Children Find Skeleton Sitting Upright Next to a Playground — Marking the Fifth Similar Find This Month Alone

Young children found a skeleton sitting upright and sticking out of a "circular pit" near the Josephine Baker primary school in the French city of Dijon

NEED TO KNOW

• The find marked the latest in a series, as four other skeletons were found in similar situations just this month alone

• Each skeleton has been found facing westward

A group of young children got an unexpected surprise while spending time on their school's playground.

The kids discovered a skeleton sitting upright and sticking out of a "circular pit" near the Josephine Baker primary school in the French city of Dijon this month, France's National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP) said in anews release.

The find marked the latest in a series, as four other skeletons were similarly discovered in upward positions, facing westward, with their hands resting in their laps, according to the release.

Each discovery was made just this month alone.

The skeletons are believed to be those of the Gauls, a group that lived in Europe during the Iron Age and the Roman period, perBritannica.

Last year, 13 other skeletons were found in the country, not far from the same area, according to the INRAP.

"This seated position is atypical," archaeo-anthropologist Annamaria Latron toldLe Monde.

She added: "We are more used to burials of reclining individuals, in general on their backs, with the lower limbs extended and not bent like this."

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Over the years, researchers have found many skeletons of Gauls.

Except for one skeleton that belonged to a child, the remains have all been those of men who were between about 5-foot-3 and 5-foot-9, with well-preserved teeth.

"Their bones display traces of osteoarthritis, suggesting intense physical activity," Latron said.

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Archaeologists are still unsure why the bodies have been buried in such unique ways.

"We do not have a preferred hypothesis," Latron said. "We're missing the surface layer, which was above the tombs."

"Being an archaeologist can be a very frustrating profession," she added.

Read the original article onPeople

byAlex Forten

in

March 22, 2026

Children Find Skeleton Sitting Upright Next to a Playground — Marking the Fifth Similar Find This Month Alone

Young children found a skeleton sitting upright and sticking out of a "circular pit" near the Josephine Baker p...

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What we know on day 23 of the US and Israel’s war with Iran

Iran has vowed a heavy retaliation if US President Donald Trump carries out a threat to bomb Iran's power plants, with Tehran warning that critical infrastructure across the region may be "irreversibly destroyed."

Trump said he would order the bombardment if the Strait of Hormuz was not fully open to shipping within 48 hours, as disruption of the key waterway continues.

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Here are the latest developments:

What are the main headlines?

• Strike threat: US President Donald Trump threatened to "hit and obliterate" Iran's power plants if Tehran doesn't open the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for the world's energy resources, within 48 hours. The threat marks an escalation in rhetoric from Trump, who's previously dangled the option of hitting Iranian infrastructure but cautioned it would impair the country's ability to rebuild. It's also a tacit acknowledgement that the strait's closure provides Iran significant leverage.

• Iran's response: Prompted by Trump's words, Iranian officials and state media vowed retaliation if that were to happen. Critical ⁠infrastructure ⁠and energy facilities in the ⁠Middle ​East could ⁠be "irreversibly destroyed" should Iranian ​power plants be targeted, Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad ⁠Baqer Qalibaf said in comments posted ​on X on Sunday.

• Israel hit: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned Tehran for targeting a civilian area as he visited the scene of an Iranian strike on the southern Israeli city of Arad. At least 84 people were injured, including 10 seriously, in the strike Saturday. A separate Iranian missile also hit the city of Dimona, injuring several and destroying a small building.

• Helicopter crash: Seven people on board a helicopter in Qatar were killed when it crashed Sunday morning, according to the country's Interior Ministry. Qatar's foreign ministry said three Turkish nationals were on the aircraft.

• US-UK base targeted: The UK denounced what it called "Iran's reckless attacks" after missiles were fired toward the Indian Ocean military base of Diego Garcia. The joint US-UK base is about 3,800km (2,360 miles) from Iran and can accommodate long-range American bombers. The attempt has renewed questions about Tehran's military capabilities and how far its missiles can reach.

What's happening in Iran and Lebanon?

• Waves of Israeli strikes: The Israeli military says it launched simultaneous "wide-scale" waves of strikes on Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon this weekend, hitting more than 200 targets. In Iran, the Israel Defense Forces said it struck dozens of compounds storing weapons and ballistic missiles. It also said it completed two waves of strikes in Beirut and additional areas in Lebanon, hitting "key Hezbollah command centers."

• Israel: Police officers and bomb disposal experts are working to secure and isolate "impact sites of munitions" in central Israel, police said Sunday. It came just hours after Iranian strikes on the Israeli cities of Arad and Dimona.

• Rising toll: In Iran, more than 18,000 civilians have been injured and more than 1,330 people – including at least 200 children – have been killed since the start of the war three weeks ago, according to the latest figures from the Iranian Red Crescent and Iran's UN ambassador. In Lebanon, more than 1,000 people have lost their lives, according to the country's health ministry, and more than 1 million have been displaced.

• Crackdown: Iranian authorities have arrested 25 people for "spreading rumors, filming damages, and sending them to anti-revolutionary networks," the state-affiliated Tasnim news agency reported. The arrests come days after Iran executed three men in connection with nationwide anti-regime protests that took place at the start of the year.

What's the latest in the Strait of Hormuz?

• Hormuz comments: The Strait of Hormuz remains open to all except Iran's "enemies," the country's representative to the UN maritime agency said in remarks published on Sunday shortly after US President Donald Trump gave Tehran 48 hours to open the waterway.

• Protecting safe passage: The United Arab Emirates and Australia are the latest countries to express their willingness to contribute to efforts to ensure safe navigation of the Strait of Hormuz, joining a statement which now has 22 participating nations. It was not immediately clear what the efforts to secure the crucial waterway would look like.

• Blast reported: An unknown projectile caused an explosion "in close proximity" to a bulk carrier off the central northern coast of the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said early Sunday. "All crew are reported safe," it added. Since the war began, Iran has hit several ships in the strait, from US-friendly nations.

• History repeats: Suggestions of US Navy ships escorting oil tankers through the strait bring to mind the so-called Tanker War of the late 1980s, which involved some of the same weapons – and problems – a US escort force would face today. It provides lessons in how, in war, things can go wrong quickly in unexpected ways – with deadly consequences.

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byAlex Forten

in

March 22, 2026

What we know on day 23 of the US and Israel’s war with Iran

Iran has vowed a heavy retaliation if US President Donald Trump carries out a threat to bomb Iran's power plants, wit...

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Avalanche In Italy Traps 25 Skiers

Two skiers died on Saturday after an avalanche in Italy northern mountains.

The avalanche happened at nearly 8000 feet of elevation near the town of Ratschings, close to the border with Austria.

The CNSAS rescue service's Bolzano emergency center reported that 25 skiers were caught in the avalanche. Besides the two dead, three were seriously injured and two lightly injured, it said.

The avalanche took place a little before noon local time. Six helicopters and around 80 rescuers from CNSAS, the Alpine Association, police and firefighters are involved in the rescue operation.

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This season has seen an unusually high number of death from avalanches. European Avalanche Warning Services reports in its website avalanches.org that fatalities average 100 per season. As of March 16, reported deaths this season starting Oct. 1 were at 127, including 33 in Italy, 31 in France and 29 in Austria.

Experts attributed the deaths to an exceptionally unstable snowpack and the rush of skiing enthusiasts to off-piste slopes after recent heavy snowstorms.

Climate experts have argued that snow instability is due to rising temperatures and stronger winds.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

byAlex Forten

in

March 22, 2026

Avalanche In Italy Traps 25 Skiers

Two skiers died on Saturday after an avalanche in Italy northern mountains. The avalanche happened a...

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How much will hurt Vols star Nate Ament play vs UVA in March Madness Round 2?

Tennessee's star freshman is playing in the NCAA Tournament banged up.

ForwardNate Amentis pushing through the Big Dance with an injury that has been bothering him for nearly a month, and kept him out of the last week of the regular season. While he did play in the first round game against Miami (Ohio), he clearly wasn't 100%. Ament didn't score in the 18 minutes of action.

March Madness live scores, highlights:An upset, near-misses alter Sweet 16 bracket

It was a concerning outing, and will be something to monitor as the Volunteers continue their March Madness run. So how will it affect Ament's status for thesecond round matchup against Virginia?

A Texas Christian University Horned Frogs cheerleader practices before the game during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 19, 2026 in Greenville, SC.

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See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

A Texas Christian University Horned Frogs cheerleader practices before the game during a first round game of the men's2026 NCAATournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 19, 2026 in Greenville, SC.

Will Nate Ament play today vs Virginia?

Yes, Ament will play. The All-SEC freshman is still dealing with soreness but expects to play against the Cavaliers and through the rest of the tournament.

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"There's no chance I'd sit out a March Madness game,"he said. "It's about what can we do to get back to 100%, or as close to it as we can."

Tennessee coach Rick Barnes called the injury a "problem," and Ament won't be fully healthy until he gets time off at the end of the season. While he will play, it's unknown if there will be a minutes restriction, as it will all depend on how he looks and feels

"We need Nate. He knows it, but he will give us everything that he can, and that's really all I can say about it. If it's up to him, he would play every minute if he could. We'll see game time," Barnes said.

What happened to Nate Ament?

Ament suffered a high ankle sprain against Missouri on Feb. 24, and then hurt his knee in the next game against Alabama on Feb. 28. He missed the final two regular season games as a result.

Ament averages 17 points and a team-high 6.5 rebounds per game.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Nate Ament injury update: Will Vols star play vs. Virginia in March Madness?

byAlex Forten

in

March 22, 2026

How much will hurt Vols star Nate Ament play vs UVA in March Madness Round 2?

Tennessee's star freshman is playing in the NCAA Tournament banged up. ForwardNate Amentis pushi...

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Patrick Warburton Shares the One Major Difference Between Him and His ‘Seinfeld’ Character (Exclusive)

Patrick Warburton shares one reason why he's not like his Seinfeld character, David Puddy

NEED TO KNOW

• The actor, 61, tells PEOPLE that he doesn't "raw-dog" his flights

• "The bottom line is I'm a fraud. I play a raw-dogger on TV, but I don't do it," he jokes

Patrick Warburton has a confession: he doesn't"raw-dog" flightslike hisSeinfeldcharacter.

While theFamily Guyactor, 61, has confessedto feeling "responsible"for the trend, he tells PEOPLE that he can't do it himself.

"Depending on whatever my seating situation is, I try to be prepared," Warburton shares. "I make sure that my headphones are fully charged and that whatever songs I need to listen to are downloaded. I'll make sure I get something in my audiobooks that I could chill with."

"Raw-dogging" a flight is when a traveler endures an entire plane ride without any distractions or entertainment. The term has become so popular that it was namedthe American Dialect Society's 2024 word of the year.

Warburton's character, David Puddy fromSeinfeld,famously once raw-dogged a flight on the show. In theSeinfeldepisode, "The Butter Shave," Puddy and his on-and-off-again girlfriend, Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), were on a transatlantic flight, during which she became frustrated and confused after he stared straight ahead the entire time. Elaine even offered him a book that she said was "Puddy proof," but he denied it, continuing to look straight ahead at the seat in front of him.

While Warburton's character was set in his ways, the actor says the "only time I'm really not doing anything" on a flight is when he is sleeping.

Ultimately, he shares, "it just would make me crazy staring at the back of the seat."

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"The bottom line is I'm a fraud. I play a raw-dogger on TV, but I don't do it," he jokes.

In March 2025, Warburton shared aTikTok videoin response to people taking up the "raw-dogging" trend, acknowledging that it has "become a bit of a thing" and that he feels "a bit responsible."

"Just not reading, watching something, you better be okay with what's going on up here, inside your ol' noggin. I'm not, but it's weird and entertaining at times," he said. "Just be careful. That's all I'm saying. It's not for novices."

In the caption, he warned people to "try this trend at your own risk."

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE'sfree daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Through his charity work, the actor aims to promote a different trend, one centered on generosity. Warburton annually hostsThe Warburton, a celebrity golf tournament. Now in its 16th year, the tournament has raised more than $40 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, including $6.4 million last year alone.

"St. Jude Children's Research Hospital garnered so much love and support because of everything that they do from every single angle. It's wonderful to be a little part of it, a little part of something that supports the greatest hospital in the world," Warburton tells PEOPLE.

Read the original article onPeople

byAlex Forten

in

March 22, 2026

Patrick Warburton Shares the One Major Difference Between Him and His ‘Seinfeld’ Character (Exclusive)

Patrick Warburton shares one reason why he's not like his Seinfeld character, David Puddy NEED TO KNOW Th...

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Syrian authorities' new limits on alcohol sales in Damascus spark backlash

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Crowds of Syrians rallied Sunday to protest authorities' efforts to limit the sale and consumption of alcohol in Damascus, reflecting rising anxiety in the cosmopolitan capital that Syria's new Islamist government may threaten long-held secular freedoms.

Syria Alcohol Restrictions

Hundreds of residents from a range of religious sects poured into a grassy square in Bab Touma, a Christian neighborhood in Damascus, chanting "Syrians are united!" and brandishing signs that urged the government to safeguard personal liberties and religious minorities.

"This is not about whether we want to drink alcohol, this is about personal freedom," said Isa Qazah, a 45-year-old sculptor from the area who joined the protest along the medieval stone lanes near Damascus' Old City. "We have come here to defend an idea."

Heavily armed security forces surrounded the protesters. The demonstration passed without incident.

The controversy erupted last week, when the governor of Damascus issued a decree banning "the provision of alcoholic beverages of all kinds in restaurants and nightclubs" across the capital. Within three months, it says, restaurants must have tossed out their wine lists and bar and club owners must have traded their licenses for cafe permits.

The decision, which authorities said was made "at the request of the local community," came as the interim government of former Islamist rebel and nowPresident Ahmed al-Sharaafaces growing pressure from hard-liners to impose more conservative religious values. Al-Sharaa has not publicly weighed in on the alcohol debate.

More than a year after his movement oustedformer President Bashar Assad, Syria is still reeling from 14 years ofcivil warand five decades of dictatorship as it struggles todefine its future.

A member of theAlawite religious minority, Assad espoused a secular ideology to retain the support offellow minoritiesin the Sunni-majority nation. Under his family dynasty,Syrians had littlein the way of civic or political freedoms. But they could drink alcohol, party at nightclubs and dress how they pleased.

After beingnamed the interim president, al-Sharaa vowed to unite the country andrespect pluralism. He has so far tread lightly when it comes to imposing social restrictions. Yet Syria's many religious and ethnic groupsremain on edge.

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Sectarian attacksby pro-government Sunni fighters have killed hundreds ofAlawitesandDruzeover the past year.

Concerns over fresh violence

Protesters on Sunday said they feared the latest alcohol restrictions could further fuel thosetensions, as the decree allows alcohol to be sold in three predominantly Christian neighborhoods.

Still, establishments in Bab Touma, al-Qassaa and Bab Sharqi can't serve booze on site, and shops in those three areas can sell alcohol only in sealed take-away bottles. Vendors also must keep at least 75 meters (246 feet) away from mosques and schools, and 20 meters (65 feet) away from police stations and government offices.

Some said that in singling out Christians, authorities are framing them as responsible for what the decree describes as "violations of public morals." Although Islamic law prohibits the consumption of alcohol, Damascus is full of secular Muslims.

"How our are neighborhoods are violating public etiquette? The division this creates is unfair and irresponsible," said Fawaz Bahauddin Khawja, a Christian lawyer at the rally. "This is the real face of Damascus. The only flag we raise is the Syrian flag."

As criticism flared ahead of the protest, Damascus authorities issued a statement late Saturday apologizing to the city's Christian population "for any misunderstanding or misinterpretation of the decision." It also clarified that hotels will be spared the booze restrictions.

"This decision does not interfere with citizens' personal freedoms," the statement read. "The regulation of alcohol sales exists in all countries, with differences in how it's applied and enforced."

Associated Press writer Isabel DeBre in Beirut contributed to this report.

byAlex Forten

in

March 22, 2026

Syrian authorities' new limits on alcohol sales in Damascus spark backlash

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Crowds of Syrians rallied Sunday to protest authorities' efforts to limit the sale and consump...

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Cuba's deputy foreign minister says it is preparing for possible U.S. 'military aggression'

Cuba's deputy foreign minister said Saturday that the nation's military is preparing for "the possibility of military aggression" from the U.S. and that it would be "naive" for Cuba's leaders to ignore the possibility of conflict.

"Our military is always prepared, and in fact it is preparing these days for the possibility of military aggression," Carlos Fernández de Cossío told NBC News' "Meet the Press" in an interview that aired Sunday.

"We would be naive" not to consider the possibility of conflict, he added, "looking at what's happening around the world."

Fernández de Cossío said the country's leaders "truly hope that it doesn't occur. We don't see why it would have to occur, and we find no justification whatsoever."

Tensions between the U.S. and Cuba have been escalating following the U.S. military operation in Venezuela that led to the capture of that nation's president,Nicolás Maduro, who had a close relationship with Cuba's leadership.

During a press conference following the operation, U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that military intervention in Cuba could be next, with Rubiosaying at the time, "If I lived in Havana and I was in the government, I'd be concerned."

In January, the presidentsigned an executive orderthreatening to impose tariffs on goods from countries that sold or provided oil to Cuba. Residents of the island havesuffered daily power outagesamidthe U.S. blockade. Power grids in the countrycollapsedSaturday, leaving the country without electricity for a third time this month.

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On Saturday, Fernández de Cossío said the oil blockade is the result of the United States' aggression against Cuba and it "cannot be sustained forever."

"What's happening today is that the U.S. is threatening with coercive measures countries that might export fuel to Cuba, and that's the reason why Cuba has not received fuel for a long time," the deputy foreign minister said. "It is very severe, and we are acting as proactively as we can to cope with the situation. We do hope that fuel will reach Cuba one way or the other, and that this boycott that the United States has been imposing does not last and cannot be sustained forever."

Earlier this month, Trump said that Cuba "is going to fall pretty soon" and its leaders "want to make a deal so badly." Later in the month, Trump told reportershe would have the "honor"of taking Cuba, saying, "I think I could do anything I want with it." Those comments came just a few days after Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canal acknowledged that Cuban leaderswere in talks with U.S. leadersto make a deal and avoid military conflict.

On Saturday, responding to Trump's comments about having the "honor" of taking over Cuba, Fernández de Cossío said, "We don't know what they're talking about. But I can tell you this, Cuba is a sovereign country and has the right to be a sovereign country."

Fernández de Cossío also responded to comments Rubio made at the White House this week in which the secretary of state told reporters that Cuba is "in a lot of trouble, and the people in charge are — they don't know how to fix it, so they have to get new people in charge."

The Cuban official insisted that regime change was not on the table in talks between the two nations.

"The nature of the Cuban government, the structure of the Cuban government and the members of the Cuban government are not part of the negotiation. That is something that no sovereign country negotiates," Fernández de Cossío told "Meet the Press."

Asked whether Cuban leaders would be prepared to allow more than one political party to operate in the country, Fernández de Cossío slammed the U.S. political system, saying, "It's a domestic issue of Cuba. The United States has only two political parties that can go to government. Are they ready to negotiate, to have 10 with equal possibilities of getting to the presidency, of getting in Congress? I'm sure the United States would not negotiate that with any country."

byAlex Forten

in

March 22, 2026

Cuba's deputy foreign minister says it is preparing for possible U.S. 'military aggression'

Cuba's deputy foreign minister said Saturday that the nation's military is preparing for "the possibility of...

Read More