Author Archives: Վարդուհի Իշխանյան

China seizes 30,000 tons of chicken feet tainted by hydrogen peroxide

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հավի տոտիկներIn the latest stomach-churning food scandal to hit China, authorities have seized over 30,000 tons of chicken feet contaminated with hydrogen peroxide, according to state media.

Thirty eight people have been arrested on charges of producing the tainted items, while 11 suspects remain at large.

The chemical, which causes vomiting and other stomach problems if consumed, may have been used to give the chicken feet a whiter, cleaner appearance.

A report by official news agency Xinhua said the tainted items were first discovered in Yongjia County in Zhejiang, eastern China. A subsequent investigation revealed hydrogen peroxide was being used in nine factories in Jiangsu, Anhui, Henan, and Guangdong, affecting several well-known brands of chicken feet sold in stores.

Chicken feet are popular in China, where they are often available as a packaged snack. However, this is not the first time the item has found itself at the center of a safety scare.

In July 2013, police confiscated 20 tons of badly expired chicken feet from a frozen meat warehouse — some of the feet were reportedly 46 years old.

 

Jackie Chan responds to son’s drug bust: ‘I’m extremely furious’

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Kung fu movie star Jackie Chan says he “takes responsibility” for the drug charges laid against his son, 32-year-old Jaycee Chan, in Beijing.

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Police detained the junior Chan, who is originally from Hong Kong and also an actor, as well as Kai Ko, a 23-year-old Taiwanese actor, during a raid on August 14 in Dongcheng district, Beijing, state media said.

Both men tested positive for marijuana.

Jackie Chan publicly addressed the incident for the first time on Wednesday evening, through messages posted on his account on Weibo, a Chinese microblogging platform.

The star of “Rush Hour” wrote that he felt “extremely furious” and “extremely shocked” at the news of his son’s drug woes, adding that Jaycee’s mother is “heartbroken.”

Robin Williams’ death certificate reveals tragic comedy legend’s ashes have been scattered at his beloved San Francisco Bay

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It was his beloved home of almost 50 years.

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And it has emerged tragic Robin Williams ashes were scattered at San Francisco Bay just a day after his suicide last week.

Սան-Ֆրանցիկո

The comedy legend’s newly released death certificate details what happened to his remains, while also stating his cause of death is still ‘pending investigation.’

The State Of California document states the 63-year-old’s final disposition was ‘scattering in San Francisco Bay off the coast of Marin County,’ with the ceremony taking place on August 12.

Robin died on the morning of August 11 at his home in nearby Paradise Cay, with the Marin County Sheriff’s Office chief deputy coroner later confirming he had hanged himself .
A source close to the funnyman claimed earlier this week his suicide was a spontaneous act and was not planned out beforehand.

Start playing with your food: A designer has come up with pretty much the best invention ever – chocolate LEGO

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If your mother ever told you to stop playing with your food, she’ll certinaly swallow her words when she catches sight of Akihiro Mizuuchi’s new project.

շոկոլադե լեգո

The Japanese illustrator and designer has combined the two things of everyones’ dreams into one perfect product: chocolate LEGO.

Mr Mizuuchi created the edible building blocks by first pouring the chocolate into perfectly designed moulds where it was left to cool and set, acording to Colossal.

Once set, they were simply popped out and ready to be used as everyday LEGO.

The designer even demonstrated the effectivness of his invention by building three adorable and delicious looking bears.

Chocolate and lego loving Twitter users have already expressed their love for the idea online.

However a number of concerns have been raised about the product by social media users who have admitted they aren’t sure how long their structures would last before being sampled.

It may be some time before the product actually takes off however, as Mr Mizuuchi’s idea is not available at supermarkets or shopping centres, rather just exisiting as a project.

Venezuelan woman smuggles $120,000 of cocaine to Spain in her fake breasts

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A woman has been arrested at Madrid airport after confessing to hiding £70,000 worth of cocaine in her breasts.

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The 43-year-old Venezuelan woman used two plastic bags containing 3.75lbs (1.7kg) of cocaine as breast implants to get through customs at the airport in the Spanish capital.

The woman was singled out when she arrived at customs, due to her nervous appearance, but officials found nothing after searching her possessions.

The woman had just arrived on a flight from Bogota, Colombia, and officers took her to one side due to her behaviour as she went through customs at Madrid airport.

Although nothing was found in her luggage, customs officials ordered a full body search.

A frisk by female officers revealed irregularities and deformations in both of the suspect’s breasts.

The passenger then ‘became nervous and confessed to carrying cocaine implants,’ a police statement said Friday.

She was rushed to hospital where doctors removed an implant from each breast, containing a total of 1.7 kilos of cocaine, worth at least £71,000.

Spanish police carry out regular checks on passengers arriving at Madrid’s Adolfo Suarez international airport on so-called ‘hot flights’ from Latin America.

Between January 1st and July 15, customs seized 493kg (1087 lbs) of cocaine, believed to be worth around £20million.

 

What are the world’s friendliest/unfriendliest cities?

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Australians and New Zealanders tend to get annoyed when their accents get mistaken for one another, but there’s one thing they do share.

friendly-city-2014-dublin

Both countries can lay claim to hosting the world’s friendliest city, with Melbourne and Auckland jointly taking top honors in a new survey.

Another southern hemisphere destination — South Africa’s Johannesburg — didn’t fare quite as well, being named as the most unfriendly.

Conde Nast Traveler magazine’s annual Readers’ Choice Survey says it was “no surprise readers adore Melbourne,” calling it Australia’s “capital of cool.”

Aucklanders were praised by readers for their “humor” and a view on life that’s “something to aspire to attain.”

Australia scored a friendly city double, with Sydney also making the top 10 alongside a global scattering that includes Cambodia’s “awe-inspiring” temple gateway Siem Reap and “vibrant” Dublin.

The United States fielded two cities onto the friendly list, with Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina, each winning praise.

World’s friendliest cities according to Conde Nast Traveler

11. Budapest, Hungary

9 (tie). Seville, Spain

9 (tie). Savannah, Georgia

8. Cape Town, South Africa

7. Siem Reap, Cambodia

5 (tie). Sydney

5 (tie). Dublin, Ireland

4. Charleston, South Carolina

3. Victoria, BC, Canada

1 (tie). Melbourne

1 (tie). Auckland, New Zealand

 

Message for International Youth Day. UN The Secretary-General

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A new publication from the United Nations shows that 20 per cent of the world’s young people experience a mental health condition each year.  The risks are especially great as they transition from childhood to adulthood.  Stigma and shame often compound the problem, preventing them from seeking the support they need.  For this year’s observance of International Youth Day, the United Nations wants to help lift the veil that keeps young people locked in a chamber of isolation and silence.

The barriers can be overwhelming, particularly in countries where the issue of mental health is ignored and there is a lack of investment in mental health services.  Too often, owing to neglect and irrational fear, persons with mental health conditions are marginalized not only from having a role in the design and implementation of development policies and programmes but even from basic care.  This leaves them more vulnerable to poverty, violence and social exclusion, and has a negative impact on society as a whole.

Young people who are already considered vulnerable, such as homeless youth, those involved in the juvenile justice system, orphaned youth and those having experienced conflict situations, are often more susceptible to stigma and other barriers, leaving them even more adrift when they are most in need of support.  Let us remember that with understanding and assistance, these young people can flourish, making valuable contributions to our collective future.

We have just about 500 days to reach the Millennium Development Goals.  We must support all young people, especially those who are vulnerable, to succeed in this historic campaign.

Wide-ranging efforts at all levels are needed to raise awareness about the importance of investing in and supporting young people with mental health conditions.  Increased education is crucial in reducing stigma and in changing how we talk about and perceive mental health.

 

Mental health is how we feel; it is our emotions and well-being.  We all need to take care of our mental health so that we lead satisfying lives.  Let us begin to talk about our mental-health in the same way we talk about our overall health.

As we mark International Youth Day 2014, let us enable youth with mental health conditions to realize their full potential, and let us show that mental health matters to us all.

 

 

Letter to the European diplomatic missions to Armenia

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Representation of the Council of Europe

Mr. Oleksandr Pavlyuk, Head of Representation

 

Delegation of the European Union to Armenia

H.E. Mr. Traian Hristea, Ambassador, Head of Delegation

 

Embassy of the French Republic

H.E. Mr. Henri Reynaud, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary

 

Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany

H.E. Mr. Reiner Morell, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary

 

Embassy of the Hellenic Republic

H.E. Mr. Ioannis Taghis, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary

 

Embassy of the Italian Republic

H.E. Mr. Giovanni Ricciulli, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary

 

Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania

H.E. Mr. Erikas Petrikas, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary

 

Embassy of the Republic of Poland

H.E. Mr. Zdzislaw Raczynski, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary

 

Embassy of Romania

H.E. Mr. Sorin Vasile, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary

 

Embassy of the Kingdom of Sweden

H.E. Mrs. Diana Janse, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary

 

Embassy of Switzerland

H.E. Mr. Lukas Gasser, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary

 

Embassy of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

H.E. Mrs. Katherine Jane Leach, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary

 

Mr. Timothy David Straight

Honorary Consul of the Kingdom of Norway, Honorary Consul of Finland

 

Copy: media

 

17.06.2014

Your Excellencies,

 

On behalf of “SOS Afrikyan Club Building” civic initiative we would like to draw your attention to the attempt by the Armenian Government of breaking the Convention for the Protection of the Architectural Heritage of Europe (Granada, 3.10.1985), ratified by the National Assembly of Armenia on 21.10.2008. According to Article 5 of the Convention, “Each Party undertakes to prohibit the removal, in whole or in part, of any protected monument, except where the material safeguarding of such monuments makes removal imperative. In these circumstances the competent authority shall take the necessary precautions for its dismantling, transfer and reinstatement at a suitable location.”

 

The Afrikyan Club Building is a unique late 19th-20th century structure listed among architectural heritage of national importance. According to N1616-N decision of the RA Government dated 7.10.2004, the Club building was subject to replacement. This decision, however, has lost its power after the ratification of the above mentioned Convention guided by Article 6 of the Armenian Constitution.

 

We are deeply concerned by the fact that since 2011 the Government of Armenia, particularly the Ministry of Culture, has been ignoring our pledges to act in line with its international commitments, therefore to annulate its decision about replacement of the monument and undertake the protection and conservation of the sight. Particularly, starting from June 9, 2014 the contractor agency started to dismantle the building.  Thanks to the efforts of a few dozens of citizens, professionals and media it has been possible to abort the dismantling attempts so far. However, at any moment the dismantling may be re-launched. We are working in various layers: legal processes, awareness raising and public mobilization, all-day-long presence at the sight by shift, and other actions.

 

“SOS Afrikyan Club Building” civic initiative involves activists, professionals, media and NGOs which have been actively engaged in series of civic movements on cultural, environmental, public space and human rights causes, such as Mashtots Park civic struggle, Save Open-Air Hall of Moscow Cinema, Save Teghut civic initiative, Public Transport movement, and more.

 

We urge you to act as guarantors of the respective European Convention, to closely monitor the situation and react accordingly. This could involve supporting statements and media interventions, negotiations, public political pressure, etc.

 

Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to your reaction at your earliest convenience.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

“SOS Afrikyan Club Building” civic initiative

 

 

 

Britney Spears Sued for Allegedly Breaking a Dancer’s Nose During Rehearsal

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Britney Spears is at the center of a lawsuit. A female dancer named Dawn Noel is suing the singer for allegedly hitting her in the face during a rehearsal for “Work B**ch!” music video. The dancer says she suffered a nasal bone fracture that required surgery.

Britney showed up “in a disheveled and confused state,” the plaintiff says in the suit, “although the choreography involving Britney Spears was fairly basic, she was having difficulty learning the moves, performing dance steps and following simple directions.”

The pop star “twirled in an unbalanced and reckless manner, arms extended out to her sides and forcefully backhanded” Noel in the face. “A cracking sound” was heard in the studio, and the dancer “felt immediate intense pain and grabbed her nose.”

The plaintiff says they continued rehearsing the dance routine, but she was unable to bear the pain any longer and stopped working an hour later to seek medical help. The star’s camp offered to cover her medical bills, but the dancer received no money so far.

The dancer is suing Britney for serious physical and emotional damages including disfigurement to her nose as well as severe emotional distress and anxiety.

 

 Անկախ

Anne Hathaway Wax Figure Unveiled by Madame Tussauds

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Էնն Հեթեուեյի մոմե արձանը տեղադրվել է Մադամ Թյուսոյի թանգարանում

A wax figure which is modeled after Anne Hathaway has been unveiled by Madame Tussauds. The ceremony took place on Thursday, February 27 at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. The life-like figure reportedly was made by 20 artists and they needed three months to finish the work, which was made with a $300,000 budget.

The art work, especially the smile, looks similar to the real person. The wax figure is styled wearing an elegant-looking black dress. It has long hair which is pinned back. The wax statue also wears sparkling jewelry and holds a matching clutch.

Hathaway is expected to attend the 86th Annual Academy Awards which will take place on March 2 at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center.

 

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Tigran Sargsyan Sums Up Outcome Of Meeting With Russian Counterpart

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Following his meeting with Russian Premier Dmitry Medvedev, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan introduced some details to the news reporters. In particular, he advised that the status of Armenia’s Customs Union and Common Economic Space joining roadmap activities had been discussed during the meeting.

“We traced back the actions implemented by the Armenian side. The Russian side hailed the activities of our working groups. We also discussed how Russia might help us implement the roadmap more effectively, since we need grant funds to develop appropriate infrastructure, to build up a single database and unified networks. We look forward to being assisted by our partners in these matters,” the Prime Minister said.

According to Tigran Sargsyan, per-sector estimates have been made as to the resources needed to improve infrastructure. The finalized figures will be made public upon completion of the talks. Another key topic was Rosneft’s investment projects in Armenia.

“We took note of Rosneft President Igor Sechin’s report on the activities already completed and the actions planned. USD500mn-worth investment is scheduled under Rosneft’s Armenia project. We are going to have a substantial discussion next week to see what conditions should be provided to expedite the process. Of course, the program features Nairit chemical plant, because the workers currently employed will make up the kernel of the new plant’s staff,” the Prime Minister advised.
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Pitbull and Jennifer Lopez Join Forces for FIFA World Cup Theme Song

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Pitbull has teamed up with Jennifer Lopez for “We Are One (Ole Ola)”, which will be the theme song of his year’s FIFA World Cup Brazil. For the project, Mr. Worldwide will also be working with Brazilian singer and the coach of “The Voice Brasil” Claudia Leitte.

The news was announced on Thursday, January 23 at the Maracana football stadium.

The new single, written and produced by Pitbull, will be debuted later this year ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. It will also be featured in “Official 2014 FIFA World Cup Album” which will arrive via Sony Music Entertainment. A music video for the song is currently in the works.

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The hermit who suddenly decided she was a people person after all: Woman who has lived alone for 26 years in Siberia appeals for someone to live with her… because she’s lonely

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A woman who has lived alone for 26 years in Siberia is appealing for someone to live with her because she is lonely.

Agafya Lykova, who is now nearly 70, is the sole survivor of the Lykov family who decided to cut themselves off from civilisation in 1936.

But she has wrote to a Siberian newspaper begging for another Christian to come and live with her at her home which is hundreds of miles from its nearest town.

Her parents decided to cut themselves off from civilisation in 1936 to escape persecution faced under Stalin.

However, officials visit Agafya every year to check she is okay.

According to The Siberian Times she was born in either 1944 or 1945 and it was not until 1978 that their hermit huts were spotted from the air in the Sayan Mountains by a party of Soviet geologists.

Her father was Karp Lykov who led the family into the wilderness. His sons were Savvin, 45, and Dmitry, 36, and daughters Natalya, 42, and Agafya, who was 34 when they were found. The children’s mother Akulina had died in 1961.

Her siblings died in the 1980s and Agafya’s only companions is now two nanny goats, a male goat, eight cats, a rooster, hens and a dog called Taiga.

 

 

Toyota World’s Top Selling Car Maker for 2nd Year

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Toyota remained the top-selling automaker for a second year in a row, beating U.S. rival General Motors by some 270,000 vehicles in 2013, and set an ambitious target to sell more than 10 million vehicles this year.

Toyota Motor Corp. said Thursday it sold a record 9.98 million vehicles worldwide last year, up 2 percent from the previous year.

Toyota also outlined plans to sell 10.32 million vehicles and produce 10.43 million vehicles in 2014.

General Motors Co. sold 9.71 million cars and trucks worldwide last year, outselling Volkswagen AG of Germany at 9.5 million.

Toyota recaptured the global sales crown in 2012 from GM, which had been the top-selling carmaker for more than seven decades until being surpassed by Toyota in 2008.

Chinese pensioner suffers third-degree burns after static electricity from clothes he was putting on causes gas explosion felt 300 yards away

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Chinese man

 

A Chinese man was badly burned after static electricity from his clothes ignited fumes from a gas leak at his home as he dressed.

Wen Chung suffered second and third degrees to his face, neck and hands in an explosion at his home in Jiangdu, in eastern China, that his nephew said could be felt 300 metres away.

The 78-year-old is being treated for injuries at the Northern Jiangsu People’s Hospital that his relatives say were partly caused during his attempts to put the fire out.

The initial explosion burnt his face, then Mr Chung sustained further injuries to his hands as he desperately tried to stop the flames spreading.
Mr Chung’s nephew told The Global Times: ‘The power of the explosion was very strong. You could feel the blast within a 300-meter radius.

 

Safety officials believe that static electricity from Mr Chung’s clothes ignited fumes that had been leaking from a faulty pipe.

 

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The father, son and the Harley ghost: Pope proves he’s no Hells Angel by selling his Harley Davidson to give proceeds to the poor

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Pope Francis is selling one of his two Harley Davidson motobikes in order to raise money for charity.

The 1,585cc Harley-Davidson Dyna Super Glide was given to the Pope in June 2013 along with another bike to mark the 110th anniversary of the motorcycle brand.

The hog, which has been signed on the tank by the Pope, is to be auctioned off by Bonhams auction house in Paris, France in February and will raise money for Caritas Roma, a charity which works on behalf of the Roman Catholic church.

The charity hope to use any money to renovate a soup kitchen in Rome which offers food and shelter to more than 1,000 people.

It is not the first time that a papal vehicle has been sold in order to raise money.

In 2005 a Volkswagen Golf which belonged to Pope Benedict was sold anonymously on eBay to German man.

 

Obama LEAVES Michelle in Hawaii as 50th ‘birthday present’ while he returns from two-week vacation with Sasha and Malia

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Michelle Obama doesn’t want jewelry or chocolates for her 50th birthday later this month. She wants to be alone.

President Barack Obama returned to Washington Saturday after two weeks of vacationing with his family in Hawaii. He left with daughters Sasha and Malia. Michelle stayed behind.

‘As part of her birthday gift from the president, the first lady will remain in Hawaii to spend time with friends ahead of her upcoming 50th birthday,’ the White House explained in a statement.

 

բարաք օբամա

The First Lady turns the big 5 – 0 on January 17.

The White House did not say how much longer Michelle would stay in Hawaii or when she would rejoin her family in Washington.

 

 Անկախ

Zvartnots Airport Development Project Approved

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Chaired by the Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, the Government held this year’s final session.

The Government approved the concessionaire-drafted Master Plan of Zvartnots airport development project for 2013-2017 in line with the arrangement signed between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and Corporation America S. A. on December 18, 2001.

“The concessionaire is believed to invest USD102mn in the project, which is recognized as the best in the CIS. The investment will on the one hand help enhance the quality of services and, on the other hand, develop tourism. This is a priority for us.”

The Executive approved the “Tourism Support Services 2014” program and its implementation schedule. The program seeks to enhance Armenia’s standing as a tourist-friendly and attractive country through active and effective marketing policies in the international market, diversify tourism products and ensure harmonious regional development.

Answering the Prime Minister’s questions, the speakers noted that tourism has already been promoted with the government’s open skies policies, which led to partly devaluation of the airfare. In this connection, the Prime Minister said that serious changes are expected in 2014, with the appearance of new airlines whose flights may create better conditions for the development of inbound tourism in Armenia.

The Government amended an earlier decree to establish that the basic pension will be AMD 14 thousand, with 700 dram seniority value added for the first 10 years of employment and 450 dram for each following year. Thus, the average pension will be 36 thousand dram in 2014 as compared to about 31 thousand in 2013.

An increase is also due in the disability and perished breadwinner’s retirement pensions paid to rank and file soldiers and their family members (from 16.400 to around 17.500). The scheduled rise in military pensions will be effective from July 1, 2014.

With its next decision, the government set the size of the old-age allowance at AMD14 thousand. Disability benefits will range from 14 thousand (third group) to 19 600 drams (first group). Funeral allowance will be paid to the extent of AMD 200 thousand as of January 1, 2014.

The meeting also amended another decision to lower the threshold set for family allowances. As a result, the scope of beneficiaries will be expanded by some 270 thousand people entitled to free health care.

In conclusion, the Prime Minister extended his New Year’s greetings: “I wish you all every success so that all the projects and goals that you have set before you may come true as they are aimed at improving the socio-economic situation, better our citizens’ life and raise the standard of living in the country.”