Three Things for March 23

1. 1,000-year old bible being auctioned by Sothebys

One of the oldest biblical manuscripts still in existence today is set to be auctioned off by Sothebys, a major auction house company, in May. The 1,100 year old Codex Sassoon is currently on display in Tel Aviv as part of a world tour before the document is put on the auction block in New York.

According to the Sothebys website, the leather-bound manuscript is one of the oldest, complete copies of the Hebrew Bible in existence today. Yosef Ofer, a professor of Bible studies at Israel’s Bar Ilan University, says other than the Sassoon, there are only two other complete Codex’ from this time period. 

According to Ofer, only the Dead Sea Scrolls are older than the book, which accounts for the high price tag Sothebys is placing on the Codex. According to AP News, the Codex could go as high as $30 to $50 million at the auction in May.

For more information about the auction, click here.

2. Conference between President Xi of China and President Putin

This week, Chinese President Xi Jinping took part in a state visit to Russia, which concluded on Wednesday. While the official reason for Jinping’s visit to Moscow was to find a possible path to peace in regards to Ukraine, the trip ended up with more than a dozen agreements on everything from “trade and technology to state propaganda” according to a list from the Kremlin. 

The goal for the trip wasn’t met, rather, Russia and China bolstered their friendship and mutual goals where the U.S. is concerned. According to experts, both leaders are gearing towards an alliance which would see a world order aligned with their “more autocratic agendas.” One of the biggest ways this has been seen is through the concerns both leaders have expressed towards NATO. During the state visit the two leaders “pledged to further deepen military mutual trust,” specifically mentioning how they will be organizing more naval exercises together as well as aerial patrols. 

For more information about the state visit, click here.

3. Police looking for two suspects in shooting

Bradley County authorities are currently searching for two suspects who are believed to be involved in an early-morning shooting which occurred on Wednesday. At 1:44 a.m. the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office received a call regarding a shooting around the 1900 block of Louis Street. When police arrived on the scene, they discovered the suspects had fled the scene in the victim’s car. 

According to statements taken at the scene, the victim was sitting in his car when he was approached by the two suspects. A physical altercation happened when the victim refused to take them to his residence, during which he was shot. When police arrived, he was airlifted to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga. 

Anyone with information is asked to call the BCSO Tip Line at (423) 728-7336.

For more information about the shooting, click here.