The guilty conviction of Vicky Soteriou for plotting her husband’s murder plays a dominant role in Australian newspapers and magazines.
Soteriou is mostly described as “devil-like” and “devious” in Australian Press, while her sentence is scheduled for November 14th.
The most impressive matter is not the plotting of her husband’s murder with her companion in order to receive his million dollar life insurance policy, but the fact that Vicky Soteriou remained calm and composed during the implementation of the plot, vowing eternal love to her husband.
Vicky’s husband stated: “I’m so lucky to be alive. My relatives offered a great moral support to me. Now, I should raise my children, but how can I tell them that her mother is in jail?”.
Vicky Soteriou, as it was continuously brought to attention during the court trial, enjoyed discussing the plot of the murder with her companion to serve as aphrodisiac supplement and improved the couple’s libido.
Dimitrakis, also married, had a reduced sentence of seven years, on the condition of remaining in custody for at least 5 years.
A research team of neurologists are conducting a research according to which a neurochip implanted in the skull transmits the brain activity (“thoughts”) by way of wireless radiofrequency signals to a small, battery-powered computer attached to a wheelchair.
The leader of the research is Greek-origin Miguel Nicolelis, neurologist in Duke University of USA who suggests that the possibility of transmitting the instructions without direct wiring between the brain and a robotic or prosthetic device costitutes a truly revolutionary advance for paralyzed patients.
The successful experiment that started with wiring the brains of macaque monkeys to a computer that tracked the monkey’s brain activity as it moved a joystick to a target, belongs to researchers from America, Brazil, and Switzerland of a collective research, called Walk Again.
The computer is connected to a robotic arm which mimicks the monkey’s activity. As the monkeys manipulate the joystick, the wiring from the brain identifies the brain patterns the monkeys are using. When researchers disable the joystick, the monkeys find they can control the robotic arm merely by “thinking” about it. Their brain activity is translated into instructions which direct the robot.
As far as humans’ neuroprosthesis is concerned, implanted neurochip in the skull can transmit thoughts by way of wireless radiofrequency signals.As the patient thinks about the action desired, such as reaching for and grasping an object, these signals are then sent, again wirelessly, to another microchip imbedded in the patient’s arm. The signals “instruct” the muscles in the arm to move so as to complete the activity.
2011 GALA Concert Featuring Thanos Petrelis and So Tiri
On Saturday, October 8, 2011, Greek singing sensation Thanos Petrelis performed at the Tilles Center of Performing Arts in Brookville, New York. This 2011 GALA concert was presented by the Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Resurrection in Brookville, and honored the Hellenic Times Scholarship Fund (HTSF). Mr. Spyros Poulos was the event’s production manager, Ms. Lisa DiPinto was its producer, and Ms. Zefy Christopoulos was its Press and Publicity Chairperson.
The elegant and classy CBS Business news anchor and national correspondent, Ms. Alexis Christoforous, emceed this benefit concert. She noted that this past May, marked the twentieth anniversary of the HTSF, and added that she was honored to be here tonight.
Ms. Christoforous thanked all of the sponsors that made this concert possible including its grand benefactor, Limani Restaurant, as well as Aktina FM, Antenna Satellite Television, Central Sushi Bar Restaurant, Greek Music Video Superstore, Logic Music, Mega Cosmos Television, The National Herald Newspaper, DJ Angela Pandelis, PJ Mechanical Corp., and the Winthrop University Hospital & Island Cardiac Specialists.
Father John Vlahos made the opening remarks and thanked the Hellenic Times Scholarship Fund (HTSF), by honoring its President, Mr. Nick Katsoris, who is the author of the “Loukoumi” children’s book series, and his wife, Voula.
“Thank you Father John. It’s a humbling experience to be here,” said Mr. Katsoris. Katsoris went on to thank Ms. DiPinto and everybody at the Holy Resurrection Church that made this event possible. Mr. Katsoris noted that the HTSF has awarded over $2 million in scholarships to 700 students across the nation. The goal of the HTSF is to educate the Greek-American youth, and simultaneously encourage them to be the best they can be.
It was followed by a four song mini-concert from YouTube sensation and Greek rapper So Tiri.
After So Tiri’s set, Thanos Petrelis took the Tilles Center stage. He performed his greatest hits including “To Aima Mou,” “Adiorthoti,” “Den Eho Matia Gia Alli,” “To Xroma Tou Ouranou,” “Den Eho Xanadei Moro Mou Pio Orea”“Euharisto,” and “Eutihos,” among many others.
In addition, Petrelis delivered impressive covers of traditional songs, as well as tunes from other established Greek vocalists such as Giorgos Mazonakis’ “Moro Mou Pos,” Mihalis Hatzigiannis’ “Heria Psila,” Makis Xristodoulopoulos’ “Den Koimamai Tora Pia Ta Vradia,” Yiannis Parios’ “Ikariotiko,” Kazantzides’ “Opoia Kai Nase,” Nikos Papazoglou’s “Pote Voudas Pote Koudas,” as well as four classic Sfakianaki songs “Aetos,” “Mia Matia Sou Mono Ftanei,” “Genethlia” and “Soma Mou.”
In summation, Petrelis’ set was over two hours long and gave New York a memorable evening. Particularly impressive about Petrelis is that he had the Long Island audience with him each step of the way, as they sang along, danced, and clapped on every note and every lyric. His fans were dancing kalamatiana, hasaposervika, tsiftetelia and zeibekika in the aisles and on stage with him, and were full of “kefi.”
“Thanos Petrelis sang with all of his heart, and as the concert progressed his voice got better!” exclaimed Nikos Arholekas, an attendee and fan of Petrelis. “He is talented and I was very pleased that he paid tribute to the classics such as Kazantzides, and he honored him by singing ‘Opoia Kai Nase’ very well, which a difficult tune to sing,” Arholekas added.
Two 15-year-old girls from Ioannina were admitted to the hospital in a coma last Friday after having consumed cocaine during a party during the occupation of the 4th High School of Ioannina.
The occupation had started 4 days before and students decided to have fun by consuming alcohol and drugs. The organizing team of the party were two drug dealer school friends of the girls.
At the beginning of the party, the girls were having fun until they slumped over, and began foaming at the mouth.
Police authorities immediately conducted an investigation and identified 6 persons from 15-24 years old, who are now accused of drugs’ use and possession, arms’ possession, and violation of the law.
The young girls are still in the hospital, not in critical condition.
Trauceur Luis Alkmim from Portugal performs a spectacular jump during the “Red Bull Art of Motion” competition held at Firostefani on Santorini island on Saturday October 8 2011.
Fifteen top parkour and freerunning athletes from around the world took part in the unique race that has been dubbed the “most natural” parkour track in the world, awing spectators with impressive strides over the white roofs of the houses of Santorini built on the cliff’s edge of the famed volcanic Caldera of the popular Greek island.
The 15 trauceurs took on Firostefani, “parkour paradise”, with breath-taking tricks to a backdrop of the most famous sunset in the world, overtaking natural obstacles such as curves, voids, walls, defying gravity, completing the 200-meter-long course within 90 seconds and putting their personal mark on the race.
Red Bull Art of Motion was first introduced as a competition in 2007 and has since turned into a state-of-the-art event in the Free Running community.
(source: AMNA)
Everyone in Kokkinia, Kilkis was shocked after the news of the cruel murder of a 43-year-old man. The man, who had recently lost his mother, was in grief when he visited his 72-year-old neighbor to ask him to turn down the volume of his radio.
The two men got involved in a verbal fight before the older man reached for his hunting rifle and mortally wounded the 43-year-old in the head.
Police arrested the murderer who seems to suffer from some mental illnesses.
ATHENS – The National Bank of Greece has moved to take over Proton Bank, a small lender that is under investigation for possible violation of the country’s money-laundering laws and embezzlement. NBG said it had it activated a bank rescue fund to save Proton, the first bank to be taken over under the Financial Stability Fund (FSF,) a safety net set up by Greece and its international lenders for banks that need to recapitalize but cannot raise funds in the market.
Analysts said the move had to do with Proton’s own business problems and not with the country’s severe debt crisis, Reuters reported. “After recommendations by the Bank of Greece, the Finance Ministry proceeded to apply to Proton Bank a new law about the restoration of banks,” the Bank of Greece said in a statement.
The Bank of Greece said Proton was split into a “good bank” where all of its private sector, government deposits and sound assets were transferred. The new bank will have the FSF backstop as its sole shareholder and retain the trade name Proton. “The ‘good bank’ is well capitalized, with a capital adequacy ratio that is well above the regulatory threshold. It has access to euro-system liquidity through the Bank of Greece,” the central bank said.
The central bank said the license of the old Proton Bank was withdrawn and it was put into liquidation. The proceeds of the liquidation will be used to cover the claims of third parties. Proton shareholders will rank as last claimants. “The new bank, free of the deficiencies of the previous bank, is financially sound and will continue normally its operations,” the Bank of Greece said.
Proton’s troubles began in the summer after it disclosed it was being probed by the central bank on money laundering violations related to transactions by its main shareholder. The authorities did not disclose the cost of Proton’s rescue, but the small leftist Syriza party claimed it was over $1.17 billion. A government spokesman insisted other Greek banks had adequate funds and that Proton was a “special” case. “There is no intention at this stage to nationalise Greek banks, beyond the special problem of Proton Bank,” government spokesman Elias Mossialos told reporters.
Proton Bank also received state support in July — one day ahead of EU-wide bank stress tests — with the finance ministry saying the move was dictated by “state interests” owing to fears of “negative effects” on the Greek banking system. At the time, Greek media reported that a special prosecutor was investigating a 51-million-euro withdrawal at Proton Bank which Bank of Greece sources had described as “unusual.” NBG replaced the board of directors.
Proton Bank, where the 2007-10 US ambassador to Greece Daniel Speckhard was a non-executive chairman, has pledged to cooperate with the authorities while one of its key shareholders, 39-year-old businessman Lavrentis , has denied any wrongdoing. The probe had determined that the money was loaned to Greek-based pharmaceutical group Alapis — where Lavrentiadis, Alapis’ founder, was until recently a main shareholder, reports said, according to AFP.
Greek banks have suffered as a result of debt-hit Greece’s pariah status among creditors and have had to rely on the European Central Bank for fresh financing to keep them afloat.Proton Bank has received nearly $410 million in state rescue funds and guarantees since 2008, Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos said in August.
“The activation of the Financial Stability Fund for Proton Bank has nothing to do with its exposure to Greek sovereign bonds but it has to do with its bad loans’ portfolio,”a Greek-based bank analyst who declined to be named told Reuters. Proton, with a network of 31 branches and a current market value of about $15 million, had total assets of $5.18 billion at the end of the first quarter.
A half dozen Greek banks have failed the European Union’s so-called stress tests and Greece’s FSF has $13.6 billion to recapitalize the banking system. That amount should grow to 30 billion once eurozone parliaments ratify the EU’s EFSF safety net created to prevent the Greek crisis from spilling over into other countries like Spain or Italy and triggering a new global economic downturn.
(Sources: Kathimerini, Reuters, AFP, BBC)
When the citizens of Thessaloniki finally thought they would stop suffering from excessive garbage as the occupation of the land-field of Mavrorachi ended, the employees at the land-field have occupied it once more and intend on continuing their protest.
The municipality of the city is in despair after seeing the nightmare of garbage coming back and asks the citizens to not bring their garbage to the streets if it can be helped.
These days, the homeless population is not only at historic highs, but the profile of the homeless has substantially changed as the debt crisis has forced many onto the streets due to bankruptcy and job loss.
Once likely to consist of a population of alcoholics, drug users, and the mentally ill, the homeless now are more likely to be middle-class, young and moderately poor individuals, and families.
Officials at Klimaka, a nongovernment organization, say the number of homeless in Greece has increased by 25 per cent, to 20,000, over the past two years, an overwhelming increase in a country known for its family oriented culture.
“The number of homeless people has increased due to the economic crisis in the last year, but their profile has changed as well. They are people who lived a normal life but due to the crisis that has hit almost all occupations and age groups, have found themselves in this situation,” Alamanou said, coordinator of the Klimaka programme to help the homeless.
With unemployment near 17 per cent, the new homeless come from all walks of life, and include those once involved in seasonal occupations related to tourism, guards, sailors and technicians.
Traditionally, individuals and families in need would have been supported by extended families but the economic situation has become so tight that parents, children, siblings, and cousins find it difficult to take in unemployed relatives.
There are no government supported homeless shelters in Greece and no official policy for helping the homeless return to work and to society.
A young girl from Arta experienced a devastating attack from burglars who entered her home last night.
The girl was sitting with her father, when the robbers attacked the father and raped the young daughter repeatedly in front of her dad.
The criminals left the house after the attack, having stolen food, drinks, and money.
The young girl with her father were hastily admitted to the hospital.
The guilty conviction of Vicky Soteriou for plotting her husband’s murder plays a dominant role in Australian newspapers and magazines.
Everyone in Kokkinia, Kilkis was shocked after the news of the cruel murder of a 43-year-old man. The man, who had recently lost his mother, was in grief when he visited his 72-year-old neighbor to ask him to turn down the volume of his radio.
