Author: Andranik Taslakhchian

Photo: AFP

 

Donald Trump has indicated he will scrap plans to find cash for his border wall in this week’s spending bill, the BBC reports.

The president’s close adviser, Kellyanne Conway, said funding for the wall would be left out of a budget measure that must pass by Friday.

Building the wall, paid for by Mexico, was a key campaign promise.

Democrats had threatened to block the bill if money was earmarked for the wall, so its omission may now avert a government shutdown.

But the president insisted on Twitter that he still supported the wall and that it would be built.

The centrist Emmanuel Macron and far-right leader Marine Le Pen have won the first round of voting in French presidential elections, projected results say, the BBC reports.

Mr Macron won 23.7%, while Ms Le Pen won 21.7%, French TV says.

The two saw off a strong challenge from centre-right François Fillon and the hard-left Jean-Luc Mélenchon, according to the projections.

The pair now face a run-off vote on 7 May.

Whoever wins the next round, the voting marks a shift away from the left and centre-right parties that have long dominated French politics.

Turnout nationally appears to be similar to the last election in 2012.

Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and defender Marcos Rojo have both suffered cruciate knee-ligament injuries and face lengthy spells out of action, the BBC reports.

Ibrahimovic landed awkwardly when challenging for the ball during the Europa League quarter-final second-leg win over Anderlecht.

The ex-Sweden international is United’s top scorer this season, with 28 goals.

Rojo was replaced on 23 minutes after colliding with a visiting player.

Ibrahimovic, 35, joined the club on a free transfer from Paris St-Germain last summer but is yet to agree an extension to his one-year United deal.

Rojo’s injury leaves United manager Jose Mourinho short of options at centre-back with England internationals Phil Jones and Chris Smalling already on the sidelines.

Eric Bailly and Daley Blind are United’s only fit senior centre-backs heading into Sunday’s game at Burnley, with the Manchester derby at Etihad Stadium to follow on Thursday.

Photo: Khone Saysamongdy/The Collegian

 

It was an afternoon of remembrance and solidarity as Fresno State welcomed Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia, Grigor Hovahannissian, to campus Saturday, reports.

The ambassador was accompanied by Fresno State President Dr. Joseph Castro and honorary consul for the Republic of Armenia Barj K. Apkarian for a tour of the Armenian Genocide Monument, which was unveiled in 2015.

“This monument is a powerful pride point for us because it’s the only one of its kind on a university campus in the United States,” Castro said. “I think it says to our Armenian community and to all communities that we stand with them, that we support them.”

Castro said the monument also honors the memories of those who paid a heavy price for people to be here today.

“To have one of the finest universities in the state of California dedicate a place to erect this amazing monument, this [is a] powerful symbol that contains symbolism that we feel radiates solidarity,” said Hovahannissian.

The visit took place on the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Armenian Armed Forces. The ambassador noted how significant the republic’s rebirth was to the Armenian people.

“[The anniversary] is a very symbolic day for us,” said Hovahannissian. “I wanted to spend it with a powerful dynamic, a beautiful community that I like so much.”

Following a moment of siouvenilence for those lost to the genocide 100 years ago, Castro gave the ambassador an official Fresno State sr. The two shook hands.

Castro said the ambassador’s visit as an important representation of the growth in Fresno State’s relationships with universities in Armenia.

“I think that is very important for our students to be able to have the opportunity to go abroad to study and for students outside of the United States to come and study,” Castro said. “It enriches the educational opportunities for everyone. So we’re honored to have the ambassador here today.”

Among those in attendance was Congressman Jim Costa, who paid respect to the Armenian community and honored the ongoing relation between the Armenian presence in the San Joaquin Valley and Armenia.

Costa said, “I’m very proud of the Armenian families that have made this Valley what it is today. Truly, generations after generations of Armenians have come to our country and have come to this Valley to have a better opportunity for themselves and their families. Their success has been our success.”

On 17 January Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan received personal representative of the OSCE chairman-in-office, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk.

The meeting addressed a number of issues related to the situation along the contact line between the Nagorno Karabagh and Azerbaijan armed forces.

The first of two flight data recorders belonging to the sunken military plane in the Black Sea has been raised to the surface, a source in the Russian security services told RIA Novosti on Tuesday.

The flight parameter and cockpit voice recorder were presumed to be located in the tail assembly of the Russian Defense Ministry’s Tu-154.

“The first Tu-154 black box was found and raised to the surface at 8:48 a.m. [05:48 GMT],” the source said.

The Russian Defense Ministry’s Tu-154 aircraft en route to Syria from Moscow crashed soon after takeoff near Russia’s Black Sea resort of Sochi early on Sunday.

The plane was carrying 92 people including eight crew members, 64 musicians of the Alexandrov Ensemble, nine reporters, head of Spravedlivaya Pomoshch (Fair Aid) charity Elizaveta Glinka, and two federal civil servants.

Asbarez  – The City of Glendale has hired Meridian Consultants to perform the environmental analysis for the proposed improvements to the Central Park block, including the potential construction of a new public parking garage, reconfiguration of existing public parking facilities, and development of the Armenian American Museum. These improvements are commonly referred to as the Central Park Block Project.

The Central Park block is located between Colorado Street to the South and Harvard Street to the North and Louise Street to the East and Parking Lot 10 to the West.

Meridian Consultants is a leader in the fields of community, environmental, and natural resource planning. The Meridian Consultants team will be using its extensive experience in land use planning and environmental compliance to analyze the Downtown Glendale site and prepare environmental documentation for the proposed improvements.

The study will help the Armenian American Museum and City of Glendale determine the optimal scope and size for the public parking garage, open space, and educational and cultural center. The Museum will neighbor the Central Library, Americana at Brand, Museum of Neon Arts, and Adult Recreation Center in the heart of Glendale’s Arts and Entertainment District.

The vision for the Museum is a cultural campus that enriches the community, educates the public on the Armenian American story, and empowers individuals to embrace cultural diversity and speak out against prejudice. The proposed Museum’s exhibition galleries will house permanent exhibitions on the Armenian American experience and traveling exhibitions on diverse cultures and subject matters that will engage broad audiences. The center will also feature a theater, research center, learning center, demonstration kitchen, and archive space.

Museum and City officials are on schedule to complete the concept design, traffic, parking, economic, and environmental studies in time for the consideration of the ground lease agreement by the Glendale City Council during the first quarter of 2017.

Earlier this month the Armenian American Museum unveiled its concept design at a gathering of more than 400 community members. The iconic design incorporates the rock formations and mountain range found in Armenia with the San Gabriel Mountains rising to the north of Glendale. Museum officials will be organizing community events and meetings to invite feedback on the design and location from the public.

– Cristiano Ronaldo has beaten off competition from the likes of Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann to claim his fourth Ballon d’Or.

The prolific Portuguese, who previously lifted the prestigious prize in 2008, 2013 and 2014, has enjoyed arguably the most successful year of his illustrious career, winning the Champions League with Real Madrid before captaining his country to European Championship glory in France.

Messi, who boasts a record five Ballons d’Or, helped Barcelona win a domestic double last season but his dream of leading Argentina to a major international title was dashed by a penalty-shootout loss to Chile in the final of the Copa America.

As for Griezmann, the 24-year-old attacker fired both Atletico Madrid and France to the finals of the Champions League and Euro 2016, respectively, but he suffered the agony of defeat on both occasions.

Ronaldo, by contrast, tasted nothing but success over the summer by converting the winning spot-kick in Real’s 11th European Cup triumph, in May, and then cheer-leading the Seleccao to victory over France in Paris just over six weeks later.

Armenia and the World Bank have signed a US$50 million development policy finance operation to support the Government’s reforms program across key economic areas. The Fourth Development Policy Financing (DPF-4) for Armenia supports a wide range of reforms promoting fiscal, social and environmental sustainability and strengthening competitiveness. This is the last operation in a programmatic series of four DPFs spanning 2013-2016.

“We aim to support macroeconomic stability in Armenia. This operation will help to improve the country’s competitiveness and business environment, and enhance employment opportunities”, said Laura E. Bailey, World Bank Country Manager for Armenia. “The DPF series are based on a longstanding partnership between the Bank and Armenia and builds on previous operations. The current series is focused on supporting the Government in addressing challenges faced by the country with high external vulnerability and persistent unemployment.”

The first pillar of this operation includes measures for improving the financial sustainability of key sectors and the efficiency of social protection programs while enhancing environmental safeguards in the mining industry, which accounts for over half of Armenia’s exports. The second pillar, on improving competitiveness, focuses on strengthening the business environment and improving trade facilitation and connectivity, as well as access to credit.

Key milestones supported by this operation include the enactment of the Unified Tax Code, which will address shortcomings in the tax system, and increase the fiscal space for growth-enhancing capital investment and social spending. It includes measures to enhance revenues, improve the efficiency, transparency and equity of the tax system, and to strengthen tax administration.

“The new Code is a major step forward in the tax policy reform, as it unifies and harmonizes what were previously two different sets of tax laws, bringing them together into a single Code. The Code will reduce the risk of rule duplication and, more importantly, of inconsistencies across different tax laws. By revisiting the level and structure of income taxes, reducing the number of exemptions and tax gaps, increasing excise taxes and strengthening coverage of high-wealth individuals and large companies, the Code will lead to higher revenue mobilization in the medium-term,” said Gohar Gyulumyan, World Bank Co-Task Team Leader of the Project.

The program supports several reforms aimed at enhancing environmental safeguard legislation. In particular, the amendments to the Mining Code to align with the Law on Waste Management will reduce the negative environmental impacts from mining operations and preserve the asset endowment for households in rural areas, which often depend on income from agricultural activity.

Another focus area of this operation is improvement in the business environment, through enactment of the amendments to the Law on Bankruptcy, which strikes a better balance between creditors’ and debtors’ rights. The operation also supports increasing transparency and reliability of the financial sector by enacting regulations to ensure disclosure of beneficial ownership of financial institutions and groups.

The Fourth DPF, totaling US$50 million, is an IBRD loan with a fixed spread with a 14.5-year grace period and repayment of 25 years.

Since joining the World Bank in 1992 and IDA in 1993, total IDA and IBRD commitments to Armenia amount to US$2.3 billion.

After finally getting a run in the Manchester United first team under, the Armenia international is determined to keep impressing the Portuguese coach.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan says he was at fault for taking longer than expected to earn a first-team berth at Manchester United, not Jose Mourinho.

“There was no bad relation with him [Mourinho], it was always good but the problem wasn’t him, it was me,” he told .

“Now I understand why I have got my chance and I will keep it, I will hold it, because it is very important for me to play, to be a part of Manchester United.

“I was thinking that I would be here as a starting line-up player but when I arrived I saw that there were 25 players fighting for their place and I understood that it wasn’t going to be easy.

“I had a bad game against Manchester City but that is in the past so I kept working. I have done a great job to get my chance back and I think I did it a really long way until I start playing.”

Mkhitaryan earned a standing ovation after assisting two goals in last month’s 4-1 EFL Cup win over West Ham before turning in another fine performance from the start against Everton on Sunday.

And he hopes to maintain that form and earn a regular place in Mourinho’s plans going forward.