Monthly Archives: July 2013

Apes can remember events from years ago just like humans do, new research finds

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chimpsThe great apes can remember events that happened years ago just like men and women do, researchers have found.

As with humans, a reminder of something in the distant past can jog the memories of chimps and orangutans.

Scientists took a group of apes and reconstructed a series of experiments conducted three years previously in which they had had to find hidden tools that could be used to reach food.

Faced with the same set-up of rooms and boxes in which the tools were concealed, the apes immediately knew what to do. It took them only five seconds to find the tools.

Another group of apes which had not had the previous experience were left confused.

A second study showed chimps and orangutans could remember a single tool-finding task carried out two weeks earlier.

The complexity and speed of the apes’ recall ability was unexpected, said the scientists, whose findings appear in the journal Current Biology.

Study leader Dr Gema Martin-Ordas, from Aarhus University in Denmark, said: ‘I was surprised to find out not only that they remembered the event that took place three years ago, but also that they did it so fast.

Dr Martin-Ordas added: ‘Our data and other evidence challenge the idea of non-human animals being stuck in time.’

 

Woman stuck in narrow gap between houses for seven hours after terrified homeowners thought her screams for help were coming from a GHOST

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The woman who was mistaken for a ghost is finally rescued after becoming stuck between two wallsA woman who fell through a narrow gap between two walls was left stuck there for seven hours because locals thought her screams for help were a ghost.

The woman, who has not been named, was taking a short cut home in Feidong in China’s Anhui Province, and had squeezed her way through a tiny gap between two brick walls.

But she hadn’t realised that the gap became narrower the further down she went and she soon became stuck.

Unfortunately when she called out for help, the homeowner living on the other side of the wall assumed she was a ghost and was too terrified to investigate further.

The trapped woman had to endure an entire night trapped between the walls as he cries for help went unanswered.

She was finally spotted by passers-by the following morning. The fire brigade was called and quickly arrived to cut her free.

It took around 20 minutes for them to break down part of one of the walls enough for her to squeeze out.

 

MENENDEZ PRAISES POWER’S STAND ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

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Senate UN Ambassador— Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Cites “Principled Position” of U.N. Ambassador Nominee
WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Robert Menendez, Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, opened his hearing on the confirmation of Samantha Power to serve as U.N. Ambassador by telling her that he is “incredibly appreciative of the principled position you’ve taken on the Armenian Genocide,” reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
At the start of the highly anticipated and widely broadcast hearing, Chairman Menendez noted that, “You have been an unrelenting, principled voice when it comes to human rights and crimes against humanity – and I know that voice will be heard around the world — should you be confirmed,” adding: “Personally, I am incredibly appreciative of the principled position you’ve taken on the Armenian Genocide. In 2007, you wrote in Time Magazine – ‘a stable, fruitful, 21st century relationship’ [with Turkey] cannot be built on a lie,’ and I completely agree.”
The New Jersey Democrat also stressed that, “Your belief that we should use the lessons of what clearly was an atrocity of historic proportions to prevent future crimes against humanity is a view consistent with my own and which is supported by your role on the President’s Atrocities Prevention Board.  I agree that we must acknowledge and study the past, understand how and why atrocities happen, to put-into-practice and giving meaning to the phrase, “never again.”
The full text and video of the opening remarks by Chairman Menendez are available on-line:

 

Norwegian woman who reported being raped in Dubai is jailed for 16 months

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DubaiA young Norwegian woman has been sentenced to 16 months in jail after she reported a rape in Dubai.

The 25-year-old was in the United Arab Emirates on a business trip when she was raped and reported the assault to the local police.

Dubai police did not believe her, and instead took her passport and jailed her on suspicion of having had sex outside marriage.

The Norwegian woman reported the sexual assault in March this year, after which she had to spend days in a cell before she was allowed to use a telephone.

With the help of family members, the Norwegian consulate was able to negotiate a release and she has been living under the protection of the Norwegian Sailor’s Church until her sentencing this week.

‘I received the harshest sentence for sex outside marriage, harshest sentence for drinking alcohol and on top of that I was found guilty of perjury,’ the woman told Verdens Gang.

‘It is a terrible situation she is in,’ said Gisle Meling, the priest at the Norwegian Sailor’s Church.

‘We are very surprised and had hoped it would go another way, but we live in a country which has a justice system which draws its conclusions with the help of Sharia law.’

She was sentenced to one year and four months in jail but as Norway has no extradition treaty with Dubai, her future is uncertain.

 

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’.

 

 

President Serzh Sargsyan received the EU Special Representative Philippe Lefort

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3536President Serzh Sargsyan received today the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia Philippe Lefort.

The parties conversed about the dynamically progressing Armenia-EU relations, regional developments as well as about the EU assistance for the reforms in Armenia which are being implemented in a number of areas.

Philippe Lefort reiterated the EU support for the NK peace process in the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group. The parties spoke also about the importance of the confidence building measures in the process of the conflict resolution.

One more criminal case on pensions sent to court

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կենսաթոշակIn the framework of the criminal case initiated on the abuses recorded in the process of fixing and paying pensions the preliminary investigation on the part of abuses found in territorial subdivision “Kentron -1” was completed. The prosecutor implementing prosecutorial supervision confirmed the bill of indictment and the case was sent to court.

According to the evidence obtained during pre-trial proceeding the payer-inspector of “Kentron – 1” territorial subdivision of paying service of social security state service staff of RA Ministry of Labor and Social affairs A. Musheghyan had swindled pension money in particularly large amount.

Particularly, according to the materials of the criminal case being aware that some pensioners were out of the country or dead, as well as being informed that the fact of pensioners’ death is not known in territorial subdivision of social security state service and the data of the dead pensioners were still involved in pension payment list, from 2006 to 2010 A. Musheghyan falsifying the pensioners’ signatures involved in payment lists, which were official documents, had drawn out the pension money in their names and had squandered a significant amount of pension money of 3.136.212 AMD.

On the base of the evidence obtained by the preliminary investigation implemented in the Investigation Department of Especially Important Cases of General Investigation Department of RA Police adjunct to government A. Musheghyan was accused according to the Point 1 of the Part 3 of the Article 179 and the Part 1 of the Article 325 of RA Criminal Code. The criminal case with the bill of indictment was sent to the Court of First Instance of Kentron and Norq-Marash administrative districts.

We remind that in May, 2011 in State Interests Protection Department of RA Prosecutor General’s Office a criminal case was initiated on the abuses recorded in the process of fixing and paying pensions the preliminary investigation of which was tasked to the Investigation Department of Especially Important Cases of General Investigation Department of RA Police adjunct to government.

 

Man arrested for stealing 56 skulls from cemeteries and setting up a skeleton museum at his home in Austria

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Austrian police have charged a man with 'disturbing the peace of the dead' after finding 56 skulls and other human skeletal remains in his homeA man has been arrested after police found 56 skulls and other human skeletal remains which had been stolen from graves in a museum at his home.

Police conducted a search of the house in Austria’s Burgenland province after the unidentified 47-year-old tried to sell three of the skulls and two thigh bones at a flea market.

Detectives discovered the man had created a museum in his home which contained the skulls and 55 other bones.

State broadcaster ORF said Tuesday that the bones were taken from graves of a church cemetery.

Speaking to The Guardian, a police spokesman said he had never encountered such a case in his 37 years in the force.

He said he did not know why the man had collected the bones or why he had tried to sell some of them.

The man has been charged by police with ‘disturbing the peace of the dead’ following the discovery.

Police said the bones had now been returned to the cemetery.

 

Mystery as 300 stingrays are found washed up on a Mexican beach

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Mexican authorities are investigating the death of at least 300 stingrays found on a beach of the Gulf coast state of Veracruz.

Residents and visitors first spotted the dead rays on Tuesday on the Chachalacas beach in the town of Ursulo Galvan and posted photos on social media.

Ursulo Galvan Mayor Martin Verdejo says it’s possible the stingrays could have been abandoned by fishermen after being trapped in their nets.

Upon realizing they were unlikely make much profit from their sale, they simply emptied their nets along the beach.

Others say the dead came rays were washed ashore by the waves at sunrise.

Beachgoers say it appears that many of the rays fins were cut and it is believed that fishermen sold the parts of the fish they were able to sell and then simply left the remnants.

Whilst the stingrays remain on the beach, they remain a danger to tourists, as although they are dead, their stings remain potent, which although not poisonous, are extremely painful.

 

At least 22 Indian children killed and 25 are ill after eating school dinner ‘made from unwashed ingredients covered in insecticide’

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India-Schoolchildren receive treatment at a hospital after falling ill soon after eating free school meals1At least 22 Indian children killed and 25 are ill after eating school dinner ‘made from unwashed ingredients covered in insecticide’ At least 22 children died and many others were sick after eating a free school lunch that was tainted by a heavy dose of insecticide, officials in India said today. It was not immediately clear how chemicals ended up in the food in a school in the eastern state of Bihar, although one official said the food may not have been properly washed before it was cooked. The children, between the ages of 8 and 11, fell ill yesterday soon after eating their school lunch in Masrakh, a village 50 miles north of the state capital of Patna. School authorities immediately stopped serving the meal of rice, lentils, soya and potatoes as the children started vomiting. In addition to the 22 children who died, another 25 children as well as the school cook have been taken to hospital, he said. Eight of them were in a serious condition. The deaths have sparked violent protests in Dharmasati Gandaman in the Saran district, where four police cars were set on fire during a demonstration by parents and hundreds of villagers. Authorities suspended an official in charge of the free meal scheme in the school and registered a case of criminal negligence against the school headmaster, who fled as soon as the children fell ill. India’s midday meal scheme is one of the world’s biggest school nutrition programs. It was first introduced in southern India, where it was seen as an incentive for poor parents to send their children to school. Since then the program has been replicated across the country covering some 120million school children as part of an effort to address concerns about malnutrition. According to the government, nearly half of all Indian children suffer from malnutrition.

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!”

 

Chinese airline hires ‘flight aunties’ as stewardesses because they are more reliable than ‘trolley dollies’

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A Chinese airline has launched a recruitment drive for married women with children to become 'flight auntiesA Chinese airline has launched a recruitment drive for married women with children to become ‘flight aunties’.

Spring Air, China’s biggest budget carrier, wants to recruit college-educated women aged between  25 and 45 to become its latest flight attendants.

The airline, which is calling the role ‘flight aunties’ says applicants who are married with children will be given top consideration.

As reported by China Real Time Report, the new approach is a unique shift from the normal recruitment by China’s state-owned carriers.

Spring Air’s previous age cap for new staff was 35.

But it said it was raising this to 45 following the results of a recent survey which concluded that 72 per cent of people preferred to be served by an experience flight attendant.

The airline says having a wider age profile among flight attendants will be beneficial. It said air hostesses who are younger are more enthusiastic while older ones can be more reliable and mature.

 

President Serzh Sargsyan held a meeting with the leadership of the RA State Revenue Committee at the newly constructed administrative office of the Mashtots branch of the SRC

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Serzh Sargsyan

 President Serzh Sargsyan participated today at the inauguration of the new, fully equipped with all modern devised administrative office of the Mashtots branch of the RA State Revenue Committee. After the opening ceremony, he met with the leadership of the State Revenue Committee.

After the introductory remarks made by the Head of the Committee Gagik Khatchatrian regarding the SRC activities for the first six months of 2013 and Committee’s upcoming programs, the First Deputy Armen Alaverdian presented a report on the results of the Committee’s work for the first half of this year.

At the meeting, the Head of the Major Tax Payers Division Rafik Mashadian reported on the works carried out with the key tax payers. The Head of the Department of Information Technologies of the SRC Michael Pashayan presented the process of introduction of the information technologies in the Committee.

Concluding the meeting, President Sargsyan spoke about his approaches regarding the reported works and touched upon general objectives of the SRC.

Serzh Sargsyan noted that reports made during the meeting, prove once again that the results of the first half of year 2013, works carried out with the major tax payers as well as the steps aimed at the modernization of the works of the State Revenue Committee show progress.

The President attached importance, regardless of the existing difficulties, to the consistent work of the SRC aimed at the large-scale improvement, completing by the Committee of the earmarked indicators envisaged by the law on state budget and upgrading of the provided services. Underscoring that progress in the tax area is observable for everybody, including the entrepreneurs, Serzh Sargsyan noted that despite positive changes, people are still far from the idea that the works of the SRC are totally improved and perfect. He stressed that along with the already accomplished works, there is still much to be done.

“People see that now they are spending much less time to file their returns and, generally, in their interaction with the tax bodies. It’s a fact. We, naturally, have to carry on with this trend. I wish, we saw the same progress in the work of the customs bodies,” the President of Armenia said. Serzh Sargsyan informed the participants of the meeting that already this week, he will sign a decree on introducing the “one window” work mode, which will be made with the engagement of a professional structure.

“I believe that along with the construction of new checkpoints, we have to ensure that there are no additional problems in this area and that our checkpoints in their appearance and substane correspond to the European standards.

Last time we spoke about it and I saw during my visit your educational and retraining facilities. The number of those who take advantage of those facilities should be increased, involving also average inspectors. It is critical that the level of their professionalism, which I already observe in case of the high-ranking staff, is present also in the ranks of middle and junior personnel. It is very important, probably even more important than in case of superiors, because our people, our citizens, tax payers and in general all those who cross our state border, interact with regular inspectors, with the people who directly represent our state,” the President noted and underscored that it was also important to pay attention to the improvement of the SRC staff’s ability to interact with the public, to communicate with individuals, not neglecting also tidy appearance of tax inspectors, as it should be with any uniform. All this, according to the President, is shaping an attitude toward our state structures.

Once again stressing the necessity of bringing the process of reformation to its conclusion, Serzh Sargsyan highlighted the importance of bringing to its minimum the contact of a tax inspector and representatives of the business community and ensuring the best results.

“Even though in the last 4-5 years, we have doubled the revenue part of our budget, it is not enough. It is not enough in two regards: first, we have no other revenues, other sources to get funds for expenses such as keeping army, hiring teachers and doctors. We have to increase tax revenues constantly. And second, we know that although we have done a considerable job of reducing the “gray economy,” nevertheless, it still exists and compared to other, more developed countries its share is significant. Among the most critical tasks facing the tax and customs bodies is that of creating conditions for competition and equal opportunities. If one businessman in working in “gray economy” while the other is paying taxes, it is quite natural that opportunities for development of these two businesses are unequal. It is, certainly, is not a problem for the tax bodies only, however your share of the job is a large one,” the President said. At the conclusion of the meeting, he expressed hope that at the next meeting they would talk about the successful implementation of the programs mentioned today. According to President Sargsyan, SRC’s current approaches undoubtedly provide the opportunity for the structure to solve all existing problems.

Serzh Sargsyan wished all the best to the SRC employees in their important mission.

Venice finally mapped by Street View: Google staff ditched the famous car and strapped cameras to their backs in order to capture the city’s canals

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Google has finally overcome the obstacle of a lack of streets as they capture Venice on footThe Italian city of Venice has finally made it onto Google Street View – despite being built on water.

Google has finally overcome the obstacle of capturing a city with no streets after strapping 360° cameras to employees who have travelled around Venice on foot.

Normally, Google Street View images are taken by a specially equipped car, but in the case of the popular Italian destination, extreme measures had to be taken.

Employees have made their across Venice’s piazzas and narrow walkways wearing backpacks containing the 33lbs cameras, and images should be available in two weeks.
The cameras, named The Trekker, have been used by Google to capture places only available by foot, such as the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

 

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.

 

Snowden Submits Asylum Request

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A Russian lawyer says that National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden has asked for temporary asylum in Russia.

Anatoly Kucherena said that Snowden submitted the asylum request Tuesday to Russia’s Federal Migration Service. The service had no immediate comment.

He said Snowden made the move following their meeting at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport.

Snowden has been stuck in Sheremetyevo’s transit zone since he arrived from Hong Kong on June 23. He said Friday at a meeting with Russian rights activists and public figures that he would seek at least temporary refuge in Russia until he could fly to one of the Latin American nations that have offered him asylum.

 

President Serzh Sargsyan sent a letter of condolences to the RF President Vladimir Putin

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Սերժ Սարգսյան

 

 Today, President Serzh Sargsyan sent a letter of condolences to the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin on the tragic accident with the bus near Podolsk.

The President of Armenia asked to convey his condolences and words of support to the families and friends of those killed in the accident and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.

Chinese wedding couple caught on camera brawling in French lavender field after ‘photobomb’ row

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chinese touristsThe idyllic French countryside is backdrop to many a romantic photo.

But the view was spoiled when two Chinese couples started brawling in the middle of a Provence lavender field.

The fight was started when one couple complained that the other had ‘photobombed’ their picture.

Pictured: Wedding brawl in Lavender fieldPhotos posted onto Chinese forum Sina Weibo last week show two men having a fist fight and the women grabbing at each other.
One of the women was in a wedding dress as she brawled with her rival.

The photos were posted by a tour guide who asked not to be named.

He told the Global Times that one on of the couples had just been married: ‘It started because the young couple and their friends accidentally stepped into the newlyweds’ photo. The women began to argue first, and then the boyfriend and the groom joined in.

‘Most people there tried to drag them apart since it was quite embarrassing.

The two men fought shirtless and the bride’s dress was reportedly ripped.

The fighting couples ruined parts of the fieled with their trampling.

Earlier this year, a Chinese 15-year-old carved his name into a 3,500-year-old temple in Egypt.

The boy was identified online and his parents were forced to apologise.

In May Chinese Vice-Premier Wang Yang asked Chinese tourists to behave better when travelling abroad.

Professor of sociology at Shanghai University Gu Jun believes that incidents such as this should be noticed, to bring attention to their behaviour.

 

Centuries-old trees destroyed as rainforest is chopped down for Pope’s visit to Brazil to allow pilgrims to celebrate mass

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PapaAuthorities in Brazil have denounced church leaders as criminals for chopping down more than 300 centuries-old trees in a national park – so pilgrims can celebrate mass during the Pope’s visit to Rio de Janeiro.

Pope Francis will make his first international trip to the world’s largest Roman Catholic country later this month.

Organisers of an event in the diocese of Sao Sebastiao de Itaipu, in the city of Niteroi, claimed they needed to clear an area of Atlantic rainforest to accommodate the expected crowd of up to 800 pilgrims.

Serra da Tiririca national park1A total of 334 trees at the edge of the Serra da Tiririca national park, but also on church-owned land, were felled.

Niteroi’s vice-mayor, Axel Grael, claimed the church did not seek permission to ‘deforest’ the land.

He told Brazil’s O Globo newspaper: ‘The incident is lamentable. An event for youth should be educational and demonstrate a commitment to the environment and the future. This removal is a criminal act.’

Andre Ilha, from Rio de Janeiro’s state environment institute – which is responsible for the forest – said the destruction would never have been allowed.

He said: ‘What was razed was the buffer zone of the Tiririca park. We would never have authorised that. It is a fragment of the endangered Atlantic rainforest. We will charge them with a crime.’
The diocese has reportedly offered to replant trees in the area following the event.

 

Mandela ‘to be allowed home’ as he continues to respond positively to treatment

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Nelson MandelaNelson Mandela will soon be discharged from hospital to recuperate at home, according to former South African president Thabo Mbeki.

‘I am quite certain that one of these days Madiba (Mandela) will go back home,’ he said at the weekend.

Official statements that South Africa’s first  black president was critical but stable were correct, he said, at a memorial service in Pretoria on Saturday.

Mandela’s wife Graça Machel also said she was ‘less anxious’ about his condition.

‘He continues to respond positively to treatment. I would say that today I am less anxious than I was a week ago,’ she said.

The former apartheid campaigner has been hospitalised for more than five weeks for a recurring lung infection, which has led to four hospital stays in the last six months.

Mandela, who was hospitalized on June 8, turns 95 on Thursday.

Last week, a close friend of Mandela contradicted the court reports that he was ‘totally conscious’ when he visited him in hospital this week.