Preparing for the "What If"

Undoubtedly, the U.S. military is actively preparing for a future conflict with China. Nearly 900 U.S. Army paratroopers loaded on transport planes and headed to Hawaii for drills simulating a Great Power showdown. Only half reached the final drop zone, and technical issues and parachute malfunctions reminded everyone how dangerous it was.

Why all the intense training? For one, China’s military capabilities are expanding fast. Ships, missiles, drones, and satellites are being produced at a pace the U.S. cannot match. China has set a 2027 deadline for its forces to be ready to invade Taiwan, putting America and its allies on edge.

In Washington, there’s a mounting sense of urgency. Military officials are blunt: the U.S. needs to keep pace. To prepare for this scale of conflict, high-tech command centers are set up in Hawaii's forests, and drills simulate amphibious invasions.

For now, the preparations continue. Whether it's a warning or just insurance, the U.S. military is clearly getting ready, knowing what's at stake in an all-out war with China.

Lost in Time

Deep in the jungle of Campeche, Mexico, archaeologists have uncovered Valeriana, a long-lost Maya city with over 6,600 structures, including grand pyramids and sports courts. This ancient site was home to nearly 50,000 people and was divided into two main zones with causeways connecting them.

The story behind the discovery? It started with a bit of luck. PhD student Luke Auld-Thomas stumbled upon the old lidar data, and he realized what others had missed—the sprawling Mayan metropolis buried beneath the jungle canopy.

With this finding, we may still be scratching the surface of the ancient Maya world lying beneath the forest floor—just one of many. What other secrets are there to be discovered?

Changing Faces, Same Fires

Hezbollah's new chapter is unfolding fast. After Hassan Nasrallah died in an Israeli airstrike, his longtime second-in-command, Naim Kassem, has taken the reins. Since Hezbollah's founding, Kassem has served as a core member, leading during one of the group's most intense standoffs with Israel.

Meanwhile, Israel's offensive continues in Gaza and Lebanon, with one of the most recent airstrikes in Beit Lahia tragically killing over 100 civilians. Both sides seem caught in a cycle of retaliation as the stakes rise, leaving ordinary lives at risk.

Crow Tax

Let's talk about crows — and their talent for holding a grudge. Imagine getting divebombed every morning by the same crow or seeing them staring down at you from outside your window. It's not something out of a Hitchcock film; in cities like Vancouver, where crows are plentiful, they are not exceptionally forgiving.

These smart (and slightly vengeful) birds are notorious for long-lasting attacks lasting weeks, months, and sometimes even years. Vancouver residents tried everything from shiny tinsel to a fake owl to ward them off but to no avail. People have discovered that offering peanuts and kibble is the best way to keep crows happy - "protection money." Some studies even indicate that angry crows can pass on grudges for years. Quite the memory for a bird, right?

💡 Core Wisdom

📸 Lens to Life

Giant Mythological Puppets Stage a Show in Toulouse.

🧮 Core Count: 50,000

Every year, the number of earthquakes around the world.

🗓️ Flashback:

1905 - Russian Tsar Nicholas II grants civil liberties and accepts the first Duma (Parliament) in the "October Manifesto."

1917 - The British government gives final approval to the Balfour Declaration.

1973 - The Bosphorus Bridge, completed in Istanbul, Turkey, connects Europe and Asia for the first time over the Bosporus.

I'm glad we could get together here. Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow!

Fatih Taskiran