Brussels hosts 5th round of Armenia-EU talks

The fifth round of the negotiations on the EU- Armenia new framework agreement on trade and investment launched in BrusselsĀ on December 13, the Armenian Ministry of Economic Development and Investments informs.

The Armenian delegationĀ is headed by Garegin Melkonyan, the First Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Investments.

The following directions are on the agenda of the fifth round of negotiations:Ā “Trade”, Dispute settlement”, “Transparency”, “Technical barriers to trade,” “Sanitary and phytosanitary measures”, “Custom matters (including a protocol on mutual administrative assistance in customs matters)”, “Protection of intellectual property rights” , “Trade in services” and “Investments.”

Matt Griggs waves Armenian flag after winning Australian 50km Road Walk Championship

Less than six months after knee surgery Canberra walker Matt Griggs (ACT) claimed the Australian 50km Road Walk Championship at Fawkner Park on Sunday.

As most of the elite walkers were on a break following their Olympic campaigns Griggs was the only man in the field, making his solo time of 4:36:14 even more impressive.

The 38-year-old has been based in Armenia and upon his most recent trip back home in June he made a bold plan to get fit enough to line up for the longest race in track and field.

In early July he clocked a time of 12min 43sec for a 2km road walk but pushed on from there to eventually lose 15kg, which saw him line up on the weekend tipping the scales at just 80 kilograms.

ā€œSix months ago Iā€™d actually just had knee surgery living in Armenia, weighed about 95 kilos and I came back to Australia after my wife got a visa and started training in June,ā€ Griggs told AthsVicTV after the race.

ā€œI wanted to walk 50 kilometres, and I set myself that goal and just wanted to come here and race ā€“ obviously I had no idea Iā€™d be doing it by myself.

ā€œLucky for me, good timing all the Olympic guys were having a rest, and Iā€™m here.

ā€œYou know 50K, respect to the distance itā€™s a bloody long way, anyone thatā€™s done it props to you ā€“ after 30K I didnā€™t look at the time, I just tried to keep going.ā€

Griggs was a top junior walker in the late ā€˜90s, taking bronze in the 1996 Australian U18 8km walk and silver in the 1997 Australian U20 20km, before leaving the sport and later living for a period overseas in Armenia.

Danny Murphy hails Man Utdā€™s Henrikh Mkhitaryan as a top player

Danny Murphy has hailed Manchester United signing Henrikh Mkhitaryan as a top player, according to The Sport Review.

Former Liverpool and Tottenham midfielder Murphy explained why he is big admirer of the United attacker.

ā€œHe is a super player. He can see a pass. He is sharp and he is strong,ā€ Murphy told BBC Oneā€™s Football Focus show.

ā€œI canā€™t understand why he hasnā€™t adapted more quickly. He has put some blame on himself which is nice to see a player taking some responsibility. Hopefully we will see the best of him now.ā€

Mkhitaryan was the third of Mourinhoā€™s four summer signings after the Red Devils boss signed Eric Bailly, Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Steinmeier calls for intensification of Karabakh talks

The OSCE is concerned by the recent events in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, OSCE Chairman-in-Office, German Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier said, addressing the OSCE Ministerial Council in Hamburg.

ā€œIn April, there was an escalation in the zone of the conflict, which shows that there is a danger of the re-ignition of this conflict,ā€ Steinmeier said.

According to him, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remains dangerous and it is necessary to hold negotiations to find a solution to this conflict.

He also attached importance to the humanitarian aspects of the conflict resolution.

Steinmeier expressed full support for the OSCE Minsk Group. ā€œThere is a format for mediation in the negotiations on this conflict ā€“ this is the OSCE Minsk Group. It is now necessary for this process to get a second wind,ā€ he added.

Mkhitaryan: Weā€™re in Odessa for a win

Manchester United only need a point against Zorya Luhansk to qualify for the last 32 of the Europa League but Henrikh Mkhitaryan insists the Reds will be playing to win in Ukraine on Thursday night.

Mkhitaryan could be involved for the Reds at Odessa’s Chornomorets Stadium, the venue where he scored a hat-trick while playing for Shakhtar Donetsk in August 2012.

And the Armenian feels that approaching the final Group A clash with the right mindset could have a positive knock-on effect for the subsequent Premier League game against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

ā€œWe are not going to play for a draw,ā€ he told . ā€œIt would be good to win before the game against Tottenham ā€“ good for our mentality, good for the atmosphere in the dressing room. We will try to win and be ready for the next game as well.

ā€œBut it’s not going to be easy. Our opponent defends very well and plays with counter-attacks. The quality of the pitch might also have a role. We have to be ready for all kinds of situations and fight until the end.ā€

Mkhitaryanā€™s encouraging recent form, which yielded two Man of the Match awards at Old Trafford inside a week, has been warmly welcomed by Unitedā€™s fans.

ā€œI’m thankful to the United supporters,ā€ the 27-year-old added. ā€œI have felt their support and I can only pay them back by playing good, scoring goals and assisting.ā€

Launch of LA-Yerevan direct flights on agenda says Congresswoman Speier

Photo: Voice of Americaā€“Armenian Service

 

– Major developments are expected in the near future in Armenian-American relations, U.S. Congresswoman Jackie Speier, told the Voice of America Armenian service.

She expressed a view that Armenia-US relations have huge potential for further expanding and involving new domains.

As co-chair of the U.S. congressional friendship group with Armenia, Speier plans to implement numerous projects in the coming year.

She said they plan to organize a large congressional delegation visit to Armenia in a foreseeable future.

Speier added that the declaration of new sister cities between the U.S. and Armenia as well as the launch of direct flights between Los Angeles and Yerevan are also on the agenda.

But the key pressing issue in Armenian-American relations, and which Speier hopes to resolve in 2017, is the reinstatement of the Millennium Challenge Corporation aid to Armenia.

She also noted that special importance should be given to the development of Armenia-U.S. economic relations. Per Speier in this new age of technology, scientific and technical ties should be developed more.

In her words, new prospects need to be reached in Armenian-American relations, in the new century.

Speier also stated that the American-Armenian community is stronger today more than ever, Armenia has an influential ambassador in the U.S., and the two sides should seize these opportunities and further develop relations.

Manchester United face Adidas penalty if they miss Champions League again

Manchester United will trigger a financial penalty in their Ā£750 million kit deal with Adidas if they fail to secure a top four finish this season, but the club will avoid an instant Ā£22.5m black hole in their finances, reports,Ā quoting its sources.

Jose Mourinho’s United face fourth-placed Arsenal at Old Trafford on Saturday currently lying six points adrift of Arsene Wenger’s team in the race for Champions League qualification.

Having failed to finish in the top four under Louis van Gaal last season, the terms of the 10-year agreement with Adidas ensure that United will suffer a cut of 30 percent to their annual Ā£75m payment from the sportswear giant if they miss out on the Champions League for consecutive campaigns.

However, it has now emerged that, rather than see their Adidas payment drop to Ā£52.5m immediately after two failed attempts to qualify for the Champions League, the Ā£22.5m deduction figure will instead be spread over the full 10 years of the contract.

As a result, United will pay a catch-up penalty fee of Ā£4.5m for years one and two of the agreement and then suffer a deduction of Ā£2.25m from the annual Ā£75m payment if Mourinho’s team are unable to finish in the top four.

United will then continue to receive Ā£72.75m from Adidas on an annual basis for the remainder of the deal, unless further failures to reach the Champions League trigger additional cuts to the figures banked by the club.

During a conference call to investors on Thursday, following publication of the club’s first quarter accounts, United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward confirmed the details of the financial penalty looming at the end of the season.

United spent in excess of Ā£145m on new players during the close season, adding Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Eric Bailly and Ā£89.3m world-record signing Paul Pogba to the squad.

But despite the team’s slow start under Mourinho,i n which they have only won five of their opening 11 Premier League fixtures, Woodward insisted to investors that there is still reason for optimism.

“On the pitch, it is still early in the season,” Woodward said. “We have 27 more Premier League games to play and have advanced to the quarterfinals of the EFL Cup.”

Two killed in shooting near California polling station in Azusa

Photo: AP

 

Two people have been killed and two injured in a shooting near a California polling station, the BBC reports.

However police say the incident in Azusa, about 25 miles (40km) east of Los Angeles, “had nothing to do with the ballot or voting”.

Officers were called to the scene following reports of a shooting and exchanged gunfire with the suspect.

After securing the area, police discovered a body, who they believe was the gunman, inside a house.

The man has not been identified. Police say another person was killed and two other wounded during the shooting incident but gave no details.

Tennis champ David Nalbandian survives terrifying rally car crash

Argentine Armenian tennis player, former World No.3 David Nalbandian has somehow walked away from a spectacular crash during a rally car event in Argentina, according to Yahoo Sport.

Nalbandian was taking part in the Copa Maxi Rally when he lost control of his car after it hit a cross-road in the track.

The Chevrolet Agile vaulted into the air and into a series of potentially deadly flips.

Nalbandian, the 2002 Wimbledon runner up to Lleyton Hewitt, and his co-driver were helped from the wreckage by spectators and managed to escape injury.

“As you know, we had an accident in the Rally of Entre RĆ­os. Both my co-driver and I, are perfectly well. Thank you for concern,” the 2002 Wimbledon runner-up wrote on Twitter.

Nalbandian has previously said his foray into motorsport was just a “hobby.”

“I don’t have pressure here,” Nalbandian said.

“I am learning and trying to do my best but not as a professional.”

He retired from professional tennis in 2013.

Armenia, France keen on deepening defense cooperation

Armenian Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan had a meeting with French Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia Jean-Francois Charpentier.

The Armenian Defense Minister attached importance to Franceā€™s efforts towards the settlement of the Karabakh conflict in its capacity as an OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair.

The interlocutors praised the high level of interstate relations and noted that there is a great potential for developing bilateral cooperation in the field of defense, especially in international peacekeeping.

The parties agreed to work towards intensification of cooperation in the field of defense and on the military-political level.

Reference was made to issues of regional security.