for you. Or maybe it’s for someone you know – either way, it’s a great little box of joy. Check out the My Greek Breeze box and choose your plan Source link #Greek #Breeze #Box #Snacks #Taste #Greece Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Samsung Tipped to Bring Phone Calls, Do Not Disturb and More Features to Now Bar With One UI 8 Samsung Tipped to Bring Phone Calls, Do Not Disturb and More Features to Now Bar With One UI 8 With One UI 7 being widely rolled out, Samsung is already said to be working on its next iteration dubbed One UI 8. As per a tipster, the update may bring a noticeable improvement to Now Bar, a feature which the company introduced with its Android 15-based OS. While it currently provides a lock screen quick view of insights generated by the Galaxy AI-powered Now Brief, Samsung is tipped to equip it with more capabilities, such as phone calls and a Do Not Disturb option. Now Bar Updates in One UI 8 Tipster @opraks9plus shared a video of the flagship Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra running One UI 8 in a post on X (formerly Twitter). It allegedly shows a new Do Not Disturb button in the Now Bar on the phone’s lock screen. However, it remains unclear if this will be a permanent option in the deck that can toggle the DND feature or just a notification of its activation. A subsequent X post also allegedly shows a new option for phone calls in One UI 8’s Now Bar. Accompanying image suggests users may be able to check in on active phone calls via the pill-shaped button. Further, it displays the call time and is also speculated to show the recipient’s details. There isn’t much more apart from the shared visuals. However, it is to be noted that the Now Bar feature was discovered in an early build version of One UI 8 and may still be subject to changes. Notably, the Now Bar feature is an artificial intelligence (AI) feature, part of the Galaxy AI suite and introduced with One UI 7. It appears as a rectangular bar featuring multiple cards near the bottom of the lock screen. Users can vertically scroll through them with a card deck-like animation. It is said to be an extension of Now Brief, another AI feature which delivers a personalised briefing with suggested content such as health and wellness metrics, event reminders, news, travel updates, and traffic conditions in a card-style interface. Source link #Samsung #Tipped #Bring #Phone #Calls #Disturb #Features #Bar Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Bank of Korea minutes suggest another interest rate cut imminent Bank of Korea minutes suggest another interest rate cut imminent SEOUL (Reuters) -Most of the Bank of Korea’s board members assessed headwinds to South Korea’s economy were growing faster than expected, a factor that would warrant more interest rate cuts, minutes from last month’s meeting showed on Wednesday. “With economic growth this year expected to fall short of previous forecasts due to the economic slowdown, the need for preemptive interest rate cuts is growing,” one of the seven board members said, according to the minutes from the bank’s April 17 rate review. The BOK’s seven-member board on April 17 held the benchmark interest rate at 2.75% as expected at its monetary policy review and signaled it would cut rates in May to cope with “significant” risks to the economy from U.S. President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff policy. A majority of economists surveyed by Reuters expect the BOK to lower the benchmark interest rate to 2.25% by the end of the third quarter of this year as shifting U.S. tariff policy fuels fears of a global recession and threatens to sharply curtail exports out of Asia’s fourth-largest economy. The BOK next reviews policy interest rates on May 29. (Reporting by Cynthia KimEditing by Ed Davies) Source link #Bank #Korea #minutes #suggest #interest #rate #cut #imminent Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Microsoft has a big new AI settings upgrade for Windows 11 on Copilot+ PCs – plus 3 other nifty tricks Microsoft has a big new AI settings upgrade for Windows 11 on Copilot+ PCs – plus 3 other nifty tricks Microsoft has revealed some smart new features for Copilot+ PCs Windows 11 is getting an AI agent to help you easily adjust settings There’s a bunch of other features coming (in testing), including powering up Narrator, the Photos app, and Snipping Tool Copilot+ PC owners are getting some very useful introductions for Windows 11, including functionality that Microsoft has been promising for a long time now – the ability for AI to change settings for you in the operating system. Microsoft covers all the introductions it’s making in a blog post – note that these additions will all be in testing only (for now) – as well as recapping a bunch of other features that have already been seen in testing. The key introduction for many (coming off the back of the full release of Recall, finally – and more besides) will be the change for the Settings app which brings in an AI agent. You may like This takes the form of a bar at the top of the Settings panel into which you can type natural language queries. The idea is to take all the pain out of tweaking the various settings in Windows 11, of which there are a ton (and a half). So, as an example, if you wanted to make the mouse cursor larger, rather than searching for ‘mouse’ in the normal Settings search bar, you can ask the AI instead, and just type a query: “How do I make my mouse pointer *******?” You can phrase it any way you want (within reason), and the AI should surface the option you need so you can click to enable it. Or it might go even further and make suggestions as to what setting you might want to pick (like a recommended size for the pointer in the example above). When it comes to such recommendations, the obvious caveat that AI can be wrong is included. The ability for AI to make sweeping changes in Windows 11 has been something Microsoft has been talking about since it first introduced Copilot to the OS. And while these are smaller tweaks, rather than big swathes of options being adjusted, it’s still a very nifty move – and likely a safer way to work (for now, certainly) given the propensity for AI to make mistakes at times. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Agent in Windows Settings – YouTube Watch On Check out the YouTube video above to see the feature in action. However, do note that this functionality is coming to Copilot+ PCs with Snapdragon X chips only to begin with (in testing, as mentioned), but it shouldn’t be long before it arrives for devices with AMD or Intel processors. There are a few other notable features being brought in for Copilot+ PCs here (also in testing), and I’ll take a look at them next. 1. Relight your photos Creativity in Inbox Apps – YouTube Watch On The Photos app in Windows 11 is getting dynamic lighting controls which are facilitated by AI (and the NPU on your Copilot+ PC). This allows you to correct poor lighting in an image, or just play around with different (or even oddball) lighting effects, using up to three light sources. Check out the example tweaking shown in the above video (where another feature, object select in Paint, is showcased too). 2. Easy screenshots with AI doing the heavy lifting Snipping Tool Perfect Screenshot – YouTube Watch On The Snipping Tool is getting a new ‘Perfect Screenshot’ feature. Invoke this and you can roughly frame an area of the screen that you want captured, and AI will crop it down to the key part that (it assumes) you want to screenshot. Check it out in the above sample video clip – this could be another substantial timesaver. Should the AI get it wrong, there are handles to adjust the errant crop, too. 3. Narrator gets powered up (Image credit: Microsoft) Windows 11’s screen reading tool is getting a boost, as Microsoft explains: “Narrator now offers rich image descriptions, which provide detailed context for visuals including charts, photos and UI elements.” What this means is that where web content doesn’t have alternative text provided – words that can be read out to describe an image for those who can’t see it – Narrator can do this itself. This should be a major step forward with accessibility for blind (or low-vision) Windows 11 users. As with the Settings AI agent, this functionality is coming (in testing) to Copilot+ PCs with Snapdragon X chips before other models. You might also like… Source link #Microsoft #big #settings #upgrade #Windows #Copilot #PCs #nifty #tricks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Stephen Curry injury update: Warriors star likely out Game 2 with hamstring strain, return timeline unclear – CBS Sports Stephen Curry injury update: Warriors star likely out Game 2 with hamstring strain, return timeline unclear – CBS Sports Stephen Curry injury update: Warriors star likely out Game 2 with hamstring strain, return timeline unclear CBS SportsNBA playoffs: Warriors hang on to beat Timberwolves in Game 1 after losing Stephen Curry to hamstring injury Yahoo SportsSteph Curry ‘crushed’ by injury, unlikely to play in Game 2, per Steve Kerr NBC Sports Bay Area & CaliforniaWith Stephen Curry injured, the Warriors need Jimmy Butler to flip the scoring switch CBS SportsWarriors 99-88 Timberwolves (May 6, 2025) Game Recap ESPN Source link #Stephen #Curry #injury #update #Warriors #star #Game #hamstring #strain #return #timeline #unclear #CBS #Sports Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Devastation among locals after India strikes Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir Devastation among locals after India strikes Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir EPA An Indian paramilitary soldier keeps watch from behind a fence in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian-administered Kashmir Mohammed Waheed was fast asleep at his home in Pakistan-administered Kashmir in the early hours of Wednesday morning when a huge blast shook his home. “Before we could even process what was happening, more missiles struck, causing widespread panic and chaos,” he told the BBC, adding that he had jumped out of bed and run outside along with his family and neighbours. “Children were crying, women were running around, trying to find safety.” Mr Waheed lives in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir – it is one of at least three places that were hit by Indian missile strikes on Wednesday. The Indian military said it carried out the strikes in response to a militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 civilians. It has blamed Pakistan-based militant groups for the attacks, accusing Islamabad of tacitly supporting them – a charge Pakistan has consistently denied. The BBC spoke to witnesses in both Indian and Pakistan administered Kashmir who described the strikes by India as well as the aftermath of shelling by Pakistan. Pakistan said eight civilians were killed and 35 others injured as a result of the strikes this morning, according to Islamabad. India’s army has also said that at least seven civilians have been killed by Pakistani shelling on its side of the Line of Control (LoC) – the de facto border between both countries. ‘Killed while making tea’ Ruby Kaur, who lived in India’s Poonch district along the LoC has been identified as one of the Indians who has been killed. Her uncle, Buava Singh, told the BBC that a mortar shell struck near Ms Kaur’s house around 1:45 am, killing her on the spot and injuring her daughter. “Her husband was not keeping well. She woke up to make tea for him when the mortar shell landed close to her house,” he said. He added that the heavy shelling on Wednesday morning was something “we have never seen so far”. Singh says that there were no community bunkers in the area, which meant residents were forced to take shelter in their homes. “The shrapnel hit her head. She was bleeding heavily. We rushed her to a nearby hospital, but she was declared dead,” Mr Singh said. Another resident from Poonch said they heard “loud explosions for hours on Wednesday night”. “It was a panicky situation across the city and other areas close to the Line of Control (LoC),” Dr Zamrood Mughal said over phone. “People couldn’t sleep the entire night. People abandoned their homes and ran for safer places. A shell hit the main town near the forest office and damaged the nearby structure.” Reuters A damaged portion of Bilal Mosque is seen after it was hit by an Indian strike in Muzaffarabad ‘Terrified of what might come next’ Muhammad Younis Shah in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, described how four missiles fired by India landed on an educational complex in the Nangal Sahadan suburb, destroying a mosque in the process. “There is a school and college for children, a hostel, and a medical complex here,” he says. “The first three missiles came in succession, while the fourth missile came with an interval of five to seven minutes.” While rescue operations in the are underway, locals say they are anticipating further escalation of the violence, and terrified of what may come next. “We’re terrified, and we don’t know what to do,” says Mr Waheed. “People are fleeing their homes and the sense of uncertainty is overwhelming.”” His fellow Muzaffarabad resident Shahnawaz echoes this, saying he and his family were now “desperately searching for safe locations”. “We were anticipating something would happen, and now we’re gripped with fear of further escalations.” Delhi emphasised its actions on Wednesday were “focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature”, but locals in the targeted areas in Pakistan-administered Kashmir say that their mosques and residential complexes were among the sites hit. Mr Waheed told the BBC he could not fathom why his local mosque was hit in the strike which he claims injured “dozens of men and women” in his neighbourhood in Muzaffarabad. “It’s hard to understand,” he says. “It was a normal street mosque where we prayed five times a day. We never saw any suspicious activity around it.” Delhi emphasised its actions on Wednesday targeted terrorist infrastructure and said thee were chosen “based on credible intelligence inputs”. But locals in the targeted areas in Pakistan-administered Kashmir say that their mosques and residential complexes were among the sites hit. Mr Waheed cannot fathom why his local mosque was hit, which injured “dozens of men and women” in his neighbourhood in Muzaffarabad. “It’s hard to understand,” he says. “It was a normal street mosque where we prayed five times a day. We never saw any suspicious activity around it.” Source link #Devastation #among #locals #India #strikes #Pakistan #Pakistanadministered #Kashmir Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

India and Pakistan fight over Kashmir killings India and Pakistan fight over Kashmir killings India has launched strikes on Pakistani territory as tension spirals between the nuclear-armed rivals following the slaughter of tourists in Indian Kashmir. Source link #India #Pakistan #fight #Kashmir #killings Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Dozens arrested after protests escalate at University of Washington in Seattle Dozens arrested after protests escalate at University of Washington in Seattle The Brief About 30 people were arrested after a protest escalated Monday night at UW. The university said protesters created a dangerous environment near the Interdisciplinary Engineering Building. A suspended student group allegedly organized the protest over the building’s ties to Boeing. SEATTLE – Thirty-one people were arrested after protests escalated Monday night at the University of Washington. The university released a statement Tuesday morning condemning ******** activity and an antisemitic statement issued by a “suspended student group”, though it did not name the group. By the end of the day, four of the 31 people arrested had a first appearance hearing and were released by the court. An additional person was initially scheduled to have a court appearance but posted bond. The remaining 26 people were given first appearance hearing dates for Wednesday morning. However, they also posted bond and are not required to appear for those gross misdemeanor arrests. As of Tuesday evening, no one had been referred to the county for felony charges. The other side The group ‘Super UW’ – Students United for ************ Equality and Return – posted on Instagram claiming the protest was in opposition to a newly funded building by Boeing. The group said it was demanding the university cut ties with Boeing due to the company’s military contracts and repurpose the building. A member of Super UW told FOX 13 Seattle they stand by their statement that the October 7 2023 ******-led attacks were “heroic,” but they said they are not antisemitic. “There’s a lot of conflation between Zionism and Judaism, and to anyone who has taken the time to actually look at what Zionism as a national project means and the kind of the creation of it in the early, sorry, in the late 1800s understand it to exist as a different thing as Judaism as an entirety,” said Noah Weigh a UW Student and member of Super UW. What they’re saying The university said protesters created a dangerous environment around the new Interdisciplinary Engineering Building, prompting a law enforcement response. Protesters, many with covered faces, reportedly blocked access to two streets near the building, including entrances and exits. Campus police began clearing the area at about 10:30 p.m. and entered the building roughly 30 minutes later. The university said about 30 individuals were arrested for occupying the building, with charges including trespassing, property destruction and disorderly conduct. (Cam Higby via Storyful) What we don’t know UW has not confirmed whether the group included enrolled students, but said any students identified will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. The Source Information in this story came from original reporting by FOX 13 Seattle, and a press release by the University of Washington. Possible Impacts This sort of action on UW’s campus could cost the university millions. On Tuesday, Columbia University announced it was cutting about 180 staff members. This decision follows the Trump administration announcing it had canceled $400 million in federal grant dollars to the school. The announcement was made in March and the decision was based on the school’s “failure to protect Jewish students from antisemitic harassment.” Columbia University said it will cut around 180 staff members Tuesday following the Trump administration’s announcement in March that it canceled $400 million in federal grants over the Ivy League school’s “failure to protect Jewish students from antisemitic harassment.” ******* Sassoon Friedland the regional director of the American Jewish Committee tells FOX 13 Seattle she stands with the president’s willingness to protect the Jewish community from antisemitism. However, she thinks university’s should be given the chance to take their own actions. “If the schools are taking action, the way the University of Washington did last night, they’re taking this seriously on their own, and in a case like that, I don’t think we need federal intervention if they are already taking action,” she said. MORE NEWS FROM FOX 13 SEATTLE Inmate escapes police at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Jamie Tompkins claims Seattle police scandal was a setup. Here’s why 3 small WA businesses voted most worth a 1-hour drive 2 new trails connect Redmond transit station to King County park WA joins lawsuit against RFK Jr., Trump administration for dismantling HHS Seattle nightclub stabbing leaves 2 men injured in Pioneer Square To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news. Source link #Dozens #arrested #protests #escalate #University #Washington #Seattle Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Xbox Fans Should Not Have High Hopes After Helldivers 2 Leaked Trailer as PlayStation Is Still Milking Its Fastest Selling Game Xbox Fans Should Not Have High Hopes After Helldivers 2 Leaked Trailer as PlayStation Is Still Milking Its Fastest Selling Game The internet never forgets—especially when it comes to accidentally published trailers. PlayStation recently uploaded a recruitment-style Helldivers 2 video only to hastily remove it minutes later. Naturally, this sparked a wildfire of speculation among Xbox players desperately hoping to join Super Earth’s finest. But before anyone starts planning their Xbox Helldive parties, let’s examine why this trailer probably isn’t the harbinger of managed democracy coming to Microsoft’s platform. After all, despite Xbox’s recent willingness to share its exclusives, PlayStation continues to guard its most lucrative properties with the tenacity of a Terminid defending its nest. The mysterious trailer and Xbox’s endless hopium The now-deleted trailer featured the familiar propaganda-style narration Helldivers 2 players have come to love. It recounted major story beats while attempting to recruit new soldiers with promises of liberty, firepower, and the chance to defend freedom against Super Earth’s enemies: The trailer’s timing and recruitment focus immediately had Xbox fans donning their conspiracy hats. After all, what better way to announce a platform expansion than with a call for fresh troops? Comment byu/Financial-Customer24 from discussion inHelldivers This isn’t the first time Xbox players have convinced themselves they’re about to join the fight. Similar speculation erupted last October when Arrowhead’s then-community manager Thomas “Twinbeard” Petersson mentioned the studio would “love to see Helldivers 2 on Xbox”—though he clarified the decision ultimately rests with Sony. The reality is far less exciting. The latest trailer was bookended with PlayStation logos and contained no Xbox branding whatsoever. More likely, it’s standard marketing material accidentally published ahead of schedule, possibly for an upcoming ***** or PlayStation event. Comment byu/Financial-Customer24 from discussion inHelldivers Let’s be honest—this is almost certainly just another case of Xbox fans grasping at straws, desperate for any sign that they might finally get to spread managed democracy alongside their PlayStation brethren. PlayStation’s record-breaking cash cow isn’t going anywhere Xbox enthusiasts getting the liberty boot. | Image Credit: PlayStation/YouTube Let’s face facts—Helldivers 2 has been an unprecedented financial juggernaut for PlayStation. The game sold a staggering 12 million copies across PS5 and PC within just 12 weeks of launch, thus shattering previous records held by God of War Ragnarök and making it PlayStation’s fastest-selling title ever. Why would Sony share this golden goose with Xbox? The simultaneous PC release already proved brilliant, with estimates suggesting 60% of sales came from that platform. PlayStation has achieved massive success without needing Xbox’s player base. Comment byu/Financial-Customer24 from discussion inHelldivers Comment byu/Financial-Customer24 from discussion inHelldivers Some fans theorize the upcoming in-game party at Widow’s Harbor on May 13 could coincide with a platform expansion announcement: Comment byu/Financial-Customer24 from discussion inHelldivers The truth is, PlayStation is still firmly in the business of platform exclusivity. While Xbox has embraced sharing titles like Gears of War with PlayStation, Sony continues hoarding its exclusive properties. Helldivers 2′s success likely reinforces this strategy rather than undermines it. The game’s blend of satire and cooperative gameplay has proven too valuable for Sony to share with competitors. What do you think? Is there any chance Helldivers 2 makes the jump to Xbox, or are fans setting themselves up for disappointment? Drop your thoughts in the comments below! Source link #Xbox #Fans #High #Hopes #Helldivers #Leaked #Trailer #PlayStation #Milking #FastestSellingGame Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Teddi Mellencamp offers heartbreaking update on stage four ******* battle – Daily Mail Teddi Mellencamp offers heartbreaking update on stage four ******* battle – Daily Mail Teddi Mellencamp offers heartbreaking update on stage four ******* battle Daily MailTeddi Mellencamp on ‘Day-to-Day Decision’ of Wearing a Wig amid ******* Treatment People.comTeddi Mellencamp Details ‘Day to Day Decision’ to Wear a Wig Amid Stage 4 ******* Battle Us WeeklyRock legend’s daughter battling stage 4 ******* reveals brain surgery scars, delivers message PennLive.comTeddi Mellencamp wears wig on ‘crying days’ Yahoo News New Zealand Source link #Teddi #Mellencamp #offers #heartbreaking #update #stage #******* #battle #Daily #Mail Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

What’s in a name? How a new pope chooses their title – National What’s in a name? How a new pope chooses their title – National Cardinals have been sequestered in the ******** ahead of the conclave Wednesday, where they will vote on who will be next to lead the Catholic Church. They won’t emerge until white smoke has billowed into the air and the senior cardinal has announced “Habemus papam” — “We have a pope.” And he will tell those gathered at St. Peter’s Square the pontiff’s baptismal name in Latin, followed by his papal name. When it comes to the pope, a name can say a lot. But what goes into choosing a papal name? How is a name chosen and what can it signify? Cardinals who enter the conclave may have a name in mind that they’ll use if they’re named the new pontiff, according to Natalia Imperatori-Lee, chair of the department of religious studies and philosophy at Manhattan University in New York. Story continues below advertisement “Once you know that you’re going into that room and that somebody who walks in with you or yourself is walking out the pope, yeah, you’re going to think about it,” she told Global News in an interview. That name though can vary depending on how the cardinal wants the church to proceed, with continuity or discontinuity of their predecessor’s papacy being one of the questions that’s top of mind. It wasn’t until the mid-20th century, however, that choosing a name signalled the aim of the papacy. Before then, names would sometimes be chosen based on the pope’s baptismal name or wanting to pay respect to a previous pope. Pope John Paul I, who was pope for slightly more than a month in 1978, chose the name to honour the two previous popes who were involved with the council that reformed the Catholic Church — John XXIII and Paul VI. 1:34 Iconic chimney installed on roof of Sistine Chapel as conclave prepares to elect a new Pope The name signalled a commitment to the reforms established by that council, including ending the practice of giving mass in Latin to instead favour local languages. Story continues below advertisement His papacy lasted just 33 days, from Aug. 26 until Sept. 28 of 1978, but his successor, John Paul II, chose to continue on his legacy, signified by choosing the same name. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Choosing a name may also give insight into the priorities of the new pontiff, such as the most recent pope, Francis, selecting the name of St. Francis of Assisi, who was known for his humility, life of poverty and love of all creatures. Pope Francis signalled a papacy focused on those seen as outsiders, such as the poor, prisoners and the LGBTQ2 community, as well as promoting peace and care of the environment. “There’s kind of two avenues or two sort of conversations that the pope-elect, I guess, is having with the past,” Imperatori-Lee said. “The immediate predecessors and the legacies of different popes and the sort of history of the saints, the hagiography conversation, is there a saint that you particularly want this papacy to look like or to embody?” Why choose a new name instead of their own? Despite convention, popes don’t have to choose another name; many did use their given name in the first millennium. Story continues below advertisement Around the 11th century, that changed. “It had become kind of a custom, a tradition to change the name,” said Mark Yenson, interim vice-president and academic dean at King’s University College in London, Ont., and religious studies associate professor. “It’s a tradition, there’s no hard and fast rule about it, but it is one of those ways in which the pope can really kind of signal what their priorities are and where they might want to take the leadership of the church.” 3:49 Cardinals from around the world meet at The ******** as process to select next pope begins Trending Now Former Quebec junior hockey player Noah Corson sentenced to 2 years of jail time in sex-assault case World War III imminent, many Americans and Europeans fear: poll Many have chosen names related to previous popes. John has been chosen by 23 pontiffs, followed by Benedict and Gregory, both at 16. A pontiff’s name can also be something totally different than seen before, like when Francis chose a name that hadn’t been used by any pope in the past. Story continues below advertisement Names you likely won’t see As people await the name, there are some you likely won’t see. The first is Peter, which Yenson said many would avoid as it was the first pope’s name. The name Innocent is one that, while used 13 times before and featured in the movie Conclave, likely won’t be used again. Imperatori-Lee said that amid the abuse scandals the church has faced in recent years, cardinals will be able to “read the room” and know that that name isn’t suited for this time. She added that due to how long John Paul II served, it may also be a time before the name is used again as his influence remains “very large” in the church and people “may want to move away from that.” The name of the next pope won’t be known until white smoke pours forth from the Sistine Chapel and is announced from St. Peter’s Basilica, but when it is announced, people can use it to get an idea of what is to come from the church. Story continues below advertisement “If the new pope took the name Francis, then we would know that this was really a continuity candidate,” Yenson said. “If they take the name of a sort of more historically distant pope, we might have to do a bit of digging to kind of figure out what they are looking for or if they take the name of a saint, we could guess but we might need to wait for that pope to make that more explicit in the days to come.” But Imperatori-Lee notes there’s more to choosing a new name than just signalling the path of the papacy. “It’s a new role,” she said. “We do this all the time in real life, too, it’s not just popes that do this. When babies are baptized, they’re given names, in Catholicism, when a child is confirmed, they choose a new saint’s name…. The whole idea of a new name is taking on a new role, a new life, a new identity and being very intentional about that, stepping into a new role vis-a-vis the universal church.” More on World More videos Source link #Whats #pope #chooses #title #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

UGSFL 2025: Late goal hands Tigers first win since 2023, Hawks overpower Cats and Warriors flex muscles UGSFL 2025: Late goal hands Tigers first win since 2023, Hawks overpower Cats and Warriors flex muscles Katanning Wanderers broke a 15-game losing streak, notching their first win of the 2025 Upper Great Southern Football League competition on Sunday in dramatic fashion. Source link #UGSFL #Late #goal #hands #Tigers #win #Hawks #overpower #Cats #Warriors #flex #muscles Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

These are the Kansas City area’s most unsafe hospitals. See the ratings These are the Kansas City area’s most unsafe hospitals. See the ratings When going to the hospital for a surgery or illness, you trust that the medical staff will treat your condition well. But if your nurses and doctors don’t wash their hands or give you the wrong medicine, your health could get worse, not better. But some Kansas City area hospitals are better at these patient safety steps than others. Falls, infections after surgery, miscommunications with staff and other preventable safety issues kill up to 250,000 people each year, according to health care watchdog nonprofit The Leapfrog Group. In 2022, Nurses at Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City care for a COVID-19 patient in ICU. A healthcare watchdog group gave Kansas City hospitals grades for patient safety. The organization, which has given hospitals letter grades on patient safety for over 20 years, released its spring 2025 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades on May 1. While grades range from A to F, the Kansas City area did not have any D or F facilities. Twice a year, hospitals are evaluated in 32 areas grouped in five categories: infections; problems with surgery; safety problems; practices to prevent errors; and staffing levels and education. For more information on your hospital’s performance in other aspects, like patient satisfaction and treatment effectiveness, search the facility’s name on the Medicare website’s care to compare. In addition, U.S. News and World Report releases rankings based on hospitals’ performance in a variety of medical specialties and common procedures. Here are the Kansas City area hospitals with the best and worst patient safety ratings for spring 2025, according to Leapfrog Group. Most unsafe hospitals in the Kansas City area (C grades) University Health Truman Medical Center, Kansas City University Health Truman Medical Center received below average grades in 10 of the 32 categories, including three safety problems. Since 2022, the Hospital Hill institution has scored a C in seven out of eight assessments. Overland Park Regional Medical Center Overland Park Regional Medical Center scored below average in nine sections, including the worst possible score in bedside care. The hospital received its first C grade in recent years in fall 2024 after four A’s in 2023 and 2022. The University of Kansas Hospital, Kansas City, Kansas The University of Kansas Hospital received below average grades in nine of the 29 metrics. The hospital declined to give information on four measures to prevent errors. KU Med received C grades on the last three reports. Liberty Hospital Liberty Hospital received below average scores in seven areas, including three problems with surgery. The hospital dropped to a C after three consecutive B grades. Lee’s Summit Medical Center Lee’s Summit Medical Center had below average scores in five of the 32 metrics, including the worst possible score in bedside care and specially trained ICU doctors. The hospital received a C grade in fall 2024 after three A grades in a row. Safest hospitals in the Kansas City area (A grades) Providence Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas St. Joseph Medical Center, Kansas City Menorah Medical Center, Overland Park North Kansas City Hospital Saint Luke’s East Hospital, Lee’s Summit Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City B grades AdventHealth Shawnee Mission Belton Regional Medical Center Centerpoint Medical Center, Independence Research Medical Center Main Campus, Kansas City Saint Luke’s North Hospital – Barry Road, Kansas City Saint Luke’s South Hospital, Overland Park St. Mary’s Medical Center, Blue Springs University Health Lakewood Medical Center, Kansas City Do you have more questions about health in the Kansas City area? Ask the Service Journalism team at *****@*****.tld. Source link #Kansas #City #areas #unsafe #hospitals #ratings Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

5 Actors I Badly Need in it to Do Justice to Hidetaka Miyazaki’s Complicated Vision 5 Actors I Badly Need in it to Do Justice to Hidetaka Miyazaki’s Complicated Vision Wait what? There are rumors of an Elden Ring movie potentially produced by A24 and directed by Alex Garland. The source that claimed this has already taken down the report, but what could this really mean? Is Hidetaka Miyazaki and our favorite Game of the Year really about to be put to the big screen? Let’s say that these rumors are real. Let’s assume that we’re really getting a new Elden Ring movie. The biggest question then becomes, who is going to be in the movie’s cast? Well, that would depend on the story and characters that are being planned to be shown. I already know exactly which actors I want to see for this. Here are my picks for the cast of the Elden Ring movie Idris Elba as Blaidd, the Half-Wolf He definitely has the acting chops. | Image Credit: Marvel Studios Blaidd is one of Elden Ring’s most tragic and beloved characters. He is a loyal servant of Ranni the Witch, bound to her by design and doomed by that very loyalty. Because of his deep bond with Ranni and eventual descent into madness, I want to see an actor who can give us the raw power and heartbreak. An ‘ELDEN RING’ movie is reportedly in the works at A24 with Alex Garland set to direct. (Source: [Hidden Content]) pic.twitter.com/l4nfugVqM3 — Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) May 6, 2025 I think Idris Elba has the physical presence and emotional range that the role demands. His commanding voice and sharp delivery would do justice to Blaidd’s calm yet feral personality, and he’s no stranger to fantasy. I think he could effortlessly portray a character whose very identity was designed to serve another’s fate, even to his own ruin. Morgan Freeman as Miriel, Pastor of Vows Morgan Freeman just has that voice and presence, you know? | Image Credit: Warner Bros. Yes, Miriel is a giant talking tortoise (or dog, if you know you know) wearing a mitre. But he’s also one of the most serene and peaceful characters in the game. And there is no better voice for the character than Morgan Freeman. We already know his trademark calm narration and spiritual authority, and it would fit perfectly for this role. Sean Bean as Sir Gideon Ofnir, the All-Knowing Sean Bean already has the fantasy genre down pat. | Image Credit: New Line Cinema Sean Bean is a veteran of fantasy epics, and few actors could portray the haunted ambition of Gideon Ofnir like he can. Gideon’s obsession with knowledge and his ultimate betrayal of our character contain a lot of hubris and moral ambiguity. And we already know that Sean Bean knows this well from his time as Boromir in The Lord of the Rings and Ned Stark in Game of Thrones. Aimee-Ffion Edwards as Ranni the Witch The original voice and actor is already the best. | Image Credit: BBC Sometimes, the perfect casting already exists. Aimee-Ffion Edwards voiced Ranni in the game, and it would be a disservice to recast her when she’s fully capable of playing the role on screen. Ranni is central to Elden Ring’s most completed questline and a fan favorite, and her character’s background easily has some of the most depth in the game. No recast could match the authenticity she already brings. Anthony Carrigan as Patches It’s impossible to hate this actor, he’s just too good. | Image Credit: Fox Every Soulsborne fan knows Patches, the bald, scheming trickster who can never quite be trusted. Known for tricking players into ambushes and then shamelessly groveling once caught, Patches is both comic relief and weirdly comforting to see in FromSoft’s dark and crazy worlds. Anthony Carrigan (Barry, Gotham) has made a career of playing eccentric, morally ambiguous characters who steal every scene they’re in. But that’s not the entire reason I want him. The man just looks exactly like Patches! If there was ever an actor who looked and had the right qualities to play a certain character, it’s this combo right here. Whether the new rumor is true or false, there are some exciting possibilities for the cast of an Elden Ring movie. Hidetaka Miyazaki himself said in 2024 that he’d be open to an adaptation if the right time came. And if this rumor is true, then the time would definitely be right. What do you think of an Elden Ring movie? Do you think this rumor is true? Let us know your thoughts! Source link #Actors #Badly #Justice #Hidetaka #Miyazakis #Complicated #Vision Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Stock market today: Asian stocks rise as US-China trade talks announced, China cuts interest rates – Yahoo Finance Stock market today: Asian stocks rise as US-China trade talks announced, China cuts interest rates – Yahoo Finance Stock market today: Asian stocks rise as US-China trade talks announced, China cuts interest rates Yahoo FinanceTrump’s team is finally meeting with China. The future of the global economy is riding on its success CNNUS-China Tariff Pause Reasonable to Expect, Council Head Says Bloomberg.comTrump officials Bessent and Greer to meet with ******** counterparts on trade, economic issues CNBCMorning Bid: US, China move towards trade talks, but a deal seems distant Reuters Source link #Stock #market #today #Asian #stocks #rise #USChina #trade #talks #announced #China #cuts #interest #rates #Yahoo #Finance Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Tesla Australia says it’s focused on cars, not Elon Musk Tesla Australia says it’s focused on cars, not Elon Musk Tesla’s *********** division says its main focus right now is to get people behind the wheel of its cars, including the facelifted Tesla Model Y, amid persistent US reports about the electric vehicle (EV) company’s controversial CEO Elon Musk and his involvement with the Trump administration. While it’s impossible to draw direct correlations between Mr Musk’s political endeavours and the carmaker’s sales performance, Tesla’s local sales have undoubtedly been on a significant downward spiral over the past 12 months. In April 2025, Tesla managed just 500 deliveries for the entire month, almost 76 per cent fewer EVs than it sold in the same month last year, placing it 23rd on the sales chart just ahead of Porsche, but behind other luxury brands like Land Rover and Audi. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert Meantime, key rival BYD sold more than six times the number of vehicles last month (3207), over 127 per cent up on April 2024 and placing it 10th overall for the month. Year to date, *********** Tesla sales are now almost 62 per cent down. Asked about the potential impact of Mr Musk’s high-profile activities in the US on local sales and perceptions of his company, Tesla Australia country director Thom Drew said he preferred to focus on Tesla’s vehicles rather than its CEO’s politics. Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert “Externally, looking at any of these political factors, is going to have some kind of influence, depending on what people see in the media, so that would likely be having an impact on people engaging with us,” he told CarExpert at this week’s *********** launch of the facelifted 2025 Tesla Model Y. “We’re trying to take this as an opportunity to remind the *********** public of our products and how great they are.” The Model Y’s midlife ‘Juniper’ facelift brings a raft of updates including revised suspension, tweaked interior equipment, increased range, and Cybertruck-inspired styling. Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert The Model Y was unavailable for several months in the lead up to first deliveries of the facelifted mid-size electric SUV, heavily impacting the American brand’s local sales given the model’s status as its best-selling vehicle and Australia’s favourite EV in 2024. “Obviously [with] a new Model Y coming up, we’re focusing on that, and then also our local business,” said Mr Drew. “So far, the response has been amazing. We’ve only just started test drives of [the Model Y] within the past few weeks in Australia, and we’ve had record test drive numbers than we’ve had in our entire time in the country. “[That’s] partly why we’ve been trying to make sure people can see into Tesla Australia, and who we are as an established brand here, [to] help solidify why we still remain the number one EV brand in the country.” MORE: Tesla revenue plunges as global sales slumpMORE: No love for Elon Musk? Tesla owners are ditching their cars at record ratesMORE: Tesla vandalism and fake ads highlight anti-Elon Musk sentiment Source link #Tesla #Australia #focused #cars #Elon #Musk Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Here Are The Stories Behind 10 Ancient Civilizations That Seemingly Vanished From The Face Of The Earth Here Are The Stories Behind 10 Ancient Civilizations That Seemingly Vanished From The Face Of The Earth One of history’s biggest questions is: “How does an entire civilization disappear?” One can comprehend how an object or even a city is lost, buried, or destroyed, but an entire group or nation of people is nearly unfathomable. And if archaeology hadn’t emerged in the 18th century, many of these civilizations would have become permanently lost to time… Tuul & Bruno Morandi / Getty Images Even though archaeological and scientific tools have discovered much about these ancient civilizations, including facts about their daily lives, religions, and habits, many “disappearances” remain unsolved. From the Mayans to the Mississippians — here are 10 ancient societies that seemingly vanished from the face of the earth: 1.The Mayans: SOPA Images / SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images The Mayans, a technologically advanced society renowned for their revolutionary calendar system, emerged around 2000 BCE, and at one point reached an estimated population of over 13 million people. Which begs the question, how did this massive civilization ultimately collapse or “vanish”? Around 250 CE, the Mayans entered what is now called the “Classic *******.” During this *******, the population peaked, and the people built flourishing cities, complete with palaces and temples. However, 650 years later, the “Classic *******” ended, and all major Mayan cities were abandoned for reasons that are still unknown. Through the years, scientists and historians have come up with many plausible (and implausible) theories, ranging from climate change and war to, yes, alien abduction. However, they are still unable to pinpoint the exact cause of the civilization’s collapse, but note that it didn’t happen all at once, but rather occurred over an estimated 100-year *******. Even after the fall of their society, the Mayan people didn’t disappear entirely. Instead, other cities such as Chichen Itza and later Mayapan in the northern lowlands rose to prominence (towns were also established in the highlands). However, things dramatically shifted after Spanish conquistadores landed in the early 1500s. By 1697, Nojpeten, the last independent Mayan city, fell, and the civilization was largely forgotten until the 1830s, when archaeologists began excavating the areas in which the Mayans lived. 2.Easter Island’s Inhabitants (aka the Rapa Nui): NurPhoto / NurPhoto via Getty Images One of the world’s most mysterious and yet easily identifiable landmarks is the Moai statues on Easter Island. Over 100,000 people visit these ancient, multi-ton structures each year, yet we’re still left to wonder: What happened to the people who put them there? For years, the inhabitants of Easter Island, known as the Rapa Nui, have been a cautionary tale of what happens when a civilization overpopulates and thus overtaxes its environment, dooming itself to “ecocide,” an idea popularized in geographer Jared Diamond’s 2005 book Collapse. However, recent observations of the Rapa Nui’s downfall tell a different story. In most tellings, the Rapa Nui were a small group of Polynesian settlers who migrated to Easter Island between 800 and 900 CE, and by the twelfth century, had become obsessed with building Moai, thereby decimating their crops and draining their natural resources to make room for them. By the 17th century, they had supposedly deforested the entire island, triggering war, famine, and ultimately cannibalism. However, in 2024, Columbia archaeologist Dylan Davis released a study challenging the long-held narrative, showing that the Rapa Nui didn’t overpopulate the island but maintained a stable environment until the arrival of European settlers in the early 18th century. Davis and his team’s comprehensive study of the island’s farmland revealed that the residents only grew enough crops to feed four thousand individuals at any given time. He explained, “This shows that the population could never have been as big as some of the earlier estimates suggested.” The Rapa Nui had a particular method of farming called “rock gardening,” where farmers would scatter broken rocks in fields to protect the budding plants from the elements. For many years, scientists simply mapped these “gardens” to calculate the yield of the ancient islanders’ crops. However, Davis and his team conducted different research using satellite imagery; their findings revealed that “There are natural rock outcrops all over the place that had been misidentified as rock gardens in the past.” This study, in essence, disproves the theory that the Rapa Nui were frivolous people, as Davis’s study pointed out that the Rapa Nui’s “rock gardening” was an extremely efficient way to draw necessary minerals and nutrients out from Easter Island’s nutrient-deficient volcanic soil. “The lesson is the opposite of the collapse theory,” says Davis. “People were able to be very resilient in the face of limited resources by modifying the environment in a way that helped.” 3.The Indus Valley Civilization: Heritage Images / Heritage Art/Heritage Images via Getty Images The Indus Valley Civilization (aka the Harappan Civilization) was one of the civilizations that emerged in the region known as Mesopotamia. The Harappans, best known for their written language called the Indus Script, emerged around 3300 BCE and reached a peak population of 60,000 before their numbers began dwindling in 2500 BCE. Throughout the early 20th century, it was theorized that the civilization met its mysterious end due to an invasion by a tribe from the north known as Aryans. This theory was known as the “Aryan Invasion Theory.” However, this idea was discredited when it was discovered that the Aryans were a peaceable people who merged their culture with that of the Indigenous people. Historians now believe that the civilization met its demise through climate and geographical changes. Many attribute the Harappans’ sudden migration to the foothills of the Himalayas to the Sarasvati River drying up, as well as the intensification of the summer monsoon season. By 1800 BCE, most of the Harappan villages had been abandoned entirely. 4.The Mississippians: The Washington Post / The Washington Post via Getty Images Around 800 CE, Mississippian culture emerged in the Midwest and Southwestern parts of the United States. This “culture” was not a single tribe of Indigenous People, but many smaller societies that had adopted a similar way of life. The Mississippian ******* is often recognized as a time of impressive achievements in the prehistoric Southeast. Rather than relying solely on gathering or hunting for food, the Mississippians focused on cultivating the “Three Sisters”: beans, corn, and squash. (They also planted sunflowers). The culture is also credited as being the originators of the “slash-and-burn” agriculture method, which is still used by many Indigenous tribes today. Moundbuilding was another impressive Mississippian feat. While many Native American tribes built mounds for their dead, archaeologists discovered the Mississippians did not solely build mounds for burial purposes. Many “platform” mounds have been discovered and excavated. When archaeologists began digging, they noted that the mounds’ tops were larger than the average Mississippian home. The bottoms held broken pots and food waste, signifying that these mounds were used as homes for the culture’s leaders. (Mississippians were politically organized under “chiefdoms” rather than a monarchy). So, how did this agriculturally advanced, mound-building culture collapse? Archaeological records show that the most significant areas of Mississippian culture began to decline around 1450, due to unknown reasons. However, many suspect war, drought, or crop failure was to blame. The culture fully met its end in the mid-16th century when Spanish conquistadors Juan Ponce de León and Hernando de Soto, as well as other European settlers brought diseases the Indigenous people had no immunity against. Thousands of Mississippians died, which effectively ended the “Mississippian Tradition.” 5.The Khmer Empire: Jeremy Horner / LightRocket via Getty Images When Cambodian “prince” Jayavarman II was consecrated around 802 CE, the Angkor Civilization (aka the Khmer people) arose. The Khmer Empire was known for many reasons, including its monumental buildings and extensive trade with other nations; however, its biggest “claim to fame” was an ingenious hydrologic system, which was built with the region’s monsoonal climate in mind. The Empire’s “heyday” lasted for nearly 500 years, which is now known as the “Classic *******.” However, by 1327, when Jayavarman IX assumed the throne, records were no longer being kept (much of what we know about the Empire is through Sanskrit records), and the Empire had stopped building monuments. Concurrently, the area also suffered a drought and warred with neighboring Ayutthaya. Modern mapping has also shown that the area, known as Angkor, was much larger than previously thought, leading to overpopulation and overuse of natural resources. However, climate change and war might not have been the only factors in the Empire’s collapse. In 2016, scholar Damian Evans argued that one of the civilization’s major problems was that stone masonry was only used in the construction of monuments and the hydrologic system, meaning that dwellings, including the royal palace, were made of non-durable, natural materials, such as wood and thatch. Despite all of the research and evidence, historians and scientists can still not pinpoint a singular reason why the Khmer Empire met its end. 6.Çatalhöyük: Anadolu / Anadolu via Getty Images In ancient Turkey, a large Neolithic settlement known as Çatalhöyük arose and became the prototype for successful urban living…for a short while; however, by the time the civilization fell, it had become a cautionary tale, as Ohio State University anthropology professor Clark Spencer Larsen explained, “Çatalhöyük was one of the first proto-urban communities in the world and the residents experienced what happens when you put many people together in a small area for an extended time.” When Çatalhöyük emerged around 7100 BCE, now known as the “Early *******,” it consisted mainly of a few mud-brick dwellings. But by 6700-6500 BCE, the settlement had reached an estimated peak population between 2,800 and 10,000 residents. The people, known simply as the inhabitants of Çatalhöyük, relied heavily on farming, as modern researchers discovered through bone chemical analysis. Larsen noted, “They were farming and keeping animals as soon as they set up the community, but they were intensifying their efforts as the population expanded.” Research also showed that inhabitants’ leg bones changed shape throughout the centuries. As time passed, people had to walk greater distances than their ancestors, suggesting that farming and grazing had to be moved further from the general community as the population grew. During the civilization’s peak, homes were built without space between them, similar to modern-day apartments, but this unhygienic overcrowding led to a spike in disease and infection rates. Modern analysis has shown that the walls and floors of many dwellings still contain fecal matter. These overcrowding issues led to turmoil and inner-community violence. In a sample of over 90 skulls from the settlement, over one-quarter of them showed evidence of healed fractures, and 12 of the skulls had been damaged more than once during their lifetime. In the “Late *******” of Çatalhöyük, the population rapidly declined, and by 5950 BCE, the settlement was largely abandoned. Ultimately, Larsen believes “that environmental degradation and climate change forced community members to move further away from the settlement to farm and to find supplies like firewood. That contributed to the ultimate demise of Çatalhöyük.” 7.Phrygians: Heritage Images / Heritage Art/Heritage Images via Getty Images While most of us have heard the story of King Midas, we do not know about the civilization from which his story arose: The Phrygians. This largely unheard-of civilization emerged in Anatolia around 1200 BCE. As University of Pennsylvania archaeology professor Brian Rosen explained, “Many people haven’t heard of the Phrygians, but from about the 9th to the 7th Centuries BCE, they dominated Asia Minor – what is now Turkey.” The Phrygians’ home, known as Gordion (yes, like the knot), was in a significant position of power, thanks to its location. “Gordion stands at the intersection of the major east-west trade routes: there were the empires of Assyria, Babylon and the Hittites to the east, and to the west were Greece and Lydia. The Phrygians were able to take advantage of this strategic location and became wealthy and powerful,” Rosen told the BBC. For those wondering, yes, a ruler named Midas did exist. As UC-Davis professor Lynn Roller noted, “A Phrygian king named Midas is mentioned in several ancient sources, including annals of the Assyrian ruler Sargon II. The Assyrians considered him a powerful king and a major rival in their efforts to expand their territory during the 8th Century BCE.” However, his rumored “golden touch” was simply a metaphor for the riches acquired under his reign. So, how did this successful empire with its stories of a mythical king eventually fall? During Midas’ reign, a tribe known as the Cimmerians invaded the country. After losing a battle, Midas committed suicide, and only small Phrygian principalities survived for the next 500 years. However, when the Lydians reunited western Turkey in the 7th century BCE, Phrygia no longer existed as a political entity but rather as a “geographic concept.” Phrygia remained in this state until Lydia was conquered by Cyrus the Great in the mid-500s BCE, after which it became a satrapy of the Achaemenid Empire and combined (for tax purposes) with Paphlagonia and Mysia. This form of Phrygia lasted for around two centuries, until Alexander the Great’s general Parmenion captured the city for the Macedonian Empire. After the turmoil following Alexander’s death in 323 BCE, Phrygia was ruled by many, including Antigonus the One-Eyed, the Seleucid kings of Asia, and eventually the Romans. By 386 CE, Visigoths were settled by Emperor Theodosius I the Great, and the Byzantine Empire remained in control of Phrygia until the late eleventh century. 8.The Olmecs: Jeff Greenberg / Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images The Olmecs (and no, not the talking head from Legends of the Hidden Temple), were one of the most influential civilizations in the early Americas. The civilization is thought to have begun around 1600-1500 BCE, with its peak occurring between 1200-400 BCE. Historians still do not know what the Olmecs called themselves, as the civilization is known as an “archaeological culture,” meaning that it has solely been studied within the context of excavated artifacts. It is known that the Olmecs had three major cities: San Lorenzo, La Venta, and Laguna de los Cerros. (La Venta was the site of the first pyramid built in Mesoamerica). This civilization practiced polytheism, but not much is known about the Olmecs’ deities other than that they often represented natural phenomena. However, the Olmecs’ most famous contribution to history is the massive stone heads they constructed. Carved in basalt and given unique features, these statues are believed to represent different Olmec rulers — only seventeen heads have been discovered, with most found in San Lorenzo. Due to their innovations, the Olmecs are known as the “mother culture” to other Mesoamerican civilizations, such as the Mayans. However, around 400-350 BCE, the once blossoming civilization seemingly vanished. Excavations have revealed that around that time, many Olmec sites were deliberately destroyed. Although climate change is suspected to play a significant role in the Olmec downfall, historians, archeologists, and scientists are still unsure of the leading cause of their “disappearance.” 9.The Clovis People: Nevio3 / Getty Images/iStockphoto The Clovis people, credited among the earliest inhabitants of North America, crossed the Bering Strait into North America before migrating into Central and South America an estimated 13,000-15,000 years ago. These individuals lived among the most famous animals of the “Ice Age,” including dire wolves, saber-toothed tigers, and mammoths. However, archaeological finds at the Blackwater kill site indicate that the Clovis were big-game hunters who killed these massive animals with their unique “Clovis Spear Points.” These spear points, which have been excavated, are approximately four-inch-long fluted tips made from flint, chert, and obsidian. More than 10,000 of these points have been found, with the oldest, which was discovered in Texas, being an estimated 13,500 years old. However, scientists don’t know much about the Clovis besides their ability to hunt and produce weaponry, because organic materials such as clothing and homes could not survive the millennia. Only one Clovis burial has been excavated, which was of an infant associated with the findings of stone and bone tool fragments in Montana. DNA testing of the bones confirmed that the infant would have been an ancestor of modern Native Americans. There is no definitive answer as to what caused the downfall of the Clovis. However, the people didn’t entirely disappear; rather, they were scattered after a cataclysmic event, such as an asteroid, which caused the large animals they hunted to disappear. Researchers have stated that later civilizations, such as the Folsom Culture discovered in northern New Mexico, descended from the Clovis. 10.The Anasazi: Visions Of America / Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images The Anasazi (aka the Ancestral Puebloans) were a Native American tribe who inhabited the region we now know as the “Four Corners” (the point where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah meet). This tribe emerged as early as 1500 BCE and is credited with being the ancestors of tribes such as the Hopi and Zuni. Throughout the 10th and 11th centuries, the Anasazis’ cultural center was the Chaco Canyon, a 30,000 square mile area containing an estimated 30,000 residents. For much of their history, the people lived in easily accessible dwellings within the aforementioned canyons; however, around the middle of the 13th century CE, they began constructing protected settlements high in the surrounding cliffs. However, shortly after, something caused the Anasazi to flee their homes and never return. University of Colorado archaeologist Stephen Lekson explained, “After about A.D. 1200, something very unpleasant happens. The wheels come off.” Within the past several years, archaeologists have deciphered new information from the ruins, but only that whatever caused the tribe to flee included violence, warfare, and even cannibalism. Today’s Pueblo tribes have stories of their ancestors’ sudden migration; however, these recollections are kept as closely guarded secrets. Did you know about any of these “lost” civilizations? Can you think of any others we didn’t include? Let us know in the comments! Check out our members only hub to see all your member-exclusive content, announcements, and messages from our team. Source link #Stories #Ancient #Civilizations #Seemingly #Vanished #Face #Earth Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

The Hidden Death in the Victorian Wallpaper The Hidden Death in the Victorian Wallpaper When it opened in 1881 the comic opera Patience was the first theatrical production in the world to be lit entirely by electricity. But the librettist, W.S. Gilbert, was no fan of scientific fashions. One of his satirical targets was William Morris, the textile designer who advertised the must-have colour of the century: a vivid green originally produced in a Swedish laboratory. After a long series of mysterious illnesses in Britain’s most fashionable homes – even Queen Victoria’s Osborne House was not immune – Morris’ vivid wallpapers had been denounced as arsenic-packed killers. As the years went by, Morris desperately tried to distance himself from the scandal. ‘Do not fall into the trap of dingy, bilious yellowy-green’, he warned, claiming that he felt ‘a special and personal hatred, because I have somewhat brought it into vogue. I assure you I am not really responsible for it.’ Or in Gilbert’s sarcastic parody: ‘I do not care for dirty greens/By any means.’ Nine of Morris’ first 11 designs, produced from the 1860s, included arsenic, but at the time he repeatedly denied culpability, condemning what he called ‘the arsenic scare’ as a lazy fabrication by doctors incapable of diagnosing their patients properly. In his view, the inexplicable outbreaks of disease should be attributed ‘to the water closet, which I believe to be the source of all illness’. Although that verdict might sound a lamentably laughable excuse, it did have some justification. So was Morris a corrupt hypocrite, a Victorian capitalist set on ruthlessly maximising his profits? Or was he simply old-fashioned and misguided, vainly trying to smooth over some unfortunate mishaps? Miasmas Florence Nightingale saved thousands of soldiers’ lives by introducing basic hygiene measures, yet she refused to accept the existence of germs. Instead, she adhered to the traditional belief that disease is caused by clouds of bad gases known as miasmas, such as the poisonous stenches emitted from rotting food or marshes. Miasma theory had lasted for centuries, and there was plenty of evidence that apparently supported it. For example, recurrent cholera epidemics raged most fiercely in filthy slums, and even after 1854, when John Snow traced a Soho outbreak to the water supply, miasma supporters continued to oppose sanitation reforms. The most virulent debates were in London, where the quality of the Thames had been deteriorating for decades. The river’s colour and odour provided daily reminders that the city was literally overflowing as raw sewage and industrial effluent seeped into the water to be deposited in thick layers on the banks. London’s medieval drainage system was no longer able to cope with the ever-expanding population. Streams that had formerly carried sewage away were being covered over by housing developments, while cesspools were often left unemptied because of rising labour costs. The situation deteriorated still further when a well-intentioned reformer, Edwin Chadwick, recommended that overcrowded slums could be protected by discharging their cesspools directly into the Thames. And then there was Morris’ culprit: the water-closet. Despite their advantages, flushing toilets – often shared by multiple households – generally discharged straight into the river. In addition, unsophisticated plumbing technology meant that foul-smelling toxic fumes could travel up the pipes and into the surrounding air. In 1828 a Royal Commission had agreed that something needed to be done. Yet although the government set up committees, it failed to make any decisions until 1858, the summer of the Great Stink, when temperatures soared, water levels dropped, and Benjamin Disraeli fled from the House of Commons debating chamber near the Thames when the smell became unbearable. At last, action was taken. Within only a few weeks, new laws were passed and vast amounts of money were borrowed to construct the Victoria Embankment and the underground network of sewers that is still in operation today. But even after sewage was being swept far away in massive tunnels, water companies built tall chimneys to release sewer gas high up in the atmosphere. For miasma proponents like Morris, these noxious clouds could be blamed as the source of health problems. Laced with arsenic Arsenic green, warned a Punch journalist, was ‘the hue of death, the tint of the grave’. But he spoke out too late: from the beginning of the 19th century this cheap pigment added lurid vibrancy to sweets, paper, clothes, paint, and other household items. Artificial flowers were particularly popular, produced by hundreds of underpaid workers – some as young as eight – who spent up to 16 hours a day dyeing muslin leaves. Doctors attributed the countless cases of skin sores, stomach pains, and vomiting to atmospheric ‘******’s dust’ floating round the workshops, but no action was taken until 1861, when a flower maker died in agony. Her gruesome symptoms were detailed with relish in the press. A macabre caricature in Punch showed a skeletal couple embarking on a fatal waltz, and crinolines were condemned as dancing carriers of death for male chaperones whose ‘fair charmers in green whirl through the giddy waltz … in a cloud of arsenical dust’. But men were threatened long before they ventured on the ballroom floor: their socks, hair bands, and paper collars also contained arsenic-based substances, to say nothing of hair pomades, cigar holders, and playing cards. ‘The Arsenic Waltz‘, Punch, or the London Charivari, 8 February 1862. Heidelberg University Library. Public Domain. As Gilbert highlighted, technological advances can introduce risks as well as advantages. By the middle of the 19th century innovations such as steam printing and large-scale paper production meant that wallpaper was now far more affordable. And after oil and gas replaced candles, their stronger light meant that darker shades could be used. As green became ever more popular, many thousands of homes were smartly decorated with chemical papers and fabrics. Patients complained to their doctors about feeling tired, or headachy, or nauseous, or sore-eyed – vague and varied symptoms that defied diagnosis. In women, such signs were often attributed to the convenient catch-all of nervous problems. Sufferers were confined to bed with the windows closed, surrounded by arsenic-infused walls, curtains, and bedcovers. Although initially mystified, doctors carried out systematic studies to confirm a correlation between redecoration and the onset of illness. But just as happened a century later with smokers and *******, arsenic-deniers fell back on the limitations of such statistical evidence: perhaps it was just chance, they argued, that patients recovered when the walls were stripped. In any case, the chemical was not universally condemned: some medical experts recommended smoking arsenical cigarettes to reduce nervous spasms, while Fowler’s arsenical fever medicine was still being listed in the 1970s. The exact mechanism of arsenic poisoning was hard to pin down: symptoms varied and not everybody was affected in the same way. Another difficulty was explaining how the arsenic got off the wall and into people’s bodies. It was only in the 20th century that a specific chemical was identified, a lethal gas released from wallpaper by fungi or under damp conditions. While the government dithered, manufacturers yielded to public protests and stopped using synthetic dyes. The case against arsenic may not have been definitively proven, but consumers were refusing to buy questionable products. A toxic industry Again and again, juries and public health officials were reluctant to press for government legislation. While other European countries imposed restrictions to safeguard their citizens’ health, many people in Britain hid behind the mantra of freedom to protect the commercial interests of industrialists. Of course it was unfortunate if a child died, but that was – they argued– simply a regrettable consequence of being free to buy the product of choice. Morris publicly protested against cheap, synthetic dyes, becoming a leading campaigner for reviving traditional pigments – yet his company did not finally eliminate arsenic from its products until 1883. He had a vested interest in these debates: his wealth stemmed from his father’s lucrative mining venture in the West Country, and at one stage he was a major shareholder in the company producing half the world’s arsenic. In 1864 a landmark enquiry exposed the atrocious working conditions in his family’s copper mines, yet four years later Morris wrote ‘The God of the Poor’, which features a mighty lord who ‘On poor folk trod he like the dirt/None but God might do him hurt.’ He subsequently became a director of Devon Great Consols, which manufactured arsenic from low-grade copper ore. Eventually the Home Office set up an official investigation into arsenic production, discovering that the workers wore little protective clothing and often died from lung disease, but the report was never published: arsenic played too large a role in the British economy. Shortly before he died, Morris remarked that his family ‘had some mining shares in Cornwall, and when I succeeded to them I sold them’. He did not reveal that this sales process lasted 22 years. Morris seems to have been a more complex, troubled person than the familiar Arts and Crafts hero we remember today. Patricia Fara is an Emeritus Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge. Source link #Hidden #Death #Victorian #Wallpaper Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

REAL ID is now required for air travel in America. Here’s what to expect at airports across the US – CNN REAL ID is now required for air travel in America. Here’s what to expect at airports across the US – CNN REAL ID is now required for air travel in America. Here’s what to expect at airports across the US CNNTravelers Without a Real ID Will Still Be Allowed to Fly, Noem Says The New York TimesKristi Noem says travelers without Real ID will still be able to fly after deadline The GuardianWhat airlines are saying to people who don’t have a Real ID yet Business InsiderThe Real ID deadline is finally here. How bad will it get at airports as long-delayed rules hit? Los Angeles Times Source link #REAL #required #air #travel #America #Heres #expect #airports #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Government defends National Insurance exemption in ***-India deal Government defends National Insurance exemption in ***-India deal The *** government has hit back against claims by opposition parties that the newly-agreed trade deal with India could disadvantage British workers. Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds told the BBC there was “no situation” in which he would “ever tolerate” British workers being undercut as a result of a trade agreement. Under the terms of the deal, some Indian and British workers will be exempt from paying National Insurance for three years. The exemption applies to the staff of Indian companies temporarily transferred to the ***, and to *** firms’ workers transferred to India. Opposition parties have claimed this could mean Indian workers become cheaper to employ than British workers. But Reynolds said the deal would not impact British workers, pointing out the *** has 16 agreements preventing double taxation of work, which cover more than 50 countries – including the US, EU and South Korea. “What the Conservatives are confused about, and Reform as well, is a situation where a business in India seconds someone for a short ******* of time to the ***, or a *** business seconds a worker to India for a short ******* of time, where you don’t pay in simultaneously now to both social security systems,” he told the BBC’s Today programme. Reynolds said the deal was a “huge economic win for the *** and would deliver “faster growth, higher wages, more tax revenue brilliant wins for goods and for services”. He said previously that Indian workers would still be required to pay the NHS immigration surcharge and would not be eligible for benefits from the National Insurance system. Source link #Government #defends #National #Insurance #exemption #UKIndia #deal Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Federal Election 2025: Regional WA’s support for Coalition reflects dissatisfaction with Labor policies Federal Election 2025: Regional WA’s support for Coalition reflects dissatisfaction with Labor policies Despite the Coalition reeling from its worst Federal election result in history, regional WA was painted blue. Source link #Federal #Election #Regional #support #Coalition #reflects #dissatisfaction #Labor #policies Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Breakthrough Gravity Explanation Is a Step Closer to ‘Theory of Everything’ Breakthrough Gravity Explanation Is a Step Closer to ‘Theory of Everything’ A new way of explaining gravity could bring us a step closer to resolving the heretofore irresolvable differences it has with quantum mechanics. Physicists Mikko Partanen and Jukka Tulkki at Aalto University in Finland have devised a new way of thinking about gravity that they say is compatible with the Standard Model of particle physics, the theory describing the other three fundamental forces in the Universe – strong, weak, and electromagnetic. It’s not quite a theory of quantum gravity… but it could help us get there. “If this turns out to lead to a complete quantum field theory of gravity, then eventually it will give answers to the very difficult problems of understanding singularities in ****** holes and the Big Bang,” Partanen says. “A theory that coherently describes all fundamental forces of nature is often called the Theory of Everything. Some fundamental questions of physics still remain unanswered. For example, the present theories do not yet explain why there is more matter than antimatter in the observable Universe.” Gravity really is the thorn in the side of a nice, neat explanation of the behavior of the Universe. It’s the fourth, and weakest, fundamental force, but doesn’t play well with the other three. Quantum theory describes how the physical Universe behaves on really small scales – atomic and subatomic – but it doesn’t work with the large-scale Universe, where gravity takes over. Classical physics and general relativity describe gravity really well, but not the quantum realm. So far, the two theories have proven irresolvable; yet, the Universe exists quite merrily with both in it, so scientists believe there has to be a way to make them play nicely. Because the problem has proven so intractable, however, it’s likely that it won’t be solved all at once, but in incremental, but important, steps. The incremental step Partanen and Tukki have taken is to have described gravity in the context of a gauge – a concept of quantum field theory in which the behavior of particles is described in a specific field. An electromagnetic field is one example of a gauge. So is a gravitational field. “The most familiar gauge field is the electromagnetic field. When electrically charged particles interact with each other, they interact through the electromagnetic field, which is the pertinent gauge field,” Tulkki explains. “So when we have particles which have energy, the interactions they have just because they have energy would happen through the gravitational field.” A diagram demonstrating the flat space-time of the quantum field and the curved field expected for quantum gravity. (Mikko Partanen and Jukka Tulkki/Aalto University) The Standard Model is a gauge theory that describes the strong, weak, and electromagnetic forces, and it has specific symmetries. To bring gravity theory closer to the Standard Model, Partanen and Tulkki sought to apply those symmetries to a gauge theory of gravity. Their published results seem promising. “Our theory brings the gauge theory of gravity closer to the gauge theories of the Standard Model as compared with the conventional gauge theories of gravity,” they write in their paper. It is important to note that the work is very, very far from a theory of quantum gravity. It does, however, represent an important avenue for enquiry that may significantly advance the quest for a solution to this pressing problem in physics. To that end, the Partanen and Tulkki invite other scientists to participate in advancing the work. The paper goes to a certain point, and the theory works well within that limit, but it’s going to require a lot more physics and stress-testing. “Full understanding of the implications of unified gravity on the field theories,” the researchers write, “will be obtained only after extensive further work.” The paper has been published in Reports on Progress in Physics. Related News Source link #Breakthrough #Gravity #Explanation #Step #Closer #Theory Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

More than 50 years after trying to reach Venus, a failed Soviet spacecraft is about to return to Earth – The Conversation More than 50 years after trying to reach Venus, a failed Soviet spacecraft is about to return to Earth – The Conversation More than 50 years after trying to reach Venus, a failed Soviet spacecraft is about to return to Earth The ConversationA Soviet probe orbiting Earth since 1972 will soon reenter the planet’s atmosphere NPRA Soviet-era spacecraft that failed to reach Venus is due to ****** back to Earth this week CNNFailed Soviet spacecraft Kosmos 482 could ****** to Earth this week — here’s where it might hit (map) Live ScienceHistory Crashes to Earth: The Long Journey of Venus Probe Kosmos 482 ScienceAlert Source link #years #reach #Venus #failed #Soviet #spacecraft #return #Earth #Conversation Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]