The new store is located on North Avenue, which is the luxury retail destination. The new store covers 120sq m and features the complete range of collections for men and women, including apparel, footwear and accessories.
Arab News by Abdulrahman Al-Rashed 14:24 Few people know that Turkey has a military base in Mogadishu, far from its borders, and that Turkey’s largest embassy in the world is in the Somali capital; noting the only thing in common between Libya and Somalia is that they are both torn by war. Turkey has also had a foothold in Sudan’s Suakin Island, but its plan to build a military base there collapsed with the ouster of President Omar Al-Bashir, as the new leadership in Khartoum canceled all military agreements with Ankara. Are these Turkish red circles scattered on the map of the region the fruits of a well-planned policy, an expansionist project or just the reactions of a narcissist? During the early years of the war in Syria, the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was reluctant to cross the borders militarily. Today, however, his forces are inside Syria, but they have lost most of their main battles against the Russians and the forces of the Assad regime, as well as against the Americans. The areas assigned by the Turkish government as border crossings inside Syria have shrunk. Against this backdrop, Erdogan has been keen to broadcast the news of his forces’ victories in Libya to the Turkish people, who are depressed by their poor and deteriorating living conditions. His plan was to spread a stream of news promising his people gains, most notably the signing of oil agreements with Libya, and his intention to explore the areas he has drawn as a maritime border in the Mediterranean, despite Greek objections. He has also hurried to talk about oil discoveries. But all the happy news may be nothing more than an attempt to raise the morale of the Turkish people, who have been receiving successive economic blows, one after another, for two years now due to political reasons. The damage done by Turkey’s military adventures in the region, often funded by the small country of Qatar looking for a regional power to climb on, is not to be underestimated. Indeed, the Turkish president is following in the footsteps of the Iranian regime and its expansion in the region, with the latter’s plans set off by the signing of the nuclear deal and its forces’ deployment in Syria, Iraq and Yemen. Following the Iranian model, Turkey is using foreign militias in its war in Libya, and there are reports of its intervention in Yemen too. It has also used Syrian militias to strike the Syrian Kurds of the Syrian Democratic Forces. Well, these adventures and military bases do not tell us what Erdogan’s policy is, if there is one. Why? What is the expected outcome? Last December, Malaysia hosted an Islamic summit limited to Erdogan and the presidents of Iran, Indonesia and the emir of Qatar, claiming to study the affairs of the Islamic nation. There, Erdogan tried to present himself as their leader, and to make the summit an alternative to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Makkah. However, the summit failed, and Malaysia tried to make it clear that the Turks’ statements did not reflect their point of view. Later, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammed, ousted from his ethnic Malay political party in May, was dismissed. On the other hand, Erdogan’s project calls for building a major regional power parallel to Iran, and possibly replacing it, given that the US blockade of the Iranians has already weakened them considerably. Turkey, with its 80 million people, assumes regional roles in Central Asia but has not succeeded much against Russia and Iran. Unlike Saudi Arabia and Iran, with their huge oil reserves, Turkey is a country without substantial financial resources and with an economy largely dependent on Russian tourism, European markets and Turkish remittances from the West. This is why Erdogan is relying on Qatari support to save him from every crisis, such as the coronavirus pandemic that has halted the economy and the collapse of the lira, which was a concern until Doha gave him $15 billion. At the moment, Turkey is present in three seas: The Black Sea, the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. The expected result of its political expansion and military involvement will not be the spread of the influence of the ruler of Ankara, but rather weakening it; as he will not be able to act freely in a vast and troubled region without powerful allies. Erdogan is still facing undecided tests, such as in the war in Syria, Russian missiles issue, and his military dispute with the Americans. Abdulrahman Al-Rashed is a veteran columnist. He is the former general manager of Al-Arabiya news channel, and former editor-in-chief of Asharq Al-Awsat.
Many citizens fail to comply with anti-epidemic rules, Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at a briefing today, stressing that information is being circulated that the administrative fines against citizens applied till now will be annulled.
“These hopes are in vain. The administrative fines for not complying with the anti-epidemic rules will not be annulled. They must be paid, though, I repeat that our issue is not to fine but to make people obey the rules,” he said.
He also said that police officers in civilian wearing will be engaged in the oversight works. He said they will not fine the people who violated the rules but we call the police officers nearby.
Sen. Menendez.jpg
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Three film production companies in Armenia completed 43 films since 2015 with 14 films planned to release till the end of the ongoing year, according to the data by the State Statistical Committee of Armenia.
The film productions finished in 2019 include full-length, documentary short and animation films. Some 1 140 448.4 AMD have been allocated for production of 43 films, out of which 750 thousand for the year of 2019, the source said.
15:24,
YEREVAN, MAY 27, ARMENPRESS. The state budget is the gross national pocket and it must be treated as one treats the family budget, PM Nikol Pashinyan said on the planned amendments in the property tax area.
“There are two attitudes towards the state budget – when the state system finds it to be its own, and the society finds every penny paid to the budget to be lost money. This is our gross national pocket and we must treat the state budget like we treat our family budget. Yes, property tax will increase, but it will mostly increase on the kind of property which we conditionally call palaces or castles. Today if we look how much property taxes these huge villas are paying, it’s basically symbolic taxes. There is a component of lavish tax also here.
Now people are building houses without taking into account any adjacent factor, the bigger, the higher, the more inconvenient for others the better. If so, then the owners of such properties must pay,” the PM said.
He said the property tax for nearly 500,000 beneficiaries will drop in the first year and then it will gradually increase. “Meaning 2021 will be in the logic of post-crisis, then the increases will take place according to the situation”.
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
Friday,
Armenian Health Minister In Fresh Warning On Coronavirus Cases
• Susan Badalian
Armenia -- Health Minister Arsen Torosian (R) visits the intensive care unit of
Surp Grigor Lusavorich hospital, Yerevan, May 10, 2020.
Armenian hospitals are increasingly struggling to cope with growing coronavirus
cases and may soon be unable to give life-saving treatment to all infected
people hospitalized in serious condition, Health Minister Arsen Torosian said on
Friday.
Amid the continuing rapid spread of the virus in Armenia, Torosian again warned
of a possible shortage of intensive care beds at the hospitals treating COVID-19
patients. He said that at least 150 of just over 200 such beds currently
available in the country are already occupied by patients.
“All of the 50 [vacant] beds might be occupied as early as today, whereas
[occupied beds] will be freed up very slowly because citizens kept in our
intensive care units … usually stay there for around 20 days,” he said during a
video conference with members of Armenia’s Public Council.
Accordingly, Torosian acknowledged that doctors dealing with the COVID-19
epidemic may soon have to switch to a “deep sorting” of patients that show
severe symptoms of the disease.
“The deep sorting is also done during wars, with mainly those patients who have
a chance to survive admitted for treatment,” he said. “It’s possible that at
this rate [of coronavirus infections] we will opt for that in the coming days.
But we are doing everything to avoid that, for example, by deploying new beds.”
The minister’s latest stark warning came as the health authorities stopped
hospitalizing or isolating infected people showing mild symptoms of the virus or
none at all. Such individuals, who account for more than 70 percent of all
cases, will now have to self-isolate at home.
Asymptomatic patients currently kept in hospitals or hotels turned into
temporary medical care centers will also be sent home.
Torosian defended this measure, saying that the authorities simply have no other
choice. “There is no more room [for asymptomatic cases,]” he said. “That is why
we are sending people home.”
Armenia -- A COVID-19 patient is brought to the Surp Grigor Lusavorich hospital
in Yerevan, April 8, 2020.
The Armenian Ministry of Health reported in the morning that 322 new infections
and 4 more deaths were registered in the past 24 hours. The total number of
COVID-19 cases thus reached 5,928 while the official death toll from the disease
rose to 74.
The latter figure does not include the deaths of 28 other people infected with
the virus. The ministry claims that those fatalities were primarily caused by
other, pre-existing diseases.
Torosian warned on Thursday that the number of people dying from coronavirus
could rise sharply if the highly infectious disease continues to spread rapidly.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian likewise said that the “situation is not good.”
Still, Pashinian made clear that the Armenian government will stick to its
“decentralized” strategy of fighting against the virus which puts the emphasis
on citizens’ “individual responsibility.”
As part of a nationwide lockdown imposed in late March, the government seriously
restricted people’s movements and ordered the closure of most nonessential
businesses. But it began relaxing these restrictions already in mid-April.
The daily numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country have steadily
increased since then. Critics say that the authorities never properly enforced
the lockdown and lifted it too soon.
“If there is a two-week total lockdown, not the one which we had [earlier this
spring,] then I can practically guarantee that we can completely stop
outbreaks,” Torosian declared on Friday. But he stopped short of publicly urging
the government to impose such a lockdown.
Karabakh Inauguration Party Raises Eyebrows In Armenia
• Robert Zargarian
Nagorno-Karabakh -- Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and other
dignitaries attend a state banquet in Shushi, .
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and key members of his administration caused an
uproar in Armenia after clearly failing to observe social distancing during a
state banquet in Nagorno-Karabakh on Thursday.
The open-air dinner party was held in the town of Shushi following the
inauguration of Ara Harutiunian, Karabakh’s recently elected new president.
Official photographs of the event showed Pashinian, Armenian parliament speaker
Ararat Mirzoyan, their wives and dozens of other dignitaries standing tightly
around tables loaded with various dishes and snacks. None of the guests wore
gloves, let alone masks.
The photos were widely circulated on social media, prompting criticism from not
only opponents but also some supporters of the Armenian government. Some critics
accused Pashinian of recklessness and hypocrisy.
The prime minister attended the inauguration events in Karabakh just hours after
expressing serious concern over the continuing rapid spread of coronavirus in
Armenia. “The situation is much more serious than we can imagine,” he warned at
a cabinet meeting in Yerevan.
Pashinian again complained that many Armenians are still not complying with
social distancing and hygiene rules set by the health authorities. He ordered
the Armenian police to enforce those rules “more strictly.”
Responding to the uproar, Pashinian’s spokeswoman, Mane Gevorgian, insisted that
the premier and his entourage took all necessary precautions against the virus
during their latest trip to Karabakh.
“The banquet followed the inauguration ceremony of Artsakh’s new president
during which the prime minister, his wife, government members and deputies of
the National Assembly wore masks,” Gevorgian told RFE/RL’s Armenian service on
Friday. “Many of them also wore gloves.”
Deputy parliament speaker Alen Simonian argued, for his part, that the COVID-19
infection rate in Karabakh is much lower than in Armenia. “Fortunately, Karabakh
does not have the kind of strict restrictions that are in place in Armenia,” he
said.
Simonian seemed to acknowledge at the same time that the organizers and
participants of the inauguration party should have been more careful. “We all
must draw conclusions and learn from our mistakes and shortcomings,” he said.
Authorities in Karabakh have reported 33 coronavirus cases and no deaths
resulting from them so far. The Armenian-populated territory, which had broken
away from Azerbaijan in 1991, has around 150,000 residents.
In Armenia, the Ministry of Health reported on Friday 322 new infections and 4
more deaths. The total number of COVID-19 cases thus reached 5,928.
More Armenians Evacuated From Turkey
Georgia -- Buses carrying Armenians returning to Armenia from Turkey, May 22,
2020.
Armenia evacuated on Friday 168 more Armenian citizens from coronavirus-hit
Turkey in coordination with Turkish and Georgian authorities.
They reportedly boarded four Armenian buses after being bused from Istanbul to
the Turkish-Georgian border late at night. They then proceeded to Armenia via
Georgia.
Armenia’s government paid for the bus service and covered other expenses
incurred during the evacuation. The Armenian Embassy in Tbilisi said it provided
the evacuees with food and other essential items during their transit through
Georgia which was allowed by the Georgian government.
All evacuees were due to be told to self-isolate for two weeks on their arrival
in Armenia.
More than 70 other Armenians were evacuated from Turkey in early April. The
Armenian and Turkish foreign ministries arranged their return during a rare
direct contact.
Armenia and Turkey do not have diplomatic relations. Successive Turkish
governments have also kept the border between the two neighboring states closed
because of the unresolved conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh.
Officials in Yerevan say that more than 60,000 Armenian nationals, most of them
migrant workers who lived in Russia and Europe, have returned to their country
since March 1 due to the coronavirus pandemic and resulting economic
consequences.
According to the Armenian Embassy in Moscow, at least 5,000 Armenians currently
stuck in Russia also want to return home but are unable to do so because of the
coronavirus-related absence of regular flights between the two countries. Since
the beginning of April the embassy has helped to organize a dozen charter
flights to Yerevan from Moscow and other Russian cities to evacuate a smaller
number of other citizens.
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2020 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
13:24,
YEREVAN, MAY 20, ARMENPRESS. The Police of Armenia urge citizens not to go to the airport to welcome their relatives coming from abroad, the Police said in a statement.
“During the landing of planes arriving to Armenia from abroad some citizens rush to the airport to welcome their relatives. We remind that citizens of Armenia arriving from abroad are being transported to the isolation places via buses. In other words, there is no opportunity and necessity to welcome the relatives. We urge not to go to the airport to avoid crowds and also for health safety purposes”, the Police statement says.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
15:45,
YEREVAN, MAY 15, ARMENPRESS. I Am Not Alone documentary about the 2018 revolution in Armenia has received its 10th award, this time at the RiverRun International Film Festival, the movie’s Facebook page said, posting the statement of the jury. The movie won Best Documentary Feature at the festival.
“The jury’s top prize goes to I AM NOT ALONE, directed by Garin Hovannisian. This gripping film reminded us of the power of the best documentary filmmaking: to open our eyes to a story we didn’t know, and present it with artistry and skill”, the statement of the jury says.
The film traces Nikol Pashinyan, a journalist and political prisoner turned political activist, as he marches against the Armenian prime minister Serzh Sargsyan.
“What starts as one man walking across the country unfolds before our eyes to become a mass movement. Watching the film is more than a passive observation of a political movement; Hovannisian fully immerses the audience in the story, from beautifully sweeping drone shots to ordinary citizens’ cellphone footage”, the statement said.
The jury found this film an enlightening and inspiring watch, taking a complex subject and presenting it in an entertaining, tightly edited narrative that shows multiple sides of a complex and urgent story. “In the midst of an election year, I Am Not Alone is a potent reminder of the power of the people”, the jury said.
The premiere of the movie was held on September 7, 2019, on the sidelines of the Toronto International Film Festival.