Author: Toneyan Mark

An explosion occurred on Jan. 12 in Istanbul’s touristic Sultanahmet neighborhood, reportedly causing injuries and deaths, the Hurriyet Daily News reports.

According to reports by private broadcaster CNN Türk, the explosion occurred by the obelisk of Theodosius in the touristic Sultanahmet Square in Istanbul’s Fatih district.

The explosion was strong enough to be heard in nearby neighborhoods, the broadcaster reported, quoting witnesses.

An investigation into the cause of the explosion is continuing.

A number of ambulances, police and fire trucks have been deployed to the scene.

The situation in Nagorno-Karabakh region causes serious concern, the sides should evade further escalation of the conflict, Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Secretary General Nikolai Bordyuzha said Sunday, reports.

“We are greatly concerned about the situation in the Caucasus, especially in connection with the Karabakh conflict, where on the contact line heavy weapons, tanks are used, there are casualties,” Bordyuzha said in an interview to Rossiya-24 television.

He added that political resource of the CSTO states should be used to prevent further destabilization of the situation.

“To ensure that this conflict, that is already in a fairly hot stage, does not turn into a large-scale military clashes,” Bordyuzha stressed.

A portrait of 110-year-old Armenian genocide survivor Yepraksia Gevorgyan. (Photo copyright: Diana Markosian)

• Movses Haneshyan, 105, with a life-size landscape of his hometown, Musa Dagh. (Photo copyright: Diana Markosian)

  A photograph of Movses Haneshyan at the ruins of his church in Kebusie, Turkey. (Photo copyright: Diana Markosian)

  When asked about 1915, Yepraksia Gevorgyan told Markosian: "You're lucky you didn't see it."€ (Photo copyright: Diana Markosian)

  Yepraksia Gevorgyan still remembers the Akhurian River, which runs along the border between present-day Turkey and Armenia. (Photo copyright: Diana Markosian)

  A collection of family photographs belonging to Yepraksia Gevorgyan. (Photo copyright: Diana Markosian)

  Mariam's one request was: "Go to my village and bring back soil for me to be buried in." (Photo copyright: Diana Markosian)

  Mariam Sahakyan is now 101 years old, but she still recalls hiding  from Turkish soldiers when she escaped from her homeland. (Photo  copyright: Diana Markosian)

Photo:  Valeriy Sharifulin/TASS

A group of Russian journalists came under fire in Syria on Monday, the Russian Defense Ministry said. Three were lightly injured and one shell-shocked, TASS reports.

“On September 23, when a group of Russian journalists visited the Syrian government army’s frontline positions in the area of Dagmashliya their vehicles were attacked with a guided anti-tank missile. Three Russian journalists were lightly injured and one of them shell-shocked.

“The group of Russian journalists has already returned to the Hmeimim airbase to get qualified medical aid,” the ministry said.

TASS correspondent Alexander Yelistratov and also correspondents of Russia Today international TV channel’s Arab-language service Sargon Khadaya and English-language service Roman Kosarev were among those who came under fire and were slightly injured.

Kosarev was also shell-shocked. The journalists’ health condition is not life-threatening.

“By escalating the situation at the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and the line of contact, Baku shows its intolerance towards the status quo established at the conflict zone, thus trying to exert pressure on international structures engaged in the settlement of the Karabakh conflict,” NKR Minister of Defense Levon Mnatsakanyan said in an interview with Moscow-based Noyan Tapan newspaper.

The Minister added that “from military point of view Azerbaijan is testing its combat readiness with a view of launching more large-scale actions. He said there are other derivative reasons, which are mainly meant for the internal audience and aim to exert psychological influence on the Armenian side.

Levon Mnatsakanyan said the talks about the might of the Azerbaijani army are more of propaganda rather than reality. The Defense Minister assured the NKR Defense Army has all technical means and moral-psychological capacities to show resistance to the Azerbaijani armed forces.

About 200 cases of ceasefire violation by the Azerbaijani side were registered at the line of contact between the armed forces of Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan over the weekend, the NKR Defense Ministry reported.

The rival fired more than 2,500 shots from weapons of different caliber in the direction of the Armenian positions.

The front divisions of the NKR Defense Army remained committed to the ceasefire regime and resorted to retaliatory measures only in case of extreme necessity.

Armenian National Assembly Speaker Galust Sahakyan met with the Chairman of the Syrian Parliament Mohammad Jihad al-Laham on the sidelines of the 133^rd assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

Galust Sahakyan said it’s a great pain for Armenia to see the developments in Syria.

“We are more than friends with Syria. We never forget that Syria opened its doors for Armenians that fled genocide,” he said.

Speaking about the Armenian-Syrian inter-parliamentary cooperation, Mr.Sahakyan noted that Armenian MPs periodically visit Syria to learn about the situation on the spot and report detailed information.

Galust Sahakyan noted that wars with features of genocide continue today because the Armenian Genocide was not properly condemned by the world at the time.

The Speaker reiterated Armenia’s willingness to stand by brotherly Syria on all international platforms.

Mohammad Jihad al-Laham invited Galust Sahakyan to Syria.

The Chairman of the Syrian Parliament expressed gratitude for the meeting and said: “The Russian-Syrian coalition has already achieved serious progress.  We are grateful to you for supporting us. Please, convey President Bashar al-Assad’s thanks to Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan.”

Speaking about the assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Mohammad Jihad al-Laham said “it’s sad the international community is using double standards with regard to Syria.”

Asbarez– Some of the biggest names in music, among them System of a Down lead singer Serj Tankian, have come together to give thanks for one of the most influential albums of the past 40 years, all to benefit a great cause.

The album “Entertainment!” by UK post-punk band Gang of Four came out in 1979 and steered many young musicians down their artistic path.

“It [the album] completely changed the way I looked at rock music and sent me on my trip as a bass player,” said Flea, of the Red Hot Chili Peppers in praise of “Entertainment.”

Celebrity Auction Doctors circulated a copy of this CD to many artists who also have been outspoken about the significant impact this album has had on them. Each artist was asked to personalize a section of the CD artwork in their own creative way.

Some of the artists joining Tankian in the auction are REM’s Michael Stipe; Gwen Stefani of No Doubt; Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave’s Tom Morello; Mark Mothersbaugh, Bob Mothersbaugh, and Jerry Casale of Devo; and Bush frotman Gavin Rossdale.

The band Gang of Four has selected the UK-based women’s rights charity as the beneficiary of the auction. Womankind Worldwide is an international women’s rights charity that helps women and girls improve their lives in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The auction is being hosted by eBay Giving Works from October 15 to 25 at .

Celebrity Auction Doctors produced an exclusive interview with Gang of Four’s guitarist Andy Gill for the auction. In the interview, Andy talks about Gang of Four’s influences, their latest album, and the charity Womankind Worldwide. Andy will also personally call the auction’s top bidder to offer thanks. Andy was recently voted #12 in Spin Magazine’s 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.

Celebrity Auction Doctors is an interview-and-auction charity webisode created by Auction Doctors, Inc. For more than twelve years, Auction Doctors has organized global charity auctions for national organizations, including over $2 million raised for ESPN and the V Foundation for Cancer Research.

This week was episode 15 season 10 of “Keeping Up with the Kardashians,” which aired last night on . The episode continues with showing Kim and Khloe’s trip to Armenia, including Kanye giving a surprise performance (which made international headlines at the time). As well as continuing to show certain family members struggling with Caitlyn’s transition, according to

The episode begun with showing Khloe, Kim, Kanye and North touring some historical landmarks in Armenia. Before they head off to Jerusalem to get North baptized, Kanye decides to perform a free concert in one of Armenia’s town squares. The concert brings out thousands of Armenian fans and eventually gets shut down as the crowds get out of hand. Unfortunately, the next morning Khloe finds out about the huge event and is frustrated that Kim didn’t invite her to see Kanye perform.

In Jerusalem, Kim, Kanye and Khloe take North to get baptized at the Armenian church. In an intimate ceremony, North gets baptized, while Kim expresses how grateful she is for being able to do this while being pregnant with another child.

Meanwhile, back in Los Angeles, Kris goes over to Kourtney’s house and tries to convince her to let her take her piano. Kris wants the piano, as she has decided to take up piano lessons in order to focus on something positive and get her mind off of the overwhelming emotions she has been feeling since Caitlyn decided to transition.

The gang gets back for Armenia. Shortly after, Khloe heads over to Kendall’s condo and talks to her about the upcoming premiere of the About Bruce special which was coming up. Khloe explains that the whole family is anxious about the special as all of their emotions were “very raw” in it. Kendall claims she is “alright” and has been focusing on her career, however she has yet to meet Caitlyn. Kendall explains she has been hesitant to meeting her because this would signify that Bruce is really gone.

Later in the episode, Kim invites Khloe and Kris to join her at one of Kanye’s concerts. Kim wants Kris to be able to “be in the moment” and have fun, since she has been in a rut for the past while. Unfortunately, Kris isn’t in the mood and is clearly not having a fun time like Khloe and Kim. She reveals she would much rather be “in [her] pajamas and be in bed by [herself].”

The episode also showcases the day of the Billboard Music Awards (which is on the same day as the premiere of the About Bruce special). Unfortunately, Kendall is on the red carpet representing Balmain for H&M, leaving Kylie to fend for herself. The pressure gets to Kylie and she finds herself unable to give any interviews since she is alone and none of her sisters are there to relieve the pressure.

Armenia will host the 31st Ministerial Conference of the Francophonie October 10-11.

Invitations have been sent out to the Foreign Minister of 80 countries. About 500 representatives of the Secretariat of the International Organization of the Francophonie and the member states are expected to arrive in Yerevan to participate in the conference.

Urgent issues on the Francophonie agenda will be discussed. Reference will be made to urgent global and regional issues, corresponding resolutions will be adopted.

The conference will be followed by the official visit of Secretary-General of the International Organization of the Francophonie Michaëlle Jean to Armenia.

The Ministerial conference will be accompanied by a rich cultural program with Charles Aznavour’s concert on October 10 as a key event.

Musical groups are expected to arrive from France and Haiti. Concerts in Yerevan and Gyumri are planned.