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Americana, Eagle Hunting & more!

Good Afternoon - A huge diamond weighing 2,492 carats has been discovered at Botswana's Karowe Mine. It’s the largest diamond found in more than 100 years and the second biggest ever mined.

The diamond, about the size of a fist and weighing around half a kilogram, was shown to Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi, who said the moment was “overwhelming.”

The value and sale plans for the diamond haven’t been decided yet. This find continues to boost Botswana’s reputation for producing remarkable diamonds, including the 2019 Sewelo diamond.

Check out a photo of the diamond on our X

Global Insights

Americana

When the American Confederacy was defeated in May 1865, about 10,000 Southerners moved to a small city in Brazil to start new lives and keep their cultural traditions alive.

In the heart of Brazil, the descendants of these Confederate expatriates still celebrate their heritage. Each year, the city of Americana in São Paulo state holds a large festival in their honor.

The Confederates who settled in Brazil were seeking a fresh start. Brazil, under Emperor Dom Pedro II, hoped to boost its agriculture by attracting these settlers. The Brazilian government even offered to cover relocation costs for those willing to move. The settlers bought land at low prices and aimed to recreate their Southern plantations with the help of enslaved people, who were still legal at the time. Brazil imported 10x more african slaves than The United States during the transatlantic slave trade.

Many faced difficulties adapting to Brazil’s tropical climate, which was not suitable for the crops they tried to grow. As a result, some moved to cities, abandoning their plantation plans. Nonetheless, a group led by an Alabama colonel succeeded in growing cotton in São Paulo, and their community, called Americana, prospered.

Over time, the descendants of these settlers adopted both Brazilian and American customs. Today, Americana has about 200,000 residents. While their American heritage has diminished, it is remembered through Western films and country music.

For the past 25 years, the festival of the Fraternidade Descendência Americana has been a major event. It attracts both local Brazilians and Confederate enthusiasts from the U.S. Participants often dress in gray Rebel uniforms and traditional Southern attire, and enjoy music and food typical of Southern culture.

The festival also includes a visit to a cemetery in a sugarcane field, where Confederate flags mark the graves of early settlers. The tombstones often read, "Born: Texas. Died: Brazil." For their descendants, the Confederate flag represents a connection to their ancestors’ past rather than its more controversial associations.

Mongolian Eagle Hunting

Mongolia hosts over 20 ethnic groups, with the Kazakhs being the largest minority. More than 100,000 Kazakhs live in Mongolia’s western provinces, such as Bayan-Olgii, Khovd, and Uvs. These Kazakh nomads have grazed livestock near the Altai Mountains for centuries. After the Mongolian revolution of 1921, the border drawn between Mongolia, China, and Russia accidentally included Kazakh herdsmen within Mongolia.

Kazakhs differ from Mongols in appearance, language, and religion. Kazakhs are mostly Sunni Muslims, while Mongols are predominantly Tibetan Buddhists. Both groups share a nomadic lifestyle, moving with their animals to find grazing land. Kazakh eagle hunters are found in areas like Sagsai, Ulgii, and Altai soum.

The harsh environment of western Mongolia, with temperatures dropping to -40°C in winter, poses challenges. This remote region is home to the last traditional eagle hunters, who use golden eagles for hunting. The number of skilled hunters is declining, and many young people move to cities like Ulaanbaatar for better opportunities.

Among the seven types of dark-colored eagles in Mongolia, golden eagles are the most prized for hunting. These birds form strong bonds with their handlers. One hunter, who had over twenty eagles, now has none, as his last eagle left a year ago. He often worries about her survival in the wild.

The region’s climate has changed over time, with colder winters and fewer eagles nesting locally. With fewer hunters, preserving the tradition of eagle hunting is becoming harder. Many now keep eagles primarily for festivals and as pets rather than for hunting.

Hunters capture young female eagles from high nests, as they are larger and more aggressive. Training involves building trust, and eagles can live up to thirty years, becoming more skilled with age.

Golden eagles are effective predators, able to catch foxes and even wolves. Their excellent eyesight helps them hunt successfully. Hunters use the eagles’ catches to make clothing and hats and hunt from October to spring. Eagles are blindfolded to keep them calm, with blindfolds removed during hunts.

Kazakh people in Mongolia eat horse meat and drink milk tea, and they wear fox fur jackets and gloves. The Mongolian Eagle Hunting Festival, held in Olgii and Ulaanbaatar, showcases the skills of both eagles and their handlers. This tradition remains an important part of Kazakh culture and provides a unique experience for visitors.

Trending

Ukraine bans the Orthodox Church tied to Moscow

Today, Ukraine’s Parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, voted to pass Bill 8371, which bans the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

According to the Union of Orthodox Journalists, the bill titled “On the Protection of the Constitutional Order in the Sphere of Activity of Religious Organizations” was approved by 265 deputies, with 29 voting against it and 4 abstaining.

The bill prohibits any religious organization based in Russia, labeled as an “aggressor country” under Ukrainian law. It provides nine months to dismantle and monastery communities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) to sever ties with the Russian Church.

Although the UOC voted to separate from the Moscow Patriarchate in May 2022, the Ukrainian government continues to consider it linked to Russia, which has influenced its actions against the Church.

The bill, having passed its first reading in October, has now been approved in its second reading and is expected to become law soon.

Most Ukrainians are Orthodox Christians, but the faith is divided between the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), which has traditionally been aligned with the Russian Orthodox Church in Moscow, and the independent Orthodox Church of Ukraine, recognized since 2019.

The UOC asserts it cut ties with Moscow after the February 2022 invasion, but Kyiv is doubtful and has started multiple criminal investigations, including treason charges, against some of the church's clergy. One cleric has been sent to Russia as part of a prisoner exchange.

Overstated Job Growth

On Wednesday, the U.S. government revised its job data, reporting that the economy added 818,000 fewer jobs from April 2023 to March this year than originally estimated. This update suggests a slowing job market and may support the Federal Reserve’s plan to start lowering interest rates soon.

The Labor Department's revised figures show that job growth averaged 174,000 per month over the past year, compared to the earlier estimate of 242,000. These revised numbers are preliminary, with final figures expected in February next year.

This revision follows a weaker-than-expected jobs report for July. Many economists are now concerned that the Federal Reserve might have delayed too long in cutting interest rates to help the economy. Additionally, the unemployment rate increased for the fourth consecutive month to 4.3%, with employers adding only 114,000 jobs.

Venezuelan Election Update

Venezuela's Supreme Justice Tribunal has confirmed Nicolas Maduro's victory in the July 28 presidential election.

The court's decision is final and cannot be appealed. It supports the results announced by the National Electoral Council, despite the lack of complete published vote counts.

Court President Caryslia Rodriguez said, "The electoral materials reviewed are certified as accurate, and the results of the July 28 presidential election, which confirmed Nicolas Maduro as President, are validated."

The electoral authority has reported that Maduro received just over half of the votes on election night.

The Venezuelan Supreme Court has claimed that online tallies showing a landslide loss for Nicolas Maduro were falsified & forged

History & Culture - The fall of the Aztec Empire

The Battle of Tenochtitlán was a crucial conflict between the Aztecs and a coalition led by Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés, along with various indigenous allies. The Spanish, after forming alliances with local tribes unhappy with Aztec rule, laid siege to the Aztec capital for 93 days. Their victory was aided by their superior weaponry and the devastating impact of smallpox, which severely weakened the Aztec defenders.

In the early 16th century, the Aztec empire was vast, controlling 400 to 500 subject states. It was ruled by Montezuma II, who faced growing discontent from those subjected to heavy tribute demands and human sacrifices

In 1519, Cortés arrived on the Yucatán Peninsula with around 500 soldiers. After defeating a local Mayan tribe, he was given an interpreter named Malintzin, who spoke both Mayan and Nahuatl, the Aztec language. This helped Cortés forge alliances with tribes such as the Totonac and Tlaxcalans. After a brutal attack on the city of Cholula, where he discovered a plot against him, Cortés advanced towards Tenochtitlán.

When Cortés and his men arrived, Montezuma welcomed them but was soon taken hostage by Cortés. The situation worsened when Cortés’s lieutenant, Pedro de Alvarado, attacked Aztec nobles during a festival, sparking a revolt. By August 1521, Cortés had captured Tenochtitlán, marking the end of the Aztec empire and the beginning of Spanish control over Mesoamerica.

Fast Facts

• The price of Gold hit an all time high this week ($2,514 per ounce)

• No number before 1,000 contains the letter A

• Germany has more castles than the U.S. has McDonald's. There are about 25,000 castles in Germany, while the U.S. has around 13,000 McDonald's restaurants.

How much time are you spending deciding what to spend time on?

- Seth Godin