The archeological expedition has been working in Saqqara since 2018
An Egyptian archeological mission in the Saqqara necropolis has discovered 250 richly painted wooden sarcophagi and 150 bronze statuettes of ancient Egyptian deities.
This is the largest number ever discovered in the funeral complex near Cairo, the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Monuments said. The artifacts date back about 2,500 years.
The statuettes depict the deities Bastet, Anubis, Osiris, Isis and Hathor, as well as tools used for rituals dedicated to Isis. Among the finds is a statue of the priest, architect and high official from the time of the Third Imhotep dynasty. Archaeologists have also found cosmetics such as charcoal eye lines, as well as combs, bracelets, earrings and necklaces.
The leader of the team, the Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Antiquities Mustafa Waziri explained that in one of the sarcophagi a papyrus written in hieroglyphs was found, which may contain stanzas from the Book of the Dead. The papyrus was sent to a laboratory at the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square in Cairo, where it will be examined.
The sarcophagi will be transported to the Great Egyptian Museum in Giza, the opening of which is one of the most anticipated events in Egypt.
The archeological expedition has been working in Saqqara since 2018 and the announced discoveries are not the first. Among the ancient artifacts found so far are sarcophagi and mummies of humans and animals.
The UN agency revealed that the tobacco industry costs the world more than eight million human lives every year. As well as the human costs, 600 million trees, 200,000 hectares of land, 22 billion tonnes of water, and 84 million tonnes of CO2 are used in the production of tobacco.
Most of the environmental cost falls on low-and-middle-income countries, where water and farmland are used to grow tobacco plants, instead of for food production, which is often desperately needed.
The WHO report “Tobacco: Poisoning our planet” highlights that the industry’s carbon footprint from production, processing and transporting tobacco is equivalent to one-fifth of the CO2 produced by the commercial airline industry each year, further contributing to global warming.
Unsplash/Lex Guerra
Tobacco use is one of the leading preventable causes of death.
“Tobacco products are the most littered item on the planet, containing over 7,000 toxic chemicals, which leech into our environment when discarded”, said Dr Ruediger Krech, Director of Health Promotion at WHO. “Roughly 4.5 trillion cigarette filters pollute our oceans, rivers, city sidewalks, parks, soil and beaches every year”.
Products like cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and e-cigarettes also add to the build-up of plastic pollution. Cigarette filters contain microplastics and make up the second-highest form of plastic pollution worldwide.
The WHO is calling for policy-makers to treat cigarette filters the same as any other single-use plastic, and consider banning them, to protect public health and the environment: despite tobacco industry marketing, there is no evidence that filters have any proven health benefits.
Farmers processing their tobacco to sell it at he market in Mzingo Village, Malawi.
Make the polluter pay
The costs of cleaning up littered tobacco products fall on taxpayers, rather than the industry creating the problem. Each year, this costs China roughly $2.6 billion and India roughly $766 million. The cost for Brazil and Germany come in at over $200 million.
However, countries like France and Spain and cities like San Francisco, California in the USA are taking a stand. Following the “polluter pays” principle, they have successfully implemented legislation which makes the tobacco industry responsible for clearing up the pollution it creates.
WHO urges countries and cities to follow this example, as well as give support to tobacco farmers to switch to sustainable crops, implement strong tobacco taxes and offer support services to help people quit tobacco.
Russian president discusses with Erdogan the possibility of unhindered transportation of goods across the Black and Azov Seas – “in coordination with Turkish partners”
Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a telephone conversation with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan that Russia is ready to allow the unimpeded export of grain from Ukrainian ports in coordination with Turkey, Reuters reported on 30 of May.
During the conversation, Putin said that Russia could export significant amounts of food and fertilizers if sanctions against the country are lifted, according to transcripts of the conversation.
“During the conversation, the emphasis was on ensuring safe navigation in the Azov and Black Seas after the mines are removed,” the Kremlin said. “Vladimir Putin stressed Russia’s readiness to facilitate the unimpeded maritime transport of goods in coordination with Turkish partners. This also applies to the export of grain from Ukrainian ports.”
Russia and Ukraine together account for about 29 percent of the world’s wheat exports, mainly through the Black Sea, and 80 percent of sunflower oil. Ukraine is also a major producer of corn.
The two, Putin and Erdogan, discussed the results of a recent visit to Turkey by a Russian delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, as well as the state of bilateral co-operation, mainly in trade and economic affairs, the Kremlin said in a statement. TASS.
The Turkish presidency’s communications directorate, quoted by Turkish media and world agencies, quoted Erdogan as saying that Turkey was ready to host a meeting between representatives of Russia, Ukraine and the United Nations in Istanbul. The Turkish leader also said that steps should be taken as soon as possible to achieve peace in Ukraine, as well as to eliminate the negative effects of the war.
The Turkish head of state also stressed that Turkey is ready to participate in a monitoring mechanism in Ukraine if Moscow and Kyiv agree.
The representative of the Unetice culture had fair skin, brown hair, a prominent chin and a miniature figure adorned with bronze and gold jewelry and a beautiful amber necklace.
In the course of their new study, scientists were able to find out what a woman who lived near the Czech city of Pardubice looked like in the Bronze Age, writes Expats.cz.
New forms of DNA analysis, plus extraordinarily well-preserved personal items, have made it possible to compile a very accurate appearance.
The woman, who, according to experts, died at about the age of 35, came from the highest social strata. She had fair skin, brown hair, wide-set brown eyes, a prominent chin, and a petite figure adorned with bronze and gold jewelry and a beautiful amber necklace.
Her grave is the richest for a woman of the Unetice culture, a group of people who lived in Central Europe from about 2300 to 1600 BC.
The woman was buried with five bronze bracelets, three bronze pins, two gold earrings, and a three-row amber necklace with over 400 beads. Moreover, as scientists note, this necklace has no analogues among the finds of this period.
Accurate anthropological reconstruction was made possible by the almost complete preservation of the skull, as well as DNA extracted from the bones. The analysis not only confirmed the sex, but also provided information about the color of the skin, hair and eyes.
“It soon became apparent that the local burial was a real goldmine, not only in terms of the richness of the funerary decorations of the local dead, but especially in terms of the wealth of completely unique information about this period,” the researchers explained.
The graves of this era in Bohemia have a large amount of amber, which makes them unique compared to other monuments in neighboring regions. Amber proves that in the Bronze Age there were inter-regional contacts between the locals.
On May 27, Volgograd hosted the opening of the All-Russian Exhibition of Pedigree Sheep and Goats. Representatives of 17 regions of the country equip their pavilions. Hundreds of fluffy lambs and sheep were exhibited in the pavilions of the Volgograd Agrarian University.
– During the days of the forum, a rich program awaits the participants: a scientific and practical conference “90 years of scientific support for the sheep and goat breeding industry”, various seminars and master classes will be held; specialists from different regions will visit the best farms of the Volgograd region. The plenary session and the grand opening of the exhibition took place on Friday, May 27, – said the committee of agriculture of the Volgograd region. – Within the framework of the events, an interregional competition of agricultural enterprises for the best indicators in the development of breeding sheep and goat breeding will also be held.
At the same time, as the committee said, the Volgograd region is one of the largest suppliers of breeding animals in Russia.
“The Volgograd breed of sheep is famous in the country and abroad,” the committee proudly reports. – Today, livestock breeders are working on selection of the Volgograd type of the Edilbaev breed.
One of the Volgograd flagships at the exhibition was Niva LLC, which presented animals bred specifically for the Volgograd region at the exhibition.
“Our animals are valued for their meat qualities and wool, our lambs adapt to any habitat,” said Yerlan Bekesov. — The breed of our animals was bred specifically for our request. It is called the Volgograd fine-wool meat-wool breed, or Volgograd merino for short. The weight of one of our animals is from 80 to 90 kilograms. Now they are walking, all year they wandered through the fields, fattening meat and fat, as well as wool. Some animals weigh under 200 kilograms
By the way, the lamb haircut is planned for June. Entrepreneurs also sell kilograms of wool that has been worked up and regrown during the year.
Exhibitors brought rare breeds of animals
Animals were brought from Rostov, Kalmykia, Dagestan, Kabardino-Balkarian Republic
Some breeds of animals were bred by breeders
Each animal has its own card with a complete list of its advantages and characteristics.
Photo: The breed of such animals is called Oxford Down
Mosquitoes, flies and other flying insects are the only things that ruin the pleasure of outdoor recreation. But some herbs and flowers will help cool the desire of insects to invade your property. These plants contain essential oils – natural repellents. Their presence will not give 100% protection, but the effect will be noticeable.
Spices:
1. Lavender: Aromatic flower is often used to control moths, but also repels flies, fleas, moths and mosquitoes. In ancient times, people hung handfuls of dried lavender in front of the door or placed it in chests of clothes. Put a wrist on the porch, terrace, in the house.
2. Basil: Spicy grass is not to the taste of flies and mosquitoes. Arrange the pots in the rest areas – on the barbecue, porch, summer kitchen. The infusion also helps.
3. Thyme: The plant is grown in pots or in open sunny places, adding it as a spice. Few people know that thyme repels mosquitoes. To do this, you need to take a few leaves, crush in your hand and apply the juice on the body. But be careful, essential oil often manifests itself as an allergen.
4. Lemongrass: Lemongrass extract is added to mosquito repellents and candles. The grass is unpretentious, grows quickly in the garden. Loves sunny, well-ventilated areas. In winter you can grow it as greenery on the windowsill and make tea.
5. Rosemary: Protects against blood-sucking insects, garden pests. Rosemary is dried and turned into repellents. Take twigs of herbs, pour boiling water in equal proportions, leave for half an hour. Squeeze the soaked leaves, mix with clean water, spray on clothes and in the house.
Decorative flowers
1. Marigolds: The plant repels mosquitoes, aphids and even rabbits. Marigold roots help fight phyto diseases – nematodes. Plant a compact flower near fruit trees or flower beds. Note: marigold has a positive effect on the growth of garden roses.
2. Chrysanthemum: Parts of this unpretentious flower contain pyrethrin. The substance affects the nervous system of insects, has a powerful insecticidal effect. It is added to natural repellents, shampoos against fleas, bedbugs. Chrysanthemums are not tolerated by pests such as ants, cockroaches, mites, lice, fleas, bedbugs.
3. Alium: Spherical inflorescences repel not only blood-sucking insects, but also most garden pests. It is feared by snails, flies, aphids, cabbage butterflies. Plant the useful flower in flower beds next to beans, cabbage, potatoes and eggplant.
4. Petunia: The unpretentious flower is a frequent guest at the summer villa. Petunia not only decorates the garden, but also repels aphids, cicadas, rattlesnakes and tomato hawks. Place the flower next to peas, beans, tomatoes, peppers.
5. Nasturtium: The aroma of this plant is unpleasant for many pests – such as cabbage butterfly, whitefly, aphids. Experienced gardeners plant the flower next to vegetables that are affected by these insects.
“The statuette will be a diamond butterfly”: Mikhalkov proposed to establish the Eurasian “Oscar”
According to the Russian director, the prize fund of the award will be three to five million dollars.
Chairman of the Union of Cinematographers of Russia Nikita Mikhalkov, during his speech in Bishkek at the first Eurasian Economic Forum, proposed establishing a Eurasian Oscar in the very near future. In addition, he wants to create the first Eurasian film academy.
“The figurine will be a diamond butterfly. But it should not be just a festival. To make it clear, I will say that it will be the Eurasian Oscar” – Nikita Mikhalkov
As Nikita Mikhalkov noted, in the future, the festival will be attended by films that will correspond to the ideals that he will form with other prospective participants. According to the director, the prize fund will be at the level of three or five million dollars, according to RIA Novosti.
Earlier in Russia, it was proposed to create an analogue of Eurovision. With such an initiative, in particular, was the producer Iosif Prigozhin and some other Russian show business figures.
The French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo made a “Ukrainian” issue, including works by Ukrainian cartoonists, writes Figaro.
Under the title “Respond to Rockets with Laughter”, the magazine publishes works by Ukrainian cartoonists. The publication notes that the editorial board took this step “out of solidarity” with its Ukrainian colleagues, who “continue to do their job” despite the Russian invasion.
The Ukrainian cartoons are “obviously ruthless towards the Russians, showing humor that does not want to give up arbitrariness and terror,” the editorial team explained. Most of the published cartoons are taken from the exhibition “Russian warship, fuck you”, held in Odessa by a local association of cartoonists.
The publication notes that the money received from the sale of this issue will be transferred to the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Territorial Defense of Odessa.
The world is full of amazing places for which tourists are ready to travel thousands of kilometers just to see them with their own eyes.
Natural wonders, ancient monuments, isolated islands and historical mysteries attract seekers of the extraordinary in different parts of the planet.
However, many of these places remain inaccessible. Some of them would suffer from the crowds of visitors, others keep centuries-old secrets, others are dangerous to health.
Sometimes one has to come to terms with the fact that there are places where one cannot set foot. However, nothing prevents him from being curious, reading their story and searching for the truth among the dozens of conspiracies.
Take a walk through some of the scariest, most amazing and fascinating places forbidden to tourists in the world:
Lascaux Cave in France
Lasko Cave became world famous for its amazing Paleolithic cave paintings, which are believed to be about 20,000 years old. The images on its walls are unusually realistic (cats, deer, bulls), and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The cave was discovered in 1940 by several boys walking with their dog in the woods. Suddenly, their dog falls into a hole, and the echo of it shows that this is not a simple crack in the rock. After its discovery, the cave has been open for visitors for several years, but the weather has led to a rapid deterioration in the quality of paintings, so since 1963 it is officially banned. Next to it is a copy of the original with a museum attached to it, where you can see replicas of the drawings and experience the excitement of the discovery.
Snake Island in Brazil
About 150 km off the coast of Sao Paulo in Brazil there is an island that not only you can not, but would not want to step on. Its name – Snake Island, is enough to straighten the hair of those who do not like reptiles.
According to scientists, here live between one and five snakes per square meter. The dominant species is the so-called golden snake, known for its venom so powerful that it literally eats the flesh around the bitten spot.
North Sentinel Island in India
North Sentinel is an island in the Andaman Archipelago, located in the Bay of Bengal near India. It is covered with forests, surrounded by coral reefs and in theory sounds like a place that has the potential to become a tropical paradise destination.
However, there is one small detail – the island is home to a local tribe that has refused to communicate with the outside world for centuries. Any attempt to moor a ship or land a helicopter on the North Sentinel was met with a torrent of arrows. In 1956, the Indian government issued a special law banning the approach of more than 5 nautical miles off the coast of the island. No one knows exactly how many people live on the island, and even official figures are only speculations (for between 15 and 400 people).
Ise Shrine in Japan
Shintoists in Japan have built more than 80,000 shrines across the country, but there is one that is not only the most expensive and exquisite, but also the most inaccessible.
Ise’s shrine is torn down and rebuilt every 20 years as a symbol of the Shinto philosophy of the death and rebirth of nature. The last time the building was erected was in 2013, and its price is said to have exceeded one million dollars. Only members of the Japanese imperial family have the right to enter.
Povelia Island in Italy
Given how close it is to Venice, it is unusual that the island of Povelia is off-limits. However, when you dig through its history, you will probably lose the desire to go through the complicated procedure for issuing an access permit.
In the 18th century, the island was turned into a quarantine zone for those infected with bubonic plague. At the beginning of the 20th century, the mentally ill from the area began to be sent to Povelya, and according to urban legends, they were cared for by a doctor who conducted sinister experiments. Today the island is abandoned – unless you count the rumors about the hundreds of ghosts that roam it.
The Apostolic Archives of the Vatican
Known as the Vatican’s Secret Archives, this set of documents is one of the most closely guarded secrets of centuries. The collection keeps government documents, letters, accounting documents and … few are chosen who know what else. According to conspiracy theories, there is evidence of aliens, the Vatican’s contribution to fascism and evidence of demons.
Today, only the highest-ranking scientists have access to some of the documents, after a thorough examination. Those who just want to peek out of pure curiosity have no right of access.
The tomb of Qin Shihuang in China
There is hardly a person who has not heard of the amazing terracotta army – thousands of incredibly realistic figures with unique facial features that fill the underground halls of the burial complex of the first Chinese emperor – Qing Shuhuang.
However, the emperor’s tomb itself is sealed and will probably remain so for a long time to come. It was discovered only in 1974 and a large amount of mercury was detected in it, which would be deadly for anyone who entered without precautions.
The United States has condemned Russia’s decision to introduce a simplified procedure for issuing Russian passports to Russian-controlled residents of southern Ukraine. Washington described it as an attempt to subjugate the population, AFP reported. The plan is “Russia’s tactic of subjugating the Ukrainian people – to impose its will by force,” said State Department spokesman Ned Price, adding that the United States “strongly rejects” such plans.
Russian President Vladimir Putin today signed a decree facilitating the granting of Russian citizenship and obtaining Russian passports from residents of Ukraine’s Kherson and Zaporizhia regions occupied by Russia. This is another step towards “Russification” of the two regions, DPA notes. By bringing these two Ukrainian regions under its control, Moscow has established a land link between the pro-Russian separatist republics in eastern Ukraine and the Crimean peninsula, which it annexed in 2014.
At the same time, Ukraine is considering the introduction of visas for Russian citizens. President Volodymyr Zelensky “supported the need to tighten the control regime for the entry of citizens of the Russian Federation into Ukraine” and instructed the Prime Minister to develop the issue of introducing visas for Russians. This is stated in the response of the head of state to a petition of citizens who signed online, BGNES reports. “Against the background of full-scale Russian aggression, this issue is important and urgent, so I support the need to tighten the control regime for the entry of Russian citizens into Ukraine. In view of the above, a corresponding letter was sent to the Prime Minister of Ukraine D. Shmihal with a request to work on this issue, “said the President.
The petition was registered on February 11 by Mazura Nikita Viktorovich. The document speaks of the need to “introduce a visa regime for Russian citizens trying to enter the territory of Ukraine.” After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Kyiv cut off diplomatic relations with Russia.
Russia has a special program to take compatriots abroad
Recall that in 2016 a record number of Ukrainians asked for Russian passports.
Ukrainians are visibly easier to obtain Russian citizenship than other CIS citizens, according to information from the press service of the Russian Interior Ministry, quoted by RT. At the same time, they are moving not only from the war-torn Donbass, but also from the central parts of Ukraine – Kyiv, Vinnytsia and Kharkiv region.
In Russia, this is a state policy, where a state program has been adopted to assist in the voluntary resettlement in Russia of compatriots living abroad.
According to statistics, in 2016 more than 100 thousand Ukrainians acquired a Russian passport, which is almost 50% more than in 2015.
In second place is Kazakhstan with 38 thousand people. There, a quarter of the population is ethnic Russian, and Russian is the official language in business. Graduates of Russian universities remain in Russia.
In 2016, 23,000 Uzbeks and 22,000 Armenians became Russian citizens.
