Monthly Archives: July 2013

Argentina’s President Gets a Grandson: Nestor Ivan

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CristinakirchnerArgentina’s president Cristina Fernandez is now a grandmother.

The country’s state-run news service Telam reported Monday that Nestor Ivan Kirchner was born late Sunday night at the Otamendi hospital in Buenos Aires.

The name is obvious homage to the late President Nestor Kirchner, who was Fernandez’s husband.

The news brought waves of good wishes in Argentina’s social media, but there were no official announcements by mid-day Monday, and the president’s normally busy Twitter account was silent.

Father Maximo Kirchner is active in the Campora political movement and mother Rocio Garcia is a dentist, but the couple keeps a low profile in Argentina.

 

Family of five set themselves on fire outside Nepalese government offices in India in protest against threat to their home

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The family were protesting against a threat to demolish their home2A family of five set themselves on fire in an act of desperation against a threat to demolish their home.

Four of the Nepalese victims – a mother, her two sons and their wives – died after the shocking protest inside the grounds of government offices in Rajkot, in Gujarat, western India.

Hasumati Dalvani, 62, her sons Bharat Mansingh, 40, and Girish Mansingh, 38, and their wives Asha, 35, and Rekha, 33, had poured kerosene over their bodies before setting themselves ablaze.

The family has been battling the government’s attempt to demolish their house – their shelter for 35 years – after residents complained its construction was unsafe.

Witnesses tried to extinguish the fires with pieces of curtain material, but were too late.

Both sons and their wives died of their injuries at Rajkot Civil Hospital.

Dr Sanjay Shah said: ‘They had sustained 90 to 95 per cent burns to their bodies. They were in a critical condition. We tried to save them but in the end we couldn’t do enough.  The mother is still with us but in a very critical condition.’

However, the mayor of Rajkot city, Janak Kotak, said the municipality had no plans to demolish the house and their grievances were with the residents.

Police arrested four other people who assisted the family in their suicides.

The Rajkot Municipality has confirmed a compensation figure of £27,700 to the family.

 

Man killed by a 1.5tonne cow after it crashes through his corrugated iron roof as he slept

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Mr de Sousa's family lay him to restA Brazilian man died after a cow crashed through the roof of his home and landed on top of him as he lay sleeping in his bed.

Joao Maria de Souza, 45, had been in bed with his wife Leni when the animal suddenly fell through the ceiling of their home in Caratinga, south east Brazil.

The cow is believed to have escaped from a nearby farm and climbed onto the roof of the couple’s house, which backs onto a steep hill.

The corrugated roof immediately gave way and the one-and-a-half-tonne horned bovine fell 8ft onto Mr de Souza’s side of the bed.
His wife, and the cow, both reportedly escaped unharmed.

Rescuers took Mr de Souza to hospital with a fractured left leg but no other obvious injuries, reporting that he was conscious and talking normally.

But hours later he died from internal bleeding while still waiting to be seen by doctors, according to his family.

Civil police in Caratinga, Minas Gerais state, today launched an inquiry into the bizarre death.

Police officers were also trying to identify the owner of the cow, who could be charged with involuntary manslaughter.

 

Several Injured at Spanish Bull Run Crush

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bull runThousands of daredevils have raced through Pamplona in a hair-raising running of the bulls, one day after an American and two Spaniards were gored by the beasts on the same streets.

There were no gorings on Saturday, but a crush of fallen runners blocked the entrance to the bullring, briefly stopping the bulls from entering it.

At least one person appeared to be seriously injured there, and four others were taken to hospital for cuts and bruises, said Javier Sesma, health spokesman for the province of Navarra.

The festival drew widespread attention on Friday when the American college student and two Spaniards were gored, and videos and photos of the attacks were seen around the world.

 

Argentines Asked to Eat Fewer Tomatoes

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tomatoesArgentines are seeing red after being asked to eat fewer tomatoes.

The government asked consumers Friday to try to stay away from the beloved food for at least two months because of an expected shortage caused by seasonal reasons including crop rotations.

Officials say all other fruits and vegetables are available. But Argentines are frustrated because the tomato is a must in many of their dishes and is often used in pizza toppings, sauces and salads.

Argentines also have been recently hit by a flour shortage after the worst wheat harvest in the country’s history sent bread prices soaring.

 

Istanbul Police Block Journalists’ Protest

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protest in TurkeyPolice have blocked hundreds of journalists from marching in Istanbul to demand press freedoms and denounce the harassment of colleagues during a spate of anti-government demonstrations last month.

Journalists were detained or targeted by police while covering the nearly three weeks of protests, and some who sided with protesters were sacked or resigned.

The journalists on Friday planned to walk to a main square but were prevented by police. They staged a brief sit-in before dispersing.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government has shown little tolerance of dissent and dozens of journalists have been jailed or fired since it came to power a decade ago.

Erdogan’s government insists it is committed to democracy, citing reforms that reduced the use of torture and increased the rights of the country’s Kurdish minority.

 

Iran Calls on UAE Not to Deport Its Nationals

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Ali_Akbar_Salehi_pic_1An Iranian news agency says the foreign minister has called on the United Arab Emirates not to deport its nationals.

The Iranian media has reported that the UAE has repatriated an unspecified number of Iranians amid tensions between the two countries linked to Syria’s civil war. Shiite Iran backs Syrian President Bashar Assad, a member of a Shiite offshoot sect, while the Sunni-majority UAE and Saudi Arabia support the mostly Sunni rebels.

The UAE has not reported any deportations. The UAE has in the past denied renewal of residency visas without giving reasons.

A Friday report by the semi-official Mehr agency said Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi raised the issued in a phone conversation with his Emirati counterpart. It didn’t elaborate.

An estimated half-million Iranians live in the Emirates.

 

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.

 

Bieber calls Clinton after using the F-word

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justin-bieber-personally-apologizes-to-bill-clinton-after-slamming-himJustin Bieber called and apologized to former President Bill Clinton after a recently-emerged video showed the artist spraying cleaner fluid on a photo of the former president and saying “F*** Bill Clinton.”

An aide to Clinton confirmed the apology, and Bieber tweeted about the conversation Wednesday night.

The video, posted online by TMZ, showed Bieber urinating in a janatorial mop bucket as he and his entourage exited a nightclub through a restauraunt kitchen.

The poorly-shot video then shows Bieber using what looks like cleaning liquid to spray a poster of Clinton as the performer shouts the expletive about the former president. The incident reportedly happened in New York City earlier this year.

E! Online reported that Bieber told Clinton he would love to help the Clinton Global Initiative, a public health and humanitarian organization run by the former president and his family.

Clinton reportedly told Bieber, “If that is the worst thing you have ever done, all is well.”

 

Death toll jumps in landslide in southwest China

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China-LandslideA landslide the size of a small town has killed at least 18 people and toppled 11 buildings in southwest China, state-run media said, citing local authorities.

The disaster occurred in Sichuan province’s Dujiangyan city on Wednesday, the Xinhua state news agency reported.

By Thursday afternoon, the number of people reported missing had climbed to 107, from 21 the previous day. Rescuers continue to dig through 53 million cubic feet of dirt in search of them.

Flooding that triggered the landslide has affected 1.5 million people and inundated tens of thousands of acres of crops. The torrents have plagued the mountainous region since Monday, smashing bridges and knocking out power to thousands.

They have washed away property worth more than $40 million, provincial officials said.

Xinhua also reported that more than 400 stranded people have been securely moved out of Dujiangyan.

 

About 150 Inmates Escape From Indonesian Prison

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prisonAbout 150 prisoners escaped Thursday from an overcrowded prison in western Indonesia, and others held officers hostage, following a riot triggered by a blackout.

Prison directorate spokesman Akbar Hadi said the inmates forced their way out from Tanjung Gusta Prison in Medan, the capital of North Sumatra province, while others set the prison’s offices on fire.

National Police Spokesman Maj. Gen. Ronny Frengky Sompie, saying police were investigating media reports that 12 terrorist inmates were among those who escaped.

Hadi said about 15 officers were being held captive inside the prison. It holds about 2,400 prisoners but media reports say its normal capacity is 400.

BeritaSatu TV station reported that the prisoners seized guns from the officers. Its reporter said gunshots were heard from inside the prison.

Thousands of policemen are deployed around the prison and the Indonesia’s third largest town to blockade roads linking Medan and other provinces while fire brigades are battling the fires.

MetroTV station reported that at least 10 prisoners including a terrorist convict had been recaptured.

 

Raffi Hovannisian Meets Štefan Füle

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Raffi_Hovannisian_Meets_Stefan_FuleYerevan—Yesterday, on July 10, Raffi K. Hovannisian met with Štefan Füle, European Commissioner for Enlargement. Hovannisian and Füle discussed matters concerning Armenia-EU relations, Association Agreement, and regional challenges.

 

Later in the day, the Heritage Party’s vice-president Armen Martirosyan, and spokesperson Hovsep Khurshudyan—along with the representatives of other non-ruling parties’ parliamentarian factions—had a separate meeting with Štefan Füle.

Toddler buys rundown Austin Healey Sprite on eBay after playing with her father’s smartphone … and her parents decide to keep it

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She may not be able to drive for another 15 years, but 14-month-old Sorella Stoute has already picked the car she wants.

The Portland toddler managed to successfully bid for a 1962 Austin Healey Sprite on eBay after playing with her father’s smartphone last month.

The first her father knew of her secret shopping spree was when he received an email from eBay congratulating him on the winning $225 bid.

‘She decided to open the eBay app, and started clicking around and one thing led to another and we own a car,’  Paul Stoute told KOIN News.

At first, the Oregon couple were not sure whether they could afford to take on the car, which needs a lot of work.

However, they have decided to keep it and Mr Stoute plans to do it up in time for Sorella’s high school graduation or 16th birthday.

Since the toddler’s shopping spree, her parents have added security codes and other locks on their phones.

‘I’m just glad she didn’t buy the $38,000 Porsche I was looking at,’ Mr Stoute said.

 

Man called Larry Da Leopard tattoos his entire body in big cat print and admits he looks like a ‘cartoon character’

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Larry Da Leopard6It’s one thing to show your appreciation for the animal kingdom, but quite another to try to join it.

But that appears to be the lifelong quest of one U.S. man who has tattooed his entire body with leopard spots.

Larry Da Leopard has more than 1,000 big cat markings on his body after spending years getting inked.

Every inch of his body, from his arms and legs to his back and ears, have been tattooed – including his private parts.

Larry, however, says he is still not finished and that he will not stop until he has become a so-called ‘manimal’ – half man, half animal.

Larry, who lives in Austin, Texas, even goes out in public in a leopard costume and happily has his photo taken with people as he promotes his business as a tattoo artist.

On the U.S. TV show Taboo, Larry revealed his parents cried when they saw his tattoos for the first time and he admits that he does ‘look like a cartoon character’.

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Pope demands brand new life-size statue of him at Buenos Aires cathedral is taken down as he ‘does not wish to become a celebrity’

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A figure depicting Pope Francis, made by sculptor Fernando Pugliese, is seen in Buenos AiresAt the age of 76 he became a household name and a magazine cover star.

But Pope Francis is apparently desperate to avoid becoming a celebrity – he has ordered the removal of a new life-size statue of him in Buenos Aires cathedral.

Since its installation two weeks ago believers visited the statue in the cathedral’s garden to pay homage to the pontiff, while tourists posed for photos alongside it.

But Francis, formerly Archbishop of the Argentine capital, was reportedly horrified at the news.

He got straight on the phone and had strong words with the priest responsible telling him: ‘Get that thing down, immediately’, the Argentinian newspaper Clarin reported.

Church sources told the newspaper that Francis is determined to avoid creating ‘a cult of personality’ like that enjoyed by John Paul II.

Since his election in March, Francis has gone to lengths to be seen as humble, showing little patience for the pomp and fuss that come with his position as head of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics.

 

Want to go into space for just £25,000? Try the balloon that will fly twice as high as Concorde and take you from Paris to Rome

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Space BalloonA Spanish company plans on offering the ultimate day trip to near-space in two years time – just enough time to start saving for the £95,000 ticket.

During the flight, passengers will be able to stand up and enjoy fantastic panoramic views of Earth, experience weightlessness and even eat a meal if they desire.

The ëblooní is the brainchild of Spanish entrepreneur Jose Mariano Lopez-Urdiales, boss of Barcelona-based Zero2Infinity.

Space tourists will journey to earth’s outer limits in a capsule that can hold six people – four passenger and two pilots.

Annelie Schoenmaker of Zero2Infinity, said: ‘The ride will be very gentle and peaceful as well as environmentally friendly.

‘Passengers will be able to see the sun and the stars at the same time, while looking down on the curvature of the earth.’

Russian adventurer Artemy Lebedev who is one of the few people on the planet to have visited every country, has already signed up for a trip to near-space.

Commercial operations will begin in 2015 but a trip for four people will cost around £95,000.

Ms Schoenmaker said: ‘The experience will be very much like that in an aeroplane although there will be a period of about 30 seconds when passengers will experience weightlessness and will be able to float around the cabin.

Zero2Infinity’s largest pod, which carries six people, has 15 square metres of windows for amazing views of the Earth and space.

The company is currently doing test flights and raising more investment for its new venture.

 

President Sargsyan met with the honorary guests and film industry professionals participating at the Golden Apricot Film Festival

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 Tonight, the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan met with the honorary guests and film industry professionals from Armenia and different countries of the world who are participating at the 10th International Film Festival in Yerevan.

The participants of the meeting spoke with the President of Armenia about the Golden Apricot’s ten year existence, success, as well as about the nominations of this year’s Festival. They noted with satisfaction that the repute of the Festival is growing by year, the geography of the participants is expanding, and the number of the movies is increasing too.

Russia to use first FLOATING nuclear power plant in just three years to provide energy for hard-to-reach regions

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floating nuclear power plant1Russia will begin to operate the world’s first floating nuclear power plant in just three years time.

The specially-made ship with a nuclear power plant on-board will provide energy, heat and drinking water to relatively inaccessible areas of the vast country.

The director of Russia’s largest shipbuilders, the Baltic Plant, announced that the unique ship should be operational by 2016 at the 6th International Naval Show in St Petersburg.

The first ship will be called Akademik Lomonosov and is intended to be the first of small fleet of floating nuclear plants in Russia.

The Akademik Lomonosov will weigh 21,500 tons and have a crew of 69 people. But it will not have a propulsion system so will have to be towed to the location where it is needed, according to global news service, RT.

It will have two modified KLT-40 reactors that will be able to provide enough energy for a city with 200,000 people.

The floating power plants will be able to be modified and be used as a desalination plant. This means that the ship could produce a staggering 240,000 cubic metres of fresh water every day.

The ship builder insists that the process of fuel enrichment on the floating power station complies with the International Atomic Energy Agency’s regulations.

The firm claims that its floating power station is safe for the environment as it does not release any hazardous substances while it is operating.

 

PETER KOUTOUJIAN DISCUSSES KEY COMMUNITY CONCERNS WITH ARMENIAN ORGANIZATIONS AT THE HAIRENIK BUILDING IN WATERTOWN

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PKoutoujian_HairenikWATERTOWN, MA — Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian sat down with the editorial team of The Armenian Weekly and representatives of Armenian American organizations in Watertown yesterday to share the views and values that motivated this veteran public servant to run for the 5th District Congressional seat recently vacated by Rep. Edward Markey following his successful Senate bid, reported Armenian National Committee of America-Eastern Region (ANCA-ER).

“I am proud of my Armenian heritage and of my record of accomplishments on behalf of the Armenian community and all the communities I represent. I look forward to continuing that promise of hard work and commitment if elected to Congress, and I thank the Armenian National Committee of America’s tremendously warm endorsement,” Koutoujian said.

The ANCA has been an early and vocal supporter of Koutoujian’s congressional bid, citing his years of service to the Commonwealth from prosecutor, to State Assemblyman and, now, Middlesex County Sheriff. “His leadership in Massachusetts and in the Armenian American community has been steadfast and inspiring, and he has the ANCA’s full backing in this election process and beyond,” explained ANCA National Board member Stephen Mesrobian in the ANCA’s July 3rd endorsement statement.

Following his in-depth interview with the Armenian Weekly, Koutoujian joined representatives of the ANCA, Armenian Relief Society (ARS), Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF), Homenetmen, Hamazkayin, and others for lunch at the Armenian-American Social Club in Watertown.

Koutoujian’s leadership on community concerns extends throughout the Massachusetts’ 5th district, which includes the towns of Belmont, Lexington, Waltham and Watertown – each with large and vibrant Armenian-American presence.

He emphasized the fact that this election will have low voter turnout and the importance of registering new voters, especially Armenian Americans, who can help him claim victory in a few months.

“We’re pleased to see Mr. Koutoujian actively seeking communication with our core Armenian organizations, including the ANCA-ER,” said ANCA-ER Executive Director Michelle Hagopian. “He has a longstanding track record of public service and loves his community, and we’re going to work hard to make sure he is elected to Congress come fall.”

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Photo Captions:

Koutoujian_Hagopian.jpeg: Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian seen here with ANCA Eastern Region Executive Director Michelle Hagopian.

PKoutoujian_Hairenik.jpeg: Peter Koutoujian joined members of Armenian organizations for lunch at the Armenian-American Social Club in Watertown on Monday, July 8, 2013.

Elton John Has Appendicitis, Requires Surgery

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elton_johnElton John is suffering from appendicitis that requires surgery, a spokesman for the singer confirms to ABC News. As a result, the award-winning singer has canceled all upcoming shows, including a headlining concert on Friday at a London music festival.

“Elton is incredibly disappointed to postpone these tour dates,” his rep stated. “To know that he made such super-human efforts and continued to perform to thousands through his illness only confirms his dedication to his European fans. He is eager to be back on top form and return to play the remaining shows starting in early September 2013.”

John, 66, fell ill while touring and after undergoing scans and blood tests, he was diagnosed with “appendix abscess surrounding retrocaecal appendicitis.” As a result, he’s taking antibiotics and will undergo surgery in the next few weeks.

The Grammy winner and his husband, David Furnish, have a lot on their plates: their oldest son, Zachary, is 2, while their youngest, Elijah, is just 6 months old.