Armenian “Gucci model” Armine Harutyunyan on “being different”

Public Radio of Armenia
Sept 5 2020

“It is better to be different than conform to others, even if this is not understood by everyone,” she said. “My advice is to concentrate on yourself, on who you are and what you really love.”

The remarks come after the Armine Harutyunyan’s “unconventional” appearance sparked a nation-wide debate in Italy last weekend about beauty standards, modelling and body-shaming.

Despite the model having appeared several times now on Gucci catwalks, it seems her inclusion in a list, since revealed to be non-existent, of the 100 sexiest models in the world drawn up by Gucci was the catalyst for the sudden spotlight on Harutyunyan, Forbes writes.

Harutyunyan is a 23-year-old Armenian model and a familiar face at Gucci shows led by Alessandro Michele. However, last week there was an explosion of criticism in Italian media and on social media channels about her “unusual” looks. She became the target of negative and hateful comments insulting her appearance and questioning her validity as a model. 


Fire at Armenia’s Proshyan Brandy Factory kills 2, injures 4

Panorama, Armenia
Sep 1 2020

Two people have been killed, while four others have been injured in a fire that broke out at the Proshyan Brandy Factory in the Armenian village of Armavir on Tuesday.

Emergency workers reached the scene after receiving a fire report in the afternoon.

The fire was contained at 12:44pm, the Ministry of Emergency Situations said.

The wounded people have been taken to Armenia Republican Medical Center in moderate condition, it added.

No other details were immediately available.



Armenia strongly condemns Azerbaijan’s degrading treatment of officer Gurgen Alaverdyan

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 10:44,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 28, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement on the violation of the rights of officer Gurgen Alaverdyan who appeared under the Azerbaijani jurisdiction.

ARMENPRESS presents the statement:

“We strongly condemn the degrading treatment of the officer Gurgen Alaverdyan, who appeared under the Azerbaijani jurisdiction on August 22. This is a flagrant and gross violation of the international humanitarian law.  

By publicly violating the dignity of Gurgen Alaverdyan,  Azerbaijan denies the right of the prisoners of war to be “entitled in all circumstances to respect for their persons and their honour” which is asserted by civilized humanity and enshrined in the Third Geneva Convention. Such practice represents a distinctive method of notorious terrorist organizations and, as we can observe, of Azerbaijan as well. 

The dictatorial regime of Azerbaijan, while feeding its people with disgraceful propaganda and Armenophobia, covers up the serious setbacks of its armed forces in the July battles by coercing the prisoner of war to read out its sham narratives. 

The fact that Azerbaijan is one of the few countries to have refused to ratify all the Additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions also demonstrates their disregard of the international humanitarian law. 

The continuous violations of international humanitarian law by Azerbaijan seriously undermine the establishment of an environment conducive to peace”.

Chess: FIDE Chess Olympiad: India enters semis after Armenia withdraws following rejection of appeal

The Times of India
Aug 28 2020
FIDE Chess Olympiad: India enters semis after Armenia withdraws following rejection of appeal
PTI
CHENNAI: India on Friday advanced to the semifinals of the FIDE Online Chess Olympiad after its opponent Armenia's withdrawal, following rejection of its appeal over one of its players losing a game due to internet disconnection.
India will take on the winner of the Azerbaijan versus Poland match in the semifinals on Saturday.
India had won the first round of matches 3.5-2.5 with captain Vidit S Gujrathi, D Harika and Nihal Sarin posting victories. While former world champion Viswanathan Anand drew his game against the Armenian No.1 Lev Aronian, Koneru Humpy and Vantika Agrawal suffered defeats.
The Armenians protested for a long time delaying the start of the second round of matches before withdrawing following rejection of their appeal.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/chess/fide-chess-olympiad-india-enters-semis-after-armenia-withdraws-following-rejection-of-appeal/articleshow/77808868.cms
Also
https://www.theweek.in/wire-updates/sports/2020/08/28/spd13-spo-chess-olympiad-ind.html
https://sportstar.thehindu.com/chess/online-chess-olympiad-india-reaches-semifinals-armenia-withdraws-nihal-sarin-aronian/article32468344.ece

Artsakh confirms 1 new case of COVID-19 in past 24 hours

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 11:28,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS. 1 new case of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has been confirmed in the Republic of Artsakh in the past 24 hours, the healthcare ministry said.

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Artsakh has reached 271, with 249 recoveries so far.

The number of active cases is 20.

Currently 39 citizens are quarantined.

No death case has been registered.

Two death cases have been registered, when the patients had a coronavirus but died from other disease. 

Reporting by Norayr Shoghikyan; Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Activists: A Security company of Lydian Armenia may lose its license

Arminfo, Armenia
Aug 24 2020

ArmInfo. Lydian Armenia's security company- "Special Security Service" LLC – may lose its license. This is stated in the statement of the Armenian Ecological  Front.  

Green activists report that, according to official data (the  response of the RA Police to the request of the deputy Sofia  Hovsepyan), the "Special Security Service", based on the license  issued to it, does not have permission to store and use civilian  weapons and cartridges. Meanwhile, in the first days of their  security activities in Amulsar, the employees of this organization  openly carried weapons, which local residents and activists described  as a provocation and an act of intimidation. 

"In response to the inquiry of the Armenian Ecological Front, the  Police informed that in connection with the admission of possible  violations by the Special Security Service LLC, administrative  proceedings were instituted in the Police. The results were presented  to the Licensing Commission of the Police for discussion with a  proposal to suspend the company's license. The conclusion made  following the meeting of the licensing commission will be posted on  the official website www.azdarar.am>, activists report.

The Armenian Ecological Front reminds that the "Special Security  Service" began its work in Amulsar on June 30 this year, after which  a number of provocative actions took place on the part of its  employees. In particular, they dismantled the cabins of activists in  the approaches to Amulsar, installing their own in their place, which  resulted in clashes with local residents. Four employees of the  security company were detained on suspicion of hooliganism. As a  result, by the decision of the community, their cabins were also  dismantled, since they were located in the territory outside the  jurisdiction of Lydian Armenia.  

On August 20, in front of the RA Government, a protest action was  held by green activists and residents of Jermuk demanding to withdraw  the draft EIA (environmental impact assessment) for the Amulsar mine.   The protesters also pointed out that on August 19, the Lydian Armenia  security company used force against activists who parked their cars  near Amulsar.  The total cost of the Amulsar project is $ 370  million. 

The life of the mine is 10 years and 4 months, with an average annual  production of 200 thousand ounces of gold planned. We add that Lydian  Armenia is a subsidiary of the British offshore Lydian International.  Environmentalists and ordinary citizens are concerned that the  exploitation of the mine may lead to the pollution of the mineral  underground waters of Jermuk and Lake Sevan. In addition to the water  basin, the public is also concerned about the possible presence of  uranium manifestations at the deposit.  Environmentalists and  activists demand to invalidate the positive conclusion on the EIA  project, since it was adopted with legislative violations, and the  document itself contains problems and shortcomings. Earlier, the  European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) announced the  completion of its participation in the development project of the  Amulsar mine. 



Azerbaijani press: Armenia’s attempt to move its combat positions towards Azerbaijan’s state border suppressed

BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 18

By Samir Ali – Trend:

Shortly after the transfer of the Azerbaijani-Armenian state border control in Azerbaijan’s Gazakh and Aghstafa districts to the State Border Service of Azerbaijan, 89 border points meeting the latest standards and four complexes of military units were built and put into operation for border guards on the line of contact with Armenia, Chief of the State Border Service, Colonel General Elchin Guliyev said, Trend reports.

Work in one military unit and three border points is nearing completion, Guliyev noted.

“In order to create favorable conditions of the service for repelling possible provocations of Armenia, organize safe service, and gain an advantage on the entire front line, comprehensive measures were taken within territories under the service's control. Measures are being continued to increase the combat capability of border points, to equip border guards with the most modern weapons, detection devices and other technical means, as well as to improve engineering work,” the colonel general said.

Guliyev particularly noted the construction of roads leading to and between combat posts throughout the service area, the installation of protective barriers along the roads in order to ensure security, the provision of all border combat posts with special radio communications, the modernization of the line communication system and installation of hundreds of surveillance cameras and solar panels at the posts.

“The provocations by Armenia’s armed units in the border zone, their repeated attempts to move their combat positions towards our state border were resolutely suppressed,” said the colonel general.

“Following retaliatory measures, many of our positions were relocated, which made it possible to increase the security of nearby settlements, main routes and personnel, to create new border combat posts in strategically advantageous directions. At the same time, the possibilities for observation over the enemy's settlements, its main routes and strategic objects were expanded,” Guliyev said.

The chief of the service noted that for all the provocations of Armeniathat didn’t refrain from using weapons against Azerbaijani border guards performing engineering work, Azerbaijani border guards gave a decent response; the firing points of the Armenian side were suppressed, the soldiers were destroyed.

"Securing the section of the state border with Armenia in the territories of Gazakh and Aghstafa districts by the State Border Service is an indicator of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief's high confidence in the Azerbaijani border guards, ensuring the integrity of state borders and continuing the victorious march that began in Lalatapa," said the colonel general.

“Our armed forces resolutely stopped the provocations carried out by the Armenian armed forces in the direction of Azerbaijan’s Tovuz district along the Azerbaijani-Armenian state border on July 12; heroism of our soldiers and officers forced Armenian armed forces to retreat, incurring losses,” Guliyev noted.

The rally of thousands of people in support of the Azerbaijani army and the Supreme Commander-in-Chief on July 14 in Baku once again demonstrated the invincible will of the Azerbaijani people, their confidence in the president and national armed forces, the chief of the service stressed.

"The firm position of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, the growing power of the Azerbaijani army and the fighting spirit of the Azerbaijani people will ensure the liberation of the occupied territories of Azerbaijan in the near future," added Guliyev.

Armenia CDC reports 145 new coronavirus cases

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 11:05, 18 August, 2020

YEREVAN, AUGUST 18, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Center for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting 145 coronavirus cases and 327 recoveries in the last 24 hours.

8 patients died from COVID-19 complications over the past day, bringing the total death toll to 832. This number doesn’t include the deaths of 245 other individuals infected with the virus who died from other pre-existing illnesses.

A total of 186661 tests were conducted in Armenia so far, with 1067 in the last 24 hours.

The cumulative total number of confirmed cases is 41846, with 34982 recoveries.

As of August 18 the number of active cases stands at 5787.

Reporting by Lilit Demuryan; Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

Minister of Nature Protection said that a program to restore fish stocks in Lake Sevan will start on August 20

Arminfo, Armenia
Aug 19 2020

ArmInfo. Minister of Nature Protection Romanos Petrosyan said that on August 20 a new program to restore fish stocks in Lake Sevan will start. Petrosyan said this live on his Facebook page.

The Minister noted that many fishermen catch fish every day in Lake  Sevan, and such a situation is unacceptable. "I would like to inform  you that, starting from July of this year, the employees of the  "Sevan " National Park, as well as representatives of the police, are  monitoring the fish catch from Sevan. The boats that are engaged in  fishing are closely monitored, as well as how many kilograms of fish  were caught, "Petrosyan stressed.

He also stressed that the ecosystem of Sevan is in a very poor  condition and the situation should be urgently corrected. Petrosyan  stressed that the assistance of the country's citizens is of  particular importance in this matter.

"The Ministry of the Nature Protection is taking all the necessary  steps to improve the situation, but citizen participation is also  very important. I ask our citizens not to buy fry, fishing in Lake  Sevan is prohibited. By buying fry, we actually support illegal  fishing in the lake, "the Minister stressed.

To note, the new minister recently visited Sevan and noted that the  problem of the lake must be approached in a comprehensive manner. The  minister plans to increase the water level in the lake by 3.5 meters,  restore treatment facilities not only for mechanical treatment, but  also build at least three biological treatment plants. Also, this  year, work will be carried out to clean up 279 hectares of flooded  forest areas on the south-eastern coast of Sevan.



High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs: Armenia needs to receive Lebanese-Armenians worthily

News.am, Armenia
Aug 14 2020

15:55, 14.08.2020