2020 April 24

Anti-Corruption Daily

Apr/24/2020 -- Summary of today's news stories about Anti-Corruption, COVID, Economy, Politics, Daily Life, and more...
by ar_david_hh

Disclaimer: All the accused are innocent until proven guilty by the court of law, even if they may sound as being guilty. Currency in Armenian Drams ֏ unless specified otherwise.

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Things you probably didn't know about COVID, by Dr. Vahan Vardapetyan

YOUR TESTICLES CAN ACT AS A STORAGE FOR CORONAVIRUS, while women's egg basket doesn't store them. It's been found that COVID lasts longer in men. Not related to smoking.

Those of you with "drippy nose" are less likely to inhale COVID because the mucus in the breathing organs acts as a natural virus-blocker. Keep yourself hydrated, raise the humidity, and airflow. Inhale warm water-steam. Cough out the mucus after a while. Russian scientists created meds that boost mucus production.

Artificial lung ventilation isn't very useful. Up to 70% death rate (wtf?). A new strategy is being drafted. COVID attacks cells and pushes iron out, depriving cells of oxygen. Chloroquine-style meds are effective because they prevent de-ironing and de-oxygenation.

COVID can "sleep" then "wake up" in the patient again, making it look like a repeated-infection.

Obesity and diabetes can lead to the patient's immune system going haywire and attacking good organs, causing massive damage.

Countries with high rates of tuberculosis vaccination had a much smaller COVID spread.

The longer COVID stays around, the weaker it gets. Delay getting infected, and you'll encounter a weaker version.

Only the immune system can kill COVID. To boost it, be physically active, fresh air, cycling, jogging, long sleep, less stress, good mood.

When you spend 20 minutes in nature, your stress hormones reduce by 20%. Look at blue skies and green trees (how about double-rainbows, doc?)

Another way to boost the immune system is by eating citrus fruits and berries (C vitamin), carrot and butter (A vit.), beef and fish (Cu), tea and seafood (Se), etc.

Israeli scientists highly recommend 1000 microgram vitamin D consumption. None of this will kill COVID, it's just for immune system boost.

Herd immunization is when 70% of the population is either vaccinated or has been infected. Don't rely on this. Practice hygiene and isolation.

Some US scientists checked for COVID-caused antibodies in patients and found that 4.2% of the population might have been infected. 50x higher than previously thought.

COVID attacks white blood T-cells, similar to HIV. Reduction in T-cells increases complications and death. That's why some HIV drugs can help.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/186331

Kim K has a message for docs

Kardashyan thanked all Armenian-American doctors working in hospitals. https://youtu.be/DLsj66x0Sic?t=2

2000 Russian-Armenian are on the waiting list...

...to return to Armenia when more emergency flights are available. 1,500 others returned in April, says Armenian ambassador to Russia.

http://www.panarmenian.net/arm/news/280484/

Armenia's foreign debt & COVID

Armenia has $5.7b external debt. Govt owes the $5.2b (-1.2% vs January) while Central Bank owes the $0.5b (+2.1% vs January).

When calculated in Dollars, the foreign debt is down, but it's up in Drams.

In Drams, the foreign debt +3.5% vs January. This is because Dollar has been rising against Dram. Now, Dollar it's falling again, a good sign in this case.

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In addition to foreign debt, Armenia has internal $1.5b debt (+1.1% vs January). The internal debt isn't risked by Dram-Dollar fight.

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COVID will widen the budget deficit, forcing govt to borrow from international banks. Yesterday the govt predicted a -2% economic shrinkage for 2020.

https://hetq.am/hy/article/116380

Armenian Genocide / Public response / Events

Armenia has 3 Genocide survivors left. Mari Kirakosyan (1908), Yepraxi Gevorgyan (1914), and Ovsanna Mirkhanyan (1915). https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1013229.html

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Genocide co-organizer Jamal Pasha's grandson Hasan Jamal wrote: I share the pain of the Genocide of my Armenian brothers. https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1013303.html

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Turkish HDP MP Paylan: Armenian Genocide happened here in Turkey, so the Turkish Parliament has to discuss it. Armenian people and culture were destroyed. The denial continues. We still have streets named after Taleat and Enver Pashas. https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/186387

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US President Trump: today we pay respects to the victims of Mets Yeghern. 1.5mln Armenians were killed and forced to march to death. We're thankful to those Americans who decided to shelter and provide aid to Armenian refugees. We're happy that Armenians brought their rich culture here and greatly contributed to US development. https://twitter.com/ARAMAC_DC/status/1253680851730288640 , https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/186417

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French President Macaron: my brotherly and friendly greetings to Armenians. Today, France remembers the slaughter of 600 Armenian intellectuals in Constantinople. Last year I directed April 24th to be declared as Armenian Genocide remembrance day. https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/186390

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Civil Aviation chief Revazyan remembers how she visited Van in 2015. His grandpa escaped the Genocide in Van while disguised as a woman in traditional taraz dress. The rest of the family line didn't make it. https://factor.am/243759.html

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The Jerusalem Post: it's time for Israeli leaders to display real leadership and recognize the Armenian Genocide. https://factor.am/243843.html

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Washington Examiner: 100 years on, let's finally recognize the Armenian Genocide. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/op-eds/one-hundred-years-on-lets-finally-recognize-the-armenian-genocide

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Turkish President Erdogan: I send condolences to families of Armenian victims who died during the harsh WW1 times. Nothing can put a wedge between Turkey and its Armenian citizens. We must build a future together. Those circles who try to divide us, will not succeed. https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/186434

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Turkish MFA: the WW1 deportations of Armenians weren't part of a plan to exterminate them. https://factor.am/243815.html

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US Representative Judy Cho asked Donald Trump to recognize the Genocide.

US Senator Ted "the Zodiac" Cruz paid tributes to "1.5mln souls lost in the Armenian Genocide".

Presidential hopeful Joe Biden promised to recognize the Genocide if elected as president.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/186391 , https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1013356.html , https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1013396.html

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QP MPs want to close a "hate-speech loophole" by introducing a bill to ban the encouragement of genocide. https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/186372

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Church leader Garegin: pray for the victims. https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/186374

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Armenian church published a never before seen picture of Genocide orphans staying at a monastery-turned-hospital in Aug-25-2015: https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/186403

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Lebanon president: the crime lasts for as long as it goes unpunished. Armenian Genocide is an example. https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/186375

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Future Artsakh president Arayik: we'll continue the never-ending fight to strengthen our unified homeland. https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/186376

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Artsakh President Bako: thanks to every country that has recognized it and helps others to recognize it. https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/186378

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Armenian MFA: To this day, the Genocide influences the security of Armenians. Constant denial, closed borders, Artsakh hostilities, are a threat. 105 years ago, despite the international community's safety guarantees, Armenians were left vulnerable and became subject to atrocities, yet they survived. https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/186379

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Kremlin journalist: A crime without a statute of limitations. https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/186405

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Pashinyan: for the first time in 55 years we can't march to Tsitsernakaberd Memorial, so today we must do something symbolic and strong. Stay home and text to 1915 to have your name projected on the Memorial. https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/186377

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515,000 SMS containing names were sent to have their names beamed on the Memorial. It costs 1 Dram. The number is 1915 from Armenia, or +374-33-19-15-00 from diaspora. https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/186429

Here is how the names were projected on the wall: https://www.facebook.com/nikol.pashinyan/photos/a.1895098537477199/2618462701807442/?type=3&theater

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Chamber of Lawyers: we'll provide pro-bono legal help to residents who broke the quarantine order and visited Tsitsernakaberd. https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/186414

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Shirak govt installed a 21m tall Armenian flag near the border with Turkey, facing the historic Armenian capital Ani. https://factor.am/243835.html

Video https://youtu.be/E5xGKRayp04

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Prayers and messages were sent from: Canadian PM, MPs from EU nations, mayors, Ukraine Minister (while using the word Genocide), Estonian church, international sports stars, and many others...

Aurora humanitarian initiative has the nominees for 2020 award

Somalian Fartuun Adan and Elved Elman, for helping promote women's rights.

Congolese Angelica Namayka for helping >22,000 refugees.

Sophi Bon and Claus Vogel for helping 30,000 refugees near the Mediterranean.

Afghan Sakina Yaqubi for helping 16mln Afghan and Pakistani women with education.

https://news.am/arm/news/574673.html

Armen Sarkissian : Nous ne pouvons pas oublier le Génocide des Arméniens

President Sarkissian spoke with French paper Nouvelles d'Armenie about the Genocide.

French: http://www.armenews.com/spip.php?page=article&id_article=24675

Armenian: https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1013355.html

UCOM ISP's founder was serious about creating a new firm

Context

900 out of 2,000 UCOM workers earlier submitted their resignation due to HHK-linked shareholders' dispute with co-founder/director Yesayan.

Departing Yesayan has just created a new company. OLNET will provide "innovative digital services in the telecom field".

It's unclear how many of the 900 UCOM workers will actually leave to join OLNET.

UCOM's former and OLNET's current press secretary has announced the beginning of a hiring process.

UCOM says 200 of those 900 workers have already changed their minds and will stay.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/186380

https://youtu.be/1G8OceuGKQY

So, what's cooking in Ukraine?

A few things.

Ukrainian MP leaked a memo from the higher-ups telling Ukrainian politicians to avoid the word "Genocide" in order not to anger Turkey. Despite that, some MPs used the word.

Ukraine's Minister of Internal Affairs, an Armenian dude named Arsen Avakov, also used the word Genocide during a tribute.

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Meanwhile, Ukraine might appoint former Georgian president Saakashvili as Ukraine's Prime Minister. (Saakashvili served as a governor of a Ukraine province, after being forced to flee Georgia.)

Saakashvili has bad relations with the current Georgian govt. Georgian govt said they could recall their ambassador to Ukraine if Saakashvili becomes Prime Minister.

Saakashvili also has bad relations with Ukrainian Minister Arsen Avakov.

Waiting for some bolola 🍿🥤

https://www.lragir.am/2020/04/24/540465/

https://www.lragir.am/2020/04/24/540392/

weather is nuts

We're 1 month away from Summer. Drivers have already replaced their winter tires.... then Gegharquniq province gets covered in snow.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1013267.html

In case you missed Thursday news

https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/g6snfh/anticorruption_news_apr232020_early_cancer/

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Link to original report and comments: