The remains of Queen Elisenda, a medieval royal figure from the 14th century, have reportedly been uncovered during archaeological work at a historic monastery in Spain, marking the first examination of her burial site in over 700 years.

Queen Elisenda was originally laid to rest at the Royal Monastery of Santa Maria de Pedralbes in Barcelona, where she had spent her later years following the death of her husband.

Historical records show that Elisenda was known for her noble lineage, political influence, and vast royal connections. She became queen at around 30 years old when she married James II of Aragon, who was significantly older at the time.

James II, also known as “James the Just,” ruled Aragon and Valencia from 1291 until his death in 1327.

Archaeologists involved in the recent excavation report that Elisenda likely died at around 70 years of age, with evidence suggesting osteoarthritis as a probable cause of death—a condition in which joint cartilage gradually deteriorates over time.

Although she was buried in a simple religious garment, researchers also discovered fragments of gold-embroidered silk fabric as well as traces of aromatic herbs within the tomb, suggesting ceremonial burial practices.

After the death of her husband, Elisenda is believed to have founded a monastery for Catholic nuns and later lived in a palace built beside it until her own death in 1364.

The recent excavation was carried out as part of a commemorative project marking the 700th anniversary of the monastery’s establishment. Researchers opened several historic burial chambers, uncovering remains from multiple individuals interred at the site.

In total, 25 skeletons were recovered during the study, including one grave that contained the remains of nine individuals. Among the findings were well-preserved artifacts such as a woman’s long hair still attached to a skull, as well as papers, parchment, and even fragments of sheet music.

A statement from the Barcelona cultural institute described the site as an important historical resource for understanding medieval burial traditions and the representation of female power in 14th-century Catalonia.

“The structure of the tomb, its architectural solution and associated iconography make it a key monument for understanding the funerary practices of the high nobility and the representation of female power in 14th century Catalonia,” the statement read.

Researchers say further DNA analysis will be carried out using bone and tooth samples to confirm identities and explore possible family relationships among those buried at the site.

A woman identified as Barbara Bartolome has opened up about her near-death experiences and the extraordinary things she claims to have witnessed in the afterlife after reportedly dying and coming back to life twice.

According to Barbara, her first experience happened when she was just 18 months old. She explained that she stopped breathing for a short period after suffering from a high fever.

She recalled that her body turned purple and lifeless before she eventually came back to life.

Barbara revealed that nearly three decades later, she experienced another terrifying incident while undergoing lumbar decompression surgery to treat severe nerve pain in her back.

During the medical procedure, doctors injected iodine into her spinal cord to check for possible damage. However, an X-ray technician accidentally pressed a button that moved the table she was lying on, causing the dye to leak into her brain.

She said she immediately began losing consciousness, and when she regained awareness, she saw medical personnel — including an orthopaedic surgeon, neurosurgeon, two X-ray technicians, and a nurse — desperately trying to save her life.

Barbara further explained that she suddenly found herself floating near the ceiling of the hospital room, watching doctors work frantically on her body as they attempted to revive her.

Narrating her experience to The Sun, she said:

“I was out of my body looking down at the whole scene.

“The panic I was feeling in my body was gone. I felt wrapped in a beautiful blanket of love and acceptance, and I felt absolutely wonderful.

“I looked down at what was happening below – the surgeon was calling ‘code blue’. I calmly said, ‘If I’m up here and my body is down there, and he’s calling code blue, I think I just died’.

“Right when I said that, there was a feeling of a being that was right next to me, and the being felt like I had known him forever. It felt like it was god.

“I felt absolute acceptance and absolute love and comfort – when he was next to me, I was a pure being, a pure spirit.

“It was just incredible. It was life-changing to have that feeling of him being right there. I had been on the earth for 31 years at that time, but I felt it was way beyond that”.

Barbara explained that while observing everything happening around her, she felt the urge to return to life.

“I was saying I needed to go back, while I was watching everything down below.

“They had an oxygen mask on my face, and they were switching between that and chest compressions”.

“I watched my body while that happened, and watched the whole thing from above, and my body jerked.

“I didn’t go back into my body, but up on the ceiling, as I was looking down, the being spoke to me”.

She also revealed that she was asked what she would do differently if she returned to life.

According to her, painful memories from her past suddenly flooded her mind, making her realise that she needed to make major changes in her life, including ending her marriage and prioritising both herself and her children.

Barbara said she pleaded for another chance at life.

Adding, she said:

“The second I said it, the surgeon did the second cardiac thump, and it restarted my heart.

“I opened my eyes, and I was back in my body with the oxygen mask on my face. They were all astonished”.

Barbara recalled that doctors later stabilised her condition before she was able to fully explain everything she experienced.

She said one of the surgeons became extremely frightened and left the room, while another doctor encouraged her to repeat the story in detail.

After resting overnight, Barbara underwent the planned surgery — a laminectomy discectomy — the following day and remained in hospital for four days while recovering.

According to her, nobody around her wanted to discuss the incident afterward, but that did not make her question what she experienced.

Barbara stated that she had never taken drugs, consumed alcohol excessively, or experienced hallucinations before, insisting that the experience felt completely real to her.

“It was as real every time I thought about it, as it was when happening.

“Talking about it now, if I were to shut my eyes, I would see down where the table is, where the people were, I could see the whole room”.

She revealed that because people found it difficult to believe her story, she remained silent about the experience for 12 years.

However, as time went on, Barbara gradually began sharing her story with others, including one of Juli’s friend’s mothers, who introduced her to the term “near-death experience” and informed her that many people online had shared similar stories.

Barbara now believes her near-death experience happened for a reason and helped her find the courage to leave her marriage and rebuild her life.

“It helped change who I was in major ways, and helped me to understand much more than I’ve ever understood before,” she said.

“When you open the door to the other side, it’s amazing how they’ll come through for you in so many instances.

“I think that the other side is listening all the time. They’re here and ready to help everybody.

“But a lot of people close their doors, and when they get an intuitive hint, they think it’s their intuitive hit, instead of a message from the other side helping them.

“I really wish everybody understood – it’s not someplace far away, they’re here and with us.

“I see in many ways, the other side was teaching me all along, and planting me in places where I could grow and could get to the point of talking about this without worries of anybody’s judgment or non-belief.

“I can talk to anybody about this – so that’s what I do every day”.

Barbara said she is now passionate about sharing her experience and encouraging others to be open-minded about near-death experiences, which she describes as her “life’s purpose”.

“I do not believe that we are judged by anyone after death, but instead we see a life review, and we view our actions and connections with others, and we see both the positive and the negative ones.

“I feel that we are here to ‘grow our soul’ – and our choices and experiences here do that.

“I believe that we reincarnate and return here many times, to experience alternate lives and life experiences.

“I don’t believe we go to heaven or hell, but instead we return home, where we originated from.

“We can call the being that was with me during my near-death experience God, or Buddha, or Creator, or any other name – he doesn’t care.

“But he does want people to develop a close connection and relationship directly with him rather than with organised religion.

“His love for us is immense, and he does orchestrate miracles, healing, and other amazing experiences in our lives.

“I have no fear of death and look forward to returning home at some future point – when I have experienced my soul’s growth and my life purpose has been fulfilled”.

Archaeologists working in the ancient city of Laodicea in Turkey have uncovered a colossal 2-metre-tall white marble statue of the Greek goddess Athena at a site famously referenced in the Bible.

The remarkable discovery was made in the West Theatre section of the excavation site, where researchers found the statue lying face down among debris near the outer wall of the stage building in an area known as the postskene.

Although the head of the statue is still missing, the marble body remains largely intact and continues to impress archaeologists with its detailed craftsmanship and historical significance.

According to reports, the ancient theatre at Laodicea dates back to the 2nd century B.C. and originally featured a grand three-storey architectural design.

The newly uncovered Athena statue is decorated with an aegis across the chest, featuring the head of Medusa surrounded by intricately carved snakes. In Greek mythology, the aegis was closely associated with both Athena and Zeus and is often described in Homer’s Iliad as a protective shield or animal hide.

Experts noted that the sculptor intentionally left the back of the statue unfinished because it was designed to stand between architectural columns, meaning only the front would be visible to the public.

The front of the statue, however, contains elaborate details, including realistic fabric draping and finely crafted marble work that historians say are characteristic of the reign of Emperor Augustus, who ruled from 27 B.C. to 14 A.D.

The goddess is depicted standing on a circular base while wearing a sleeveless peplos and a cloak draped elegantly around her neck.

The West Theatre itself once contained 16 columns on each tier, with spaces between them serving as galleries for statues of gods and mythological scenes inspired by Homeric epics such as Odysseus.

The ancient city of Laodicea also carries major biblical significance. In the Book of Revelation, the Apostle John addressed the church in Laodicea, criticizing its people for being spiritually “lukewarm.”

One well-known passage from Revelation 3:17 states:

“You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.”

Turkey’s Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy announced the discovery as part of the country’s “Heritage for the Future” archaeological project.

“In the stage building, we have brought to light the Athena statue, about 2 meters long, made of white marble,” Ersoy stated.

The Laodicea excavation site has continued to produce important discoveries from the Roman era in recent years. Earlier excavations in 2024 and 2025 reportedly uncovered figures depicting the sea monster Skylla and the cave of the giant Polyphemos.

Researchers also explained that Athena held special importance in Laodicea beyond her role as the Greek goddess of war. Historical inscriptions found at the site reveal she was also associated with weaving, which was one of the city’s main industries during ancient times.

A woman in a mono-poly marriage has opened up about her unconventional relationship dynamic, revealing how she maintains multiple romantic and sexual relationships while her husband remains monogamous.

Karla Houston, 34, who has been married for nine years, said her relationship works because it is built on honesty, trust, and open communication.

The California-based couple adopted the mono-poly lifestyle in 2022 after what Karla described as a long period of honest conversations and self-discovery.

A mono-poly relationship is a form of consensual non-monogamy where one partner chooses to remain monogamous while the other has multiple partners.

Speaking about their arrangement, Karla explained that her husband is completely monogamous, while she identifies as polyamorous.

“My husband is monogamous and I’m polyamorous, and we’ve had to build a dynamic that honors that difference,” she told The Post.

Karla added that she strongly connects with the concept of relationship anarchy, a philosophy that encourages people to define relationships in ways that feel authentic rather than following traditional societal expectations.

“For me, it’s less about ranking relationships and more about allowing people the autonomy to define relationships in ways that feel authentic and consensual for them,” she explained.

According to her, the decision to embrace the mono-poly lifestyle came after both partners realized that traditional relationship expectations no longer reflected their reality.

The couple reportedly spent time engaging in deep conversations, self-reflection, and exploring what worked best for both of them emotionally.

Despite the openness of the relationship, Karla admitted that jealousy can still arise at times.

“Those feelings absolutely come up because we’re human,” she said, adding that they deal with such emotions through honest communication rather than avoidance.

Karla, who identifies as bisexual and says she has always practiced polyamory, believes that maintaining a mono-poly relationship actually requires more emotional transparency and communication than many traditional marriages.

She also addressed the criticism and backlash she often receives from people who struggle to understand the arrangement.

According to her, society tends to judge women more harshly when they openly explore non-monogamous relationships.

“There’s often a double standard in society where men having multiple partners is normalized or even celebrated in some spaces, while women who openly explore their sexuality or non-monogamy are judged much more harshly,” she said.

Karla emphasized that her husband is not being forced into the arrangement and that their relationship is based entirely on mutual understanding and consent.

“My husband is not controlling me, and I’m not hiding who I am to preserve a traditional image of marriage,” she explained.

“We’ve built relationships based on choice, trust, and honesty rather than rigid gender roles.”

She further stated that many outsiders wrongly assume that mono-poly relationships are unhealthy or that her husband must secretly be unhappy.

However, Karla insists that this is not the case.

“People often assume my husband must secretly be unhappy or that I’m incapable of commitment because I’m bisexual and polyamorous, but neither is true,” she said.

Relationship experts say mono-poly relationships are not new and fall under the broader category of consensual non-monogamy. However, the imbalance between partners is often what surprises people unfamiliar with polyamorous communities.

Ruby Rare, an intimacy director for the dating app Feeld, noted that societal expectations still heavily influence how people perceive relationships.

“There is an archaic double standard where women are expected to adhere strictly to the rules of monogamy, while men are often given more freedom,” Rare explained.

Although the relationship style may not appeal to everyone, Karla says the most important thing is that both partners feel respected, heard, and fulfilled within the relationship they have chosen together.

Newly released photographs have revealed the challenging conditions inside the infamous Devana Kandu cave system, where six divers tragically lost their lives after entering the 160-foot-deep underwater cave last week.

The victims have been identified as Monica Montefalcone, her daughter Giorgia Sommacal, researcher Muriel Oddenino, marine biologist Federico Gualtieri, Gianluca Benedetti, and Mohamed Mahudhee.

According to reports, all six bodies have now been recovered following an extensive search and recovery operation.

New images shared by DAN Europe provide a rare glimpse inside the cave system. The photographs show divers operating in the initial cavern section, where natural light still filters through the entrance before the passageways descend into complete darkness.

Sharing the first set of images on Instagram, DAN Europe wrote:

“At the cave entrance. The first striking images from the cave system, captured during the final dive of the mission. For the first time, the photos show the rescue team operating inside the initial cavern section where natural light still filters through the entrance before the system descends into darkness.”

The organization also paid tribute to those involved in the operation, adding:

“Honor to the rescuers and the team. A prayer for the victims and their loved ones. We continue to work closely with the authorities as the case moves forward.”

A second series of photographs revealed the more confined inner chambers of the cave system, where conditions become significantly more dangerous.

DAN Europe explained that visibility can quickly disappear when coral sediment is disturbed, making navigation extremely difficult for divers.

“This second series of images documents the more confined inner sections of the cave, where visibility can rapidly disappear due to disturbed coral sediment and navigation becomes more complex. These are the environments where the rescue team operated during the search and recovery mission over the past days,” the organization stated.

Among those who lost their lives was Maldivian military rescue diver Mohamed Mahudhee, who reportedly died from decompression illness on Saturday while taking part in the recovery mission.

Archaeologists have uncovered a remarkable 1,200-year-old stone jar containing human remains and ancient artefacts at a burial site in northern Laos.

The discovery was made at Site 75 on the Xieng Khouang Plateau, part of the famous Plain of Jars landscape that has puzzled researchers for decades. The area, first documented by French archaeologist Madeleine Colani in the 1930s, contains more than 120 known sites filled with massive stone vessels whose purpose is still being studied.

Inside the newly examined jar, researchers found fragmented human remains along with iron tools, glass beads, pottery fragments, and a copper-based bell. Experts believe the vessel may have been used as a communal burial container, likely functioning as an ossuary where bones were placed after initial decomposition elsewhere.

According to the findings, the bones were not arranged in clear layers, suggesting that remains were added over a long period rather than in a single burial event. Radiocarbon dating indicates the jar was in use between approximately AD 890 and AD 1160, meaning it may have served its purpose for over two centuries.

Some of the remains also showed signs of ritual modification, including tooth removal, a practice seen in other ancient Southeast Asian populations. Interestingly, glass beads found inside the jar trace origins across Asia, including regions linked to South Asia and the Middle East, pointing to extensive trade and cultural exchange during that era.

Researchers say the discovery suggests a highly organised society with complex funerary traditions, where the dead may have been revisited and reburied as part of evolving rituals. At Site 75, experts believe the jar may represent just one stage in a broader burial process involving multiple locations and repeated use over generations.

The Plain of Jars remains one of archaeology’s most mysterious landscapes. While some jars are believed to have served funerary purposes, others may have had different uses such as storage or ceremonial functions. Many sites remain unexcavated, leaving key questions about the ancient civilization still unanswered.

This latest finding strengthens the theory that at least some of the jars were used for burials, offering a deeper glimpse into the complex social and ritual life of early Southeast Asian communities.

An albino buffalo has gone viral in Bangladesh after locals nicknamed it after Donald Trump due to what many describe as a striking resemblance.

The buffalo, popularly called “Donald,” has become a major attraction in Narayanganj, with visitors flocking to see the rare animal — especially because of its unusual hairstyle, which many say looks similar to Trump’s signature hair.

According to a report by Metro, the buffalo’s owner, Ziauddin Mridha, said he bought the animal about 10 months ago before his younger brother jokingly gave it the nickname.

“My younger brother jokingly named it Donald Trump after seeing the hair on its head,” he said.

“It is very calm in nature. Albino buffaloes are generally peaceful and do not become aggressive unless provoked.”

Speaking to local newspaper Prothom Alo, one resident said:

“He looks exactly like Donald Trump. His facial structure and hairstyle match.”

Reports also revealed that another buffalo was nicknamed after Benjamin Netanyahu because of a supposed resemblance.

The manager of the farm where the second buffalo is kept reportedly described it as “very naughty” with “a devious intelligence.”

Both buffaloes are reportedly being prepared for sacrifice during Eid al-Adha and are currently being fed corn, soybeans, and bran ahead of the festival.

The animals have since become local celebrities, with tourists reportedly queuing up to take selfies with them before the celebration.

A South African man, Tinus Greyling, has shared his shocking experience after becoming paralysed shortly after battling a severe flu.

Tinus revealed that he had been dealing with flu symptoms for about two weeks before his condition worsened, forcing him to seek medical attention. At the hospital, he was diagnosed with a severe fever.

Despite receiving treatment, his condition took a sudden turn. He later became paralysed from the chest down and lost control of his bladder and bowels, in what doctors believe was a rare complication triggered by the flu.

Speaking about the experience, he said:
“It was a shock

“Before this I was living full throttle.

“Megan and I had plans to start a new chapter in Ireland, to be closer to family living there.

“I was active and independent.”

“It was the worst fever I’ve experienced.

“My muscles were sore – whether I sat or stood I was in pain.”

As his symptoms worsened, Tinus said he initially suspected other illnesses such as tick-bite fever or COVID-19. He later visited another doctor, who prescribed a broad-spectrum antibiotic.

However, just hours later, he began experiencing pain in his right hip and knew something was seriously wrong.

He explained: “I needed to get to hospital.”

According to him, when he stood up, he felt a sudden weakness in his legs, and within 15 minutes, he became paralysed.

By the next morning, he had lost movement from the chest down. Doctors carried out several tests to check for infections and autoimmune conditions.

Tinus later revealed that he had contracted influenza A, which triggered an autoimmune reaction.

“My body thought it had to fight against it.

“My spine then swelled and compressed the vertebrae,” he said.

Doctors reportedly informed him that his condition may be permanent, though they could not say for certain if he would walk again.

“I think they just didn’t want to give me false hope,” he added.

His wife, Meghan, also spoke about the emotional toll, saying: “I prayed until my knees were raw.

“I thought I was going to lose my husband.”

Tinus spent six weeks in a rehabilitation hospital undergoing physiotherapy and occupational therapy. During that time, he had to relearn basic daily activities such as dressing, brushing his teeth, and using a wheelchair.

Despite everything, he remains hopeful.

“I choose to stay positive, especially for the people around me.

“Because I can see how hard it is for them too.”

He added:
“I can still use my arms and hands.

“Yes, I can’t walk, but I’m alive.”

His wife also expressed her disbelief at how the illness progressed so quickly:
“How could flu cause this?

“I was sick too but here I am now, healthy.”

While Tinus continues to adapt to his new reality, the cost of ongoing treatment—including therapy, medication, and other medical needs—has become a challenge. A colleague has since started a fundraiser to support him.

Still, he remains determined and hopeful about the future.

A 68-year-old woman is recovering after surviving a devastating bear attack while working on a coffee plantation in South Sumatra, Indonesia.

The woman was reportedly attacked while on the plantation and dragged along the ground for about 10 meters during the incident.

She was quickly rushed for medical attention, where doctors later carried out complex reconstructive surgery to treat her injuries.

Medical experts revealed that she remained conscious despite the severity of the attack, even though she suffered serious injuries to the left side of her face.

Reports say she was first treated at a local facility before being transferred on an eight-hour journey to a better-equipped hospital.

During the transfer, medics administered intravenous fluids, antibiotics, and pain relief to manage bleeding and stabilise her condition.

When she arrived at the hospital, doctors discovered the full extent of her injuries. She had suffered a full-thickness avulsion injury to the left side of her face, along with multiple fractures to her cheekbone and upper jaw.

Her upper central teeth had been completely torn out, and her left eye was so badly damaged that doctors had no choice but to remove it. The attack also destroyed the eye muscles and tear duct system, leaving her permanently blind in that eye.

Emergency surgery was performed under general anaesthesia to clean the wounds and begin reconstruction. Plastic surgeons then carried out detailed procedures to rebuild the damaged areas of her face.

Despite the severity of the injuries, doctors say her recovery has been encouraging.

At a two-week follow-up, the wounds were healing well with minimal swelling, and her stitches were removed. Six weeks after the surgery, CT scans confirmed that her facial fractures were healing properly.

By four months after the operation, her wounds had fully healed, and she had regained the ability to chew and speak normally, showing remarkable progress after such a traumatic experience.

A woman who previously made headlines for claiming she could see ghosts—and even married one—has come forward again with a disturbing experience she says left her physically marked.

The woman, identified as Brocarde, said she was recently scratched by what she described as a “D£monic spirit” of a child during a stay at the infamous Sallie House in Atchison, Kansas.

Brocarde explained that the incident happened while she was touring the United States and spent time at the 19th-century property, which has long been associated with paranormal activity. The Sallie House is widely believed to be haunted, with many visitors claiming to have encountered the spirit of a young girl named Sallie.

According to Brocarde, the story behind the haunting is tied to a tragic event from the early 1900s. She said the young girl reportedly died after undergoing a medical procedure without proper anaesthesia.

Describing the atmosphere of the house, Brocarde said it felt unsettling from the moment she arrived.

Narrating her experience, she said: “The whole house is eerie as hell.

“When you arrive, it instantly drains every ounce of energy from you.

“It’s almost completely empty aside from hundreds of toys and dolls.

“The décor is lost in time, like a house your great-grandma would’ve needed to redecorate.

“The smell is also slightly off, a weird mix of rotting flesh and heavy chemicals.

“The most terrifying room is the nursery – I arrived at a circle of dolls conducting a séance.

“I stood in the centre of the circle and could instantly feel my legs get heavy, like they were being sucked into the ground.

“My limbs started to ache, a strange sensation entered my body, and I just wanted to leave.

“This was in the afternoon and I still had the whole night to get through.

“Weird things kept happening, but it wasn’t until about 3am that I encountered something that made me need to leave.”

She said the situation escalated later in the night when she began her paranormal investigation. According to her, she felt an unseen force grab her leg, adding to the growing sense that something wasn’t right.

She continued: “It was pretty obvious that no sleep would be on the cards and, at about 3am, I decided to go back into the nursery and face whatever was in there.

“I tried to communicate with ‘Sallie’.

“I grabbed a pink crayon, but something snapped it in my hand.

“I thought perhaps pink wasn’t her colour, so I picked up a black crayon and asked what she wanted to say.

“‘Go home’ was the message, and then the crayon snapped in two.

“At that moment, something grabbed me from behind and I felt a stabbing pain in my arm.

“I pulled back my sleeve to reveal five scratch marks, almost like tally marks, on my arm.

“I felt sick, feverish, and very dizzy, and the apparition of a young girl appeared.

“I was sitting on the floor, but immediately jumped up and started to follow her into the front bedroom.

“When I reached the landing, I felt something fly past me and down the stairs.

“I went to look and saw a toy dog sitting at the bottom of the stairs by the front door.

“If the little girl was in the front bedroom, who was in the nursery, throwing objects?

“I ran down the stairs and decided it was time to leave the house, but not before another trip to the basement.

“Halfway down the stairs, exactly like earlier in the day, something grabbed my leg again.

“That was the final straw.

“Whatever haunts The Sallie House is sinister, and I needed to remove myself.

“I noticed a drawing of Sallie in the kitchen – [but] this image was a far cry from the ghost of the young girl I saw upstairs.

“She was messy, in a medical gown, distorted, and she definitely didn’t have a pretty bow in her hair.”