Ukraine PM Warns of World War Three if Russia Wins

Matthew Norman
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Ukraine PM Warns of World War Three if Russia Wins
Denys Shmyhal, Prime Minister of Ukraine, warns of world war three should Russia defeat his country
Denys Shmyhal, Prime Minister of Ukraine, warns of a potential World War III should Russia defeat his country. Credit: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. CC BY 2.0/flickr

Ukraine’s Prime Minister has warned of a third world war if Ukraine is defeated by Russia, as he urged the US Congress to pass a long-stalled foreign aid bill.

Denys Shmyhal was cautiously optimistic that US lawmakers would pass the much-debated measure, which would see $61 billion given to Ukraine, as reported by the BBC.

The House of Representatives is set to vote on the aid this Saturday, with the proposal including funding for Israel as well as the Indo-Pacific.

Russia stated that any fresh US aid for Ukraine will make no difference on the battlefield, as the situation on the front line is looking “unfavorable” for Kyiv, according to the BBC.

Speaking to the news outlet in Washington DC yesterday, Wednesday, April 17th, Ukrainian Prime Minister Shmyhal said of the US security assistance, “We need this money yesterday, not tomorrow, not today.”

Shmyhal added: “If we will not protect, Ukraine will fall. So the global system of security will be destroyed, and all the world will need to find a new system of security. Or, there will be many conflicts, many such kinds of wars, and at the end of the day, it could lead to the Third World War.”

Will Putin attack other European countries if Russia defeats Ukraine?

Ukraine has previously raised alarm bells about the consequences should it be defeated by Russia. Last year, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that if Russia won the conflict, it could invade Poland next, triggering World War Three.

However, Kremlin officials have rejected these claims and labeled them scaremongering. Last month, President Vladimir Putin dismissed suggestions that Russia might one day attack Eastern Europe as “complete nonsense.”

Russia has never attacked a country in the NATO alliance, which includes Poland. NATO’s collective defense pact means that if one member country is attacked, then all other members will retaliate, as per Article 5 of the alliance.

In Wednesday’s interview with the BBC, Prime Minister Shmyhal was asked about a recent claim by Republican House Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul that members of his own party were being “infected” by Russian propaganda.

Shmyhal said, “We should understand that disinformation and propaganda is influencing here in the United States…many people, in the European Union…many people, such as in Ukraine.”

Opposition from the right wing of the Republican party has blocked potential assistance to Ukraine for months with some being accused of supporting Russia.

A handful of lawmakers have raised objections to sending tens of billions of dollars in aid overseas without first passing funds for the US-Mexico border security. These conservatives have also reportedly dismissed any suggestions they could be Kremlin supporters, calling the allegations smears.

President Joe Biden said in a statement on Wednesday that he would sign the package into law immediately once passed by Congress “to send a message to the world: We stand with our friends.”

Countries Predicted to Win Most Medals at the Paris Olympics

Abdul Moeed
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Countries Predicted to Win Most Medals at the Paris Olympics
2024 Paris Olympics
Data analysts have made predictions for which countries will secure the most medals ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Credit: Darthvadrouw / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons

With the 2024 Paris Olympics set to commence in just a few months time. sports analysts and experts are already offering their predictions for which country’s athletes will win the most medals.

Among those making predictions are statistics experts from the company Gracenote, who are planning to provide new predictions every month. To make the predictions, the data analysts examine statistics from the last summer Games in Tokyo.

USA predicted to win 123 medals in Paris

According to the analysts, the United States will once again win the most medals at the Paris Olympics, attaining around 123 in total. China is predicted to come in second place for total medals with about 89. China is expected to win just four fewer gold medals than the United States. This would be the same amount as they were awarded in Tokyo three years ago.

Great Britain is also expected to do well. British athletes are projected to perform on a par with their previous outing at the Olympics, although they might not secure as many gold medals.

The host country – France – may benefit from the home-field advantage. They are expected to jump up to fourth place in the medal table and come in third for gold medals. This would place them right behind the United States and China, as reported by The Telegraph.

Australia is expected to secure the fifth spot with around 50 medals, marking their highest tally in twenty years since Athens 2004.

Athletes from Russia and Belarus banned from Olympics

Since February 2022, athletes from Russia and Belarus have been banned from competing internationally in most Olympic sports due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

This makes it harder to predict how athletes selected to compete as Individual Neutral Athletes will perform in terms of winning medals. Since only individuals are allowed to compete as neutrals and not teams, the number of medals they win is likely to be limited.

Preparations for the Olympics have been severely affected for athletes from Ukraine due to the ongoing conflict. However, they are expected to win three gold medals and a total of 13 medals.

Athletes from Great Britain are expected to win a total of 66 medals, keeping up their status as a top competitor since they hosted the games in 2012. They’ve been successful by winning medals across a variety of sports, and it looks like this trend will continue in Paris.

However, they might not win as many gold medals this time. The prediction is 13 golds, which would be nine less than three years ago.

Elon Musk May Start Charging New Users of X

Matthew Norman
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Elon Musk May Start Charging New Users of X
Elon Musk considers introducing small fee for new X users.
Elon Musk considers introducing small fee for new X users. Credit: dmoberhaus. CC BY 2.0/flickr

Elon Musk has said in a post on X that he is considering implementing a “small fee” for new users if they want to post, bookmark, or like on the platform with the aim of tackling the issue of automatized accounts, or “bots.”

Posting on the social media platform, Musk said that “Current AI (and troll farms) can pass ‘are you a bot’ with ease,” without specifying any details about how much the fee would be or the date it may be implemented. But Musk did say the measure would last three months in a different post on X.

What would Elon Musk’s new charge mean for X users?

It will still be possible to access the platform without having to pay, but new users would be prevented from creating content by tweeting, liking, or bookmarking a post. A similar restriction began last October in New Zealand and the Philippines, where new unverified users were charged one US dollar per year to interact with posts.

At present, the only paid features for X are for premium subscribers, which give access to the monetization program, an ad-free version, access to the platform’s generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) chatbot, and more reply visibility.

Elon Musk has for a long time voiced his concerns about bots on X, promising his customers he would tackle the problem when he finalized his takeover of the platform in late 2022. However, the problem with bots has worsened, according to experts, and is now powered by AI.

The platform has lost almost a quarter of its US users since November 2022, the firm Sensor Tower told NBC News last month, and the value of X also dropped with the company seeing a decline in advertising revenues.

The billionaire’s pay package at Tesla

On Wednesday, the billionaire entrepreneur’s electric car company Tesla asked its shareholders to once again approve its CEO’s record-breaking $56 billion pay that was set in 2018. A Delaware judge rejected the pay package in January, calling it excessive and saying the company’s board failed to justify it.

The compensation does not include a salary or cash bonus but sets rewards based on Tesla’s market value rising to as much as $650 billion over the next ten years. Tesla is now valued at over $500 billion, according to LSEG data.

Elon Musk’s pay was rejected by Kathaleen McCormick of Delaware’s court of chancery, who judged the compensation granted by the board to be “an unfathomable sum” that was unfair to shareholders.

The company’s request for a new vote is seemingly an attempt to raise support for Elon Musk’s pay package and serve as a public rejection of the court’s decision. The January ruling, which can be appealed, nullified the largest pay package in corporate America.

McCormick also oversaw Twitter’s (X’s) July 2022 lawsuit against Elon Musk when he tried to break his $44 billion contract to buy the social media platform. Musk’s compensation for 2023 was exactly zero dollars, the filing showed. The billionaire does not take a salary from the company and is compensated through stock options.

Leaders of Greece and Turkey to Meet in Ankara

Alexander Gale
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Leaders of Greece and Turkey to Meet in Ankara
Mitsotakis and Erdogan
The leaders of Greece and Turkey are scheduled to meet in the Turkish capital next month. Credit: Prime Minister’s Press Office

The leaders of Greece and Turkey are scheduled to meet on May 13th in Ankara. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced he would meet his Turkish counterpart President Recep Tayyip Erdogan next month at the culmination of a two-day summit of the European Council in Brussels.

In recent years, the bilateral relationship between the two countries has been characterized by tensions over the geostrategically vital Aegean Sea. However, renewed efforts by leaders of Greece and Turkey to improve relations have given rise to a period of cautious rapprochement.

Nevertheless, several thorny issues threaten to derail efforts to improve bilateral relations. Just last week, Turkey contested the plan by Greece to establish a new marine park in the Aegean Sea saying that Athens does not have sovereignty over islands within the region.

Mitsotakis responds to Turkish stance on marine environmental parks

Mitsotakis dismissed Turkey’s stance against Greece’s plan for the new marine park as “completely unjustified.”

“Greece exercises its sovereign rights in the Aegean Sea on the basis of international law and the law of the sea and I am impressed by this completely unjustified reaction of Turkey to an initiative, which ultimately has an environmental characteristic,” the Greek Prime Minister said.

He expressed his belief that the rapprochement between Greece and Turkey had not necessarily altered Ankara’s stance on key issues that have strained relations in the past.

Within the framework of European Council discussions, Mitsotakis also commented on wider relations between the EU and Turkey, with added emphasis on how this impacts Cyprus.

“For the moment, I am satisfied with the conclusions we have reached, which recognize the fact that relations between the European Union and Turkey may progress, but always within the framework of the decisions taken by the European Council in recent years,” said the Greek PM.

“Finally, in full agreement with the Republic of Cyprus, I welcome the fact that there is an explicit reference linking the progress of EU-Turkey relations with the progress that can be made on the Cyprus issue,” he said. “With explicit references to the Security Council resolutions that define the only framework within which the Cyprus issue can be resolved. And, of course, on our part, we express our expectation that this new effort, which is being made under the new UN envoy, will finally be able to bear fruit.”

Meetings between leaders of Greece and Turkey

The scheduled meeting between Mitsotakis and Erdogan fits within a broader trend of renewed communication between both leaders.

Until February 2023, the pair had reportedly not spoken for months. However, earthquakes that devastated portions of Turkey that month prompted both leaders to resume communications.

In the months since, there has been a focus on reducing tensions in the Mediterranean and improving bilateral relations between the two countries.

In December last year, Mitsotakis and Erdogan met in Athens, where they signed a friendship declaration between Greece and Turkey.

Paris Olympics Threatened by Cyberattacks

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Paris Olympics Threatened by Cyberattacks
Paris
French authorities are expecting the 2024 Paris Olympics to face a significant threat posed by cyberattacks. Credit: Anthony Delanoix / Upsplash

Commentary by Neli Rašović, Vice-President of Women4Cyber Montenegro

As the world eagerly anticipates the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, it’s crucial to recognize the multifaceted challenges posed by cybersecurity threats. While the Games symbolize unity, excellence, and global celebration, they also represent a prime target for malicious actors seeking to exploit vulnerabilities in digital infrastructure.

The Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be the biggest events ever organized in France with billions of viewers worldwide, millions of spectators in Paris, and over ten thousand athletes, twenty thousand journalists, and thirty thousand volunteers. These individuals will all be connected through a labyrinth of digital networks ripe for exploitation.

The threat of cyberattacks and the Paris Olympics

The history of major sporting events is riddled with instances of cyberattacks, ranging from espionage and sabotage to data breaches and disinformation campaigns. Past Olympics, including Beijing 2008, Rio 2016, and PyeongChang 2018, have all fallen victim to cyber incidents, highlighting the pervasive nature of the threat.

The Tokyo 2020 Olympics faced over 450 million attempted cyberattacks, successfully blocked by the organizers. It is anticipated that the number of cyberattacks during the upcoming Games will be on the rise, particularly taking into consideration that the Paris Olympics are the first Games taking place in the artificial intelligence (AI) era. There is potential for AI-manipulated media to undermine the integrity of competitions.

Geopolitical tensions further complicate the risk landscape, as state-sponsored actors exploit digital vulnerabilities to advance political agendas. Ongoing conflicts have heightened concerns about retaliatory cyber operations targeting the Paris Olympics. Against this backdrop, it’s imperative for organizers to adopt a proactive stance and implement robust cybersecurity strategies to mitigate risks effectively.

Threats and countermeasures

On the severity of cyber threats speaks the fact that French authorities, led by the National Cybersecurity Agency (ANSSI), have included the military to mitigate cyber risks, acknowledging that present government resources may not be sufficient to counter all forms of potential cyber aggression.

Consequently, there is a notable emphasis on readiness and collaboration among cybersecurity specialists and governmental bodies, actively working to ensure the integrity of the forthcoming Paris 2024 Olympics.

Some of the key identified categories of cyber threats are:

  1.  Cyber Espionage and Intelligence Gathering: Foreign intelligence agencies may target the Olympics to gather sensitive information about participating countries, athletes, officials, and event logistics. This information could be used for various purposes, including strategic advantage, political leverage, or future cyber operations.
  2.  Disruption of Critical Infrastructure: Hacktivist groups or state-sponsored actors may attempt to disrupt essential services and infrastructure supporting the Olympics. This would include transportation networks, power grids, or telecommunications systems. These attacks could result in widespread chaos, logistical challenges, and public safety concerns.
  3.  Supply Chain Attacks: Malicious actors may exploit vulnerabilities in the supply chain ecosystem of the Olympics, targeting vendors, contractors, or service providers involved in delivering goods and services for the event. Compromising these entities could lead to the insertion of malicious software, counterfeit products, or compromised infrastructure, posing significant risks to the Games’ operations and security.
  4.  Cyber Attacks on Spectators and Visitors: With the increasing reliance on digital ticketing, mobile apps, and online platforms for event information and engagement, cybercriminals may target spectators and visitors attending the Paris 2024 Olympics. These attacks could involve phishing scams, fraudulent ticket sales, or the distribution of malware-infected mobile apps. By compromising personal devices or stealing sensitive information, such as financial data or personal credentials, cybercriminals can exploit unsuspecting spectators and undermine the overall security and experience of the event. Organizers must prioritize the protection of spectators’ digital assets and raise awareness on potential cyber threats to ensure a safe and enjoyable Olympic experience for all attendees.

To fight the identified threats, several measures are being taken:

  1. Comprehensive Threat Assessment: ANSSI, in collaboration with international cybersecurity partners, has been conducting thorough assessments to identify and prioritize cyber threats facing the Paris 2024 Olympics.
  2. Secure IT Systems: The Paris 2024 organizers, building on experience from previous Olympics, have been prioritizing the security of information systems and security operation centers (SOCs) by implementing robust encryption protocols and access controls.
  3.  Data Protection Measures: Stringent data security measures, such as advanced encryption and access controls, are implemented to safeguard personal data and sensitive information from unauthorized access or exploitation.
  4.  Cybersecurity Awareness and Training: Extensive awareness-raising campaigns and cybersecurity training programs are conducted for all stakeholders, including organizers, participants, volunteers, and spectators.
  5.  Physical Security Measures: In addition to cybersecurity efforts, robust physical security measures are implemented to complement digital defenses.
  6.  Advanced Surveillance Technologies: The French government will be deploying AI-based technological surveillance, including extensive networks of cameras integrated with AI algorithms, enabling them to closely monitor crowds and public areas for signs of suspicious activity.
  7. Global Cybersecurity Alliances: Collaboration with international cybersecurity organizations and government agencies facilitates the sharing of intelligence on emerging cyber threats and best practices for mitigation.
  8.  Simulation and Response Planning: Billions of cybersecurity simulations and response planning exercises have been conducted, training cybersecurity teams to identify vulnerabilities and refin response strategies.

Looking ahead: Ensuring a safe and successful event

As preparations for the Paris 2024 Olympics continue, it’s essential to remain vigilant and proactive in addressing cybersecurity challenges. By embracing innovative technologies, fostering collaboration, and prioritizing cybersecurity awareness, organizers can enhance the resilience of the Games against evolving threats.

The success of the Paris Olympics hinges not only on athletic achievement but also on the robustness of its digital defenses. By implementing comprehensive cybersecurity strategies and adopting a proactive stance, organizers can uphold the values of fair play, integrity, and unity that define the Olympic spirit. Jointly, all stakeholders can ensure the Paris 2024 Olympics are not only a celebration of sport but also a testament to the power of collective resilience in the face of adversity.

Athens Declared ‘Best Smelling’ City in Europe

Tasos Kokkinidis
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Athens Declared ‘Best Smelling’ City in Europe
Agreement reached over upgrade projects set to take place in Athens.
The study looked into factors including cleanliness and the proportion of flower shops, bakeries, and perfume shops. Credit: Titanas. CC BY 2.0/Flickr

People living in Athens may disagree, but a recent study analyzing 30 major cities in Europe and beyond, has found that the Greek capital is the best-smelling city.

The study by HAYPP has shed light on this overlooked aspect of urban life and looked into factors including cleanliness and proportion of flower shops, bakeries, and perfume shops to give each city a “smell score.” And the city that sniffed its way to the top of the charts was Athens, Greece.

The study explains that the bustling street markets, the aroma of fresh produce, herbs, and sizzling Greek delicacies wafting through the air put the Greek capital at the top of the relevant chart.

Athens is a feast for the senses, the study claims, scoring 8.3 out of 10 on the smell-o-meter. From cheesy tiropita (cheese pie) to sticky-sweet baklava, the city’s bakeries are serving up some serious scent satisfaction.

Athens is also a floral paradise, boasting 31 flower shops and 22 perfumeries per 10 square kilometers, which means delicate fragrance lingers around every corner of the city.

Historic flower shops Syntagma square Athens
The flower shops of Syntagma square are an Athens landmark. Credit: Press Office of the PM of the Hellenic Republic

The city’s commitment to cleanliness is also reflected in its Environmental Performance Index (EPI), receiving a score of 56.2. While Athens may have claimed the top spot, it’s worth mentioning the other cities that have made it to the list of the world’s nicest-smelling cities.

Paris, with its romantic ambiance and elegant boulevards, secures the second position followed closely by Zurich, renowned for its cleanliness and picturesque surroundings, round up the top three. Dublin is at number four, followed by Luxemburg and Nicosia.

Here are the top ten:

Athens
Credit: HAYPP

What locals may think about Athens being the best-smelling city

Athenians would perhaps be more skeptical of the results of the study. Athens’ cleanliness is a bit of a mixed bag. Central areas and tourist spots are generally well-maintained, with regular trash collection and sanitation. The historic areas around the Acropolis are quite clean.

However, cleanliness can vary depending on the neighborhood. Some areas are tidy while others might have more litter and graffiti. Air quality is a weak spot for Athens, most local residents would argue. The city struggles with moderate air pollution due to factors like traffic and industry.

The good news is that Athens is taking steps to improve air quality. The city is expanding its metro system and investing in cleaner buses, and it also imposes traffic restrictions on vehicle use in the city center. Electric vehicles are also encouraged through incentives for people to switch to cleaner modes of transportation.

While there’s progress, air quality remains a challenge in Athens.

Greek Student Maps The Palace of Knossos With 3D Lasers

Tasos Kokkinidis
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Greek Student Maps The Palace of Knossos With 3D Lasers
Palace of Knossos 3D lasers
The research aims to create new ways for audiences to interact with archaeological sites. Credit: University of Sunderland

A Greek student from Crete who studies at the University of Sunderland in England has mapped the Palace of Knossos utilizing 3D laser scanning equipment.

George Vasilakis, who is studying BSc Web and Mobile Development, used cutting-edge technology provided by the university for his project.

The research aims to create new ways for audiences to interact with archaeological sites, using these scans to create a virtual reality experience of the palace and use the University’s 3D printers to construct physical models.

As a native Cretan, it’s a dream come true to access restricted areas of the palace.

“The Palace of Knossos is not only the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete but also the ceremonial and political center of the Minoan civilization,” Vasilakis told the University of Sunderland magazine.

“This remarkable monument, with its complex architecture and stunning frescoes, offers invaluable insights into Europe’s first advanced civilization.

“Through my research, I hope to support Crete’s bid to secure UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) World Heritage status for Knossos and other significant Minoan palaces.”

Scanning the Palace of Knossos
Credit: University of Sunderland

Mapping the Palace of Knossos with 3D laser

He added: “Conducting my dissertation at Knossos is a pinnacle moment not just for me, but for the University of Sunderland’s commitment to student-led research that contributes to preserving world heritage.

“I’m excited to process the data and uncover new insights about this fascinating ancient civilization.”

Vasilakis had to get special permission from the Greek Ministry of Culture, all made possible through the support of the University and the Faculty of Technology.

Paul Graham, Interim Associate Head of Computing at the University of Sunderland, said: “George came to speak with me about his project idea, which is a great project for the faculty and his final year dissertation.

“He has used our latest scanning equipment and is looking to develop a VR App where you can walk through the Palace of Knossos in Crete which the Heraklion Archaeological team are also happy with.”

“George is also looking to utilize our 3D Interactive Igloo for his project so there would be no need to use a VR headset in order to walk around the Palace.

Paul added: “This is just one of the great dissertation projects that we are supporting this year that links industry to our computing courses.”

The Palace of Knossos, located about five kilometers (three miles) south of Heraklion on Kephala hill, was the largest of all the Minoan palaces in Crete.

It was also at the core of the highly sophisticated civilization that flourished on the island over 3,500 years ago.

Related: How Greek Archaeologist Minos Kalokairinos Discovered Knossos

 

The Mystery of the Ancient Greek Statues Found in Italy

Tasos Kokkinidis
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The Mystery of the Ancient Greek Statues Found in Italy
riace bronzes ancient greek italy
The Riace Bronzes, displayed in the Museo Nazionale della Magna Grecia in Reggio Calabria, Italy, have remained a mystery since their discovery. Credit: Alexander van Loon/Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0

The mystery over the Riace Bronzes, two magnificent ancient Greek statues, remains, more than half a century after the day they were recovered off the coast of the Italian region of Calabria in August of 1972.

To this day, archaeologists and other scientists have been unable to identify with certainty who the bronze statues depict, when they were created—and how on earth they ended up in Calabria.

riace bronzes
The day one of the Riace bronzes was brought on land in Italy. Public Domain

Discovered by Stefano Mariottini in the town of Riace, the two statues were transported to the National Museum of Reggio Calabria, where they underwent an initial restoration that eliminated the layers of concretized sand coating them.

Then, subsequent restorations followed in Florence and Reggio.

Mystery of ancient Greek statues continues

However, it still has not been established with absolute certainty if the pair of statues was, from the beginning, a single group or if their juxtaposition had occurred during transport over the sea.

Their exact identification is also quite uncertain and debated: do they depict athletes, or heroes, such as Agamemnon and Ajax, Mirone and Alcamene, Achilles and Patroclus, Tydeus and Amphiaraus, or deities?

Scientists are quite certain that the statues were created either in Attica or Argolis in the Peloponnese.

They have almost the same height, around two meters and are both nudes—an emblem of divine or heroic status—and their stance is the same (the right leg is straight, the left is bent).

Originally, they were accompanied by arms, as well, including helmets, coats of arms (supported by the bent left arm), and a lance (held by the lowered right hand).

Anatomical details of the Riace Bronzes

The anatomical details of the ancient Greek statues are represented with extreme precision, and the veins and arteries are visible. Their powerful musculature radiates both strength and the perfection of the human form.

The lips, eyelashes, and nipples of the statues are made of copper while the teeth are made of silver paper. Both were produced using the “lost wax” casting technique.

The statue called “Bronze A” has hair that is bound by a band and a thick and abundant beard with locks that were individually modeled.

“Bronze B” has a smoother head, sloping upward to better accommodate the Corinthian helmet, which is raised above his head to reveal the face.

While dating for the Riace Bronzes is controversial, they certainly represent two masterpieces of the art of bronze statuary from the fifth century BC.

Discovering ancient Greek bronze statues is quite a rare occurrence. While countless bronzes were created in antiquity, most no longer survive.

Throughout the centuries, bronze sculptures were melted down to create coins and other objects out of the precious material. Most bronzes that have been recovered only survived as they were somehow hidden in ancient times—often due to shipwrecks.

EU Cracks Down on Social Media Influencers, Including 20 Greeks

Tasos Kokkinidis
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EU Cracks Down on Social Media Influencers, Including 20 Greeks
Influencers
97 percent of influencers featured commercial content, but only 20 percent consistently acknowledged it as advertising. Credit: Greek Reporter

Influencers in the EU, including 20 Greeks, who have failed to declare profits made through advertising may face penalties by the European Commission.

A Commission sweep carried out from Oct. 27 to Nov. 30, 2023, which scrutinized posts from 576 influencers across major social media platforms found that a staggering 97 percent of influencers featured commercial content but only 20 percent consistently acknowledged it as advertising.

“Problematic marketing practices illustrate the importance of having modern robust legislation that is adequate to ensure digital fairness for consumers online,” the Commission said.

The EU executive, which led the study together with the national consumer protection authorities of 22 EU member states including Norway and Iceland, screened posts on social media including Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Snapchat, and Twitch.

Its aim, the Commission said, was to verify whether influencers were complying with EU consumer law. It did not name the influencers but said 358 of them were earmarked for further investigation.

National authorities will contact them to request they follow the rules in place and further enforcement action may be taken if necessary. In Greece, the Development Ministry and the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) will request compliance.

The influencers’ posts were mainly about fashion, lifestyle, beauty, food, travel, and fitness. The Commission study found that 119 influencers were promoting unhealthy or hazardous activities, such as junk food, alcoholic beverages, medical or aesthetic treatments, gambling, or financial services such as crypto trading.

EU findings on influencers

Other key findings of the EU-wide investigation include:

  • 78 percent of influencers engaged in commercial activities, but only 36 percent were registered traders
  • 30 percent did not provide company details in their posts
  • 38 percent did not use platform labels to disclose commercial content appropriately
  • 40 percent failed to maintain visible disclosure throughout their commercial communication
  • 40 percent promoted their own products without consistent advertising disclosure
  • 44 percent operated personal websites, many of which facilitated direct sales.

The Commission stresses that the findings highlight the need for clear legislation to safeguard consumers in the digital sphere. The forthcoming Digital Services Act will mandate disclosure of commercial communications, ensuring accountability across online platforms.

Influencers can shape public discourse

Influencers hold significant sway over public discourse in today’s social media-driven world. They cultivate massive followings on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. This gives them a direct line to a receptive audience, allowing them to spread ideas and information quickly.

They also often craft an image of authenticity and relatability. Moreover, they might share their lives and experiences, fostering a sense of connection with audiences. This perceived authenticity makes their recommendations and opinions more persuasive.

Influencers can introduce new topics and ideas into the public consciousness. By focusing on specific issues or trends, they can influence what people talk about and what gains traction in online discussions.

Related: Greek Influencers Use Social Media to Help Society

The Largest Known Marine Reptile Identified as a Giant 26 Meters Long

Tasos Kokkinidis
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The Largest Known Marine Reptile Identified as a Giant 26 Meters Long
Largest Known Marine Reptile
Ichthyotitan severnensis was between 22 and 26 meters long. Credit: , CC2/Flickr

A fossil jawbone found by a British girl and her father on a beach in Somerset, England, belongs to a gigantic marine reptile dating back to 202 million years ago that appears to have been among the largest animals ever on Earth.

Researchers said the bone, called a surangular, was from a type of ocean-going reptile called an ichthyosaur.

Based on its dimensions compared to the same bone in closely related ichthyosaurs, the researchers estimated that the Triassic Period creature, which they named Ichthyotitan severnensis, was between 22 and 26 meters long.

Marine reptile would have matched large whales

That would make it perhaps the largest-known marine reptile and would rival some of the largest baleen whales alive today. The blue whale, considered the largest animal ever on the planet, can reach about 30 meters long.

Marine reptiles ruled the world’s oceans when dinosaurs dominated the land. Ichthyosaurs, which evolved from terrestrial ancestors and prospered for about 160 million years before disappearing roughly 90 million years ago, came in various sizes and shapes, eating fish, squid relatives and other marine reptiles and giving birth to live young.

Ichthyotitan is known only from two jawbones, the one found by Ruby Reynolds and her father Justin Reynolds in 2020 at Blue Anchor, Somerset, and another from a different Ichthyotitan individual found in 2016, along the Somerset coast at Lilstock.

“It is quite remarkable to think that gigantic, blue whale-sized ichthyosaurs were swimming in the oceans around the time that dinosaurs were walking on land in what is now the UK during the Triassic Period,” paleontologist Dean Lomax said, according to Reuters.

Ruby Reynolds, who was 11 at the time and is now 15, was fossil hunting on the beach with her father when they spotted a piece of the surangular. Ruby continued to search the area and found a second piece — much larger than the first — partly buried in a mud slope. They subsequently contacted Dr Lomax, an ichthyosaur expert, and additional sections of the bone were unearthed.

“It has been an amazing, enlightening and fun experience to work with these experts, and we are proud to be part of the team and co-authors of a scientific paper which names a new species and genus,” Justin Reynolds added, Reuters reports.

Ichthyotitan was a member of a family of giant ichthyosaurs called shastasauridae, and lived 13 million years later than any of the others known to date, suggesting these behemoths survived until a global mass extinction event that doomed numerous types of animals about 201 million years ago at the end of the Triassic.

No fossils of the rest of Ichthyotitan’s skeleton have been discovered, but the researchers have been able to discern its appearance based on other members of its family including Shonisaurus from British Columbia, Canada.

The surangular is a long, curved bone at the top of the lower jaw, just behind the teeth, present in nearly every vertebrate living or extinct, apart from mammals. Muscles attached to this bone generate bite force.

Related: Ancient Fossil Unveils ‘Dragon’ From 240 Million Years Ago

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