Is Your Digital Footprint Dangerous? How to Protect Yourself

Christina Athanasiou
-
0
Is Your Digital Footprint Dangerous? How to Protect Yourself
Digital Footprint and Digital Security
“Week Two: Digital Footprint and Digital Security” by interactive content. Credit: Flickr / CC BY 2.0.

In today’s interconnected world, the term ‘digital footprint’ has become increasingly important. As our reliance on technology and the internet grows, so does the need to understand the potential dangers associated with our digital presence. Because your digital footprint can prove to be dangerous.

You have a digital footprint if you own a smartphone, have an email address or social media profile, or have ever made an online purchase. You leave digital traces of your every online action. A digital footprint is a piece of information that is left behind whenever a person uses a digital service or when details about that person are posted onto a digital forum, like a social network, according to the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI). Your digital footprint is used by businesses to offer you customized advertisements, but it can also be used by hackers to gather information about you or your company and launch targeted cyberattacks like phishing, identity theft, tailgating, and many other types of assaults.

Companies also have a digital footprint. This includes official domains, user account information, mentions in the press, posts made by employees, internal working materials, and so forth.

What is a Digital Footprint?

A digital footprint refers to the trail of data that individuals leave behind as they interact with digital services, such as websites, social media platforms, and mobile applications (source: Techopedia). This data can include personal information, search queries, online purchases, and social media activity. While some aspects of a digital footprint are intentionally shared, others are collected passively by various online services and may be used for targeted advertising, data analysis, or other purposes.

Person Using Laptop Computer during Daytime
“Person Using Laptop Computer during Daytime – Credit to http://homedust.com/” by Homedust. Credit: Flickr / CC BY 2.0.

Positive and Negative Aspects of Digital Footprint

The Benefits of a Digital Footprint

A digital footprint can have several positive outcomes, such as creating a strong online presence and enhancing personal branding. For professionals and businesses, a well-managed digital footprint can lead to increased visibility and credibility, helping them build a reputation and attract potential clients or customers (source: Forbes).

The Dangers of a Digital Footprint

Despite its benefits, an unmanaged or poorly managed digital footprint can pose significant risks. Online activity can be monitored by potential employers, educational institutions, and even hackers. Inappropriate or controversial content can harm an individual’s reputation or lead to identity theft, cyberbullying, or other forms of online harassment (source: NCBI). Moreover, a digital footprint can compromise personal privacy, as data collected by online services may be sold to third parties or used for targeted advertising without users’ consent.

Social Media, Google Maps, and Wearables: How They Affect Your Digital Footprint

Social Media and Your Online Presence

Social media platforms are a major contributor to an individual’s digital footprint. Personal information, photos, and posts can be easily accessed by others, even if the user believes their privacy settings are secure. People frequently forget that posting on social media is not the same as speaking to someone in person. Whereas normal conversation happens and then ends, every conversation on social media websites continues to exist. You leave a digital footprint with everything you read, view, say, purchase, or search for, that others can follow.

Every button that you click has a piece of code behind it that tracks you.

A digital footprint can be dangerous and you need to remember that social media is not a place to have a fight, speak badly about a person, or criticize or judge people. Because all that you write on your and on other people’s timelines stays there forever. There are users who keep screenshots of specific posts from other users.

Even if a post is deleted, there must be a backup or a screenshot of it, somewhere on the web. People complain about their feeds and the ads they see. You need to go to your Ad preferences. You can change everything there, so you only see ads for things that interest you. It is the least you can do for a better user experience on the social media platform that you are using.

3th annual Cyber Defense Exercise
“13th annual Cyber Defense Exercise_04” by West Point – The U.S. Military Academy. Credit: Flickr / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

Your social media footprint’s characteristics can affect almost every element of your life. Your network of relationships with people, organizations, and concepts is also reflected in your digital footprint. Every time you liked, commented on or shared something on a friend’s or group’s page, it was recorded and put to use.

The average person nowadays leaves behind 126 email addresses, 9,828 photographs, and 10,811 social media posts online throughout the course of their lifetime. The results of a survey of 2,000 persons show that 36% of the average person’s life is shared online, where it can still be viewed decades after death. A study commissioned by Aloha Browser also discovered that the typical adult shares 141 tweets, 170 Facebook posts, and 276 Instagram posts annually. For a typical lifetime, that comes out to 17,369, 10,680, and 8,911 accordingly.

So, a digital footprint can be proven to be dangerous in some cases.

Google Maps and Tracking History

Google Maps can contribute to your digital footprint by tracking your location history, search queries, and the places you visit. This information can be used by Google to personalize your experience and deliver targeted advertising. However, it may also be accessed by hackers or other malicious parties. (source: The Guardian).

data privacy
“data privacy” by stockcatalog. Credit: Flickr / CC BY 2.0.

In fact, Google tracks everything and keeps your search history forever. You can see it in Google my Activity. Most people are unaware that Google is still gathering as much information on you as it can, even if you don’t use any of its products directly, or if you have Airplane Mode set to ON, on your smartphone. On 75% of the top one million websites, Google trackers have been discovered.

Wearables and what they Track

Wearable devices, such as smartwatches and fitness trackers, collect vast amounts of personal data, including health metrics and location information. This data can be used to provide users with personalized recommendations and insights, but it can also be shared with third parties or be vulnerable to security breaches (source: Privacy Rights Clearinghouse). Users should be aware of the potential risks associated with wearables and take precautions to safeguard their digital footprint. By this time next year, more individuals may possess a wearable gadget than a tablet, according to current statistics. Wearable device ownership has increased by more than 9% year on year.

Deleting Your Online History Permanently: Steps to Take

While completely erasing one’s digital footprint is challenging, there are several steps users can take to minimize their online presence and protect their personal information.

  1. Remove social media profiles and content: Begin by deleting your profiles on social media platforms and any content you have posted or been tagged in. You may also want to use a tool like Google’s Remove Outdated Content to request the removal of specific pages or images from search results.
  2. Delete online accounts: Close any online accounts you no longer use, including email accounts, online shopping accounts, and forum memberships. Be sure to remove any personal information from these accounts before deleting them.
  3. Opt-out of data broker websites: Data brokers collect and sell personal information from various sources. To remove your information from their databases, visit their websites and follow the opt-out procedures provided. Some popular data brokers include Whitepages, Spokeo, and BeenVerified.
  4. Review and adjust privacy settings: Ensure that your privacy settings on social media platforms and other online services are set to limit the amount of personal information visible to others. Remember to review these settings regularly, as they may change over time.
  5. Limit data sharing: Be cautious when sharing personal information online, do not accept cookies, use your browser in private or incognito mode, and consider using a virtual private network (VPN) to encrypt your internet connection and protect your privacy.
  6. Monitor your digital footprint: Regularly search for your name on search engines and social media platforms to monitor your digital footprint and identify any unauthorized use of your personal information.
Code on the Wall
“Code on the Wall” by Nat W. Credit: Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0.

By taking these steps, users can significantly reduce their digital footprint and protect themselves from potential dangers associated with online activity. As technology continues to advance, it is essential to remain vigilant and proactive in safeguarding our digital privacy.

In conclusion, while a digital footprint can offer benefits such as personal branding and online visibility, it can also pose significant risks to privacy and security. As users of social media, Google Maps, and wearables, we must be aware of how our digital footprint is created and take steps to protect ourselves. In general, if you don’t have anything important to say, don’t say anything on Social Media, and be really careful of what photos you share and which groups you join. You’ve received an email from someone you never gave your email address to? It’s because they found you from your digital footprint. A digital footprint can prove dangerous because it may also jeopardize your job. 77% of prospective employers use search engines like Google to assess applicants, and 35% of these employers confess that they have disqualified an applicant based on information they have discovered online.

Remember: Your digital footprint speaks louder than your CV.

Life of Greece’s Most-Wanted Man Palaiokostas Becomes Popular Podcast

Paula Tsoni
-
0
Life of Greece’s Most-Wanted Man Palaiokostas Becomes Popular Podcast
Greek police car
. Credit: Maxim Reniţa / Wikimedia Commons CC BY 4.0

The first episode of a Spotify podcast about the life of Greece’s most-wanted man –notorious gangster Vasilis Palaiokostas- made it to the US Top 10 within 48 hours since its premiere.

The 8-episode podcast series, titled “OUTLAWS: The Good Thief,” is produced by New York-based Kaleidoscope and iHeartProductions, supported by a team of reporters from The Greek Podcast Project.

Host Miles Gray and a team of Greek reporters follow the fugitive’s trail from Athens to tiny islands to remote mountain hideouts. Along the way, they meet Palaiokostas’s inner circle, and chat with police chiefs and prime ministers.

“We’re on the trail of Vassilis Paleokostas, Greece’s most-wanted man —a real-life Robin Hood known for stealing from the rich to give to the poor. Fourteen years ago, after pulling off a string of unbelievable heists, Vassilis disappeared. Where is he now? And why does his legend still have such a hold on people?”, the series’ description reads.

Greece’s most-wanted man is on the lam for over a decade

Greek gangster Vassilis Paleokostas has been on the lam for 14 years and there’s a million euro bounty out for him.

Besides bank robberies, burglaries and car thefts that he was involved in, Palaiokostas was also found guilty for the notorious abduction of a Greek businessman but managed to twice escape prison by helicopter before disappearing for good.

He has often made headlines on international media, which dub him either “the uncatchable” or “the Greek Robin Hood” – the latter for his habit of giving away stolen money to the poor.

As the podcast highlights, in his absence, legends of his generosity have grown. But no one knows where he is, or if the stories are even true.

Palaiokostas wrote an autobiography entitled A Normal Life, published in November 2021 by Freedom Press.

Palaiokostas’s prison breaks by helicopter

From the biggest bank robbery in Greek history to his second escape from the same maximum security jail by helicopter, someone would think that the life of Vasilis Palaiokostas sounds more like a ganster film script than a real-life story.

His first prison break, organised in 2006, was pulled off by two accomplices who hired a trip on a sight-seeing helicopter from Athens only to hijack it and force the pilot to fly to the prison.

Guards at the facility -where Palaiokostas was serving a 25-year sentence for kidnapping- allowed the helicopter to land as they thought that it was a visit from prison inspectors.

Despite this spectacular first escape, Palaiokostas was re-captured in August 2008, in Thessaloniki.

But he wasn’t to stay in prison for longer than a few months before his final prison break.

In February 2009, Palaiokostas again escaped from Athens’ Korydallos Prison by helicopter, this time with his cellmate, Alket Rizai. They climbed a rope ladder thrown to them by a female passenger in a helicopter as it flew over the prison courtyard.

Guards on the ground opened fire while the woman fired back with an automatic rifle. No injuries were reported in the gun fight, which was captured on video by an area resident.

The helicopter was later found abandoned near a highway north of Athens, its pilot bound and gagged, with a hood over his head. He told police the helicopter had been chartered by a couple who had chartered the helicopter a number of times in the previous weeks.

According to the pilot, the two fugitives were delivered to a getaway car.

While Rizai was re-arrested in November that year, Palaiokostas is still at large with a one-million euro bounty placed on him for information leading to his arrest.

The Academy of Athens: A Neoclassical Masterpiece

Anna Wichmann
-
0
The Academy of Athens: A Neoclassical Masterpiece
academy of athens
The Academy of Athens. Credit: Thomas Wolf/ CC BY-SA 3.0 de

The Academy of Athens is lauded around the world as a marvelous example of neoclassical architecture, or architecture that draws on themes and aesthetics from antiquity, as filtered through a nineteenth-century eye.

Located in the center of the city and modeled after an ancient Greek temple, the building serves as a link between Athens’ ancient past and fast-paced present.

The beautiful structure also houses the nation’s most senior research institution.

When walking along the central Panepistimiou street, visitors are met with a splash of ancient Greek aesthetics amidst the bustle of the modern city when they spot the Academy.

Breathtaking columns reaching up to the city’s famed blue sky, an intricately-carved sculptural pediment, and ancient Greek statuary lining the building instantly transport the viewer back into the past.

The acaemy of Athens
A sphinx acroterion on the Academy. Credit: Yair Haklai/CC BY-SA 3.0.

Designed in 1859 by Danish architect Theophil Hansen, the Academy is part of the neoclassical architect’s widely praised “Trilogy” of buildings, which includes the adjacent National Library and university.

After years of political tumult considerably delayed the building’s construction, the Academy was finally completed in 1885.

Hansen’s monumental structures were funded by Greek-Austrian businessman and financier Simon Sinas, who spent 2.8 million gold drachmas on the magnificent building.

Sinas invested much of his wealth in supporting major construction and development projects in the newly-formed state’s capital city of Athens.

The Academy of Athens
The Academy of Athens. Credit: Gosspill89/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 4.0

Building Greece’s capital

After the Greek War of Independence from the Ottomans ended in 1830, and the Bavarian King Otto was placed on Greece’s throne two years later, the nascent country needed a new capital.

Although the city of Nafplio in the Peloponnese had been serving as Greece’s de-facto capital for many years and therefore had developed the infrastructure required of a European capital, it didn’t have the same glorious ancient history as Athens.

Otto, like most European men of the upper classes at the time, was a student of the Classics, having learned the history, culture, and language of ancient Greece and Rome.

His love for Greece’s ancient history drew him to Athens, and, in 1834, he chose what was then a town of four thousand people as the capital of his kingdom.

Hoping to build the small town of shepherds into a blossoming European capital, King Otto commissioned the world’s best neoclassical architects to construct the modern city of Athens.

Many of the city’s most famous buildings, including Hansen’s trilogy, the Parliament buildings, and many old homes in Plaka were built during this period of large-scale construction.

the academy of athens
Seated Socrates with Apollo in the background. Credit: Dimsfikas/CC BY-SA 3.0

The art of the Academy of Athens

A major landmark for the city, the Academy is known internationally for its exceptional neoclassical style.

Flanked by towering columns topped with statues of Athena and Apollo, the impressive  building is modeled after the Parthenon. Its façade is lined with Doric columns that support its iconic triangular pediment.

The sculptural pediment, along with the other impressive statues adorning the building, including the magnificent seated figures of Plato and Socrates, were crafted by Greek sculpture Leonidas Drosis.

painting
The interior paintings in the Academy of Athens. Credit: Armineaghayan/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 4.0

Much like the outside of the structure, its interior is embellished by breathtaking works of art. The main conference hall of the Academy is lined with exceptional murals by German painter Christian Griepenkerl.

Griepenkerl’s works recall themes from the myth of Prometheus, a favorite subject of the acclaimed painter.

The pedimentary sculpture depicts the birth of Athena, the goddess of wisdom. The subject matter of the sculpture, along with the statues of Plato and Socrates, are fitting ornaments for the building that houses Greece’s most prominent center for research and knowledge.

pediment
The pediment. Credit: Armineaghayan /Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 4.0

However, at the time of the building’s completion, Greece’s national academy had not yet been established.

Initially, the building housed the some of the country’s most significant museums, including the Numismatic and Byzantine museums. Later, it housed the state archives.

When the country’s national academy was finally formed in 1926, it found its home in Hansen’s neoclassical masterpiece—the Academy of Athens.

Porto Hydra: Greece’s Majestic Little Venice

Philip Chrysopoulos
-
0
Porto Hydra: Greece’s Majestic Little Venice
Porto Hydra
A general view of Porto Hydra. Credit: portohydravillage.gr/

Porto Hydra Village, located in the Peloponnese, is a majestic place, a hidden paradise, and two hours away from Athens by car. Some call it Greece’s Miami; others call it Little Venice.

Situated quite close to the port town of Ermioni and just opposite Hydra island in the Argo-Saronic Gulf, Porto Hydra Village is a small community of over three hundred private villas and holiday homes.

The villas have magnificent gardens with palm trees and exquisite greenery, pools, tennis courts, and other amenities, all built around a canal network giving access to Hydra, Poros, and the Spetses islands by private boat while they are also accessible by car.

Porto Hydra Village
Credit: Porto Hydra Village

Canals run through the village

A unique characteristic of the village is that canals flow through it and connect to the sea. Most villas have their own piers to dock their speedboats. There are two beautiful beaches on the east and west side just minutes away on foot with a view of the island of Hydra.

Porto Hydra Village is being described as a magical landscape that stretches across a coastal area of silver olive groves. “Wander in the narrow streets next to the canals, in the gardens with the colorful bougainvilleas and the imposing palm trees. Cross the beautiful bridges, pass by the figurative Church and listen to the water in the fountain,” the official site of the village says.

“A one-of-a-kind and serene destination for those looking for a quiet vacation for the whole family or not. You can enjoy the tranquil landscape all year round, away from tourist trails, next to canals instead of roads,” it adds.

Summers are hot and winters are mild. Spring and Autumn are pleasant with enjoyable sunshine, but also occasional rains.

The village complex was the vision of Nikos Konstantinidis who started its development in the mid-1970s. Since then, the village has undergone impressive growth and beautification.

Only a few dozen people live there permanently. During the summer, the villa owners spend their holidays there, and the village attracts many visitors who want to admire this small Greek paradise.

Porto Hydra
Credit: Porto Hydra Village

Porto Hydra Village is run by a Board of Directors, who are voted for annually by the residents of Porto Hydra Village. The board is responsible for matters of finance, maintenance, and security, amongst others, and they are practically responsible for the village.

Only residents can vote during the elections, and they can also nominate themselves for a seat on the board of directors. The board of directors consists exclusively of residents.

Sun’s Greatest Mystery Solved By Scientists

Abdul Moeed
-
0
Sun’s Greatest Mystery Solved By Scientists
Sun’s Greatest Mystery Cracked By Scientists
Using Extreme Ultraviolet Imager (EUI), scientists have solved the sun’s greatest mystery. Credit: Ars Electronica / Flickr / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

A major mystery in understanding the sun’s heat has possibly been solved by scientists. For a long time, they’ve been puzzled by the high temperatures in the sun’s outer atmosphere, known as the corona.

This outer layer reaches mind-boggling temperatures of over 1.8 million degrees Fahrenheit (one million degrees Celsius).

In contrast, the sun’s surface is only about 10,000 degrees F (6,000 degrees C). This is surprising because the corona is farther away from the heat source inside the sun, so it should logically be cooler.

Fast-oscillating waves could be the reason for Corona’s heat

Recently, the Solar Orbiter spacecraft, led by Europe, has made some exciting discoveries that shed light on the puzzling heating of the sun’s outer atmosphere.

The spacecraft carries an advanced camera called the Extreme Ultraviolet Imager (EUI), which captures high-energy extreme ultraviolet light emitted by the sun. By analyzing the images from EUI, scientists have spotted small-scale magnetic waves on the sun’s surface.

These waves move rapidly and seem to play a significant role in heating the sun’s outer layer. New calculations suggest that the energy generated by these fast-oscillating waves could be the key to understanding the heating of the corona.

Studying Sun’s outer atmosphere mystery for the past 80 years

In the past, scientists had identified slower magnetic waves, but those waves couldn’t account for the huge temperature gap between the sun’s surface and its outer atmosphere.

Tom Van Doorsselaere, a professor of plasma physics at the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium and one of the authors of the recent study, said that astrophysicists have been grappling with this problem for the past 80 years.

However, new evidence is now emerging, suggesting that magnetic waves might hold the key to explaining the heating of the sun’s outer layer, the corona.

In a video taken by the EUI instrument in October of last year, the recently discovered structures have come into view. These structures are represented by magnetic oscillations, each enclosed in blue, green, and red rectangles.

Moreover, each of these magnetic oscillations is smaller than 6,200 miles (10,000 kilometers) in width. To put it in context, the solar disk itself measures a vast 864,000 miles (1,392,000 km) in diameter.

Capturing the closest images of the sun

Launched in February 2020, the Solar Orbiter has the unique advantage of capturing the closest images of the sun, which is at the heart of our solar system. While telescopes on Earth can offer higher-resolution images of the sun, they have limitations.

They are unable to study the extreme ultraviolet part of the solar light spectrum due to Earth’s atmosphere filtering out these frequencies. As a result, ground-based telescopes miss out on observing many essential phenomena that drive the sun’s behavior.

Diamond Eruptions from Earth’s Depths Finally Explained

Nisha Zahid
-
0
Diamond Eruptions from Earth’s Depths Finally Explained
Scientists explain how diamonds erupt from the Earth's depths.
Scientists explain how diamonds erupt from the Earth’s depths. Credit: Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington / Flickr / CC BY 2.0

Volcanic eruptions shoot diamonds high into the sky, scattering these precious stones across the Earth’s surface. However, scientists have finally unraveled the secret behind these eruptions.

They’ve discovered what happens over 100 miles underground that propels the crystals upwards with such breathtaking force.

The research offers valuable insights into the mysterious processes behind these rare eruptions and helps identify the areas where diamond-rich deposits are most likely.

Prof Tom Gernon, a geologist at the University of Southampton who led the study said, “There’s a sweetspot in the interior of continents where diamonds form.” He further said, “The question is why on earth do they shoot up from the deep after spending potentially billions of years sat there?”

Findings about the continental plates

An international team of researchers delved into historical data on continental plates – large, sluggish slabs forming Earth’s crust – and kimberlites, the rocks containing diamonds spewed out during eruptions.

Their analysis revealed a significant pattern: over the last billion years, most kimberlite eruptions occurred approximately 25 million years after continental plates split apart.

Upon closer examination, the scientists observed an interesting trend. The initial kimberlite eruptions following the plate breakup were closer to the edges of the plates. However, as time passed, these eruptions shifted toward the middle of the plate.

This discovery sheds new light on the mysterious processes governing diamond-rich eruptions and provides valuable clues to locating such valuable deposits in the future.

Over incredibly long periods, continental plates on Earth undergo a continuous cycle of tearing apart and coming together.

Around 300 million years ago, North and South America, Africa, and Europe were all part of a gigantic supercontinent known as Pangea. However, approximately 175 million years ago, this vast landmass gradually broke apart.

Process of diamond formations

By utilizing computer models of rock and magma, the scientists connected the dots and understood the sequence of events that led to eruptions rich in diamonds. The process commences when continental plates undergo stretching as they start to tear apart.

This stretching action causes the rock to become thinner and disturbs the usual flow of material in the Earth’s mantle, the layer situated directly below the crust.

The disturbance in the mantle becomes potent enough to break off chunks of rock from the base of the continental plate. These rocks are subjected to immense pressure, and over hundreds of millions of years, the carbon deposits within them undergo a structural transformation, eventually giving rise to diamonds.

According to the scientists report in Nature, as the chunks of rock sink into the Earth’s mantle, they trigger disruptive flows that spread outward.

These flows strip away rock layers from the bottom of the plate above, and this domino effect sets the stage for creating diamond-bearing kimberlite magma. Once enough magma forms, it rises rapidly and forcefully erupts through the Earth’s crust.

The most recent kimberlite eruption is estimated 11,000 years ago at Igwisi Hills in Tanzania. However, most of these eruptions occurred during the Cretaceous period, between 146 to 66 million years ago.

Unlike typical volcanic eruptions, kimberlite eruptions leave behind vertical pipe-like holes in the ground, which are the foundation for many diamond mines.

US Officials Push for More Government Transparency on UFOs

Nisha Zahid
-
0
US Officials Push for More Government Transparency on UFOs
Officials testifying at a House hearing advocating for greater government transparency regarding UFOs.
US Officials will testify at a House hearing advocating for greater government transparency regarding UFOs. Credit: Avanish Tiwary / Flickr / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Three US military veterans who have retired are going to testify on Wednesday at a House hearing about a strange phenomenon: UFOs. They want to warn everyone that these sightings could be a problem for the country’s security. They think the government has been keeping too many secrets about this issue.

A special group in the House of Representatives called the Oversight Subcommittee arranged this hearing on UFOs. The lawmakers who wanted this hearing are asking the government to be more open and share more information about these mysterious sightings.

Ryan Graves, a former Navy pilot said, “If UAP are foreign drones, it is an urgent national security problem. If it is something else, it is an issue for science. In either case, unidentified objects are a concern for flight safety.”

Hearing about the mysterious sightings

The US government calls these mysterious sightings “UAPs” (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena) and has shared reports about them in recent years. Some of these sightings still have no clear explanation, while others have been linked to things like balloons, drones, birds, weather events, or even floating debris like plastic bags.

During the hearing, Graves and David Fravor, a retired US Navy commander, spoke about their own experiences of witnessing UAPs while in the military.

Another person, David Grusch, who used to work as an intelligence officer in the Air Force, claimed that the government had kept its research on these unidentified sightings a secret. He also said he reported this information to the intelligence community inspector general.

The hearing is the most recent effort by lawmakers, intelligence officials, and military personnel to investigate unexplained aerial phenomena and discuss them nationally.

No government officials gave testimonies during Wednesday’s hearing (July 26th, 2023). However, in April, Sean Kirkpatrick, who leads the Pentagon’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (established by Congress to focus on UAPs), testified before a Senate subcommittee.

He revealed that the US government was actively monitoring around 650 potential cases of unidentified aerial phenomena.

At the hearing, video evidence from two of these incidents was presented. Kirkpatrick made it clear that there was no indication of extraterrestrial life, and his office had not come across any credible evidence of objects defying the laws of physics.

Potential threats to US national security

Lawmakers have been putting pressure on the Department of Defense to address these sightings, seeing them as potential threats to national security.

Both Garcia and Representative Jared Moskowitz, a Democrat from Florida, emphasized the significance of bipartisan collaboration in Congress to address the matter effectively.

They believe that by working together across party lines, they can push for greater government transparency regarding the issue at hand.

“Many Americans are deeply interested in this issue, and it shouldn’t take the potential of nonhuman origin to bring us together,” Moskowitz said.

Graves pointed out that there is still a stigma surrounding the reporting of UAP incidents, both for commercial and military pilots.

“Right now, we need a system where pilots can report without fear of losing their jobs,” Graves said. “There is a fear that the stigma related to this topic is going to lead to professional repercussions either through management or through their yearly physical check.”

Last year’s congressional hearing

Last year, the House Intelligence Committee organized the first congressional hearing on UAPs in many decades. Additionally, Kirkpatrick’s testimony at the Senate hearing marked the first time in recent memory that the matter had been discussed in the Senate.

Among the 650 cases being monitored by the government, Kirkpatrick mentioned, “We’ve prioritized about half of them to be of anomalous interesting value, and now we have to go through those and go ‘How much of those do I have actual data for?'”

Fires Blaze in Lamia and Velestino in Greece

Alexander Gale
-
0
Fires Blaze in Lamia and Velestino in Greece
wildfires Greece
Fires have been reported in mainland Greece in Lamia and Velestino. Credit: Amna

Fires are reportedly burning in the city of Lamia and the town of Velestino, both situated in mainland Greece. The news of further fires comes amid continued efforts to prevent further damage and destruction from wildfires on Greek islands like Corfu and Rhodes.

Tragically, a woman’s charred remains were discovered inside a caravan in Horostasi Magnesia. Additionally, in the vicinity of Agios Georgios Magnesia, the 45-year-old livestock farmer, who had previously gone missing, was also found burnt to death.

Lamia is the capital city of the regional unit of Phthiotis and of the Central Greece region, comprising five regional units; Velestino is a town in the Magnesia regional unit of Thessaly.

The current situation in Greece has been influenced by a heatwave sweeping across southern Europe and northern Africa, leading to dry and arid conditions. This extreme weather has provided the perfect conditions for wildfires to ignite and spread in various regions.

The fire in Lamia

At 15:10 local time, a fire broke out on the north side of Lamia, originating in a forested area with sparse vegetation.

Fueled by strong winds, the fire rapidly expanded in size. Its eastern front threatened nearby houses, while it also spread westward into the pine-covered region near the Castle of Lamia.

According to the local media, the initial flames originated from an area adjacent to the stadium and rapidly spread, fueled by strong south-easterly winds, extending towards nearby houses. A warehouse located at the junction of Sarantaporos and Bizaniou streets has reportedly been completely consumed by the fire.

As a precautionary measure, authorities promptly initiated the evacuation of houses in the Afanou area of Lamia. Simultaneously, two PZLs were dispatched from Lamia Airport to assist in tackling the fire.

Simultaneously, police patrol cars and municipal vehicles were dispatched to alert the residents of Nea Magnesia, especially those living close to the rural region, to evacuate and seek safer locations. As a precautionary measure, six farmhouses housing domestic animals were already evacuated, as the approaching flames posed an imminent threat.

The fire in Velestino

Also on Wednesday, a fire reportedly started at midday in an agroforestry area in Velestino, Magnesia. The Fire Department responded swiftly, leading to a large-scale mobilization. As a precautionary measure, residents had already evacuated from Sesklo, Dimini, Paliouri, and the Industrial Area of Volos.

Conditions were challenging due to the relentless strong winds in the region, and the flames had reached homes, exacerbating the situation. On the ground, 33 firefighters and 13 vehicles were diligently working to contain the fire, while two helicopters conducted airdrops to support their efforts. As the early afternoon approached, the deployment of ground firefighting equipment was increased to reinforce the firefighting operation.

Dimitris Pallikaris, the deputy mayor for Civil Protection of the Riga Feraio municipality, reported that in the afternoon, the first houses on the outskirts and perimeter of Velestinos were evacuated. The residents were safely driven to the city center to ensure their well-being.

The fires that struck Lamia and the broader region of Magnesia have resulted in tragic fatalities. As previously mentioned, the remains of a woman were found charred inside a caravan in Horostasi Magnesia. Moreover, in the vicinity of Agios Georgios Magnesia, the 45-year-old livestock farmer, who had been reported missing, was also discovered deceased due to burns

During the firefighting operation, a firefighter suffered serious second-degree burns on his hands, legs, face, and back. He was promptly taken to the Velestino Health Center for immediate medical attention. The medical team is currently working to stabilize his condition, after which he will be transferred to a hospital in Athens. It is noteworthy that the injured firefighter had been serving in Katerini and was actively assisting his colleagues in battling the fire in Velestino.

Rafael Nadal Visits Greek City of Patras on his Luxurious Yacht

Alexander Gale
-
0
Rafael Nadal Visits Greek City of Patras on his Luxurious Yacht
Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal visited the Greek city of Patras during his Mediterranean yachting trip. Credit: Rafael Nadal / Instagram

During his yachting tour of the Eastern Mediterranean, tennis star Rafael Nadal made a visit to the Greek city of Patras. The famous athlete was spotted earlier last week touring the Ionian islands.

Patras is a city located in the region of Western Greece, situated on the northern coast of the Peloponnese Peninsula. It is the third largest city in Greece after Athens and Thessaloniki.

Nadal has previously expressed his love of the sea and time spent yachting. He often sails the waters off the coast of his native Mallorca but has spent this holiday season in Greece, traversing the country’s islands and ports.

Rafael Nadal visits Patras and the Greek Islands

The famous tennis star was previously seen just last week visiting various Greek islands including Corfu, Meganisi, and Ithaca.

This week, Greek media reported that Nadal’s yacht docked at the city of Patras to resupply.

The winner of 22 Grand Slam titles took the opportunity to visit a well-known fish restaurant with his friends and family to enjoy a meal. Although the visit to the restaurant was discrete, the star reportedly agreed to sign autographs for fans.

Greece’s third-largest city

Patras is a vibrant city situated on the northern coast of the Peloponnese Peninsula in Western Greece. With a history dating back to ancient times, it has witnessed the rise and fall of empires, leaving behind significant historical landmarks and architectural remnants.

The city’s cultural scene is highlighted by the renowned Patras Carnival, a lively and colorful celebration attracting visitors from all over Greece. Its economy thrives on various industries, including shipping, commerce, agriculture, and tourism.

Patras is also home to one of the country’s largest and most prestigious universities, the University of Patras, offering a diverse range of academic programs.

Among its landmarks, one can find the ancient Roman Odeon, the Medieval Castle of Patras, the Roman Aqueduct, and the grand Church of Saint Andrew, a significant pilgrimage site. The city’s bustling port serves as a crucial gateway for passenger and freight ferry connections to Italy, contributing to its importance as a transportation hub linking mainland Greece and the Peloponnese region.

Patras, Greece
Patras, Greece. Credit: Golfisaggelos / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Rafael Nadal’s tennis academy in Greece

Nadal operates a number of tennis centers that complement the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar. The Rafael Nadal Centers are located in Cancún, Mexico, and Halkidiki, Greece.

Located at the Sani Resort, a stunning complex comprising more than 400 hectares, the “Rafa Nadal Tennis Center” includes eight clay courts. Tennis instruction at the luxurious complex is available to players of all ages and skill levels.

According to the official website, “The goal is to provide high-quality tennis coaching so that guests and residents of the area can play and take classes as part of various programs that are customized according to the different player profiles.”

The website further explains that these programs have been created using a unique training system developed by Rafael Nadal and his coaching team over 15 years of professional touring.

The coaching staff at the Rafa Nadal Tennis Center undergo an intensive training stage in Manacor to ensure coaching excellence, learning the methodology used at the Rafael Nadal Academy by Movistar.

Wildfires in Greece Blamed on Arson

Alexander Gale
-
0
Wildfires in Greece Blamed on Arson
wildfires Greece
There has been speculation from some officials and members of local Greek fire departments that the wildfires raging across Greece may have been caused by arson. Credit: Amna

As the authorities and first responders continue to battle devastating wildfires in parts of Greece, there has been growing speculation that arson is to blame for at least some of the blazes. The mayor of Corfu is among those who suspect arsonists have played a role in setting the fires.

Several wildfires have burnt on the islands of Corfu, Rhodes, and Evia, as a third heatwave is moving in with temperatures forecast to climb to 44°C (111.2°F) on Wednesday in several parts of the country.

The wildfires in Greece have proven deadly. On Tuesday the captain and co-pilot of a firefighting airplane were both killed when their aircraft crashed on the island of Evia while it was trying to put out a blaze.

Mayor of Corfu suspects arson to blame for wildfires in Greece

On Monday, Yorgos Mahimaris, the Mayor of Corfu, asserted that the fires that led to widespread evacuations were initiated by an arsonist.

This determination was reached by Mr. Mahimaris following his personal visit to three specific locations on Mount Pantokratoras, where the fires originated.

Theofanis Skembris, deputy mayor of North Corfu, echoed this perspective, supporting the claim that four fires were “started simultaneously.”

Speaking to the BBC, Mr. Skembris commented “We have to wait for the investigation, but their first unofficial assumption is that it was arson – fires can’t start simultaneously in four different places.”

“The situation on the island is better now. Most of the fires are under control. There are firefighting airplanes helping. I believe that everything will be over soon,” he added.

Chariton Koutscouris, Corfu’s deputy mayor for tourism and construction, likewise echoed sentiments that the wildfires had been caused by arsonists who derive “pleasure out of this with the pain of the other people”.

He added that the authorities had a “suspicion” they would begin over the weekend after being warned on Friday by a fire department chief.

Similar suspicions on Rhodes

Similar suspicions have been raised about the wildfires raging across Greece on the island of Rhodes.

Vassilis Vathrakogiannis, a spokesperson from the Rhodes Fire Department said that “Fires are set by human hands,” during a discussion with local media outlets.

“Whether it is due to negligence or fraud will be seen (but) people have been summoned for statements and others will be summoned,” he continued.

“As soon as we have complete information – because the investigation is in full swing – we will make announcements.”

 

1...390391392...7,617Page 391 of 7,617