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Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Off the Beaten Track: Rock Climbing in Croatia's Paklenica National Park
The most famous climbing site in Croatia, the gorges and cliffs of Paklenica National Park offer great climbing variety. It lies outside Starigrad near Zadar, and has routes for everyone from absolute beginners to experts. The tombs (tumuli) of Gomila and Paklaric testify that the town dates back to prehistoric times. There was once a Roman settlement here called Argyruntum, and archaeologists found a necropolis from the 1st or 2nd century that contained bronze tools, jewelry, glassware, and ceramics. You can view their finds in the Archaeological Museum in Zadar. The pre-Romanesque church of St. Peter dates back to the 10th century. Paklenica became a National Park in 1949. In 1978, UNESCO proclaimed the entire Velebit region a biogenetic reserve. Inside the park, each of the two main gorges has a name that underlines the difference between them: Velika (Great) Paklenica and Mala (Small) Paklenica. Velika Paklenica consists of two valleys. The longitudinal valley runs parallel to the Southern Velebit range, while the other is carved between the peaks of Debeli Kuk and Anica Kuk. Anica Kuk is the only place in the park where climbing is allowed. Because of its relative inaccessibility, the upper part of Velika Paklenica has developed a lush forest. In the transverse valleys, influenced by the Adriatic Sea, shrubs and Mediterranean maquis cover the slopes. The climatic and topographical differences that characterize this region, which extends from the peaks of Velebit (1,700m) to the sea, are the reason the flora and fauna are so interesting. Botanists have recorded over 500 plant species. The fauna is also rich: over 500 species of insects, several reptile species, and as many as 200 different types of birds. In Paklenica, the rock is mostly karst limestone. It is very compact, although sharp in places. There are numerous routes of all difficulty levels and lengths, from single pitches on cliffs to multi-pitch routes to a height of 350m. The style also varies, from technical slabs to large overhangs. The large walls host numerous well-bolted routes that climb on ridges or easy slabs. But there is no shortage of long sport routes that tackle much more sustained terrain with difficulties up to 8a. In addition, there are a handful of beautiful trad routes, protected only with nuts and Friends. For those who want to try something different, there are some interesting artificial routes. The first climbers visited Paklenica in the late 1930s, but the first route was Brahm in 1940. Between 1957 and 1969, Croatian climbers largely had the gorge to themselves and opened many new routes. Today, many of these are considered true classics, such as Mosoraški (1957), Velebitaški (1961), and Klin (1966). Later, it was mainly Slovenian climbers who opened further new routes. Among them was the legendary Franc Knez, who opened around 40 routes. Many of Knez's routes remain among the most difficult in Paklenica today. During the 1980s, Italian Mauro Corona established the first short sport routes in Klanci, the narrowest part of the canyon. His first route was Stimula, 7a. Soon after, Maurizio Zanolla made the first free ascent of what is still the hardest route in Paklenica: Il Marattoneta (8b+). Adam Ondra onsighted it in 2020 and also made a new variant, named Genius Loci (9a). During the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, the park was closed for a few years. When it reopened in 1995, Austrians Ingo Schalk and Gerhard Grabner immediately opened a great new route, Waterworld (7b+). Currently, the most active climbers are Croatians Boris Cujic and Ivica Matkovic, who are responsible for a whole series of new routes. They have also fixed and rebolted numerous old routes, replacing countless rusty bolts. While there is little chance of discovering something new on the big walls of the gorge, there is still potential for hard sport routes in sectors like Rupe, or even in more distant crags, just outside the Paklenica canyon. Paklenica is a national park, so there are strict regulations for environmental protection. There are also areas where authorities prohibit climbing, such as Mala Paklenica, and on Debeli Kuk in the Velika Paklenica gorge from the lower to the upper parking lot. Climbing is also prohibited from Manita Pec to the upper part of Velika Parklenica. These prohibitions protect bird habitat and help to avoid accidents from rockfall. There is a fee to enter the park, but there are three and five-day ticket options for climbers that are valid for 30 days. Climbing officials supervise the climbing in Paklenica. They ensure the safety of the routes and are in charge of maintenance. Equipping new routes and installing new equipment on old routes requires permission from the Paklenica National Park management. The best time of year is from April to the end of October. In winter, strong winds are a problem. However, the Crljenica section has recently been developed, and with its sunny position, it is suitable for climbing even in winter. During the spring, expect frequent showers, though the karst dries quickly. In summer, it can be hot, but you can always find a place in the shade, such as on Anica Kuk, throughout the morning. In Stari Grad, there are several shops, open even on holidays, a gas station, and everything you need for a pleasant stay. If you want to camp, many campsites offer budget accommodation, such as NP Paklenica, Marko, Vesna, Peko, and Popo. Affordable rooms are available at Ana Marasovic, Pansion Andelko, Hotel Rajna, and Restaurant Paklenica. Although climbing is prohibited, we highly recommend a trip to the nearby Mala Paklenica gorge. This valley is smaller and rarely visited, so the nature tends to be more primeval and wild. In Velika Paklenica, visiting the Manita Pec cave is another must.
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Xi Jinping Could Save America With One Simple Announcement
When Pope Leo XIV ascended to the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica two weeks ago, he was bathed in the shadow of a long-gone empire. The throne of St. Peter is in Rome because that was the center of the world in the time of Jesus; the Church speaks the language of a civilization that peaked two millennia ago. Echoes of the ancient Romans still whisper to all of us. Our laws are filled with Roman ideas. Our calendars were designed by Romans, the days and months named after their gods and emperors. Our architecture, measurements, and government are Roman-infused hand-me-downs. If you want an idea to sound more sophisticated, you talk about it in Latin—that's what our doctors, lawyers, and scientists do. All of which serves as a reminder that a mighty fallen civilization can have a long afterglow. And that should be some comfort to America as we slouch into our age of decline. Alaric may not be at the gates, but the signs of decay are hard to ignore. Americans have become substantially less educated and pay much less attention to the world. We elect parasitic leaders who feed us facile "member berries" about restoring our former "greatness" while actually wrecking our credit, undermining the scientific research that forms the foundation of our prosperity, dragging down our democratic freedoms, sending the world's investment fleeing pell-mell away from us, and sapping our very brains. We've become anti-social, unhappy, and cantankerous, and like anyone struggling through a depression, too down to do much about it. So there's a little consolation in the prospect that the afterglow of American economic, intellectual, and military power from the last century could keep our descendants relatively well off for generations to come, the way the eastern Roman empire persisted for 1,000 years after the sputtering decline that culminated in the sack of Rome. But what if we don't want our grandkids merely to coast on the dynamism of our grandparents, aimless scions of an old fortune? History suggests that there may be a way to spur us to start creating new fortunes again: face an existential threat. Of course, that didn't work for the Romans, whose internal rot had progressed too far. But it did work for the ancient Greek city states that preceded them. The threat posed by the Persian empire forced them into rapid growth and evolution. In the case of Athens, this threat led to the invention of democracy, flourishing commerce, and a flowering of literature, philosophy, and science—innovations that passed to the Romans, and thence to us. Facing a deadly enemy can really work; in this case, creating a powerful enough impetus to continue shaping societies 2,500 years later. Still, while threats can be great motivators, we don't exactly want to get into an actual shooting war. What about a proxy, then? In the same way that you can substitute a vaccine for a living, deadly virus in order to kick your immune system into gear, could we provoke a robust national response by getting challenged to a different kind of world competition? What if we could get into another space race? The SpaceX Starship rocket launches from Starbase, Texas, as seen from South Padre Island on May 27, 2025. The SpaceX Starship rocket launches from Starbase, Texas, as seen from South Padre Island on May 27, 2025. Sergio FLORES / AFP/Getty Images From the Soviet Union's 1957 Sputnik launch through America's 1969 moon landing, the space race was an unmitigated boon for the United States. This gladiatorial competition generated literally incalculable economic growth and improvements in our well-being. It gave us basically the entire computing and information technology sector, plus all kinds of products that we buy, sell, and use to this day, such as—and this is just a short list of examples—sneakers, LED lights, home insulation, camera phones, smoke detectors, and artificial limbs. It gave us national purpose. It renewed our pride. Of course, even if such a competition is just what America needs, we can't launch a race without a competitor. And let's face it—we're unlikely to do it under President Donald Trump's reckless scientific destruction. We need a foil, a real rival to jolt us into action. That's where Xi Jinping could solve our problems in a stroke. What would happen if he announced that China would be the first nation to land a human on Mars, and would do so in the next ten years? Would Trump respond? You better believe it. Nothing riles him up like losing to China and looking like a chump, especially since he's already publicly committed to being the first to get to Mars. And once a few tech titans explain to him the mind-boggling fortunes theoretically available in space mining, that the race to Mars is really a race to develop the capabilities to start exploiting asteroid wealth, and that a single asteroid (Psyche) has an estimated value of $100 quintillion—orders of magnitude more than the entire global economy—do you think this highly transactional, avaricious president might start to get interested? Would American industry respond? See above. Not to mention the lure of the hundreds of billions in federal contracts that would become available once the U.S. government got into it. Would the American public respond? Very likely. Two-thirds of Americans, including 80 percent of Republicans, already support maintaining America's lead over China in artificial intelligence. Imagine how they would feel about losing the biggest technical competition in history. And would it work? Would America get a new infusion of innovation, focus, and economic vitality? Considering the research required for next-generation telecommunications and computing equipment, materials science, botany, and electricity generation and storage that would be supercharged by a second space race, it's hard to see how it wouldn't pay off in very visible ways, and very quickly. And by the way, it's also hard to see how China wouldn't gain just as much, especially given its growing economic challenges and desire to, according to the Congressional Research Service, "boost growth and productivity by investing in innovation, education, digital infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, and emerging technologies." Sound like a prescription for a space race? In the brilliant streaming series For All Mankind, Hollywood made a compelling case that the entire world would have been better off if the Soviets had beaten the U.S. to the moon in 1969 and given us the motivation to keep the space rivalry going. We can never know. But we can be pretty confident that in 2025, that kind of kick is exactly what we need, what China needs, and what the world needs. Your move, President Xi. Matt Robison is a writer, podcast host, and former congressional staffer. The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.
GMA Network
18-05-2025
- General
- GMA Network
What was bestowed on Pope Leo XIV during his inauguration
Pope Leo XIV receives the pallium during his inaugural Mass at the Vatican, May 18, 2025. REUTERS/ Yara Nardi Pope Leo XIV received the pallium and the Ring of the Fisherman as he was inaugurated as the 267th pontiff of the Catholic Church at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City on Sunday. The inauguration marks the beginning of Pope Leo XIV's papacy. It also features the bestowal of the Petrine episcopal insignia associated with St. Peter, the first head of the Catholic Church. But what do these signify? The pallium During his inauguration Mass, Cardinal Deacon Dominique Mamberti placed the pallium on Pope Leo XIV's shoulders. It is a liturgical vestment made from lambs' wool, which symbolizes the Good Shepherd who carries the lost sheep on his shoulders and recalls St. Peter's threefold response to tend to God's flock. The pallium also represents Jesus Christ, who lifted humanity by taking on human nature and died and resurrected. The pallium is a narrow band featuring six black crosses and adorned with three pins, which signifies the three nails of Christ's crucifixion. Ring of the Fisherman Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, meanwhile, placed the Ring of the Fisherman on Pope Leo XIV's finger. The ring bears the image of St. Peter with keys and a net. In the books of Luke and John, Peter encountered the miraculous catch of fish when he trusted Jesus Christ's words. The ring symbolizes the authentication of faith and the mission given to Peter to strengthen the Church's faith. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/BM, GMA Integrated News
Chicago Tribune
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Pope Leo XIV officially begins his papacy with an inaugural Mass in St. Peter's Square
VATICAN CITY — Chicago-born Pope Leo XIV will officially begin his papacy this morning as he presides over his inaugural Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. The liturgy is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. in Rome, 3 a.m. Central Time. The pontiff made history earlier this month when he was elected to be the first American pope in the church's 2,000-year history. Dignitaries and faith leaders from across the globe plan to attend, including Vice President JD Vance, who will lead the U.S. delegation. Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, is expected to be joined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is also Catholic, and second lady Usha Vance. Other international leaders on the guest list include Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Pope Leo XIV's friends, Catholic faithful from Chicago travel to the Vatican for his inaugural MassThe event typically starts with a new pontiff taking a ride through St. Peter's Square in the popemobile, a vehicle specially designed to transport the pope for public appearances and to allow him to be visible while still protected, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The liturgy commences inside St. Peter's Basilica, where the new pope — joined by the patriarchs of the Eastern Catholic churches — will descend to the tomb of St. Peter and pause for prayer, according to the Vatican. The site also will be censed, the liturgical act of swinging a container holding burning incense. Several symbols of the papacy will be conferred on the new pope: One is the pallium, a white shawl of lamb's wool evoking 'the image of the good shepherd who lays the lost sheep on his shoulders,' according to Vatican News. Another is the Fisherman's Ring, also known as the Piscatory Ring, which represents the pope's connection to St. Peter, a Jewish fisherman and Apostle who became the first pope. The ring is smashed or broken after a pontiff's death. Pope Leo XIV was born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago on Sept. 14, 1955. Raised in south suburban Dolton, he was the youngest of three brothers in a close-knit Catholic family. They attended the now-closed St. Mary of the Assumption on the Far South Side, where he went to school and sang in the choir. Cardinal Blase Cupich, the archbishop of Chicago, described Prevost as an attentive listener and hard worker, traits he ascribed to his Chicago-area roots. 'I think he learned that in Chicago,' Cupich said during a phone interview with the Tribune. 'The culture on the South Side of Chicago — and Chicago generally — is that we are people who are loyal and hard workers. We are people who love our families and our faith. And I think that shaped him.'
DW
18-05-2025
- General
- DW
Pope Leo XIV being inaugurated at Vatican Mass – DW – 05/18/2025
Skip next section What happens at an Inauguration Mass? 05/18/2025 May 18, 2025 What happens at an Inauguration Mass? Sunday's Mass to inaugurate the new pope will include prayers, music, readings from the New Testament, a homily and Communion, all in the usual order. However, a significant moment will occur just before the homily when cardinals will give Leo the pallium — a stole-like vestment of wool symbolizing the pope's role as shepherd of the faithful — and the fisherman's ring, showing St. Peter casting a net in reference to a passage in the Gospels. In the passage, Jesus is said to have referred to wanting to make his apostle Peter a "fisher of men." After the pope receives these two insignia, a delegation representing different roles in the church, which includes a married couple, will greet Leo XIV in the "rite of obedience." This symbolizes the church turning to the new pope for guidance.
