Maria Karystianou, the ‘Mother of Tempe’, Upends Greek Politics

Maria Karystianou Tempe
Maria Karystianou has kept the tragic accident of Tempe in the limelight. Credit: Facebook/ Maria Karystianou

If it were not for Maria Karystianou the railway tragedy at Tempe in 2023 that claimed the lives of 53 people would perhaps been forgotten.

Karystianou, dubbed the “mother of Tempe”, has been fighting for the last 12 months in Greece and abroad to seek justice for the victims and punishment for those responsible irrespective of their place in politics.

The Thessaloniki-born pediatrician who represents the families of the 57 victims of the train accident in Tempe lost her 20-year-old daughter Marti Psaropoulou at the train crash.

In emotional speeches at the Greek Parliament, the European Parliament and other national and international fora she almost single-handedly forced the conservative government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis into a defensive mode.

In social media networks, her name leads the trends. Her speeches are not just moving; they are thought-provoking and make you think. People see in her a person who manages to control her pain of losing her child and fights for a right to know that is not hers alone.

Maria Karystianou leads call for the lifting of immunity after Tempe

Almost one and a half million Greek citizens signed a resolution calling for the lifting of parliamentary immunity for the political figures involved in the case.

Questions she has been raising about a possible cover-up after the tragic accident and the parliamentary immunity of former ministers have kept the issue open: Who was responsible and why they are not punished?

Speaking at the European Parliament earlier in the week she said that the Greek government “initiated a sequence of bad manipulations and methods, which insults the memory of our dead and the dignity of the victims who survived.”

Karystianou noted the government through the Parliament provides the competent minister at the time and current MP Kostas Karamanlis full immunity.

“It doesn’t even refer him to face justice,” she said.

“In the first 24 hours after the fatal collision, a government cover-up was ordered for which to this day no one has taken responsibility, even though it has been publicly acknowledged,” she said.

“During the collision, flammable and illegal substances caused a huge explosion that incinerated most of them. This cargo was not even declared. Within 5 days they moved the debris and filled the area. Crucial evidence of guilt was lost,” she added.

Party politics

Some have been trying to use her for petty political purposes. Social media users wonder whether she is on the left of the political spectrum and wants to topple the conservative government with her elaborate interventions.

“No opposition party has asked me or even hinted that I may join them [in the run-up to the European elections]. I only hear these rumors from supporters of the ruling party,” she said.

Most agree that Karystianou doesn’t belong to anyone. It belongs to herself, who is going through the hell of a terrible loss. She was driven to the center stage by pain and tragedy, but also by the insecurity she feels towards the institutions, like most Greek citizens.

RelatedGreek Railway Disaster Expert Speaks of Crucial Omissions in Tempe Probe

The Heroines of the Greek War of Independence

heroines greek war of independence
Greece personified as a woman in the painting “Grateful Hellas” by Theodoros Vryzakis, 1858. Credit: Public Domain

The role that Greek women played in the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire is not to be overlooked, as these heroines helped shape the course of Greece’s fight for freedom.

Several women stand out as having influenced the Greek War of Independence, while others– who are nameless — will always be remembered in the hearts and stories of the Greek people for their bravery and as revered martyrs.

Let’s take a look at some of the most memorable among these women:

Laskarina Bouboulina: renowned heroine of the Greek War of Independence

heroines greek war of independence
Laskarina Bouboulina. Credit: Public Domain

One of the most renowned heroines of the Greek War of Independence, Bouboulina was a patriot to her last breath.

She was born in May of 1771 in a prison in Constantinople and led a most unconventional life for her times.

Laskarina was married twice and inherited a fortune due to her marriages. There are reports that in 1819 Bouboulina joined the “Filiki Etaireia” (Society of Friends), the underground organization preparing to facilitate a revolution against Ottoman rule to liberate Greece.

Bouboulina went on to become a Greek naval commander in the Greek War of Independence. On March 13, 1821 she raised the Greek flag, which was based on the flag of the Comnenus dynasty of Byzantine emperors, on the mast of her ship, and led her fleet of eight ships to Nafplio, where she started a naval blockade.

Her wealth and fortune were a great asset, and she spent most of her riches on supplying ammunition and food for the sailors and soldiers under her command. She would go on to participate in other naval blockades and the capture of Monemvasia and Pylos. In 1825, however, she was killed by an unknown assassin on the balcony of her house on Spetses during a family feud.

Manto Mavrogenous, a fighter for the cause of Greek freedom

heroines greek war of independence
Portrait of Mavrogenous by Adam Friedel. Credit: Public Domain

Born in 1796 in Trieste, Italy, which was at the time part of the Austrian Empire, Mavrogenous moved to Paros with her family in 1809 and joined the Filiki Etaireia in 1820 when she learned from her father, who was already a member of the organization, that they were preparing a revolution.

She was wealthy and well-educated, and convinced her friends to donate their money in efforts to increase the weaponry for the Greeks fighting in the revolution, appealingto wealthy women as far away as Paris to side with the Greeks.

Mavrogenous first went to Mykonos to invite leaders to join in the revolution.

Soon afterward, she left her family in 1823 and moved to Nafplio to fight at the center of the conflict. She stayed in Nafplion after the war concluded, and was granted the rank of Lieutenant General by Kapodistrias. After Kapodistrias’ assassination, Mavrogenous returned to Mykonos and lost her life to typhoid fever in July of 1848.

Rallou Karatza was a princess, actress, and revolutionary

Born a princess in 1799, Karatza became an actress, theater director and translator. She was a participant in the Greek War of Independence, as it is rumored that she too became a member of the Filiki Etaireia, using her influence as a stage actress to help the revolution.

Karatza translated and performed plays from Western Europe in the “Cişmeaua Roşie” in Bucharest, where she became a valuable weapon of propaganda for the revolution. Reports say that she died in 1870.

delacroix
“Greece on the Ruins of Messolonghi,” Eugene Delcroix, 1826. Credit: Public Domain

The “Mesolongitisses,” heroines who defended Greece in the War of Independence

The women of Messolonghi, or “Mesolongitisses” are remembered as the brave heroines who, during the Greek War of Independence, helped in the efforts to liberate Greece from the Turks in many ways.

They not only defended western Greece throughout the long siege of the area, they also helped the soldiers by transporting materials to build forts, such as wood and tools, and helped the wounded to recover. During the exodus, many of the women of Missolonghi perished alongside the soldiers, as they were massacred, captured or committed suicide to escape torture or enslavement at the hands of their enemy.

zalongo
Monument to the women at Zalongo. Credit: Ha Te/ Wikimedia Commons/ CC BY-SA 4.0

The “Souliotisses” chose death over capture

The women of Souli, called “Souliotisses” are known for their bravery in fighting as well as for being martyrs. They took part in the military operations of northern Greece and even threw boulders from high cliffs onto the Turks below during battles.

In December of 1803, at the “Dance of Zalongo” these women threw themselves off the high cliffs where they once had thrown rocks.They chose to commit suicide rather than be captured by the Turks.

George Karlaftis Is the Grand Master of the Greek New York Parade

Karlaftis Greek New York Parade
New York Greek Independence Day Parade 2023. Credit: GreekReporter

George Karlaftis, who just won his second Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs, will be the Grand Master of the New York Parade to honor Greek independence, organizers announced on Thursday.

The 2024 Greek Independence Parade Weekend will consist of the Flag Raising at Bowling Green on Friday, April 12th, the Gala on April 13th, and the Parade on Fifth Avenue in New York City on April 14th.

Karlaftis and the New York Greek parade

Thousands of Greek-Americans and others are expected to descend onto Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue to watch the traditional parade and participate in the festivities to mark the anniversary of the Greek revolution against the Ottoman Turks.

The annual event, a celebration of Hellenic identity, culture, and achievements in the world, is organized and hosted by the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York, a non-profit organization committed to fostering an appreciation of Greek-American heritage and achievement.

Last year, George M. Logothetis, Executive Chairman of Libra Group, was the Grand Marshal of the parade, and he walked along Archibishop Elpidophoros, Greek Ambassador to the US Alexandra Papadopoulou, and other dignitaries.

“As a proud Greek-American, it is an honor to be named a Grand Marshal for New York’s Greek Independence Day Parade,” said Logothetis.

Karlaftis’ rise to the top

Karlaftis, a proud Greek American, was instrumental in the Chiefs’ win against the San Francisco 49ers with a score of 25-22 in February. Karlaftis’ impact was felt immediately, recovering a Christian McCaffrey fumble to end San Francisco’s first drive.

Karlaftis has started 33 regular season games in his first two seasons and has 16.5 career sacks in addition to two Super Bowl wins.

He is 6’4″ and weighs 263 pounds. He is indeed huge compared to most humans, but perhaps his abnormality in American football is that he may be a bit undersized. Some questioned if he could compete against the many top players of the NFL. It turns out observers find him relentless.

George Karlaftis’ father, Matt, a javelin thrower, was a star in track and field at the University of Miami. His father, while attending graduate school, met his mother Amy at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. Purdue has an unsung relationship with Greece and Greek-Americans.

George’s parents returned to Athens, where his father became a professor. The family had four children. Everything changed, however, when their father died of a heart attack while traveling for work at age forty-four. Within days, their mother, Amy, moved the children back to Indiana, where she had more support.

It was in Indiana that George, who played many sports in Greece, fell in love with American football.

RelatedGeorge Karlaftis: The Greek Freak of American Football?

Impressive Greece Edges Closer to Euro 2024

Greece Euro 2024
Credit: Players of the Greek National team celebrate one of the five goals against Kazakhstan on Thursday night. Credit: AMNA

Greece thrashed Kazakhstan 5-0 in their Euro 2024 play-off semi-final on Thursday and has one final hurdle to clear on its way to the finals.

If Greece beats Georgia in Tbilisi on Tuesday it will qualify to the finals of a major international competition after a 12-year wait.

A truly imposing performance by the players of coach Gus Poyet at the OPAP Arena on Thursday night led to an unexpectedly comfortable victory in the division’s semifinal.

The Greeks opened the score in the first five minutes, as Dimitris Pelkas earned a penalty that captain Tasos Bakasetas converted into the first goal.

The second came just eight minutes later, this time with Pelkas translating into a goal the delightful cross from the right by Giorgos Massouras.

Massouras was also the provider for the third goal that Fotis Ioannidis scored on the 37th, three minutes before Dimitris Kourbelis headed home another cross from the right, this time by Kostas Tsimikas, for 4-0 at half-time.

The Greeks dropped a gear in the second half, as victory was already assured, but a fifth goal arrived five minutes from the end by the Kazakhs themselves: Yerkin Tapalov scored an own goal from a corner kick Greece took, once again, from the right.

Repeat performance on Tuesday could see Greece in Euro 2024

Overall it was an impressive performance by the Greek National team. A repeat performance on Tuesday will surely guarantee a place in Euro 2024, a competition it won so unexpectedly in 2004.

Euro 2024 is taking place next summer, with 23 teams joining the hosts in the finals. Germany will host the tournament, which is scheduled to take place from 14 June to 14 July 2024.

It will be the third time that European Championship matches are played on German territory and the second time in reunified Germany, as the former West Germany hosted the tournament’s 1988 edition.

Greece has transformed itself under the guidance of Gus Poyet since February 2022. He guided the team to four victories from their four opening fixtures in League C of the 2022 UEFA Nations League, helping Greece earn promotion to League B for the following campaign. Now he is set to lead the team to the finals of Euro 2024.

It has been a great few weeks for Greek soccer as soccer giants Olympiacos and PAOK triumphed advancing to the last 8 of Europa Conference League and dreaming of a place in the final of the UEFA competition that will be held in Athens.

PAOK and Olympiacos are also contenders for the title in Greece’s Super League, along with AEK Athens and Panathinaikos.

The Unknown War Between Ancient Greeks and China

AI depiction of the heavenly horses
The War of the Heavenly Horses set the stage for an epic confrontation between the ancient Greeks of the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom and the mighty Han Dynasty of China. Credit: DALLE for the Greek Reporter

Greece and China have been two of the world’s most unique civilizations, but how many of us knew that the two nations have actually been at war against each other?

The story is more complicated than one might think. Buried beneath heroic stories of Alexander’s conquests and the vast expanse of the Macedonian Empire, we can see a lesser-known conflict. This conflict is known as “The War of the Heavenly Horses.”

This skirmish, far from the Mediterranean’s sunny shores, set the stage for an epic confrontation between the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom and the mighty Han Dynasty of China between 104 and 102 BC.

The prize? A breed of horses so esteemed they were deemed heavenly.

What led to the War of ancient Greeks and China

Emerging from the fragments of Alexander the Great‘s vast empire, the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom was a cultural melting pot. It flourished in the region now known as Afghanistan and Tajikistan, among others.

Its newly established cities were beacons of Hellenistic culture, blending Greek art, philosophy, and governance with the rich traditions of the local populations of Central Asia. This unique kingdom was at the crossroads of the ancient world. It extended its influence through trade as well as military expeditions and cultural exchange. This brief but crucial presence of the Greek element in Central Asia left an indelible mark on the history of the broader area.

Meanwhile, in the East, the Han Dynasty of China had already risen with ambitions that stretched beyond the vast landscapes of mainland China.

Under the rule of Emperor Wu, the Han wanted desperately to expand their borders, bolster their military, and secure their own position as a dominant force in Asia.

Central to these ambitions was the acquisition of the legendary Ferghana horses. These horses were known for their speed and strength. They would potentially become the reason for turning the tide in the ongoing conflict that the Dynasty had with the nomadic group of Xiongnu. Thus, the Han Dynasty went to the very edge of their borders, reaching the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom and setting the stage for a monumental clash in the name of the Heavenly Horses.

This conflict unfolds a tale of royal ambition, thoughtful diplomacy, and warfare over the extraordinary Ferghana horses.

A map of the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom.
A map of the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom. Credit: Martinez-Seve-Laurianne, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Prelude to war

The stage for this conflict was set when Emperor Wu showed his sheer determination to increase the size of his cavalry with the mythical Ferghana horses. These creatures, famed for their speed and strength, were said to sweat blood instead of water, and their valor in battle was believed to be unmatched.

The emperor’s envoy, a man called Zhang Qian, brought tales of these majestic beasts back from the Ferghana Valley. Qian was sent on a ten-year expedition to the West in order to find all he could get to support his Dynasty’s power. These tales started to ignite a desire that would ultimately lead to war.

However, when diplomatic missions to secure these horses ended in violence—with the envoys ambushed and the gold meant for trade confiscated by the Greeks—the stage was set. A military confrontation was inevitable.

The Ferghana Valley was surrounded by the Tien Shan and Pamir mountains. It was, however, more than just a geographical location. It was the melting point between the sedentary civilizations of the East and the nomadic cultures of the West.

Its horses became the ultimate prize that would see the Han Dynasty and the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom, two powers separated by vast distances and different cultures, drawn into a conflict that would be remembered as the War of the Heavenly Horses.

This was an event that not only showed how the Ferghana horses were important to the Chinese but also underscored the lengths to which empires would go to secure an advantage over their enemies.

The clash was fueled by a blend of strategic ambitions and became the only time that the ancient Greeks and Chinese would engage in a deadly fight.

Eastern Han ingot imprints with Greek inscriptions, excavated in Shaanxi, China. 1st-2nd century CE.
Eastern Han ingot imprints with Greek letters, excavated in Shaanxi, China. 1st-2nd century CE. credit: u/SXZ728/ Reddit

The stages of the War of the Heavenly Horses

The war was marked by its logistical nightmares and fierce resistance on the part of the Greeks. General Li Guangl, the leader of the Chinese forces, attacked in 104 BC but had been underestimating the resilience of the Greco-Bactrian defenders. He also didn’t think much about the harsh terrain and faced a humiliating retreat after his very first attack.

Yet, the spirit of the Han was not going to fade that easily. A second, larger expedition was meticulously organized soon after. This time, he used a formidable force of infantry, along with his cavalry and a caravan of supply animals. This showed the Greeks of the Greco-Bactrian kingdom the determination and strategic thinking of the Han Dynasty.

This second assault was a masterpiece of military planning and great execution. The Han forces laid siege to the Dayuan capital. This was the name the Chinese used for Alexandria Eschate (Alexandria the Furthest), the Greek capital of the Greco-Bactrian kingdom.

Through a combination of tactics of relentless siege and strategic innovation, including diversion of the city’s water supply, the Han secured an unequivocal victory. The capture of the desired “heavenly horses” and the establishment of a puppet state in the lands of the defeated Greeks marked not just a military triumph but a significant expansion of Han influence to the West.

Aftermath and legacy of the war

The aftermath of the war was felt far beyond the battlefield. It shaped the destinies of the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom and the Han Dynasty alike. For the Greco-Bactrians, the conflict signified the beginning of the end. Their kingdom, already weakened by internal rivalries and external pressures, gradually succumbed to the surging tide of nomadic invasions.

This marked the waning of Hellenistic influence in Central Asia. The region would gradually but steadily transition into a new era of political and cultural realities away from their Greek phase.

On the other hand, for the Han Dynasty, the victory in the War of the Heavenly Horses was a monumental achievement. Not only did it secure the prized Ferghana horses, which enhanced the empire’s military capabilities, but it also established their dominion over the Western regions.

This victory paved the way for the flourishing of the well-known Silk Road, fostering an era of unprecedented economic and cultural exchanges between East and West. The war’s legacy managed to go beyond that geographical area and facilitate the establishment of a new world of trade, ideas, and cultural exchange.

Although simply a forgotten footnote in world history, this Greco-Chinese war clearly portrays the difficulties of the relations between powerful civilizations of antiquity. It also highlights the lengths to which empires can go to secure even a single strategic advantage—in this case, the acquisition of horses believed to be divine.

New Type of ‘Ghost Shark’ With Enormous Head Discovered off Thailand

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Ghost shark
Rare male ghost shark found by researchers in the Andaman Sea. Credit: David A. Ebert / Raffles Bulletin of Zoology

A new type of “ghost shark” has been found by researchers in the deep Andaman Sea near Thailand. This ghost shark is unlike any seen before with a big head, large shiny eyes, and feather-like fins.

The newly found creature is known as a Chimaera supapae. It belongs to a group of ancient fish called Chimaeriformes, which are far-off relatives of sharks and rays.

The discovery was detailed in a scientific paper published on March 6th in The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology.

Chimaera are not commonly found in this part of the world, according to David Ebert, the main writer of the study and head of the Pacific Shark Research Center at San José State University in California.

Chimaeras are found at depths below 1,640 feet

Chimaeras live in the deep sea, dwelling along the slopes and ridges of the ocean floor. They prefer depths below 1,640 feet (500 meters), where the water is dark. These chimaeras feed on creatures such as crustaceans, mollusks, and worms that dwell on the ocean floor.

There were previously only fifty-three known types of chimaera worldwide, according to Ebert. Their habitat in the deep sea makes them hard to detect, especially in the Andaman Sea, where some areas plunge to depths of over 14,500 feet (4,400 meters).

Chimaeras are also known as “ghost sharks” and “ratfish” due to their large, shiny eyes and slender bodies resembling rats. Some types of chimaera can reach lengths of up to 6.6 feet (2 meters).

A different male chimaera found dead in the Andaman Sea

During a deep-sea survey project in 2018, scientists stumbled upon the body of an immature male chimaera. This discovery occurred during a bottom trawl in the Andaman Sea at depths ranging from 2,533 to 2,543 feet (772 to 775 meters) beneath the surface.

The researchers distinguished it as a new species due to its massive head with a short snout and its large, oval eyes, which make up more than 32 percent of its total head length.

This newfound species belongs to the shortnose chimaera group, measuring 20 inches (51 centimeters) long with broad pectoral fins. Ebert suggests the creature’s feather-like frills may help in navigating rocky bottoms.

The large, shimmering green eyes of C. supapae help it navigate the dark waters of the deep sea. Its dark-brown skin lacks any noticeable patterns, and it has a dorsal spine on top of its head.

Moreover, this species was named supapae in honor of the late Supap Monkolprasit, a scientist from Thailand who dedicated her life to studying cartilaginous fishes.

The name Chimaera, referring to the genus, originates from Greek mythology, in which it represents a mythical creature with three heads: a lion’s head at the front, a goat’s head extending from its back, and a serpent’s tail ending with the head of a snake.

Oldest Canoes Ever Found Unearthed off the Coast of Italy

Oldest canoes ever found in the Mediterranean Sea
Archaeologists found the oldest canoes in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Italy. Credit: Juan F. Gibaja / PLOS One

Researchers found five old canoes deep in the Mediterranean Sea. These were used over seven thousand years ago by people living near Rome. Back then, these canoes were used both for fishing and transportation.

These discoveries came during ongoing digs by archaeologists off the coast of Italy. They were exploring a place called La Marmotta, an ancient settlement now submerged underwater. The findings were detailed in a study released on Wednesday in the journal PLOS One.

The canoes, made from different types of wood such as alder, oak, poplar, and European beech, were dated back to between 5700 and 5100 B.C.

Oldest ever boats found in Mediterranean

These boats are the oldest ever discovered in the Mediterranean, according to a statement.

Mario Mineo, an archaeologist and director coordinator at the Museum of Civilization in Rome, explained that one of the smallest boats was likely used for fishing.

The two largest ones were nearly 36 feet long and 4 feet wide. Mineo thinks they might have been used for trade, especially because the Arrone River made it easy to reach the Tyrrhenian coast.

The boat builders of the time were highly skilled. They used what we call “advanced construction techniques” to make these vessels. One important thing they did was add transverse reinforcements. This made the canoes’ hulls stronger and more durable.

Niccolò Mazzucco, a senior researcher at the University of Pisa, pointed out that the construction methods and materials used show how smart these ancient boat builders were.

They knew a lot about making boats and navigating the waters. This is important because it proves how clever ancient people were at relying on nature to build things that helped them move around efficiently, according to Mazzucco.

Vessels equipped with sails or outriggers

The researchers believe these boats might have had sails or outriggers, which are support floats. Mazzucco mentioned that they found three T-shaped wooden objects near the canoes. These objects had holes in them, which were probably used to attach ropes for sails or other boat-related materials.

Mazzucco emphasized that these advancements hint at a deeper understanding of maritime technology and navigation. It seems these boats were ready for long journeys.

However, there’s still a lot we don’t know. We’re not sure exactly what kinds of boats they were, how they were built, or how the canoes and T-shaped wooden objects were connected—whether with ropes, wooden pegs, or something else.

Mazzucco also made mention of the builders’ cleverness in using different types of wood. They knew which trees were best for making these dugout canoes. This is different from other Neolithic sites, where the same tree species were used for all boats.

England’s Largest Ever Gold Nugget Found by Detectorist

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A detectorist with a faulty metal detector has unearthed England's biggest ever gold nugget
A detectorist with a faulty metal detector has unearthed England’s biggest ever gold nugget. Credit: James St. John. CC BY 2.0/flickr

A metal detectorist in Shropshire, UK, who was an hour late for the dig and had a faulty metal detector, has unearthed England’s largest ever gold nugget, worth £30,000 ($38,000).

Richard Brock, 67, joined an organized outing on farmland in the Shropshire Hills last summer, arriving late after a three-and-a-half-hour drive from his home in Somerset. He also reportedly had an issue with his metal detector and so had to use an older machine that was not working to its fullest function.

“I actually arrived about an hour late, thinking I’d missed the action,” Brock, who has been metal-detecting for thirty-five years, told The Guardian. “Everyone there had [an] up-to-date kit and I bowled up with three old machines, and one of them packed in there…At first I just found a few rusty old tent pegs with this back-up detector, which had a fading screen display.”

Only twenty minutes later, Brock found an enormous 64.8 gram golden nugget buried at around 13 to 15 centimeters (5-6 inches) underground. The metal, which has been given the name Hiro’s Nugget, is now expected to go for at least £30,000 at auction and is thought to be the biggest gold find of its kind in England.

“The machine I was using was pretty much kaput—it was only half working,” Brock told The Guardian. “It just goes to show that it doesn’t really matter what equipment you use. If you are walking over the find and are alert enough to what might be lurking underneath the soil, that makes all the difference.”

Initially, Brock’s faulty detector only flagged a few rusty old tent pegs, but then the discovery was made. “I couldn’t believe it,” he told the BBC. “I was there only a matter of minutes and this treasure hunting expedition was supposed to last all day.”

The lucky finder was hastily surrounded by his fellow detectorists who started to scan the same patch of ground, hoping to repeat Brock’s success.

Buried gold nuggets have been discovered in England, Scotland, and Wales

Hiro’s Nugget was discovered on a site near the village of Much Wenlock. The site is believed to have been an old railway track, containing stone likely brought from Wales, an area known to be rich in gold.

Brock told The Guardian that research suggested the only bigger gold pieces found in the UK have been in Wales and Scotland. A nugget weighing 97.12 grams was unearthed in Anglesey/Ynys Mon, Wales, while the Reunion Nugget, at 121.3 grams, was found in Scotland in 2019.

Before this latest gold find, the previous record was held by a rock, weighing 54 grams, discovered in England. “We’re pretty confident it is the biggest found on English soil,” Brock, a retired cameraman, told The Guardian. “I’m going to split whatever it sells for with the land owner.”

The gold nugget will be sold by auctioneers Mullock Jones in a timed auction that runs until April 1st. The expected estimated price is £30,000 (approximately $38,000).

Russia VS. NATO: Military Balance in Europe

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A military confrontation in Europe between NATO and Russia has become one of the most pressing geopolitical considerations since the war in Ukraine broke out. credit: Kārlis Dambrāns / flickr CC BY 2.0 DEED

The war in Ukraine has brought the military balance in Europe between Russia and NATO back to the forefront of geostrategic thinking.

After the end of the Cold War and the demise of the USSR, Eastern Europe’s geostrategic importance as a potential flashpoint for conflict declined considerably. However, Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and subsequent invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has again catapulted the security situation on NATO’s eastern flank to the top of the alliance’s list of priorities.

Although open warfare between NATO and Russia has thus far been avoided, the potential for such a conflict to ignite is no longer unthinkable. Consequently, determining the conventional military strengths of both sides has again become a crucial preoccupation for military analysts, as it once did during the Cold War.

Is a military clash between NATO and Russia over Europe imminent?

Geopolitical and military forecasting is a difficult business. Even the experts frequently get it wrong. The CIA, for example, wrongly predicted that Russian forces would quickly steamroll through Ukraine. It has been over two years since the initial invasion in February 2022, and Russia’s “special military operation” has thus far failed to produce the victory  President Vladimir Putin expected.

Although there is a heightened risk for a military clash to occur between Russia and NATO, it is clear that neither side wants to duke it out over Europe in a conventional—or nuclear— battle.

The financial and military contributions made to Ukraine by NATO members have been issued cautiously to avoid escalating tensions with Russia to the point of open warfare. Ultimately, NATO allies have been willing to expend their finances and munitions stockpiles in support of Ukraine but not the lives of their soldiers.

For Russia’s part, it is hard to imagine that the Kremlin envisages success in fighting in a wider European theater after suffering such serious setbacks in Ukraine alone. Putin’s veiled threats to use nuclear weapons may seem escalatory, but they are intended to deter further NATO intervention rather than to invite a broader conflict.

NATO meeting
General view of the meeting of the Foreign Ministry of Estonia at NATO on November 28, 2023. Estonian Foreign Ministry / CC BY 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons

World War III?

“If the iron dice must roll, may God help us,” remarked the German Chancellor Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg on the eve of the First World War. Neither Russia nor NATO wants to roll the iron dice. Even if the Kremlin aspires to absorb swathes of Eastern Europe into the Russian sphere of influence, this aim would be more realistically served by a strategy of hybrid warfare, which would seek to degrade NATO’s ability to resist below the threshold of open war.

With that being said, both sides have alluded to the possibility of a Third World War. Putin commented recently that the world is only “one step away from a full-scale third world war,” and Western officials have repeatedly warned that Russia will push further West into Europe if Ukraine is defeated.

This scenario would most likely transpire due to miscalculation more than anything else. For separate reasons, NATO and Russia have endeavored to keep this proxy war contained to Ukraine. However, a broadening of the conflict to the wider European continent might unfold as a series of unintended consequences.

The areas of most concern are the Baltics, the Black Sea, and Kaliningrad. The Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are the NATO members most vulnerable to any kind of Russian incursion. The Black Sea is the sole site of maritime conflict between Ukraine and Russia, but it is also bordered by several neighboring countries and is a hub for seaborne trade. Kaliningrad is essentially a Russian military exclave sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania.

A myriad of events, particularly at these crucial points, could spark a wider conflict. A stray missile landing in the Baltics, the sinking of a civilian ship in the Black Sea, or an embargo against Kaliningrad might all be enough to upend the fragile status quo.

With those not-so-cheerful thoughts in mind, let us turn our attention toward the military balance between Russia and NATO and the factors that might decide the outcome of a war in Europe.

Bakhmut, Ukraine War
A Wagner private military contractor in Bakhmut. Credit: CC BY 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Military spending

“Money is the artery of war,” the Russian Tsar Peter the Great once remarked. He was not wrong. War is an expensive endeavor, and the side that is able to spend the most money on its military can afford to buy and produce better weapons and equipment, the advantages of which are obvious.

Unsurprisingly, Russia has been increasing its defense expenditure to meet the demands of the war in Ukraine. Late last year, Putin approved large increases to defense spending with approximately thirty percent of fiscal expenditure now directed toward the military.

Russia has the third-biggest defense budget in the world. Last year, it amounted to roughly $108.5 billion. However, the combined defense budgets of NATO members are larger. The alliance benefits tremendously from US leadership with the United States spending $905.5 billion on defense last year, making it the world’s largest military spender.

Non-US NATO members spend considerably less. However, this is still a considerable amount. This year, European NATO allies are projected to spend a combined sum of $380 billion on defense.

NATO members are encouraged to spend two percent or more of their gross domestic product (GDP) on defense. Few have reached this target, a fact that greatly rankled former US President Donald Trump. However, eighteen NATO members are expected to hit the target this year. European NATO allies closest to Russia tend to spend the most on defense.

NATO defense spending
Map showing which European NATO allies meet the two percent minimum defense spending target. Credit: SDAFA / MapChart

Land, air, and sea

The traditional domains of warfare are land, air, and sea. This is where battles are physically fought between soldiers, tanks, aircraft, maritime vessels, and so on. By comparing the capabilities of Russia and NATO in these domains, we can formulate a clearer picture of military balance in Europe.

Quantitatively, NATO holds the advantage in the air and at sea. NATO and Russian land capabilities are closer in number at least in terms of the number of vehicles and artillery. As for the overall size of the militaries, the regular strength of the Russian armed forces is estimated to be about 1,320,000, whereas the total number of combined NATO forces is roughly 3,500,000.

Russia is purported to have 12,566 main battle tanks (MBTs) to NATO’s 12,408. Russia’s MBT is the T-90, whereas NATO militaries field a variety of models, the most notable being the American M1 Abrams, the British Challenger 2, and the German Leopard 2.

Russian military doctrine has long stressed the importance of artillery. The Russian military has about 6,575 self-propelled artillery pieces and 3,887 self-propelled rocket launchers. NATO has fewer with 4,532 artillery pieces and 3,272 rocket launchers.

Combined, NATO allies have more aircraft at their disposal with a total number of aircraft at 20,633 of which about 3,398 are fighter/interceptor planes. Russia can reportedly field 4,182 aircraft of which 773 are fighters/interceptors. The most advanced Russian jet is the SU-57, whereas, for NATO, it is the F-35 Lighting II.

At sea, NATO again has a quantitative advantage. The total number of Russian military maritime vessels is around 598, whereas NATO allies have a combined number of 2,151. Crucially, Russia only has one aircraft carrier, whereas the US has 11, the UK and Italy have two, and France has one, bringing the NATO total up to 16.

F-35
F-35 Lighting II. Credit: I’ll Never Grow Up / CC BY 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Nuclear weapons

The prospect of a nuclear war between Russia and NATO is an unsettling notion. Many military and defense experts concluded during the Cold War that a nuclear war was unlikely due to the mutually assured destruction (MAD) doctrine resulting in the annihilation of both sides in a nuclear exchange.

Nevertheless, Putin has used Russia’s nuclear arsenal as a posturing device to deter the West from deepening its involvement in Ukraine.

Russia’s nuclear arsenal is the largest in the world. Russia has 5,977 nuclear warheads. Three NATO members have nuclear weapons: the US, the UK, and France. The US has the most at 5,428, followed by France with 290, and the UK with 225.

There are two categories of nuclear weapons—strategic and tactical. Strategic nuclear weapons are capable of hitting targets at longer ranges and would likely be aimed at densely populated urban areas such as capital cities. Tactical nuclear weapons have shorter ranges and are generally expected to be used against military targets to shape the outcome of battles.

A strategic nuclear exchange would not likely occur in anything other than a case of extreme desperation, given the potential for MAD. The use of tactical nuclear weapons, however, is more feasible in the case of a massive conventional land war between NATO and Russia on European soil.

As noted by William Alberque of the International Institute of Strategic Studies, Russia views tactical nuclear weapons as providing a “comparative and asymmetric advantage over its immediate neighbors and the US and its allies.”

Moscow Victory Day parade
Moscow Victory Day parade. Credit: Michał Siergiejevicz / CC BY 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Numbers don’t tell the whole story…

Tallying up the numbers of various military capabilities provides a clearer picture of the means available to either side in a potential conflict. However, quantity alone does not decide the outcome of war. If that were the case, armies would be led by mathematicians rather than generals.

The war in Ukraine is a pertinent example of this. Russia enjoys a considerable quantitative advantage over Ukraine, but its military has thus far failed to achieve decisive results on the battlefield. Wars are as much about leadership, geography, weather conditions, innovation, troop quality, and training, as well as tactical, operational, and strategic brilliance, as they are about how much “kit” either side can bring to the fight.

With that in mind, here are just a few more considerations concerning a possible conflict between Russia and NATO in Europe:

  • The US is the most indispensable NATO ally. Other NATO members are often dependent on the US for core capabilities such as C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance). The US military has a sizeable presence in Europe, but if American reinforcements were prevented from reaching the continent at a crucial point in time, this could give Russia a window of opportunity.
  • As General Robert H. Barrow once commented, “Amateurs talk about tactics, but professionals study logistics.” A military force can have all the shiny technology in the world, but if it is incapable of conducting the movement, supply, and maintenance of its forces, it will fail in battle. Russian logistics were disastrous in the opening stages of the Russo-Ukrainian War. NATO has fared better in recent operations, but it remains to be seen how the alliance would meet the logistical demands of a full-scale conventional war.
  • Willpower and morale matter. The Kremlin believes Russians have a greater propensity to tolerate the deprivations of war than Westerners and thus a stronger willpower to do what is necessary to win. This raises important questions, such as: would NATO allies act according to Article 5 and defend Baltic members if Russia attacked, and would European NATO members be willing to endure a war with Russia or seek an early diplomatic resolution?

US Government Sues Apple for Manipulating Market

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Apple store lawsuit
US Department of Justice filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple. Credit: Ed-Uthman-MD, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5

In a shocking move, the US Department of Justice (DOJ), backed by a total of 16 US state district attorneys along with the District of Columbia, filed on Thursday an antitrust lawsuit against tech giant Apple.

This unprecedented –for Apple in the US– legal challenge that Apple has to face accuses the popular company of monopolising the smartphone market. This is a move that could potentially have far-reaching implications for the company and consumers as well as the tech industry as a whole.

What is the issue

At the heart of the US lawsuit against Apple is the allegation on behalf of the American government that Apple has been engaged in anti-competitive practices for some time. The US government accuses Apple of trying to maintain its dominance in the smartphone market.

The DOJ also claims that the strategies that Apple has been employing have not only stifled competition in the market but also harmed consumers by limiting their choices significantly and driving up prices. This lawsuit truly represents one of the most significant antitrust actions against a tech company in recent years in America. It is also signalling a new, more robust effort by the US authorities to regulate the power of major mega-tech firms, like Apple.

Key allegations against Apple

The US government lawsuit describes in detail several ways in which Apple is said to have maintained its monopoly in the smartphone market.

Among these, we can find the allegation that Apple has been imposing contractual restrictions as well as fees that limit the functionality of third-party apps on iPhones. Additionally, Apple is being accused of selectively restricting access to critical points of connection between these apps and the operating system of the iPhones, known as iOS.

Such actions, the DOJ argues, degrade the functionality of apps or accessories that are not made by Apple, something that directly impacts consumer choice and innovation in the wider market.

US Department of Justice.
US Department of Justice. Credit: flickr / Salticidae CC BY NC-SA 2.0

Additionally, the complaint against the tech giant highlights the control that the California-based company places over its App Store. Apple is known to be charging up to a 30 per cent commission on sales. This is a practice that has been at the centre of contention with app developers and competitors of the Android market alike. This practice, also known as the “Apple tax”, is seen now by the American authorities as a significant barrier to competition. As a result, developers are being forced to comply with Apple’s stringent rules or face exclusion from its important market.

It is also noted that earlier this month, the European Union fined Apple over €1.8 billion ($1.95 billion) for ”abusing its dominant position on the market for the distribution of music streaming apps to iPhone and iPad users through its App Store.”

Potential impact on consumers

The outcome of this landmark lawsuit could have profound implications for consumers in the near future. If the DOJ’s efforts are successful, we might see a more increased competition in the smartphone market. As with every other market, competition might end up leading to lower prices, more innovation, and greater choice for everyone in the market.

Additionally, it could pave the way for more third-party apps and services to operate more freely and efficiently on iOS. This could potentially finally break down the “walled garden” that Apple has been accused of creating around its ecosystem in the last decade.

As this legal battle unfolds, it will be closely watched by industry observers, competitors, and consumers worldwide.