Author: Toneyan Mark

Global COVID-19 case count down 15% in past week — WHO

Toneyan Mark

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 11:12, 2 June, 2021

YEREVAN, JUNE 2, ARMENPRESS. Over 3.5 million novel coronavirus cases and over 78,000 deaths were registered worldwide in the past week, TASS reports citing the World Health Organization (WHO).

“The number of new COVID-19 cases and deaths continues to decrease, with over 3.5 million new cases and 78,000 new deaths reported globally in the past week; a 15% and 7% decrease respectively, compared to the previous week”, the global organization said in its COVID-19 Weekly Epidemiological Update.

On May 24-30, the global organization was informed about 3,550,456 new cases all over the world, and 78,667 COVID-related deaths. As of May 30, a total of 169,604,858 cases of the infection and 3,530,837 COVID-related fatalities have been reported worldwide.

Last week, case count increased in Africa (up 22%) and Western Pacific (up 6%) and declined in Europe (down 26%), in Southeast Asia (down 24%), in North and South America (down 2%), and Eastern Mediterranean (down 1%). Mortality increased in Africa (up 11%), but declined in Eastern Mediterranean (down 18%), Europe (down 17%), Southeast Asia (down 8%), Western Pacific (down 2%) and North and South America (down 1%).

Europe, over 11,000 patients died. The number of cases in North and South America increased by over 1.1 million in the reported period, while fatalities grew by 31,000. In Southeast Asia, doctors registered over 1.5 million new cases of the novel coronavirus, over 29,000 patients died.

India accounts for the majority of cases registered in the past week (1.3 million new cases), followed by Brazil (over 420,000 new cases), Argentina (over 219,000), the United States (over 153,000), Colombia (over 150,000), Iran (over 69,000), Russia (over 61,000), France (over 60,000), Turkey (over 57,000), Nepal (over 47,000), Chile (over 46,000) and Indonesia (over 39,000).

Fresno Unified’s Forkner Elementary under fire for controversial school name

Toneyan Mark
Central Valley, CA
June 4 2021
NEWS

by: Kaile Hunt

Posted: Jun 4, 2021 / 07:17 PM PDT / Updated: Jun 4, 2021 / 07:18 PM PDT

FRESNO, California (KSEE) – More controversy has occurred over the naming of Fresno Unified schools. Forkner Elementary School is currently under fire for being named after a developer who allegedly prevented minorities from living on his properties. 

At the last Fresno Unified School Board meeting, many community members called out Fresno Unified for not having a school site named after a prominent Armenian. 

Mark Arax an Armenian journalist and author spoke at the school board meeting asking the trustees to re-name Forkner Elementary School after Roger Tartarian because of Forkner’s discriminatory past. 

Fresno Unified Trustee Terry Slatic said he is on board with the re-name, but it’s not just up to him. Rather it’s up to all of the Fresno Unified Board members. 

“The Armenian community has risen up and brought forth this phenomenally valid alternative on the Forkner thing with great justification,” said Slatic. 

Slatic said fellow trustees are still receiving backlash weeks after not naming the new Fresno Alternative school after Francine and Murray Farber. 

The school board then wanted to name buildings on the new alternative school after Roger Tatarian and other nominees, but many community members felt that wasn’t good enough. 

Michelle Asadoorian is a former Fresno Unified Trustee. Asadoorian said she is upset that there isn’t a school site named after a prominent Armenian within Fresno Unified. 

“Putting his name over the building would be a consolation prize and he is worthy of more than a mere building,” said Asadoorian. 

Asadoorian read a letter from Roger Tatarian’s grandson at the last school board meeting asking the trustees to rename Forkner after Tatarian due to Forkner’s past.

“What came to light the day after the last school board meeting two weeks ago was that the person who had these deeds full of exclusions all over Fresno was Jesse Clayton Forkner,” Asadoorian said.

According to Asadoorian, Jesse Clayton Forkner was a Fresno Developer who excluded many races including Armenians from living in his developments. 

Recently, the City of Fresno assigned the Historic Preservation Commission to seek out city-owned buildings that may be named after someone with a racist past. 

The commission flagged the Meux Home in Downtown Fresno but did not flag Forkner Elementary school because schools are owned by the state, not the city. 

Patrick Boyd with the Historic Preservation Commission for the City of Fresno said even though they flagged the Meux Home they will not vote to change the name. 

“What we were asked to do was look at city-owned property. That is the only thing we have. All of your schools are state-owned so not under our jurisdiction, not under our purview,” said Boyd. 

Some Fresno Unified trustees said they would eventually consider changing Forkner Elementary School but at this time the name will stay. 

 

ECHR hasn’t accepted Azerbaijan’s application against Armenia as a new and separate case

Toneyan Mark

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 14:19, 4 June, 2021

YEREVAN, JUNE 4, ARMENPRESS. On 3 June 2021 the Armenian Government was informed that on 1 and 2 June 2021 the Government of Azerbaijan submitted a new application form and an interim-measure request with the European Court of Human Rights requesting the Armenian Government to provide with the maps of the locations of alleged landmines, the Representative of Armenia before the ECHR reports.

“The European Court has found that the said application should be treated as integral part of the Inter-state application submitted by Azerbaijan in January 2021 and has attached to it. Thus, the European Court has not accepted this application as a new and separate case.

It should be noted that early in May 2021 the Armenian Government submitted an addition to their Inter-State application lodged with the European Court on 1 February 2021 providing the Court with additional evidence and making additional claims.

As for the interim-measure request submitted by Azerbaijan, the European Court has informed the Azerbaijani Government that back on 5 March 2021 the Court had already adopted a decision on the same matter rejecting the Azerbaijani request for being out of scope of Rule 39 of the Rules of Court. The European Court noted that its decision of 5 March 2021 still stands and there is no necessity to reconsider it”, the statement says.

Top 50 candidates on Armenia bloc’s electoral list revealed

Toneyan Mark
Panorama, Armenia

The Armenia bloc has unveiled its list of top 50 candidates for the snap parliamentary elections slated for June 20.

The electoral alliance is led by Armenia’s second President Robert Kocharyan. It has been formed by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) and the Reviving Armenia parties.

The 50 candidates on the list are as follows:

1․ Robert Kocharyan
2․ Ishkhan Saghatelyan
3․ Anna Grigoryan
4․ Vahe Hakobyan
5․ Armen Gevorgyan
6․ Lilit Galstyan
7․ Armen Rustamyan
8․ Seyran Ohanyan
9․ Elinar Vardanyan
10․ Artsvik Minasyan

11․ Artur Ghazinyan
12․ Kristine Vardanyan
13․ Gegham Manukyan
14․ Aghvan Vardanyan
15․ Agnesa Khamoyan
16․ Andranik Tevanyan
17․ Mkhitar Zakaryan
18․ Hripsime Stambulyan
19․ Ashot Simonyan
20․ Armen Charchyan

21. Elena Kirakosyan
22. David Sedrakyan
23. Alexander Khachaturyan
24. Armenuhi Kyureghyan
25. Aram Vardevanyan
26. Tadevos Avetisyan
27. Marianna Yepremyan
28. Artur Sargsyan
29. Artur Khachatryan
30. Aregnaz Manukyan

31. Gegham Nazaryan
32. Arush Arushanyan
33. Aspram Krpeyan
34. Argishti Gevorgyan
35. Garnik Danielyan
36. Rima Ghazaryan
37. Ruben Melkonyan
38. Mher Sahakyan
39. Maria Petrosyan
40. Sayad Shirinyan

41. Robert Hayrapetyan
42. Arpine Vardanyan
43. Arman Ghazaryan
44. David Sahakyants
45. Irina Gasparyan
46. Mher Melkonyan
47. Mihrdat Madatyan
48. Anzhela Nalbandyan
49. Gerasim Vardanyan
50. Levon Kocharyan

OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs call for release of all POWs, relocation of troops

Toneyan Mark

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 16:30,

YEREVAN, MAY 28, ARMENPRESS. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Stephane Visconti of France, and Andrew Schofer of the United States of America) released a statement today over the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement and the current border situation caused by the recent Azerbaijani incursion into Armenia’s territory.

Armenpress presents the statement:

“The Co-Chairs held consultations with International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) President Peter Maurer and UN High Commissioner of Refugees Filipino Grandi in Geneva 27 and 28 May. The Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson in Office (PRCiO) Andrzej Kasprzyk also participated in the meetings. The Co-Chairs take note of the reported detention of six Armenian soldiers on May 27 and call for the release of all prisoners of war and other detainees on an all for all basis. The Co-Chairs underscore the obligation to treat detainees in accordance with international humanitarian law. The Co-Chairs strongly urge the sides to lift all restrictions on humanitarian access to Nagorno Karabakh immediately, and call on the sides to implement in full the commitments they undertook under the November 9 ceasefire declaration.

The Co-Chairs also note with concern several recent reports of incidents on the non-demarcated Armenia-Azerbaijan border. The use or threat of force to resolve border disputes is not acceptable. We call on both sides to take immediate steps, including the relocation of troops, to de-escalate the situation and to begin negotiations to delimitate and demarcate the border peacefully. The Co-Chairs stand ready to assist in facilitating this process.

Having in mind the terms of their OSCE mandate and the aspirations of all the people of the region for a stable, peaceful, and prosperous future, the Co-Chairs again call on the sides to reengage under their auspices at the earliest opportunity”.

Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja and the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra to perform at Dubai Opera

Toneyan Mark
The National News, UAE

South Korean violinist Lim Ji-young and French pianist Remi Geniet will also perform in a separate show at the venue

Joseph Calleja performing in Verdi's 'Macbeth' at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City in 2014. Getty Images
Saeed Saeed

New and seasoned talents will appear at Dubai Opera in June

.

The Downtown Dubai venue will host a pair of concerts next month featuring a Grammy Award-nominee and the winners of the prestigious Queen Elisabeth Competition, a contest that celebrates violinists and pianists.

Taking to the stage on Saturday, June 19 is Joseph Calleja. The Maltese tenor is a successful recording artist, clocking up top placings on the US classical music charts.

He also has a Grammy nomination to his name for the DVD recording of his role in London's Royal Opera House production of La Traviata with US soprano Renee Fleming, as well as last year’s well-received album The Magic of Mantovani.

Tickets for the concert start at Dh295.

The next

night, Sunday, June 20, belongs to the stars of the future.

South Korean violinist Lim Ji-young and French pianist Remi Geniet, winners of the Belgium-held Queen Elisabeth competition in 2015 and 2013 respectively, will showcase their talent with pieces by German composer Felix Mendelssohn and contemporary Ukrainian composer Alexey Shor.

Tickets for this show start at Dh250.

Both concerts will feature the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra under the baton of artistic director Sergey Smbatyan.

The shows come as Dubai begins to relax Covid restrictions to stem its

spread

after a fall in daily case numbers.

These include pubs, bars and some night clubs being open for vaccinated patrons and live music entertainment provided by vaccinated performers.

While Dubai Opera's online list of safety measures does not require patrons to be fully vaccinated at present, visitors should check the venue's website for updates.

Streetwise Kolkata – Armenian Street: Named after a community that preceded the British by centuries

Toneyan Mark
The Indian Express

Even before the British East India Company joined other European settlers in the Bengal Subah in 1612, the Armenians had already established commercial settlements in Bengal, extending as far out as Benares and Patna much before the city of Calcutta was established.

Written by Neha Banka | Kolkata |
Updated: 10:02:38 pm


For the dwindling Armenian community, it is this church and the 200-year-old Armenian College & Philanthropic Academy on Mirza Ghalib Street that is helping keep the community’s unique cultural traditions alive. (Express photo by Neha Banka)
The Armenians only came to Calcutta in August 1690, although historical records indicate the community had settled in the Indian subcontinent since at least the 8th century. Even before the British East India Company joined other European settlers in the Bengal Subah in 1612, the Armenians had already established commercial settlements in Bengal, extending as far out as Benares and Patna much before the city of Calcutta was established.

Eight decades later, when British East India Company employee Job Charnock combined the villages of Sutanuti, Gobindapur and Kalikata along the banks of the Hooghly river to form the city of Calcutta, he invited the Armenians to this new urban settlement, perhaps as a return for the favours that the community had provided when the East India Company had first reached Bengal. In his book ‘History of the Armenians in India from the Earliest Times to the Present Day’, published in 1895, Mesrovb Jacob Seth writes that the community was first settled in Syedabad, a commercial suburb of Murshidabad, when the British first arrived in Bengal.

Also read |Why India is special to Armenians: Their land of prosperity
“At Syedabad the Armenians rendered valuable services to the Hon’ble East India Company during the eventful year 1756, when Holwell and his fellow-captives were taken to Murshidabad after the tragedy of the historical Black Hole of Calcutta,” writes Seth. The Armenian in Syedabad, particularly Agah Manuel Satoor, “treated the hapless captives with much kindness, sympathising with them as fellow-Christians in a foreign land.”

What is less well-known is that it was the Armenian community that helped Charnock acquire the zamindari rights for the settlement that eventually became Calcutta. The British East India Company had learned soon after their arrival in Bengal, that the Armenian community would be indispensable in the fulfillment of the company’s socio-economic agendas and made efforts to maintain amicable relations with the community.

Seth points to an entry in the writings of William Bolts, a Dutch-born British employee of the East India Company who wrote a book titled ‘Considerations on India Affairs’ (1772), that explains how the company viewed the Armenian community which had been well-established in Syedabad by the time the British had arrived.

 When the Armenians first arrived in Calcutta, they settled in the area now known as ‘Armenian Street’, a narrow street in central Kolkata. (Express photo by Neha Banka)

“The Armenians, who have ever been a great commercial body in Hindustan, have also long had considerable settlements in Bengal, particularly at Syedabad. Their commerce was likewise established by the Mogul’s finnan whereby the duties on the two principal articles of their trade, piece-goods and raw silk, were fixed at three-and-a-half per cent,” writes Bolt.

When the Armenians first arrived in Calcutta, they settled in the area now known as ‘Armenian Street’, a narrow street in central Kolkata. In 1688, the Armenians built the Armenian Holy Church of Nazareth on one end of the street and it was around this church that the Armenian community set up their homes and businesses in the city.

There isn’t much known about what the area around Armenian Street looked like when the community first settled here, but in his book ‘Calcutta in the Olden Time: Its Localities & Its People’ (1852), James Long provides some details. “The Armenians are among the oldest residents, and their quarter attracts by its antique air, constructed with conspicuous modern buildings in Calcutta,” Long writes.

 In 1688, the Armenians built the Armenian Holy Church of Nazareth on one end of the street and it was around this church that the Armenian community set up their homes and businesses in the city. (Express photo by Neha Banka)

The community’s commercial success allowed them to invest in the building of schools, chapels and other public spaces, mostly for the Armenians in the city. When the 18th-century Armenian Apostolic church burned down, it was rebuilt in the same location in 1724 by philanthropist Agha Jakob Nazar. In their writings, both Seth and Long have meticulously detailed all the ways in which the community found favour with the British East India Company, which in part helped them become enormously successful.
“The Armenians, like the Jews, were famous for their mercantile zeal, and in the early days, were much employed by the English as the Gomasthas—they are to be commended for their always having retained the oriental dress—they never had much intercourse with the English,” writes Long. Gomasthas were agents of the British East India Company, who signed bonds with locals to deliver goods to the Company and were appointed by the Company.

Also read |The Armenian and Pondicherry connections with Potoler Dolma

The community did not remain limited to the neighbourhoods around Armenian Street, but over the years shifted out to other parts of the city and were instrumental in the redevelopment of some of the city’s most iconic neighbourhoods and the buildings that continue to stand there. Park Street’s mansions, which today house a mix of residential apartments and commercial enterprises, are some of the most visible examples of the community’s contributions to the city’s architectural landscape.

Historian P. Thankappan Nair writes in his book ‘A History of Calcutta’s Streets’ (1987) that according to an entry in the Calcutta Municipal Gazette of April 1958, it appears that the city’s Municipal Corporation had been considering the renaming of Armenian Street, with a proposal for it to be named Akshay Kumar Mullick Street. That proposal did not materialise and the street retains its original name. It is unclear who Mullick was or even what his contributions to the city of Calcutta were, for the municipal corporation to consider renaming an entire street after him, especially one that is among the city’s oldest neighbourhoods and of importance to the Armenian community here.

There is little on Armenian Street that reflects the community’s history today. The street has been overtaken by shops and hawkers who have set up their wares wherever they find space on the pavement. But upon entering the church complex, the chaos fades away behind its thick white walls. For the dwindling Armenian community, it is this church and the 200-year-old Armenian College & Philanthropic Academy on Mirza Ghalib Street that is helping keep the community’s unique cultural traditions alive.


Armenian soldier killed in armored personnel carrier crash

Toneyan Mark

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 15:00,

YEREVAN, MAY 21, ARMENPRESS. A conscripted serviceman of the Armenian military has died after suffering fatal injuries when his armored personnel carrier crashed 100 meters into a gorge while en route to a deployment location, the Ministry of Defense of Armenia said. The incident took place around 19:00, May 20.

The serviceman who died is Arman Hambaryan, the driver-engineer of the vehicle.

An investigation was launched to determine the cause of the crash.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

Armenpress: Armenian, Russian Defense Ministers discuss situation in locations of Russian peacekeepers

Toneyan Mark

Armenian, Russian Defense Ministers discuss situation in locations of Russian peacekeepers

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 21:19,

YEREVAN, MAY 12, ARMENPRESS. Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu and Armenian Defense MInister Vagharshak Harutyunyan  held a phone conversation, during which they discussed the situation in the locations of the Russian peacekeepers, ARMENPRESS reports Russian Defense Ministry informed.

The sides also discussed other issues of bilateral interest.