The efforts of an expatriate Greek scientist from Australia to create the first bionic eye seem to be paying off. Efstratios (Stan) Skafidas, head of NICTA’s research center at the University of Melbourne, who cooperates directly with the Bionic Vision Australia» Institute will soon have his innovation finalized.
The invention of Efstratios Skafidas and his colleagues consists of a camera positioned on a pair of glasses, which captures images. These images are then converted into electrical signals which stimulate the neurons in the retina.
Stan Skafidas was born in 1971, and is of Amaliada and Kavala descent. His parents arrived in Melbourne around 1960. He successfully finished his PhD in Electrical Engineering at the University of Melbourne in 1997. Today, he works as a Professor of Nanoelectrics and is a Director of the Centre for Neural Engineering. He is also head of the Research on Nanoelectrics at the University, in the field of electrical engineering that is dedicated to the creation of miniature components. These components are new generation transistors and chips focusing on wireless communications that continue to transform the way we communicate and live today.
After completing his studies at Cornell University of America, he became the co-founder of the company ‘Bandspeed’ which was what enabled him to commercialize his research on the design and manufacture of semiconductors and other products for wireless systems.
The daily newspaper by the Russian government “Russkaya Gazeta” has published a financial analysis by Evgeni Sestakov, which reports that: “Europe will save Athens no matter what, meaning that the Russian investments in Greek shares are not threatened.” According to the newspaper the temporary unstable situation of Greece could be a big advantage of the Russian capital. Helping Greece is a long-term aim and could give Russia political benefits, instead of investing in their neighbor country Belarus, which is directed by the wishes of its President and not by the rules of the market. The article mentions the benefits of the Greek partnership and stressed the point that the Prime Minister Papandreou is ready to take any risks so that the crisis will be confronted. In general, the Russian media is very interested in the political situation going on in Greece.
France’s Sebastien Ogier won the Acropolis Rally on Sunday, bringing him to third place overall in the World Rally Championship 2011, after seven rounds.
Ogier and co-driver Julien Ingrassia, with their CITROEN DS3, clinched the 56th Acropolis Rally, after a close showdown with fellow Frenchman and Citroen team-mate Sebastien Loeb, who retains his number one ranking overall in the WRC.
The Acropolis Rally, dubbed the “Rally of the Gods”, is the midway seventh round of the 13-round 2011, World Rally Championship.
According to the WRC, the Acropolis Rally is one of the most iconic events in the sport, and winning it earns significant kudos.
The ceremonial start took place beneath the historic Acropolis site at on Thursday evening, with a total of 42 crews participating in what is said to be the toughest race of the World Racing Championship (WRC).
Third place in the Acropolis Rally went to Finland’s Mikko Hirvonen, followed by Norwegians Petter Solberg and Henning Solberg in 4th and 5th, Britain’s Matthew Wilson in 6th, and Finland’s Kimi Raikkonen and Juho Hanninen in 7th and 8th place.
Loeb was first overall after seven rounds, followed by Hirvonen, Ogier, Finland’s Jari-Matti Latvala, Solberg, Norway’s Mads Ostberg, and Wilson.
The WRC 2011, opened with the Sweden rally in February, followed by Mexico and Portugal in March, Jordan in April, and Italy and Argentina in May.
The next rounds after Greece will be Finland (July 28-30), Germany (August 18-21), Australia (September 8-11), France (September 29 to October 2), Spain (October 20-23), and Wales (November 10-13). (source: ana-mpa)
Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou on Sunday reiterated his call for national unity behind the government’s austerity measures, opening a three-day confidence vote debate that winds up at midnight Tuesday with an open roll-call vote.
Papandreou called on Parliament to give his newly-reshuffled government a renewed vote of confidence, noting that the country is at a critical crossroads and warned that a picture of division among the Greeks was not helping the country.
Warning that a disorderly bankruptcy would be catastrophic, Papandreou stressed that the country’s lenders, the EU and the IMF, want to see Greece standing on its own two feet, adding that the problems would not be solved if the IMF was asked to leave, and warning also that the country’s liquidity will very soon be exhausted without the disbursement of the 5th tranche of the EU-IMF bailout loan.
Papandreou asked for national consensus on fundamental axes, and a referendum on the major changes which, he said, will be contained in an amended Constitution.
The axes for the national understanding he is seeking include acknowledgement that the debt and deficits constitute a national problem and that “we must be the first to put our house in order”, that the fundamental choice of an organised confrontation of the Greek debt together with the country’s European partners should be averting abrupt market reactions, that the debt and deficits are the symptom of the illness and not the cause, that Greece will not be able to borrow (on the international markets) in 2012 “…and this is an unexpected new complication that we need to look straight in the eye, and not with our heads buried in the sand”, Papandreou elaborated. Samras: Elections the only solution
Main opposition New Democracy (ND) leader Antonis Samaras on Sunday reiterated his call for early elections, adding that recourse to the people’s verdict is the only real solution and the only path for Greece’s exodus from uncertainty, addressing the first day of a parliamentary debate for a vote of confidence in the newly-reshuffled government.
ND will not give a vote of confidence to the government, in which not even Prime Minister George Papandreou believes in and because he is persisting in a policy that only creates new problems, Samaras said.
He also accused Papandreou of “not daring” to proceed to the forming of a “national salvation government”, but has instead created a partisan government aimed at gluing together his ruling PASOK party, thus opting to prevent the collapse of his party instead of the unity of the Greek people. KKE: Elections, not referendum
Communist Party of Greece (KKE) leader Aleka Papariga opposed a referendum, but said ‘yes’ to early elections, addressing a vote of confidence debate in parliament on Sunday.
She clarified, however, that the KKE was taking this position under a different viewpoint from the other parties, with the aim of a “popular class movement and a weak government” arising.(ANA-MPA)
Papariga disagreed with the Prime Minister’s proposal for a referendum, warning that it was only “the other side of the harsh suppression of the people’s struggles”. LAOS: Ecumenical gov’t
Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) leader George Karatzaferis called for early elections “that will produce an ecumenical government” as “the only government that can save Greece”, speaking during a vote of confidence debate in parliament on Sunday, and blamed the Prime Minister and the main opposition leader of “kicking the opportunity away” for a “national salvation government”. (source: ana-mpa)
Pop singer Shakira (34) and her beloved Gerard Pique (24), the Spanish defender of Barcelona, are enjoying their love affair on the island of Mykonos.
The couple kept their arrival to the country secret and did everything possible to remain unnoticed. They arrived at Mykonos’ airport by private plane directly from Spain, landing early in the morning when there were hardly any people except for the airport staff.
The celebrity couple will stay on the beautiful island for a week. In particular, they will stay in the Presidential Suite of the hotel “Kivotos” in Ornos, which was nominated as Best Boutique Resort in Europe by World Travel Awards, last year.
Models appearing on “America’s Next Top Model” were mesmerized by the breathtaking view of the picturesque island of Spinalonga. The beautiful island lies in the gulf of Elounda, in north-eastern Crete and the American models are currently enjoying a photoshoot in Plaka, a tranquil village opposite Spinalonga. The historical island in the background, has added an additional dimension to their glossy photos.
The presenter of the show, Tyra Banks is also in Plaka at the moment, staying at a luxury hotel complex. The gorgeous presenter of “America’s Next Top Model” show is the highest paid TV presenter in the United States.
The models are said to be thrilled with the natural wealth of the region, but they are also enjoying the nightlife at different trendy clubs, where their sexy performances have attracted the whole male population’s attention.
The shooting will last for several more days since the production team considers the location and its beautiful setting ideal for the concept.
According to the Spiegel magazine there is no more time left for the common currency. The title of the article “Not At All Out of the Blue” confirms the main idea that there is not such a strong currency policy anymore and a Plan B is necessary. If the member states let Greece go bankrupt then the crisis will spread to every other European country which is financially unstable at the moment. On the other hand, if the politicians go on with the rescue packages, the EMU is going to end up sharing money, something which everyone involved has been avoiding from the beginning.
The problem is that the EU tries to support powerful and financially unstable countries. If there were national currencies, then Greece or Portugal could devalue their currency in order to improve their competence. But now the only solution is cuts. This is why the countries have to implement austerity programs. However, we should not forget that if the reforms are not accepted by the citizens of each country, then there should be an end to it.
A permanent exhibition multiplex will launch in Holland in September. It will provide the opportunity to Greek businesses to carry out thematic presentations, and to large cultural organizations to approach the Dutch market. The aim is to increase tourism in Greece, by reactivating the EOT’s Office in the Netherlands.
A special event was held over the previous days for the promotion of Greece in this specific market. The Secretary General of EOT, George Koletsos and the new Director of EOT in the Netherlands, Helen Skarveli were also present at the event.
By creating a permanent exhibition multiplex in Amsterdam EOT’s Office, which is very centrally located – close to the famous Leidseplein Square, Greece has opened a gateway to the public, mainly by upgrading the functioning of the Office. ”Apart from the current promotional activities of the country, the opportunity to develop a realistic B2B (inter-company trade) will also be given”, stated Mrs. Skarveli.
”Any Greek business, not οnly those of the touristic sector- that has PDO products to present at the market will gain a real ally in the promotion of their products”, highlighted the officials of the EOT’s Office. Skarveli added that, ”this initiative will expand in Brussels, too in order to enhance the image of Greece for the upcoming year, 2012, which will be a very crucial touristic year for the country”.
Whilst financial experts warned Europe was heading towards a ‘Lehman moment’, referring to the collapse of the giant investment bank which plunged the world into recession, UK top Tories were showing no mercy on Thursday, to the plight of Greece and its economical crisis. Although German Chancellor Angela Merkel is hoping Britain will be included in the cost of any deal made on a second Greek bailout, ministers in Britain were urged by Tory members of parliament to allow Greece to default on its debts amid fears that the cost of the EU bailouts could reach more than 1 trillion pounds. A senior spokesman for the European Central Bank, claims the EU bailout fund could have to double to 1.5 trillion euros, equal to more than 1.1 trillion pounds, resulting in Britain being saddled with tens of billions of pounds in extra cost.
Ministers were told to resist a second bailout, leaving Greece to default and drop out of the euro. Former Tory Cabinet minister, John Redwood stated “the simple and best solution would be for Greece and other struggling countries to quit the euro’. Fellow Tory, Douglas Carswell said,”defaulting was now the ‘least worst thing’ for Greece to do”, adding “it would be totally unacceptable for more British money to be used in a vain attempt to prop up Greece or other struggling Eurozone countries”.
Britain’s own economic recovery still remains desperately fragile and Greece’s political crisis could have seismic implications for the livelihoods of millions of British families. A European meltdown could well plunge Britain into recession with incalculable consequences. Britain’s Tory members of Parliament want no more involvement in the appalling mess left behind by an irresponsible Greek government and would like very much to wash their hands of Papandreou and a crisis which will change the course of European history.
[youtube]yUMjuGMeWug[/youtube] The above video is based on an old Apple commercial with real pictures of Spain and Greece. The video shows the broad range of Greece’s protesters, from little kids to elderly couples taking up Greece’s squares and streets trying to change their country. Apple’s original commercial depicts historical figures that have changed our world because of their different way of thinking. The commercial was titled “Think Different” and you can see it below.
[youtube]4oAB83Z1ydE[/youtube]
The efforts of an expatriate Greek scientist from Australia to create the first bionic eye seem to be paying off. Efstratios (Stan) Skafidas, head of NICTA’s research center at the University of Melbourne, who cooperates directly with the Bionic Vision Australia» Institute will soon have his innovation finalized.
The above video is based on an old Apple commercial with real pictures of Spain and