Daily Archives: November 8, 2013

Family stranded at Chicago airport after British Airways refuse to fly 500lb man with medical condition home to France

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Քևին Շենե,300կգ կշիռ

A family who brought their 500lb son to the U.S. in order to treat his hormone disorder have been left stranded after their airline refused to fly the man because of his size.

Kevin Chenais, 22, flew from his home in France to spend 18 months at the Mayo Clinic for treatment.

Mr Chenais and his parents are now stuck at a hotel close to ChicagoAirport because British Airways refuses to allow him to board – despite previously flying the family out to the U.S.

The family, who have been at the hotel for a week, said they blamed the airline for leaving them with few options.

Kevin’s mother Christina Chenais told CBS: ‘If they could bring him here with that problem in economy, there was a way to take him back by economy but just get him back home for his medical treatments to continue.’

The family is now planning to take a train to New York City where they can board the Queen Mary II cruise ship to England.

A BA spokesman said: ‘We will always try to accommodate someone if it’s possible and safe to do so.

‘Unfortunately it is not possible to safely accommodate the customer on any of our aircraft and the family has been offered a full refund.

 

Croatia to Vote on Allowing Gay Marriage

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Խորվաթիա

Croatia, the newest member of the 28-nation European Union, will hold a referendum on whether to allow gay marriages but rights groups say the vote is unconstitutional.

Parliament voted Friday to have a Dec. 1 ballot with the question: “Do you agree that marriage is matrimony between a man and a woman?”

If a majority vote “yes” in the referendum, Croatia’s constitution will be amended to ban gay marriages.

Human rights groups have announced an appeal against the referendum, claiming it infringes on basic human rights. An anti-gay group, meanwhile, gathered over 700,000 signatures in support of the vote.

The dispute over gay rights has divided Croatia. The country has taken steps to improve gay rights, but issues such as same-sex marriage remain highly sensitive in the staunchly Catholic nation.

 

Where have your curves gone, JLo? Mattel launches Barbie in Jennifer Lopez’s image – but forgets to include that famous derriere

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Ջենիֆեր Լոպես,Բարբի

A new Barbie based on the image of Jennifer Lopez has drawn criticism for its distinct lack of the curves that made her famous.

The two $29.95 collector’s dolls, one sporting a red carpet gown by Zuhair Murad, the other wearing a look from her tour, both feature a typical Barbie silhouette instead of that legendary derriere.

Fans of Ms Lopez have taken to Twitter to share their unimpressed views.

Capicu Culture wrote: ‘We thought JLO’s beauty lied in the fact that she was not a “Barbie Doll.” [sic]’

Regardless, Ms Lopez herself is delighted with the tribute.

In a video promoting the doll’s launch, she said: ‘I wanted to live in Barbie’s world, I wanted to be Barbie. I think Barbie represents infinite possibilities.’

barbie-jennifer-lopez
barbie-jennifer-lopez1
barbie-jennifer-lopez2

 

Shop is evacuated and fire brigade are called after brand new iPad Air EXPLODES and fills mobile phone store with smoke

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A brand new iPad Air exploded in flames in an Australian mobile phone store.

The incident occurred in a Vodafone store in Canberra and the shop had to be evacuated.

There have been several reports of iPhones exploding and injuring people, but this is the first known incident involving an iPad.
A Vodafone spokesperson said a ‘burst of flames’ appeared from the charging port of the brand new iPad Retina demonstration model, Sydney’s Daily Telegraph reported.

As the store filled with smoke, firemen rushed to the store and put out the fire.

Although no staff members or customers were injured during the incident, the new model iPad Air, released by Apple globally on November 1, was completely destroyed, the appearance of its frame suggesting it had suffered from extreme heat.

It is understood a representative from Apple visited the store to collect the iPad for testing and try to establish what caused the explosion.

No comment has been available from Apple, which released the dramatically thin new model with the claim that it created an entirely new mobile computing experience.

US, Japanese, Chinese and Korean companies are believed to be involved in the manufacture of iPads and iPhones.

Syrian Opposition Refuses Moscow Talks

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Russia’s Foreign Ministry says Syria’s main Western-backed opposition group is refusing to participate in talks in Moscow.

Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said Friday that the Syrian National Coalition is “blocking and refusing to participate” in the talks, which would focus on resolving the humanitarian crisis in Syria.

Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov earlier said that the opposition had “responded positively” to the proposal.

Russian officials had hoped the talks would bolster prospects for a proposed peace conference the U.S. and Russia are trying to convene in Geneva.

Customs reform strategy has been established

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The Government held a regular meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan.

The Government approved the State Revenue Committee of Customs Administration Strategy Program for 2013-2014.
During the reform process of the legislative, institutional, human resource management, enforcement, information technology development and other areas numerous problems and tasks are revealed, methods and ways of their solution are reflected in the strategic document.
Prime Minister instructed to include the Customs Union agreements in this program document.
The government authorized the proposal about the creation of the agreement between the Governments of the Republic of Armenia and the Russian Federation concerning the Russian-Armenian humanitarian response center.
Tasks to be implemented by the Centre are the prevention measures in emergencies, urgent humanitarian assistance to the population affected by emergency situations, joint projects and programs, trainings for specialists, etc.
During the meeting the project between the Republic of Armenia and the International Development Association, as well as the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Republic of Armenia “development policy first funding” and “the first development policy loan” credit agreements projects have been approved.
According to them USD 72 Million will be directed to the improvement of a number of industries.
Changes and additions are made in one of the government’s previous decisions; the government established the privilege procedure for handle relations with the income tax provided by the development cooperation agreement between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Austria’s governments
The government has allowed the “temporary import” tax regime terms extension for the imported goods by “Korsan – korviam construction” JSC Armenia branch until 2015. November 27.
Last year, the company has been recognized as a winner of the international open competition of the road reconstruction and improvement, imported equipments by the North-South Road Corridor Investment Program which development will continue this year as well, so there is a need for decision-making.
The government redistributes the 2013 budget made changes and additions in one of the earlier decisions of the Ministry of Urban Development and has allocated almost AMD 6 million for making a structural inspection of 19 high school buildings.
Pursuant to the President’s decree of 2013 November 6, about the “winter conscription and demobilization”, the government has decided to set up a military commission in order to ensure the overall management of the recruitment committee, coordinating the work of the Marz (Yerevan city) military commissions to confirm their compositions.

Strange Lung Ailment Revealed: A Giant Ball of Fungus

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aspergilloma-lung-fungusA man who suffered from a bloody cough that persisted for more than a year was surprised to find that the cause was a giant ball of fungus growing in his lung, according to a recent report of his case.

The man, a farmworker in Italy, may have contracted a fungal infection, called aspergilloma, while working in the fields. For a year, he struggled with not only the cough but also fever and weight loss. His symptoms hadn’t improved despite several courses of antibiotics, according to the report published Oct. 24 in the journal BMJ Case Reports.

Aspergilloma, a fungal infection that mainly infects the lungs, is relatively uncommon, and this particular clump of fungus was extremely large, at nearly 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) wide.

Global smuggling ring busted after 12 tons of elephant tusks worth £62million is found by customs officers in China

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12 tons of smuggled ivory- China

 

Customs officials have smashed a global smuggling ring after they discovered 12 tons of smuggled ivory worth £62million in China.

The 3,188 pieces of elephant tusks were found in Xiamen city and have an estimated value of 603 million Yuan on the black market.

Officials named one of the ‘masterminds’ as a Fujian native called Chen who was known to customs since 2011 and operates between China and Africa for his licensed ivory shop, according to the South China Morning Post.

Several members of his group were also arrested and almost 2,000 kilograms of ivory was seized in August.

Ivory is seen as a symbol of wealth and status in China, and has become increasingly popular in recent years with the growth of the wealthy middle class.

According to a recent survey by the International Fund for Animal Welfare, 70 per cent of Chinese people did not know that elephants are killed for ivory products.

The survey revealed that most thought elephants lost tusks in the same way humans lose teeth.

China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said at a news conference on Tuesday that China was committed to working with the international community to protect wildlife.

The U.S. is the world’s second largest consumer of ivory products behind China.

 

Monkeys like tablets too! Touchscreen computers make macaques more friendly and help them relax

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Sulawesi crested macaques at Marwell Wildlife ParkUsing touch screen computers has helped a group of monkeys relax, a new study has found.

Interacting with the touchscreen machines not only interests and challenges the animals, but keeps dominant members of the group busy, which mirrors life in the wild and relieves social tension.

Researchers studied a social group of Sulawesi crested macaques at Marwell Wildlife, Hampshire, to come up with their findings.

The scientists, from the University of Portsmouth, taught the rare monkeys to operate computer touchscreens so they could conduct studies to understand the animals’ cognition and communication.

մակականեր,սենսորային էկրանThe researchers found that providing cognitive challenges for the macaques, using touchscreen computers, has improved the group’s cohesion and reduced tensions while increasing friendly behaviour.

Just like humans and many other primates, macaques use complex social interactions.

Sulawesi crested macaques, native to Indonesia, employ sophisticated and subtle communication techniques, relying on many different facial expressions, body positioning and vocalisations to make themselves understood, according to the study published in the journal PLOS ONE.

The macaques live in their social group and can voluntarily enter a specialised research area, separate from the researcher.

The animals are free to end the sessions whenever they like and return to their daily activities.

 

Greece: Court Win for Gays Over Civil Partnership

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Gay-marriage

 

Gay rights campaigners in Greece have welcomed a decision by a European court condemning the country for failing to include same-sex couples in 2008 legislation that introduced civil partnerships.

A panel of judges at the Council of Europe’s Court of Human rights, ruled Thursday that the legislation was discriminatory and ordered the state to pay plaintiffs €5,000 euros ($6,670) each in damages as well as an additional amount for court costs.

The civil partnerships are favored by couples seeking legal rights outside marriage or who are deterred by lengthy divorce procedures in marriage.

Grigoris Vallianatos, a prominent gay rights campaigner who led the legal action, described the ruling as a “landmark decision” for gays in Greece, and the most important legal victory in 30 years.

 

Former President Pervez Musharraf freed from house arrest in Pakistan

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Պրեվեզ Մուշարաֆ

 

Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has been released from house arrest, one of his aides, Shailah Yazdani, said Thursday.

Musharraf, who has been battling a number of legal cases in Pakistan, had been under house arrest since April.

He returned to Pakistan earlier this year under heavy security to contest court cases against him and run in elections. But his return didn’t go as planned.

 

Turkey Seizes 1,200 Rocket Heads Near Syria

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Թուրքիա,Սիրիա, Թայիփ Էրդողան

 

Turkish authorities have seized 1,200 rocket heads after searching a truck in a region close to the Syrian border.

The weapons were discovered in Adana, 200 kilometers (125 miles) from the Turkish-Syrian border, by officials looking to cut down on drug smuggling, provincial Gov. Huseyin Avni Cos told reporters Thursday.

Cos said an investigation into the weapons has been launched. The weapons are believed to be going to neighboring Syria, which has a three-year-old civil war that the U.N. says has left at least 100,000 people dead and forced millions of Syrians from their homes.

Turkey, which shares a 910-kilometer (566-mile) border with Syria, is a major hub for rebels fighting against Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime. Turkey has also been accused of harboring rebels associated with al-Qaida who operate across the border in Syria, including the Nusra Front.

At a news conference in Stockholm on Thursday, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan insisted his country had no tolerance for extremists.

“Organizations like Nusra, al-Qaida cannot find shelter in Turkey,” Erdogan said. “We would fight