Monthly Archives: July 2013

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.

Mexico clashes kill 22, including police officers

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mexico-michaocan-state-storyClashes between criminals and federal police left 22 people dead in Mexico, including two officers, authorities said.

The additional 20 people killed are suspected criminals, federal police said in a statement. The fighting in Michoacan state on Tuesday also left 15 injured.

The clashes followed six planned attacks by criminals in different areas of the state, including gunbattles on blocked streets with cars, according to the federal police.

Federal officials are searching for those responsible and reinforcing security to ensure the region is safe.

 

New Royal baby ‘is another blood-sucking British monarch’ whose birth should not be celebrated, says Russian politician

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Vladimir ZhirinovskyThe Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s newborn son will ‘suck the blood’ of Russia in the mid-21st century and should therefore not be celebrated, a controversial Russian politician declared today.

Vladimir Zhirinovsky, the leader of the nationalist Liberal Democrat Party, declared ‘I don’t care about the heir’ before accusing the British monarchy of ‘destroying our state’.

The outspoken politician made his attention-grabbing comments in an interview with the state-run newspaper Rio Novosti.

Quoted in the International Business Times, he said : ‘The British monarchy… destroyed our state.  Today, our opposition activists are there, so that’s why there’s no joy.

‘That is why the birth of another British monarch, who will suck our blood somewhere in the mid-21st century, cannot bring us any kind of happiness.’

However Russian’s official response was more positive, with the Kremlin congratulating the Queen and welcoming her new great-grandson.

The British and Russian royal families are linked via King George V, who was first cousin of Tsar Nicholas II, whom some blame for the downfall of the Romanov dynasty in 1917.

 

Defense MG Hayk Kotanjian presented Children’s Bible to the newborn Prince of Cambridge with the following inscription

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3On July 24, the British Ambassador to Armenia Catherine Leach visited the Institute for National Strategic Studies of the MOD, RA. The Head of the Institute for National Strategic Studies of the MOD, RA, Advisor of the Defense Minister, Major General, Doctor of Political Science Hayk Kontanjian hosted the Ambassador. Research fellows of the Institute for National Strategic Studies of the MOD, RA, as well as the Executive Director of the Political Science Association of Armenia Beniamin Poghosyan also participated in the meeting. Doctor Kotanjian presented the priorities of the Institute, as well as its transformation project toward the National Defense (Research) University.

The Executive Director of the Political Science Association of Armenia Beniamin Poghosyan briefly presented the plans of the Association in the context of developing political science in Armenia.

Taking into account the fact, that the British Embassy on the occasion of the birth of the Prince of Cambridge announced the gift receiving week, on behalf of the Ministry of Defense MG Hayk Kotanjian presented Children’s Bible illustrated by the children of the Armenian Children’s center for the aesthetic education to the newborn Prince of Cambridge with the following inscription:

“To: THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES THE DUKE AND THE DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE

Please accept our heartfelt congratulations, best wishes and this unique Bible for children on the occasion of the birth of the Prince of Cambridge! The Bible’s illustrations were made by Armenian children from the Center for Aesthetic Education in Yerevan, which was established and led by my friend and renowned art guru Henrikh Igityan for many years; it carries an exceptional message of love and peace.

Let this Holy Bible crafted by the talented Armenian children keep a healthy and happy long life of the newborn Prince of Cambridge to the Glory of the Crown of Great Britain and her Great British People”.

MG, Dr. Hayk Kotanjian, Head, Institute for National Strategic Studies, MOD – on behalf of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia.

 

Selling their skin: Japanese women paid to put adverts on their THIGHS to catch the attention of men

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Girls in Tokyo are renting out their thighs as advertising space3An advertising agency has hit upon a unique way of catching the attention of people living in ad-saturated Tokyo – use women’s thighs as a living billboard.

Consumers in the Japanese megalopolis are notoriously hard to reach because of the sheer abundance of billboards, neon signs and huge TV screens pumping out commercials, so the WIT agency decided to put ads on a place men are happy to pay attention to.

And it’s proving popular – so far more than 3,000 women have signed up to the scheme, which uses temporary tattoos of products or company logos.

One of them is Miho Matsumoto, who says she is comfortable with the unusual marketing method.

She said: ‘I wouldn’t do this of they put it on my belly or other places I’m embarassed to expose but if it’s on my chubby thighs then what’s the problem?

ITV reports that in order to be a walking billboard, participants must be 18-years-old and are required to have at least 20 friends on social media networks.

The girls can wear what they like, but WIT suggests that participants wear short skirts and high socks in order to draw attention to the ad. They can earn up to £65 per day.

 

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

Erdogan Succeeds in Antagonizing Both Arabs and Jews

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SasunyanBy Harut Sassounian

Publisher, The California Courier

 

After brutally quelling massive domestic protests against his increasingly despotic rule, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is now facing another serious problem: His unexpected ‘success’ in uniting Arabs and Jews against him!

 

The Turkish Prime Minister had already antagonized Israel and Syria with his hostile actions and statements. In recent days, he also managed to offend millions of Egyptians by rejecting their new government after Pres. Morsy was deposed by the military. Despite Erdogan’s professed objection to the overthrow of Egypt’s ‘democratically elected President,’ it is evident that he is far more concerned about saving his own neck, fearing a similar takeover by the historically coup-prone Turkish military.

 

Last week, AleppoUniversity stripped Erdogan of his honorary doctorate in international relations, awarded to him in 2009, when Syria and Turkey were enjoying a short-lived love fest. Khodr Orfaly, President of the University, accused Erdogan of instigating “plots against the Syrian people” and using “arbitrary” violence against protesters in Turkey.

 

After losing an Arab award, the Turkish Prime Minister may next be deprived of the “Profiles in Courage” prize given to him by the American Jewish Congress (AJC) in 2004 for “promoting peace between cultures.” In an article published last month in the Jewish “Commentary” magazine, Michael Rubin urged the AJC to revoke its award, describing Erdogan as “Hamas’s leading cheerleader, a promoter of terrorism, and a force for instability in the region. Rubin further asserted that “Erdogan already had a history of embracing rabid anti-Semitism and harboring conspiracy theories during his tenure as Istanbul’s mayor.”

 

Rubin also criticized Pres. Obama for “toasting Erdogan” and the 135 members of the Congressional Turkey Caucus for running “interference for Turkey’s worst excesses,” including “arbitrary arrests, police violence, launching tear gas into hotels and consulates, attacking the free press, launching anti-Semitic diatribes, and ordering the arrest of medical personnel.” Rubin questioned the motives of these House members and wondered whether they “enjoy the wining and dining Turkish authorities arrange on trips to Istanbul or Ankara as a reward for membership” in the Turkey Caucus. He urged the members of Congress to “suspend if not resign their membership.”

 

Rubin strongly advised the American Jewish Congress and other Jewish organizations to “base awards on lifetime achievement, not only wishful thinking. The risk of bestowing legitimacy on platforms that run contrary to the AJCongress’ mission is otherwise too great. The AJCongress’ award to Erdogan not only did not stop Erdogan’s anti-Semitism, but rather it for too long provided cover for it. Perhaps the organization can now mitigate the damage it has caused — and also deflate Erdogan’s buffoonery — by publicly revoking its award.”

 

Regrettably, Rubin is nine years too late in criticizing AJC’s honoring of Erdogan. Back in 2004, within days of the award ceremony, I wrote a column critical of AJC and its President Jack Rosen who had absurdly announced that his organization was honoring Erdogan as leader of “a model Moslem country.”

 

Now that the whole world has seen Erdogan’s true colors under the façade of leading “a model Moslem country,” many others need to reconsider the awards they had lavishly heaped on this undeserving leader.

 

For example, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) should revoke its prestigious “Courage to Care Award” presented to Erdogan in 2005. On that ‘happy’ occasion, the Prime Minister pointed out to Abraham Foxman, ADL’s National Director, Turkey’s “close relationship with Israel,” and pledged “zero tolerance” for “anti-Semitic diatribes.”

 

Here are some other honors given to Erdogan that should be rescinded:

 

State Medals:

— Russian state medal from Pres. Vladimir Putin (June 1, 2006)

— Crystal Hermes Award from German Chancellor Angela Merkel (April 15, 2007)

— Nishan-e-Pakistan, the highest civilian award of Pakistan (Oct. 26, 2009)

— King Faisal International Prize for “Service to Islam” (Jan. 12, 2010)

— Georgia’s Order of Golden Fleece (May 17, 2010)

— Libyan President Muammar Qaddafi’s International Prize for Human Rights (Nov. 29, 2010)

— Kuwait’s “Outstanding Personality in the Islamic World Award” (Jan. 11, 2011)

 

Honorary Doctorates:

— St. John’s University, New York (Jan. 26, 2004)

— EuropeanUniversity of Madrid (May 18, 2010)

— MoscowStateUniversity (March 16, 2011)

— ShanghaiInternationalStudiesUniversity (Apr. 11, 2012)

— University of Algiers (July 5, 2013)

 

Honorary Citizenship:

— South Korea (February 2004)

— Iran (February 2009)

— Kosovo (November 2010)

 

All those who have honored Erdogan have simply dishonored themselves. The sooner they revoke their accolades, the sooner they will redeem themselves from their disgraceful acts.

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

 

1 Killed in Firefight at Turkish-Syrian Border

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Turkish soldiers patrol and search for mines on a road surrounded by rugged mountains in south-eastern province of SirnakTurkey’s military says soldiers returned fire on a group of people trying to cross into Turkey illegally from Syria, killing one of them.

The shooting is the latest in a series of incidents on the shared 910-kilometer (566-mile) border. Turkish security forces have been retaliating to stray fire from Syria landing on Turkey’s territory or to attacks from smugglers or other people trying to enter the country illegally.

The military said that a group of eight “civilians” fired up to 15 shots at soldiers patrolling the border late on Monday, ignoring their warnings to stop. The troops then fired back.

Separately, the military also said Tuesday that seven soldiers were slightly injured after a group of suspected fuel oil smugglers from Syria threw stones at the security forces.

 

Commuters push 32-ton train car off trapped woman in Japan

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japanese-commuters-free-woman-moving-32-ton-trainEven during Tokyo’s notoriously hectic rush hour, dozens of commuters stopped to push a 32-ton train car out of the way.

A woman trying to get off a train in Saitama, north of Tokyo, fell in a gap between the train and the platform Monday morning, said Takashi Tsukahara, a spokesman for the train operator JR East.

About 40 passengers and JR staff rushed to push the train off the woman. Tsukahara said a train carriage typically weighs about 30,000 kilograms, but is able to sway a bit side to side to absorb the train’s movements.

The commuters pushed the train just enough to free the woman. A loud cheer erupted as the woman was pulled up.

The woman, in her 30s, was not seriously injured.

Just eight minutes later, the train took off again.

 

President Serzh Sargsyan sent a letter of condolences to the President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping

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 Սերժ-ՍարգսյանPresident Serzh Sargsyan sent today a letter of condolences to the President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping on a devastating earthquake in Gansu province which claimed numerous human lives.

“I am confident that measures taken by the Chinese Government will allow to quickly overcome the consequences of this calamity.

Sharing your and the friendly Chinese people’s grief, I wish the families of the victims and the people of China tenacity and resolve and I wish a speedy recovery to those injured,” the letter of the President of Armenia reads.

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.

 

British tourists killed by helicopter in Arctic fishing expedition ‘after its blades struck them during take-off’

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Two British anglers on an ‘ultimate’ fishing trip in the remote Russian Arctic were killed in a helicopter crash yesterday.

The men and their Russian guide died when they were hit by the rotor blades of their chartered aircraft.

Both Britons were said to be in their late sixties and were on a custom salmon fishing trip to the Kola Peninsula, 90 miles from the port city of Murmansk.

They were named by Russian officials but the Foreign Office would not confirm their identities until their families were informed.

As the craft attempted to take off, it banked suddenly to one side and its rotor blades hit the men where they stood with their guide, Alexander Tushnikov.

The pilot, said to have 25 years’ flying experience, survived the crash with injuries.

Lines of inquiry are likely to include whether the helicopter was caught by a sudden gust of wind, causing it to tilt, or if it suffered a mechanical failure.

The Kola Peninsula was previously a top secret area, home to the Red October submarine base and the Soviet navy’s northern fleet.

Now it is known as the ultimate destination for high-end fishing tours for Atlantic salmon, attracting anglers from around the world.

Operators say the region has not been overfished like many popular salmon rivers and that competent anglers can catch more than 100 salmon in a week, with some fish weighing up to 40lb.

The peak season runs from June to August, when the area north of the Arctic Circle enjoys 24-hour daylight.

Outside the season, the rivers are frozen for three or four months a year.

 

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.

Justin Bieber On New Tattoo: Mom’s Always Watching

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HT_justin_biebers_new_eyeball_tattooUsually teenage boys will do anything to avoid their mothers. Justin Bieber, 19, wants his watching his every move.

After months of acting out, including run-ins with the paparazzi and angry neighbors, the “Baby” singer paid a tribute to his mother Pattie Mallette, getting a tattoo of her eye on the inside of his left elbow.

After the tattoo was finished, Bieber posted a picture Wednesday on Instagram with the caption “Moms always watching ;)”

The Biebs has been in a bit of hot water lately, most recently apologizing to former President Bill Clinton after a video was discovered of him yelling obscenities about Clinton while urinating into a bucket.

Questions about Bieber’s personal life still loom, as well.

Earlier this month, Bieber posted a picture of himself and ex-girlfriend Selena Gomez with one word attached – “Heartbreaker.” Since then, there’s been no word on a possible reunion.

 

Explosion Rocks Beijing Airport After Man Sets Off Homemade Bomb

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china_airport_blast_ltAn explosion rocked the arrival area of Beijing’s InternationalAirport today after a man set off a homemade bomb, according to Chinese news media.

The explosion took place at about 6:24 p.m. local time, according to China’s state run newscaster, CCTV, which cited witness reports.

Photos posted on Weibo, China’s version of Twitter, showed a portion of terminal 3 filled with smoke after the blast.

Both domestic and international flights take off and land in terminal 3.

Chinese police have identified the alleged bomber as Ji Zhongxing. He was the only one injured in the blast.

Police said Zhongxing is a petitioner — a citizen with a grievance against government officials or police — though they did not say what Zhongxing’s grievance is.

Less than two hours after the explosion, airport officials said operations are back to normal and no flights were affected.

5 Killed in Landslide in Turkey

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Trucks wait at the Cilvegozu border crossing between Turkey and Syria near HatayAn official says a landslide triggered by heavy rains has killed at least five people near Turkey’s border with Syria.

Gov. Celalettin Lekesiz said the landslide, which struck early Friday, demolished six hillside houses near the town of Dortyol in the border province of Hatay. At least 12 people were hurt.

The private Dogan news agency said the victims included an elderly man and woman and their two grandchildren who were buried beneath their collapsed home.

The government’s disaster management agency said at least nine people were rescued by helicopters dispatched to the area.

Turkey is frequently hit by deadly landslides that are triggered by torrential rains.

 

Cook Accused of Poisoning 22 to Death

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Police have arrested a cook in central Pakistan who is accused of poisoning to death 22 people as part of a political feud between two branches of the same family, a local police chief said.

mealsThe incident in the town of Mailsi in Punjab province followed recent provincial elections in which Arsal Khan Khichi lost to his cousin Jehanzaeb Khan Khichi, police chief Sadiq Dogar said late Thursday.

Arsal Khan Khichi is accused of paying a cook, Mohammad Rafiq, 50,000 rupees ($500) to poison food at his rival’s home on June 9, Dogar said. Nearly 50 people became sick and were taken to the hospital, and 22 died. Jehanzeb Khan Khichi was not at home when the incident occurred, Dogar said.

Rafiq has confessed to poisoning the food, Dogar said. Police waited to arrest him until they received medical reports that confirmed the dead had been poisoned. Arsal Khan Khichi is still on the run, and a murder case has been registered against him as well, Dogar said.

Politics are often a family affair in Pakistan, where it is not uncommon to have members of the same clan running against each other as members of rival political parties.