Author: Kevo Kalantarian

The trailer for “Ithaca,” a film based on William Saroyan’s 1943 novel “The Human Comedy” has been released.

The film tells the story of a 14-year-old telegraph messenger (Alex Neustaedter) in upstate New York whose older brother (Jack Quaid) is overseas fighting in World War II. Ryan and Hanks play their parents.

The film featuring Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks will hit theaters September 9, 2016.

Theresa May is set to become the UK’s next prime minister after Andrea Leadsom pulled out of the contest to become Conservative Party leader, the BBC reports.

The timing of the handover of power from David Cameron is currently being discussed, but could be within days.

Mrs May, 59, who backed staying in the EU, has been home secretary since 2010.

Mrs Leadsom, who campaigned to leave the EU, said the UK needed “strong and stable government” and that Mrs May was “ideally placed” to implement Brexit.

In a speech earlier on Monday setting out her leadership campaign platform, Mrs May – who rejected the argument that the next leader and prime minister had to have been someone on the winning side of the EU referendum – said: “Brexit means Brexit and we’re going to make a success of it.”

In her brief statement in Westminster, Mrs Leadsom – who was a leading light of the Brexit campaign – said a nine-week leadership campaign at such a “critical time” for the UK would be “highly undesirable”.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic should complete his long-anticipated move to Manchester United by the end of the week, the reports.

The Swedish striker, 34, is a free agent after leaving Paris St-Germain and is expected to sign a one-year deal with the Old Trafford club.

He will become the second signing for United boss Jose Mourinho, who replaced Louis van Gaal as manager in May.

Ivory Coast defender Eric Bailly, 22, has already completed a £30m move to United from Spanish side Villarreal.

United have also made an improved offer for Henrikh Mkhitaryan, 27, and are now waiting for his German club, Borussia Dortmund, to make a decision on the Armenian playmaker’s future.

Pope Francis has arrived in Etchmiadzin to pray for the Apostolic Catherdral together with His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. The motto of the visit is: “Visit to the First Christian State.” Pope has described the visit as pilgrimage to

The Pope has arrived in Armenia for a three-day visit. At Zvartnots International Airport the Pope was welcomed by Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan and Mrs. Rita Sargsyan, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, state officials and diplomats, bishops of the Armenian Apostolic and Catholic Churches.

The Pope was greeted by “Little Singers of Armenia” children’s choir headed by Tigran Hekekyan. Children in Armenian traditional costumes served Armenian apricot and lavash, the Armenian bread included in UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Photo: EPA

 

Dozens of US State Department officials have signed an internal memo protesting against US policy in Syria and calling for targeted military strikes against President Bashar al-Assad’s government, the BBC reports.

They argue the current approach is working against the Syrian opposition and helping Mr Assad to stay in power.

It was signed by 51 mid-to-high level officials who advise on Syria issues.

It is not unusual for internal “dissent cables” to be filed through State Department channels.

However, it is rare to have this number of diplomats voice opposition to a White House position.

A State Department spokesman acknowledged receipt of the memo but declined to comment on its contents.

Photo: Reuters

 

UN human rights investigators have for the first time accused so-called Islamic State of committing genocide against Yazidis in Iraq and Syria, the BBC reports.

A report says IS has subjected members of the religious group it has captured to the “most horrific of atrocities”, killing or enslaving thousands.

The group’s aim is to completely erase the Yazidi way of life, it warns.

The report says major powers should do more to help the Yazidis, at least 3,200 of whom are being held by IS.

IS, a Sunni jihadist group, regards Yazidis as devil-worshippers who may be killed or enslaved with impunity.

In August 2014, IS militants swept across north-western Iraq and rounded up thousands of Yazidis living in the Sinjar region, where the majority of the world’s Yazidi population was based.

– Armenian American designer has joined the .

Carolyn Rafaelian founded fashion jewelry company Alex and Ani in 2004, taking over what had been her father’s Rhode Island jewelry factory to manufacture the new age, celestial-chic bangles that have become the brand’s staple.

To say growth has been explosive would be an understatement. In 2010, Alex and Ani — named after two of Rafaelian’s daughters — did an estimated $4.5 million in revenues. By 2015, sales had hit $500 million, catapulting the 49-year-old onto Forbes’ second annual list of America’s Richest Self-Made Women thanks to her majority ownership.

Rafaelian joins the ranks at #22, with an estimated net worth of $700 million, making her the second richest newcomer to the list, after Gail Miller, billionaire owner of basketball’s Utah Jazz.

She’s the richest self-made woman in the nation to derive her wealth from jewelry, and joins an impressive group of fashion and retail moguls on Forbes’ ranking that includes Spanx founder Sara Blakely, preppie-chic designer Tory Burch, and bridal tycoon Vera Wang.

 

 

 

Armenia and Iran plan to sign an agreement on abolishing visas. The Government approved the conclusion of a corresponding agreement during its session today.

The agreement is aimed at further development of relations between the two countries, strengthening of mutually beneficial economic, trade and other relations and regulation of the regime of visits of both countries’ citizens.

According to the document, Armenian and Iranian citizens will not need entry visas for a stay of up to 90 days in a period of 180 days. The corresponding authorities in both countries will reserve the right to extend the period of stay.

The signing of the agreement will promote the development of tourism, in both countries and will create favorable conditions for the reciprocal visits of the citizens.

The trial of Argentina and Barcelona footballer Lionel Messi on tax fraud charges is due to start in Spain, the BBC reports.

Messi and his father Jorge, who manages his financial affairs, are accused of defrauding Spain of more than €4m between 2007 and 2009.

The authorities allege that the two used tax havens in Belize and Uruguay to conceal earnings from image rights.

The Spanish tax agency is demanding heavy fines and prison sentences. They deny any wrongdoing.

The trial is expected to last for three days, with Messi appearing in court on Thursday.

May 23, President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh Ashot Ghoulyan sent thank-you letters to the President of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile, Osvaldo Andrade and Issa Kort, Gustavo Hasbun, Denise Pascal, Aldo Cornejo and Jorge Sabag, the authors of resolution No. 565 condemning Azerbaijani aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. The message reads:

“For us the attention and particular attitude that Chilean Chamber of Deputies showed through respect for international law and the right of the peoples to self-determination in the issue of the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict resolution is extremely valuable and appreciative.

Without exaggeration, your statement is a bold step in breaking the international indifference that should be a model for all the role players interested in international security issues.

Your strong support inspires us to be hopeful, that the international community will respect the right of self-determination of the people of Artsakh, which will be an additional guarantee for ensuring the security of our people.

Since 1991 exercising the right self-determination, the people of Nagorno Karabakh have declared independence and for about a quarter of a century have been to building and developing a state based on democracy and will contribute to the regional peace and stability”, was underlined in the thank-you letters of the NA President. “