Category: 2024

 14:40, 6 January 2024

YEREVAN, JANUARY 6, ARMENPRESS. The death toll from Japan's New Year's Day earthquake topped 126 on Saturday with more than 222 people still missing, as follows from the data published by the regional authorities.

According to the recent data, at least 516 people have received injuries of various degree of severity. So far, emergency services have not detected location of 222 residents. A search and rescue operation is underway in the disaster area, involving the Japan Self-Defense Forces.

The greatest damage was caused to Ishikawa Prefecture where more than 250 houses were destroyed, and fires destroyed about 300 buildings. The region continues to experience power and water shortages and fuel shortages.

 12:29, 6 January 2024

YEREVAN, JANUARY 6, ARMENPRESS. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sent a message of sympathy to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Friday over a powerful earthquake that struck central Japan earlier this week, North Korean state media said.

In the message, Kim expressed his deep sympathy and condolences over big casualties and material losses caused by the New Year's Day earthquake, the Korean Central News Agency said.

According to the source, Kim also expressed sincere hopes that affected people will "restore their stable life at the earliest date possible".

 16:21, 6 January 2024

YEREVAN, JANUARY 6, ARMENPRESS. On January 6, His Holiness Garegin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians offered the festive Divine Liturgy of Holy Nativity in St. Grigor Lusavorich( Gregory the Illuminator) Church in Yerevan, the press service of Mother See said.

During the Holy Liturgy, the Catholicos of All Armenians greeted Armenians  all over the world with the heavenly tidings: "Christ is born and appeared" and delivered his message on the occasion of the holiday.

 13:25, 6 January 2024

YEREVAN, JANUARY 6, ARMENPRESS. During 2023, Armenia’s candidacy was successful in all elections of international organizations,  Armenia's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ani  Badalyan said in a post on X.

“Our thanks to countries who supported  Armenia’s candidacy!

Kudos to all colleagues who worked on respective files,” wrote Badalyan, presenting the attached list of the international organizations where Armenia's candidacy was confirmed in the elections.

• UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) for 2024-2026
• UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) for 2024-2027
• Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency( IAEA) for 2023-2025
• UN Committee for Program and Coordination (CPC) for 2024-2026
•  UNESCO Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict for 2023-2027

 21:40, 6 January 2024

YEREVAN, JANUARY 6, ARMENPRESS. "Morning Star, the doors of the Church are open"… With these lines, this unique piece of folklore penned by the Catholicos of All Armenians, Khrimian Hayrik (Father), in 1885, starts. It speaks about the faith and diligence of the Armenian people. In the 1970s, ethnographer and honored artist Hayrik Muradyan recorded it for the archive. Armenians inside the Iron Curtain of the Soviet Union heard this song for the first time – thrilling, simple, and pure.In these challenging times of identity and faith, this work of symbolic significance brought together creative specialists, artists, and musicologists. They dedicated three months to breathe life into the simple and straightforward idea of the "Galaxy" founders – to reinforce and rediscover the profound essence of the Christmas holiday for every Armenian family.

"We believe in the power of Armenian people's work and diligence. We want our people to be united, believe, and rely on their own strength. This piece holds an important message. It illustrates our collective way of life: working and creating with faith, prayer, and kindness. We earnestly wish for the message and lyrics of this song to resonate in every Armenian household on Christmas," stated Artyom Khachatryan, Co-Founder  and Co-Chairman Galaxy Group of Companies.

A professional communication group was tasked with selecting the song and narrating its story. The creative challenge was clear: find and bring forth a simple song stemming from the heart of the people, one that is positive and depicts the lifestyle of the Armenian people from their own perspectives. The communication company "AxelMondrian and Partners" managed the creative process of the project, while the renowned "Katil" band handled the artistic development of the song.

"This is Armenia's first and unique project of its kind, providing an academic sound and musical structure to an ethnic folk song. We had numerous melodic songs under consideration, but the selection halted at the patriarch's work. We sincerely hope for its appreciation and for people to offer their interpretations of this song," shared Grigor Davtyan, co-founder of the "Katil" band.

The song's performance involved students of the art school named after Saryan, led by Grigor Harutyunyan. Sevada Hambarchyan, the vocalist of the "Katil" band, performed vocals with the choir, overseen by Grigor Kartashyan handling the instrumentation. The music was recorded for public release under an open license, allowing anyone to use and personalize it. The video series was set amidst the snow-white Armenian mountains, ensuring shots devoid of unnecessary distractions, focusing solely on the song's magical verses. The creative team promises further developments on the project and encourages playing "Bari Luso" in every Armenian household, fostering faith and unity.

**
Galaxy Group of Companies stands as a top conglomerate in Armenia, consistently integrating educational, cultural, historical heritage, as well as content creation projects in Armenian within its annual social responsibility programs. Since 1999, the company has engaged in around a hundred diverse collaborations and published various materials and books. The group's founders are Gurgen Khachatryan, Artyom Khachatryan, and Aram Khachatryan. It encompasses 15 brands, including the telecommunications operator "Ucom" the shopping and entertainment complex "Yerevan Mall," the French cafe "PAUL," and the hotel "Courtyard by Marriott." among others.

Katil is an Armenian indie folk band established in 2017, and recognized for its contemporary adaptations of numerous ethnic songs. Comprising five members, the group has performed notable events such as a solo concert at the Public Radio studio and participated in the Independence Day concert at Zvartnots Cathedral alongside the RA Opera Orchestra. In 2020, they launched their inaugural CD, "Akner."

AxelMondrian & Partners is an accredited communications firm affiliated with the European network, specializing in Reputation Management, Public Relations, Branding, Marketing Communication, Data Analysis, and associated domains. With a track record of executing innovative projects in Armenia, the company introduces novel solutions and fresh perspectives to the market.

 09:30, 3 January 2024

YEREVAN, JANUARY 3, ARMENPRESS. A Japan Airlines Co. passenger jet collided with a Japan Coast Guard plane at Tokyo's Haneda airport Tuesday, causing both aircraft to catch fire and killing five coast guard members, while all 379 on board the commercial flight escaped without life-threatening injuries, Kyodo News Agency reports.

The cause of the incident, which occurred on a runway of one of the country's busiest airports after the JAL plane landed, remains unknown as air traffic communication records are not disclosed. JAL said its airplane coming from Sapporo was given permission to land.

Kyodo cited the coast guard as saying its airplane was going to take off to Niigata Prefecture to deliver food and water for people who have been affected by a magnitude-7.6 earthquake that hit the Noto Peninsula and its vicinity along the Sea of Japan coast the day before.

The coast guard did not elaborate on exactly where its plane was on the tarmac at the time of the collision.

The accident occurred at around 5:47 p.m., soon after the JAL plane landed with 367 passengers on board, including eight small children.

The plane, an Airbus A350, stopped on the runway after running for a while following the collision. The passengers and crew then used emergency slides to get out of the fuselage as it was being engulfed in flames and smoke.

It took eight and a half hours for the fire on the JAL airplane to come under control, the Tokyo Fire Department said.

On the coast guard airplane, a Bombardier DHC8-300 based at the airport, the fire was also extinguished but five of the six on board, whose ages ranged from 27 to 56, were confirmed dead, according to police.

A total of 15 people were injured in the accident, including Genki Miyamoto, the coast guard plane's 39-year-old captain, according to firefighters.

The airport temporarily closed all four of its runways.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters that he instructed transport minister Tetsuo Saito to investigate the cause of the accident.

Kyodo cited Tokyo Metropolitan Police as saying it has launched an investigation into the accident on suspicion of negligence resulting in death and injury.

[see videos]

 10:08, 3 January 2024

YEREVAN, JANUARY 3, ARMENPRESS. The first 8,000 e-cars to be imported into Armenia this year will again be exempt from VAT and customs duties pursuant to a regulation on quota distribution within the Eurasian Economic Union aimed at promoting the green economy policy and reducing emissions.

Given the positive results of the incentive in 2022 and 2023, the Armenian government extended the regulation for two more years.

3,486 electric cars were imported to Armenia in 2022, a 1,8% and 12,1% growth against 2021 and 2020 respectively, according to Emma Movsisyan, Director of the Department of Trade and Integration at the Armenian Ministry of Economy.

“As of December 1, 2023, the number of electrical cars imported into Armenia was 4,909. This shows that we have significant results in this area. Every year the number of e-cars that are imported and used in Armenia is rapidly growing,” Movsisyan said.

Most of the e-cars are being imported from the United Arab Emirates, followed by the United States, China, and some quantities from Iran and Georgia.

“In terms of the manufacturing date of the vehicles, we can say that consumers mostly prefer cars of recent years. The overwhelming majority of the imported cars are manufactured in between 2021 and 2023. Both high-class and mid-class cars are imported. Most of the imports are Volkswagen ID.4, Volkswagen ID.6, Honda, Tesla, and in the mid-class segment Nissan LEAF, Chevrolet Volt which cost an average of 8 to 15 thousand dollars depending on the engine power, manufacturing date and other components,” Movsisyan said.

The goal of this initiative is to implement the provisions of the green economy policy adopted by the Armenian government, which seeks to cut diesel fuel consumption and reduce emissions.

Movsisyan said that adjacent infrastructures are also being developed as a result of the imports, the number of charging stations is growing (already 200), more maintenance shops are being opened, which in turn brings investments and new jobs.

“We’ve adopted a policy to significantly increase the use of e-cars both in the public administration system and in the private sector. We also consider launching joint production with famous carmakers in Armenia in the future. We are currently conducting negotiations with certain countries in this context,” Emma Movsisyan said.

The ministry seeks to apply broader measures in terms of infrastructures. It is currently considering potential components that could also be covered in the zero-customs-duty regulation and thereby promote economic activity in the given sector, as well as the use of e-cars.

Interview by Anna Gziryan

 10:55, 3 January 2024

YEREVAN, JANUARY 3, ARMENPRESS. A senior U.S. military official recently visited Armenia to aid in crafting the Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) development objectives and policy of the Armenian military, the U.S. Embassy said in a statement.

“USEUCOM's [U.S. European Command] CSM [Command Sergeant Major] Robert Abernethy recently visited Armenia to aid in crafting, formalizing & pre-producing NCO development objectives & policy for the Enlisted Forces of the Armenian military,” the embassy said. “Strong partnerships for a stronger future!”

 11:01, 3 January 2024

YEREVAN, JANUARY 3, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Hamas chief Saleh al-Arouri was killed on Tuesday night in an alleged Israeli drone strike on Beirut's southern suburbs of Dahiyeh, according to multiple media reports. 

Lebanon's national news agency said the drone struck a Hamas office.

Reuters cited two security sources as saying the alleged Israeli strike had targeted a meeting between Hamas officials and Lebanon's Sunni Islamist Jama'a Islamiya faction and left a total of four Palestinians and three Lebanese dead.

In response to questions from Reuters, the Israeli military said it does not respond to reports in the foreign media.

Mark Regev, an adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, told MSNBC that Israel had not taken responsibility for this attack, but "whoever did it, it must be clear: That this was not an attack on the Lebanese state."

"Whoever did this, did a surgical strike against the Hamas leadership," Regev said in the interview.

Arouri was deputy head of Hamas's politburo and a founder of its military wing, the Qassam Brigades.

Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh on Tuesday said Arouri's killing is "terrorist act," a violation of Lebanon's sovereignty and an expansion of Israel's hostility against Palestinians.

Islamic Jihad vowed revenge in a statement, saying: "This crime will not go unpunished and the resistance will continue until the occupation is removed."

Hamas, in a statement eulogizing Arouri and confirming the identities of five other members who were killed with him, called it a “cowardly assassination operation, carried out by the Zionist enemy, in a barbaric aggression and a heinous crime.”

Hezbollah vowed that it would respond to the assassination.

“We affirm that this crime will never pass without response and punishment,” Hezbollah said in a statement. 

Hezbollah called the alleged Israeli strike “a serious assault on Lebanon, its people, its security and its sovereignty… and a dangerous development in the course of the war between the enemy and the axis of resistance.”

 11:43, 3 January 2024

YEREVAN, JANUARY 3, ARMENPRESS. Former U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday appealed a ruling by Maine’s secretary of state barring him from the state’s primary ballot over his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, the Associated Press reports.

Trump, the early front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, appealed the Maine decision by Democrat Shenna Bellows, who became the first secretary of state in history to bar someone from running for the presidency under the rarely used Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. That provision prohibits those who “engaged in insurrection” from holding office.

The former president is expected to soon appeal a similar ban by the Colorado Supreme Court. That appeal would go to the U.S. Supreme Court, while Bellows’ action is being appealed to a Maine Superior Court.

Trump’s appeal on Tuesday asks that Bellows be required to place him on the March 5 primary ballot. The appeal argues that she abused her discretion and relied on “untrustworthy evidence.”