Cooper holding a DynaTAC cellphone in 2007. Credit: Rico Shen, CC BY-SA 3.0/Wikipedia
On April 3, 1973, Martin Cooper, a Motorola engineer made the first cell phone call in history from a sidewalk on Sixth Avenue in Manhattan with a device the size of a brick.
“I’m calling you on a cell phone, but a real cell phone, a personal, handheld, portable cell phone,” Cooper said on the phone to Joel Engel, head of AT&T-owned Bell Labs.
Even though the typical customer would not have access to cell phones for ten more years, anybody passing by Cooper on the street that day may have witnessed history being created.
Over the five decades that have passed since that initial conversation, Cooper’s large, heavy gadget has changed and been superseded by an array of speedier, slimmer phones that are now commonplace, changing entire businesses, societies, and our own personal relationships.
Although some may have been taken aback by the sheer scope and influence of cell phones, Cooper claimed that it was always likely that a large portion of humanity will eventually consider them to be necessities.
“I was not surprised that everybody has a cell phone,” Cooper, now 95, told CNN recently. “We used to tell the story then that someday when you’re born you would be assigned a phone number. If you didn’t answer the phone, you would die.”
The rise of the cell phone
After Cooper’s first call, manufacturing issues and government regulation slowed the progress of bringing the phone to the public, he said.
It would take a decade for a version of that DynaTAC (Dynamic Adaptive Total Area Coverage) phone to hit the market, for a hefty $3,900. The phone, similar to the one Gordon Gekko wielded in the movie “Wall Street,” weighed 2.5 pounds and was about a foot tall.
It wasn’t until the 1990s that the modern cell phone took off, as it shrunk way down in size and became much more user-friendly. Today, 97 percent of Americans own a cell phone of some kind, according to a study by Pew Research Center.
In the years since that first call, Cooper has written a book on the transformational power of the cell phone, started companies and done speaking tours and media appearances.
An iPhone user himself (and a Samsung user before that), he loves using his Apple Watch to track his swimming activity and connect his hearing aids to his phone.
“I’m an optimist. I know there are disadvantages to the cell phone. We do have people that get addicted to it. We have people walking across the street talking on their cell phones,” Cooper told CNN.
“Overall, I think the cell phone has changed humanity for the better and that will continue in the future.”
Each sculpture embodies an Olympic discipline. Credit: @alexpenfornis, French National Assembly
Six sculptures, copies of one of the most famous Greek statues, the Venus de Milo, have been installed at the steps of the French National Assembly, the Palais Bourbon in Paris celebrating the Olympic spirit as the French capital continues its countdown for the Summer Olympic Games.
Created by artist Laurent Perbos the sculptures are installed for the Cultural Olympiad which will run in parallel with the Games. They will be on view from April 2 to September 22, 2024, for the duration of the competition, in the open air.
French visual artist Laurent Perbos conceived the artistic installation, with each sculpture embodying an Olympic discipline: basketball, boxing, javelin, para-archery, surfing and tennis.
Inspired by the Venus de Milo, these female figures in acrylic resin each hold an object representing their sport, an allegory that runs counter to the collective imagination, which associates sport with men and reflects the evolution of the Games.
On display until the European Heritage Days, these colorful works are intended to be inclusive, each associated with a color of the rainbow, symbolizing equal rights and the fight against discrimination.
What’s more, the Olympic flame will cross paths with these sporting Venuses on July 14.
The Venus de Milo sculpture
Ancient Greek Statue of Venus de Milo or Aphrodite of Milos, Louvre, Paris. Credit: Bradley N Weber/Wikimedia Commons/ CC BY 2.0
The Venus de Milo, or the Aphrodite of Milos, which was discovered on April 8, 1820, and displayed at the Louvre Museum in Paris ever since, changed Western culture in the 19th century, creating a certain ambivalence about the idea of female beauty.
The Venus de Milo statue, which is one of the most beautiful interpretations of the goddess, is believed to be the work of ancient sculptor Alexandros of Antioch.
The existing enigma of what Aphrodite’s hands were doing has also been a subject of extensive study and countless interpretations since its discovery.
Experts believe that the original statue depicted the Greek myth of The Judgment of Paris and Aphrodite is holding an apple in one hand.
According to the myth, Eris, the goddess of discord, is angry for not being invited to a feast and crashes the party with a golden apple from the Garden of the Hesperides upon which was inscribed “For the fairest one.”
The Goddesses Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite all staked claims to the apple. Zeus refused to act as judge, declaring instead that the mortal Paris of Troy would do the job.
All three goddesses tried to bribe the mortal judge, but Aphrodite’s bribe—Helen, the most beautiful woman on Earth—won. The statue is thought to depict Aphrodite admiring her prize.
Hence, in essence, the statue of Aphrodite of Milos shows the results of a beauty contest— the first in Western Civilization.
Several art historians, academics, and artists have claimed that the beauty of the Venus de Milo lies in her missing arms, i.e., in her very imperfections.
Salvador Dali created the Venus de Milo with Drawers, a half-size plaster reproduction of the famous marble statue altered with pompom-decorated drawers on the figure’s forehead, breasts, stomach, abdomen, and left knee.
Greece has released details of the free holiday it promised thousands of tourists that were evacuated during last July’s fires in Rhodes.
Under its Rodos Week program, the Greek Ministry of Tourism will issue vouchers for stays of six nights from April 4th to May 31st of 2024 and from October 1st to November 15th of the same year.
Guests who were evacuated should have received an email informing them they’ve been registered for an e-voucher under the Rodos Week program by their tour operator, travel agency, or hotel. Those who haven’t received an email must apply here before April 4th.
“The Greek government, in cooperation with the local authorities, will offer a week’s free holiday in Rhodes next spring or autumn” for all those who missed it due to the fires, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis promised last year.
Conditions for a free holiday on Rhodes
Only visitors who were evacuated from hotels on Rhodes during the wildfires are eligible for the vouchers. Those who fled from self-catering apartments or Airbnbs are not included in the program. Each eligible adult will receive a voucher for free accommodation.
As a condition of the e-voucher, the Greek Ministry of Tourism said: “A prerequisite is for the beneficiaries to complete seven overnight stays [on] Rhodes – six consecutive nights in a hotel of their choice, which, however, is registered in the Hospitality Hotels Registry created for this purpose.”
There has been some confusion on social media since details of the scheme were announced, with some people believing the vouchers are for a maximum of €500, but UK Director of the for Greek National Tourism Organisation Eleni Skarveli confirmed the limits stated in the official announcement refer to the amount of compensation issued to hotels, not guests.
“Guests should not worry about the cost,” she said, adding that they will be accommodated in hotels with prices similar or even higher to their original visit, depending on availability.
The devasting Rhodes fires
The island of Rhodes was plagued by multiple wildfires, which resulted in an estimated 19,000 people being evacuated by land and sea. The fires burned 13,500 hectares of forest. Emergency alerts were sent to residents on the island to warn them of the wildfires and the need to evacuate.
The fire department fn Rhodes stated the fires there prompted the “largest evacuation operation” ever on the island with the fire department using 10 firefighting airplanes, eight firefighting helicopters, over 260 firefighters, 49 fire trucks, and hundreds of volunteers, among others, to tackle the blaze on the island.
Authorities declared a state of emergency on July 20, 2023 in three municipalities of Rhodes, including Lindos, which is home to many tourist villages.
On July 21st, the Civil Protection ordered the evacuation of the village of Laerma, which is about ten kilometers from the coastal tourist resorts.
On July 23, 2023, it was announced that 1,200 extra people would be evacuated from the villages of Pefki, Lindos, and Kalathos. Flights to Rhodes from British package holiday company Jet2.com were canceled until July 30, 2023 and from TUI until July 26, 2023.
On August 2nd, the Ministry of Tourism lifted the state of emergency on Rhodes and offered complimentary travel accommodations to tourists who were evacuated from the island in the previous month.
Greece is in shock over the murder of Kyriaki Griva outside a police station in Athens. Credit: Facebook
Greek police are under fire after the latest femicide in Athens. A woman was murdered outside a police precinct where she had just requested protection from an ex-boyfriend.
The 28-year-old Kyriaki Griva was fatally stabbed on Monday evening shortly after she had gone to her local police station in Agioi Anargyroi in northern Athens to seek police protection against her ex-boyfriend.
The woman’s 39-year-old former partner was arrested and was being treated under police guard in a psychiatric hospital after allegedly intentionally stabbing himself following the attack.
The minister in charge of the police, Michalis Chrysochoidis, promised a “full, in-depth” investigation of Monday’s murder that occurred only a very short distance from the police station.
“What matters now is to fully investigate the incident…and see what the police did or didn’t do,” Chrysochoidis told state ERT television. “This must be done [within] very few days, hours even.”
A police statement Tuesday said the victim visited the precinct with a friend and reported that her former boyfriend – against whom she had made formal complaints in the past for abusive behavior – had been loitering outside her home.
Greek police asked the victim to call the…Greek police
According to the statement, she requested a patrol car to take her home for her protection, but because she declined to make a formal complaint, she was directed to phone the police emergency line to send a vehicle.
The statement said she made the call on her way out of the precinct. But “while she was talking to a police operator she was suddenly attacked by her former partner, who fatally injured her with a knife.”
The police statement said members of the force are trained to respond to gender-based violence, following protocols “that are constantly updated.”
The victim had filed a lawsuit against the 39-year-old after they broke up in 2020, accusing him of abuse and rape, resulting in a restraining order.
“He attacked her with a lot of force and started striking her with the knife and I started shouting,” said her male friend who had accompanied her to the police station and witnessed the murder.
Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou expressed shock at the killing. “The murder…yet another femicide, shakes and angers us,” she said in a statement. “It shows…the urgent responsibility authorities have to fight gender-based violence and crime.”
Sixth femicide in Greece this year
The Athens stabbing was the sixth femicide reported in Greece this year. In 2023, fifteen such incidents were reported. The high-profile case of Caroline Crouch in 2021 brought the issue of femicide to national attention.
The 28-year-old’s death triggered new calls by left-wing opposition parties for femicide, the killing of women or girls with a gender-related motivation, to be recognized as a distinct term in Greece’s criminal code.
“It must be examined to what extent these (protocols) were followed,” Chrysochoidis said. He added that while he supported the criminal code reform requested by opposition parties, that should follow a “serious and calm debate” by legal experts.
Two soldiers fight; art on a ceramic vase from Athens Museum. Credit: Athens Museum / CC BY 2.0
The special forces of Ancient Greece, from the Band of Thebes to the Hetairoi of the army of Alexander the Great, went down in history as some of the greatest elite army groups of all time.
Thanks to Homer’s Iliad, the Myrmidons of Achilles are the most widely known army of great Greek warriors. Yet the Myrmidons belong to the ethereal realm of Greek mythology.
However, elite forces were real in Ancient Greece, and were known to the enemy as some of the most dangerous and lethal powers. Many of their brave deeds were documented in the historical record.
The special forces of Ancient Greece
The Sciritae who fought alongside Spartans
According to Greek historian Diodorus Siculus, during the epic Battle of Thermopylae (480 BC), a small band of men broke into the enemy camp and reached the tent of the Persian King, Xerxes.
Xerxes was not in the royal tent himself, but his two brothers, generals Avrokomis and Yperanthis, were sleeping inside. The Greek soldiers killed them both.
After the great feat of assassinating the two generals, all the Greek soldiers carrying out this “Mission Impossible” were tragically slaughtered by the Immortals, the Persian royal guard.
Originally called the Band of Sciritae, they were considered elite soldiers. Their symbol a white hawk on a black background, the band consisted of men selected for their physical strength, endurance and battle skills.
The Greek historian Thucydides wrote that in battle the Sciritae held the left side of the formation, next to the king, while the right was held by the Spartans.
According to historians, when the Spartan Phalanx came to engage with the enemy, the Sciritae were the only unit moving in front of the king. They acted as a vanguard and were sometimes even further ahead of the cavalry.
At night they took full guard responsibility, scouting the ground and camps in places where they could see enemies and their movements from afar.
The Sacred Band of Thebes
The Sacred Band of Thebes was formed in 378 BC by the Theban general Gorgidas. This legendary special force was made up exclusively of 150 pairs of friends.
Only the finest warriors from the city-state were invited to join this elite band. According to regimental tradition, junior recruits were paired with more experienced fighters.
Hand-picked for their prowess, physique, and fighting skills, recruits received arduous physical training in wrestling, horsemanship, and even dancing, that was designed to foster an elite and highly bonded unit.
The idea was to create a singular body of friends that would fight as a single battlefield unit.
The reasoning was that once bonded by friendship the soldiers would fight much harder in battle to protect one another, whereas individual soldiers were much more likely to abandon their fellow soldiers if things became desperate.
Other than fighting as a robust unit, the Sacred Band were often deployed in the front ranks of regular phalanxes to lift the morale of ordinary soldiers.
The Sacred Band was established at a time when the city-state of Sparta was very powerful and had invaded Central Greece.
The Sacred Band fought admirably in the Boeotian War against the invading Spartan forces and beat them in several battles in the mid-4th century BC.
It was only the mighty Macedonia army that eventually wiped out the Sacred Band at the Battle of Chaeronea in 338 BC.
What is not widely known is that an important part of that army was the Companion Cavalry or Hetairoi, an unbeatable special force.
The Companion Cavalry, the biggest special force of Ancient Greece, consisted of 2,600 men, to whom Alexander had provided the best weaponry, armor and horses.
The Macedonian special force was crucial in beating the Thebans at Chaeronea, part of a legendary army that went on to change the entire ancient world.
The Hetairoi was a body of elite horsemen, all noblemen who fought closest to the king — hence the name. They fulfilled the role of both royal household guard and elite mounted shock-troops of the Macedonian army.
The Companion Cavalry were the elite of all the cavalry units within the army and were led by Alexander himself. They were traditionally deployed on the right of the battle line and frequently at the point of maximum offensive impact.
The Hetairoi galloped into battle in virtually unstoppable wedge formations. Their legendary shock-and-awe style assaults seemed to come out of nowhere.
They typically targeted the undefended rear echelons of enemy phalanxes. Such attacks often scattered entire Persian armies.
A major earthquake hit Taiwan and triggered tsunami warnings. Credit: public domain
A major earthquake hit Taiwan on Wednesday morning, triggering tsunami warnings for the island as well as parts of Japan, some of which were later retracted.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the earthquake had a magnitude of 7.4, with its epicenter 18 kilometers (11 miles) south of Taiwan’s Hualien City at a depth of 34.8 km.
Officials have confirmed at least four people have died while rescuers are pulling out people trapped in collapsed buildings.
In the eastern county of Hualien, near the epicenter of the quake, social media footage showed several collapsed buildings and residents helping trapped people escape through the window of a damaged apartment complex.
At a road intersection, a crowd of morning commuters on scooters and motorbikes watched as a multi-storey red building tilted sideways, a separate video showed.
Another video from Hualien captured a massive landslide coming down the mountain, with clouds of brown dust swallowing a section of the road and buildings nearby.
In the capital Taipei, in the north of the island, a video showed a subway car shaking violently, with passengers holding onto the handles tightly.
Tsunami warnings from Taiwan earthquake retracted
Taiwan, Japan and the Philippines have all canceled their tsunami warnings, whilst the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has said the threat to the United States has “largely passed”.
Tsunami waves were observed on the coasts of Taiwan and far southwestern Japanese islands after a 7.4 magnitude earthquake hit Taiwan on Wednesday morning.
But there were no immediate reports of any major damage caused by these waves.
In Taiwan: Tsunami heights reached nearly half a meter, or 1.5 feet, in Chenggong, approximately 100 km (62 miles) south of the quake’s epicenter.
Observed tsunami heights are measured over open water and can reach significantly higher when they reach shore.
In Japan: A 0.3-meter wave impacted Okinawa Island, Naha airport spokesperson Hideaki Tsurodo told CNN, but no waves reached the airport and it was soon reopened.
In the Philippines: The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said “no significant sea level disturbances” had been recorded since the earthquake.
“With this, any effects due to the tsunami warning have largely passed,” the institute said.
In the US: The threat of any tsunami risk has “largely passed”, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said. The update issued by its warning center in Honolulu said the evaluation was “based on all available data.”
It added that minor sea level “fluctuations” of up to 30 centimeters above and below normal tide levels could continue “over the next few hours.”
The US Tsunami Warning Center also advised government agencies to “monitor conditions at the coast to determine if and when it is safe to resume normal activities.”
Tsunami waves less than 0.3 meters may be observed for the coasts of Guam, Indonesia, Northern Marianas, Palau, Philippines, South Korea, Vietnam, and Yap, the center added.
Was Corinth ancient Greece’s sex capital? It certainly had a more relaxed approach to moral issues compared to other Greek cities. Credit: AI illustration by DALLE for the Greek Reporter
The ancient Greek city of Corinth was not just renowned across the ancient world for its wealth and cosmopolitan atmosphere. It was infamous for its very relaxed morals, the sexual freedom of its citizens and visitors, and the so-called sinful habits of its people.
As one of the largest and most prosperous trading hubs in the Mediterranean, Corinth attracted people for centuries from all walks of life. Archaeological evidence provides fascinating insights into this lesser-known aspect of Corinthian culture that continues to intrigue experts.
Temple of Aphrodite and sacred prostitution
According to ancient sources, the Temple of Aphrodite that was at the top of Acrocorinth hill in Corinth was renowned for its alleged practice of sacred prostitution.
The Greek geographer Strabo, who wrote his works in the early 1st century AD, claimed the temple employed around a thousand hierodouloi. These were temple slaves, who served as sacred prostitutes dedicated to the goddess of love, Aphrodite. The women, given by both men and women to the temple, would engage in sexual rituals with visitors as a form of religious devotion. This comes in direct contrast with today’s definition of prostitution. This is why their services brought great wealth to the city of Corinth and was something of which the city was proud rather than ashamed.
Ruins of ancient Corinth. Credit: MM, Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain
The reputation of Corinth as a center of sacred prostitution was so widespread in the ancient Greek world that the Greek phrase “Not for every man is the voyage to Corinth” became a popular saying. The saying implied that not everyone could afford the expensive services of the temple prostitutes, as it was not the most affordable thing one could partake in in ancient Corinth.
Religious votives in the shape of male and female genitalia have been excavated from the broader Corinth area throughout the centuries. These provide hints that this important temple may have also been a place of healing for those who suffered from sexual diseases or fertility issues. As with other gods, people with such issues would offer votives to Aphrodite, hoping that she would cure them.
However, despite many accounts from ancient authors, no definitive archaeological evidence has yet been found to confirm the existence of sacred prostitution at the Temple of Aphrodite in Corinth was actually true.
Many modern scholars have even questioned the truth of the claims made by Strabo and other ancient authors. These scholars suggest the accounts may have included exaggerations or misinterpretations of other ritual practices that ended up being confused with the so-called sacred prostitution.
In any case, the temple itself was quite small in size, and it was highly unlikely to have accommodated a thousand prostitutes as described.
Even though the idea of a grand temple filled with sacred prostitutes has captured the imaginations of scholars and archaeologists alike for centuries, it is important to approach the topic with caution and stick to the archaeological evidence we have.
Further archaeological work and investigation at the Acrocorinth site may one day shed more light on this fascinating aspect of religious life in ancient Corinth, but until then, we should take everything with a grain of salt.
Pottery and artwork depicting sexual themes
What is clearly proven with archaeological evidence is that Corinth was famous in antiquity for its pottery. It was widely exported across the Greek world. Many of these vases and vessels were decorated with erotic scenes, some of which have survived to this day. Some of them reflect the city’s openness to sexuality and lack of boundaries as expected nowadays.
A bronze mirror discovered in Corinth years ago also bears explicit sexual imagery, proving that the city had really relaxed ethical boundaries compared to other cities of the time. The statues and artwork unearthed in the city celebrate the human form in all its sensuality. All this evidence suggests ancient Corinthian culture was much more liberal when it came to sexual matters. This was especially so compared to other ancient Greek cities a few hundred miles away, such as Sparta.
The agora of Corinth and its people
At the heart of the ancient city of Corinth was the agora, the central marketplace and civic center of this buzzing Greek community.
This bustling hub, along with the busy ports of the broader Corinth area, attracted sailors, merchants and travelers who were not only interested in their trade but also sought other earthly pleasures.
A street in the ancient city of Corinth. Credit: MM-Wikimedia-Commons-Public-Domain
The winding alleys around the agora of Corinth were lined with taverns and inns. Many of them likely doubled as brothels, offering services to their wide clientele. The vast agora excavated by archaeologists the previous decades was almost certainly a major center of this activity, too. In fact, the sex trade was a significant part of the economy of Corinth itself, and the city derived substantial fame and wealth from it.
The condemnation of Corinthian immorality by Apostle Paul
The most concrete evidence of the immorality of the city came from the New Testament. During the 1st century AD, Paul the Apostle spent a significant amount of time in Corinth establishing its first Christian church. However, as was expected, the liberal ways of the Corinthians appalled him. In 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Paul lists the sins that Corinthian converts struggled with.
According to Paul, the most important and challenging of them was the sexual immorality of the Corinthian society. Paul also notes that some members of the Christian congregation had previously been sexually immoral, including people such as adulterers and prostitutes. The letters of Paul make it very clear that he was profoundly shocked by the lack of sexual ethics among Corinthian believers. This is why he sought to condemn the sinful reputation of Corinth, calling Christians to adhere to a brand new, higher moral standard according to early Christian teachings.
The archaeological evidence from the wider area paints a vivid picture of the ethically liberal culture of ancient Corinth. It also shows the central role sex played in its society and economy. While some of the evidence, such as the whole temple prostitution theory, remains inconclusive, the rich erotic artwork of the city and writings of early Christians like Paul suggest Corinth was indeed a place that was profoundly notorious for its sexual immorality.
Ultimately, it was this very reputation for sin and vice that led to strong condemnation by early Christian leaders who sought to establish a new ethical framework for their followers and the newly established Christian Church.
The British Museum is in talks with four undisclosed governments over returning artifacts. Credit: Kashif Haque. CC BY 2.0/flickr
The British Museum chiefs are in talks with four undisclosed foreign governments regarding the return of certain artifacts in its collection. This is after George Osborne negotiated a deal to loan the Elgin Marbles back to Greece.
The British Museum is holding private discussions with four foreign governments about the return of artifacts in its collection, though the museum will not reveal what artifacts have been discussed.
This comes after reports of a”‘negotiated deal” between the museum’s chairman, George Osborne, and the Greek government last year which may see the Elgin Marbles loaned to Greece as part of an exchange.
The east pediment of the Elgin Marbles at the British Museum. Credit: wallyg. CC BY-2.0/flickr
Under UK law, the British Museum is not permitted to return any of its artifacts except under very unique circumstances. However, in recent years, items have been given back to their country of origin on so-called “long term loans.”
The Daily Telegraph reported it has seen documents showing that, since 2015, the museum has received twelve separate formal requests for items to be returned. Four of these have come from foreign governments using ‘confidential diplomatic channels’ rather than using the media’s spotlight such as was done by the Greek government.
Talks between the governments and the museum are ongoing, and the British Museum will not reveal what artifacts were spoken of. The museum said it would not share that information because it “would have a detrimental effect on its relationship with the states in question at a time when communications are ongoing,” as reported by the Daily Mail.
It did, however, confirm the Rosetta Stone, one of the most precious artifacts in the museum’s collection which was key in translating Egyptian hieroglyphs, was not among the four items privately requested for return.
Artifacts loaned by the British Museum or waiting to be loaned
In recent years, a number of artifacts have been returned to their country of origin on loan agreements, including an agreement reached in January this year to loan a collection of gold items, known as Ghana’s “crown jewels,” back to Ghana.
The agreement to loan back these items, known as Asante gold, forms part of a three-year loan deal with the option to extend for a further three years.
A similar deal is reportedly being worked out with Greece which may see the Elgin Marbles returned to the Mediterranean country as part of an exchange for other artifacts from Greece to “fill the void,” Greece’s Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said.
The Elgin Marbles have been a source of tension between Greece and the UK for a long time. The marbles were moved from Athens between 1801 to 1812 by the Early of Elgin, who had plans to set up a private museum before they were sent to the British Museum.
Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, is pursuing hotel and apartment complex projects in Albania and Serbia. Credit: Gage Skidmore. CC BY-2.0/flickr
While Donald Trump readies for another push towards the US presidency, his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, is following up on hotel and apartment deals in Serbia and Albania. The projects are sure to bring growth, but they also face opposition.
One of Kushner’s proposed schemes in the Balkans centers on the redevelopment of a site in Serbia’s capital of Belgrade. Negotiations were begun ten years ago by his father-in-law.
Two years before Trump set off for his presidency campaign in 2016, he told Serbian authorities that he was keen to build a luxury hotel and apartment complex on the site of the former headquarters of the Yugoslav army, the General Staff building, decimated in 1999 by NATO’s bombing campaigns.
The former Yugoslav army general staff building, Belgrade. Credit: ftrc. CC BY 2.0/flickr
Despite that scheme having fallen through, Kushner, who filled a senior White House official role during Trump’s presidency, has now reportedly come to an agreement with the Serbian government to move forward with the development project.
According to The New York Times, which received a draft outline, the agreement, with a 99-year lease at no charge, would allow Kushner to construct a luxury hotel, residential units, shops, and a museum on the site.
Funding from Saudi Arabia
The $500 million (£462 million) of capital needed for the project is expected to come from Kushner’s investment firm, Miami-based Affinity Partners, which he founded after leaving the White House. Since the end of Trump’s tenure in office, it is estimated that Kushner has secured $2 billion from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, while sovereign wealth funds in the UAE and Qatar have sent hundreds of millions of dollars into his firm.
Kushner shared recently that the involved parties had tentatively agreed to give the Serbian government 22 percent of the profits generated by the project. President Aleksandar Vucic and his government claim that Belgrade would do well to develop further and create more business opportunities.
Aleksandar Vucic, President of Serbia. Credit: World Economic Forum. CC BY 2.0/flickr
Economist and investment consultant Milan Kovacevic agreed that the city needs to diversify and allow more development in order to meet the demands of a growing population and tourism industry. “Belgrade definitely needs hotels, including those of high quality, but they should be urbanistically positioned and built where they are needed,” he told DW.
He also warned that “there should be a market” for an open and transparent bidding process and claimed that by giving exclusive rights to just one investor, Jared Kushner, “too much is left to corruption and arbitrariness.”
Opposition politicians and building experts are reportedly confused by the interest in the development plans, and some have gone as far as to call it a scandal which must be prevented. “Serbia is not a buffet, and Vucic is not a waiter. This is not his private property,” said Aleksandar Jovanovic Cuta, leader of the movement Ecological Uprising.
“The same thing is happening with our natural resources, rivers, forests, minerals. Vucic is giving away everything of value without informing the people about the contracts and the benefit for the citizens of Serbia,” he told DW.
Dorde Bobic, Belgrade’s Chief City architect twenty years ago, is not happy by the planned schemes. He said it was an arrogant move to simply demolish the former General Staff headquarters to build a few hotels, and “give away the most precious place” in the city to the “foreign force” that bombed Belgrade in 1999 and to “trade it for political or personal interests,” as reported by DW.
Jared Kushner’s Albania hotel and apartment project
Kushner recently announced on his social media platforms that he was “excited to share early design images for development projects that have been created for the Albanian coast.” Prime Minister Edi Rama said his country was proud to welcome the projects, but the response from Albania’s environmentally-focused communities has been more questioning.
One of the sites proposed is located in the Karaburun-Sazan Marine Park on Sazan island, which used to be a military base. The other is on the Zvernec peninsula in southwestern Albania, part of the Vjosa-Narta Protected Landscape. This region which would accommodate blocks of hotels and villas forms part of the Vlore community.
Resistance from environmental experts
Albania’s parliament has recently passed an amendment to the country’s law on protected areas, with the bill paving the way for the economic development of said protected areas, regardless of cautions by environmental experts.
“Law 21/2024 allows the construction of 5-star mega-resorts in protected areas. In addition, according to the decision of the National Territorial Council, the construction of almost any other project is allowed and there are no more red lines,” Mirjan Topi, an ecologist at the Agricultural University of Tirana, told DW.
“The new changes in the law no longer protect nature and protected areas in Albania,” he added. According to Topi, the amendment to the current law has been changed to facilitate Kushner’s investments.
“It is very clear that the law has been predetermined because there is no other way to explain the rush of the parliamentary majority to adopt it. Before the law was [even] decreed by the president, concrete projects emerged,” he said.
Growth for Albania’s economy with Kushner’s hotel plans?
At the other end of the response scale, the business community in Albania, especially the tourism sector, envisions massive economic benefits, though with a few potential setbacks.
“I consider it a very positive investment, but only if it really is a touristic investment, if [there] are villas or units for accommodation,” Besnik Vathi, CEO of the Albanian Travel and Hospitality Service told DW.
He is reportedly worried that the prospect of building residential villas would solely benefit those who invest in them.
“After the sale, there is no income for Albanian tourism. [But] investing in hotels or accommodation units will bring revenue for Albania continuously,” he told DW.
The local tourism sector and the wider economy, he said, would benefit from the creation of local jobs in Sazan and Zvernec. What concerns Vathi is the nature of the investment Kushner is pursuing and who will benefit most from it.
Arrian, the most famous biographer of Alexander the Great, was a soldier, statesman, philosopher, and author. Credit Alexander Gale / Greek Reporter
Over 2,300 years have passed since the death of Alexander the Great, but he remains one of the most famous historical figures of all time. The conqueror’s fame might have dimmed, however, were it not for the biographers who committed his exploits to the written word.
Arrian (Greek: Arrianos) is considered by many historians to be the most reliable source on the life of Alexander. This is despite the fact that he was writing in the second century AD, roughly four centuries after Alexander’s death.
Although Arrian’s name has been overshadowed by the subject of his most famous biography, the life of this ancient Greek writer was also quite extraordinary. Arrian befriended emperors and philosophers, rode to war in Asia Minor, and held offices in Rome, Athens, and Cappadocia.
Youth and education of Arrian
Arrian was born between 85 and 90 AD in Nicomedia, an ancient Greek city in the Anatolian region of Bythynia in what was then a part of the Roman Empire. His parents were Greeks but also held Roman citizenship.
The family had probably enjoyed Roman citizenship for several generations and adopted the Roman surname, “Flavius”. The family must have been important in the region since Arrian was granted the priesthood of Demeter and Kore as a young man. These two deities were the most important in Bythynia.
Sometime during his youth, Arrian traveled to Nicopolis, a city in Epirus on the western coast of Greece, to study philosophy under the tutelage of the Stoic philosopher Epictetus.
Most of what we now know of Epictetus’ philosophy is thanks to Arrian. He wrote the Discourses of Epictetus and Enchiridion of Epictetus based on the lecture notes he took during his time as a pupil in Nicopolis.
Whilst in Nicopolis, Arrian met the future Roman emperor Hadrian, and the pair would go on to become lifelong friends. No doubt this helped immensely with the former’s military and political career.
Arrian (left) and emperor Hadrian (right). Credit: WikiSysop / CC BY 2.5 / Capitoline Museums / Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Political and military career
Sometime after his studies, probably around 107 AD, Arrian probably served as an officer in the Roman legions. This was prompted by a sense of duty and a desire to advance his political career, which was typically dependent on some prior military service in the first centuries of the Roman Empire.
He may have served for a time as a cavalry officer in Noricum, in what is modern-day Bavaria. This theory is based on his extensive knowledge of the region. His military career must have been more extensive, however, since he was later given command of two legions. Therefore, it is possible that he fought in Dacia under emperor Trajan. He may also have fought against the Parthians between 115 and 117 AD.
When his friend Hadrian became emperor in 117 AD, Arrian was probably made a praetor (a judicial officer) in the 120s, and then very likely became a proconsul (governor) of Andalusia around 125 AD.
Although the picture of Arrian’s early career is largely speculative, historians are certain that he was appointed consul in Rome in 129 or 130 AD. He served alongside another consul named Severus. His duties in Rome would have kept him very active because the emperor was in Egypt and Greece at the time.
Governor of Cappadocia
After his consulship, Arrian was appointed governor of Cappadocia. It is due to this position that historians are sure of Arrian’s extensive military experience despite the lack of direct evidence. Arrian’s extensive writings on military matters also hint at his in-depth knowledge.
Cappadocia was on the frontier of the Roman Empire and under constant threat from attack. Thus, the governorship of the region also came with the added responsibility of commanding two legions. A military novice would not have been appointed to govern this region.
Arrian’s time as governor was eventful. In 134 AD, the Alans – a nomadic tribe from the steppes of what is today Kazakhstan – invaded the region. Arrian took two legions, the XV Apollinaris and XII Fulminata, and defeated the Alans in battle. After the battle, he wrote and published Order of Battle Against the Alans, a military treatise that gave other Roman commanders advice on fighting the nomadic tribes.
In 137 AD, Arrian left Cappadocia and settled as an honorary citizen of Athens where he also held political office. He died sometime around the year 160 AD.
Map of the Roman province of Cappadocia in the second century AD. Credit: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Arrian and the biography of Alexander the Great
Arrian is mostly remembered for the Anabasis of Alexander, which documented the life and campaigns of Alexander the Great.
Since he was writing hundreds of years after the death of Alexander, Arrian drew most of his accounts of Alexander’s life from Aristobulus and Ptolemy. In his mind, these were the best sources because one had served alongside Alexander, and the other ruled over a Hellenistic successor state after his death. He also drew on other sources like Nearchus, a naval officer who served the Macedonian king.
Arrian is highly regarded by modern historians because he named most of his sources and speculates as to their validity within the text. In this way, Arrian possessed a sort of precursor to the academic rigor expected of modern historians.
