STATE DEPARTMENT CALLS ON ALL SIDES IN SYRIA TO PROTECT CIVILIANS

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save_aleppo—  Letter to ANCA Outlines U.S. Humanitarian Response to Syria Conflict
WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of State, in response to concerns raised by the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) and a broad cross-section of Armenian American civic and church leaders, has stressed the urgency of ongoing U.S. diplomatic initiatives to remind all sides in Syria of their obligations under international law to protect civilians and to allow humanitarian organizations safe access to all people in need.
The Department’s letter comes following a July 17th U.S. government briefing on Syria humanitarian assistance efforts hosted by the State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for representatives of Armenian American civic, church, and charitable organizations from across the United States.  The letter to the ANCA underscores the importance that the United States attaches to ensuring regular medical and humanitarian access to Aleppo, and notes the life-saving U.S. contributions to meeting basic needs for those in host countries, including Armenia and Lebanon.
The full array of urgent humanitarian issues of concern to Armenian Americans has consistently been raised by community leaders, including:
1) Ensuring the balanced and needs-based distribution of U.S. humanitarian aid to all areas of Syria, including those like Aleppo with large Armenian and other Christian populations;
2) Preventing humanitarian blockades of civilian populations, such as those creating crises in Aleppo;
3) Providing additional assistance to the Armenian government and NGO’s supporting and helping to settle Syrians who have fled to Armenia, and
4) Assisting the Armenian Church and charitable groups in Lebanon as they support the very considerable humanitarian needs of refugees from Syria.
In his August 5th letter to the ANCA, State Department Director of the Office of Europe, Central Asia and Americas, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration for John Underriner referenced community concerns about getting vital humanitarian aid to the affected communities in Syria and the devastating effects of a recent blockade of assistance to Aleppo.  “We recognize the critical need to ensure regular medical and humanitarian access to those who remain in Aleppo and for all displaced and conflict-affected people in Syria,” noted Underriner. “Humanitarian workers are risking their lives to provide life-saving assistance to those suffering and have worked tirelessly with contacts on all of the conflict to attempt to negotiate humanitarian pauses to allow aid delivery. We have reminded all sides to the conflict of their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect civilians, and urge them to allow humanitarian organizations safe access to all people in need.”
The full text of Underriner’s letter is provided below. Since issuing the letter, President Obama announced an additional $185 million in assistance to those affected by the Syrian crisis, bringing to $1 billion the total U.S. assistance commitment to date.
The Armenian American community, along with Armenian communities around the world, has undertaken far-reaching and life-saving humanitarian efforts, through the Armenian Apostolic, Catholic, and Evangelical churches, Syrian Armenian Relief Fund, Armenian Relief Society, Armenian General Benevolent Union and other avenues. The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) has undertaken a grassroots effort to educate Congressional legislators about the plight of Armenians and other affected minorities in Syria and urged Congress to provide relief and resettlement support for at-risk Armenians and other Christian populations in Syria and throughout the Middle East as part of the FY 2014 foreign aid bill.
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Text of State Department Letter to ANCA Regarding U.S. Humanitarian Assistance to those Affected by the Syrian Crisis

 

Obama Cancels Summit With Putin After Russia Grants Asylum to Snowden

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barack_obama_putinPresident Obama will not travel to Moscow next month to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the White House announced today, citing Russia’s “disappointing decision” to grant asylum to National Security Agency-leaker Edward Snowden and a lack of progress in the U.S.-Russian bilateral agenda.

“Even though we don’t have an extradition treaty with them, traditionally, we have tried to respect if there’s a law breaker or alleged law breaker in their country. We evaluate it, and we try to work with them,” Obama told Jay Leno on NBC’s “The Tonight Show” Tuesday. “They didn’t do that with us, and in some ways it’s reflective of some underlying challenges that we’ve had with Russia lately.

The president will still travel to St. Petersburg on Sept. 5-6 to attend the G-20 Summit.

Shortly after announcing it was canceling the Moscow visit, the White House announced that the president would instead travel to Stockholm before going to Russia.

 

Not in Turkey’s interest to Provoke Border Clash with Armenia

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Harut SassounianBy Harut Sassounian

Publisher, The California Courier

 

A deadly incident with potentially serious consequences took place on the Armenian-Turkish border in the night of July 31.

 

Armenian and Turkish sources have provided conflicting versions of this event. They agree, however, that a Turkish shepherd was shot dead after crossing into Armenian territory.

 

Kars Governor Eyup Tepe claimed that without warning “Armenian soldiers” opened fire on 35-year-old Mustafa Ulker, as he was trying to retrieve his “sheep” from the Armenian side. The Turkish Governor accused Armenians of using “excessive force,” alleging that “the shepherd did not have a gun in his hand.” Another local Turkish official, Osman Ugurlu, identified the intruder as a Turkish citizen of Azeri origin who was armed only with a knife and was shot in the back.

 

In a diplomatic note of protest delivered to Armenia, the Turkish Foreign Ministry stated: “We strongly condemn the shooting of an innocent citizen for a simple border infringement apparently made very innocently. There is no valid explanation for the disproportionate use of Armenian force in such an ordinary event.” In a separate public statement, Ankara called on Armenia to show “good sense” in its relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan, warning Yerevan of the dire consequences of wrong moves that could endanger regional stability and peace.

 

Armenia disputed the Turkish version of events, stating that two Turkish young men had crossed the border at 3 a.m., to steal sheep. When Russian soldiers guarding the Armenian frontier ordered the intruders to go back, the Turks mocked them and refused to retreat. The border guards then fired two warning shots in the air at which point one of the Turks opened fire on them. The Russian troops responded, killing one Turkish intruder, according to the Armenian Border Department of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation.

 

Turkish sources have repeatedly stressed that the shepherd was shot by Armenians, despite Ankara’s awareness that Russian troops are the ones guarding Armenia’s borders with Turkey and Iran, in line with the Moscow-Yerevan agreement of 1992. Instead of blaming the Russians, the Turkish government insists on holding Armenia responsible for the shepherd’s killing, turning it into an Armenian-Turkish incident rather than a Russian-Turkish quarrel.

 

The Armenian Foreign Ministry issued a restrained statement, expressing regret for the loss of life and hoping that such incidents will not recur in the future. It is clear that Yerevan does not wish to inflame tempers and trigger a more serious incident with unintended consequences.

 

It is understandable that Turkish leaders would want to exaggerate the significance of this relatively minor border incident in order to distract attention away from Turkey’s multitude of domestic and foreign troubles, in particular:

 

·  On-going mass protests in Turkey, challenging Prime Minister Erdogan’s despotic rule.

 

·  Arresting 3,000 demonstrators, injuring 8,000, and killing five others as a result of the “disproportionate use of force” by Turkish police.

 

·  Announcements placed in major American, British, and German newspapers, denouncing Erdogan’s “Nazi-like” actions. The Turkish Prime Minister’s threatened lawsuit against The (London) Times for publishing a full-page paid letter, signed by dozens of prominent Western intellectuals and artists, would more widely expose his intimidating tactics.

 

·  Letter addressed to Turkey’s President Abdullah Gul by 46 Members of the US House of Representatives, asking him to condemn the recent anti-Semitic statements of Turkish leaders, including Erdogan, who had referred to Zionism as a “crime against humanity” and blamed the recent Gezi Park protests on Jewish instigators.

 

·  Serious internal feuds with Kurdish groups, opposition political parties, and high-ranking imprisoned military leaders.

 

·  Repeated military intrusions into Iraqi Kurdistan.

 

·  Strained relations with Egypt’s new rulers after the overthrow of Pres. Mohamed Morsi, Erdogan’s fellow Islamist.

 

·  Frictions with Cyprus, Greece, Iran, Iraq, and Israel, and hostilities with Syria.

 

·  The bombing of the Turkish Embassy in Somalia last month by an al-Qaeda-linked group.

 

With all these problems swirling in and around Turkey, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu’s announced policy of “zero problems with neighbors” has turned into “zero neighbors without problems.”

 

At a time when Armenians are planning worldwide commemorations of the Genocide Centennial, Turkey can ill afford to add to its host of troubles a border clash with Armenia, which would only serve to publicize Turkey’s long list of past and present crimes!

Oops! American tourist accidentally snaps finger off 600-year-old marble statue in Florence museum

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An American tourist broke the pinky finger off a 600-year-old marble statue at a Florentine museumAn American tourist has caused outrage in Florence, Italy, after accidentally snapping a finger off a priceless 600-year-old statue of the Virgin Mary at a museum.

The unnamed tourist, a 55-year-old from New Fairfield, Connecticut, was attempting to comparing his finger to that on a marble sculpture at the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo (Museum of the Works of the Cathedral) when the digit broke off.

A security guard spotted the tourist and tried to stop him, but it was too late.

The American, originally from Missouri and who was on holiday with his wife and another couple at the time of the mishap, was mortified and apologized profusely, fearing prosecution and a massive fine for damaging the historic piece of work.

The sculpture was created in the 14th or 15th century by Florentine Giovanni d’Ambrogio.

Timothy Verdon, an American who is the head of the Diocesan Office of Sacred Art and Church Cultural Heritage and the Cathedral Foundation Museum in Florence, condemned his countryman’s behavior.

He said the damaged finger was not an original, but was actually recast later.

He said he is not sure how much the repair would cost – or whether it was even possible.

‘In a globalized world like ours, the fundamental rules for visiting a museum have been forgotten, that is, “Do not touch the works,”‘ he fumed.

Today, a spokesman for the museum told MailOnline that luckily the highly embarrassed tourist will not be fined or face criminal action, as the museum has a permanent team of restorers on its books – and the statue has been broken three times in the past already.

 

Lady Gaga, Madonna Facing Punishment in Russia

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gty_gty_gaga_madonna_kb_130804_16x9_608Pop stars Lady Gaga and Madonna are facing punishment in Russia after authorities determined they violated their visas when they held concerts there last year.

Technically, the artists were not allowed to work in Russia on their tourist visas, but experts say it appears the visa warning is a veiled attempt punish the pop stars for their vocal support of gay rights in Russia.

The investigation into their visas came at the urging of a lawmaker who has spearheaded Russia’s anti-gay campaign.

During concerts in St. Petersburg last year, both Lady Gaga and Madonna denounced the city’s harsh anti-gay law from the stage.

“Tonight, this is my house Russia. You can be gay in my house,” Lady Gaga said during her performance in December.

A few months earlier, Madonna made similar comments during her concert.

“Gay people here and all around the world have the same rights,” she said.

Those comments have landed the pop stars in hot water in Russia. The two have been accused of spreading what the law calls “gay propaganda” under St. Petersburg’s anti-gay law.

Russia hasn’t announced any plans to prosecute the pop stars, but if convicted they could face steep fines or even be banned from entering the country.

So far there has been no response yet from either Lady Gaga or Madonna.

 

The Eiffel Tower’s new rival: Gothic tower in the heart of Paris opens to the public for the first time in 500 years

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Tour Saint Jacques in ParisIt has stood in the heart of Paris for more than 500 years – yet very few people will have heard of the Gothic Tour Saint Jacques.

But that is all about to change after the 170-ft high structure built in the 1500s has been opened to the public for the entire summer for the first time.

The 62-metre (203-foot) stone tower offers visitors stunning bird’s eye views from the heart of Paris – provided they have the energy to walk up its 300-step spiral staircase and pay the €6 euro entrance fee.

Adorned with gargoyles and topped by a 3.5-metre statue of St James the Apostle, the tower is all that remains of the medieval church of Saint-Jacques-de-la-Boucherie, pillaged and destroyed by French revolutionaries in the late 18th century.

The bell tower – which will be open until September 15 – was spared for its beauty and possibly to be used as a watchtower to spot the capital’s frequent and deadly fires, curators say.

In the early 19th century, the bells were removed and Tour Saint Jacques became a smoke-spewing ‘shot tower’, or ammunition plant.

Molten lead passed through a sieve and dropped from the top of the tower to land in a tub of water in the shape of a bullet. Later, it hosted a meteorological station until the 1990s.

The Tour Saint Jacques underwent a meticulous €8.3-million restoration between 2000 to 2009, during which time it was shrouded by scaffolding and decades of pollution were scrubbed from each of its stones.

The city of Paris granted a local association an exceptional permit to organize summertime visits until September 15.

‘We would like it to be open for a longer period each year,’ said Remi Riviere, head of the association. ‘If we get a lot of visitors this summer and nobody jumps from the terrace then hopefully the city will give us the green light.’

Russian lawmaker admits any gay athletes or spectators at the 2014 Winter Olympics will be arrested for ‘promoting homosexuality’

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The Russian parliament issued a ban on spreading gay 'propaganda'Openly gay athletes and supporters at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games may face arrest, according to a Russian lawmaker.

Politician Vitaly Milonov said the terms of the law could not be suspended or selectively enforced during the Olympic Games.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) previously claimed Russia had assured the safety of athletes and supporters.

The IOC told the Windy City Times earlier this month: ‘The International Olympic Committee is clear that sport is a human right and should be available to all regardless of race, sex or sexual orientation.

The Games themselves should be open to all, free of discrimination, and that applies to spectators, officials, media and of course athletes.

‘We would oppose in the strongest terms any move that would jeopardise this principle.’

The controversial ‘gay propaganda’ law bans displays of ‘non-traditional sexual behaviour’ in public or in front of under-18s.

The law allows the government to detain homosexual or sympathetic foreigners for up to 14 days.

They could then face expulsion from the country.

 

Did Galaxy S4 start fire which devastated Hong Kong flat? Owner claims battery burst into flames which made him throw phone onto the sofa

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Samsung Galaxy S4A fire which destroyed a Hong Kong flat started when a Samsung Galaxy S4 burst into flames, the owner has claimed.

The man, known only as Du, says he was playing the game Love Machine when he heard a loud pop from the phone’s battery.

He said he was so startled by the noise he instinctively threw the phone onto a sofa which promptly caught fire.

The flames gutted his apartment, but he and his wife were able to escape.

There have been a number of reports over the last year of Samsung Galaxy phones catching fire, although some have been linked to unofficial products.

According to the Huffington Post, Mr Du told Chinese website Xianguo.com that his phone, charger and battery were all authentic Samsung versions.

Samsung Hong Kong said it is looking into the matter.

Earlier this month, a Swiss teenager suffered serious burns when her Samsung Galaxy S3 apparently exploded in her pocket.

Last year, an Irish Samsung S3 owner claimed his handset burst into flames as he was driving his car.

 

Thousands of Bees Attack Texas Couple

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Killer-beeA swarm of about 30,000 bees has attacked a North Texas couple as they exercised their miniature horses, stinging the animals so many times they died.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports (http://bit.ly/12RiVMA) 44-year-old Kristen Beauregard was stung about 200 times and her boyfriend about 50 times.

Beauregard says the swarm chased them down and followed them. She says they were sweeping up piles of bees “like a bad movie.”

She says firefighters sprayed a foam substance to clear the bees, and dragged the horses to a pasture to be treated by police and paramedics.

A 6-year-old show horse died before a veterinarian arrived. A Shetland pony spent a night at a veterinary clinic but also died.

The bees are being tested to see whether they are Africanized or “killer” bees.

 

77 dead after train derails, splits apart in Spain

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130724171530-01-spain-train---restricted-horizontal-galleryMadrid (CNN) — An express train derailed as it hurtled around a curve in northwestern Spain on Wednesday, killing at least 77 people and injuring more than 100, officials said.

At least 73 people died at the scene, and four others died while hospitalized, said María Pardo Ríos, spokeswoman for the Galicia regional supreme court. In Spain, judges typically record deaths that take place outside of hospitals.

Judicial teams are still at the crash site and expect to find more bodies, she told CNN Thursday morning. There is no word yet on the nationalities of those killed.

More than 20 injured victims remained in critical condition early Thursday, said Agustin Hernandez Fernandez of the Galicia infrastructure ministry.

Flames burst out of one train car as another car was snapped in half, following the crash. Rescue crews and fellow passengers pulled out bodies through broken windows and pried open doors as stunned survivors looked on.

 

The state railway, Renfe, said the train crashed on a curve several kilometers from the train station in the city of Santiago de Compostela.

The train had 218 passengers aboard and was nearing the end of a six-hour trip from Madrid to the town of Ferrol in northwest Spain when it derailed at 8:41 p.m., Wednesday, the railway said.

It was unclear how fast the train was traveling when it crashed. It was capable of going up to 250 kilometers per hour (155 mph), said Julio Hermida, spokesman for the state railway.

The train driver, who suffered minor injuries, told police he had entered the bend too fast, Spain’s public service TV network TVE reported.

Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy viewed the scene of devastation Thursday morning. He is also expected to visit the injured in hospital, TVE said.

Rajoy, who is from the area, expressed his condolences to those affected by the accident via Twitter.

Alberto Nunez Feijoo, head of the regional government in Galicia, declared seven days of mourning for victims of the train tragedy, TVE reported.

A passenger who got off at the last stop before the train derailed told the broadcaster it was packed with people at the time.

Residents who lived near the tracks told the Voz de Galicia newspaper that they heard a thunderous bang when the train crashed. Many of them rushed to the area with blankets and bottled water for the injured, the newspaper reported.

“The train had broken in half. Some pieces were on top, some pieces were on the bottom,” said Ivette Rubiera Cabrera of Florida, who caught a glimpse of the wreckage while on a family vacation in Spain and sent photos to CNN’s iReport.

“It was quite shocking,” she said. “We had never seen anything like that. We had just been on the train last week.”

Oscar Mateos told Spain’s El Pais newspaper that he saw fellow passengers thrown to the floor, then tossed from one side of the train to the other.

“Help came in five minutes, but that time became an eternity,” he said. “I helped people get out with broken legs and many bruises.”

Alen Perez, 16, said he had been walking nearby and saw passengers helping each other out of the train.

© SRTM V4, 2012, CIAT Terms of Use

Emergency vehicles swarmed the scene. There were several bodies on the ground, he said.

Photos he took of the crash site showed mangled pieces of a train car and black smoke billowing out of the wreckage.

Investigators are looking at all possible causes of the crash, a senior aide to the prime minister said Wednesday. Their initial assessment indicates it probably wasn’t an act of terrorism.

Are you there and safe? Tell us what’s happening

Renfe’s spokesman said he did not know how many crew members were aboard the train when it crashed. Normally there would be at least five crew members on a train like that, he said.

Firefighters, police and psychologists were at the scene, the Galicia government said in a statement. In Twitter posts, officials said blood donations were needed as a result of the crash.

Spain’s train infrastructure authority said it was investigating.

The crash occurred shortly before a large annual celebration was set to start in Santiago de Compostela, a popular tourist destination. Local officials canceled festivities planned for Wednesday night and Thursday.

UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said his thoughts were with the victims and their families. One British citizen was injured in the accident, he said.

U.S. HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE URGES AID TO SYRIA REFUGEES

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kirk_anca_072313
— Draft Report Silent on Specific Aid Levels to Caucasus Countries
WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. House Subcommittee responsible for drafting the Fiscal Year 2014 (FY14) foreign aid bill has prioritized humanitarian assistance for populations affected by the Syria conflict, but, for the first time in over two decades, the draft report accompanying the measure failed to cite specific dollar levels for aid to any of the Caucasus countries, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
The ANCA reported last week that the House Foreign Operations Subcommittee has proposed sharp, overall reductions in foreign aid spending for FY14, cutting nearly 20% from both last year’s figures and the Obama Administration’s budget request.  This year’s proposed legislation was largely quiet on specific country allocations across the globe. The Subcommittee’s version of this measure will be considered by the full House Appropriation Committee on Wednesday, July 24th, when individual Members will have an opportunity to seek changes and clarifications regarding the bill’s assistance priorities and levels.   The date for full House consideration of the measure has not yet been set.
Plight of Christians and Minorities in Middle East Spotlighted
In the draft report accompanying the Subcommittee’s version of the foreign aid bill, made public earlier today, appropriators devoted considerable attention to the humanitarian crisis in the Middle East, stating that the “events in the Middle East, from the Arab Spring and the conflict in Syria to the continuing transition in Iraq, have intensified the challenges facing minority communities, including Christian populations, within these areas of conflict, instability, and transition. The Committee urges the Secretary of State to continue humanitarian and resettlement assistance for members of these vulnerable communities, both inside and outside their countries of origin.”
The report specifically focuses on the Syrian crisis, noting that “the Committee understands that a majority of Syrian refugees live outside of formal camps, which adds considerably to the strain on the resources of countries hosting them. The Committee recognizes the urgent need to assist in the following ways: (1) help host countries expand their national systems to accommodate refugee needs, such as in the health and education sector, (2) ensure that host countries can continue to deliver basic services to their own citizens, (3) strengthen the capacity of local authorities to respond to the refugee influx, and (4) maintain refugees’ freedom of movement, right to settle in local communities, and access to economic opportunities. The Committee encourages the Department of State and USAID to, where appropriate, assist its partners and the affected host governments in the humanitarian response to the growing number of Syrians who have sought refuge in nearby countries and requested assistance.”
References to humanitarian aid efforts in the Middle East are of particular importance to the Armenian American community, which is actively engaged with the Obama Administration and the Congress regarding the plight of Armenians and other at-risk populations caught in the cross-fire of the Syrian conflict.  While the Armenian presence in Syria has a very long history, the majority of Syrian Armenians are descendants of those who found shelter, safety, and a new life in Syria after the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923. The Armenian community numbered approximately 100,000 at the start of the present conflict. Estimates today are that as many as half of the community has left Syria, some permanently, others with the hope that they will be able to return. More than 10,000 Syrian Armenians have already fled to the Republic of Armenia, and another 10,000 or more have found refuge in Lebanon.
Last week, the ANCA brought together Armenian American civic, church, and charitable organization leaders from across the United States to take part in a U.S. government briefing on Syria humanitarian assistance efforts by the State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development.  Among the Armenian American community’s publicly-stated humanitarian priorities, going into this meeting, were:
1) Ensuring the balanced and needs-based distribution of U.S. humanitarian aid to all areas of Syria, including those like Aleppo with large Armenian and other Christian populations;
2) Preventing humanitarian blockades of civilian populations, such as those creating crises in Aleppo;
3) Providing additional assistance to the Armenian government and NGO’s supporting and helping to settle Syrians who have fled to Armenia, and
4) Assisting the Armenian Church and charitable groups in Lebanon as they support the very considerable humanitarian needs of refugees from Syria.
Senate Appropriations Committee Begins its Consideration of Foreign Aid Bill
On the Senate side, the Appropriations Subcommittee on State Foreign Operations presented and approved its version of the FY2014 foreign aid bill, with specific country allocations to be made available to the public over the next several days.  Full Appropriations Committee consideration of the Senate version of the bill is set for Thursday, July 25.  ANCA Leo Sarkisian Program interns were joined by ANCA Legislative Affairs Director Raffi Karakashian at the Subcommittee “markup” of the bill earlier today.  ANCA offices, chapters, and activists have been reaching out to constituents in key Senate and House districts over the past several weeks, urging action in support of Armenian American foreign aid priorities including:
— At least $5 million in U.S. assistance to Nagorno Karabakh
— At least $50 million in U.S. assistance to Armenia
— At least 10% of U.S. assistance to Georgia to be earmarked for job creation programs in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region of that country.
— Funds for humanitarian and resettlement assistance specifically targeted to Armenian and other Christian populations as well as other minority communities affected by the recent unrest in the Middle East.
— Language strengthening Section 907 restrictions on U.S. aid to Azerbaijan.
— Removal of barriers to contact and communication with representatives of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.
— Language calling for the participation of Nagorno Karabakh leaders in the OSCE Minsk Group negotiations
The full ANCA Congressional testimony offered in support of Armenian American foreign aid priorities is available at:http://www.anca.org/press_releases/press_releases.php?prid=2244

Lady GaGa Named Highest-Earning Celebrity Under 30 by Forbes

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lady-gagaLady GaGa regains number one spot on Forbes’ list of highest-earning celebrities under 30. Despite her hip injury which forced her to cancel several gigs, the 27-year-old popstar raked in approximately $80 million between June 2012 and June 2013. GaGa was named best-paid celebrities under 30 in 2011. Other young celebrities who make it into this year’s top three are Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift.
The “Paparazzi” singer tops the list of highest-earning celebrities under 30 with $80 million in earnings. The singer would earn more if she had not scrapped the remaining gigs on “Born This Way Ball” tour because of hip injury. Forbes noted that the tour grossed $168 million through January. Her new album “ARTPOP” is coming out in November and she will cash in more following the album’s release.

Taking number two spot is 19-year-old singer Justin Bieber. The Biebs nabs the second place with approximately $58 million. The amount was earned from his “Believe” tour as well as stakes at Enflick, Tinychat and Spotify.

Taylor Swifts, who takes number three spot, cashed in approximately $55 million between June 2012 and June 2013.

Forbes’ team, which talked to agents, managers, producers, executives and others to compile the list, put world-renowned DJ and producer Calvin Harris in number four with $46 million in earnings. Rihanna takes number five spot after collecting $43 million.

Forbes’ List of Highest-Earning Celebrity Under 30:

  1. Lady GaGa, $80 million
  2. Justin Bieber, $58 million
  3. Taylor Swift, $55 million
  4. Calvin Harris, $52 million
  5. Rihanna, $46 million
  6. Katy Perry, $39 million
  7. Adele, $25 million
  8. Jennifer Lawrence, $26 million
  9. Kristen Stewart, $22 million
  10. Taylor Lautner, $22 million

 

First spectacular images emerge of planet Earth taken from Saturn… after thousands posed and looked to the heavens for NASA photo op 898MILLION-miles away

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Planet Earth can been seen as just a miniscule star from this enhanced shot of Saturn1Thousands of astronomy fans looked to the heavens and posed for a unique picture on Friday afternoon – a shot of planet Earth from Saturn.

The first photos are are just being transmitted back now – but anyone who participated in the ‘Day the Earth Smiled’ shouldn’t hope to see their face. This was, after all, a 898million-mile photo op.

The photos, some of which have been enhanced by astronomers, show Earth as a tiny dot – only a little bigger than the North Star appears in our sky – illuminating the skies beyond Saturn.

The images were taken by the Cassini spacecraft, which has been orbiting the ringed giant since its arrival in the Saturn system in 2004.

The Earth has only been pictured in images from outer space on two other occasions. The first was  in 1990, when Voyager 1 captured an image from 3.7 billion miles away. The second occasion was when Cassini took a photo in 2006 from 926 million miles away.

The raw images of Earth that arrived back home from Saturn on Saturday were raw and not easy for the average layman to decipher. The images showed both wide and narrow-angle views and different shots were taken with different color filters, additionally, Cassini moved slightly in between shots.

Guillermo Abramson, a physicist at Argentina’s BarilocheAtomicCenter, tweeted a zoomed-in shot of Earth – as seen from nearly 900million miles away.

The main purpose of the photograph is to study any changes in Saturn’s rings, after an 2006 image showed possible changes.

 

Horrifying moment small boy on trip to Indian zoo is attacked and seriously hurt by furious monkey

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macaque attacked a small boy at an Indian zoo4An irate monkey attacked a small boy during a trip to a zoo while the child’s father and a zookeeper fought to prise them apart.

The boy – named locally as Raghav – was seriously hurt at an animal centre in Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh, India.

Pictures taken by a bystander show the child pinned to the floor by the primate with blood on his hands and face.

The macaque can be seen clinging to Raghav’s back as his father ran to his rescue.

A zookeeper, alerted by the commotion, armed himself with a yellow stick and attempts to strike the monkey – delivering several blows.

Eventually the boy was separated from the clutches of the monkey, with the primate sprinting off still scowling and baring its teeth.

The boy is said to have received severe injuries, according to local reports – but his current condition is not known.

Large parts of India are plagued by monkeys who steal food, mug people and break into homes.

It has resulted in monkey-catchers being employed to help keep them in check.

 

In the result of the study of Supervisory Board’s report 6 cases sent to police

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դատախազությունIn State Interests Protection Department of Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic of Armenia the study of RA Supervisory Board’s annual report of 2012 is in process.

In the result of the study 6 cases were separated until July 17, 2013 and were sent to the General Investigation Department of RA Police adjunct to Government to proceed in the order defined by the law.

While studying RA Supervisory Board’s annual report of 2012 received from RA National Assembly and 17 current reports inserted in Board’s website additional documents were required from the Board on July 1, 2013 which have not been received yet.

Taking the public interest into consideration we inform that the following materials were sent to General Investigation Department of the Police.

-On the results of supervision over programs implemented out of proceeds of credit, grants provided to Armenia by foreign states and international credit organizations and RA state budget by RA state institution ”Centre of Educational Programs” PIU.

-On the results of supervision over the control and usage of state property, as well as the resource usage out of RA state budget and provision of budget entrances for the programs of repairing educational institutions, property and equipment procurement, secondary teaching (high schools of Ashtarak, Vagharshapat N 10, Masis N 5, Sevan after Kh. Abovyan, Vanadzor N 17, Gyumri N 42, N 45, Hrazdan N 13, Yegheghnadzor and Dilijan), computer and internet services in the framework of the program “Reforms of preliminary professional (crafts) and medium professional education and teaching” in RA Ministry of Education and Science.

-On the results of supervision over the programs implemented out of proceeds of credit, grants provided to Armenia by foreign states and international credit organizations and RA state budget by state institution ”Water Programs Implementation Unit”.

-On the results of supervision over the control and usage of state property, as well as the resource usage out of RA state budget and provision of budget entrances for the programs of reconstructing the highways of state importance, maintenance and operation of highways, services of communications regulations, usage of resources out of reserve fund of RA government in RA Ministry of Transport and Communication.

-On the results of supervision over programs implemented out of proceeds of credit, grants provided to Armenia by foreign states and international credit organizations and RA state budget by state institution ”Transport Programs Implementation Unit”.

-On the results of supervision over programs implemented out of proceeds of credit, grants provided to Armenia by foreign states and international credit organizations and RA state budget by state institution ”Reconstruction of Arpa-Sevan Tunnel Program Implementation Unit’’.
Materials are prepared in police.

Russia’s Bolshoi Theatre suffers new tragedy after violinist dies falling into orchestra pit

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Russia's Bolshoi TheatreA senior violinist at Russia’s Bolshoi Theatre has died following a freak accident when he fell from the stage into the orchestra pit.

Viktor Sedov, 65, who had performed at the world-famous theatre in Moscow for four decades, died in hospital as a result of his injuries following the fall on Tuesday.

Bolshoi spokesman Katerina Novikova said Mr Sedov, who played in the second violins, was a much-loved member of the theatre and was known for his ‘sense of humour and extraordinary erudition’.

She told the AFP news agency: ‘Viktor Sedov, who had worked almost 40 years at the Bolshoi, fell into the orchestra pit on Tuesday and died on Wednesday in hospital as a result of his injuries.’
In January this year, an artistic director at the Bolshoi nearly lost his sight when he had acid thrown in his face outside his Moscow home.

Sergei Filin, 42, suffered third-degree burns to his face and neck in the attack.

However dancers and staff at the Bolshoi later suggested that Mr Filin may have staged the attack himself.

Last week the theater’s director general Anatoly Iksanov was fired and replaced by Vladimir Urin, who previously headed Moscow’s Stanislavsky Musical Theatre.

Russian Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky said only that the 61-year old Iksanov, who led the Bolshoi for nearly 13 years, was dismissed because of a ‘difficult situation at the theatre’.

 

 

In Major Policy Shift, Armenia Demands Lands from Turkey

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Harut SassounianBy Harut Sassounian

Publisher, The California Courier

 

Ever since independence in 1991, Armenia’s leaders have been reluctant to make any concrete demands from Turkey beyond recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

 

Only in recent years, Armenian officials have begun to speak about “the elimination of the consequences of the genocide,” without specifying the ‘consequences’ and the means for their ‘elimination.’

 

Earlier this month, however, a major shift was announced in Armenia’s foreign policy vis-à-vis Turkey, when Aghvan Hovsepyan, the Prosecutor General of Armenia, called for the return of historic Armenian territories at an international conference of Armenian lawyers in Yerevan. This is the first time that a high-ranking Armenian government official has made such a public demand from Turkey.

 

In a lengthy and comprehensive speech, Hovsepyan stated that the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by various countries is simply a moral and emotional issue. Calling for a switch to “the legal field,” the Prosecutor General indicated that “to eliminate the consequences of the Armenian Genocide” Turkey must “pay compensation to heirs of the Armenian Genocide, return to the Armenian Church the miraculously still standing Armenian churches and properties in Turkey, and give back the ‘lost territories’ to the Republic of Armenia.”

 

Prosecutor General Hovsepyan insisted that unless Armenians adopt this bold approach, they will not accomplish any concrete results in the next one hundred years, just as they did not in the last one hundred years. He proposed a thorough legal review of all international agreements regulating Armenia-Turkey relations, from the Berlin Treaty of 1878 to the signed but not ratified protocols of 2009. He also declared that the region of Nakhichevan is “an inseparable part of Armenia, albeit occupied by Azerbaijan.” Hovsepyan urged the assembled lawyers from around the world to prepare the legal case for territorial demands from Azerbaijan and Turkey and present it to the Armenian government for eventual submission to the International Court of Justice (World Court).

 

Statements made by a prosecutor general usually do not carry much weight in international affairs, if it were not for the fact that several other high-ranking officials, including Pres. Serzh Sargsyan, President of the Constitutional Court Gagik Haroutyunyan, Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan, Armenia’s Minister of Justice Hrair Tovmasyan, and Minister of Justice of Artsakh (Karabagh) Ararat Tanielyan, also made remarks on restitutive justice at the lawyers’ conference. It was clear that the Prosecutor General was the designated spokesman of the Armenian government to articulate its new tougher line toward Turkey in advance of the Genocide Centennial.

 

Pres. Sargsyan, using more circumspect language than the Prosecutor General, told the lawyers’ conclave: “The international recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide, and elimination of its consequences will always remain a salient issue. As long as the Armenian State is in existence, all efforts to deny and send into oblivion this historical reality will be doomed. This greatest crime against humanity must be recognized and condemned once and for all, and first of all, by Turkey itself.”

 

In keeping with the government’s new policy orientation, Constitutional Court President Gagik Haroutyunyan announced that a special committee will be formed to prepare the legal documentation necessary for the pursuit of Armenian Genocide claims.

 

At the conclusion of the conference, the participants issued a joint statement asserting that the priority for Armenian lawyers is not proving the self-evident facts of the Genocide, but preparing a comprehensive legal document “to remedy the consequences of the Armenian Genocide.”

 

This is a welcome development in terms of arriving at a consensus between the Armenian government and the Diaspora on the objectives to be pursued for the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

 

However, in order to move beyond mere emotionally inspiring statements, the Armenian leaders must take two immediate steps:

 

1) Withdraw the Armenian government’s signature from the counter-productive Armenia-Turkey Protocols. On the eve of the Genocide Centennial, it would be inconceivable to move forward with fruitless efforts to improve relations with Turkey, while preparing to file a lawsuit for restitution.

 

2) Form a team of international law experts to begin structuring the legal case against Turkey in the World Court and/or the European Court of Human Rights.

 

While skeptics may not take seriously the recent policy pronouncements of the Armenian authorities, the Turkish Foreign Ministry has no such doubts. Last week, Ankara denounced the Armenian territorial demands, announcing angrily that “nobody can dare to claim territory from Turkey!”

 

This super-fan in Vietnam chased the Arsenal team bus for miles – and then Wenger and their big-hearted superstar players invited him on for pictures and autographs (and a much-needed rest!)

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Arsenal's Mikel Arteta poses with 'The Running Man'As Arsenal continued their Asia Tour in Hanoi, the team took some time off to visit the One Pillar Pagoda and naturally were chased by many local fans hoping to catch a rare glimpse of the Gunners in person as they ventured across Vietnam on their team bus to the historic Buddhist temple.

Many tried to dart in and out of traffic on bikes, but it was one man who caught the squad’s undivided attention as he impressively ran alongside the bus, keeping pace despite bumping into a few trees and lampposts. And the bus was soon full of chants from the Arsenal team singing: ‘Sign him up, sign him up.’ One player is heard to joke: ‘He’s fitter than Aaron Ramsey!’

Striker Olivier Giroud filmed the run on his phone before uploading it on to his Facebook page where he claimed the fan had followed the bus for 15 minutes.

So impressed were the Arsenal squad that cheers of ‘sign him up’ soon filled the bus, before the fan eventually jumped on to the back of a bike near the end of his pursuit, to cheers from the Arsenal players.

But by that point the Arsenal touring party had been won over and took time out to allow the fan they have now dubbed as ‘The Running Man’, after the Arnold Schwarzenegger film, on to the bus to get pictures with the players as well as his replica shirt signed.

Wojciech Szczesny, whop helped narrate the video on the Arsenal website, claimed how the team were impressed with the physique of the fan.

Arsenal opened up their Asia tour with a 7-0 win over the Indonesia XI and face Vietnam on Wednesday at the My Dinh National Stadium.

The north London side then travel to Japan where they will face Nagoya Grampus on July 22 and Urawa Red Diamonds four days later to complete their Asia tour.

 

Now that’s a cool idea! Coca Cola releases soda bottle made entirely out of ICE that melts as you drink it

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Coca Cola has released a bottle made entirely of ice1Coca Cola has released a new bottle made entirely of ice.

Currently only available in Colombia, the design is being marketed as eco friendly since it melts after the coke is consumed, meaning there is nothing left to throw away or recycle.

A Spanish advertisement for Botello de Hielo (bottle of ice) shows beach-goers enjoying the ice cold beverages on a hot day, and then letting their bottles melt away in the sand.

The bottles are wrapped around the middle with red rubber labels in order to prevent frozen fingers. Once the bottle disappears, the labels double as snap bracelets.

According to the soda brand’s website, the bottles have been a hit in beachy Colombia, where vendors are selling an average of 265 an hour.

What’s more, Food Beast has claimed that the bottles are unsanitary, since ice absorbs the dirt and germs from its surroundings.

And other Coke drinkers who prefer to savor the taste have shared their worry that the short-lived bottles put a time limit on drinking it up.

There are, as of yet, not plans to bring the ice bottle to the U.S. or other countries.

 

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