The Sun, UK
Tuesday 1:31 PM GMT
HAVE A KHIT-KAT Henrikh Mkhitaryan looks lonely in training as he
fights for Manchester United career
Armenian was dropped for Man Utd's 4-1 win over Newcastle but has
clearly missed Paul Pogba - who is now fit and firing again
By Alex Terrell
HENRIKH MKHITARYAN has seemed cut off in the last couple of months -
largely thanks to Paul Pogba's absence.
But the Armenian star looked a forlorn figure at Carrington today as
he sat on his own before joining in Manchester United training.Jose
Mourinho rested the former Borussia Dortmund man for their 4-1 home
win over Newcastle on Saturday evening.
But it hasn't stopped reports that the Portuguese is growing fed up
with the 28-year-old's performances, just 16 months after joining Old
Trafford.
To be fair to Mkhitaryan, he has been involved in all of United's
matches in the league and Europe this season, as well as both of
Armenia's friendlies last week, before missing Saturday.
And he has clearly missed the midfield presence of Pogba, classily
knitting together United's midfield play, as he did in the win over
the Toon.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan performs training drills ahead of Antonio Valencia
at Carrington before Manchester United's game at Basel[/caption]
Elsewhere Pogba and pal Romelu Lukaku could be seen enjoying a joke together.
The Red Devils are due to fly out to Switzerland to face FC Basel in
their Champions League fixture, knowing a draw will see them win Group
A outright.UNSTOPPAPLE?
Can anyone stop the Man City juggernaut walking the Premier League title?
Basel are in a scrap for second place though, with CSKA Moscow
breathing down their necks.
In fact, if CSKA fail to beat Benfica at home, United seal
qualification before even kicking a ball tomorrow night.
Ashley Young wonders if he has found his target after booting the ball[/caption]
Jose Mourinho has a chat with Nemanja Matic and Zlatan Ibrahimovic[/caption]
Mourinho's side have won all their four games so far and conceded just
one goal in the competition, away in Moscow.
They should be home and dry in Europe, but Chris Smalling, Phil Jones,
Ashley Young and David De Gea will remind their team-mates that the
last time they went to St-Jakob Park, they were beaten 2-1 in an
electric atmosphere.
Jones actually scored that night in Switzerland, but it was only to be
a consolation as United crashed out of the Champions League in a group
stage humiliation, just months after playing in the previous season's
final.
And Mourinho will hope they can keep another clean sheet against the
Swiss champions.
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The Red Devils face Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday at 3pm,
suggesting Mourinho could rotate some of his squad with the busiest
period of the season approaching.
United then travel to Watford on Tuesday and then Arsenal the weekend
after, for a late Saturday kick-off before a clash against CSKA Moscow
at Old Trafford in their final Champions League group game.
After that is the small matter of the Manchester derby at the Theatre
of Dreams on December 12.
Author: Sonya Jalatian
Talk about vintage: Pottery shards show 8,000-year-old wine
Associated Press State & Local November 13, 2017 Monday 8:16 PM GMT Talk about vintage: Pottery shards show 8,000-year-old wine By MALCOLM RITTER, AP Science Writer DATELINE: NEW YORK NEW YORK (AP) - Talk about vintage wine: Pieces of broken pottery found in the nation of Georgia provide the earliest known evidence for the origins of today's winemaking industry. The eight shards, recovered from two sites about 30 miles (50 kilometers) south of Tbilisi, are roughly 8,000 years old. That's some 600 to 1,000 years older than the previous record, revealed by a wine jar found in nearby Iran. It's not the oldest sign of winemaking; other evidence shows that a beverage that mixed grape wine with rice beer and other ingredients was produced as long as 9,000 years ago in China. But the Chinese drink used a wild grape that has apparently never been domesticated, while the Georgian wine used a Eurasian grape species that did undergo domestication and led to the vast majority of wine consumed today, said researcher Patrick McGovern. It's not clear whether the ancient Georgian vintners were using a domesticated form, but it's possible because they apparently made lots of wine, he said. McGovern, from the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in Philadelphia, is part of an international team that produced the new report. The findings were released Monday by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The new analysis showed the shards had absorbed the main chemical fingerprint of wine, tartaric acid, as well as some other substances associated with the beverage. The shards had come from jars that were probably used for fermentation and storage. The study was largely financed by the National Wine Agency of Georgia. The nation continues to produce wine and considers it part of the national identity. "It is very interesting that during this 8,000 years there was no interruption of wine-making tradition," said Shalva Khetsuriani, head of the Sommelier Association of Georgia. The finding is "very significant" because it gives new evidence that the origins of winemaking should be sought in the region, said Gregory Areshian, an archaeology professor at the American University of Armenia who did not participate in the work. In 2011, Areshian reported the discovery of a 6,000-year-old winery in Armenia. <span class="sew3yld1apsdxz3"><br></span>
Zartonk Daily 11.11.2017
Սիրելի ընթերցող,
Կցուած կրնաք գտնել «Զարթօնք»ի այսօրուայ թիւը ՝
Շնորհակալ ենք, որ ընտրած էք «Զարթօնք»
կարդալ:
Սիրով՝
«ԶԱՐԹՕՆՔ»ի
Խմբագրութիւն
,
“Very important to be in cradle of Christianity” – Moldova President inspired and impressed with Etchmiatsin
Category
Society
President of Moldova Igor Dodon is impressed by the Mother See of Holy Etchmiatsin, and by talking to people who preserve Christian values.
“For me, as an Orthodox Christian, and a leader of a country where more than 98% of the population is Orthodox Christian, was very important to be in the cradle of Christianity. Christianity appeared on this land earlier than in other countries. The sacred sites, this 4th century Cathedral where are now is inspiring, and the interactions with people who preserve these values”, Igor Dodon said during his visit to Etchmiatsin.
He wished to the Armenians of the Diaspora faith, optimism and mentioned that he is convinced that everything will succeed for both the Armenians and Moldovans.
The President and First Lady toured the Alek and Mari Manukyan Treasury-Museum and the Mother See’s Museum.
Family Living In Fear Of Landmines In Artsakh Inspires HALO Crowdfunding Campaign
The Khachatryan children
An innovative crowdfunding campaign to clear a minefield in Harar village in Artsakh launched on Friday.
The HALO Trust, the world’s largest mine clearance non-profit, aims to raise $49,000 through crowdfunding, which will be matched by an anonymous donor, to clear an 8.6-acre minefield in Harar village, in Bedzor (formerly Lachin), and ensure the safety of the Khachatryan family and 200 others who live nearby.
The anti-personnel mines surrounding their home were laid by Armenian and Azeri forces along the hillsides near Harar in 1992. The minefields created a “mine-belt” along defensive positions. Since the end of the war, three civilian casualties have been reported in the village, including the death of one teenager, and dozens of livestock accidents.
Alla Khachatryan is a widow and matriarch of the Khachatryan family, which has been living in the village for 20 years. Alla lives with her sons Harair and Hamlet, his wife Anni, and her two young grandchildren. The family has already lost their horse, 4 pigs and 4 cows to mines. They live in constant fear that the next accident will affect a member of the family.
Sargis Khachatryan in Harar
Alla’s elder son Hamlet works for the government as warden of the forests near the village and younger son, Harair, helps his brother herd the family’s livestock. The brothers’ jobs are particularly dangerous, because not only are they responsible for their own herd, they are also responsible for the safety of their fellow villagers and have to regularly walk near the minefield to check for mine accidents.
“There is always a fear of dying with every step I take, but my mind has become accustomed to it,” Hamlet said.
He is most worried when his younger brother accompanies him to help. Alla admits that if her sons are killed or injured, not only would the emotional toll on their family be unfathomable, but the loss of two able-bodied males would mean the family would be unable to take care of their herd and thus sink into dire poverty; a prospect which she considers grim for her two young grandchildren.
Hamlet Khachatarian
Mine clearance will protect their lives and benefit 200 Armenians living in Harar and the neighboring villages of Khachgetik and Aghavnatun. They will use the safe land for firewood collection and cattle grazing.
The crowd-funding appeal is part of a larger campaign – Safe steps for the people of Artsakh – to clear all the minefields in Artsakh with an impact on civilians by 2020. The anonymous donor has pledged half of the money required – if The HALO Trust can raise matching funds.
US Government funding has been secured for landmine clearance in Artsakh. However, US Government funds are restricted to certain parts of Artsakh. HALO cannot use the funds in Berdzor or parts of Hadrut and Martakert and it is in these areas where the majority of remaining minefields lie and require private support.
There have been 370 civilian casualties from mines and unexploded ordnance in Artsakh since a cease fire agreement was signed in 1994. The HALO Trust has worked in Artsakh since 2000. Its staff of locally recruited men and women have cleared located and destroyed over 11,400 landmines and over 61,200 cluster munitions and other items of unexploded ordnance. Learn more about campaign.
The HALO Trust is the world’s largest humanitarian mine clearance organisation. HALO creates safe and secure environments in war torn communities by clearing landmines, managing stockpiles of weapons and destroying unexploded ordnance. It was founded in 1988 and has almost 8,000 full-time staff operating in conflict and post conflict zones in 19 countries and four territories.
More than 50 Diasporan Artists, Scholars Call on Armenia to Adopt Domestic Violence Law
Several hundred Diaspora Armenians march through Los Angeles on Jan. 30 to raise awareness about domestic violence in Armenia. (Photo: Liana Aghajanian)
NEW YORK—A group of Diaspora Armenian artists, scholars, and writers issued a statement calling on the Armenian authorities to adopt the law on domestic violence proposed by the Armenia’s Ministry of Justice.
The more than 50 signatories include artist and activist Serj Tankian, actor and playwright Eric Bogosian, novelists Chris Bohjalian, Micheline Aharonian Marcom, and Nancy Kricorian, artist and author Vahe Berberian, photographer Scout Tufankjian, and journalist David Barsamian.
Below is the statement and the list of signatories.
***
We, a group of Diaspora Armenian writers, artists, and scholars, urge the adoption, in a timely manner, of the law proposed by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia “On the Prevention of Domestic Violence and the Protection of Victims of Domestic Violence.”
Nancy Agabian, New York
Micheline Aharonian Marcom, California
Nora Armani, New York
Maria Armoudian, Auckland, New Zealand
Anna Astvatsaturian-Turcotte, Maine
Talin Avakian, New York
Stephanie Ayanian, Pennsylvania
Vicken Babkenian, Sydney, Australia
David Barsamian, Colorado
Vahe Berberian, California
Eric Bogosian, New York
Chris Bohjalian, Vermont
Talar Chahinian, California
Ara Dabandjian, California
Veken Gueyikian, New York
Elke Hartmann, Berlin, Germany
Kim Hekimian, New York
Chris Janigian, Rhode Island
Tamar Kaprelian, New York
Matthew Karanian, California
Suzanne Khardalian, Stockholm, Sweden
Mary Kouyoumdjian, New York
Nancy Kricorian, New York
Marc Mamigonian, Massachusetts
Lalai Manjikian, Montreal, Canada
Jennifer Manoukian, California
Christina Maranci, Massachusetts
Bared Maronian, Florida
Armen T. Marsoobian, Connecticut
Marian Mesrobian MacCurdy, Massachusetts
Sato Moughalian, New York
Khatchig Mouradian, New York
Eric Nazarian, California
Sibil Pektorosoglu, Istanbul, Turkey
Kariné Poghosyan, New York
Carolyn Rapkievian, Maryland
Elyse Semerdjian, Washington
Hovann Simonian, Lausanne, Switzerland
Jason Sohigian, Massachusetts
Anoush Fraser Terjanian, New York
Vahé Tachjian, Berlin, Germany
Serj Tankian, Calif.
Scout Tufankjian, New York
Henry Theriault, Massachusetts
Hrag Vartanian, New York
Nicole Vartanian, New York
Sarah-Leah Whitson, New York
Debut of Oud Music
Theoudplayer will release new material in November 2017
Theoudplayer to release new material in November 2017
LOS ANGELES—Antranig Kzirian, known by his stage name as theoudplayer, is set to release new material beginning in November. The recording project, named “nOUD”, is a concept grounded in the diverse, enriching and overall diaspora experience of an American Armenian oud player who has lived all over the United States, toured globally, and performed countless forms of music. Inspired by numerous devoted interpreters of this ancient and fascinating instrument, Kzirian will present both original and modern renditions of traditional music on the oud.
Kzirian has been recording at Foreword Productions Studios in Los Angeles, compiling a substantial and comprehensive collection of compositions in this highly anticipated release. The content will be released on November 12, 2017 in digital format and also as a hard copy CD featuring detailed liner notes incorporating archival artist research provided by Ara Dinkjian, alongside Kzirian’s own contextual descriptive narratives of each track. Both digital and hardcopy releases shall be accompanied by unique, track specific artwork created by graphic designer Simon Majarian depicting a visual interpretation of Kzirian’s oud playing.
Listen to a sample playlist.
“I am very excited to release these songs,” said Kzirian. “These recordings represent an essential guide to many of the artists that influenced me musically over the years, and I can’t wait to share this project with everyone – I view this recording as providing listeners with a glimpse into the world of today’s American Armenian oud musician,” he added. “I also wanted to offer listeners a chance to see brilliant visual depictions of an artist’s interpretation of my music, and Simon Majarian did a tremendous job in striking translations that capture the artistry of the oud,” said Kzirian.
Preorders for “nOUD” will be available beginning November 1 on theoudplayer.com. Those who preorder the record will also receive a special link to free bonus download material that will be available exclusively in digital format shortly after the official album release. “In this day and age, it felt fitting and natural to consider both a contemporary and relevant release philosophy alongside a more traditional approach of hardcopy CDs. It’s really important to reach as broad an audience as possible,” he explained.
Kzirian has performed, toured and recorded with artists such as Serj Tankian from System of a Down, Capital Cities, Gogol Bordello and countless others. “I’ve had a diverse set of artistic experiences that have enriched me through the years – but there’s still nothing like picking up one of my ouds,” he noted.
Keep an eye out for the theoudplayer on Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat.
National Entrepreneurship Agenda presented in Armenia
ARKA, Armenia
Oct 18 2017
YEREVAN, October 18. /ARKA/. The National Entrepreneurship Agenda was outlined Tuesday in Yerevan.
The process of formation of the agenda was initiated by the Entrepreneurs' Interests Protection Network in 2016 and supported by the Centre for International Private Entrepreneurship. .
The National Entrepreneurship Agenda is an important instrument for improvement of entrepreneurship environment and attraction of investments.
The Entrepreneurs' Interests Protection Network is an informal association of noncommercial organizations engaged in development of private entrepreneurship in Armenia.
Andranik Alexanyan, chairman of the Commerce and Industry Chamber of Yerevan, speaking at the first assembly convened to outline the agenda, said that the information that once could be brought to the state administration system is now assembled at the Network.
«We wanted to collect Armenian entrepreneurs' opinions on a single platform and to submit them to the government,» he said. «The activity of the organization will be focused on several areas, which are most important for business people.»
In his words, the Commerce and Industry Chamber of Yerevan is ready to provide maximum support to this campaign.
«We will identify all problems in this area and, having business people's interests at heart, we will present them to the government by joint efforts,» Alexanyan said.
Gagik Poghosyan, a member of the board of the Entrepreneurs' Interests Protection Network, on his side, said that the idea of establishment of the Network was conceived yet a decade ago.
«We has established the Network to solve some tax-related problems, but life shows that the business community face also other problems and that we should unite our efforts to solve them,» he said.
«A few years ago, the Network identified the business community's major problems. Everything began from a survey, which revealed business people's opinions on various problems. Some 200 entrepreneurs in Yerevan and Armenia’s provinces were surveyed.»
As a result, he said, the three following top-priority directions were singled out for protection of business people's interests – the policy of effective development of small and mid-scale businesses in Armenia, creation of a favorable tax system and management reforms. -0—
Azerbaijani Press: Ariel Cohen: $100 million will not change Armenia’s lagging behind Azerbaijan in terms of arsenal
AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Oct 15 2017
13:01 (UTC+04:00)
By Trend
Few days earlier, the Armenian side has approved the deal with Russia on weapons supply to Armenia through a $200 million deal. The Armenian government approved the first $ 100 million loan package, which will be extended to Armenia for 20 years.
Some experts viewed it as another provocation by Yerevan ahead of the peace talks, while others argued that the deal hardly gives Armenia more power than those of Azerbaijan.
Ariel Cohen PhD, a senior research fellow at the Atlantic Council, and Director, Center for energy, natural resources and geopolitics at the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security, commenting on the timing of the approval of the deal, said that it is time to consider a solution to the conflict and not waste money on weapons.
“Both Armenia and Azerbaijan took steps to arm themselves to the teeth,” he told Trend. “While Armenia bought over the years a lot of Russian weapons, Azerbaijan also purchased up to $5 billion worth of Russian weapons and close to the same amount of Israeli weapons.”
The expert reminded that there were other purchases as well, stressing that in the long term, concerning the money, Armenia will not be able to compete with Azerbaijan in terms of the quantity and quality of weapons Baku is purchasing.
“$100 million will not change Armenia's lagging behind Azerbaijan in terms of the arsenal,” Cohen said emphasizing that it is time to settle this protracted conflict which brought so much suffering to people on both sides.
Over the recent years, Azerbaijan, while maintaining arms trade with Russia, began to increase military-technical cooperation with closer partners – Pakistan, Turkey and Israel along with building on a well-developed military industry.
By any normal analysis, the Armenians should be heavily outgunned. Moreover, Armenia has a population of hardly around three million — while Azerbaijan is approaching 10 million. Azerbaijan has nearly twice the GDP per capita, while its defense budget also exceeds Armenia’s total national budget.
Furthermore, Baku has wide opportunities for maneuver in matters of armament and economic potential. This means that the aggressor with the help of Russia will not be able to establish military parity with Azerbaijan and continue an arms race.
Turkish Press: Turkey: Travel alert for occupied region of Azerbaijan
World Bulletin, Turkey
Oct 4 2017
Turkey: Travel alert for occupied region of Azerbaijan
World Bulletin / News Desk
The Turkish Foreign Ministry issued Wednesday a warning for Turkish citizens reminding them to "avoid" traveling to Armenian-occupied territories of Azerbaijan.
The ministry said in a statement that it was "against" international law to visit the region without receiving permission from the Azerbaijani authorities, which may impose "various sanctions" with regard to its national legislation.
Ankara added it was not "possible" to provide a consular protection for Turkish citizens who would travel to the occupied territories.
Four Turkish citizens traveled to the Nagorno-Karabakh region "illegaly" on Sept. 22 without the consent of related Azerbaijani authorities.
The office of Azerbaijan’s prosecutor general filed on Sept. 28 a criminal case against them for "illegally crossing Azerbaijan’s state borders".
Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Huseyin Muftuoglu said in a statement on Sept. 29 that the four Turkish citizens had traveled to the occupied territories "on their own initiatives, without consulting any official authority and [this] under no circumstances reflects Turkish official policy".
Muftuoglu said Turkey would continue to support Azerbaijan in its just cause.
"Turkey acts in close solidarity with its Azerbaijani brothers and sisters in regard to ending the occupation of one-fifth of the Azerbaijani territories which has lasted for over a quarter century," he added.
Azerbaijan and Armenia remain in dispute over the occupied Karabakh region.
Karabakh broke away from Azerbaijan in 1991 with Armenian military support, and a peace process has yet to be implemented.