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PICTORIAL: British Egyptologists Uncover Ancient Pharaoh’s Tomb In Egypt

Published

4 months ago

February 20, 2025

Over a century after the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb, British Egyptologists have made another groundbreaking find — the long-lost burial site of Pharaoh Thutmose II, a ruler of Egypt’s 18th Dynasty who lived nearly 3,500 years ago.

The tomb, identified as “C4,” was discovered approximately 2.4 km west of the Valley of the Kings in Luxor.

The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities confirmed the find, finally resolving the mystery surrounding Thutmose II’s resting place.

For generations, scholars believed his tomb was located near the Valley of the Kings. However, a team led by Professor Piers Litherland from the University of Cambridge uncovered it in an unexpected location — an area previously associated with the burials of royal women.

According to the BBC on Thursday, the entrance to the tomb was first identified in 2022, but extensive excavation was required before experts could confirm that it belonged to Thutmose II. Professor Litherland, who has spent over a decade exploring the Valley of the Kings, discovered a staircase carved into the rock at the base of a cliff, leading to a grand descending corridor.

Initially, the team suspected they had found the tomb of a royal wife.

However, the large doorway and staircase suggested something far more significant. The chamber was filled with sand and limestone debris from ancient floods, delaying access to the burial site. After painstaking excavation, they finally reached the burial chamber.

Inside, they found a ceiling painted blue with yellow stars — a design reserved exclusively for pharaohs. The walls were adorned with scenes from the Amduat, an ancient religious text intended only for kings.

Additionally, fragments of alabaster jars bore inscriptions confirming Thutmose II as the “deceased king,” alongside the name of his wife, Hatshepsut.

Unlike the famous tomb of Tutankhamun, Thutmose II’s chamber contained no treasures or mummified remains. Experts believe flooding forced ancient Egyptians to relocate the pharaoh’s body to the Deir el-Bahri cache, where it was discovered in the 19th century in poor condition — his remains were damaged, and his right arm had been severed.

However, recent studies have cast doubt on the identity of the mummy. The remains are estimated to belong to a man over 30 years old, yet Thutmose II is believed to have died before reaching 30.

Scholars suggest he may have succumbed to disease, as his embalmed body showed signs of an illness that the mummification process could not erase.

Thutmose II ruled either for 13 years (1493–1479 BCE) or as little as three years (1482–1479 BCE), according to various historical estimates. He was part of Egypt’s 18th Dynasty, a period often regarded as the pinnacle of Ancient Egyptian civilization. The dynasty, which lasted over 200 years (circa 1539–1292 BCE), produced legendary figures such as Hatshepsut, Amenhotep I, and Tutankhamun.

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Former NBA Player Ben McLemore Convicted Of Raping Incapacitated Woman

Published

4 hours ago

July 4, 2025

Editor

An Oregon jury found former Houston Rockets guard Ben McLemore guilty on Thursday of raping a woman in while playing for the Portland Trail Blazers in 2021.

Deliberations lasting around 10 hours after an 11-day trial concluded with the jury in Clackamas County finding McLemore, 32, guilty on one charge of first-degree rape, one charge of first-degree unlawful sexual penetration and one count of second-degree sexual abuse. He was found not guilty on an additional count of second-degree sexual abuse.

McLemore pleaded not guilty to all four counts before the verdict. His sentencing is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 9.

The charges stem from a report of sexual assault in Lake Oswego, Oregon, on Oct. 3, 2021. McLemore was identified as a suspect during a police investigation.

A Clackamas County grand jury heard evidence in the case in February 2024, which included testimony from the woman who said McLemore assaulted her. He was indicted and an arrest warrant was issued, according to Lake Oswego police. McLemore was arrested by U.S. Marshalls two months later.

Clackamas County prosecutor Scott Healy reportedly told jurors the victim found herself being sexually assaulted by McLemore while partially conscious the morning after a party.

Healy said that the victim had been drinking heavily at the party and had passed out on a living room couch at the party around 2 a.m.

McLemore’s attorneys reportedly disputed the victim’s account, claiming she had initiated sexual contact with McLemore and had consented to it. They also claimed that despite the victim and McLemore both being intoxicated, the victim was sober enough to consent.

McLemore played parts of two seasons with the Rockets from 2019-2021. He was the seventh pick in the 2013 draft out of Kansas and played for five teams across nine NBA seasons. After playing the 2021-2022 season with the Trail Blazers, McLemore went overseas to continue his playing career. He has played for teams in China, Greece, Spain and Turkey over the last three years.

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Russia Launches Largest Assault On Ukraine

Published

4 hours ago

July 4, 2025

Editor

The Kremlin said on Friday that it sees no immediate diplomatic way out of the war in Ukraine, hours after launching its largest ever drone and missile barrage of the invasion.

The hours-long bombardments across Ukraine came just after a telephone call between the US and Russian presidents ended without any breakthrough.

AFP journalists in Kyiv heard drones buzzing over the capital and explosions ringing out throughout the night as Ukrainian air defence systems fended off the attack.

“We are interested in achieving our goals in the course of the special military operation and it is preferable to do it by political and diplomatic means,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, referring to its invasion, launched in February 2022.

“But as long as that is not possible, we are continuing the special operation,” he said in a briefing, including with AFP.

US President Donald Trump had said he made no progress in discussions one day earlier with President Vladimir Putin on ending the war, while the Kremlin vowed to pursue its war aims.

A senior Ukrainian official told AFP that Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky were planning to speak later on Friday.

Tymur, a Kyiv resident who said he had experienced previous Russian attacks, told AFP that the assault in the early hours of Friday was different.

“Nothing like this attack had ever happened before. There have never been so many explosions,” he said.

– ‘War and terror’ –
Zelensky said air alerts had begun echoing out across the country as the Trump-Putin call was getting underway.

“Yet again, Russia is showing it has no intention of ending the war and terror,” Zelensky said on social media.

“All of this is clear evidence that without truly large-scale pressure, Russia will not change its dumb, destructive behaviour.”

He urged the United States in particular to increase pressure on Moscow, which on Friday announced fresh territorial gains on the front line with the capture of a village in the Donetsk region.

Poland said its embassy building in Kyiv had been damaged in the attack but that staff were unharmed.

Germany’s foreign ministry meanwhile said that the timing of the attack — just after the leaders’ call — showed that Moscow “continues to rely on brute force”.

“Ukraine needs more to defend itself, not less,” the ministry said on social media.

A government spokesman said Germany was exploring the possibility of purchasing more Patriot air defence systems from the United States for Ukraine.

Zelensky said 23 people were wounded in the barrage, which the air force said comprised 539 drones and 11 missiles.

A representative of Ukraine’s air force told Ukrainian media that the attack was the largest of the Russian invasion, launched in February 2022.

– ‘Complete disregard’ –

Overnight Russia attacks have escalated over recent weeks.

An AFP tally found Moscow launched a record number of drones and missiles at Ukraine in June when direct peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow appeared to stall.

In Kyiv, AFP journalists saw dozens of residents of the capital taking shelter in a metro station.

Yuliia Golovnina, who said she shelters at the metro regularly, described to AFP the worry that comes with hearing an explosion during an attack.

“Will there be another one? Will something collapse on you?” the 47-year-old said.

“So in those seconds, you just hold your breath and wait to see what happens next,” she added.

In Kyiv, concerns mount over whether the US will continue delivering military aid, which is key to Ukraine’s ability to fend off the drone and missile barrages.

The US announced this week it was reducing some of its aid deliveries.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said this was a clear signal that the 27-nation European Union needed to “step up”.

Ukraine has also ramped up its retaliatory strikes in Russia, where a woman was killed when a Ukrainian drone crashed into an apartment building, the acting regional governor in Rostov said.

Talks, spearheaded by the United States to secure a ceasefire, have stalled but Ukraine and Russia announced a fresh swap of prisoners of war with Ukraine.

The two sides said it was part of agreements reached during talks in Istanbul last month.

AFP

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We’re Ready To Start Gaza Ceasefire Talks ‘Immediately’ – Hamas

Published

4 hours ago

July 4, 2025

Editor

Hamas said Friday it was ready to start talks “immediately” on a proposal for a ceasefire with Israel in Gaza, after holding consultations with other Palestinian factions.

“The movement is ready to engage immediately and seriously in a cycle of negotiations on the mechanism to put in place” the terms of a draft truce proposal received from mediators, the militant group said in a statement.