International

Mysterious note found in ancient dress deciphered

A woman who bought a Victorian dress at an antique store in Maine found an unexpected surprise when she discovered a secret pocket with a mysterious note. The dress, from the 1880s, attracted the attention of Sara Rivers Cofield, an archaeologist and collector of antique costumes.

Inside a secret pocket under the bustle of the dress, Rivers Cofield discovered two sheets of paper with lists of seemingly random words and places. Words, such as “Bismark,” “Calgary,” and others, seemed cryptic and were accompanied by marginal notations suggesting the representation of time. Additionally, a tag sewn to the dress bore the handwritten name: Bennett.

The archaeologist shared her find on a blog in 2014, but online speculation and theories failed to unravel the mystery. It was only a decade later, in 2023, when a Canadian researcher, Wayne Chan, managed to solve the enigma.

It turned out that the coded words were part of a coded weather message used in the telegraph era of the 19th century. This code allowed meteorologists to compress detailed reports into a few words to save costs on telegraph shipments, as it was charged per word. The words represented specific meteorological variables in specific places and times.

Chan discovered that the code used belonged to the Army Signal Corps, the United States’ national weather service in the late 19th century. Although the dress and its contents seemed to have a hidden mystery, they turned out to be an efficient and economical way to communicate weather information in the past.

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International

US panel backs Trump-themed coin amid controversy

The United States Department of the Treasury confirmed to AFP that the Commission of Fine Arts approved the design of a new collectible coin featuring Donald Trump, with members of the commission appointed by the current administration.

According to the proposal, the coin will feature an image of Trump standing with clenched fists over a desk on the obverse, while the reverse will display an eagle, a traditional symbol of the United States.

The sale price of the collectible has not yet been disclosed, although the United States Mint typically offers similar items for more than $1,000.

“There is no more iconic portrait for the front of these coins than that of our president Donald Trump,” U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach said in a statement sent to AFP. He added that two additional coins — a $1 piece and a one-ounce gold coin — are also under consideration.

However, the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC), another body responsible for reviewing new coin proposals, declined to discuss the Trump design in late February.

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“Only nations governed by kings or dictators place the image of a sitting leader on their currency,” said Donald Scarinciat the time. “No country in the world has minted coins featuring a democratically elected leader during their term in office,” he added.

When contacted by AFP, the Treasury Department did not immediately respond to requests for further comment.

International

Fed’s Waller warns of rising inflation risks amid Middle East conflict

Christopher Waller, a governor at the Federal Reserve, said Friday that he is increasingly concerned about the inflationary impact of the ongoing conflict involving United States and Israel against Iran, particularly due to the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Waller, who had supported interest rate cuts over the past year amid concerns about the labor market, said he has shifted his stance in recent weeks due to rising inflation risks.

“Since the Strait of Hormuz was closed, it suggests this conflict could be much more prolonged and that oil prices will remain elevated for longer,” Waller said in an interview with CNBC.

“Therefore, this indicates that inflation is a greater concern than I had previously assessed,” he added.

Waller also backed the Federal Reserve’s decision earlier this week to keep interest rates unchanged, signaling a more cautious approach as global geopolitical tensions continue to affect economic outlooks.

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International

Brazil offers to mediate Colombia-Ecuador tensions, calls for restraint

The government of Brazil has offered to mediate in the ongoing tensions between Colombia and Ecuador, while calling on both nations to exercise restraint.

In a statement released Wednesday, Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged the parties involved to act with moderation and seek a peaceful resolution to the dispute.

“Brazil encourages all sides to act with moderation in order to find a peaceful solution to the controversy. It stands ready to support dialogue efforts aimed at preserving peace and security in the region,” the statement said.

Brazil also expressed “serious concern” over reports of deaths in the border area between Colombia and Ecuador, noting that the circumstances surrounding the incidents have not yet been clarified.

The diplomatic move comes amid rising tensions between the neighboring countries, increasing regional concern over stability and security along their shared border.