Armenia Sets World Hot Air Ballooning Record

SkyBall launched the longest world record flight without landing from Orenburg, Russia on Feb. 16

Armenia set a world record in hot air ballooning as SkyBall, the founder of ballooning in Armenia, operated the world’s longest flight without landing.

The balloon took off from Russia’s Orenburg region on February 16 and landed near the city of Neftekams (Bashkortostan), covering a distance of approximately 302 miles. The flight lasted 34: hours and 41 minutes. The previous record was 32 hours and 12 minutes.

Scenes from the launching of the hot air balloon in Russia’s Orenburg region

The two experienced pilots – Sergey Bazhenov from Moscow and Nairi Barseghyan from Armenia – thus beat the previous record set by Ivan Menyaylo and Fedor Konyukhov five years ago.

Barseghyan told Armenpress that on Wednesday the balloon took off at 8 a.m. local time and landed at its destination on Thursday at 6:45 p.m..

The hot air balloon was piloted by Sergey Bazhenov and Nairi Barseghyan

The record will be documented by the World Air Sports Federation and it is remarkable that for the first time in history the name of Armenia will be written in aviation sports. 

“I should mention that such records belong to superpowers. If we look at the list we will see the U.S., Russia, Japan, and one or two European countries, now the name of Armenia will be in this list, which was our ultimate goal,” concluded Nairi Barseghyan.

Construction of new Armenian American museum has started in Glendale

Feb 20 2022
Sunday, 9:41AM PT
GLENDALE, Calif. (KABC) — Glendale is home to a large population of Armenian Americans, and the city will soon be home to a museum focused on their history and accomplishments.

Construction has started on a new museum and cultural center, something the Armenian American community in Glendale has dreamed about for decades.
“This is one step closer to the dream,” Glendale Mayor Paula Devine said. “One step closer to the dream that’s going to be right here for all of us who are so privileged to have this museum in Glendale, in our city.”

The center will have a focus on learning with a wide range of public programming. The museum will house permanent and temporary exhibitions, an auditorium, a demonstration kitchen, and an archives center.

The center will highlight the horrors and lessons of the Armenian Genocide.

“It’s going to be a place that’s going to preserve the memory of all those martyrs from the Armenian genocide,” Armenian American Museum Executive Director Shant Sahakian said. “But also a place for youngsters, and students to come every single year to be able to learn, and educate themselves, and educate others about the tragedy of the Armenian Genocide, but also the perseverance of the people and also as a lesson to make sure those types of things never happen again.”

Located on Colorado Boulevard in Glendale, the center is right in the middle of one of the largest Armenian communities in the United States.

“This project was born with the Armenian genocide centennial as a gift for the next hundred years, the next generation of Armenian Americans, and so for Armenians it’s going to be a hub for the community,” Sahakian said. “It’s going to be a platform for Armenian artists, thought leaders, writers, authors, but also a place that’s going to be a public institution to serve all.”
For Armenian Americans, it will be a new home for their heritage, and for everyone else a chance to learn and better understand this vibrant community.

The center is expected to be open in the summer of 2024.

  

Armenia and Artsakh Republic united in the fair fight for realization of national aspirations

Public Radio of Armenia
Feb 20 2022

Armenia and Artsakh continue to be united in the fair fight for the realization of national aspirations, the Foreign Ministry of Armenia said in a statement on Artsakh Revival Day.

“On February 20, 1988, the Council of People’s Deputies of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast made a historic decision to peacefully strive for putting an end to the decades-long policy of ethnic discrimination and cleansing against the Armenians of Artsakh and the realization of their right to self-determination,” the Ministry said.

“These events of 1988 laid the foundation for the pan-Armenian movement – a struggle for the right to free, safe and dignified life in one’s own homeland and the protection of rights,” it added.

“After 34 years, despite the horrific massacres and ethnic cleansing carried out by the Azerbaijani SSR and then two bloody Karabakh wars, Armenia and Artsakh continue to be united in the fair fight for the realization of national aspirations, statehood, sovereignty, rights of the Armenians of Artsakh, and international recognition of the homeland,” the statement reads.

Putin signs order drafting reservists

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 10:15,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. President of Russia Vladimir Putin signed an order on drafting reservists to the military, RIA Novosti reported.

According to the order, the citizens from the Russian reserve will be drafted to “pass military training in the Russian Armed Forces and in the state security and federal security service bodies.”

Zelensky to participate in Munich Security Conference and return to Ukraine on same day

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 12:02,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky will participate in the Munich Security Conference on February 19 and will return to Ukraine on the same day, the Ukrainian presidency said in a statement.

“Naturally, the discussions at the Munich Security Conference will be dedicated to the current threats in Eastern Europe and the situation around Ukraine. That’s why our country’s stance must be accurately presented in order for issues relating to Ukraine to be solved with Ukraine’s participation,” the presidency added.

Shell explosion in Rostov Region – report

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 12:32,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. An explosion occurred in the Tarasovsky District of Russia’s Rostov Region, RIA Novosti reported citing the law enforcement agencies.

A law enforcement source told RIA Novosti that preliminary information suggests a shell exploded. The blast took place at a distance of 1km from the border with Ukraine.

“The explosion took place at 04:00 in the morning, 300 meters from a village home of Mityakinskaya village,” the source said.

No victims or damages were reported.

Armenian FM meets with German businessmen in Munich

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 12:55,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan had a meeting with German businessmen on February 18 in Munich, his spokesperson Vahan Hunanyan said.

Executives of Veridos, Giesecke+Devrient(G+D), Secunet and other leading German companies were present at the meeting.

Mirzoyan also toured the Giesecke+Devrient(G+D) headquarters.

Russia launches planned strategic nuclear triad drills

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 14:45,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. President of Russia Vladimir Putin ordered the launch of military exercises involving the nuclear triad, RIA Novosti reported citing Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.

Putin, together with Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, is overseeing the missile drills.

According to the Russian military, the maneuvers are of planned nature.

The Strategic Missile Forces, the Navy and Aerospace Forces are participating in the drills.

The military exercises were planned to check the readiness level of the troops.