Author: Kanayan Tamar

About 70 cases of ceasefire violation by the Azerbaijani side were registered at the line of contact between the armed forces of Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan overnight.

The rival used weapons of different caliber, including 60mm mortars as it fired more than 900 shots in the direction of the Armenian positions.

The activeness of the rival was pressured as a result of retaliatory measures taken by the NKR Defense Army.

The Armenian troops confidently continue with their military duty all along the line of contact, the NKR Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

– Moderate coffee consumption reduces the risk of dying prematurely from heart disease, Parkinson’s disease and Type 2 diabetes.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke on the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Oct. 21 to discuss Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s surprise visit to Moscow, the latter’s first official international trip since the civil war broke out in Syria over four years ago, the Hurriyet Daily News reports.

Erdoğan reportedly expressed his concerns over the Syrian military’s recent strikes in Aleppo and its environs, which he said could trigger a new wave of refugees, according to sources.

Reuters reported that he also stressed the importance of “fighting all terrorist groups,” underlining the link between the People’s Protection Units (YPG), the military wing of the Kurdish PYD in northern Syria, and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

The Supreme Election Board has rejected an application from incarcerated intellectual Sevan Nisanyan to run as a deputy candidate representing the Liberal Democratic Party in the upcoming Nov. 1 general election, Today’s Zaman reports. 

The Armenian-Turkish linguist is currently serving a sentence of 11 years after being found guilty of violating Law No. 2863 on Protection of Cultural and Natural Heritage by “deliberately causing harm to the protection of immovable cultural heritage.” Nisanyan was handed the sentence after building an extension to his home in the Aegean village of Sirince that was deemed to violate the Cultural and Natural Heritage Protection Act, under which his house is protected.

“The Supreme Election Board has informed us that Sevan Nişanyan will not be a candidate due to [having built an extension without a permit]. We knew it would be difficult to make Nisanyan a candidate but still, it is important to draw attention to the fact that he will be spending years in jail for not obtaining a stamp of approval,” Tarik Beyhan, the deputy secretary general of the LDP, told the Diken news portal.

Nisanyan is known for his outspoken criticism of the government and many commentators have alleged that his prison sentence is politically motivated. Beyhan once again repeated the claim that the extension to his house was used as an excuse to incarcerate him and added that it was important for the LDP to draw attention to the injustice.

The U.S. Embassy in Yerevan and the U.S. Commercial Service in Moscow, in partnership with Ameria Management Advisory Services, organized a one-day business conference focused on franchise business opportunities on September 22 in Yerevan.

The event helped strengthen the growing commercial ties between the United States and Armenia by introducing American franchise businesses that are new to the Armenian market and already successful elsewhere in the region. The goal was to highlight these opportunities to Armenian businessmen and women who are looking to open their own businesses.

“I know there are many successes waiting to be born today,” U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Clark Price said during the event’s opening. “It is my hope that we, at the U.S. Embassy, can set the stage for success by connecting Armenian businessmen and women to American corporations. Then we can step back and let you do what you know best, build your businesses.”

“I believe that franchise is the least risky format of business for foreign companies to enter the Armenian market and understand its peculiarities, and for local investors – to employ fully-fledged and successful business technologies,” said Director of Ameria Management Advisory Services Tigran Jrbashyan.

Two U.S. corporations, Papa John’s Pizza and Tutti-Frutti Frozen Yogurts, sent representatives to Yerevan to speak to conference participants about the possibility of investing in franchises in Armenia. This event provided participants with rare and valuable early access to well-known brands eager to enter the Armenian market. Approximately 50 business representatives and entrepreneurs attended the conference.

“It is my hope that many business relationships will start today, and that in time, those relationships will grow to successful, profitable partnerships,” said Mr. Price. “We are more than happy to set the stage for economic growth through events such as today’s franchise day. But we all know, the success of your efforts will be in your hands.”

Along with presentations from each of the American franchise concepts, participants had a chance to hear from well-known Armenian organizations on topics such as business, legal, and financing considerations.

The event was organized in part to strengthen and enrich the bilateral commercial relationship between Armenia and the United States by boosting commercial ties between the two. The event also focused on the importance of Intellectual Property Rights in the further development of franchise businesses in Armenia.

Chile has evacuated one million residents along its coastline, following a powerful earthquake that caused buildings to sway in the South American country.

The quake, with a magnitude of 8.3, struck around 144 miles north-west of the capital Santiago.

It also triggered tsunami waves of up to 4.5 metres in some places.

Five people have died and at least one person has been reported missing, officials say.

Tsunami alerts were also issued for Peru, Hawaii, parts of California and as far away as New Zealand.

Russia hopes for progress in the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

“I appreciate the opportunity to meet with you to discuss the bilateral relations, the situation in the region and the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. This is where we are trying to reach a common ground under your leadership, the leadership of the Presidents of Armenia and Russia, as well as the Minsk Group co-chairing countries,” RIA Novosti quotes Lavrov as saying.

“I hope progress will be reached,” teh Foreign Minister stressed.

The meeting took place within the framework of Lavrov’s working visit to Baku.

Kanye West has said he is running for president in 2020.  The rapper made his announcement at the end of a speech at the MTV Video Music Awards.

Cheered on by his biggest fan, Kim Kardashian, his pregnant wife and reality star, in a lace-up olive dress, he was greeted by an extended standing ovation as he received a lifetime achievement award, according to Daily Telegraph. 

“I have decided in 2020 to run for President,” he said at the end of a rambling speech in which he also appeared to confess to smoking marijuana before taking the stage.

MTV’s Video Vanguard lifetime achievement award has previously been given to artists including Madonna, Michael Jackson and Beyonce.

The 38-year-old rapper also won Best Video With a Social Message for One Man Can Change the World with Big Sean and John Legend.

Otherwise the night saw Taylor Swift take an early lead, winning two of her whopping 10 nominations and burying the hatchet with rapper Nicki Minaj.

Torino manager Giampiero Ventura has confirmed that Matteo Darmian will join Manchester United, the reports. 

The Italian international right-back has been in talks over a move to United and has reportedly now agreed personal terms on a £12million move.

The player is expected in Manchester to undergo a medical in the next day or so.

And Ventura says Torino couldn’t stand in the way of Darmian’s wish to play in the Champions League.

He told Sky Sports Italia: “Matteo Darmian will play for Manchester United. It’s a dream for him.

“It’s true, Darmian will play in the Champions League with Manchester United.

“Matteo deserves a top team and always dreamed of playing in the Champions League, so now that dream will be realised.

“In these four years we’ve gone from Serie B and a great depression to the top flight and the enthusiasm of the Europa League.

“We worked with Darmian for many years and it’s only right he should be given the chance to make his Champions League dream come true.

“A sale can happen, the important thing is that we’re able to plan an even stronger squad in future. We’re on the right track and as always the objective is to earn a place in Europe.”

The visit took place on June 30, Ilaha Huseynova, head of Communication Department of the ICRC Baku Office told APA.

The Armenian was delivered a message from his family and his family will be informed about his conditions.

Azerbaijan’s court sentenced Arsen Bagdasaryan to 15-year imprisonment.