John Koudounis spoke today at the Fifth New York – Eastern Mediterranean Business Summit. Credit: Economist Impact / YouTube
Speaking at the Economist-hosted Fifth New York-Eastern Mediterranean Business Summit Greek-American CEO of Calamos Investments John Koudounis, said there is a strong appetite for investment in Environmental and sustainable products, and although the sector has been politicized by far right and far left, the future is bright for investing in sustainability.
Sustainability in Business According to Koudounis
Addressing the importance of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) in future investment opportunities, Koudounis shared that Calamos Investments had partnered with Greek Milwaukee Bucks NBA player Giannis Antetokounmpo, stating “We partnered with Giannis Antetokounmpo because of our shared values. Giannis and I agree that family, community, fair economics, and the environment are key areas in which we can do some good. We look for companies that bring positive sustainable benefits.”
The partnership comes as Calamos Investments announces a new sustainable usage fund available to investors, which, according to Koudounis, is built on the company’s belief that ESG and sustainable business investing has a strong future.
He added “A couple of years ago ESG was the largest sector of growth in all mutual fund businesses, and for the first time last year they saw some offload, which is bound to happen in any market. The important thing is that in the long term, ESG is not going anywhere. Sustainable investment is here to stay. It has been politicized, and there’s been a lot of backlash, but that will pass.”
Koudounis also took the opportunity to talk about greenwashing, saying that businesses need to stick to a system for sustainability, not just undergo random, arbitrary changes and then announce them.
The other panelist in this section of the event was Roger Martella, chief sustainability officer at GE Vernova, an energy equipment manufacturing and services company headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
He spoke about the demand for renewable energy, claiming that “we will see a doubling in demand for renewable energy in 2040 from 2020, and we need to merge electrification and decarbonization. We innovate technology to both electrify and decarbonize.”
He went on to speak about the future of renewable energy, stating “This decade is a decade of action, we need to grow renewables as soon as possible, including nuclear energy and making the grid more efficient. Now, in our research centers, we are preparing for the next decade. We are innovating renewable technology such as carbon capture and others, which gives us a road map to increase capacity in the future.”
The Eastern Mediterranean is playing a pivotal role with significant investments in energy infrastructure, security, ESG, innovation, real estate, tourism, healthcare, and financial services contributing significantly to the strengthening of investment and trade on both sides of the Atlantic.
As such, the Economist saw fit to center this year’s Economist New York – Eastern Mediterranean Business Summit on “expanding corridors of stability, investment and trade.”
Olympic Flame Handover Ceremony took place in Athens. Credit: Μanu. CC BY 2.0/flickr
A dusky glow over the Parthenon provided the backdrop for the lighting of the Olympic lantern as part of the flame handover ceremony, ready to make its journey to Marseille and then around the rest of the world.
A magnificent Olympic flame handover ceremony took place earlier today at the Panathenaic stadium in Athens, with traditional Greek-garbed Presidential Guardsmen parading and the high priestess being followed by her priestess procession.
The slightly stubborn lantern took a few attempts to light, but once it had been lit up there was tremendous cheer from the crowd. The flame will now make its way across the Mediterranean to Marseille, and then across the Atlantic to the US, passing and gracing many other countries along the way.
Moments from Olympic Flame Handover Ceremony in Athens, Greece
— Ο ΜΙΚΡΟΣ ΝΙΚΟΛΑΣ 🍉 | 🎲🐺🥭🧑🌾 (@_n1els_alien) April 26, 2024
The Olympic flame will be carried on Le Belem, a three-masted ship and the last of the great French merchant ships of the 19th century still sailing. It is 126 years old, has changed nationality three times, and finally regained its French flag.
The commentator described the ceremony as a “magical and memorable occasion.”
A Greek spokesperson addressing the crowd said “In a few hours the flame will travel by sea to Marseille, on a boat named Belem, jewel of the French maritime tradition. We Greeks don’t believe in coincidence, the flame will go to Marseille, which was founded by Greeks more than 2,600 years ago.”
He added “Greece and France have lived together on a cultural level for a very long time, and this ceremony makes links, and builds bridges between people. We also remember that big ideas are the ones people need when they listen to the sound of war around them. The Greek poet laureate Girogos Seferis wrote ‘in our gradually sinking world, everyone is in need of all the others. We must look for man wherever we can find him.”
The speaker concluded by saying “The Olympic flame is part of mankind, a promise of a better world which represents the courage of those who will overcome their limits. Paris 2024 will be an absolute success.” This was followed by hoorays and cheers for France and Greece.
The Olympic Opening Ceremony in Paris
The Olympics website states that the “Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games will be bold, original and unique. On July 26, Paris 2024 will offer an Opening Ceremony that is certain to join the most memorable moments in Olympic history.”
Adding “For the first time in the history of the Olympic Summer Games, the Opening Ceremony will not take place in a stadium. Paris 2024 is breaking new ground by bringing sports into the city and the same will be true of the Opening Ceremony, set to be held in the heart of the city along its main artery: the Seine.”
Researchers have found a new way of making diamonds at low pressure. Credit: Kim Alaniz / Flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0
Researchers, led by Director Rod Ruoff at the Center for Multidimensional Carbon Materials (CMCM) in the Institute for Basic Science (IBS), as well as graduate students from Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), have successfully grown diamonds.
They achieved this breakthrough under conditions of 1-atmosphere pressure and at 1025°C. Their method involved using a special liquid metal alloy made of gallium, iron, nickel, and silicon.
This achievement marks a significant departure from previous methods. The discovery offers promising ways for more scientific exploration and the potential to scale up diamond production in innovative ways, as reported by “ScienceDaily.”
Growing diamonds using a home-built vacuum system
Under Ruoff’s guidance, the research team carried out numerous experiments. They made several hundred adjustments to various parameters and explored different experimental methods.
After rigorous efforts, they successfully grew diamonds using a home-built, cold-wall vacuum system.
Ruoff explained research progress was hindered by the lengthy setup process in the large chamber, RSR-A. It took over three hours.
This involved pumping out air for about three minutes, purging with inert gas for ninety minutes, pumping down to vacuum level again for three minutes, and then filling the chamber with a pure hydrogen/methane mixture for another ninety minutes before the experiment could commence.
To address this issue, Ruoff enlisted the expertise of Dr. Won Kyung Seong to develop a more efficient chamber. Seong commented that they designed and constructed a smaller chamber, called RSR-S, with a volume of only nine liters. This new system drastically reduced setup time to just fifteen minutes.
With quicker pumping, purging, and filling processes, they were able to accelerate the parametric studies significantly. This acceleration was crucial in identifying the parameters necessary for diamond growth within the liquid metal.
Diamond growing in the sub-surface of a liquid metal
The team uncovered that diamonds form beneath the surface of a liquid metal blend composed of 77.75 percent gallium, 11 percent nickel, 11 percent iron, and 0.25 percent silicon (based on atomic percentages). This phenomenon occurs when the mixture is exposed to methane and hydrogen under 1-atmosphere pressure at approximately 1025°C.
Yan Gong, a graduate student from UNIST and the primary author, said that, during one experiment with the RSR-S system, he observed a “rainbow pattern” spanning a few millimeters on the bottom surface of the solidified metal piece. This was after conducting the experiment and cooling down the graphite crucible to solidify the liquid metal.
Upon further investigation, they discovered the rainbow colors were indicative of diamond presence. This revelation enabled them to pinpoint the parameters conducive to consistent diamond growth.
In this new method, diamond formation initiates without requiring the presence of traditional seed particles. These are typically used in conventional high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) settings as well as during chemical vapor deposition (CVD) synthesis methods.
Marble bust (cropped) of Ptolemy I, the first Greek ruler of Jerusalem during the Hellenistic era. Credit: Public Domain
The ancient Greek period in Jerusalem lasted from 332 to 152 BC following the death of Alexander the Great and the dividing of his empire by his generals, the so-called diadochi.
Alexander’s successors imposed the Hellenistic culture on their new subjects. For about a century and a half, interaction between the Greeks and Jews was regular and nuanced. Hellenism was also followed during their reign. This came to an end when Herod the Great became king.
For the first twenty years after Alexander’s death, Judea was assigned to Laomedon but was fiercely contested by the generals. When the Wars of the Diadochi ended in the Battle of Ipsus in 301 BC, Ptolemy I Soter took control of Judea along with all of Palestine and Egypt, establishing the Ptolemaic dynasty rule until 200 BC.
The vision of Alexander the Great was to make Greek culture universal in his colonized territories, having as prototype 5th century BC Athens during the Golden Age of Pericles. His diadochi succeeded in that respect, and Hellenism influenced the lands they ruled.
Hellenistic Judaism
Jewish historian Flavius Josephus (37-100 AD) related the story of how Ptolemy took over Jerusalem. He wrote that Ptolemy appeared before the city on a Sabbath, pretending he wanted to make a sacrifice, and seized it, knowing that the Jews did not fight on the Sabbath. Josephus took this story from Greek author Agatharchides of Cnidus.
On this occasion, Ptolemy is said to have taken many captives from Jerusalem. He also took captives from the rest of Judea as well as from Samaria, and he settled them in Egypt. Knowing how sacred the oath was to Jewish people, he is said to have used them to garrison important strongholds. Thereafter, many Jews voluntarily went to Egypt to live, partly on account of the fertile land and partly on Ptolemy’s just rule.
Ptolemy soon turned Jerusalem into a polis. The Greek city was the vehicle for the assimilation and Hellenization of the indigenous peoples of the Near East. The Greeks founded new cities which were populated mostly by local people. While many Jews opposed the idea of Hellenization, they were not actively against the changes the Greeks brought. A cultural melting pot was created, as the institutions of the Greek way of life were opened to all who wished to participate. The Greek language was rapidly adopted by wealthy Jews indicating that locals were generally open to Hellenization.
The Ptolemies were benevolent toward the Jews. Ptolemy II Philadelphus, who ruled from 285 to 246 BC, commissioned a translation of the Hebrew Bible around the year 250 BC. At the same time, 72 scholars from Jerusalem translated the Torah, the five books of Moses, into Greek.
People from the surrounding villages and settlements began coming to Jerusalem to enjoy the advantages of living in a city. Furthermore, the concept of a citizen participating in municipal decision-making and government was something unknown and sounded promising. The upper class in Jerusalem and other newly founded cities in Judea were soon acculturated through the schools and other institutions of the Hellenistic world.
During the Hellenistic period, the important developments in literature were in Greek. Homer, the tragedians of the 5th century, especially Euripides, and the orators and historians of the 4th century were the models of the new Classicism.
The Seleucids bring changes
During the late 3rd century BC, many battles took place between the Ptolemies, led by General Scopas in the south, and two Seleucid armies in the north, one led by Antiochus the Younger and the other by Antiochus III. In 200 BC, a final battle between the armies of the two diadochi took place in Panion (modern-day Banias) with the Seleucids winning the war and control of Jerusalem falling into their hands.
The Seleucids were determined to Hellenize Judea. They instituted the Olympic Games in Jerusalem and invited locals to participate. Some Jews participated, but they did so at the price of being derided by their community. Furthermore, since these were Greek games, the participants needed to look Greek. Since Olympic athletes competed naked, Jewish would-be Olympians often had to undergo painful operations to hide their circumcisions before they could participate.
Other Jews weren’t pleased about the ancient Olympics. Many were horrified to see such a celebration of the human body on the grounds of God’s holy temple, as it seemed idolatrous and insulting. The conflict over the Games was a major factor leading to the Maccabean Revolt later.
While the Ptolemies were kind rulers, the Seleucids were the exact opposite. When the most infamous of the Seleucid rulers, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, went to Jerusalem in 169 BC, he plundered the sacred Temple Mount, sacrificed a pig on the Temple altar, and took all the Temple furniture and treasures away to Antioch.
In 168 BC, Antiochus IV Epiphanes built the Akra, a fortress for his Macedonian garrison, from which the Jewish population could be controlled. Hellenized Jews also joined this garrison.
Antiochus was determined to Hellenize all the Jews in Judea. As a first step, he forbade worship on the Temple Mount and the practice of rituals, such as sacrifice and circumcision, and forced them, on penalty of death, to sacrifice to pagan gods. But when an imperial emissary went to the nearby town of Modiin demanding that people be sacrificed on a pagan altar, Mattathias the priest refused to obey. When one of his countrymen came forward to sacrifice, Mattathias killed him and the emissary.
This was the beginning of the Maccabean Revolt. Mattathias, his five sons, Eleazar, Simon, Judah, John, and Jonathan, known as the Maccabees, along with many villagers decided to revolt against the Greeks. They left Modiin immediately and set up camp in the Gophna Hills. That was where they fought many battles against the Seleucid army from 167 to 160 BC.
The Seleucids remained in control of Judea, but the opposition of the Maccabees to the Seleucids and the Hellenized Jews continued until 134 BC. The Maccabees eventually attained the independence of Jerusalem and Judea in general.
Greek strongman Gust Lessis wowed American crowds with his superior displays of strength. Credit: RyanKemmers. CC BY 2.0/flickr
Greek strongman Gust Lessis first found fame after moving to the US in 1919. There, he performed feats of incredible strength before audiences at Brighton Beach and was soon discovered by two New York photographers. Unfortunately, Lessis met a sad end.
Lessis’ fame and popularity grew from then on, and even prompted then ultra-famous strongman Sandow the Magnificent to tell a group of reporters that the young Greek will “surpass others in his strength when he reaches the age of thirty,” as per “The Courier-News” of Bridgewater on April 29, 1926.
Eugen Sandow, “Sandow the Magnificent.” Credit: whatsthatpicture. CC BY 1.0/flickr
Lessis, the Greek strongman’s rise in fame
The Greek strongman astonished Americans in the early 1900s right through World War II, and via surviving photographs and newsreels of the 1920s and 1930s, he even sparked a new generation of admirers.
Most sources point to Lessis as having been born in Livadia, Greece sometime around 1891 to William Lessis and Panagian Lessis. The young strongman arrived in the US around the year 1919 and moved in with his two uncles then living in Omaha, Nebraska.
Not long after this, Lessis started working in the Pittsburgh Bethlehem Steel Works while trying to establish himself as a professional strongman but breaking into the realm of public life proved a difficult feat. He was eventually discovered at Brighton Beach by Jack Sussman and Bill McGrath, two New York photographers who pictured Lessis easily wrapping a one-inch bar around his wrist. “The sensational new strongman, whose feats have astounded all who have seen him, is but 22 years old and weighs only 185 pounds,” read a “New-York Tribune” article in 1922.
Lessis gains the attention of the media
This performance, which caught the attention of the media, firmly established the young Greek’s future career as a strongman.
“On a recent afternoon in a quiet corner of Brighton Beach Park, he held a one-ton boulder on his chest while a workman pounded it to pieces with a giant sledgehammer. Lessis supported himself on the ground with his hands and feet (like a table) as ten workmen put the stone on him. He didn’t quiver as the huge hammer pounded with terrific blows, sending sparks and fragments into his face and eyes. It took nearly ten minutes to shatter the stone, but Lessis stood under the terrific weight without a sign of exhaustion. Furthermore, there was nothing between Lessis’ skin, which is unnaturally tough, and the sharp, jagged rock,” reported “The Evening World” of New York in September 1922.
From that moment on, and once Lessis had been dubbed the “Human Anvil,” photographs of the breaking of large pavement stones across his chest, along with other feats of strength, began appearing on front pages and in the entertainment sections of newspapers all across the nation.
The young Greek’s abilities can be viewed by searching for YouTube footage titled “Strongmen, costauds, fakirs 1922-1931.”
Lessis’ breakthrough
However, things didn’t really pick up until “after weeks during which he almost starved, Gust attracted the attention of theatrical promoters. At one time he was giving exhibitions in Greek restaurants in New York. He further demonstrated his strength by lifting an office safe bodily from the floor. In the end, he signed a vaudeville contract to appear for $600 a week,” reported the Pittsburgh “Daily Post” on July 18, 1923.
Following his breakthrough performance at Brighton Beach, Lessis started to exhibit his feats of strength in theaters, circuses, and other public venues.
What is less clear about Lessis at this time is his apparent attempts to also establish himself as both a professional wrestler and boxer. In his theater shows, he was celebrated for his ability to “break a railroad spike with his teeth.”
Another demonstration of Greek Lessis’ great power was his ability to stretch a rubber spring to 1,200 pounds. Another was his placement of a several-feet-long, inch-and-a-half iron bar in his mouth while three individuals on each side bent the bar as he stood on a rock.
The October 1923 issue of “Popular Science Monthly” shows a photo of Lessis bending and breaking a thick iron spike with his teeth, with the spike embedded eight inches into a wooden beam.
At his many performances, Greek strongman Lessis would offer $5,000 to anyone who was able to duplicate his feats of strength, but according to public records, nobody ever did. he toured the country “winning many medals for his wonderful feats of strength,” according to “Central New Jersey Home News.”
The Greek strongman’s personal life
In 1921, Lessis met and fell in love with an 18-year-old American woman from Rawlings, Wyoming. Most news accounts cite this young lady’s name as Lola, and some other sources state her surname was Gottschalk.
In 1922, when the newlywed couple arrived in New York City, “the strong man saw that his wife could not resist the lure of the bright lights. He liked the simple life; she wanted always to be ‘on the go,’ it is said. He wanted children; she disliked them. At length Lessis saw that, although he loved Lola, they could never get along together,” reported the “Pittsburgh Daily Post” on July 18, 1923.
Sadly, by 1923, the same newspaper reported that Lessis had “filed suit for divorce. Lola, his wife, hasn’t been true to him…Lola won’t stay at home, it is said. She left him four times, but always came back. He was glad to see her and always made her welcome, no matter how long she had been away. Even now that his suit is filed Lessis says maybe he’ll give her another chance—if she will promise to be good and stay with him. But he fears it wouldn’t do much good.” The couple was officially divorced in 1923.
Although his love life suffered, the Greek strongman’s professional life continued to flourish. For the next ten years, Lessis made his way back and forth across performance types. As a wrestler, boxer, and circus strongman, Lessis’ fame grew and grew. Even today, websites devoted to wrestling and bodybuilding have rediscovered Lessis.
The murder of Greek strongman Gust Lessis
A newspaper clipping from “The Tampa Times” on May 7, 1932 discusses how, within a few hours after the Pinellas County grand jury’s indictment of Tom Kappas, a Tampa musician, for first-degree murder in the death of Gust Lessis, a man by the name of Tony Kappas was arrested at Pensacola and held as the “slayer of Lessis.”
“The man arrested at Pensacola denied any connection with the crime, however,” it was reported. “Officers there said he answered the description of the man wanted and also said he lived at Tarpon Springs (where Lessis lived at this point) and knew Tom Kappas.”
China has given the greenlight for Ehang’s autonomous flying taxis. Credit: Oronbb / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons
EHang, a vehicle maker, got the first-ever production certificate in China to produce self-flying taxis. These taxis are called EH216-S. They don’t need a pilot and can carry passengers. They can take off and land vertically, and they run on electricity.
The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) gave the green light for EHang to make these taxis in large numbers. The news came out on April 7th in a statement from the company.
While many companies make eVTOLs, they’ve mostly served as test models for trial flights. However, now, EHang’s move is a big step toward bringing eVTOLs into regular use.
Huazhi Hu, the CEO of EHang, shared in the statement, “Our vision is to introduce safe and reliable pilotless eVTOL aircraft to the global market, thereby offering safe, autonomous and eco-friendly air mobility services to everyone.”
With the production certificate, EHang can now make flying cars. This includes getting raw materials, managing the supply chain, checking quality, and performing tests. They’re also responsible for fixing and maintaining the cars after they’ve been sold. These steps are all thoroughly verified through reviews and inspections, as reported by “Live Science.”
EH216-S can fly at 10,000 feet with a speed of 62 mph
EHang introduced the EH216-S in 2018. It is a small electric craft that can take off and land vertically (VTOL). This flying taxi has a body made of carbon fiber and runs on sixteen motors connected to sixteen propellers. It can cruise at 62 mph (100 km/h) and fly as high as 10,000 feet (3,000 meters).
Made for carrying passengers, it can accommodate two people. It’s equipped with a self-driving system, so there’s no need for a pilot.
WATCH: In Abu Dhabi 🇦🇪 Type Certificated @EHANG EH216-S flying wows the crowd$EH pilotless passenger #eVTOL aircraft flying autonomously in the UAE pic.twitter.com/ZvtYC4LYa6
EHang says they’ve tested this VTOL many times with and without people on board. Before the EH216-S, EHang had another model known as the EHang 184, which they introduced in 2016, according to “Live Science.”
EHang intends the EH216-S to serve various purposes, including being used as air taxis, sightseeing flights, shuttles to airports, and travel between islands.
Getting approval for mass production of the EH216-S is a significant step in making unmanned eVTOLs and similar aircraft a part of everyday life. This certification makes the EH216-S the first of its kind. It could also make China the pioneer in offering flying taxi services to the public.
Although the EH216-S is cleared for mass production, the CAAC released the Green Aviation Manufacturing Development Outline (2023-2035) in October 2023. This document gives directions for getting a pilot-operated eVTOL flying by 2025 and having fully autonomous services widely available by 2035.
It emphasizes the importance of creating practical rules and insurance plans for flying cars, according to “Live Science.”
The dark features form when spring sunshine falls on layers of carbon dioxide. Credit: ESA
The European Space Agency’s Mars Express has snapped the telltale traces of ‘black spiders’ scattered across the southern polar region of Mars.
Rather than being actual spiders, these small, dark features form when spring sunshine falls on layers of carbon dioxide deposited over the dark winter months.
The sunlight causes carbon dioxide ice at the bottom of the layer to turn into gas, which subsequently builds up and breaks through slabs of overlying ice. The gas bursts free in Martian springtime, dragging dark material up to the surface as it goes and shattering layers of ice up to a meter thick.
The emerging gas, laden with dark dust, shoots up through cracks in the ice in the form of tall fountains or geysers, before falling back down and settling on the surface. This creates dark spots of between 45 m and 1 km across. This same process creates characteristic ‘spider-shaped’ patterns etched beneath the ice – and so these dark spots are a telltale sign that spiders may be lurking below.
Another of ESA’s Mars explorers, the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO), has imaged the spiders’ tendril-like patterns especially clearly. The spiders captured by TGO lie near, but outside, the region shown in this new Mars Express image.
The Mars Express view shows the dark spots on the surface formed by escaping gas and material, while the TGO perspective also captures the spidery, web-like channels that are carved into the ice below.
The aforementioned dark spots can be seen all over the Mars Express image, creeping across towering hills and expansive plateaus. However, most can be seen as small spots in the dark region to the left, which sits just at the outskirts of a part of Mars nicknamed Inca City.
The reason for this name is no mystery, with the linear, almost geometric network of ridges being reminiscent of Inca ruins. More formally known as Angustus Labyrinthus, Inca City was discovered in 1972 by NASA’s Mariner 9 probe.
“Black spiders” on Mars puzzled scientists
The dark streaks on Mars, resembling spiders, were first observed in images returned by NASA’s Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft in the early 2000s.
When scientists first observed the dark streaks on Mars, they were initially puzzled by their appearance and speculated about various possible explanations.
Some early hypotheses included the idea that the streaks might be formed by the flow of liquid water, which would have been significant as it could imply the presence of conditions conducive to life on Mars.
However, further analysis and observations revealed that the streaks were more likely related to seasonal processes involving carbon dioxide ice sublimation, rather than liquid water flows.
As scientists continued to study these features, they developed a better understanding of their formation mechanism, attributing them to the seasonal release of pressurized carbon dioxide gas beneath the Martian surface, which carries dark sand and dust and creates the spider-like patterns.
This interpretation has been supported by additional observations from various Mars orbiters and rovers, refining our understanding of the Martian surface processes.
China’s leader Xi Jinping during a recent visit to Russia. Credit: Presidency of Russian Federation, Creative CommonsAttribution 4.0
China’s leader Xi Jinping said the US and China should be “partners rather than adversaries” as he met with top American diplomat Antony Blinken in Beijing on Friday.
“China would like to see a confident, open and prosperous United States. We hope that the United States will view China’s development in a positive light,” Xi told Blinken.
“Once this fundamental problem is solved … Sino-US relations will truly get better and move forward,” he said. “China and the US should be partners rather than adversaries; help each other succeed rather than harm each other.”
Xi’s comments come as Chinese officials bristle at actions Washington has taken in the name of national security in the face of an increasingly assertive China, but which Beijing sees as meant to suppress its development.
Those have included US controls on the export to China of high-tech goods that could have military uses, as well as curbs on US investment in certain high-tech sectors in China.
On Wednesday, US President Joe Biden signed a bill that could lead to a nationwide ban on the social media platform TikTok if the company’s Chinese parent ByteDance doesn’t sell it – legislation Beijing has previously decried.
Need to strengthen channels of communication between US and China
Blinken told Xi the US was “committed to maintain and strengthen lines of communications” with China and “deal responsibly with our differences, so we would not have any miscommunications, misperceptions and any miscalculations.”
Examples of recent progress Blinken cited included “restoring military-to-military communications, counternarcotics and thinking together about the futures of artificial intelligence.”
The American diplomat speaking to the press after the meeting said he raised concerns about China’s support for Russia. He also spoke to Chinese officials about “dangerous actions” in the South China Sea – noting tensions in the Taiwanese Strait in recent months.
A potential TikTok ban did not come up in conversations between US and Chinese officials, he added.
Bejing has a key role in exerting diplomatic influence to stop the Gaza conflict spreading into the wider Middle East region, Blinken said.
He also spoke of wanting Bejing to discourage Iran from escalating tensions in the Middle East.
“Substantive and constructive” talks
Their meeting followed five hours of face time between Blinken and counterpart Wang Yi, which both sides characterized as “substantive and constructive.”
I had an in-depth and substantive meeting today with People’s Republic of China Director Wang Yi. As part of our effort to responsibly manage competition, we discussed areas of difference, in addition to areas of shared interest — like counternarcotics — where we can build on… pic.twitter.com/uGkTh6FPqz
But Wang was also clear about sharp tensions that still exist between the world’s two superpowers. As their meetings got underway, Wang said China and the US face a choice between stability and a “downward spiral.”
“Should China and the United States keep to the right direction of moving forward with stability or return to a downward spiral? This is a major question before our two countries, and tests our sincerity and ability,” Wang told Blinken during a meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, after saying US-China ties were “beginning to stabilize.”
New DNA Analysis Redirects the Cradle of Indo-Europeans, Sheds Light on Proto-Greeks. Credit: Dimosthenis Vasiloudis/GreekReporter
A recent DNA analysis on 777 ancient genomes from across the so-called Southern Arc, namely Southern Europe and West Asia, redirects the cradle of Indo-Europeans and sheds light on the Proto-Greek prehistoric past.
As is well known, the Greek language belongs to the Indo-European language family, and, as far as the latest genetic analysis shows, the area of Greece is highly significant in terms of this language family’s origin and its dispersal throughout other areas—yet, what does new DNA research say about Proto-Greek speakers and the first Indo-Europeans?
Language and Ethnicity; The Example of the Proto-Greek Speakers
Ethnic identity is said to be based predominately on a community’s subjective faith in a common origin and distinctiveness. However, since no access to subjective ethnic self-awareness of prehistoric peoples is available, only a single objective way remains to trace origins of specific groups. This involves detection of the communication tool, or language in other words, uniting certain peoples and thus distinguishing distinct societies and cultures.
When we talk about the origins of the Greeks or the “outset” of the Greek civilization, the impression of a “coming” of a proto-Greek speaking population from another area to the Hellenic mainland is conveyed. Of course, this concept has its roots in some controversial information in ancient written sources, and it is also evidenced in the existence of certain words and place names of non-Greek origin (“Pre-Greek substratum”) in the Greek language itself.
However, interpretations of migrations which dominated archeology in the previous century have influenced, and continue to influence, the main theories about the dispersal of the Indo-European languages.
In the last decades, the phenomenon of migration has been significantly revised by more systematic ways of Processual Archeology. It should no longer be considered a self-evident question but merely a hypotheses among many to be evaluated. Through the development of the new archeological theoretical thought, experts emphasize the radical shift towards the study of indigenous developments regarding the importance of migrations.
Family Tree of Indo-European Languages. Credit: EnriBrahimaj/ Wikimedia Commons
Proto-Greek Language and the Problem of the Indo-European Language “Evolution”
Experts consider the Greek language a member of the Indo-European family. Due to this status, the origin of the Greek language problematizes the derivation of the Indo-European family of languages. The most popular and long-lived predominant theory of the Proto-Indo-European origin is the one involving the South Russian steppe (Kurgan theory). Later alternative views also place the Proto-Indo-European homeland in eastern Anatolia, which is now Turkey (Anatolian or “sedentary farmer theory”).
Α characteristic problem of this complex Indo-European issue is that the research of linguistic paleontology developed tendencies to manipulate the archaeological research over time. Therefore, a common and equal tool for investigating the human past was hard to come by.
The revolution brought by the discovery of DNA in the 1950s was perceived as a huge opportunity utilized in scientific branches which work closely with archeological science to clarify ancient migration patterns. Despite the initial enthusiasm, various problems demonstrate that DNA alone cannot shed light on complex issues.
The mutation rate of genes, as well as the identification between genetic mutations and specific geographical areas, are issues that are still under investigation, and this is why the interdisciplinary conclusions of many genetic researches cannot be unquestionably accepted.
Nevertheless, the Indo-European problem still has a diachronic seductive effect on numerous scholars and research programs even though many theories often reach an impasse with no persuasive non-linguistic explanation of the dispersal of the Indo-European languages to account for all the regions where relevant languages were spoken.
Furthermore, contemporary research illustrates a worldwide systematic overview of successive cultural phases from the Upper Paleolithic to the end of the Bronze Age, mostly located with precision in time and space. Particularly, we can no longer consider the prehistory of the Greek area as “dark.”
The New Genetic Study and the Mycenean DNA; Proto-Indo-European Elite Imposition on Natives or Something Else?
Lion’s Gate, Mycenae. The Mycenaean Civilization was destroyed during the Bronze Age Collapse. Credit: Andreas Trepte/CC-BY-SA-2.5
The new study, in which many Greek experts were involved (such as Iosif Lazaridis, associate researcher in Genetics of Harvard Department of Human Evolutionary Biology and Harvard Medical School), published this Thursday, August 26, 2022 in Science, reports on genetic data extracted from 777 individuals who lived across the so-called Southern Arc, namely Southern Europe and West Asia.
According to other more recent DNA data of ancient Anatolians, which raised new questions about the “spread” of Indo-European languages, it seems that Anatolians did not mix with steppe pastoralists during the early Bronze Age. It’s the only place where Indo-European-related languages were spoken even though there was no steppe ancestry.
Ancient Anatolian peoples spoke the now-extinct Anatolian languages of the Indo-European language family, which were largely replaced by the Greek language during classical antiquity as well as during the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods. The major Anatolian languages included Hittite, Luwian, and Lydian while other, poorly attested local languages included Phrygian, Palaic, Luwic, and Mysian.
The new Indo-European DNA research also shows that between five to seven thousand years ago there was a gradual increase of ancestry from the Caucasus in the Anatolian genome, probably by a series of migrations from the east at the end of which about a third of the ancestry of Anatolians could be traced to somewhere in the Caucasus.
The fact that the same Caucasus component found in Anatolia comprises roughly fifty percent of the Yamnaya pastoralist genome further implicates the riddle of Indo-European languages. Given that this mysterious Caucasian link is the only ancestral commonality between the Yamnaya and the ancient Anatolians, it seems plausible that this enigmatic migration from the Caucasus brought the ancestral form of Indo-European to both these peoples. Therefore, the homeland and the “first language” of Indo-Europeans must be placed somewhere in the Caucasus.
We must point out that these conclusions seem to primarily justify the eminent archaeologist Colin Renfrew and his Anatolian hypothesis and do line up quite well with contemporary archeological indications. The dispersal of the Indo-European languages is equated by the British archeologist with the diffusion of the Neolithic way of life from its Anatolian “homeland” (possibly the Caucasus) in the seventh millennium BC.
Renfrew also identifies this Neolithic demic diffusion with the spread of the Proto-Indo-European language and its subsequent differentiation into the daughter branches, i.e. the different Early Neolithic cultural phases across Europe.
The most interesting conclusion about prehistoric Greek populations comes from the new estimation of the Mycenaean steppe ancestry (about 1/10). The new study shows that this proportion was not uniform across the population. In fact, even among the elites, it was possible to find people who were not genetically related to Yamnaya (such as the genome of the so-called Griffin Warrior of Pylos).
According to experts, steppe migrants did not establish a rule over the natives and keep to themselves. Rather, they admixed with them, and there were still people without steppe ancestry with elite roles in mainland Greece, especially in Peloponnese. This means then that during the later Mycenaean period in Greece, the new data suggest Yamnaya descendants had little impact on Greek social structure.
This explanation also once again confirms C. Renfrew and many other scholars, who insisted throughout the last decades that the picture of the Proto-Indo-Europeans as warlike mounted nomads have been based not only on the misuse of linguistic paleontology but also on serious anachronism.
Genetic Similarity of Minoans, Mycenaeans, Western Anatolians Possibly Confirms Homolingualism
Phaistos Disk, a disk of fired clay from the Minoan palace of Phaistos on the island of Crete, possibly dating to the middle or late Minoan Bronze Age . Credit: Wikimedia Commons
An earlier genome sequencing study (2021) also showed that the first major civilizations of the Aegean, namely the Minoan that flourished on Crete, the Cycladic of the central Aegean islands, and the Helladic of mainland Greece, are more genetically homogeneous than expected.
In the past, it was assumed that these three major different cultures were created by genetically distinct peoples despite their close proximity and constant contact. However, results of more recent research call this assumption into question. It seems that these three great Aegean civilizations were not as isolated from each other as experts initially assumed. Instead, they trace their origins to earlier common ancestors or even to past common civilization.
Experts have also suggested that Aegean inhabitants shared common DNA with populations of western and northern Anatolia with whom they shared common architectural and burial practices. It seems that the first Neolithic populations of Western Anatolia and Greece were extremely homogeneous and descendants of a common proto-agricultural population that spread from the seventh millennium BC throughout Europe.
These results are important because they suggest that critical innovations such as the development of urban centers, the use of metals, and the intensive “international” trade that took place during the transition from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age were not solely due to exogenous factors and mass migrations as previously supported but also largely a result of the cultural continuity of local Neolithic populations.
Α homolingualism between the first cultures around the Aegean Sea is not at all improbable if one considers that it may be connected with the Pre-Greek substratum of the Greek language and with the fact that the Minoan language seems to have many elements in common with the Anatolian Luwian.
“Greece’s greenest island, Corfu, welcomes visitors with the sweet aroma of pine and lemon trees. In the mountainous interior myrtle and bay bushes fight it out, while venerable olive groves descend to its beach-fringed coastline.” That’s how The Guardian introduced the Ionian Island a few years ago.
The Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a must-visit attraction. Wander through its narrow, winding streets lined with Venetian-style buildings, visit the impressive fortresses, and discover charming squares filled with cafes and shops.
Visit historical landmarks like the Old Fortress, New Fortress, and the Liston promenade. Don’t miss the impressive Spianada Square, the largest square in the Balkans.
Venetian Architecture
Corfu’s architecture reflects its Venetian past. The buildings feature influences from both Venetian and British styles, creating a unique blend of architectural beauty that is a delight to explore.
Pontikonisi, also known as “Mouse Island,” is a Greek islet located at the entrance of Halkiopoulos lagoon in Corfu. The islet is better-known for hosting the Byzantine chapel of Pantokrator, dating back to the 11th century and only open to visitors each year on August 6th.
According to the legend, Pontikonisi was Odysseus’s ship, the vessel that brought the legendary king of Ithaca and the hero of Homer’s epic poem, TheOdyssey, to the island of the Phaeacians.
Visit Achillion Palace
Located in the village of Gastouri, Achillion Palace is a stunning neoclassical mansion built for Empress Elisabeth of Austria, also known as Sisi. Explore the palace’s opulent interiors, beautiful gardens, and enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding area.
Mon Repos Palace
Situated on the outskirts of Corfu Town, Mon Repos Palace is an elegant neoclassical building surrounded by beautiful gardens.
The villa’s French name means “My Rest.” Credit: kerkyrainfo.gr
Explore the palace, which also houses a museum, and enjoy a peaceful stroll through the park. Mon Repos was where the late Prince Philip was born.
Paleokastritsa
Located on the west coast of Corfu, Paleokastritsa is a scenic area known for its beautiful beaches and the Paleokastritsa Monastery. Explore the monastery, which offers panoramic views of the surrounding area and houses a small museum displaying religious artifacts.
Explore the traditional villages
Take some time to explore the charming traditional villages of Corfu, such as Pelekas, Kassiopi, and Benitses. Experience authentic Greek island life, wander through narrow streets, and enjoy local cuisine in traditional tavernas.
Corfu is blessed with natural beauty. The island is adorned with lush green landscapes, olive groves, and cypress trees. Explore the stunning countryside, take a hike in the mountains, or enjoy breathtaking views from the coastal cliffs.
Relax on Corfu’s beaches
Corfu boasts numerous beautiful beaches for relaxation and sunbathing. Some popular ones include Paleokastritsa, Glyfada, Sidari, and Kontogialos. You can also find secluded coves and hidden beaches for a more intimate experience.
Located in Sidari, the Canal d’Amour is a unique formation of sandstone cliffs that create narrow channels and small secluded coves. Legend has it that couples who swim through the canal will find eternal love. Enjoy the natural beauty and take a swim in the crystal-clear waters.
Mouthwatering Cuisine
Greek cuisine is renowned worldwide, and Corfu offers its own delicious culinary traditions. Try local specialties like pastitsada (beef or rooster in a rich tomato sauce), sofrito (beef cooked in white wine), and the famous local cheese, kumquat liqueur, and olive oil.
Water Sports and Outdoor Activities
Corfu’s crystal-clear waters provide ample opportunities for water sports enthusiasts. Try snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, or rent a boat to explore the hidden coves. You can also enjoy hiking, cycling, and horseback riding in the island’s scenic surroundings.
Explore Mount Pantokrator
If you enjoy hiking and panoramic views, consider a trip to Mount Pantokrator, the highest point on the island. Hike to the summit, visit the 14th-century Pantokrator Monastery, and take in the breathtaking vistas of Corfu and the surrounding islands.
Vibrant Nightlife
Corfu is known for its vibrant nightlife, particularly in areas like Kavos and Ipsos. Enjoy beachfront bars, clubs, and live music venues that offer entertainment until the early hours of the morning.
The island also hosts various festivals and cultural events throughout the year.
Corfu the music capital of Greece
Corfu is the most musical island in Greece with hundreds of music associations and dozens of orchestras and bands. Even the way its natives speak is musical, as their speech often sounds like singing.
In fact, the first opera performed on Greek soil was in 1733 after the Venetians converted the local “Loggia” hall into a theater.
Take a boat trip to nearby islands
From Corfu, you can easily take boat trips to the nearby islands of Paxos and Antipaxos. Paxos, a Greek island in the Ionian Sea was the setting of “Maestro in Blue”, the first Greek series on Netflix that screened worldwide in March 2023. Discover the crystal-clear waters, hidden caves, and picturesque villages on these smaller islands.
Greek Hospitality
Greek people are known for their warm and friendly hospitality, and Corfu is no exception. You’ll be welcomed with open arms and find the locals eager to share their culture, traditions, and stories with you.
