Author: Elizabeth Jabejian

An Illinois couple married for 69 years have died with an hour of each other, family members tell US media, the BBC reports.

Isaac Vatkin, 91, was holding the hand of his wife Teresa, 89, as she succumbed to Alzheimer’s disease on Saturday, the Daily Herald reported.

Isaac died 40 minutes later. Family members said they took comfort in knowing they were together at the end.

“You didn’t want to see them go,” said grandson William Vatkin, “but you couldn’t ask for anything more.”

“Their love for each other was so strong, they simply could not live without each other,” said daughter Clara Gesklin at the couple’s joint funeral.

Today the launching of a “United Nations (UN) Corner” took place in the Masis Youth (MY) Center in the city of Masis, Ararat province of Armenia organized jointly by the UN Information Office in Yerevan and the Masis Development Foundation.

The launch of this UN Corner, which is the 17^th of its kind, is aimed at providing the Youth Center visitors and interested parties with access to the UN publications and other promotional and visual materials. Thus, this could help them to get acquainted with the United Nations values and objectives, its worldwide mandate and policies and its all-inclusive areas of action with diverse themes. The overall result of this can be the empowerment of youth and their involvement and action towards the achievement of the UN global agenda.

Armineh Haladjian, head of the UN Information Office in Yerevan, stressed the importance of UN corner opening in Masis: “Within our cooperation with new partners especially outside Yerevan, and having the main goal of reaching out to our main target group — the YOUTH, UN Information Office in Yerevan on behalf of UN Armenia is launching this UN Corner in Masis Youth Center. I am pleased to inform the audience here today that this Corner can be a good start to bring the members and visitors of this facility closer to the United Nations even being not physically in the UN House. We look forward to further cooperation and bilateral visits in the near future.”

In his welcoming speech, Executive Director of the Masis Development Foundation Stepan Hovhannisyan, congratulated the residents of the city on this landmark event and stated: “We highly appreciate the cooperation with the United Nations. The UN Corner, opened today, will help the youth of Masis learn more about the work of the United Nations both in Armenia and around the world. Joint educational and enlightenment projects will help the children from the Youth Center learn more about the principles of the UN work. In the activities of Masis Development Foundation and the Youth Center, we also adhere to similar values, and strive to develop in the youth an active, not indifferent attitude to the development of civil society, human rights, preservation of the environment. We hope that together we will contribute to the development and prosperity of Masis and Armenia.”

Presentation of MY Center members, screening of the “See You” animation film about the UN activities in Armenia, interactive discussion with participation of UN Development Programme and UN Population Fund staff members, followed the official part of the “UN Corner” opening. A cultural program organized by Masis youth closed the event. The participants had the opportunity to take with them promotional materials and posters about the United Nations.

Photo: Getty Images

 

Manchester United hold the advantage against Anderlecht in the Europa League quarter-finals after securing a 1-1 draw in Thursday’s first leg in Brussels.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored a crucial away goal 10 minutes before the break at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, netting from an acute angle to put United ahead, but Leander Dendoncker’s powerful header four minutes from time means the tie is still alive ahead of the return game at Old Trafford.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan has now scored in each of United’s last four Europa League away games, his strike against Anderlecht taking his tally to nine in the past 21 matches.

President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan and UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin attended today the groundbreaking ceremony for a new Footbal Academy in Vagharshapat.

Aleksander Čeferin arrived in Armenia today for a one-day official visit. He was welcomed at Zvartnots Airport by Ruben Hayrapetyan, President of the Football Federation of Armenia.

Upon his arrival in Armenia, the UEFA President headed for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, where he was hosted by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. Mr. Čeferin learnt about the history of the Holy See and its cultural legacy.

 

On April 11 the State Youth Orchestra of Armenia will perform within the framework of the Ludwig van Beethoven Easter Festival in Poland.

Headed by conductor Sergey Smbatyan the Youth Orchestra will present Symphonic Images by Ghazaros Sarian, Concerto-Rhapsody for Cello and Orchestra by Aram Khachaturian (soloist – Narek Hakhnazaryan (cello), Symphony suite “Scheherazade” by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (soloist:  Jarosław Nadrzycki (violin).

The concert devoted to the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Poland and the 650th anniversary of Armenian community in Poland will take place at Warsaw Philharmonic Concert Hall.

The Youth Orchestra will present the same concert program  on April 12 at Centrum Spotkania Kultur in Lublin.

Joint Press Release by the Republic of Armenia and European Union on the initialling of the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA):

On 21st of March at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Yerevan, on behalf of the Republic of Armenia Chief negotiator Garen Nazarian, Deputy Foreign Minister and Trade lead negotiator Garegin Melkonian, First Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Investments and on behalf of the European Union (EU) Chief negotiator Luc Devigne, Deputy Managing Director in the European External Action Service and Trade lead negotiator Petros Sourmelis, Head of Unit in the European Commission, initialled the Armenia – EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

The Agreement will be an important step to broaden the scope of bilateral relations between Republic of Armenia and the European Union.

It will strengthen the political dialogue and set a solid basis for the continuation of economic and social reforms. Strong commitments to democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, underpin the new agreement and Armenia-EU future cooperation. The CEPA will also create the framework for stronger cooperation in sectors such as energy, transport and the environment, for new opportunities in trade and investments, and for increased mobility for the benefit of the citizens.

Relations between Armenia and the EU have seen a significant strengthening in recent years. The CEPA is a joint endeavour, which will further deepen their relations within the larger framework of the revised European Neighbourhood Policy and Eastern Partnership. The CEPA will offer EU and Armenia a platform to bring their relations to a new, higher level.

Photo: Reuters

 

Iraqi forces have retaken the main government offices in Mosul as the offensive continues to oust the so-called Islamic State (IS) group, the BBC reports.

The advance could pave the way for an attack on the heavily-populated old city, where the militants are still entrenched.

Thousands of civilians are streaming out of the city every day.

Mosul is the last stronghold for IS in Iraq. The east of the city was recaptured in January.

Civilians say it was the heaviest night of bombardment since the operation to retake the city’s west began on 19 February.

The Iraqi forces launched a surprise attack overnight to storm the government buildings.

Although the structures are reported to be largely destroyed, they are a strategic and symbolic win.

Manchester United’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan is the only footballer in the world to speak seven languages.

The Khalid 10 Football Channel has compiled the list of 14 players, who speak four languages or more.

The Armenian international speaks Armenian, Russian, English, French, German, Italian and Portuguese. His teammate Zlatan Ibrahimovich is also on the list with five languages (Swedish, Bosnian, English, Italian and Spanish).

Manchester United manager speaks six languages (Portuguese, French, English, Italian, Spanish and Catalan).

Three of Manchester United’s signings from last summer are competing for the club’s latest Player of the Month award, according to the club’s official website. 

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Paul Pogba are the nominees for February; when the same trio contested the prize in December, the Swedish striker came out on top.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic – 6 (1) appearances  / 7 goals / 2 Man-of-the-Match awards
United’s top scorer has been in scintillating form in front of goal, adding to his first hat-trick for the club in the home Europa League tie against Saint-Etienne with a key brace at Wembley in the EFL Cup final victory over Southampton. Ibrahimovic also scored at Leicester City and came off the bench to knock Blackburn Rovers out of the Emirates FA Cup, and he provided an assist for Anthony Martial in the win over Watford.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan – 5 appearances / 2 goals / 2 Man-of-the-Match awards
After some splendid performances in February, it was such a pity that injury ruled the Armenian attacker out of the EFL Cup final. Earlier in the month, he finished clinically past Leicester City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel after a driving run and set up Marcus Rashford at Blackburn with a glorious pass, and was voted Man of the Match on both occasions. Mkhitaryan’s classy first-half goal at Saint-Etienne effectively ended the Europa League tie in France and he now hopes to win his first Player-of-the-Month award since joining the Reds from Borussia Dortmund.

Paul Pogba – 6 (1) appearances / 0 goals / 1 Man-of-the-Match award
The French star performed in both deep and attacking midfield roles during February and showed his skills throughout. He helped turn the FA Cup game at Ewood Park in United’s favour when appearing as a substitute and looking a class above, creating Ibrahimovic’s winner with a delightful through ball. A Man-of-the-Match display followed in his homeland as he came out on top in the battle with his brother Florentin’s side and he was a powerhouse again in the EFL Cup final at Wembley despite the Reds’ taxing schedule.

You can . The result will be announced on ManUtd.com on Friday afternoon.