March 18, 2023

Ali Aboutaam Presents One of the Most Important Early Greek Coins in Existence

Exhibition is on display at 6, rue Verdaine, Geneva, Switzerland.

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / ACCESSWIRE / March 17, 2023 / Classical masterpieces are on display by Ali Aboutaam of Phoenix Ancient Art at its main gallery, which is located in the center of Geneva’s old town. He is showcasing a variety of antiquities that combine artistic excellence, historical intrigue, and the enthusiasm of the famous collections that they once belonged to. Several of these artifacts have provenance as early as the 18th century and were frequently published up until the present.

Ali Aboutaam – Kraay and Hermer Potidaea Coin
Silver coin of Poseidon on Horseback, Potidaea (modern day Cassandrea), a Chalcidian city, circa 540-520 B.C.

Ali Aboutaam says: “I am excited to be holding in my hand one of the most important early Greek coins in existence: the coin is from Potidaea (modern day Cassandrea), a Chalcidian city in Northern Greece, which contrary to other Chalcidian cities, was founded by the Corinthians, not the Euboeans. It shows the earliest representation of Poseidon on horseback on coinage from around 540-520 B.C. We can see the letter ‘P’ under the horse for “Potidaea”, and Poseidon, holding his trident, is riding a very noble and archaic styled horse. This can be compared to the best of Corinthian black figure pottery, also dated to the same period. If we turn to the reverse, it shows a triangular incuse which is extremely rare on archaic Greek coinage, as it would otherwise typically be squared. This coin is in excellent condition, and as far as we know, it is unique. It had belonged to some of the most important collectors of Greek coins, including the Jameson collection, and has been published several times, notably in the famous Kraay & Hirmer book (Greek Coins) with a big enlargement. Kraay & Hirmer’s 1966 publication is an important reference for the most beautiful ancient Greek coins from private collections and museums.”

Alongside the exquisite coin of Poseidon is a lovely Hellenistic cornelian gem portraying the same god. The juxtaposition of the two miniature masterpieces from 400 years apart is extraordinary. And from 2000 years earlier, visitors can see an outstanding Cycladic marble idol among the display: a treat for contemporary creative tastes.

The exhibition is on display at 6, rue Verdaine in Old Town, Geneva, until the end of June 2023.

ABOUT PHOENIX ANCIENT ART

With galleries in New York City (Electrum) and Geneva, Switzerland, Phoenix Ancient Art is one of the world’s leading dealers in rare and exquisite antiquities with a focus on Greek and Roman, Near Eastern and Egyptian art. Its works of art have been acquired by world-class museums around the world, as well as by private collectors. Phoenix Ancient Art is a second-generation family business that was founded by Sleiman Aboutaam in 1968 and continues today under the leadership of his sons, Ali and Hicham Aboutaam.

For more information, contact info@phoenixancientart.com or visit www.phoenixancientart.com.

Contact Information

Alexander Gherardi
Director
alex@phoenixancientart.com
2122887518

SOURCE: Phoenix Ancient Art

March 18, 2023

China to cut gasoline, diesel retail prices

BEIJING, China will cut the retail prices of gasoline and diesel from Saturday, based on the recent changes in international oil prices, the country’s top economic planner said.

soline and diesel prices will dip by 100 yuan (about 14.48 U.S. dollars) per tonne and 95 yuan per tonne, respectively, said the National Development and Reform Commission.

ccording to Xinhua, under the current pricing mechanism, the prices of refined oil products are adjusted in accordance with changes in international crude oil prices.

China’s three biggest oil companies, namely the China National Petroleum Corporation, the China Petrochemical Corporation, and the China National Offshore Oil Corporation, as well as oil refineries, have been directed to maintain oil production and facilitate transportation to ensure stable supplies, said the commission.

Tariq Al Fahaam

Source: Emirates News Agency

March 18, 2023

UK offers USD 13 million to UNDP to tackle development challenges

NEW YORK, The United Kingdom (UK) has provided USD 13 million (GBP 11 million) in core resources to UNDP as part of their 2022 contribution. UNDP greatly appreciates the UK’s continued investment in flexible core funding, which is especially critical at a time of multiple crises and numerous complex development challenges.

The UK’s contribution will help UNDP deliver on shared priorities of the 2030 Agenda and work with countries to advance on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The UK works closely with UNDP on an array of issues, including addressing the root causes of forced migration, supporting democratic governance, crisis and conflict prevention, tackling climate change as well as pursuing gender equality and women’s empowerment.

UNDP counts on the UK’s continued support for regular resources in 2023 to help ensure that the organization is able to respond quickly and efficiently, in line with shared development priorities and in accordance with the highest standards of transparency and accountability. UNDP looks forward to a positive trajectory of flexible funding from the UK in the years ahead, which will be crucial for successfully tackling the global development challenges of our time.

Core support from the UK and other partners bolsters institutional effectiveness and strengthens organisational transparency and efficiency.

Tariq Al Fahaam

Source: Emirates News Agency

March 18, 2023

Growing securitisation in technology risks co-operation on responses to global crises: OECD

PARIS, The latest OECD Science, Technology and Innovation Outlook 2023 says that recent measures by China, the European Union and the United States which between them account for more than two-thirds of global spending on Research and Development (RandD) to reduce international technology dependencies could lead to a weakening of science, technology and innovation activities at a time when global challenges, more than ever, require international co-operation.

Data on collaboration based on scientific publications shows early signs of China-US disengagement from bilateral collaboration in research. US co-authorship with China has fallen markedly in recent years, possibly owing to pandemic travel restrictions and denial of visas that restricted Chinese academics from travelling overseas. Most of the decline which started in 2020 and accelerated in 2021 is in engineering and natural sciences fields, areas that underpin developments in breakthrough technologies and which account for the bulk of bilateral research collaboration between China and the United States.

“Strategic competition should be reconciled with tackling global problems and crises,” OECD Deputy Secretary-General Kerri-Ann Jones said, presenting the report at the European Commission in Brussels. “Leadership has inevitably involved some measure of protection of technologies from strategic competitors, but today, research and innovation are evermore interconnected across countries via trade flows, availability of critical materials and the race for talent. It is important that OECD countries carefully target their measures while keeping channels open to ambitious research and innovation co-operation to tackle current and future global challenges.”

The scale of China’s RandD expenditures today suggest it is gaining critical mass to innovate at the frontier in areas ranging from Artificial Intelligence to the processing of critical minerals.

While the United States remains the world’s largest absolute spender on RandD, China sits in second place, more than tripling its number of researchers over the past 20 years. China’s RandD intensity (defined as its RandD expenditure as a share of GDP) has grown from 1.71% in 2010 to 2.45% in 2021, above the EU at 2.15% but below the US at 3.46%. China is now a market leader in some technologies, such as 5G, and at the forefront in others, including batteries and wind turbines.

Source: Emirates News Agency

March 18, 2023

President of Romania visits Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

ABU DHABI, During his official visit to the UAE, President Klaus Iohannis of Romania, visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. President Iohannis was accompanied by Romanian First Lady Carmen Iohannis, Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and the Environment, Sultan Mohammed Al Ali, UAE Ambassador to Romania, Bogdan Octavian Badica, Ambassador of Romania to the UAE, and senior Romanian officials.

ccompanied by his delegation, President Iohannis commenced the tour by visiting the mausoleum of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, recalling his fine qualities and wise approach that established the culture of tolerance, coexistence, and peace among various nations worldwide.

Dr. Yousif Al Obaidli, Director-General of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre, took the Romanian President and accompanying delegation on a tour of the mosque’s halls and external corridors, and they were briefed about Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque’s noble message that promotes the practice of tolerance, and openness to the world’s nations. They also learned about the mosque’s history, collection, and aesthetic features of Islamic art and architecture that manifest in every corner of this grand edifice.

t the end of the visit, the guest was presented with two of the Centre’s distinctive publications. The first titled “Spaces of Light” showcasing the winning photographs in the “Spaces of Light” photography award, annually organised by the Centre in celebration of the scenic aesthetics and visual culture of the mosque, and another copy of a book titled “Houses of God” about places of worship in the Islamic history, including the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, as well as a book titled “Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque: A Visual Journey”, which through a rich visual journey narrates the details of Islamic art and architecture that manifest at the mosque.

Source: Emirates News Agency