Armenia’s Simon Martirosyan lifted a combined 417kg to win a silver medal in men’s 105kg weightlifting at the Rio Games.
Martirosyan, 19, lifted 190kg in the snatch and 227kg in the clean and jerk.
Ruslam Nuradinov of Uzbekistan claimed the title with a combined 421kg and set a new Olympic record.
On July 21, Edward Nalbandian, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, received Jim Costa, U.S. House of Representatives Congressman.
Welcoming the guest, Minister Nalbandian highly appreciated the friendly partnership between Armenia and the United States, as well as the steps being undertaken in that direction. In this regard the Foreign Minister of Armenia attached importance to the intensive cooperation established between the legislative bodies of the two countries. Edward Nalbandian thanked Jim Costa for his efforts towards the recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
Expressing gratitude for the reception, Congressman Costa mentioned that for years he has been pursuing issues of high importance for Armenia and the Armenian people in the U.S. Congress, and he is glad to visit Armenia to get first-hand information and exchange views on the regional problems and the ways to resolve them.
During the meeting a wide range of issues on the expansion of cooperation between Armenia and the United States was discussed.
Minister Nalbandian and Congressman Costa exchanged views on regional issues.
Edward Nalbandian informed Jim Costa on the efforts being undertaken towards the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue and the overcoming of consequences of the large-scale military actions unleashed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) this April.
Jim Costa mentioned that as the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair country, the United States will continue its efforts aimed the exclusively peaceful settlement of the issue through negotiations.
A souvenir sheet and a mini-sheet with four stamps dedicated to the visit of Pope Francis to Armenia have been put into circulation
On 24 June 2016 “Haypost” closed joint stock company puts into circulation a souvenir sheet with one stamp and four postage stamps designed into a mini sheet in a form of a cross, dedicated to the visit of His Holiness Pope Francis to Armenia.
The official cancelation ceremony of the souvenir sheet and mini-sheet took place at the Presidential Palace of the RA in the presence of high-ranking delegations from Armenia and Vatican.
The souvenir sheet with one stamp depicts Pope Francis against the backgrounds of Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, as well as the logo dedicated to the visit of Pope Francis to Armenia and the coat of arms of Pope Francis.
The format of four stamps designed into a form of a cross has been selected by “Haypost Trust Management b.v.”, a company that belongs to Mr. Eduardo Eurnekian, an Argentinian Armenian businessman, and has a symbolic meaning for the visit of Pope Francis to the first Christian Nation. The four stamps depict Pope Francis against the backgrounds of a statue to Saint Gregory the Illuminator donated to the Vatican by Armenia, a monument dedicated to the theme “Armenia – the first Christian Nation” in Yerevan, inner parts of the Main Cathedral of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and Saint Peter`s Basilica in the Vatican.
The souvenir sheet has an inscription “Pope Francis. Armenia. 24-26 June, 2016”, as well as “Visit to the first Christian Nation” which is the official motto of this visit.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s future remains up in the air and it’s starting to frustrate his agent Mino Raiola, who reportedly tossed a chair during heated discussions with Borussia Dortmund, according to .
The Armenian playmaker has his sights set on a move from the Bundesliga to the Premier League and Raiola says Manchester United is his dream club.
Raiola told German newspaper Bild he is happy to fight for what his client wants, which is to play under Jose Mourinho next season, saying: “Henrikh is not the type to have conflicts, he leaves that to me. We will not give up.”
Dortmund is keen to keep Mkhitaryan for one more season, which would conclude his contract, after he delivered 23 goals and 32 assists last campaign.
Raiola, who also represents likely United mega-signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic, previously detailed his troubles with securing the move Mkhitaryan wants.
“We have both taken very different views and fight for them like lions,” he told Bild earlier this week.
“Even though it does not look like it right now, I still hope for a sensible solution.
“Such an offer to join Manchester United might only come once in a lifetime for a player and nobody can guarantee us that the door will still be open for Micki next season. Manchester are Micki’s dream club, he wants to join them by any means.”
– Turkey is blocking the plans of a senior German defence official to visit Incirlik air base in July, a spokesman for the German defence ministry said on Wednesday, in a sign of increasingly tense relations between the two NATO allies.
Germany has about 250 soldiers stationed at the base in southern Turkey, along with six Tornado reconnaissance jets and a refueling plane, all of which are participating in a U.S.-led air campaign against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria.
“Turkish officials do not currently approve of the travel plans,” a ministry spokesman said, confirming a report published by the website of the German magazine Spiegel.
Ralf Brauksiepe, a deputy to German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen, had planned to visit the Incirlik military air base along with some German lawmakers next month, the spokesman said, adding that Berlin still hoped the trip could go ahead.
Turkish officials were not immediately available for comment.
Just last week, a German defence ministry spokesman had said the two countries were finalizing an agreement on construction of new housing and aircraft facilities for German forces at the Incirlik air base, holding the deal up as evidence of the continued strength of German-Turkish military relations.
Ties between Germany and Turkey have been strained over a number of issues, including a resolution adopted by the German parliament that declares the 1915 massacres of Armenians by Ottoman Turkish forces a genocide.
The Venice Commission at its meeting on 10-11 June in Venice has endorsed a on the draft electoral code of Armenia.
Executive summary is below:
11. The Venice Commission and OSCE/ODIHR have closely followed changes to the Electoral Code of Armenia through several opinions. The proposed draft electoral code follows the 2015 adoption of a revised Constitution. In line with previous Venice Commission and OSCE/ODIHR opinions and reports, it is underscored that the key challenge for the conduct of genuinely democratic elections is the exercise of political will by all stakeholders to fully and effectively uphold the letter and the spirit of the law. The timeframe for reform is regrettably very short, as the Constitution provides that the new code has to enter into force by 1 June 2016. While the stability of the electoral system is a key principle, it is equally important to have sufficient time for a thorough, inclusive, and public discussion in order to build consensus and confidence around major changes in electoral legislation.
12. The draft electoral code could provide an adequate basis for the conduct of democratic elections, and has addressed some prior Venice Commission and OSCE/ODIHR recommendations. For example, it introduces a system to improve voter identification, enhances the Central Electoral Commission regulatory powers, strengthens the quota for the participation of women as candidates, removes provisions that could lead to the arbitrary withdrawal of observer accreditation, and systematises the rules on campaigning.
13. However, significant concerns exist in the draft code, including with regard to insufficient measures to enhance confidence in the accuracy of voter lists, a lack of clarity as to how the introduction of new technologies may be implemented, and the restrictions on citizen election observers. The draft code also does not address a number of prior recommendations related to the effectiveness of complaints and appeals procedures, the transparency and accountability of campaign finance, safeguards against potential abuse of state resources, and clarity of the role and oversight of media during elections.
14. Mainly in order to address the constitutional requirement to guarantee a “stable majority”, the new electoral system proposed in the draft code is rather complex. It establishes a number of significant deviations from a purely proportional system, which in combination with the short time allocated to carry out the reform, may affect voters’ trust in the electoral system.
15. It is recommended to address the following key issues:
A. The draft code establishes limitations and deadlines for the formation of coalitions after the first round of elections. These provisions unduly limit the possibility of building a political coalition as a means for ensuring the “stable majority” required by the Constitution. It is recommended to reconsider restrictions on the number of participants in a coalition and extend the time period for formation of coalitions after the first round.
B. Concerns regarding the accuracy of voter lists and potential impersonation of voters de facto abroad underlie longstanding opposition and civil society calls to publish signed voter lists after election day. Publication of signed voters’ lists raises a number of concerns regarding privacy of information. The concerns expressed by civil society seem to have been at least partially addressed in the interim version of the draft code, through the possibility of accessing the list of voters who voted. Considering the importance of ensuring a balance between data protection and the secrecy of the vote on the one hand and stakeholders’ interest in consulting the signed voter lists on the other, it is recommended, as a confidence building measure, to allow meaningful consultation of signed voter lists by stakeholders under specific conditions.
C. The draft code envisages the introduction of new technologies in respect of voter registration and identification. It is welcome that voter registration and identification issues are addressed, but the proper implementation of new technologies has to be ensured. Particularly in light of the short time before the next elections and the need to build trust in the electoral process, it is recommended that a number of issues be thoroughly considered, including harmonising new provisions with existing data protection laws and standards, applying proper procedures for procurement, ensuring public testing and certification of the equipment, guaranteeing contingency planning, providing sufficient training for electoral staff, and ensuring effective awareness-raising among voters and political parties. A gradual approach to the introduction of such technologies through a series of pilots would be a measure to enhance confidence in the system and provide opportunities to address technical issues regarding effective implementation. Initial pilots could take place, for example, during the upcoming local elections.
16. Additional recommendations include:
D. The draft code establishes or maintains restrictions on citizen election observers which may impede their activity and undermine transparency of the electoral process. It is recommended to remove the mandatory testing and certification of citizen observers, as well as the requirement that the charters of citizen observer organisations be in force for the three years preceding the elections, as this would deprive new organisations of the possibility to observe elections.
E. The code should further guarantee the independence of the electoral administration, notably, by ensuring that presidential powers to nominate members of the Central Electoral Commission in case of a parliamentary stalemate are exercised in consultation with all parliamentary parties and by clarifying the procedure for the early termination of mandate.
F. While the draft code improves the previous gender quota for candidate lists, increasing it from 20 to 25 per cent within certain brackets of the list, the impact might be limited. It is recommended that the draft code provide for a still more effective quota for women’s representation, for example by placing women among every two or three candidates.
G. Particularly in light of the extensive changes to the electoral system, the draft code would benefit from simplifying and clarifying procedures for voting, counting and tabulation, as well as the determination of election results. This would also require extensive training for electoral staff and comprehensive voter education well in advance of elections to ensure better understanding of the process and enhanced public confidence.
H. Electoral reform requires broad and public discussion in order to encourage participation in the process and acceptance of the outcomes. Final amendments to the code should ensure meaningful engagement with all relevant stakeholders, so as to encourage broad agreement and support for the new code.
17. In this joint opinion, the Venice Commission and the OSCE/ODIHR have made recommendations to the authorities of the Republic of Armenia in support of their efforts to improve election-related legislation and bring it more closely in line with OSCE commitments and European and international standards. However, it must be emphasised that, in addition to further amendments to the legislative framework, an effective and impartial implementation of the law is necessary to ensure conduct of elections in line with international standards.
 is displaying a large-scale electronic billboard in Foxboro, Mass., thanking Germany for recognizing the Armenian Genocide, the reports.
Titled “Truth Vs. National Interest,” this billboard illustrates, on the left side, the German flag and, on the opposite side, the dome of the U.S. Capitol building, where the United States Senate and House of Representatives come together to debate and discuss national and political issues.
Peace of Art president Daniel Varoujan Hejinian stated that “with this billboard, we express gratitude on behalf of our organization for Germany’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide; simultaneously, we are  calling on the United States to follow Germany’s act of courage, and set aside its commercial interest for the sake of the truth.”
During World War I, Imperialist Germany was an ally of the Ottoman Empire and had its share of guilt in the implementation of the Armenian Genocide, by justifying and encouraging the crime against humanity.  In 1918, Hans von Wangenheim, the German ambassador in Constantinople, said in an interview with an American journalist, “I do not blame the Turks for what they are doing to the Armenians… They are entirely justified.”  It has been argued that this justification was the motivation for Hitler to organize the mass extermination of Jews during World War II.
The recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Germany this month was the answer to a question asked 75 years ago by Adolf Hitler: “Who today remembers the annihilation of the Armenians?”
Asbarez – Representative Adam Schiff, the lead sponsor of the Armenian Genocide Truth and Justice Resolution in Congress, as well as the co-chairmen of the Congressional Armenian Issues Caucus, representatives Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Robert Dold (R-Ill.) released a statements Thursday following the German Bundestag’s historic vote to recognize the Armenian Genocide. Also applauding the Bundestag decision was California Congressman Jim Costa.
“I commend the overwhelming vote by the German Bundestag to recognize the Armenian Genocide. With this acknowledgement of the facts of the genocide, Germany joins a host of other European countries in recognizing and condemning the slaughter of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923. The German vote is particularly courageous as it comes in the midst of negotiations with Turkey regarding the flow of refugees and migrants into Europe. It sends a clear message that the truth of genocide cannot be silenced and that temporary expediency can never justify complicity in genocide denial,” Schiff said.
“Our own Congress should demonstrate the same willingness to defy Turkish threats, and the same moral integrity and commitment to principle by following Germany’s example,” asserted the Congressman.
“We applaud the German parliament for acknowledging the atrocities committed against the Armenian people for exactly what they were – genocide. The German people have had their own internal struggle in dealing with crimes against humanity in their history, and it is a powerful statement that they are now honoring the countless victims of the Armenian Genocide,” said Pallone and Dold.
“Now, it is time for the U.S. government to properly recognize historical fact and pass our bipartisan resolution to recognize the Armenian Genocide. By recognizing these horrific crimes as genocide, we can once again renew our commitment to prevent such atrocities from occurring again. The United States must push Turkey to come to terms with its own history and remove their shrouded policy of denial from covering up one of the most horrific tragedies in world history,” added the Armenian Issues Caucus co-chairmen.
“Critics always say it is never the right time to recognize the Armenian Genocide; however, the German Parliament reaffirms now is the time. Yet the United States continues to fail to stand up and do the right thing” said Rep. Costa. “I applaud the German Parliament for condemning the horrific genocide that took place over 100 years ago by the Ottoman Empire. I urge the President and Congress to follow the lead of Germany and other brave countries to once and for all adopt a clear policy recognizing the Armenian Genocide,” said Rep. Costa.
A deal has been agreed for Jose Mourinho to become Manchester United’s new manager, after three days of talks, the BBC reports.
Negotiations between Mourinho’s agent Jorge Mendes and senior United officials have concluded, although no contract has been signed.
An official announcement from the club is expected on Friday.
The Portuguese will replace Dutchman Louis van Gaal, who was sacked on Monday, two days after United won the FA Cup.