Latest news with #Incense
Time of India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Niantic makes official announcement on August Pokémon GO Incense compensation
Niantic has announced a new compensation period running a week as a consolation for a recently brought about frustration among players. The glitch, which took away from the Ultra Unlock Raid Day earlier this month, affected encounters triggered by Incense and Daily Adventure Incense. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now These are two important items on the go for trainers. The Issue: When Incense Went Cold The issue was brought to Niantic's attention on the 6th of August, when they tweeted from the official @NianticHelp account an acknowledgement of an "issue affecting Pokémon encounters after using an Incense." Players reported getting very few Pokémon or none at all, while Incense was active. The initial advice from Niantic was to restart the app. In some cases, the problem continued until Pokémon GO version 373.1 arrived on 8th August and fixed it. The update fixed the issue; though, the wave of missed catches and disturbed play sessions left users fuming. The Apology Package On August 12, Niantic announced an in-game compensation to thank players for their patience. From 12 p.m. on August 13, 2025, in each local time zone, to 11:45 p.m. on August 20, 2025, local time, all trainers will receive: Double Daily Adventure Incense duration (60 minutes instead of 30) Three free standard Incense items The bonuses will be automatically active in the game, so players can quickly jump into their celebrating routine. Incense is a huge item in Pokémon GO, mainly for players in rural areas or playing without roaming extensively. For hardworking trainers, losing out on an event window of a major Ultra Unlock Raid Day means losing time to garner precious Pokémon and rewarding experiences. No compensation can retrace away lost encounters; Niantic has given players another chance to chase down elusive spawns in the days to come. A Summer of Ups and Downs Pokémon GO has been in the pressurized space of big summer events, from the arrival of Hisuian Zorua and Zoroark to the evolution lines of Snom and Honedge. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Since the Pokémon GO Fest: Max Finale will threaten our calendars later this month, Incense glitch stands out as a rare blemish on an otherwise packed schedule. Such rapid acknowledgment and compensation have recently become the norm in the genre of live services, maintaining the goodwill of players when confronted by criticism through transparent communication and timely reward. For now, trainers, dust those Poké Balls off, burn some Incense, and get back to what you do best, catching them all.
The Independent
08-05-2025
- General
- The Independent
The reason why white smoke is used to announce a new Pope
For nearly 800 years the Catholic Church has utilised the process of the conclave to elect a new pope. 'Conclave' means 'with a key', indicating the cardinal-electors are locked up with a key to conduct their deliberations. With no direct communication to the outside world, a key feature of the papal election process is the use of smoke to signal the result of ballots and to announce the election of a new pope. Black smoke means a new pope has not been elected. White smoke means there is a new pope. Sending messages with smoke Smoke signals are one of the oldest forms of long-distance communication between humans. For millennia, smoke signals have been used to indicate danger, to call for a gathering of tribes/nations, to transmit news and to warn of enemy invasions Many indigenous peoples (such as those of North America, South America, China and Australia) are known for their sophisticated use of smoke signalling techniques to indicate specific messages to those at a distance. These techniques can include changing the location of the fire (such as halfway up or at the top of a hill), adjusting the colour of smoke (using different types of foliage or damp/dry foliage) and the interruption or diversion of the smoke column at different intervals to produce particular patterns of smoke. Catholic incense Catholics utilise smoke in many rituals in the form of incense. Incense (from the Latin incendere, meaning 'to burn') signifies prayer, sacrifice and reverence for people and objects. This fragrant smoke symbolises the prayer of the assembly rising up to God. Psalm 141:2 asks 'may prayer be set before you like incense'. In Revelations 8:3–5, an angel is 'given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God's people'. Catholics inherited their use of incense from its use in Jewish temple rituals and Greek imperial court rituals. The smoke from the incense is used to show reverence toward the Gospel book, the presiding celebrant, the gifts of bread and wine offered at Mass, the altar, cross, the Easter Candle and the body of the deceased at a funeral. This holy smoke is a visual and olfactory signal of the congregation's offerings of supplication and praise rising up to God. Crafting the smoke Once the conclave begins, the only form of communication between the cardinal-electors and the outside world will be smoke signals sent through the chimney of a stove specially installed in the Sistine Chapel for the duration of the conclave. The tradition of burning the ballots goes back to at least 1417, though it wasn't until the 18th century that the first chimney was installed in the Sistine Chapel. At this time, the appearance of smoke at set times indicated no new pope had been elected; while the absence of smoke indicated there was a new pope. Prior to this it is likely that a new pope was simply announced from the loggia (central balcony) of St Peter's Basilica and a written announcement was posted outside for people to read. Since 1914, white smoke has indicated the election of a new pope. A stereotypical association of the colour of the smoke – white (positive) and black (negative) – lies behind the use of the two contrasting smoke colours. In 1904, Pius X (who was pope from 1903–14) mandated that all notes taken by cardinals during the election were to be burned along with the ballots themselves. This burning of notes also increased the volume of smoke, making it clearly visible to the public outside when his successor Pope Benedict XV was elected in 1914. The use of chemicals to ensure either black or white smoke was introduced after the 1958 conclave when damp straw added to papers from an unsuccessful ballot did not ignite at first. White smoke appeared before eventually turning black, causing confusion among the crowd gathered outside. In 2013, the Vatican Press Office released the chemical formulae used to create black and white smoke. To generate black smoke, potassium perchlorate and anthracene (a component of coal tar) fuelled with sulfur are electrically ignited. To generate white smoke, potassium chlorate, milk sugar and pine rosin are ignited. Using these smoke signals, the cardinals can communicate from within the conclave immediately and directly to the faithful awaiting the announcement of the Church's 267th Pope. Clare Johnson is a Professor of Liturgical Studies and Sacramental Theology and Director of the ACU Centre for Liturgy, Australian Catholic University
Emirates Woman
19-02-2025
- Lifestyle
- Emirates Woman
10 calming scented sticks crafted to perfection for any space
Life by Sarah Joseph 2 hours ago For those looking to turn their living room, bedroom or even office a relaxing into an inviting retreat, without having to keen an eye on a naked flame, scented sticks are the perfect option. As a great alternative to candles, reeds and incense sticks are the perfect addition to any home adding to everyone's mood boosting rituals. By becoming the current way to scent a room, these high-quality aromatic wonders creating a sense of calm in any space. Whether you're reading a book or simply catching up on a few emails, they're the best way to infuse natural fragrances into your environment. Overall, reed sticks, typically crafted from natural materials like rattan and bamboo, sit in a bottle of fragrant oil, soaking it all up and diffuse the scent around the room. The more reeds, the more powerful the aroma. If you're deciding on what to add to your home, diffusers tend to have more longevity than candles — some of the larger options can last up to 10 months. They're they're typically a safer option as they pose no fire risk. After spending countless hours, searching for the right sticks, Emirates Woman has curated a guide of all the tried-and-tested products that both look great and add to the ambience with a simple light up. Aēsop Sarashina Aromatique Incense 33 Sticks Dhs165. Shop from MONTROI A Darjeeling Journey Incense Sticks Dhs180 . Shop from Ounass Wallance and Company Amber Wood Luxury Incense Sticks Dhs265. Shop from Wallance and Company Appellation Hikari Sandalwood, Cinnamon & Honey Japanese Incense Dhs205 Shop from Gentle Habits This Is Incense – Grounded Dhs145 Gentle Habits at DesignItch L'Objet Mojave Palm Incense Dhs284. Shop at Farfetch Farfetch Loewe Tomato Leaves Incense (25 sticks) Dhs200 at Harrods GINORI 1735 La Compagnia Di Caterina Orange Renaissance Refill (80 sticks) Dhs450. Shop from THAT Diptyque 34 Boulevard Saint Germain Diffuser, 200ml. Dhs915 at Ounass Trudon Reggio Diffuser Dhs920 Trudon. Shop at Farfetch – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram February's – The Tranquility Issue – Download Now Images: Supplied & Feature Image: Instagram @gentlehabits
Asharq Al-Awsat
31-01-2025
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Arabia's RCU Signs Partnerships with Italian Institutions on Cultural Heritage Cooperation
The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) has signed new partnership agreements with the Directorate-General of Museums of Italy and the Pompeii Archaeological Park, aimed at further strengthening cooperation in the fields of heritage preservation, archaeology, and museums. The partnerships are built on a long-standing history of collaboration and expertise exchange, rooted in the ancient Incense Route that once connected the two civilizations. The partnerships cover a wide range of cooperation in various fields, including archaeology, gastronomy, and architecture. In 2023, Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan and his Italian counterpart Gennaro Sangiuliano signed a strategic partnership agreement to enhance cultural exchange between the two nations. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni recently visited AlUla, where she and her delegation explored several cultural and historical landmarks, including Hegra, a UNESCO World Heritage site. "AlUla and Pompeii share a profound historical depth, and together, we aspire to develop them through international cooperation in heritage conservation, management, and global cultural promotion—aligning with our ambitious efforts to enhance sustainable tourism," said RCU CEO Abeer Al Akel. She also said that this partnership expands cooperation across multiple fields through expertise exchange and a shared commitment to protecting cultural treasures for future generations, adding that both sides will work together to design and develop new cultural assets and experiences.
