A British news photographer has undergone emergency surgery after being hit by a non-lethal bullet while documenting the stand-off between police and protesters in the US city of Los Angeles. Nick Stern was covering the protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Sunday when he said a three-inch "plastic bullet" tore into his thigh. "There was something hard sticking out of the back of my leg and my leg was getting wet from blood," he told the BBC. Demonstrations against...

Members of Texas’ Republican congressional delegation met on Monday to discuss the prospect of redistricting to try and tilt the state further in the GOP’s favor before the 2026 midterm elections. The lawmakers left the meeting not enthused about the prospect, according to a person familiar with their thinking. The New York Times reported earlier that the White House’s political team had encouraged the delegation to consider such a measure.

At least nine people are believed to have been killed in a school shooting in the southern Austrian city of Graz. Police have so far confirmed that several people were shot dead at the secondary school in Dreierschützengasse, including the suspect. The city’s mayor, Elke Kahr, reported that nine had been killed in what she called a “terrible tragedy”, revising an earlier reported death toll of ten.

Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg was deported from Israel on Tuesday, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said, the day after the Israeli navy prevented her and a group of fellow pro-Palestinian activists from sailing to Gaza. Thunberg, 22, was put on a flight to France, the ministry said, adding that she would travel on to Sweden from there.

A former employee of the Department of Government Efficiency says that he found that the federal waste, fraud and abuse that his agency was supposed to uncover were "relatively nonexistent" during his short time embedded within the Department of Veterans Affairs. "I personally was pretty surprised, actually, at how efficient the government was," Sahil Lavingia told NPR's Juana Summers.

A vaccinated Army pilot, who was reprimanded after his initial hesitation to receive the COVID-19 shot, is still being denied promotion and could be separated from the military in September.

Never having any fun with it.

  Morgan le Fey, or Morgan le Fay, is a character who appears in many versions of the Arthurian legends and is a popular character in modern retellings. She is famous as an evil sorceress who schemed against King Arthur throughout his life. In reality, she was more complicated than just a straightforward villain. In fact, her earliest appearances present her as completely benevolent. Nevertheless, in this article, we will examine the most famous versions of her life story in the Arthurian legends. We will see how these versions really portray her and how she attempted to oppose the high king of Britain.   Origins of Morgan le Fey: Arthur’s Half-Sister? Scene showing Uther together with Igerna from Prose Merlin, by Robert de Boron, in BnF Manuscrit Français 95 folio 149v, c. 13th century. Source: Bibliothèque Nationale de France   The character of Morgan le Fey in popular tradition is very different from how she appears in the earliest sources. She first appears in Geoffrey of Monmouth’s Vita Merlini, or Life of Merlin, written in c. 1150. There, she is presented as a benevolent healer on the Isle of Avalon, to whom Arthur is taken after the Battle of Camlann. In subsequent sources, such as the writings of Chretien de Troyes, she has an expanded role, being portrayed as Arthur’s sister. Nevertheless, there is no hint of evil in her character up to this point.   However, this all changes once we get to the 13th century. In c. 1200, Robert de Boron wrote the poem Merlin. In c. 1210, this was then adapted into a prose version, possibly written by the same author. This served as the basis for the Vulgate Cycle, written between c. 1210-1235. It is the Vulgate Cycle that presents one version of the classic tale of Morgan le Fey’s life.   “She was known to have studied magic while she was being brought up in the nunnery,” by William Henry Margetson, 1914. Source: University of Rochester   According to this Prose Merlin, Morgan was the daughter of Igerna, King Arthur’s mother. However, her father was not Uther Pendragon but the Duke of Cornwall. In the most popular version of the legend, the duke in question was Gorlois, Igerna’s previous husband. However, some versions make her illegitimate. Her sisters were Blasine (better known as Elaine, from Thomas Malory’s much later Le Morte d’Arthur) and Brimesent (better known as Morgause, from Le Morte d’Arthur).   While the Vulgate Cycle presents Arthur’s sisters as marrying kings apparently early on after Uther killed Igerna’s husband and took her for himself, things were different in Morgan’s case. She was sent to a convent. There, at least according to one version, she became an expert in the seven arts and applied herself to studying magic, astrology, and healing. It was from this upbringing that she eventually became a powerful sorceress. She is portrayed as being extremely clever and beautiful but also contentious and difficult to reason with when angry.   Animosity Between Morgan le Fey and King Arthur Name of Urien Rheged in Jesus College MS 111, folio 141r, 1382-1425. Source: Bodleian Library, Oxford   The various tales in the Vulgate Cycle are not completely consistent with each other. Nevertheless, Morgan is generally portrayed as betrothed or married to Urien of Gorre after her education in the convent. This figure, interestingly, is known to have been historical. He was Urien Rheged, king of a kingdom in the north of England and southern Scotland. His lover in Welsh tradition is a certain Modron, probably derived in part from the Celtic goddess Dea Matrona. This means that Morgan le Fey can partially be derived from this Celtic goddess.   In any case, the legend tells of how Morgan, married to Urien, served as one of the court ladies of Guinevere, King Arthur’s queen. At the same time, she was unhappy with her husband, Urien. This set of circumstances set the stage for her conflict with King Arthur, which defined her relationship with him throughout the rest of his reign and made her a villain. What exactly happened?   Lancelot Brings Guenevere to Arthur, from the Book of Romance, by Andrew Lang, 1902. Source: Project Gutenberg   While serving Guinevere, the two women were very close. They had an excellent relationship, even sharing two near-identical rings as a sign of their friendship. At the same time, being unhappy with Urien, Morgan started an affair with one of Arthur’s knights or vassals named Guiomar. This is consistent with the following description from the Suite du Merlin:   “But she was the most lustful woman in all Great Britain and the lewdest.”   Morgan le Fey, by Frederick Sandys, 1864. Source: Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery   Guinevere eventually discovered that this affair was going on. Of course, Morgan was Guinevere’s friend. At the same time, Guiomar was one of Arthur’s allies. Guinevere insisted on breaking up the affair to preserve the honor of everyone involved and of Arthur’s court. This infuriated Morgan, who withdrew from Camelot and turned her back on the queen. This is what started her lifelong hostility against Guinevere and, by extension, King Arthur. In other words, this affair with Guiomar is what leads to her becoming a villain. Interestingly, Thomas Malory does not mention this event, leaving unexplained how or why Morgan became villainous.   How Morgan le Fey Became a Sorceress The Lady of the Lake (Viviane) with Merlin, in Witches’ Tree, by Edward Burne-Jones, c. 1882. Source: Wikimedia Commons   After leaving Camelot, Morgan went to Merlin to be tutored by him. According to some versions of the legend, as we have already seen, Morgan’s time in the convent provided her with considerable knowledge in magic, healing, and astrology. However, other versions do not present her as acquiring any supernatural knowledge or abilities while there. One example is the Vulgate Lancelot. In any case, there is general agreement that she either started or resumed her study of magic under Merlin, the great magician.   After being tutored under Merlin for a long time, Morgan became an expert sorceress. At the same time, the two of them become lovers. In some versions of the legend, the love is unrequited. Morgan eventually drives Merlin away after learning everything that she can from him, threatening him if he does not leave her alone. Having now become a powerful sorceress from what Merlin has taught her, Morgan begins scheming her revenge on Arthur’s queen.   Morgan le Fey Schemes Against Arthur’s Kingdom Morgan le Fey Casts Away the Scabbard, by Henry Justice Ford, 1902. Source: Wikimedia Commons   From this point on, Morgan engages in constant schemes to get revenge on Guinevere and to overthrow Arthur. Not only does she want revenge on Guinevere for interfering in her affair with Guiomar, but she also lusts after power for herself. One particularly notable episode was when she plotted to kill Arthur and her husband Urien with her lover, a certain Accolon. However, this scheme failed. Arthur killed Accolon in battle, despite Morgan’s efforts to ensure Accolon’s victory. Nevertheless, Morgan later finds herself with the opportunity to steal Arthur’s magical, protective scabbard. She throws it into a lake, causing it to be lost forever.   While not succeeding in killing Arthur directly, this act of Morgan is very important. It is because of losing his scabbard that Arthur again becomes completely vulnerable in battle. This, in turn, leads to him being mortally wounded at the Battle of Camlann many years later. Hence, Morgan’s actions did lead to Arthur’s death, albeit not immediately.   Morgan le Fey with Lancelot depicted on a fresco at Siedlęcin Tower, Poland, c. 14th century. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Throughout the Vulgate and Post-Vulgate Cycle, as well as Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur and other tales, Morgan is a constant source of threat to Arthur and his kingdom. The famous story of the Green Knight, whose head was chopped off non-fatally by Gawain in Arthur’s court, was set in motion by Morgan le Fey to terrify Guinevere. On various occasions, she attempted to reveal the affair that was occurring between Guinevere and Lancelot.   At one point, Morgan pretends to try to make peace with Arthur. She sends him a mantle that would kill the wearer. Fortunately for Arthur, he does not put it on himself. Rather, to test its safety, he has Morgan’s messenger wear it first. The messenger, a girl for whom Morgan has great affection, falls down dead.   Morgan le Fey gave a shield to Sir Tristram, by Aubrey Beardsley, 1893. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Eventually, according to the Vulgate Mort Artu, Morgan became tired of scheming against Arthur. She retired to a beautiful castle and lived there essentially in isolation. However, Arthur happened to stumble across it. Morgan received him kindly, and the two apparently reconciled. Nevertheless, Morgan took the opportunity to show him the frescoes that Lancelot had painted while imprisoned there, which revealed his affair with Guinevere. This, finally, contributed to the end of Arthur’s kingdom by virtue of the massive conflict that it caused.   Morgan le Fey in the Arthurian Legends Voyage of King Arthur and Morgan Le Fay to the Isle of Avalon, by Frank William Warwick Topham, 1888. Source: Wikimedia Commons   In summary, Morgan le Fey is a powerful sorceress in the Arthurian legends. She is a major enemy of King Arthur, being responsible for considerable conflict throughout his reign, despite being his half-sister. This all started when her affair with Guiomar was discovered by Guinevere. This resulted in her leaving Camelot and searching for Merlin, who trained her in the magical arts. From this point on, she regularly engaged in schemes to kill Arthur or expose Guinevere’s affair with Lancelot.   In two important ways, she did bring about Arthur’s downfall. Firstly, she threw away Arthur’s magical scabbard, leaving him vulnerable in battle. Secondly, towards the end of Arthur’s reign, she helped to reveal that Guinevere and Lancelot were having an affair. This led to war between Arthur and Lancelot, ultimately leading to Arthur’s mortal injury at the Battle of Camlann.   Nonetheless, Morgan retired to the Isle of Avalon, as in her very earliest appearance in literature, where she occupied the role of Arthur’s healer.

  Human resilience shines during the Little Ice Age, a period of intense cooling from the 14th to 19th centuries. Europe, Alaska, and the North Atlantic battled severely low temperatures. While the exact cause is unclear, theories range from volcanic activity to changes in Earth’s orbit. One compelling idea suggests the decline of Indigenous populations in North America allowed forests to reclaim farmland, absorbing massive amounts of carbon and triggering the climate shift.   Origins of the Term ‘Little Ice Age’ Little Ice Age temperatures. Source: Wikipedia   The term Little Ice Age was introduced by François Matthes, a Dutch geologist who noted in his 1939 report that glaciers in California’s Sierra Nevada had experienced a resurgence at some point over the past several thousand years. Since then, the term has been used routinely by scholars.    While the exact timeline of the occurrence is still unknown, scientists have attempted to pinpoint the timing. According to British climate scientist Hubert Lamb’s analysis of centuries-old temperature records from Europe, there was a notably warm climate from around AD 1000 to AD 1200. The period was followed by falling temperatures that lasted between the 14th and 19th centuries. The period with cold temperatures was referred to as the Little Ice Age.   How Greenland and the Dutch Republic Adapted to the Climate Change Dutch whaling off the coast of Spitsbergen by Abraham Storck, via Queensferry at War   The Little Ice Age changed people’s lives. Scientists have found evidence of increased seafaring activity in some regions where there was more sea ice. For example, from the early 1600s, there was an increase in whale-hunting activities in some parts of Europe. This was because there was not enough plant oil. Subsequently, whale oil became a suitable alternative.   The years between 16th and 18th centuries were a time of growth In places such as the Dutch Republic. Despite being affected by the Little Ice Age, the nation was able to survive by importing farm produce to offset the diminished harvests. Ships carrying trade goods enabled the republic’s economy to thrive by enhancing trade. The fluyt, a specific model of ships designed to carry cargo across seas, was developed during this period. As a result, the Dutch did well while many of their neighbors struggled.   Dutch fluyt, 1677. Source: Wikipedia   At the same time, advancements in Dutch ship-building technology as well as changes in ocean currents allowed Dutch ships to reach far-away markets faster. Creative Dutch citizens, for example, created icebreakers to enable ships to sail more easily across ice-covered waters. The ships featured modified ship hulls and keels that allowed them to break through the ice more easily.    In places such as Greenland, the climate grew colder and harsher after 1250. Greenland was largely cut off by ice from the 1400s until the 1700s. As a result, the Norse Viking inhabitants there were compelled to slowly change their diet away from farmed produce. By the early 1300s, seal-hunting increased as seals made up a significant portion of their food. Elsewhere in Europe, people starved due to failed harvests and food prices skyrocketed.   How England Coped with the Climate Change Seal-hunting in Greenland. Source: Wikipedia   In the late 1600s, the Little Ice Age caused fuel prices in England to rise since more people needed to warm their homes. Notably, the River Thames froze over.    During that period, the poor turned to the wealthy for charity. As life in places such as London became more difficult for London’s poor to survive following major job losses, there was diminished money circulation. The same situation was unfolding across Europe. To try and address the situation, King Charles II of England asked the Bishop of London in 1684 to collect money for the poor in the city and nearby towns. He also provided funds from the royal treasury for the endeavor.   River Thames frost fair, 1684. Source: Wikipedia   Support from local churches and contributions from rich people through the church kept many from dying of hunger. Because of this, England is estimated to have experienced fewer deaths compared to countries like France which was hit hard, especially following the period which led to unprecedented famine. Even so, the harsh winter of 1684 still caused many deaths.