Greek Researcher Developed Vaccine
A Greek researcher developed a vaccine, which stimulates the immune system and hence gives hopes for life extension to cancer patients. As vaccine developer and director of the Medical Research Institute in Paris Kostas Kosmatopoulos said, the vaccine was tested on 59 patients suffering from terminal cancer and 75% of them lived for an entire year, when life expectancy ranged from 6 to 9 months. At the same time, all patients' immune system was stimulated and there were no side effects. These facts encourage the researchers. Although the vaccine does not promise cancer cure, 30% of patients (20 of the 59) showed stabilisation of the disease. In particular, Oncology professor at the University of Crete Vassilis Georgoulias reported the case of a patient with breast cancer, who was stabilised for two years! The next step is comparative testing, to evaluate results.
The next step is comparative research on patients who have taken the vaccine and on others who have not. Researchers will focus their study on inhibiting the disease from developing and for this reason the vaccine will be tested on patients who have had a primary tumour removed, but are still in a high-risk category. The comparative research results for patients in Greece, Italy, France, Germany and perhaps the Netherlands will be released in three or four years and give the green light for the vaccine's circulation in the market
Σάββατο, Νοεμβρίου 12, 2005
Hope for Cancer Patients
Παρασκευή, Νοεμβρίου 11, 2005
Europe launches probe to Venus
A European-built spacecraft successfully blasted off Wednesday for Venus on a five-month mission to probe the planet's greenhouse effect.
The remote-operated probe lifted off from the Baikonur, Kazakhstan on board a Soyuz rocket and made contact with mission control.
"The mission is an outstanding success," Gaele Winters, a director at the European Space Agency in Darmstadt, told reporters. "We had a perfect launch. The instruments are switched on, the solar panels are deployed, everything is working."
The probe, called Venus Express, is expected to reach the planet in mid-April. It cost 220 million euros.
Scientists hope the mission will help them to understand why Venus evolved so differently than Earth, given the two planets have similar sizes, masses and composition.
Venus lacks a magnetic field to protect it from the solar wind, leading temperatures to peak at 740 K, hot enough to melt lead.
The Venusian atmosphere is mainly carbon dioxide, which traps solar radiation in the most powerful greenhouse effect known in the solar system, according to ESA's website.
The probe's instruments will also study the hurricane force winds at high altitudes and measure temperatures.
Scientists also want to learn if the volcanoes on Venus are active.
The space agency planned to launch the craft on Oct. 26. The launch was delayed to allow technicians to clear contamination on the covering of the probe's Russian-made Soyuz-Fregat launcher.
NASA made the last mission to Venus in the early 1990s, mapping the planet's surface
Πέμπτη, Νοεμβρίου 10, 2005
Judges liken new UK terror laws to Nazi Germany
A powerful coalition of judges, senior lawyers and politicians has warned that the Government is undermining freedoms citizens have taken for granted for centuries and that Britain risks drifting towards a police state. One of the country's most eminent judges has said that undermining the independence of the courts has frightening parallels with Nazi Germany.
Senior legal figures are worried that "inalienable rights" could swiftly disappear unless Tony Blair ceases attacking the judiciary and freedoms enshrined in the Human Rights Act.
The new anti-terrorism (?!!) laws would allow police hold terrorist suspects for up to 90 days without charge.
"Grey Wolves" Create Unrest
A new challenge was delivered by the "Grey Wolves" in Istanbul, just hours after the State Department issued a report criticising Turkey’s religious freedoms. A group of Turkish nationalists gathered in Phanar this morning, calling for the expulsion of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and chanting mottos against the USA, the EU and Tayyip Erdogan. The group, however, which was made up of some 200 people, did not accomplish its target. The Turkish police had implemented tight security measures in the areas surrounding the Orthodox Patriarchate and the demonstration ended without any incidents being recorded.These challenges are very often and in the previous one; some days before; the leader was an ex-military general!!
After the demonstration, the members the Church of Cyprus met with Patriarch Bartholomew in the Patriarchate. In Athens, after meeting with Greek President Karolos Papoulias, Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis, answering to a relevant question, reminded reporters of Turkey’s pledges concerning religious freedoms and voiced his satisfaction over yesterday’s reports by the State Department and the European Commission.
Triple Attack in Jordan
The Work of al-Qaeda ?
Amman, Jordan, was the newest al-Qaeda target, since on Thursday, the group’s Iraq faction claimed responsibility for the triple attack against the hotels Radisson SAS, Grand Hyatt and Day Inn, with an announcement posted on the Internet and signed by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the head of al-Qaeda in Iraq. However, the announcement has not been confirmed yet. Right from the start, though, the Jordanian authorities had declared that the Islamic group was behind the attacks, which killed 57 people and injured over 110.
Κυριακή, Νοεμβρίου 06, 2005
EU's Turkey deadline
LONDON: Turkey will have two years to eliminate torture, establish freedom of religion and assert civilian control over the military if it wants to become a member of the European Union in 10 years.The deadline is set in a European Commission checklist of about 150 conditions it will give Turkey this month.
The draft document, seen by London's Financial Times, is aimed at easing EU voters' concerns about Turkey's potential membership.
Turkey will have to "ensure implementation ... of the 'zero tolerance' policy against torture" and "to adopt a law comprehensively addressing all the difficulties faced by non-Muslim religious minorities and communities," the draft says, according to the paper. During the same period, Ankara must establish full parliamentary oversight of military and defence policy, abolish any remaining competence of military courts to try civilians and ensure the independence of the judiciary.
Paris-Escalating Tension
Hit-and-run arson attacks escalated in poor Paris suburbs as the government met to work out a response to nine nights of urban violence that has spawned copycat unrest in major towns.
The violence has been seen as the expression of pent-up anger by youths, many Muslims of North African and black African origin, at police treatment, racism, unemployment and their marginal place in French society.
After nine nights of wailing sirens, acrid smoke, stone-throwing and destruction, residents from all ethnic backgrounds are tiring of the unrest.
Nearly 900 cars were torched, while at least 170 people belonging to socially segregated ethnic minorities were arrested. According to the police, a total of 897 cars were destroyed during the violent incidents, 656 of which were located in the outskirts of the French capital, as opposed to 519 that had been destroyed in the same areas in previous nights. It is the worst destruction, as far as damages are concerned, recorded since the beginning of the riots.
In fact, the police used helicopters this time to monitor the situation, while some 700 firefighters and 1,400 police officers were deployed in Paris to deal with the rioting youths. While fewer clashes with youths were reported, judicial officials said the unrest was being organised via the Internet and mobile phones.
Without question what is taking place bears all the hallmarks of being coordinated," Yves Bot, the Paris public prosecutor, told Europe 1 radio.
Police appealed for witnesses in the petrol bomb attack on a bus that severely burnt a handicapped woman, and 200 people in Epinay-sur-Seine held a minute's silence for a photographer beaten to death in front of his family in a street robbery.
In Meaux, a town east of Paris whose mayor is government spokesman Jean-Francois Cope, youths threw petrol bombs at paramedics, whose patient was taken to hospital under police escort.
One police union spoke of "civil war spreading into all French ghettos", and said the government should decree a nightly curfew and send in troops to dissuade trouble-makers.
It should be noted that the riots started last week, after the death of two migrants, who were being chased the police.
Palestinian boy shot by Israeli army dies of wounds
JENIN, West Bank, Nov 5 (Reuters) - A 13-year-old Palestinian boy shot in the head and chest by Israeli soldiers died of his wounds on Saturday, Palestinian officials said.Ahmad al Khateep was critically wounded on Thursday during an Israeli army raid to detain suspected Palestinian militants in the occupied West Bank.
The Israeli army has said soldiers in the Jenin refugee camp came under fire from Palestinian gunmen in several locations and returned fire hitting the boy who they said was later discovered to have been holding a toy weapon.The army said that it regretted the incident.Al Khateep's body was transferred to Jenin from an Israeli hospital where he was being treated, Palestinian medics and a Palestinian security source said.
The boy's father, Ismail al Khateep, told Israeli television before the body was moved that his family had decided to donate Ahmad's organs to Israeli children who needed them."We want to send a message of peace to Israeli society, to the defence ministry and the Israeli parliament," he said."They (Israeli forces) killed my son who was healthy and we want to give his organs to those who need them."Palestinian officials have said Israel's frequent raids in West Bank towns and villages to arrest suspected militants hurt chances of resuming peacemaking stalled by more than five years of violence.
Τετάρτη, Οκτωβρίου 26, 2005
U.N. Launches AIDS Campaign
The United Nations is launching a global campaign to combat the rising threat of AIDS against children, nearly 1,800 of whom are infected with HIV every day.
Every minute a child under the age of 15 dies as a result of AIDS, the report said. Children are the "invisible face" of AIDS and are missing out on the help that is going to adults, Ann Veneman, UNICEF's executive director, said Monday.
The campaign's message is simple: AIDS is a growing threat to children and if serious action isn't taken immediately the world will not achieve the U.N. Millennium Development Goal of halting and reversing the AIDS pandemic by 2015.
Peter McDermott, chief of the HIV/AIDS division at the U.N. Children's Fund, said the campaign has set international goals, and UNICEF will work with UNAIDS, voluntary organizations, the private sector and governments to achieve them
By 2010, the campaign also aims to provide support for 12 million of the 15 million AIDS orphans, McDermott said.
A global campaign is essential to work toward an AIDS-free generation where not one child will die of AIDS, be infected with the HIV virus, or lose a parent, teacher or friend.
New Energy Chapter in SE Europe
Historic Agreement
Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis described the agreement on the single energy market in SE Europe, signed in Athens today, as a landmark for the wider area.
The treaty binds all Balkan countries to deregulate the natural gas and electricity markets at a business level by 2008 and at a household level by 2015. The treaty also provides for a future collaboration on oil, telecommunications and air transports. Turkey held reservations on signing the agreement, regardless of the fact that the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Mehmet Guler, was present at the ceremony. Turkey disagrees with certain terms of the agreement referring to environmental issues. However, Greek government sources voiced the estimation that Turkey will sign it until June.
International Conference over Bird Flu
A conference is held in Canada to prepare countries against an avian influenza pandemic, aiming at collaboration and coordination on a global scale. The World Health Organisation Director General asked rich countries to help the weaker ones in this fight. What is more, the Indonesian Health Ministry announced on Tuesday that another person lost his life to the bird flu, thus increasing the number of victims to four. In the meantime, new avian influenza outbreaks have been located in China, Russia, Siberia and eastern Croatia. In Germany, 25 migratory birds were found dead at the banks of a lake, while a decision has been issued to confine all birds in 21 French regions. "In Greece, there are no bird flu cases and inspection mechanisms are sticking to the action plan," repeated the Development Ministry on Monday, reassuring there is no danger from consuming Greek poultry products. In Brussels, the Commission gave the green light for an embargo on wild bird imports in the EU, until November 30. In the meantime, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) advised consumers to avoid raw eggs and undercooked poultry, in order to avoid the spread of the virus.
EU Adopts Embargo on Pet Bird Trade Imports
Today, after a proposal by the Commission, the EU adopted a decision for a temporary embargo on wild bird trade imports, until November 30. This decision is taken after the discovery, of quarantined parrot, which died from H5N1 and was imported from South America, in Great Britain. After the implementation of the measure, the citizens can bring up to five wild birds from trips to countries abroad, under the condition that they undergo a 30-day quarantine.
Turkish man arrested over alleged attack plot on Israeli ships
ISTANBUL - A Turkish man was arrested here Monday as part of a probe into an alleged plot by suspected Al-Qaeda militants to attack Israeli cruise ships off Turkey's Mediterranean coast earlier this year, the Anatolia news agency reported.
Διαβάστε περισσότερα...Bosnia-Herzegovina on Negotiating Track
At the 21st of October; the European Commission gave Bosnia-Herzegovina the green light for the commencement of accession talks with the EU, following the adoption of a reform concerning the police in Bosnia. On Tuesday, the country’s central Parliament ratified the reform, aiming at unifying the country’s police forces, which are divided based on ethnicity. Brussels asked for the implementation of this measure, in order to finalise Bosnia’s union agreement with the EU. The agreement constitutes the first step towards acceding in the European Union for the countries of the western Balkans.
Διαβάστε περισσότερα...Σάββατο, Οκτωβρίου 15, 2005
Former EU commission president criticises commencement
Former EU commission president and Belgian premier Jacques Santer said that Turkey's EU entry negociations initiated on Tuesday were "untimely", while addressing an event in Iraklio, Crete, on Tuesday evening."Europe is a victim of its successes", Santer told the audience of a meeting which focused on "Europe after expansion, problems, the role of regions in the EU". He said the Turks had committed a strategic error in refusing to recognise the state entity of the Cyprus Republic, adding that negociations were now beginning but nobody could guarantee that they will have a successful end. "There are economic and political criteria which it (Turkey) should fulfill in order to gain a place among the '25' but, mainly, there is the criterion relating to Turkey's absorption by the EU," Santer said.
Διαβάστε περισσότερα...Red Line for F.Y.R.OM
Greece will support FYROM’s European course, with the condition that the country will abandon its adamant position, and proceed with the notion of a commonly accepted solution on the name issue, stated by Deputy Foreign Minister Evripidis Stylianidis. "In any other case, we will be drawing a red line, which we are determined to not cross", he said. Mr Stilianidis repeated that there is the option of conducting a referendum at the end of FYROM’s negotiating procedure with the EU, which, as he stated, constitutes an "approved institutional procedure from Greece will not resign". Source from the Greek government declares that any other "solution" rapes Greek history and culture and should be seen as a hostile act.
EU vets agree bird flu measures
European Union veterinary officers have agreed a package of measures aimed at preventing the deadly bird flu virus from entering the 25-nation bloc.
The measures will "focus on strengthening bio-security measures on farms and introducing early detection systems in high risk areas".
The experts met for two days of emergency talks, after a deadly strain of the virus was detected in Turkey. An unconfirmed strain of bird flu has also been found in two Romanian villages.
The European Commission has banned imports of live birds and poultry products from Turkey and Romania.
European countries are being urged to stockpile anti-viral drugs. In the Turkish and Romanian capitals, some pharmacies have run out of anti-flu medicines because of heavy demand. Breaking info from the Asian country of Turkey talks for 9 persons carring already the virus.
Pirates release second UN aid ship in Somalia
Nairobi - Somali gunmen released a ship carrying United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) food aid on Friday after it was seized two days ago, a WFP official in Nairobi said."The gunmen initially demanded a ransom of $20 000," a WFP spokesperson told the Deutsche Presse-Agentur news agency."WFP does not pay ransom money and as negotiations were carried out by the ship's agent, we are not aware of any payments," she added.The MV Miltzow was seized after less than half of the 850 tons of food aid was being offloaded at Merka port, south-west of Mogadishu when gunmen stormed the ship and forced to leave the port.
Διαβάστε περισσότερα...Τετάρτη, Οκτωβρίου 12, 2005
Macedonia is Greek Ancient Name
After meeting with Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis, Foreign Minister of Greece(Hellas) Petros Molyviatis sent a clear message to FYROM. "The Government’s position on FYROM’s name is clear. Based on the ’95 intermediate agreement, we have the right to oppose participation, accession of the neighbouring country to any international organisation with any name other than Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia. Unless there has been an agreement for a mutually acceptable solution," stressed Mr Molyviatis, saying the Greek Government could exercise its veto right. The Foreign Minister also said a referendum could be held to allow the Greek people decide on Greece’s future stance in relation with FYROM. The Foreign Ministry rejected the new Nimic proposal as unacceptable, stressing it equals with adopting FYROM’s positions. After a relevant request submitted by SYN yesterday and which the Government accepted, the National Council of Foreign Policy will convene next Tuesday to discuss the latest developments with regard to FYROM.
Διαβάστε περισσότερα...Detox for Internet Addicts
The several problems China has occasionally encountered with regard to Internet are well known. Excessive freedom of expression and movement of ideas are some of the problems that the Chinese government fights with shutting down sites and Internet cafes. However, China has to face yet another major problem, which no one would perceive in the past. Chinese people are logging on every day by thousands, while the Internet users have soared past many millions, regardless of the censorship and the severe banning implemented in the country. The rise in personal wealth can account for this new reality China experiences. However, the Chinese users seem to have gone off limits, and many of them have developed an addiction that requires psychological treatment.
More Than 2.5 Millions Need Help
The Internet addiction is not only a Chinese problem, however, the news that the Asian country with a population that amounts to 1.3 billions has established a detox clinic for Internet addicts made the headlines worldwide. The majority of the addicts are young people, who surf the net to chat or to play games.
As per Internet addicts, who have already attended the detox programme, they realised they had develop an addiction only after the endless hours they spent online had dramatic changes in their lives. It was then that they were convinced to check in the first clinic specialised in such cases.
The clinic started operating last March and also provides detox programmes with drug addicts and alcoholics.
The two-week detox programme includes medical treatment, psychological therapy, and daily workouts. The latter part of the programme is viewed as absolutely necessary, since most of the patients spent hours in front of the computer screen.
Dr Ran pointed out that a lot of 12year children encounter problems at school, while they develop depression, aggressiveness and sleeping disorders.
Δευτέρα, Αυγούστου 15, 2005
What went wrong with HELIOS flight?
GREEK air force pilots who were scrambled to investigate the doomed Helios Airways flight reported seeing the co-pilot "slumped over" the plane's controls.
Greek and Cypriot officials said communications were suddenly lost with the Helios Airways twin-engine Boeing 737 and two Greek air force F16 fighters scrambled to investigate.
The flyers "saw two people in the cockpit, we don't know if they were crew members or passengers, appearing to want to take over the controls," said Greek government spokesman Theodore Roussopoulos.
They saw "the co-pilot slumped over and perhaps unconscious and the pilot not in his seat," he said, adding that the oxygen masks were "activated" in the cabin. The Greek government spokesman confuted the arguments of a possible shotdown from the airforce.
"First indications from the Greek authorities are that this wasn't a terrorist attack," Cypriot presidential spokesman Marios Karoyan told journalists.
According to the Greek private TV station Alpha, a passenger sent a text message to a cousin saying: "We're cold, the pilot is blue. We're going to die. Farewell."
Water-dropping aircraft and helicopters were called to extinguish a fierce blaze that hampered the rescue operation.
The flight and cockpit voice recorders have been found, a Greek defence ministry official told.There is definitely a lot of mystery about the real reasons who lead to the crash.
Κυριακή, Αυγούστου 14, 2005
Germany attacks US on Iran threat
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has warned the US to back away from the possibility of military action against Iran over its nuclear programme. His comments come a day after President Bush reiterated that force remained an option but only as a last resortMr Schroeder directly challenged Mr Bush's comment that "all options are on the table" over the Iran crisis.
"Let's take the military option off the table. We have seen it doesn't work," Mr Schroeder told Social Democrats at the rally in Hanover, to rapturous applause from the crowd.
Mr Schroeder said it remained important that Iran did not gain atomic weapons, and a strong negotiating position was important.
"This is why I can with certainty exclude any participation by the German government under my direction," Mr Schroeder tells the paper.
Ecstasy vs Parkinson syndrome
The ecstasy pills can be used for the relief of the signs of Parkinson Syndrome.This is a conclusion from resaerch at mice at DUKE University;virginia.Scientists allege that MDMA and L-dopa can ameliorate the conditions ofevery day life of Parkinson patients. Although there is a lot of research to followto confirm the results at humans.
Διαβάστε περισσότερα...Italians are leaving early from Iraq
136 italian soldiers are leaving early from Iraq according to "La republica".Sylvio Berlusconi; the italian prime minister announced that after the terrorist attacks in London; only one tenth of the 3000 italian soldiers are going to leave Iraq.
Διαβάστε περισσότερα...Aircraft of Cypriot Air lines "Helios" CRASHED?
Sunday 14 Aug 2005
A plane with 115 passengers plus 6 crew members crashed near the capital of GREECE, Athens this morning. The plane was a type 737-300 of Helios Airlines.
There are rumors about a possible hijack. To the worse; there are also rumors for a shot down from the F-16s of Hellenic Air Force; as there was no communication with the cockpit and the pilot was not reacting to the warning signals.
We will come back with more details if nessecary.
