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Prehistoric Stone Altar with Human Remains Discovered in Central Mexico

Researchers working on an archaeological salvage project related to construction of a passenger train between Querétaro and Mexico City discovered a 1,000-year-old stone altar. The discovery was first reported in March, and was uncovered within the Tula Archaeological Monument Zone, a Toltec site in the central state of Hidalgo, according to Mexico’s INAH (the National Institute of Anthropology and History). When the three-level altar was excavated from the test pit, the project archaeologists discovered four human skulls abutting the monument, along with several long bones, which are believed to be femurs. There is also a black ceramic bowl, fragments of obsidian, and several blades with the altar. It is about three feet long on each side and is made up of andesite, river stones, and basalt rock. “Each discovery like this expands our knowledge of one of the great civilizations of Mesoamerica,” said Claudia Curiel de Icaza, Mexico’s secretary of culture. She went on to explain that...
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Andrew Lloyd Webber Is Writing a Musical About the Heist that Made ‘Mona Lisa’ Famous

Andrew Lloyd Webber, the composer behind such durable hits as Cats (1981) ,  Phantom of the Opera , and  Evita , has teased a new musical about the early 20th century theft of Leonardo da Vinci’s painting, the Mona Lisa . The news was first reported by the British publication The Stage . Lloyd Webber had already announced he was currently working on a musical based on the 2006 film The Illusionist . Speaking to entertainment journalist Frank DiLella after the April 7 opening of Lloyd Webber’s Cats: The Jellicle Ball  on Broadway, the composer told him: “The other one I’m working on is the true story of the theft of the Mona Lisa. It’s a true story about how the Mona Lisa disappeared for three years and ended up in Italy.” Leonardo started the portrait around 1503 while living in Florence but did not finish it for more than a decade. Early sources, such as 16th-century art historian Giorgio Vasari, claim that is a likeness of Lisa Gherardini, the wife of a Flo...
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Hausia provisional winner in Papatoetoe election re-run

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Vi Hausia has taken the lead in preliminary results for the Papatoetoe subdivision local board election. Photo: Supplied. Local Democracy Reporting | Free Public Interest News Service By Taelegalolo’u Mary Afemata of Local Democracy Reporting Preliminary results  for the Papatoetoe subdivision of the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board show four candidates provisionally elected, following the close of voting last week. Labour candidate Vi Hausia has taken the lead with 2788 votes. He is followed by Jeet Singh (2484 votes), Sandeep Saini (2479 votes), and Kushma Nair (2383 votes), all from the Papatoetoe Otara Action Team. The four candidates are currently in line to fill the four vacant seats, although the result remains provisional. Auckland Council says the preliminary count includes all votes cast before the deadline, excluding special votes, which are still to be processed and validated. Kunal Bhalla (2343 votes) and Chris Latham (2342 votes) were the next closest cand...
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Sideline Conversions 13 April (some news and information to start the week)

Action from Old Boys University’s Peter Dunford Cup win over Wainuiomata on Saturday.  Monday morning edition: The first full weekend of club rugby was played on Saturday. And we got lucky with the weather. Saturday was fine and warm but 24 hours later it was grey and wet. It’s the second week of school holidays...
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Trump Unveils Latest Plans for Proposed 250-Foot Tall Triumphal Arch

The Trump administration released on Friday its design for a 250-foot triumphal arch that would face the Lincoln Memorial, part of a portfolio of projects intended to monumentalize the president’s time in Washington, D.C. According to The New York Times , which first reported the news, the plan was submitted to the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts. The federal design panel, composed of members appointed during the Trump administration, will deliberate on the proposal when convened next week. The arch would rise at one end of the Arlington Memorial Bridge over the Potomac River and has been framed by its proponents as a means to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary. President Trump introduced the project last October at a dinner held at the White House in honor of donors to another planned addition near Capitol Hill: a $400 million ballroom attached to the White House’s East Wing. Guests at the dinner were shown models of the proposed arch featuring two eagles and a golden angel with ...
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Canada Deepens Indo-Pacific Ties as Trade Mission to South Korea Delivers Strategic Gains

In a week defined by momentum and market ambition, Canada’s latest Team Canada Trade Mission to the Republic of Korea underscored the country’s accelerating push to diversify trade and deepen its Indo-Pacific presence. Led by Maninder Sidhu, the April mission brought more than 180 Canadian delegates and over 100 organizations to Seoul, marking a significant step forward in strengthening bilateral economic ties with one of Asia’s most dynamic economies. At its core, the mission was about positioning Canada not just as a trading partner—but as a long-term collaborator in innovation, investment, and supply chain resilience. Building Strategic Momentum Throughout the visit, Sidhu engaged directly with senior Korean and Canadian business leaders, emphasizing Canada’s strengths in integrated supply chains and its appeal as a gateway to North American markets. Meetings with major conglomerates reinforced Canada’s value as both an investment destination and an innovation partner. Key disc...
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Portland Museum of Art Buys New Building For $14 M., Freeing Up Space For Exhibitions

The Portland Museum of Art (PMA) in Maine closed on its purchase of a new building in the city’s downtown, as well as two adjacent parking lots late last month. The building, previously owned by MaineHealth, a major regional hospital system and the largest private employer in the state, was sold for $14 million. The plan is for the PMA to move its administrative offices to the new Free Street building, which is next door to the museum as a way to open up space for more galleries in its main building. “This acquisition is a milestone for PMA, allowing the next generation of our institution to grow in place in the Arts District,” Marcie Parker Griswold, head of communications for the museum, said in a statement Wednesday. “Securing these neighboring properties enables us to turn a long-term vision into reality: creating a more accessible and cohesive home for the arts in the center of Portland.” The PMA is in the process of launching another, unrelated, addition to its facilities: a...
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