Iran Launches Attack on Israel With Drones and Missiles

Paula Tsoni
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Iran Launches Attack on Israel With Drones and Missiles
Iranian drones
Iran has reportedly launched an attack on Israel. Credit: Student News Agency / CC BY 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Iran has launched an attack on Israel with dozens of drones and cruise missiles, sources from both countries stated on Saturday evening, European time.

The drones are expected to reach Israel at around 2:00 a.m. local time. Hence, the airspace will close at half past midnight, Israel’s transportation ministry said.

“Iran launched UAVs from within its territory toward Israel a short while ago,” the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed on X (formerly Twitter).

“The IDF is on high alert and is constantly monitoring the operational situation. The IDF Aerial Defense Array is on high alert, along with IAF fighter jets and Israeli Navy vessels that are on a defense mission in Israeli air and naval space,” the announcement added.

Iranian state media said the attack was in retaliation for a suspected Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria, on April 1st, which killed a top Islamic Revolutionary Guards general and six other Guard officers.

As soon as the attack from Iran was confirmed, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the nation in a televised message, while the IDF’s Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari called on Israeli citizens to “remain calm and collected” as they “have been so far.”

 

International reactions to Iran-Israel tension

Earlier on Saturday, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards captured an Israeli-linked cargo ship in international waters in the Strait of Hormuz, hours after US President Biden had said he expected an Iranian attack against Israel “sooner rather than later.”

Gatherings and educational activities planned for the coming days were called off in Israel, and beaches were closed to the public while the armed forces were placed on high alert.

The White House urged Iran to release the vessel and its 25-member crew while President Biden rushed back to Washington from Delaware to consult his national security team.

White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan later posted that he had reiterated “the United States’ ironclad commitment to the security of Israel” during a call with his Israeli counterpart Hanegbi.

President Biden is expected to address the nation from the Oval Office. In the meantime, Iraq and Jordan are also reportedly preparing to close their airspace as a precautionary measure.

Concerns for spreading conflict in the Middle East

Since Israel launched military operations in Gaza as a response to terrorist attacks conducted by Hamas on October 7th, defense and international affairs analysts have been worried about the latest round of the Israel-Palestine conflict spreading to the wider region.

Several regional actors, including neighboring Egypt and Jordan, which are the most concerned about a mass exodus of Palestinian refugees into their countries, are impacted by the fighting in Gaza. The governments of Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq are likewise nervously looking on.

Iran was seen by analysts as the most consequential potential participant in any regional widening of the conflict due to a blend of factors, including Iran’s strong rhetoric in support of the Palestinian cause, its long-term rivalry with Israel and the US, and an extensive network of proxy militias operating in the region.

This is a developing story.

Biden Returns to Washington as Iran, Israel Tension Escalates

Paula Tsoni
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Biden Returns to Washington as Iran, Israel Tension Escalates

U.S. President Biden
The escalating tension between Iran and Israel has forced US President Biden to return to Washington to consult his national security team. [File photo] Credit: Facebook / White House
US President Joe Biden will cut his weekend trip to Delaware short and return to Washington on Saturday afternoon to consult his national security team as the Iran-Israel tension escalates, the White House announced.

A day after President Biden said he expected an Iranian attack against Israel “sooner, rather than later,” Iran’s Revolutionary Guards captured an Israeli-linked cargo ship in international waters in the Strait of Hormuz. The crew of the Portuguese flagged, British-owned MSC AIRES is comprised of Indian, Filipino, Pakistani, Russian, and Estonian nationals.

Earlier this week, Tehran said it could close the crucial shipping route and retaliate for an Israeli strike on its consulate in Syria.

Israel’s armed forces were placed on full alert on Saturday due to a possible attack. Israeli Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, the chief military spokesperson, said in a televised briefing, in which he claimed that Iran is “the world’s biggest state sponsor of terror” and warned that “Iran will bear the consequences for choosing to escalate the situation any further.”

Gatherings and educational activities planned for the coming days were called off in Israel, and beaches will remain closed to the public, the IDF announced.

In light of the rising tension in the area, Qantas has rerouted its Perth-London flights, while Canada has warned citizens to avoid all travel to Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank, upgrading its risk assessment of the region due to the increased threat of attacks on Israeli territory.

White House requests release of captured ship

On Saturday, the White House called on Iran to immediately release the captured ship and its international crew.

“Seizing a civilian vessel without provocation is a blatant violation of international law, and an act of piracy by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization,” White House National Security Council Spokesperson Adrienne Watson posted on X (formerly Twitter).

“It must be condemned unequivocally, and we will work with our partners to hold Iran to account for its actions,” she added.

White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivar later posted that he reiterated “the United States’ ironclad commitment to the security of Israel” during a call with his Israeli counterpart Hanegbi.

Israel ambassador to Greece warns Iran against attack

Speaking at the 9th Delphi Economic Forum earlier on Saturday, the Israeli ambassador to Greece, Noam Katz, issued a warning to Iran not to launch an attack against Israel.

“Israel is a strong country; it has very strong defense measures and also the ability to react. I hope they won’t make this mistake. They received warnings from the entire international community, starting with the American president; they received the same messages from Germany, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, and also from us,” said Katz.

The Israeli ambassador advised that “democracies do not go to war lightly,” pointing out that “Israel was forced to go to war when the terrorist organization Hamas decided to launch a full-scale attack against it.”

He reiterated Israel’s goals to dismantle Hamas, release all hostages from the October 7th attack on Israel, and “create a new reality in Gaza that will no longer pose a threat to Israeli citizens.”

“The war is not against the Palestinians; it is against Hamas. Israelis, Palestinians, and all neighboring countries will benefit from this,” the Israeli ambassador stressed.

Asked about the international community’s reactions to the humanitarian situation in Gaza, Katz pointed out that Hamas’ ideology is exactly like that of ISIS and observed that he did not see the international community negotiating with ISIS and leaving ISIS in place.

Holy Icons and Relics in Christian Cairo

Arunansh B. Goswami
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Holy Icons and Relics in Christian Cairo
religious icon
Greek Orthodox St. George’s Church in Christian Cairo. Photo Credits: Mr. Arunansh B. Goswami.

“Behold, the Lord rides on a swift cloud, and will come into Egypt.”

– Isaiah 19:1

On a Biblical tour of the Holy Land, one might visit Jerusalem, Nazareth, and the Sea of Galilee. One might also be interested in visiting the land where the Holy Family, including Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, lived after they fled Bethlehem for the protection of the newborn Jesus. That particular land, Egypt, has been a civilizational state for millennia, and it is where Joseph and Mary escaped with the Baby Jesus from the murderous intent of Herod, according to the Gospel of Matthew.

map of the Holy Family's route
A board outside Abu Serga Church in Old Cairo, showing and describing the route the Holy Family took in Cairo. Photo Credits: Arunansh B. Goswami.

According to the gospel, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.” Mary and Joseph did as they were commanded and remained in Egypt until Herod died and the angel instructed them to return. 

Where the Holy Family stayed

cavern under the Abu Serga Church
The cavern under the Abu Serga Church in Cairo, where the Holy Family, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, stayed while in the area. Photo Credits: Mr. Arunansh B. Goswami.

Under the Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church in Old Cairo near the Roman fortress of Babylon is a cavern which indeed is very special. During their time in Old Cairo, the Holy Family rested in this very cavern for three months. Like many other holy sites, a church was built on top of it. The Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church dates back to the late fourth to early fifth century AD.

Within the cavern is the stone on which Jesus slept as a child. It is similar to the one in Nazareth. One can also see the original flooring on which Jesus walked. This is protected by a glass covering. The particular church was built at the site during the Apostolic age. The cavern is indeed a special place for pilgrims and those who have studied Christian theology and history.

Holy icons and relics

Icon of St. George
Icon of St. George in the Hanging Church in Cairo. Photo Credits: Mr. Arunansh B. Goswami.

Near the aforementioned church in Cairo is also The Hanging Church, one of Egypt’s oldest churches, believed to have been built in 690 AD. This church has over a hundred icons. Among these are the icons of St. Mark the Evangelist (15th c. AD), St. Mercurius (18th c. AD), St. Theodore The Stratelates (18th c. AD), and St. Victor (18th c. AD). The Nativity Icon from the 18th century AD is also among these.

Various other icons and relics housed at The Hanging Church, including the Virgin Mary with Jesus as an infant, the Crowned Virgin Mary with the Child, also known as the Coptic Mona Lisa, and St. Theodora and Her Five Children, are dated to the 17th to 18th centuries. An 18th-century AD icon of St. George, a patron saint not only of England but also of Aragon, Catalonia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Greece, Lithuania, Portugal, and Russia, can likewise be found there.

Relic of St. George the Martyr
Relic of St. George the Martyr in The Hanging Church in Old Cairo. Photo Credits: Mr. Arunansh B. Goswami.

The church contains a wealth of other icons and relics, as well. Furthermore, not far from The Hanging Church is St. Barbara’s. Thirteenth-century documents at the Church of St. Barbara, which houses some of the rarest icons, reveal many of its relics were previously housed at The Hanging Church.

St. George’s Church and Nunnery

St George’s Greek Orthodox Church
St George’s Greek Orthodox Church in Cairo. Photo Credits: Mr. Arunansh B. Goswami.

Nearby, the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George was built by Athanasius during the reign of Ibn Marwan, a leader of Egypt. The particular religious institution was mentioned in the History of the Patriarchs of the Coptic Church and Al-Maqrizi.

One of the largest Coptic religious festivals is held at this Greek Orthodox church annually on April 23rd. These are the words spoken by Jesus to St. George before his martyrdom as per the manuscript of St. George kept in St. George’s Convent in Old Cairo: 

“I swear by myself, my beloved George, that as there was no one borne of woman greater than John the Baptist, also no martyr resembles you. You will have no counterpart among them. I made your name spread in my kingdom and gave it grace and made it a port of safety for all mankind. Whoever, in distress, calls on your name, either man or woman, I will quickly answer and give them their heart’s request.”

Greek Orthodox St. George’s church in Cairo
Greek Orthodox St. George’s church in Cairo. Photo Credits: Mr. Arunansh B. Goswami.

The Church of Saint George in Old Cairo is said to be built over the prison where St. George the Great Martyr is believed to have been imprisoned and tortured for a period of approximately two and a half months. Many related instruments can still be found in the nearby monastery.

In the vicinity of this church in Old Cairo is St. George’s Shrine, and located at the entrance of the ancient church is a well. Popular belief has it that healing miracles take place there through the blessing of its water by both Christians and non-Christians alike. The water tap in the corridor of the shrine allows for the availability of water to the public. According to tradition, it is the well from which the Holy Family drank during their journey to Egypt.

hains with which St. George was tied when he was tortured
Author’s father Mr. D. B. Goswami holding the chains with which St. George was tied when he was tortured. Photo Credits: Mr. Arunansh B. Goswami.

In 2003, a part of St. George’s relics was placed in the shrine. These were made available for visitors during prayer. Legend has it that if worshippers ask for Jesus’ intercession and for answers from him, these would be granted to those making the request. The shrine houses the very chains with which St. George was bound up when he was tortured and beheaded for his Christian beliefs.

It is not the chains of St. Peter but of Saint George that are believed to possess miraculous powers to cure those possessed by demons and paralytics. In this shrine are also housed icons and relics of Saint Philomena, a virgin, martyr, and wonderworker, who was the daughter of a prince of one of the Greek states.

Christian Cairo

Christian Cairo is indeed very special for Christian pilgrims and travelers with a deep interest in Christian theology and history. Heavy police presence in the area shows that inter-communal relations are still not substantially harmonious.

It is, nonetheless, observable in Egypt that steps for the welfare of the Christian community have been taken and that relations between Christians and Muslims could become more harmonious.

Stefanos Tsitsipas Triumphs at Monte-Carlo Semifinals

Paula Tsoni
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Stefanos Tsitsipas Triumphs at Monte-Carlo Semifinals
Stefanos Tsitsipas playing at the Monte-Carlo Masters semifinals 2024
Stefanos Tsitsipas will claim his 3rd Monte-Carlo Masters title on Sunday. Credit: Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters website

Stefanos Tsitsipas made it to the Monte-Carlo Masters final after achieving an epic three-set victory on Jannik Sinner during Saturday’s semifinal game.

The Greek outmaneuvered his Italian opponent with his heavy forehand and rallied from 2-4 in the third set to advance after two hours and 38 minutes.

Tsitsipas eventually captured the biggest win of his season, defeating World No. 2 Sinner 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 to move to within one win of capturing his third title in the Principality.

The Greek tennis champion is already a two-time Monte-Carlo champion, having claimed this title in 2021 and 2022. He will now achieve his third title at the tournament’s final game on Sunday.

In what will be his seventh ATP Masters 1000 final, Tsitsipas will either face top seed Novak Djokovic or Norwegian Casper Ruud, who play in the semifinals later on Saturday.

Fiercely competitive game for Tsitsipas at Monte Carlo

Tsitsipas began quickly in front of a vocal crowd on Court Rainier III and gained an early break to lead 2-1. He was dominant behind his first serve, winning 13/14 points on his opening delivery to limit Sinner to zero break point opportunities on return.

The Italian responded at the start of the second set, however, upping his intensity and making more returns to race 3-0 ahead. He struck 14 winners in the second set according to Infosys ATP Stats and produced his best level when serving out for 5-3 as he fended off five break points in the game to level.

Both players continued to improve as the match went into the third set with Sinner racing into a 4-1 lead. However, the Italian seemed to tweak his knee in the seventh game of the set, receiving treatment at 4-3. Tsitsipas came out firing on the resumption, break immediately to level for 4-4 before he hit with brutal power off both wings to seal a statement win as Sinner quickly faded physically.

“It was tennis at its highest level that I have been able to play. Jannik was an extremely difficult opponent and it can be seen throughout the year so far. He has been very consistent and I could see that throughout today with his game,” Tsitsipas commented after the critical face-off.

“He is one of the toughest opponents I have faced so far and to find ways when there weren’t that many, I am proud of that. He gave me a very difficult game and [the] way I overcame it is true excellence.”

Tsitsipas back into the Top 10 ranking

The win against Sinner, who struggled with a leg injury in the third set, brought Tsitsipas back in to the top 10 of the PIF ATP Live Rankings, having dropped out for the first time since 2019 in February.

“It helps a lot knowing I have a win like this under my belt. Having a win like this and getting to the levels of tennis again brings a lot of satisfaction to me,” Tsitsipas said. “When there is a lot of work put in each day these are the type of matches you are aiming for.”

Tsitsipas now leads the second seed 6-3 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series with his victory against the Italian his first Top 3 win since 2022, when he beat Daniil Medvedev in Cincinnati.

Possible Conflict Between Israel, Iran Threatens Middle East

Alexander Gale
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Possible Conflict Between Israel, Iran Threatens Middle East
IDF
A possible conflict between Iran and Israel is worrying some international affairs analysts. Credit: Israeli Defense Forces Spokesperson’s Unit / Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Amidst ongoing combat in Gaza, tensions between Israel and Iran have risen to such a degree that many international affairs observers are worried a wider conflict could ignite in the Middle East.

Iran has long been at odds with Israel and its chief ally, the United States, since the ascendency of the theocratic Islamic regime in Iran in 1979.

Heightening the sense of apprehension in the region was a statement issued by US President Joe Biden on Friday that he is expecting Iran to attack Israel “sooner than later.”

Is a conflict brewing between Israel and Iran?

The primary catalyst for a possible conflict is an airstrike attributed to Israel on April 1st which killed several members of Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps( IRGC).

Tehran has claimed an Israeli airstrike targeted its embassy complex in Syria. The Iranian government has vowed to take retaliatory action. Among the dead was Mohammed Reza Zahed, a senior officer of the IRGC and the most high-profile Iranian commander killed since IRGC Quds Force Commander Qassem Soleimani was assassinated by the US in Baghdad in 2020.

In the aftermath of the incident and in response to subsequent allegations, the Israeli government said it did not comment on foreign reports. However, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told media: “According to our intelligence, this is no consulate and this is no embassy…This is a military building of Quds forces disguised as a civilian building in Damascus.”

In any case, Israel is now braced for an attack by Iran. “Over the past day, the military has conducted a situational assessment and approved plans for a range of scenarios following reports and statements on an Iranian attack,” Rear Admiral Hagari said this Friday.

The nature of that anticipated attack is uncertain. Iran has a plethora of conventional and unconventional means it could use to target Israel. For example, it could orchestrate an aerial strike with drones or act through one of its many regional proxies.

War on a regional scale

Since Israel launched military operations in Gaza as a response to terrorist attacks conducted by Hamas on October 7th, defense and international affairs analysts have been worried about the latest round of the Israel-Palestine conflict spreading to the wider region.

For example, in February, the International Crisis Group warned that “while Israel’s assault on the strip persists, the risks of all-out war or other growing instability remain high.”

Several regional actors are impacted by the fighting in Gaza. Included are neighboring Egypt and Jordan, which are most concerned about a mass exodus of Palestinian refugees into their countries. The governments of Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq are likewise nervously looking on.

However, Iran is perhaps the most consequential potential participant in any regional widening of the conflict. This is due to a blend of factors including Iran’s strong rhetoric in support of the Palestinian cause, its long-term rivalry with Israel and the US, and an extensive network of proxy militias operating in the region.

Given the long-term strategic rivalry between Iran and Israel, the April 1st airstrike in Syria has been just one of many potential sparks for a conflict. Whether that spark results in a full-blown fire remains to be seen.

Continued “hybrid war” is more likely than a full-blown conflict

Despite the sharp rhetoric and plausible risks of a wider regional war, neither Iran nor Israel likely wants to engage in an all-out war with one another. A more likely scenario is that a heightened exchange of violence will occur between the two countries below the threshold of open warfare.

This is chiefly because the risks associated with a conventional war for both are immense, but this is particularly true for Iran. An open war with Israel would almost certainly result in US intervention, which could very well result in regime change in Tehran. For this reason, Iran will likely try to target Israel in a way that is damaging but does not risk an escalation to war.

Such strategies are referred to by a variety of names by military and international affairs theorists, including “hybrid war” or the “gray zone.” One explanation of this concept is that “hybrid warfare entails an interplay or fusion of conventional as well as unconventional instruments of power and tools of subversion. These instruments or tools are blended in a synchronized manner to exploit the vulnerabilities of an antagonist and achieve synergistic effects.”

Hybrid warfare involves the use of military and non-military means, as well as violent and non-violent actions to degrade an enemy’s capabilities. There are two major points to bear in mind. Firstly, Iran has adeptly used hybrid warfare in the past to achieve its objectives, and secondly, the combined military might of Israel and the US is a strong incentive for Iran to avoid an all-out conventional war.

Making any kind of predictions about future geopolitical events is a difficult and uncertain business. Nevertheless, for the reasons outlined above, a form of hybrid war will likely intensify between Israel and Iran with an all-out conventional conflict being less likely. The major caveat to this assessment is that a miscalculation of any sort could lead to an unintended escalation.

The Greek Myth That Inspired Tolkien

Alexander Gale
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The Greek Myth That Inspired Tolkien
Atlantis
Tolkien was inspired by the Greek myth of Atlantis. Credit: Віщун, / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

British author J. R. R. Tolkien is beloved worldwide as the father of the literary fantasy genre, having written the immensely popular The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit, as well as several posthumous works further exploring Middle Earth edited by his son Christopher.

Tolkien is best known for his “worldbuilding”, that is to say, the creation of rich and fantastical settings for his books, complete with fictional languages such as Quenya and Sindarin.

The lore of Middle Earth was most heavily inspired by Northern European mythology and history, especially that of the Anglo-Saxons and Norse, which is unsurprising given Tolkien’s philological studies of Old English.

However, one of the stories most central to Tolkien’s literary creation is the tale of Númenor, and it is this which bears a striking resemblance to the ancient Greek myth of Atlantis.

Númenor: Tolkien’s retelling of an ancient Greek myth

According to research by the scholar Maria do Rosário Monteiro, “Tolkien’s description of the drowning of Númenor undoubtedly echoes that of Atlantis?” So, how exactly do these two tales compare?

In Tolkien’s writings, Númenor is described as an ancient kingdom located on a large island to the west of Middle Earth. It is inhabited by the greatest human civilization to have existed and is essentially an idyllic utopia ruled by wise kings. The island itself was a gift presented by the Valar – angelic godlike figures – to the ancestors of the Númenóreans as a reward for facing the Dark Lord Morgoth in battle.

However, over time, the Númenórean civilization is corrupted. The trouble started when the last king of Númenor, Ar-Pharazôn, defeated Sauron, the lieutenant of Morgoth, and brought him back as a prisoner to the island kingdom. Sauron, who was remarkably deceitful, managed to convince the Númenórean king that he could live eternally if only he worshiped Morgoth as a god.

Consequently, the Númenóreans ceased their worship of Eru Ilúvatar, the One God in Tolkien’s mythos, and disaster ensues. For their hubris and corruption, they were punished with the sinking of their island. Only a few of the virtuous Númenóreans escaped to Middle Earth, where they founded the kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor.

Striking similarities to Atlantis

The parallels between the ancient Greek myth of Atlantis and Númenor are abundant. Both, at their essence, are cautionary tales against hubris, resulting in the demise of an entire civilization.

Like Númenor, Atlanis is initially described by Plato as an island utopia. The island itself was said to be located beyond the Pillars of Heracles, presumably in the Atlantic Ocean, and was “larger than Libya and Asia together.”

The Atlanteans were an advanced people, divinely favored by the sea god Poseidon. Their island home was the site of several architectural marvels and they used their maritime prowess to establish a vast overseas empire.

However, like the Númenóreans, the Atlanteans grew greedy and immoral. They were eventually defeated by the ancient Athenians in battle and were subjected to total annihilation when Atlantis sank beneath the waves. Quoting Timaeus, Plato wrote of Atlantis:

“But afterwards there occurred violent earthquakes and floods; and in a single day and night of misfortune all your warlike men in a body sank into the earth, and the island of Atlantis in like manner disappeared in the depths of the sea. For which reason the sea in those parts is impassable and impenetrable, because there is a shoal of mud in the way; and this was caused by the subsidence of the island”

Tolkien dreamed of Atlantis

As explained by Dr. Philip Irving Mitchell, a Professor of English, Tolkien had a recurring nightmare in which he dreamed of the final apocalyptic fate of Atlantis. In 1964, Tolkien described the dream in a letter to Christopher Bretherton:

“This legend or myth or dim memory of some ancient history has always troubled me. In sleep I had the dreadful dream of the ineluctable Wave, either coming out of the quiet sea, or coming in towering over the green inlands. It still occurs occasionally, though now exorcized by writing about it. It always ends by surrender, and I wake gasping out of deep water. I used to draw it or write bad poems about it.”

“The Atlantis myth had an obvious personal meaning to Tolkien,” comments Dr. Mitchell. “He considered it a possible racial memory descended down though his family. It also represented to him an embodiment of certain European longings.”

Emblematic Ancient Theater of Delphi To Undergo New Restoration

Paula Tsoni
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Emblematic Ancient Theater of Delphi To Undergo New Restoration
Temple of Apollo at Delphi, Greece
The emblematic ancient Greek theater of Delphi, where the Pythian Games took place in antiquity. Credit: Greek Ministry of Culture and Sports

The emblematic ancient Greek theater of Delphi in Central Greece, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, will undergo new restoration and preservation works, scheduled to conclude in 2027.

Situated within the Temple of Pythian Apollo, on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, the theater of Delphi was the intellectual and artistic equivalent to the athletic stadium at Olympia, as this is where the musical contests of the Pythian games and other religious festivals took place in antiquity.

The theater could seat five thousand spectators.

Delphi theater’s new restoration to address chronic challenges

Although excavated and restored, the theater has been in poor condition, according to the Greek Ministry of Culture and Sports’ archaeological sites online database.

The cavea of the theater has subsided, the limestone blocks are cracking and flaking, and many of its architectural members, such as seats and blocks of the parodoi walls, remain scattered throughout the temenos.

The new preservation works will first deal with the geological pathology of the area, which sits on a tectonic fault line, and, secondly, on the impact of climate change on the site’s soil. The soil is prone to erosion and sedimentation.

Delphi theatre blocks
Damaged blocks will be restored during preservation works at the ancient theater of Delphi. Credit: Greek Ministry of Culture and Sports

It will then attempt to restore and fix some of the damaged blocks, as well as reconstruct the destroyed east part of the theater with the addition of about a hundred new blocks.

Culture and Sports Minister Lina Mendoni commented that the aim is to boost the theater’s function as an important cultural destination and resource for development, at local and national levels, but also to preserve the character of Delphi as a landmark for world culture.

An ancient site of unique importance and impact

As described by UNESCO, the archaeological site of Delphi bears a unique testimony to the religion and civilization of ancient Greece but also had an immense impact throughout the ancient world.

Mycenaean remains show that the area was inhabited in the 2nd millennium BC, but the development of the sanctuary and oracle of Apollo, the Olympian god of light, knowledge, and harmony, began in the 8th century BC.

The religious and political influence of the site of Delphi over the whole of Greece increased during classical antiquity, while its fame spread to the rest of the ancient world, attracting worshippers from faraway lands.

Aerial view of Delphi theatre
About a hundred new blocks will be added to restore the destroyed east part of the ancient Greek theater of Delphi. Credit: Greek Ministry of Culture and Sports

The theater’s present form with its stone-paved orchestra, stone seats, and decorated stage is the result of a 160/159 BC restoration sponsored by Eumenes II of Pergamon, according to archaeologist Rosina Kolonia.

However, the theater’s original form is unknown. It is possible spectators sat on wooden seats or on the ground before the first stone-built theater was constructed in the fourth century BC and was subsequently refurbished several times.

A place of celebration “reflecting triumphant Hellenism”

The Delphi Theater and the Stadium, where the Pythian Games took place every four years, were “places of community celebrations reflecting triumphant Hellenism,” UNESCO states.

According to Kolonia’s description of the Delphi theater, the cavea is divided into two uneven sections by a paved diazoma, or landing, consisting of twenty-seven tiers of seats in the lower section and seven in the upper. It is then divided vertically by a series of staircases into six and seven cunei for the upper and lower sections respectively.

Aerial view of Delphi theatre
A new restoration will address chronic geological and preservation challenges at the ancient Greek theater of Delphi. Credit: Greek Ministry of Culture and Sports

The horse-shoe-shaped orchestra is surrounded by an enclosed conduit. Its pavement and parapet are Roman. Inscriptions relevant to the emancipation of slaves are embedded in the walls of the parodoi, but their texts have become illegible through wear.

The stage, of which only the foundations remain, was probably divided into the proscenium and the stage proper, and its front was adorned with a relief frieze depicting the Labors of Hercules.

EIB Announces 220 Euro Loan to Greece for Civil Protection

Paula Tsoni
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EIB Announces 220 Euro Loan to Greece for Civil Protection
Firefighting aircraft flying above forest land covered in smoke.
A 220 million euro loan to Greece by the EIB will be used to buy state-of-the-art equipment for the Hellenic Fire Service, among others. Credit: AMNA

A 220 million euro loan to Greece was announced on Friday by the European Investment Bank to fund civil protection from floods, wildfires, and other natural disasters, such as earthquakes.

The loan is part of the EIB Group’s EU-wide Climate Adaptation Plan and follows an initial loan to Greece of 375 million euros in January 2021, which brings the total EIB support for Greek civil protection and disaster preparedness to 595 million euros.

The two fundings, in 2021 and 2024, represent the first targeted direct EIB support for civil protection and disaster preparedness in Greece and is the largest amount of EIB aid for disaster management and response in Europe.

A plan to restructure civil protection in Greece

Greece was hit by deadly wildfires in 2017 and 2018, while further devastating wildfires swept the country in 2021 and 2023, followed by catastrophic flooding in September 2023.

“This support will help the country respond more quickly and effectively when disaster strikes, protect lives, and better prepare for natural disasters and pandemics,” said EIB Vice-President Kyriacos Kakouris.

The funding from the EIB will be used to materialize the multi-year Greek “Aegis” plan to strengthen the country’s civil protection mechanism through the acquisition of fire engines, firefighting planes and helicopters, drones, rescue vehicles, and the operation of control centers.

The program, to be implemented until 2025, aspires to restructure civil protection in Greece to enable quicker responses, strengthen local preparedness and coordination, and improved equipment.

“It is a significant, emblematic program for which Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis secured funds worth €2.1 billion euros with the aim of upgrading the civil protection and protecting the country against the natural disasters caused by the rapidly evolving climate crisis across the planet” said Greek Minister of Crisis Management and Civil Protection Vassilis Kikilias.

All of the projects have been put to tender, and are progressing to the next stage, their contractualization, he added.

New equipment and regional civil protection teams

The new support covers state-of-the-art equipment for the Hellenic Fire Service, including helicopters and aircraft to fight wildfires and conduct evacuations in medical emergencies, says the EIB announcement.

Disaster prevention, preparedness, and response will be transformed by the creation of 13 regional civil protection teams and new communications networks and information-technology systems across the country.

Experts from the Greek government and EIB have been working together since the 2021 loan agreement and will continue to do so under the new funding accord to use best practices from across Europe.

“The EIB, through its Advisory Services Hub, and the Greek authorities will share best practices during the implementation of the investments and enable experience from this visionary scheme to benefit future projects backed by the EIB elsewhere,” said Kakouris.

Multiple Dead in Sydney Shopping Mall Stabbing Attack

Alexander Gale
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Multiple Dead in Sydney Shopping Mall Stabbing Attack
police line
A stabbing attack took place on Saturday at a shopping mall in Sydney, Australia. Credit: Tony Webster / Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

At least five people have been killed during an attack at a shopping mall in Sydney, Australia with multiple reported stabbings. Nine people may have been stabbed in total.

The suspected attacker was reportedly shot dead by a police officer. The Australian police force has assured the public there is “no continuing threat” and the attacker “acted alone.”

Hundreds of people were evacuated from the Westfield Bondi Junction mall complex, where the stabbing attack took place. The area remains locked down, and the authorities have urged people to avoid the area.

Australian authorities respond to Sydney stabbing attack

The Australian police force reported that a lone unit officer in close proximity to the scene took responsibility for disarming and shooting the suspected attacker.

“She confronted the offender who had moved by this stage to level 5,” Assistant Commissioner Anthony Cooke, told journalists this morning.

“As she continued to walk quickly behind him to catch up with him, he turned, faced her, raised a knife. She discharged a firearm, and that person is now deceased,” he added.

“She is certainly a hero,” said Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in praise of the police officer who confronted the attack. “There is no doubt that she saved lives through her action. And it is a reminder that those people who wear uniform are people who rush to danger, not away from it. And I give thanks to every, every one of them, for the actions that they’ve taken up to now and the actions that they will take over the coming days, which will be a difficult period as well. Thank you.”

Cooke was asked whether the police had identified any motivations for the attack, but he responded that they were still conducting their investigation.

In recent years, terror attacks have increasingly involved the use of crude weapons, such as knives or even vehicles. However, it is important to stress that the motive behind the attack is not yet known, so it cannot be confirmed or denied whether this was an act of terrorism.

Eyewitness accounts

Some eyewitness accounts of the fatal stabbing attack in Sydney have already been shared by international media outlets.

Johnny, a 33-year-old man who was visiting the area from  New South Wales Central Coast, witnessed the attack from within the shopping center. He heard a disturbance and turned to see a woman and her baby being assaulted.

“She was getting stabbed. Everyone was in shock [and] didn’t know what to do,” he said. Johnny also described seeing what he thought was a body on the floor.

The wounded woman was able to rush towards a nearby Tommy Hilfiger, locking the doors shut behind her when she got inside.

“Some of the other shoppers were using clothing and things to try and…stop the bleeding,” the witness said. “The lady was pretty bad…there was a lot of blood and she was panicking…hopefully, she pulls through.”

Mysterious ‘Dragon’s Egg’ Star Is a Magnetic Monster, Says Study

Abdul Moeed
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Mysterious ‘Dragon’s Egg’ Star Is a Magnetic Monster, Says Study
Enigmatic Binary star HD 148937 in the Dragon's Egg nebula
Enigmatic binary star HD 148937 in the Dragon’s Egg nebula. Credit: ESO/VPHAS+ team. Credit: CASU

Scientists have uncovered a cosmic secret. There were three stars called HD 148937. Now, only two remain. They appear unusual because they used to be part of a trio.

Researchers discovered that two of these stars collided, forming the stunning Dragon’s Egg nebula where they now reside. These stars, though, are an odd couple, linked by gravity in a unique celestial phenomenon.

Astronomer Abigail Frost from KU Leuven in Belgium and the European Southern Observatory in Chile expressed her fascination with the system.

She noted that it’s uncommon to find a nebula encircling two big stars, sparking curiosity about what might have occurred in this particular system. Upon analyzing the data, the intrigue only grew, according to Frost.

Each star may form a black hole after dying

Situated approximately 3,800 light-years away from Earth, this system comprises two immense stars revolving around each other in a 26-year cycle.

These stars are hefty, with one weighing about 29.9 times the mass of the Sun, while the other is around 26.6 times as massive. Based on this theory, these stars are so large that they’re expected to transform into black holes when they reach the end of their lifecycle.

The larger star in this duo holds a strange characteristic. Prior studies indicate that it possesses a magnetic field. This is quite unusual because stars exceeding approximately seven times the mass of the Sun typically lack the convective interiors necessary to sustain a magnetic field, unlike smaller stars.

This anomaly intrigued Frost and her team. They delved into nine years’ worth of observational data on the system, gathered using the ESO’s Very Large Telescope, along with archival data from the MPG/ESO 2.2-meter telescope. This comprehensive analysis enabled them to thoroughly understand the stars and their orbital dynamics, as reported by ScienceAlert.

Two stars in the same binary system normally have similar age

Upon closer examination, the researchers observed an anomaly. Typically, two massive stars in a binary system like this would be of similar age, originating from the same stellar nursery around the same period.

However, upon analyzing the chemical composition of the stars, which provides insights into their age, they discovered a notable contrast. The larger star seemed to be approximately 2.7 million years old, while its smaller companion appeared to be at least 4.1 million years old. This age gap is quite significant, as reported by ScienceAlert.

The presence of the nebula adds another layer to the research. Estimated to be around 7,500 years old, its existence is already unusual. Typically, nebulas like this form as stars approach the end of their lives. However, both stars at the core of this nebula are still in their prime.

Moreover, the nebula contains a significant amount of nitrogen, carbon, and oxygen—elements usually confined within stars rather than floating freely outside them.

One possible explanation for the magnetic properties of the massive stars is the merger of two smaller stars. Such an event could scatter internal star material into the surrounding space. Collectively, these findings strongly suggest that a merger of two smaller stars indeed occurred in the case of HD 148937, according to ScienceAlert.

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