February 2024 - Page 7 of 10 - Riverdale Standard

Ethan Brown

A Photographer’s Journey Through Snowy Kakheti

Kakheti, the easternmost region of Georgia, is known for its wine, hospitality, and picturesque landscapes. But what happens when this sunny land is covered with snow? A photographer decided to find out and capture the beauty of Kakheti in its winter attire. A Family Tragedy and a Snowy Forecast The photographer, who wished to remain anonymous, had sent his wife to Kakheti to visit her relatives, and planned to join…

Sheraton Grand Tbilisi Metechi Palace: A Luxury Hotel with a Rich History and a Stunning View

Sheraton Grand Tbilisi Metechi Palace is not just a hotel, it is a landmark in the heart of Georgia’s capital. It is the first international 5-star hotel in the region, and it has witnessed the transformation of the country since its establishment in 1991. The hotel offers a distinctive culmination of luxury and hospitality, with 220 newly renovated rooms and suites, a rooftop restaurant and bar, a spa and a…

Amsterdam Leads the Way in Supporting Global Plant-Based Treaty

Amsterdam has become the first EU capital to back the Plant Based Treaty, a global movement that seeks to restructure the entire planet’s food production systems away from animal agriculture. The city council announced its endorsement of the treaty on February 6, 2024, joining 25 other municipal governments worldwide, including Edinburgh and Los Angeles. What is the Plant Based Treaty? The Plant Based Treaty was introduced in August 2021 as…

The Dark Side of Adoption: How Georgia’s Stolen Babies Found Their Families

Georgia, a former Soviet republic, has been rocked by a series of revelations that exposed a decades-long black market of baby trafficking. Thousands of children were allegedly snatched from their mothers at birth and sold to adoptive parents, mostly abroad. Some of these children have grown up and are now searching for their biological families, with the help of a journalist who is also a victim of the scheme. The…

How the Taliban’s opium ban could affect Europe’s heroin market

The recent ban on opium cultivation and production in Afghanistan by the Taliban has raised concerns about the future availability and quality of heroin in Europe. Heroin is the most commonly used illicit opioid in the EU, and almost all of it originates from Afghanistan. The EU drug market for heroin and other opioids is estimated to be worth at least EUR 5.2 billion annually. A dramatic decline in opium…

Stilwell Arts Dancers Shine at State Championship

The dance team of Stilwell School of the Arts has once again proved its excellence by winning the third state title in a row. The talented dancers competed in the Class A-2A division of the GHSA Dance State Championship on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024, at the Macon Centreplex. They performed in two categories: Jazz and Pom, and scored the highest points in both. A Remarkable Achievement The Stilwell dance team,…

CCPS celebrates its outstanding student athletes

Clayton County Public Schools (CCPS) recently honored its top student athletes for their academic and athletic achievements. The annual event, which was held virtually due to the pandemic, recognized 33 students from 11 high schools who excelled in various sports and maintained a high grade point average. A tradition of excellence The CCPS Student Athlete Recognition Program has been a tradition for more than 20 years, according to CCPS Superintendent…

Global Economy Faces a Fragile Recovery, OECD Says

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has released its latest Economic Outlook, which projects a moderate global growth rate of 2.7% in 2023, followed by a slight improvement of 2.9% in 2024. However, the recovery remains fragile and faces several downside risks, such as high inflation, geopolitical tensions, and uncertainty about the impact of monetary policy tightening. Inflation is Expected to Ease Gradually One of the main challenges…

Skyhawks celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day with basketball clinic

The College Park Skyhawks, the NBA G-League affiliate of the Atlanta Hawks, hosted a special basketball clinic for 60 girls at West Clayton Elementary School on Friday morning. The clinic was part of the National Girls and Women in Sports Day, a day to recognize the achievements and benefits of sports participation for women and girls. Skyhawks assistant coach and female volunteers lead the clinic The clinic was led by…

A Young Artist’s Vision of Peace Wins National Recognition

A student from Kay Pace School of the Arts in Clayton County has won the first place in the Georgia Lions Peace Poster Contest. Her poster, titled “Peace is in Our Hands”, depicts a colorful globe surrounded by hands of different races and cultures. She will receive a $100 cash prize and a certificate of achievement for her artistic talent and message of peace. The Peace Poster Contest The Peace…