#ThailandComparison

A powerful 6.4-magnitude earthquake that struck central Croatia in December 2020 has led to the extraordinary unearthing of a long-lost Roman odeon beneath Sisak’s City Hall, reshaping the modern city’s connection to its ancient past and providing a unique window into life more than two millennia ago. The accidental discovery was made during repairs to the historic 1914 City Hall building, which was being renovated due to earthquake damage. Archaeologists and workers stumbled upon a remarkably well-preserved semicircular stone structure—immediately recognizable as a Roman odeon, an intimate performance venue used for music and politics during the Roman Empire (arkeonews.net).

Sangamon County, located in central Illinois, is grappling with its first population decline in two centuries—a development that has community leaders sounding the alarm and seeking innovative solutions to reverse the trend. According to recent remarks by the County Board Chair at a chamber of commerce luncheon, the region—best known as the seat of the state capital Springfield—has lost approximately 1,000 residents over the past decade, a decline that is especially pronounced among young people and working-age adults (newschannel20.com).