title: Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon

text: In "Nightmare" mode, unlocked if the player defeats the game while recruiting all three potential allies, Miriam, Alfred, and Gebel travel back to the castle to defeat the corrupted Zangetsu, who is that mode's final enemy. The three kill the emperor and free his soul from the curse of the moon. Zangetsu's soul is then driven to the afterlife, and he awakes at the top of a futuristic building referencing the title screen of Mega Man 2.


title: Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon

text: "Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon" is a companion title to the larger "", a Metroidvania game by former "Castlevania" series producer Koji Igarashi. When funding for "Ritual of the Night" was crowdfunded through Kickstarter, one of the stretch goals promised a retro-style prequel minigame. To fulfill this promise, "Curse of the Moon" was developed by Inti Creates, a team of ex-Capcom employees led by president Takuya Aizu. They had experience creating games in a retro style before, including "Mega Man 9" and "Blaster Master Zero". They were originally supporting development of "Ritual of the Night", but began planning "Curse of the Moon" after completing the original alpha version of "Ritual of the Night" for the 2016 E3 trade fair. Inti Creates eventually dropped out of "Ritual of the Night" development and began working on "Curse of the Moon" in earnest in late 2017.


title: Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon

text: The game's overall gameplay and artistic design was primarily managed by Inti Creates, with Igarashi only giving some scenario and setting oversight to ensure a connection to "Ritual of the Night". Igarashi thought Inti Creates' experience with 2D games made them a good studio to handle the project, and the studio was eager to attempt it as well. Since the main game would be of the Metroidvania genre, "Curse of the Moon" was planned from the beginning as a classic-styled game with independent stages and bosses. The team aimed to recapture the essence of 8-bit "Castlevania" games. They added gameplay elements and features that would have been impossible on 8-bit hardware. Aizu believes that players remember 8-bit games looking better in their memories, and so implemented advanced visual effects that would not have been possible on 8-bit hardware to give players what they expect. This includes very large sprites and more parallax scrolling than possible on the system. To keep the story interesting, Zangetsu was made the main character instead of Miriam who stars in "Ritual of the Night", and the timeline was set 10 years in the past. The game was developed in about six months. Although originally planned to be a prequel, Aizu believes the game grew into more of a spin-off.


title: Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon

text: Inti Creates revealed "Curse of the Moon" on May 12, 2018, at BitSummit, an annual indie game festival in Kyoto. It was released a couple weeks later on May 24, 2018, on Nintendo Switch, Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, and Microsoft Windows. It arrived on Xbox One on June 6. Some eligible "Ritual of the Night" Kickstarter funders received the game for free. The game was offered for free to Xbox One players in February 2019 through Games with Gold. Limited Run Games released physical versions for the Switch, PlayStation 4 and Vita on March 15, 2019, alongside a more expensive "Limited Collector's Edition".


title: Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon

text: Critics found "Curse of the Moon" appealing as a tribute to "Castlevania" games on the NES and believed players who enjoyed those games would enjoy the former. In particular, they believed the game was an homage to "Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse" because of its branching pathways and multiple playable characters. "IGN" wrote that the game "treads a thin line between homage and outright theft" and believed the game was a successful tribute, perhaps done "a little too accurately for its own good." "The A.V. Club" agreed, writing that Inti Creates successfully borrowed "Castlevania III" concepts and characters but tweaked them "into a form that feels both familiar and modern." They called it a "throwback" to the "moody, trollishly difficult" NES games.


title: Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon

text: "PC Gamer" and "Nintendo Life" wrote that the game stayed closely accurate to the gameplay of the 8-bit "Castlevania" games, for better or worse. "PC Gamer" contrasted the game to how "Shovel Knight" built upon the foundations of classic games, writing that "Curse of the Moon" "merely walk[s] in the footsteps of those 8-bit favourites [...] those with the deepest affection for retro games are the most likely to find it just a touch too familiar." Graphics wise, critics believed the game was successful at pulling off an 8-bit graphical appearance, though others found inconsistencies. "IGN" and "Nintendo World Report" argued that some bosses did not appear to fit the aesthetic. "Hardcore Gamer" called it "one of the finest 8-bit inspired games on the market."


title: Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon

text: Journalists believed "Curse of the Moon" successfully reproduced the feel of the original "Castlevania" games while also sporting a more modern feel with faster, less rigid movement, and more forgiving gameplay. "Game Informer" felt the game's adherence to old gaming tropes, such as slow attacks speed and cheap deaths, weakened the experience. The game's variety of options and difficulties was commended as appealing to all types of players looking for both vintage and modern gameplay experiences. Some journalists liked how the variety of characters lent more depth to the gameplay and replay value. Critics felt the game was short, but still fulfilling in its purpose as a companion title and prelude to "Ritual of the Night".


title: Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon

text: Within a week of availability, "Curse of the Moon" sold more than 100,000 copies, with 56% of sales being on the Switch. Almost two-thirds of all platform sales came from North America. By 2020, the game had sold over 600,000 copies, with still more than half of sales for the Switch.


title: Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon

text: A sequel, "Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2" was announced in June 2020 as part of the New Game Plus Expo, and released for Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch on July 10, 2020. Zangetsu is still the main player-character, but "Curse of the Moon 2" introduces three new companions that can be swapped as in the first game: Dominique, who uses spears; Robert, who uses guns; and Hachi, a corgi who pilots a robot. The sequel maintains the original's multiple difficulty options with both a Casual mode and a Veteran mode available.


The Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling is the Academy Award given to the best achievement in makeup and hairstyling for film. Traditionally, three films have been nominated each year with exceptions in the early 1980s and 2002 when there were only two nominees; in 1999, when there were four nominees. Beginning with the 92nd Academy Awards, five films were nominated.


title: Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling

text: The competitive category was created in 1981 as the Academy Award for Best Makeup, after the Academy received complaints that the makeup work in "The Elephant Man" (1980) was not going to be honored. Although no award was given to "The Elephant Man", an entire category dedicated to honoring makeup effects in film was created for subsequent ceremonies. Previously, makeup artists were only eligible for special achievement awards for their work.


text: Ahead of nominations, a shortlist of titles is chosen by the makeup branch's executive committee and clips are screened by the members of the branch at an annual "bake-off." After only two films were shortlisted in 2002, rules were installed requiring that seven finalists be chosen each year with the top three becoming nominees. Beginning in 2020, the shortlist expanded from seven finalists to ten.


text: In 2012, the category was given its current name for use in the 85th Academy Awards and onward. Makeup artist Rick Baker holds the record for both most wins (7) and most nominations (11) for this award.


text: Before 1981, Special Achievement Oscars were twice awarded to makeup artists for their work on a specific film:


text: Starting in 1993, the award is to be shared with hairstylists if hair effects "contribute greatly to the appearance and effect of the characters".


text: In the following table, the years are listed as per Academy convention, and generally correspond to the year of film release; the ceremonies are always held the following year. Films in dark blue background have received a Special/Honorary Award; those in yellow background have won a regular Academy Award of Merit.


text: Finalists for Best Makeup & Hairstyling are selected by the Makeup & Hairstylists Branch. Ten films are shortlisted. Prior to the 92nd Academy Awards, up to seven films were shortlisted. The full membership of the Makeup & Hairstylists Branch is invited to view excerpts and is provided with supporting information at a "bake-off" where balloting determines the five nominees. These are the additional films that presented at the bake-off.


title: The Legend of Korra (season 4)

text: Book Four: Balance is the fourth and final season of the animated television series "The Legend of Korra" by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. It consists of thirteen episodes ("chapters"), all animated by Studio Mir. The episodes were made available on the Nickelodeon website and other online outlets each Friday beginning on October 3, 2014 and premiered on Nicktoons on November 28, 2014. Critical reception of "Book Four", as of the series in general, was positive.


title: The Legend of Korra (season 4)

text: "Book Four" is set three years after the previous season. It deals with Avatar Korra's journey of self-discovery following the trauma she suffered in "Book Three", and with the security officer Kuvira's campaign to unite the Earth Kingdom under her authoritarian leadership.


title: The Legend of Korra (season 4)

text: The season is then followed by the graphic novel trilogy "", that picks up immediately after the series finale.


title: The Legend of Korra (season 4)

text: After Nickelodeon cut the budget for season 4 by about the amount required for one episode, DiMartino and Konietzko decided to include a clip show episode, which reuses previously produced animation, instead of letting many of the creative staff go. Inspired by "Samurai Champloo"s clip show episode "The Disorder Diaries", they chose to frame a series of edited clips from the previous seasons of "The Legend of Korra" with about five minutes of new animation. Aired as episode 8, "Remembrances", the clip show was also intended as "a lighthearted romp" similar to "Avatar: The Last Airbender"s episode "The Ember Island Players" before the series enters its dénouement.


title: The Legend of Korra (season 4)

text: The season was generally well-received by critics. Critics generally enjoyed the main villain Kuvira and thought she complemented Korra well. IGN's Max Nicholson felt the overarching plot of Kuvira's military campaign was not as ambitious as previous seasons', though he still enjoyed it. Nicholson also praised the season for its handling of themes like war, dictatorship, weapons of mass destruction and posttraumatic stress disorder.


title: The Legend of Korra (season 4)

text: "Korra Alone" was praised by critics as one of best episodes of the entire series, described by Nicholson as "masterful and heart-wrenching." "Day of the Colossus" received positive reviews for its action sequences, described by "ScreenCrush"'s Matt Patches as "22-minutes of set-piece wizardry, featuring some of the most imaginative, heart-pounding action I've ever seen." In contrast, the clip show "Remembrances" was singled out as a weak point in the season.


title: The Legend of Korra (season 4)

text: In the final scene of the season and the series, Korra and Asami face each other holding hands. This scene recalls the earlier wedding scene between Zhu Li and Varrick, as well as the last shot of "", in which Aang and Katara kiss. It was subject to discussion outside of entertainment media, notably after the series' creators confirmed that the scene was meant to signify Korra and Asami becoming a romantic couple. According to Joanna Robinson for "Vanity Fair", who described the series finale as "the most subversive television event of the year", it "changed the face of TV" by going further than any other work of children's television in depicting same-sex relationships – an assessment shared by reviewers for TV.com, "The A.V. Club", "USA Today", IGN, Moviepilot and "The Advocate". Megan Farokhmanesh of "Polygon" wrote that by portraying Korra and Asami as bisexual, the series even avoided the error of assuming sexual orientation, as many other TV series did, to be a strict divide between "gay" and "straight". In 2018, "io9" ranked the final scene #55 on its list of "The 100 Most Important Pop Culture Moments of the Last 10 Years".


title: The Legend of Korra (season 4)

text: Like the third season, the final season received a 100% rating from 9 reviews on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes and an average rating of 9/10.


title: Biñan

text: Biñan (), officially the City of Biñan (), is a 1st class component city in the province of Laguna, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 407,437 people.


title: Biñan

text: Biñan, also known as Biniang, has become both a suburban residential community of Metro Manila and a location for some of the Philippines' largest industrial estates and export processing zones. Prior to its cityhood in 2010, Biñan was the richest municipality in the Philippines with an annual gross income of ₱677 million (US$14.383 million) and net income of ₱250 million (US$5.308 million), as of 2007 by the Commission On Audit. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 407,437, making it the third largest in population in the province of Laguna, after Calamba and Santa Rosa.


title: Biñan

text: By virtue of Republic Act 10658, signed on March 27, 2015, by President Benigno Aquino III, Biñan has been separated from the First Congressional District of Laguna and formed the Lone Congressional District of Biñan. The first representative, the former mayor of the city, has been elected during the 2016 elections, unopposed.


title: Biñan

text: Where Biñan got its name is a mystery. Some deduced that before Captain Juan de Salcedo proceeded to Cainta and Taytay finally reaching Bay, he landed in Biñan. According to the story, Padres Alfonso de Alvarado and Diego Espinar planted a huge wooden cross on the spot where the present day San Isidro Labrador parish stands and co-celebrated a Thanksgiving Mass. Curious natives gathered and the two Spanish missionaries took advantage of the situation. They baptized each one of them. From then on, old folks say they called the place “Binyagan,” which means a baptismal place. The Spanish tongue's difficulty in pronouncing the local dialect acquired for the once town its name— "Biñan".


title: Biñan

text: Captain Juan de Salcedo discovered and founded Biñan at the end of June 1571, a month after Miguel López de Legazpi established Manila when he explored the largest freshwater lake in the Philippines and second in Asia (Laguna de Bay).


title: Biñan

text: When the seat of the provincial government of the "Provincia de la Laguna de Bay" was moved from Bay to Pagsanjan in 1688, Biñan separated from Tabuco (now the city of Cabuyao).


title: Biñan

text: In 1791, during the time of Pablo Faustino, Santa Rosa separated from Biñan. The following year, January 15 Sta Rosa de Lima was established and became an independent town.


title: Biñan

text: Historically, Biñan is nationally recognized in the books related to the biography of José Rizal, the country's national hero. It was in June 1869 when José Rizal as a young boy went to Biñan with his brother Paciano. They proceeded to his aunt's house near the town proper where they were to be lodged. Here, his first formal education was entrusted to Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz who after a year and a half of tutelage advised young Rizal to continue higher education in Manila. In honor of José Rizal, a plaque of recognition was bestowed on the house where he stayed at. A monument now stands at the center of Biñan's plaza in recognition of Biñan's affiliation to Rizal.


title: Biñan

text: On February 2, 2010, by the virtue of the Republic Act No. 9740, Biñan became a component city after its voters accepted the ratification in the plebiscite. It became the 4th city in the province and 139th in the Philippines.


title: Biñan

text: Biñan is located south of Manila and from Santa Cruz. It is bounded on the north by San Pedro, on the west by General Mariano Alvarez, Carmona, and Silang, on the south by Santa Rosa, while on the east lies the Laguna de Bay, the largest lake in the country.


title: Biñan

text: The city covers a total land area of that represents 2.5 percent of the entire Laguna province. In 2008, Biñan had a total population of 269,608. It is the fourth most populated in the province (9.8% of the provincial population), next only to Calamba City (12.66%), San Pedro City (11.42%), and Santa Rosa City (9.92%).


title: Biñan

text: Biñan is generally plain with 85.33 percent of its total area having a slope of zero to 2.5 percent. This covers all the 24 barangay except for small portions of Barangay Biñan and San Francisco having a slope ranging from 2.6 to 25 percent, meaning it is gently sloping to strongly sloping. With more than three-fourths of its area generally level to nearly level, this makes Biñan suitable for agricultural and urban development.


title: Biñan

text: Of the eleven soil series that compose the land area of Laguna, Carmona and Gingua series covers about two types that can only be seen in Biñan. Carmona series covers about or 59.24 seen in Biñan's land area. Agricultural land in these areas is primarily devoted to rice and sugar production. Gingua series, on other hand, specifically the fine sandy type covers which is one of the most productive soils in Laguna where a variety of crops especially vegetables are grown profitably. The other two basic soil series comprising Biñan are Guadalupe series covering and Lipa series with .


title: Biñan

text: Biñan comprises 24 barangays, all classified as urban. Barangay San Francisco occupies the largest area which is about 16.83 percent of Biñan while Barangay Casile has the smallest area with only or 0.27 percent.


title: Biñan

text: The climate of Biñan is characterized by two pronounced seasons; dry from November to April and wet during the rest of the year. Maximum rainfall occurs from June to September with an annual average rainfall of 200 mm. Biñan is protected by mountains in the peripheral areas, and thus it is making the area cooler.


title: Biñan

text: The majority of the people are Roman Catholics. Other religious groups include are The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (better known as the Mormons or LDS Church), the Members Church of God International (Ang Dating Daan/The Old Path/El Camino Antiguo), Biyaya Ng Diyos Christian Fellowship, United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), Jesus Is Lord Church (JIL), The United Methodist Church, Presbyterian Churches, Baptist and Bible Fundamental churches.


title: Biñan

text: Biñan has been popularly recognized as the trading center area immediately south of Metro Manila. The city has the largest public market in the province of Laguna, and in the Calabarzon Region. Retailers from nearby towns often plow the city proper to purchase goods and merchandise intended to be sold elsewhere. Biñan has also been the center of commerce in the region because of the numerous banking institutions across the city, plus the ever-growing number of commercial establishments and emerging shopping centers.


title: Biñan

text: A common sight is the preparations and setting up of the wholesalers and the arrival of jeepneys and trucks carrying various items such as fruits, vegetables, dry goods, dairy products, meat, fish, etc. The market activity would be 24 hours with peak reaching the early hours (3:00–7:00 am) as Filipinos are known to work in the early hours of the day trying to prevent exposure to the heating sun.


title: Biñan

text: The city is also known for a type of pancake made from rice flour, topped with cheese or butter (Puto Biñan). There are also slices of savory salted egg on top to contrast the mildly sweet pancake base. The best known makers of Puto in Biñan are located in the barangay of San Vicente, and the city is renowned as "The Home of the Famous Puto Biñan in Laguna".


title: Biñan

text: Notable malls and shopping centers in the city include the Southwoods Mall (managed by Megaworld), Pavilion Mall (managed by Ayala Malls), Central Mall Biñan, and Umbria Commercial Center.


title: Biñan

text: Biñan has two industrial parks namely, the Laguna International Industrial Park (LIIP) and the Laguna Technopark Incorporated (LTI). The two industrial parks have created a good image in contributing favorably in Biñan as well as in the Philippine economy in terms of local employment and the generation of foreign exchange. To date, Biñan has benefited a large number of residents being employed in different companies there. To name a few, they are Honda Parts Manufacturing Corporation, Kito Corporation, Nissin Brake, Ryonan Electric, Cirtek Electronics, SunPower, Nidec Corporation, Isuzu Philippines, Atlas Copco, Diageo, Furukawa Electric, Takata, Toshiba Philippines, Optodev, Inc., Transitions Optical Philippines Inc., Hitachi Computer Products Asia, Amkor Technology Philippines, Inc., Integrated Microelectronics, Inc. (IMI), TDK, Gardenia Bakeries Philippines Inc., and several other multi-national companies.


title: Biñan

text: As of 2008, Biñan, headed by its Historical, Tourism and Cultural Council has formed "Biñan Business Club", a non-government organization composed of all business establishments of the said municipality. The Biñan Business Club works to anticipate trends and provide support to help local business enterprises and the community face them head on. The Club commits itself to the essential aspects of economic development and poverty alleviation. It knows that the Biñan community counts on the help of the organization to attract, retain and enhance business through traditional and non-traditional strategies.


title: Biñan

text: One Asia Business Center is a 10-hectare development located within the Jubilation New Biñan. This business park will be a major component of an integrated master planned development of Jubilation or what is called the New Biñan City which is composed of residential, commercial, recreational and institutional uses.


title: Biñan

text: Inaugurated on July 25, 2012, Southwoods City, located in Barangay San Francisco, situated at Southwoods Exit along the South Luzon Expressway, has been proclaimed by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) as of July 2010 as a Special Economic Zone. It is a 15-hectare project which will include a strip mall, residential condominium towers, an outlet center, a lifestyle park and a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) center, among other facilities. This soon will become the Calabarzon's premiere BPO and shopping hub.


title: Biñan

text: The city is accessible to all types of land transportation via South Luzon Expressway through Greenfield City/Unilab (Mamplasan), Southwoods, and Carmona exits. The new Cavite–Laguna Expressway, which would extend up to Kawit, Cavite, also starts in the city, particularly at Mamplasan Exit. The Manila South Road (N1) also passes through the city.


title: Biñan

text: A new city hall was constructed on Barangay Zapote to reflect its status as a component city. The former municipal hall remains standing in the city proper, now offices the "Sentrong Pangkultura ng Biñan" (Biñan Center for Culture and Arts), to maintain the city's culture and arts tradition.


title: Biñan

text: The former mayor of Biñan, Marlyn Alonte, envisioned the new seal of the city, as Biñan became a city of the province of Laguna. The seal symbolized the following:


title: Biñan

text: On January 26, 2015, a 15–0 vote from senators approved the House Bill 3917 in the third and final reading, amending the charter city of Biñan to a congressional district in Laguna and will be separated from the first district. Republic Act 10658, which President Aquino signed into law on March 27, 2015, separated Biñan from the first legislative district of Laguna. Under the law, the incumbent representative of the first district of Laguna will continue to represent the new district until the expiration of his term. The Commission on Elections was tasked to issue the necessary rules and regulations to implement the measure within 30 days after its effectivity. Former Laguna First District Rep. Danilo Fernandez hailed the passage of the law, saying it would improve the delivery of services to Biñan residents. He said Biñan has met the population and revenue requirements to be a legislative district.


title: Biñan

text: Biñan is also considered the educational center of the first congressional district of Laguna, having the most number of secondary and tertiary schools in the area. Most barangays in the city also have their own respective public elementary schools.


title: Biñan

text: Biñan has 3 universities: the University of Perpetual Help System Laguna, the first university in the city, located at Barangay Santo Niño via the National Highway; the Biñan campus of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, located at Barangay Zapote; and the Laguna Campus of De La Salle University at Barangays Malamig and Biñan.


title: Croagh Patrick

text: Croagh Patrick (), nicknamed 'the Reek', is a mountain with a height of and an important site of pilgrimage in County Mayo, Ireland. The mountain has a pyramid-shaped peak and overlooks Clew Bay, rising above the village of Murrisk, several miles from Westport. It has long been seen as a holy mountain. It was the focus of a prehistoric ritual landscape, and later became associated with Saint Patrick, who is said to have spent forty days fasting on the summit. There has been a church on the summit since the 5th century; the current church dates to the early 20th century. Croagh Patrick is climbed by thousands of pilgrims every year on Reek Sunday, the last Sunday in July, a custom which goes back to at least the Middle Ages.


title: Croagh Patrick

text: Croagh Patrick is the fourth-highest mountain in the province of Connacht on the P600 listing after Mweelrea, Nephin and Barrclashcame. It is part of a longer east–west ridge; the lower westernmost peak is named Ben Goram.


title: Croagh Patrick

text: 'Croagh Patrick' comes from the Irish "Cruach Phádraig" meaning "(Saint) Patrick's stack". It is known locally as "the Reek", a Hiberno-English word for a "rick" or "stack". Previously it was known as "Cruachán Aigle" or "Cruach Aigle", being mentioned by that name in medieval sources such as "Cath Maige Tuired", "Buile Shuibhne", "The Metrical Dindshenchas", and the "Annals of Ulster" entry for the year 1113. "Cruachán" is simply a diminutive of "cruach" meaning "stack" or "peak". Aigle was an old name for the area. The "Dindsenchas" (lore of places) says that Aigle was a prince of Connacht who was slain by his uncle Cromderg in revenge for his slaying of a woman under Cromderg's care. It is also suggested that "Aigle" is an alternative form of "aicil", "eagle".


title: Croagh Patrick

text: The Marquess of Sligo, whose seat was nearby Westport House, bears the titles Baron Mount Eagle and Earl of Altamont ("high mount"), both deriving from Croagh Patrick.


title: Croagh Patrick

text: Perhaps because of its prominence, its pyramid-shaped quartzite peak, and the legends associated with it, Croagh Patrick has long been seen as a holy mountain.


title: Croagh Patrick

text: Archaeologist Christiaan Corlett writes that the large number of prehistoric monuments surrounding and oriented towards Croagh Patrick "suggests that the mountain has been a local spiritual inspiration since at least the Neolithic, and during the Bronze Age became the focus of an extensive ritual landscape".


title: Croagh Patrick

text: A short distance east of the mountain lies the Boheh Stone, an outcrop covered with ancient rock art. There are more than 260 carvings, making it one of the most detailed pieces of ancient rock art in Ireland, and one of only two in the province of Connacht. In 1987 it was rediscovered that, from the Boheh stone, the setting sun appears to roll down the slope of Croagh Patrick in late April and late August. It is believed the stone was chosen because of this natural phenomenon. A stone row at Killadangan is aligned with a niche in the mountain where the sun sets on the winter solstice.


title: Croagh Patrick

text: Archaeological surveying found remains of an enclosure encircling the mountaintop and dozens of circular huts abutting it, which showed evidence of Bronze Age date.


title: Croagh Patrick

text: Tírechán, a native of Connacht, wrote in the 7th century that Saint Patrick spent forty days on the mountain, like Moses on Mount Sinai. The 9th century "Bethu Phátraic" says that Patrick was harassed by a flock of black demonic birds while on the peak, and he banished them into the hollow of Lugnademon ("hollow of the demons") by ringing his bell. Patrick ended his fast when God gave him the right to judge all the Irish at the Last Judgement, and agreed to spare the land from the final desolation. A later legend tells how Patrick was tormented by a demonic female serpent named Corra or Caorthannach. Patrick is said to have banished the serpent into Lough Na Corra below the mountain, or into a hollow from which the lake burst forth.


title: Croagh Patrick

text: Archaeologists found that there had been a stone chapel or oratory on the summit since the 5th century. There is reference to a "Teampall Phádraig" (Temple Patrick) from AD 824, when the Archbishops of Armagh and Tuam disagreed as to who had jurisdiction on the site. A small modern chapel was built on the summit and dedicated on 20 July 1905.


title: Croagh Patrick

text: On the last Sunday in July, thousands of pilgrims climb Croagh Patrick in honour of Saint Patrick, and masses are held at the summit chapel. Some pilgrims climb the mountain barefoot, as an act of penance. Traditionally, pilgrims would perform 'rounding rituals', in which they pray while walking sunwise around features on the mountain. Among these are a group of three ancient cairns known as Reilig Mhuire (Mary's graveyard), which are likely Bronze Age burial cairns.


title: Croagh Patrick

text: Folklorist Máire MacNeill conjectured that the pilgrimage pre-dates Christianity and was originally a ritual associated with the festival of Lughnasadh.


title: Croagh Patrick

text: Today, most pilgrims climb Croagh Patrick from the direction of Murrisk Abbey to the north. Originally, most pilgrims climbed the mountain from the east, following the Togher Patrick ("Tochár Phádraig") pilgrim path from Ballintubber Abbey. This route is dotted with prehistoric monuments, including the Boheh stone. Until 1970, it was traditional for pilgrims to climb the mountain after sunset. It is possible that this came from a pre-historic tradition of climbing the mountain after viewing the 'rolling sun' phenomenon. The "Tochár Phádraig" may have originally been the main route from Cruachan (seat of the Kings of Connacht) to Cruachan Aigle, the original name of Croagh Patrick. The "Tochar Phadraig" was revived and reopened as a cross-country pilgrimage tourist trail by Pilgrim Paths of Ireland; the 30-kilometre route takes about ten hours.


title: Croagh Patrick

text: Local people and organisations point out that the large number of climbers – as many as 40,000 per year – have damaged the mountain by causing erosion which makes the climb more dangerous.


title: Croagh Patrick

text: A seam of gold was discovered in the core of the mountain in the 1980s. Due to local resistance by the Mayo Environmental Group, headed by Paddy Hopkins, Mayo County Council decided not to allow mining on Croagh Patrick. The name of the Owenwee River ("Abhainn Bhuí", yellow river) on the south of the mountain may indicate an ancient awareness of gold deposits in the area and gold panning in the river.


title: Take Off (2017 film)

text: Take Off is a 2017 Indian Malayalam-language survival thriller film, based on the ordeal of Indian nurses in the city of Tikrit, Iraq, in 2014. The film is the directorial debut of editor Mahesh Narayan, starring Parvathy Thiruvothu , Kunchacko Boban , Fahadh Faasil and Divya Prabha. It is written by Mahesh Narayan and P. V. Shajikumar. The film was shot in various parts of Dubai and Kerala.


title: Take Off (2017 film)

text: "Take Off" was released on 24 March 2017, and received praise at the box office, winning the Silver Peacock - Special Jury Award for (Mahesh Narayan), and Silver Peacock for Best Actress (Parvathy) at the 48th IFFI. Parvathy also won her first Special Jury Mention at the 65th National Film Awards, her second Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress, and a second Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Malayalam. It was included in The Hindu's top 25 Malayalam films of the decade.


title: Take Off (2017 film)

text: Sameera is a nurse in Kerala who is moving to Iraq for better salary. Her husband, Faizal and family members were not supportive of her wish to work to pillar her family who have taken loans for her nursing education and struggling to repay. They finally get divorced after their differences leaving her son Ibrahim under Faizal's care. Shaheed, a colleague from work understands all her problems and wishes to marry her. Though Sameera is initially hesitant about another marriage, the two get married before moving to Iraq. They along with a group of 19 nurses of same hospital move to Iraq to join Tikrit Teaching College, which is an Iraqi Government Hospital.


title: Take Off (2017 film)

text: Moving to Iraq, they realize Iraq is no more a peaceful country as projected during interview time, with conflicts rising on daily basis. The doctors are over-strained with rise of casualties. Sameera's knowledge in Arabic helps her to communicate better with Arabic doctors and she leads the nurses' group in their new working environment and challenges. In mean time, she gets pregnant and needs to hide this from her first son, Ibrahim who is about to visit her for vacation. Surprisingly, Faizal also comes along to permanently hand over Ibrahim to Sameera due to issues in his family. Ibrahim finds it hard to accept Shaheed as his new step father and when he realizes that his mom has remarried, he runs out of their quarters only to see the city is now a major riot zone with pro-ISIS supporters uprising against Iraqi Central Government in the city. He is brought back to quarters by Sameera. Shaheed feels that Ibrahim needs some time alone with Sameera to realize the new environment. For this, he offers his assistance to Army medical team moving to Mosul to deal with the local casualties over there. He consoles Sameera that it's a matter of two weeks which is sufficient for Ibrahim to get adjusted to his new realities and the mission is not dangerous as the army is along with them.


title: Take Off (2017 film)

text: However within a day, Mosul falls into hands of ISIS and the medical team is taken into captive. News gets flashed and Sameera pleads with hospital management to help in rescuing her husband. As Iraqi forces retreat from Mosul, the Iraqi government is no longer in position to help. The hospital manager advises Sameera to seek assistance of Indian Embassy in Baghdad. Sameera along with manager visits Embassy where she meets Indian Ambassador Manoj Abraham. They promise assistance but remind them that it's a war zone and Indian Government has its own limitations in intervening.


title: Take Off (2017 film)

text: While Sameera is in Baghdad, Tikrit falls into ISIS hands which they discover while coming back to hospital. ISIS militants kill the manager, while bringing Sameera back to hospital to join with other nurses who are now captives of ISIS. Sameera relays this matter to Indian Embassy and calls out for help, which brings the matter to serious concern of both Indian Government and Kerala Government, as all nurses were from Kerala state.


title: Take Off (2017 film)

text: In meantime at Mosul, ISIS terrorists kill the doctor for not complying with them to treat wounded terrorists. Shaheed to save his life, offers medical assistance to wounded ISIS terrorists. Sameera starts informing about the tensed situation at Tikrit through her mobile to Kerala government. The Chief Minister of Kerala along with India's Foreign Affairs Minister starts briefing with the Ambassador. As there is no direct communication or normal diplomatic relationship with ISIS, Indian government has little chances of a formal route to intervene. Indian Government sends its Foreign Secretary to Iraq, who initially thinks that Iraqi Army will help the stranded nurses out of Tikrit. However the Ambassador doesn't join on that and assumes full responsibility to rescue. Meanwhile, International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement offers their assistance and a bus is arranged to fetch all stranded nurses out of Tikrit. But, as they need to pass through extreme violent war zones of Mosul, Indian Embassy cancels permission, which results only Indian Nurses stranding in Tikrit, while other nationalities taken out. However the decision of Indian Embassy is proven right when the bus gets caught in a crossfire near Mosul, killing all nurses. With just 19 Indian nurses stranded in Tikrit, ISIS decides to use them as human shields and plan to take them to their key base Mosul. India responds by dropping food packets near hospital, but one packet contains a secret satellite phone with location detector which Sameera take over to correspond with Crisis Command center at Indian Embassy.


title: Take Off (2017 film)

text: Ambassador Manoj instructs Sameera to destroy all passports and documents that reveal their identity and asked all other nurses to declare themselves as Muslims, as ISIS terrorists might attack non Muslims among them. Sameera teaches all other nurses basic religious things like Namaz and covering the head as well as hiding all religious symbols. Meantime, Kerala Government along with its Foreign affairs agency- NORKA brings in a prominent Malayalee Businessman- Jayamohan of Crescent Group who have close links with Influential Saudi royal member a persuaded him to make a deal with ISIS on India's behalf. Jayamohan, after hearing the nurses pleas over their satellite phone, rushes to meet Sheikh Salman, member of royal family, requesting his assistance to intervene with the ISIS . After a prolonged discussion, He agrees to broker on behalf of India unofficially without any record.


title: Take Off (2017 film)

text: Meanwhile, at Mosul ISIS base, Sameera and nurses are brought before a main cleric, who test them to ensure they all are Muslims. Sameera's knowledge in Arabic, her son's knowledge in Quran and the coordinated Namaaz all help them to believe that the entire nurses are of Muslims and no harm is done. With the Royal's intervention, a secret deal was drawn between India and ISIS. ISIS agrees to transfer the nurses to Erbil near the Kurdistan Check Point. Meanwhile, with Sameera's persistence, she finds out Shaheed among ISIS captives who were about to be executed and with her pleas, she is able to rescue him from there. Sameera, Shaheed, Ibrahim and nurses are brought to Kurdistan from where India take them over in their buses and a special flight is arranged to take them back to Cochin from Erbil.


title: Take Off (2017 film)

text: As the movie ends, actual footages of nurses reaching Cochin airport and their narration of experience under ISIS are depicted on the screen with a second climax scene where Jayamohan destroys the documents that reveal the secret deal between India and ISIS, with a voice over that it shall remain as a classified secret of India.


title: Take Off (2017 film)

text: "Take Off" was released on 24 March 2017. Satyam Audios released the VCD, DVD and Blu-ray of the film in mid 2017.


title: Take Off (2017 film)

text: Celebrities praised the movie, including actor Kamal Haasan. The film was screened at international festivals, including International Film Festival of India and International Film Festival of Kerala.


title: Take Off (2017 film)

text: The film grossed 25 crore at the box office. The film collected $853,101 from UAE box office in its three weekends,$21,248 from UK box office and $9,918 from New Zealand box office. The film ran for over 125 days in theatres


title: Take Off (2017 film)

text: The Times Of India rated the film 4 out of 5 stars saying that "Take Off is a brilliant take on a real-life tale and with the director's own spin on the incidents, it makes an engaging cinematic experience that could give even Bollywood movies of similar genre, made at much-bigger budgets, a run for their money".


title: Take Off (2017 film)

text: The News Minute rated the film 3 out of 5 stars and stated "With excellent performances and intelligent direction, Take Off is a must-watch".


title: Take Off (2017 film)

text: Manorama Online rated the film 3.5 out of 5 stars saying that "Take Off is an absolute must-watch if you want to witness Mollywood's earnest attempt to fly new heights.


title: Take Off (2017 film)

text: Baradwaj Rangan of Film Companion South wrote "The film, thus, lands in a Roja-meets-Airlift zone. These portions are still very well done. The director isn't after your average rescue thriller. He wants to explore this chapter of recent history, and even through the fictionalising techniques, we sense documentary-like precision in the way information has been gathered and is now being disbursed to us...the production values are outstanding...the filmmaking is so precise, I jumped out of my skin."


title: Take Off (2017 film)

text: The film was inspired by the real events which happened in 2014, during the early days of the ISIS crisis in Iraq. At the same time, it's a work of fiction. The incidents close to the reality starts just about the close to the interval. The incidents depicted there after is very graphic in nature and also match with how the story unfolded in the real life.


title: Take Off (2017 film)

text: In an event on April 20, 2020 Parvathy said that Islamophobia is a reality in Kerala and her films including "Take Off" are also part of that. To this allegation, director Mahesh Narayanan responded that Parvathy doesn't know what Islamophobia is.


title: Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales

text: Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales is a role-playing video game developed by CD Projekt Red. It is a spin-off of "The Witcher" video game franchise, and acts as the standalone single-player component for "". "Thronebreaker" was released in October 2018 for Microsoft Windows, on 4 December 2018 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, in January 2020 for Nintendo Switch, and in July 2020 for iOS, with the Android version released on 17 June 2021.


title: Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales

text: In "Thronebreaker's" 30-hour-long campaign, the player takes the control of Queen Meve, the ruler of Lyria and Rivia, during the events that precede "The Witcher" video game. As the leader of one of the northern kingdoms, Meve leads a small opposition force who must battle and build alliances to take the north back. The game has a system of choices and consequences that will shift the story (fully voice acted and narrated by an entity called Storyteller) in a different direction or affect the gameplay.


title: Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales

text: The game world consists of five regions never explored in "The Witcher" franchise before: Rivia, Lyria, Angren, Mahakam and Lower Aedirn. Exploration happens across a number of large maps with an isometric perspective similar to "Baldur's Gate". Queen Meve's army is represented by a customizable deck of cards and combat takes place in matches similar to "Gwent" with a few differences.


title: Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales

text: Each player takes a turn to play a single card from their hand, or pass and end their turn. Different cards have different values, some have special abilities that interact in many ways. Whoever has the highest total value on the board after both players hit pass wins the round. After a single round, all played cards are discarded and new cards are drawn instead. The goal is to win two of the three rounds.


title: Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales

text: Maintaining alliances is crucial to the gameplay. The hero cards are present only as long as allies are with Meve and will leave the deck as soon as they depart the party.


title: Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales

text: Set in the fantasy world of the "The Witcher", the game takes place entirely within the Continent, a northern region in the setting based on Slavonic mythology. The player takes the role of Queen Meve, widow and sole ruler of the sister nations of Lyria and Rivia, who finds her realms invaded by the armies of Nilfgaard, an imperialist nation from the south, in the onset of an enormous military conflict known as the "Great War", or the second Northern War. At the start of the game, not yet fully recovered from the previous Northern War are the Northern Kingdoms, these including Temeria, Redania, and Lyria and Rivia's neighbors, Kaedwen and Aedirn. Other locations visited in the game include the Dwarf kingdom of Mahakam and the swamp region of Angren.


title: Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales

text: Meve (Lucy Black), who rose to power after the death of her husband King Reginald, is considered an upstart ruler with little experience in governance but respected for her warrior spirit and skill in martial combat and battlefield tactics. At court, she is accompanied by her lieutenant Reynard Odo (Chris Porter), chief advisor Count Caldwell (Nigel Betts), and oldest son, Prince Villem (Clare Corbett). Other characters that feature in the game include the thief Gascon (Liam Garrigan), the commander of the Nilfgaardian forces in the region Duke Ardal aep Dahy (Anthony Howell), King Demavend III of Aedirn (Ronan Vibert), and Clan-Chief Brouver Hoog of Mahakam (David Rintoul).


title: Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales

text: Returning from a summit of Northern rulers to debate on how to deal with the matter of Nilfgaard's aggression, Meve reaches Lyria after a long travel. She is met by Count Caldwell, who informs her that the nearby towns have been terrorized by a notorious bandit named Gascon. Meve defeats Gascon in battle and captures him alive, only to receive the news that the armies of Nilfgaard have crossed the river Yaruga and begun another invasion of the North. Meve immediately convenes a council of Rivian and Lyrian nobles to decide how to respond. Though favoring open warfare, Meve is overruled by Caldwell, who reveals that the aristocracy have reached an agreement with Duke Ardal aep Dahy for Rivia's and Lyria's immediate surrender. When Meve refuses, Caldwell has Meve arrested and detained, replacing her with her eldest son Prince Villem as the regent. Meve and the loyal captain Reynard are thrown in the dungeons, where Meve is unexpectedly freed by Gascon. The three flee Lyria and make way for Aedirn.


title: Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales

text: In Aedirn, Meve encounters the Aedirnian captain Black Rayla (Caroline Catz), and rescues her from the elven rebels known as the Scoia'tael, as well as the sorceress Isbel of Hagge (Susan Brown). They find Demavend under siege and assist in his escape from Aedirn, but with the Aedirnian forces defeated by Nilfgaard, Meve did not get the military support she had hoped for. Instead, Demavend advises her to travel to the Dwarf kingdom of Mahakam and gives her a leaden ring that will guarantee an audience with the Dwarf ruler, the Clan-Chief Brouver Hoog. In Mahakam, Meve encounters the Dwarf explorer Gabor Zigrin (Gordon Cooper) and gnomish inventor Barnabas Beckenbauer (Matthew Gravelle). Meve is granted her audience with Brouver, who at first rejects her pleas for assistance against Nilfgaard, but changes his mind after they are attacked by Scoia'tael and enlists a small company of Dwarf warriors for her aid.


title: Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales

text: Now with a sizable force of Lyrian loyalists, Gascon's marauders, and Dwarf warriors, Meve decides to strike at Nilfgaard directly and attack the forces commanded by Caldwell, currently garrisoned in the lowland county of Angren. In the swamps, Meve discovers the truth that both her chief advisors, Reynard and Gascon, are both traitors who have betrayed her to Nilfgaard: Reynard has been in secret correspondence with now-King Villem hoping to reconcile the two, while Gascon has been hoping to trade Meve's life for his own freedom. Both claim to be truly loyal to her; Meve can forgive or banish either or both. After reaching and killing Caldwell, Meve flees deeper into the swamp to avoid Nilfgaardian reinforcements, and enters the realm of a dangerous monster known as Gernichora, whom she kills. Unable to find an alternate way out of the swamp, Meve is forced to fight the reinforcing Nilfgaardian army in a hopeless frontal assault. During the battle, Meve receives the unexpected help of the witcher Geralt (Doug Cockle), who had also been attempting to find an escape from the swamps. The Nilfgaardian army is defeated, and after their victory Meve knights Geralt, thus granting him his "of Rivia" title.


title: Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales

text: Meve returns to Rivia as a liberator, meets with King Villem to discuss a possible parlay, and can either forgive him and thus gain him as an ally and heir, refuse to forgive him and maintain him as an enemy, or violate the terms of their meeting and have him captured and kept as a prisoner. Marching on to Rivia Castle, where Ardal is garrisoned with his army, Meve at first intends to lay siege to the keep but then learns from aep Dahy that another Nilfgaardian army is reinforcing and imminent. Meve realizes her only chance of victory is to storm the castle. Either Reynard or Gascon goes on a suicide mission to infiltrate the keep and open the gate and dies in the attempt, or Villem if he was allowed to leave the meeting as an enemy will sacrifice himself to open the gate, and Meve's army enters and defeats Ardal's force, though the Duke himself escapes. Meve is restored to rule over Rivia and Lyria, marking the turn of the tide of war against Nilfgaard.


title: Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales

text: Returning to Aedirn, Meve meets with Demavend and King Henselt of Kaedwen, preparing to face Ardal's army and decide the fate of the Northern Realms. Unexpectedly capturing a small Nilfgaardian force led by a man named Caldwyn, Meve discovers that Caldwyn is a messenger sent by the Emperor of Nilfgaard, Emhyr var Emreis, with secret orders forcing aep Dahy to poison himself as punishment for his failure to conquer the North. Meve allows Caldwyn to proceed with his mission, resulting in the death of Duke Ardal aep Dahy, and then the three rulers crush the Nilfgaardian army in Aedirn, thus ending the war. The narrator of the story, a man called the Storyteller, is then revealed to be Borch Three Jackdaws (Timothy Watson), who finishes the tale by recounting the fates of Meve and all of her companions gained throughout this journey.


title: Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales

text: "Thronebreaker" was initially conceived as a single-player campaign expansion for "", but repurposed as a standalone game in August 2018. It was released on 23 October 2018 for Microsoft Windows and on 4 December 2018 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. A Nintendo Switch version was released on 28 January 2020. An iOS version was released on 9 July 2020, with an Android version originally scheduled for release later in 2020, An Android version was planned for release later in 2020, but the actual release was pushed to June 17, 2021.


title: Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales

text: "Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales" received "generally favorable" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic.


title: Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales

text: The game did not meet the sales expectations of CD Projekt Red because of GOG.com's small audience at the time.


title: URO VAMTAC

text: The URO VAMTAC () is a Spanish four-wheel drive military vehicle manufactured by UROVESA. Externally it is similar in appearance and design to the Humvee of the United States Military due to similar requirements. More than 2,000 of the vehicles have been delivered to the Spanish Armed Forces. Several other countries operate the VAMTAC as well, and it has seen service most recently in Afghanistan and Syria. The vehicle comes in three models, named I3, S3 and ST5, and has several configurations.


title: URO VAMTAC

text: The URO VAMTAC was developed by the Spanish company URO, Vehiculos Especiales S.A. so that it would meet the requirements of the Spanish military for a multipurpose, air-portable, high mobility off-road vehicle with good payload capacity.


title: URO VAMTAC

text: Just as the HMMWV entered production in 1984 the Spanish army started to think of purchasing their own multirole vehicle that would replace Land Rovers.


title: URO VAMTAC

text: VAMTAC concept did not materialize until 1995 when a competition was held for a next-generation tactical vehicle. The American HMMWV was also a natural candidate for several reasons. UROVESA decided to design a vehicle that could exceed the US design.


title: URO VAMTAC

text: After the vehicle was tested by the Spanish Ministry of Defence, UROVESA received a five-year contract and the URO VAMTAC was produced from 1998 to 2003. In October 2005, the Ministry of Defence awarded a new five-year contract for the URO VAMTAC after a three-month trial period. This also introduced some changes, and the two models of the vehicle which were named T3 and T5, were re-designated as I3 and S3 respectively. The URO VAMTAC is similar in appearance and design to the U.S. Military's Humvee, because both vehicles were designed to meet similar requirements and specifications.


title: URO VAMTAC

text: Approximately 1,200 units were delivered to the Spanish military under the initial contract from 1998. Roughly 60 percent of these were of the T5 model (later S3), and the rest were T3 (later I3). By late 2009, around 900 more units had been delivered under the second contract, bringing the total procured by Spanish forces to approximately 2,100 vehicles. All the vehicles delivered under the second contract have been of the S3 model. The military has equipped about 25 percent of the vehicles received under the initial contract with ballistic kits, increasing their armour. URO VAMTACs have been used by the Spanish National Police as well.


title: URO VAMTAC

text: In April 2013, the Vamtac was selected as the chosen vehicle for all branches of the Spanish armed forces. This means they will replace HMMWVs used by Spanish Marines. A total of 772 vehicles were to be acquired over a 5-year period.


title: URO VAMTAC

text: The Spanish military has used the URO VAMTAC in Afghanistan, as well in Congo and Lebanon. Several other countries use this vehicle.


title: URO VAMTAC

text: All in all, according to a 2017 estimate, some 4,500 units are in service in more than 20 countries and so far in 50 different configurations.


title: URO VAMTAC

text: The URO VAMTAC comes with four-wheel drive capability, and is available in three primary configurations – command and control, chassis-cab, and pick-up. The first comes with a four-door cab. The latter two versions are available with three cab types: two-door, four-door, or a four-door version with smaller rear doors and less cab space. Shelter type or cargo bodies such as hardtops can be added to the rear compartment, as well as weapons. It can accommodate a wide range of weapons including machine guns, grenade launchers, anti-tank missiles, 81 mm mortars, M40 recoilless rifles and light air defence missiles.


title: URO VAMTAC

text: The vehicle has a length of width of and a height of . The curb weight of the vehicle ranges from to , and has a payload capacity ranging from to . Both these specifications vary depending on the version. The URO VAMTAC has a range of more than , and can negotiate 70% gradients and 50% side slopes. It is powered by Steyr Motors' M16-"Monoblock" engine (6-cylinder, turbocharged diesel engine, ) coupled with a five speed automatic transmission. The I3 uses a engine, while the S3 is equipped with a one.


title: URO VAMTAC

text: VAMTAC is available in many different versions with different body types. Most popular variants are pick-up, command/control and chassis-cab. The chassis-cab variant can mount different types of shelters or cargo compartments.


title: URO VAMTAC

text: There are several specialized variants of the URO VAMTAC according to the armament and configuration used. Several support variants have been produced with capabilities for towing, firefighting and resupplying. Notable variants include:


title: Skiathos

text: Skiathos (, , ; , ; and ) is a small Greek island in the northwest Aegean Sea. Skiathos is the westernmost island in the Northern Sporades group, east of the Pelion peninsula in Magnesia on the mainland, and west of the island of Skopelos.


title: Skiathos

text: The island has a north to southwestern axis and is about long and wide on average. The coastline is indented with inlets, capes and peninsulas. The southeast and southwest parts have gentler slopes and that is where most settlements and facilities are located. The terrain is more rugged on the north coast, with the highest peak at on mount Karafiltzanaka ().


title: Skiathos

text: The main town is Skiathos (pop. 4,883 in 2011), in the eastern part of the island. Other main settlements are Kalyvia (312), Troullos (158), Χanemos (143), Koukounaries (119), and Achladias (118).


title: Skiathos

text: The Municipality of Skiathos includes the islets of Tsougria, Tsougriaki, Maragos, Arkos, Troulonisi and Aspronisi. The municipality has an area of 49.898 km. They are scattered a few kilometres off the southeast coastline and are clearly visible from the town and the beaches. The island of Skopelos is visible from Skiathos with the more distant islands of Euboea and Skyros visible under very clear weather conditions.


title: Skiathos

text: The main paved road runs along the southeastern stretch of the island with several narrow dirt roads branching off towards the interior and the northern coast. Farmland exists around the major settlements on the island.


title: Skiathos

text: Despite its small size, Skiathos with its many beaches and wooded landscape is a popular tourist destination. It has over 60, mostly sandy, beaches scattered around the coastline. Some of these are Troulos, Vromolimnos, Koukounaries, Asselinos, Megali Ammos and Mandraki.


title: Skiathos

text: Much of the island is wooded with Aleppo Pine and a small Stone Pine forest at the Koukounaries location where there is a lagoon and a popular beach. The island's forests are concentrated on the southwest and northern parts, but the presence of pine trees is prevalent throughout the island.


title: Skiathos

text: In Ancient times, the island played a minor role during the Persian Wars. In 480 BC, the fleet of the Persian King Xerxes was hit by a storm and was badly damaged on the rocks of the Skiathos coast. Following this the Greek fleet blockaded the adjacent seas to prevent the Persians from invading the mainland and supplying provisions to the army facing the 300 Spartans defending the pass at Thermopylae. The Persian fleet was defeated there at Artemisium and finally destroyed at the Battle of Salamis a year later. Skiathos then became part of the Delian League. The city was destroyed by Philip V of Macedon in 200 BC.


title: Skiathos

text: In 1207 the Ghisi brothers captured the island and built the Bourtzi, a small Venetian-styled fortress similar to the Bourtzi in Nafplio, on an islet just out of Skiathos Town, to protect the capital from the pirates. But the Bourtzi was ineffective in protecting the population and in the mid-14th century the inhabitants moved the capital from the ancient site that lay where modern Skiathos Town is to Kastro (the Greek word for castle), located on a high rock, overlooking a steep cliff above the sea at the northernmost part of the island. The island returned to Byzantine control in the 1270s, and remained in Byzantine hands until after the Fall of Constantinople in 1453, when it passed to the Republic of Venice. Like the rest of the Northern Sporades, Skiathos was conquered by the Ottoman admiral Hayreddin Barbarossa in 1538.


title: Skiathos

text: In 1704 monks from Athos built the Evangelistria Monastery, which played a part on the Greek War of Independence as a hide-out for Greek rebels. The first flag of Greece was created and hoisted in the Evangelistria Monastery in Skiathos in 1807, where several prominent military leaders (including Theodoros Kolokotronis and Andreas Miaoulis) had gathered for consultation concerning an uprising, and they were sworn to this flag by the local bishop.


title: Skiathos

text: After the War of Independence and demise of piracy in the Aegean, Kastro became less important. In 1830s, the island's capital was moved to the original site — where it still remains. Today, the ruins of Kastro are a tourist attraction.


title: Skiathos

text: During the 19th century Skiathos became an important shipbuilding centre in the Aegean due to the abundance of pine forests on the island. The pine woods of the island were then almost obliterated. This was brought to a halt though, due to the emergence of steamboats. A small shipwright remains north of Skiathos Town, which still builds traditional Greek caiques.


title: Skiathos

text: There is a regular boat service to the island and the rest of the Sporades islands with departures from Volos and Agios Konstantinos. The boats are operated mainly by Hellenic Seaways using its high-speed Flying Cat vessels as well as conventional ferries.


title: Skiathos

text: Skiathos International Airport is at the northeast of the island next to a lagoon and a lowland isthmus separating the island from the peninsula of Lazareta. As of summer 2011, Skiathos airport is served by Olympic Air flights from both Athens and Thessaloniki, while foreign airlines provide charter flights from a range of airports in European countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Austria, the Netherlands, Italy, Cyprus and Scandinavian countries. During the winter 2013/14, work began to expand the airport, with a runway extension and increased hard standing for parked aircraft.


title: Skiathos

text: The modern major road runs along the eastern and southern coast. Narrower roads, some paved and some dirt, reach the interior and the northwest coastline. There is regular, and during tourist season, very frequent bus transit from the main town to the Koukounaries beach in the southwest.


title: Skiathos

text: There are three bus routes on the island. The core route is from the main town to Koukounaries beach which travels along the south coast of the island. There are in total 26 bus stops and Koukounaries Beach is number 26 and the last stop. This route operates a fleet of five coaches as frequently as five times an hour during the summer peak season throughout the day, but is significantly reduced during the winter. The second route departs from Skiathos Town, to the Monastery of Evangelistria at an hourly daily schedule and the third bus route to Xanemos on the north coast with up to six round trips daily, both operated using mini-buses.


title: British Rail Class 377

text: The British Rail Class 377 "Electrostar" is a British dual-voltage electric multiple unit passenger train (EMU) built by Bombardier Transportation on its Electrostar platform at Derby Litchurch Lane Works from 2001 to 2014.


title: British Rail Class 377

text: The trains work suburban services in South London, and main-line commuter services to Sussex, Surrey, Kent and the South Coast, on which they replaced 4Cig and 4Vep slam-door stock that was more than 40 years old and did not meet modern health and safety requirements. Built in the early 2000s, the units had a troubled introduction. Being fully air-conditioned, their higher power consumption compared to the trains they replaced led to major upgrades being required to the 750 V DC third-rail power supply used in the former Southern region. The collapse of Railtrack following the Hatfield accident further delayed this upgrade work, and the new stock did not enter squadron service until 2003.


title: British Rail Class 377

text: Class 377s are fitted with external CCTV. There is an open area for wheelchairs or prams, and both intermediate coaches have toilets. Bodyside power doors are electrically operated, a move away from the air-powered systems of previous generation EMUs. Dual-voltage units are fitted with a Brecknell Willis high-speed pantograph, incorporating a pair of aerofoils on the pan knuckle to steady the pan head against the OLE contact wire.


title: British Rail Class 377

text: In the 4-car units the driving cars are composite. The first-class saloon is between the driving cab and the first set of passenger doors. 4-car units also do not contain the MOS coach.


title: British Rail Class 377

text: The Class 377 use Dellner instead of Tightlock couplings used on the Class 375s. Southern's 375s were all reclassified to Class 377/3s upon conversion. These reclassified units can still be identified by their 3-car formation. Note that Southeastern's 375s (sub-classes 375/3, 375/6, and 375/7) were also later converted from Tightlock to Dellner couplers but were not reclassified. Its sub-class 375/8 and 375/9 units were fitted with Dellner couplers, as built.


title: British Rail Class 377

text: All units can receive power via third-rail pick-up which provides 750 V DC. There are eight pick-up shoes per unit (twice the number of previous generation 4-car electric multiple units), and this enables them to ride smoothly over most third-rail gaps. The units in the 377/2, 377/5 and 377/7 sub-classes are dual-voltage, and are fitted with a pantograph to pick up 25 kV AC from overhead lines. On these units (and on single-voltage sub-class 377/6), the shoe mechanism is air-operated so that when powered down, or working on AC overhead lines, the shoe is raised out of the way. This is used on trains from Hemel Hempstead to Clapham Junction, which use part of the West Coast Main Line between Hemel Hempstead and Willesden Junction, and then the West London Line towards Clapham Junction. These trains change to third-rail DC supply on a dual-voltage section of the West London line north of Shepherd's Bush. Since March 2009, dual-voltage Class 377 units operated some Thameslink Bedford to Brighton, Rochester and Ashford services (see below). The Bedford to Brighton services are now run by Class 700s, while the Class 377/5s themselves are now operated by Southeastern.


title: British Rail Class 377

text: Among the remaining units, the trailer coach in each unit has a recess in its roof where a pantograph could be fitted, to allow for future conversion to overhead AC power.


title: British Rail Class 377

text: In April 2007, as part of the Route Utilisation Strategy for the Brighton Main Line, it was announced that Southern would procure an additional 48 Class 377 carriages to replace an identical number of carriages (12 x 4-car units) due to be transferred to First Capital Connect. Eleven further dual-voltage units were then added to the order, making a total of 23. The units were commissioned at Southern's Selhurst depot in Croydon before being transferred to First Capital Connect's Bedford Cauldwell depot. The first of these, unit 377501, was delivered to Cauldwell depot on 27 February 2009 after making its first appearance through the Thameslink Central London core. The 377/5s operated mainly on Bedford to Brighton services but in the peaks formed part of First Capital Connect's and Southeastern's joint service to places such as Rochester and Ashford.


title: British Rail Class 377

text: Delays in the construction of the Class 377/5s for First Capital Connect saw the temporary transfer of eight of Southern's Class 377/2s to FCC to enable it to implement the planned timetable changes on 22 March 2009. The loss of these units until September 2009 was covered by the temporary cascade of a number of Class 350/1s to Southern from London Midland, which operated services between East Croydon and Milton Keynes.


title: British Rail Class 377

text: In September 2011, it was announced that Southern had begun the procurement of 130 vehicles, due to delays in the procurement of new Thameslink rolling stock that would prevent transfer of the 377/5s in time for the December 2013 timetable change. The contract was awarded to Bombardier in December 2011.<ref name="377/6_announcement"></ref> The additional eight five-car units (from an option in the contract for 40 additional vehicles) are dual-voltage and known as Class 377/7.


title: British Rail Class 377

text: In December 2011, three Class 377/2 units were transferred from Southern to First Capital Connect to allow more 12-car services to operate.


title: British Rail Class 377

text: During mid-2013, the first of the new Class 377/6s arrived from Derby for type testing, and since October 2013, these units have been used in passenger service, initially in peak-hour services on the Sutton and Mole Valley lines, Epsom Downs Branch, Tattenham Corner Line and the Caterham Line.


title: British Rail Class 377

text: Southeastern received 25 Class 377 units (the 23 Class 377/5s and 2 Class 377/1s) in recent years, as specified in Department for Transport documents, published in September 2013, relating to the new combined Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern Franchise.


title: British Rail Class 377

text: Porterbrook is funding the £55 million five-year Project Aurora programme to refurbish 214 Class 377 Electrostars operated on Southern services. The work started in 2020 and is being done at Selhurst depot. 377 430 was the first unit to be completed in early 2021. Changes include the installation of screens showing live GTR and London Underground service information, the provision of USB and power points, energy-saving LED lighting and a passenger-counting system which will enable GTR to analyse how busy individual services are.


title: British Rail Class 377

text: In December 2016 Southeastern (Govia) received 8 units (377501-377508), transferred from Thameslink. In September 2017 these were joined by an additional 17 units (377509-523 & 377163/164). These units will be serviced and maintained at Southern's Selhurst Depot.


title: British Rail Class 377

text: In 2016, 19 of the 23 Class 377/5 units were planned to be transferred to Great Northern, for use on non-stop London-Cambridge services. However, the 29 former Thameslink Class 387/1s were transferred, instead. The Class 377/5s were later transferred to Southeastern, as part of their requirement for additional capacity.


title: British Rail Class 377

text: On 28 November 2016, a fire broke out in the MOSL car of a Southern Class 377 (unit 377442) at Eastbourne station, causing damage to the ceiling and interior. The cause was later identified to be faulty wiring within a hand dryer located in the toilet.


title: British Rail Class 377

text: On 17 February 2018, a 377 (unit 377454) hit a car on a level crossing at Barns Green near . The two occupants of the car died at the scene.


title: Chapter 3: The Sin

text: "Chapter 3: The Sin" is the third episode of the first season of the American streaming television series "The Mandalorian". It was written by the series' showrunner Jon Favreau, directed by Deborah Chow, and released on Disney+ on November 22, 2019. The episode stars Pedro Pascal as The Mandalorian, a lone bounty hunter who returns "the Child" to the mysterious Client (co-star Werner Herzog). The episode received one Primetime Emmy Awards nomination.


title: Chapter 3: The Sin

text: The Mandalorian delivers "the Child" to the Client. He asks about the plans for the Child, but is given no answer. When the Mandalorian returns to the secret Mandalorian enclave, his heavily damaged armor is replaced by the Armorer with a new set forged from some of the beskar reward. Another Mandalorian berates him for working with former agents of the Galactic Empire, who are responsible for their predicament; the Armorer defuses the situation by reminding them of the Way of Mandalore. Returning to the guild, the Mandalorian learns from Greef Karga that everyone in the guild had a tracking fob for the Child. Greef implores him to take some time to rest, but the Mandalorian insists on taking on another job. He asks Greef if he has any idea what The Client has planned for the Child, but Greef says he did not ask as it would be against the guild code, telling him he should forget about it. Despite accepting a new assignment and starting to prepare his ship to depart, the Mandalorian turns back to infiltrate The Client's base of operations.


title: Chapter 3: The Sin

text: Killing many Imperial stormtroopers, he rescues the Child from a laboratory. On the way back to his ship, the Mandalorian is ambushed by the other bounty hunters and Greef, who demand he hand the Child over. After he refuses, a firefight breaks out, leaving the Mandalorian heavily outnumbered and cornered, but warriors from the Mandalorian enclave unexpectedly arrive, attacking the bounty hunters and giving the Mandalorian cover to escape. Ambushing the Mandalorian on his ship, Greef gives him one last chance to surrender, but the Mandalorian outsmarts him and shoots him, ejecting him from the spacecraft. The Child's hand appears, reaching up to the console from below; the Mandalorian unscrews a control knob that he had earlier berated the Child for playing with, and drops it into its hand.


title: Chapter 3: The Sin

text: The episode was directed by Deborah Chow, who is the first woman to direct a live-action "Star Wars" project. The episode was written by showrunner Jon Favreau, who also provided the voice of Paz Vizla.


title: Chapter 3: The Sin

text: On December 12, 2018, it was announced that Werner Herzog, Omid Abtahi, and Carl Weathers had joined the main cast, as The Client, Dr. Pershing and Greef Karga, respectively. Emily Swallow guest stars as The Armorer. Brendan Wayne and Lateef Crowder are credited as stunt doubles for The Mandalorian. Paz Vizla was voiced by Favreau and physically played by stunt double Tait Fletcher. Gene Freeman is credited as stunt double for Greef Karga. "The Child" was performed by various puppeteers.


title: Chapter 3: The Sin

text: Ludwig Göransson composed the musical score for the episode. The soundtrack album for the episode was released on November 22, 2019.


title: Chapter 3: The Sin

text: "The Sin" received critical acclaim. On Rotten Tomatoes, the episode holds an approval rating of 94% with an average rating of 8.2/10, based on 33 reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "Director Deborah Chow brings the action in 'The Sin', an effective and exciting installment that pushes deeper into "The Mandalorian"s story."


title: Chapter 3: The Sin

text: In a positive review, Tyler Hersko, of "IndieWire", stated that "[It] has done an admirable job of establishing its premise and most of its main characters in its first three episodes, but it remains to be seen if the rest of the season can move those elements in an interesting (and hopefully inventive) direction." Kelly Lawler of "USA Today" wrote: "Three episodes into the series set in a galaxy far, far away, Baby Yoda has emerged as the shining star of "Mandalorian", the standout character who keeps fans coming back for more as the uneven series chugs on." Katie Rife of "The A.V. Club" gave the episode a grade B+, and praised Göransson's score, saying it sounds like Ennio Morricone's themes played by robots, "perfect for the show's tone".


title: David Marshall (Scottish footballer)

text: David James Marshall (born 5 March 1985) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Scottish Premiership club Hibernian, and formerly played for the Scotland national team.


title: David Marshall (Scottish footballer)

text: Marshall started his career at Celtic, where he came through the youth system and starred in a European victory against Barcelona. After losing his place at Celtic to Artur Boruc, Marshall moved to Norwich City (initially on loan) in 2007. He moved to Cardiff City in 2009, and helped them win promotion to the Premier League in 2013. Marshall stayed with Cardiff until 2016, when he was transferred to Hull City for £5 million. After three seasons with Hull, he has since played for Wigan Athletic, Derby County and Queens Park Rangers.


title: David Marshall (Scottish footballer)

text: Marshall made his full international debut for Scotland in 2004. He went on to win 47 caps, despite having had to compete with Craig Gordon and Allan McGregor for the goalkeeping position in the national team for much of his career. Marshall played a key role in Scotland's qualification for UEFA Euro 2020, as he made decisive saves in penalty shootouts against Israel and Serbia.


title: David Marshall (Scottish footballer)

text: Marshall was born in Glasgow and raised in Riddrie in the east end of the city, where he attended St Andrew's Secondary School. A supporter of Celtic in childhood and a product of their youth academy, he made his first team debut for the club in February 2003 as a substitute for Javier Sánchez Broto in the Scottish Cup against St Johnstone at Celtic Park, and was an unused substitute in the 2003 Scottish League Cup Final a month later. Although first team opportunities were limited, he excelled in Celtic's reserve team under the management of then coach, Kenny McDowall.


title: David Marshall (Scottish footballer)

text: Marshall was thrust into the limelight soon after these impressive displays for Celtic reserves in March 2004 in a fourth round UEFA Cup tie against Spanish giants FC Barcelona. In the first leg at Celtic Park, starting goalkeeper Rab Douglas was sent off at half-time, and 19-year-old Marshall came on in his place as Celtic won 1–0. With Douglas suspended Marshall played from the start at the Camp Nou in the second leg two weeks later and put in an excellent performance, to secure a goalless draw that put Celtic into the next round 1–0 on aggregate. He went on to save a penalty from Barcelona player Ronaldinho during a Champions League match in the following season.


title: David Marshall (Scottish footballer)

text: His Celtic career took a downward turn under the management of Gordon Strachan. In the first two games under Strachan he conceded nine goals: five to Artmedia Petržalka and four to Motherwell. With the signing of Artur Boruc, Marshall was consigned to the bench and remained there for the following 18 months before being sent on loan to Norwich City. In July 2007, Celtic agreed to transfer Marshall to Norwich permanently for an undisclosed fee.


title: David Marshall (Scottish footballer)

text: Marshall signed on loan for Norwich in January 2007. He made his Norwich debut was against Blackpool, but was sidelined for the remainder of the 2006–07 season due to an injury sustained in a FA Cup fourth round tie with Chelsea in February after falling awkwardly on his ankle, and returned to Celtic.


title: David Marshall (Scottish footballer)

text: On 4 July 2007, Marshall signed a three-year contract with Norwich. Marshall impressed in his pre-season appearances for the club, performing well against Vitesse Arnhem and West Ham United in particular.


title: David Marshall (Scottish footballer)

text: Before Norwich's last home game of the 2007–08 season against Queens Park Rangers at Carrow Road, Marshall came third in the voting for Norwich City player of the year after a string of impressive displays. He was the only member of the squad to have played every minute of every game in the season.


title: David Marshall (Scottish footballer)

text: On 12 May 2009, following Norwich's relegation, Marshall signed for Championship side Cardiff City in a deal worth up to £500,000. He was chosen as the first choice goalkeeper over Finland international Peter Enckelman by manager Dave Jones, making his debut on the opening day of the season in a 4–0 win over Scunthorpe United before conceding his first goal in a 1–1 draw with Blackpool in the following match. Marshall let in three goals in his first South Wales Derby where City went on to lose 3–2 to Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium. Marshall suffered an injury in a 2–1 loss against Ipswich Town, resulting in Peter Enckelman coming on for the last 45 minutes and two goals being scored. Marhsall did recover in time for the next game, were Cardiff beat Preston North End 1–0. After his quick return Marshall kept three consecutive clean sheets the other two coming against West Bromwich Albion and Middlesbrough and also making 150th league appearance against Middlesbrough.


title: David Marshall (Scottish footballer)

text: Marshall retained his first team place for the first two months of the following season, before being dropped for second choice keeper, Tom Heaton after a 2–0 defeat to Ipswich Town. Marshall didn't see first team football until the beginning of December in a 1–1 draw with Preston North End but only managed to start the next four games before being injured. But he managed to make his final appearance of the 2010–11 season in a FA Cup game against Stoke City before receiving an elbow injury which ended his season, after it was confirmed he needed elbow surgery.


title: David Marshall (Scottish footballer)

text: Marshall returned the following pre-season as first-choice goalkeeper, starting all the warm-up games under new manager and fellow Scotsman, Malky Mackay. He made his full return in the opening game against West Ham United, which Cardiff won 1–0. He made his 100th appearance for the club during the season in a goalless draw with Burnley. Cardiff finished in the play-off a third successive season but lost 5–0 to West Ham United in the semi-finals. At the end of the season, Marshall was out of contract but on 23 May, he signed a new three-year deal keeping him in Cardiff till 2015.


title: David Marshall (Scottish footballer)

text: Marshall made his one hundredth league appearance for Cardiff City on 17 August 2012, the opening day of the 2012–13 season against Huddersfield Town, a game in which he also won man of the match. With manager Malky Mackay describing Marshall as the best goalkeeper in the Football League, the shot-stopper kept eighteen clean sheets in the 2012–13 season, more than any other Championship goalkeeper, and was a strong contender for City's Player of The Season Award as the Welsh club achieved promotion to the Premier League.


title: David Marshall (Scottish footballer)

text: During Cardiff's one-year stint in the top division, Marshall earned a number of plaudits following some impressive performances. His performances earned him a new four-year contract, keeping him at Cardiff until 2018. He was named in the Sky Sports Premier League team of the year by Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher and was awarded the club's Player of the Year award. In July 2014 manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær claimed that Marshall had been the best keeper in the Premier League of the 2013–14 season.


title: David Marshall (Scottish footballer)

text: Following the sale of club captain, Mark Hudson, in September 2014, Marshall was given club captaincy.


title: David Marshall (Scottish footballer)

text: In the final game of the 2014–15 season against Nottingham Forest, Marshall was sent off for violent conduct, meaning he would miss the first three games of the following season.


title: David Marshall (Scottish footballer)

text: Cardiff manager Russell Slade admitted he was unsure whether Marshall would retain the captaincy for the season, if Cardiff got off to a good start. Marshall was subject to a £4.5 million from West Bromwich Albion, which was rebuffed by Cardiff and the club stated the player was not for sale. He received another red card after lashing out at Rotherham United's Matt Derbyshire after he was pulled by the striker, which left Cardiff a goal down, following Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe's penalty.


title: David Marshall (Scottish footballer)

text: During the January transfer window, Cardiff placed a £10 million valuation on Marshall following attention from Premier League clubs. Despite pushing for the play-offs for the majority of the season, Cardiff missed out after losing at Sheffield Wednesday.


title: David Marshall (Scottish footballer)

text: In August 2016, Cardiff accepted a bid for Marshall worth up to £5 million, including add-ons, from newly promoted Premier League side Hull City. On 30 August, Marshall completed a move to the "Tigers" for an undisclosed fee. He made his debut on 21 September 2016 in the League Cup in a 2–1 away win against Stoke City. Hull were relegated to the Championship at the end of the 2016–17 season. Marshall left Hull in June 2019, at the end of his contract.


title: David Marshall (Scottish footballer)

text: Marshall signed a two-year contract with Wigan Athletic in July 2019. He made 38 appearances in his debut season and kept 15 clean sheets, including a fine run of seven in a row either side of the break in the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.


title: David Marshall (Scottish footballer)

text: On 21 August 2020, he joined Derby County. After Wayne Rooney became manager, Marshall was named captain.


title: David Marshall (Scottish footballer)

text: Early in the 2021–22 season, Rooney demoted Marshall to third-choice. "At the minute, Ryan and Kelle are the two who will be involved," said Rooney. "The goalkeeping position is a difficult one, only one can play, so you have to make decisions on that. Marshy will have to be ready in case anything happens and when he gets the chance, take it."


title: David Marshall (Scottish footballer)

text: On 11 January 2022, Marshall joined Queens Park Rangers on a deal until the end of the season. His season was ended by a hamstring injury in March 2022, and he left QPR at the end of his contract.


title: David Marshall (Scottish footballer)

text: Marshall signed a two-year contract with Scottish club Hibernian in May 2022, which commenced on 1 July.


title: David Marshall (Scottish footballer)

text: After his standout performance for Celtic against Barcelona in the 2003–04 UEFA Cup, Marshall was selected by Scotland national football team. He made his full international debut on 18 August 2004 in a friendly against Hungary. Some observers expected Marshall to establish himself as the first choice goalkeeper for Scotland, but Craig Gordon and then Allan McGregor were picked more regularly instead.


title: David Marshall (Scottish footballer)

text: Unusually, his first appearance for the under-21 team came after his first appearance at full level. He played four times for the under-21s between 2005 and 2006, and he was selected for a Scotland B match at the end of the 2008–09 season.


title: David Marshall (Scottish footballer)

text: Marshall stated in May 2009 that he aimed to reignite his career for the national team. With first choice keeper Craig Gordon injured, he went on to play in two of Scotland's following three matches, a 4–0 defeat to Norway and a 1–0 defeat to Netherlands. Marshall performed creditably against the Dutch, but Scotland had lost in all of his five appearances to date, conceding 15 goals in total.


title: David Marshall (Scottish footballer)

text: An injury to McGregor, and Gordon being without a club, appeared to have offered an opportunity for Marshall early in the 2012–13 season, but Matt Gilks played instead. Marshall was part of a winning Scottish side on his eighth cap against Macedonia with Scotland winning 2–1, However, he was injured during the game and was replaced by Gilks at half time. Marshall won his tenth cap on 19 November 2013 in a friendly away against Norway, keeping a clean sheet and producing several good saves in a 1–0 win for Scotland.


title: David Marshall (Scottish footballer)

text: Marshall was first choice during UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying, but was dropped after a 3–0 defeat to Slovakia in October 2016. Steve Clarke recalled him in June 2019, when he played in the Euro 2020 qualifiers against Cyprus and Belgium. Marshall saved an effort from Eran Zahavi during a penalty shootout against Israel in October 2020, which helped Scotland progress in the Euro 2020 qualifying play-offs. He then saved the decisive penalty in another shootout in the playoff final against Serbia, which qualified Scotland for their first major tournament in 22 years. His appearance in those matches also set a record for the longest-spanning international career for a Scottish player (16 years 2 months and 26 days), exceeding a record set by 19th-century goalkeeper Ned Doig (Jim Leighton's time ended within two months of Doig's mark); however, Marshall was soon overtaken by Craig Gordon.


title: David Marshall (Scottish footballer)

text: Marshall played in all of Scotland's three matches at the Euro 2020 finals. His positioning for a long-range goal by Czech Republic forward Patrik Schick, which was later voted goal of the tournament, was criticised by some observers.


title: David Marshall (Scottish footballer)

text: Following the loss of his first-team place at Derby County, Marshall was dropped from the Scotland squad for World Cup qualifiers in September 2021. Marshall was recalled to the squad in March 2022, but had to withdraw due to injury. He was again called into the squad in June 2022, but retired from international football following the team's playoff defeat by Ukraine.


title: Velamentous cord insertion

text: Velamentous cord insertion is a complication of pregnancy where the umbilical cord is inserted in the fetal membranes. It is a major cause of antepartum hemorrhage that leads to loss of fetal blood and associated with high perinatal mortality. In normal pregnancies, the umbilical cord inserts into the middle of the placental mass and is completely encased by the amniotic sac. The vessels are hence normally protected by Wharton's jelly, which prevents rupture during pregnancy and labor. In velamentous cord insertion, the vessels of the umbilical cord are improperly inserted in the chorioamniotic membrane, and hence the vessels traverse between the amnion and the chorion towards the placenta. Without Wharton's jelly protecting the vessels, the exposed vessels are susceptible to compression and rupture.


title: Velamentous cord insertion

text: The exact cause of velamentous cord insertion is unknown, although risk factors include nulliparity, the use of assisted reproductive technology, maternal obesity, and pregnancy with other placental anomalies. Velamentous cord insertion is often diagnosed using an abdominal ultrasound. This is most successful in the second trimester, however Color Doppler ultrasound or transvaginal ultrasound can be used in difficult cases, such as when the placenta is located posteriorly. If the woman is diagnosed with velamentous cord insertion, the pregnancy is closely monitored, especially as velamentous cord insertion is a strong risk factor for vasa previa, where the exposed vessels cross the cervix and are at high risk of rupture during membrane rupture in early labor. Management strategies for velamentous cord insertion also involve determining the presence of vasa previa. Velamentous cord insertion impacts fetal development during pregnancy by impairing the development of the placenta and modifying the efficiency of placental function. This can manifest in a range of adverse perinatal outcomes, such as fetal growth restriction, placental abruption, abnormal fetal heart rate patterns, and fetal death. Velamentous cord insertion affects between 0.1%-1.8% of pregnancies, though its incidence increases ten-fold in multiple pregnancies.


title: Velamentous cord insertion

text: Signs and symptoms of velamentous cord insertion during pregnancy include blood vessel compression, decrease in blood supply to the fetus, and impaired growth and development of the fetus. Blood tests taken in the second trimester may reveal increased levels of serum human chorionic gonadotropin and reduced levels of alpha-fetoprotein. The mother may also experience vaginal bleeding, particularly in the third trimester. Women with velamentous cord insertion may not experience any symptoms throughout pregnancy. During delivery, there may be slow or abnormal fetal heart rate patterns and there may be excessive bleeding or hemorrhage, particularly if the fetal vessels rupture.


title: Velamentous cord insertion

text: The exact mechanisms leading to insertion of the umbilical cord in the fetal membranes are unknown, although they are likely to occur in the first trimester. One theory is that velamentous cord insertion may arise from the process of placental trophotropism, which is the phenomenon where the placenta migrates towards areas which have better blood flow with advancing gestation. The placenta grows in regions with better blood supply and portions atrophy in regions of poor blood flow. This process of atrophy may result in the exposure of umbilical blood vessels, causing marginal or peripheral placental insertion to evolve to velamentous insertion over time.


title: Velamentous cord insertion

text: Placentas with velamentous cord insertion have a lower vessel density. As the growth of the fetus is dependent on the organization, mass, and nutrient-transfer capacity of the placenta, fetal development is hence hindered in velamentous cord insertion. This can lead to fetal malformations and low birth weight. The umbilical vessels may also be longer compared to normal, particularly when the site of velamentous cord insertion is in the lower uterine section as the extension of the uterine isthmus as pregnancy advances causes vessel elongation. This results in increased vascular resistance, which impedes nutrient transfer to the fetus.


title: Velamentous cord insertion

text: The umbilical vessels experience increased pressure and compression as they are not protected by Wharton's jelly. This can cause decreased or acute cessation of blood flow, decreased cardiac output, and pulmonary complications in the newborn. The elongated, exposed vessels in lower velamentous cord insertion cases are more readily compressed by the fetus, hence there is an even greater risk of non-reassuring fetal heart rate pattern and emergency caesarean section.


title: Velamentous cord insertion

text: The growth-restricting impacts of placental insufficiency resulting from velamentous cord insertion can also augment the effects of increased pressure to the umbilical vessels. Normally in the second half of pregnancy, one-third of fetal cardiac output is directed towards the placenta. This fraction is reduced to around one-fifth in the last few weeks of pregnancy, while the remaining umbilical blood is recirculated in the fetal body, corresponding with decreased fetal reserves of oxygen. In pregnancies with growth restriction, the fraction of fetal cardiac output distributed to the placenta decreases, further lowering fetal reserves. This can result in increased risk of caesarean delivery, fetal hypoxia, and perinatal death in pregnancies with velamentous cord insertion.


title: Velamentous cord insertion

text: Damage to the umbilical cord vessels can occur when the amniotic membranes are ruptured, particularly in the case of vasa previa, potentially leading to fetal exsanguination. If the umbilical vessels are positioned such that their rupture is likely during labor, an elective operative birth at 35–36 weeks gestation may be planned, and corticosteroids may be administered in order to assist with fetal lung maturation. Overall, velamentous cord insertion doubles the risk of both preterm birth and acute caesarean section.


title: Velamentous cord insertion

text: Abdominal ultrasound can be used to visualize the insertion site of the umbilical cord. Overall, visualization is most successful in the second trimester, however routine ultrasound examination in the second trimester may not detect velamentous cord insertion if the condition develops after the remodelling of the placenta as gestation advances. Visualization becomes increasingly difficult in the third trimester as the fetus may obscure the insertion site.


title: Velamentous cord insertion

text: The umbilical cord and its insertion site may be obscured by the fetus, such as in posterior placenta or in low-lying placenta, or may be difficult to visualise due to conditions such as maternal obesity. In these cases, the use of Color Doppler ultrasound or transvaginal ultrasound can enhance the visualization of the umbilical cord, and are able to diagnose velamentous cord insertion at 18–20 weeks.


title: Velamentous cord insertion

text: If velamentous cord insertion is diagnosed, fetal growth is assessed every four weeks using ultrasound beginning at 28 weeks. If intrauterine growth restriction is observed, the umbilical cord is also assessed for signs of compression. Non-stress tests may be performed twice a week to ensure adequate blood flow to the fetus. The amniotic fluid may be frequently assessed for high levels of inflammatory markers such as interleukin-6 which can indicate intra-amniotic inflammation.


title: Velamentous cord insertion

text: Upon diagnosis of velamentous cord insertion, transvaginal ultrasound with Color Doppler may also be performed to determine whether any of the exposed vessels are within two centimeters of the internal cervical os. If such vessels are identified, vasa previa may be present and cervical length is measured every week to determine the risk of premature rupture of membranes.


title: Velamentous cord insertion

text: Women diagnosed with velamentous cord insertion may also receive counselling about the condition, its risks, and potential courses of action, including preterm delivery or caesarean delivery.