Author: Hunanian Jack

Nine people have been killed and seven injured in a shooting at a college in the US state of Oregon, say police, the BBC reports.

The gunman, 26, opened fire at Umpqua Community College on Thursday morning and was killed in a police shootout.

There were conflicting reports on casualties but Douglas County Sheriff John Hanlin said 10 dead, including the gunman, was “the best” figure.

Police have not identified the attacker but un-named officers have told US media his name is Chris Harper Mercer.

Mr Hanlin said he would not confirm the name, adding: “I will not give him the credit he probably sought prior to this horrific and cowardly act.”

The killer’s motive is not known, although police said they were investigating reports that he had warned of his intentions on social media.

Hours after the attack, in which seven were also injured, a visibly frustrated President Barack Obama demanded tighter gun laws, saying prayers are “no longer enough”

The Azerbaijani side violated the ceasefire 100 times at the line of contact between the armed forces of Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan overnight, the NKR Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Despite the decreased number of ceasefire violations, the rival fired 1,800 shots in the direction of the Armenian positions using weapons of different caliber, including 60 and 80mm mortars.

The front divisions of the NKR Defense Army pressure the activeness of the rival and confidently continue with their military duty all along the line of contact.

The Azerbaijani side continued to intensively violate the ceasefire regime on September 1-2, the NKR Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

The rival violated the ceasefire about 250 times in the reporting period, firing more than 5,000 shots from weapons of different caliber, including 60 and 82 mm mortars, RPG-7 and HAN-17 grenade launchers, as well as Turkey-made TP-107 reactive rocket launchers.

The activeness of the rival was pressured as a result of retaliatory measures taken by the front divisions of the NKR Defense Army.

The Defense Ministry says the rival often uses the large-caliber rocket and artillery weapons, something Azerbaijan’s propaganda machine is trying to conceal. As a proof, the Ministry presents photos of the weapons.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan met with representatives of the Prosperous Armenia Party to discuss the constitutional amendments.

The interlocutors discussed the overall process of constitutional reforms. Reference was made to separate provisions of the draft Constitution worked out by the Professional Commission for Constitutional Amendments adjunct.

The parties stressed the importance of active and comprehensive discussions at the National Assembly.

Militants suspected of belonging to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) detonated a bomb at the section of the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum natural gas pipeline passing through the Sarikamis district of Turkey’s northeastern province of Kars Monday night, BGN News reports. 

The attack occurred at 10:00 pm local time (7:00 pm GMT) on Monday at the Sarikamis Hill location, roughly 2 kilometers from the Sarikamis district.

100 meter (330 foot) flames erupted from the site of the blast. Easily visible from nearby towns, the flames finally went out at 11:00 pm local time (8.00 pm GMT), a short while after the valves had been closed off.

Sarikamis district governor Yusuf İzzet Karaman likened the explosion to a similar one at the same site 2 years ago.

Kars Governor Günay Özdemir announced that the attack was the work of the PKK. He added that the location of the explosion was fortunately far away from any residential areas.

Security measures have been taken in the area.

During its today the Chamber of Deputies of Belgium will debate the draft resolution on the centenary of the Armenian Genocide submitted by MPs Peter De Roover, Denis Ducarme, Tim Vandenput, Sarah Claerhout, Peter Luykx Flahaux and Els Van Hoof.

It will also consider the motion on the genocide of Armenians in Turkey in 1915 filed by Filip Dewinter, Barbara Pas and Jan Penris.

The Belgian Chamber of Deputies will discuss the motion submitted by Georges Dallemagne Catherine Fonck, Benoît Lutgen and Olivier Maingain on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Belgium.

Finally, the Chamber will consider a motion filed by Stéphane Crusnière, Özlem Özen, Gwen Philippe and Blanchart Grovonius on the recognition of the Armenian genocide on the occasion of the commemoration of its centennial.

To follow the debate on-line click

The EAFJD President, Kaspar Karampetian, on behalf of the European Armenian Federation condemned the terrorist attack in the Kurdish populated town of Suruc, in Turkey, offering his condolences to the families of those killed and wishing a rapid recovery to the hundreds of injured.

“This terrorist act is all the more monstrous, considering, that the youth was gathered in Suruc to go and volunteer in Kobanê, to assist the reconstruction of the city after the destruction by Daesh (ISIS). Our thoughts go to the families of those 31 people killed and the hundreds injured”, said Karampetian.

Karampetian stressed that this is clearly the result of the Turkish authorities openly supporting the terrorist Daesh group. “Sooner or later, Erdogan’s policy of supporting the terrorists in Syria would turn against him; unfortunately this has been the case now, with the loss of innocent young lives”, said Karampetian.

“The European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy with all its organizations joins the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK), the People’s Democratic Party (HDP), the Party of European Socialist (PES) and the whole democratic world, in condemning this terrorist act. It’s the moral obligation of democratic forces to support the Kurds in their fight for Democracy and Justice”, concluded Karampetian.

The Greek government has extended bank closures and a €60 daily limit on ATM withdrawals until Monday, the BBC reports.

The curbs were imposed on 28 June, after a deadlock in bailout talks with creditors led a rush of withdrawals.

The European Central Bank has decided not to increase support for Greek banks until the debt crisis is resolved.

Greek PM Alexis Tsipras says he will submit “credible” reform plans on Thursday – ahead of a Sunday deadline by the EU to find a solution.

An emergency summit will involve all 28 EU members – not just the 19 eurozone countries.

European Council President Donald Tusk has warned that this was now the “most critical moment in the history of the eurozone”.

President Serzh Sargsyan will leave for the Kingdom of Belgium tonight to partake in the Summit of the European People’s Party to be held in Brussels on June 25.

The Armenian President is expected to deliver a speech at the summit.

The Fuller Center for Housing Armenia team and the Global Builders volunteer team from the U.S., led by Cynthia Reimers Erickson, celebrated the 400th home milestone in Lejan village of Lori Region.

It’s the call of blood and the will of helping others that brings  Cynthia Erickson to Armenia already 10 years; and she comes not alone, but with teams of volunteers who do tremendous work in short time building homes for Armenian families in need of decent housing.

The day was of triple celebration; the 400th home milestone construction became more noteworthy with the 10th year celebration of the dedicated veteran team leader, Cynthia Reimers Erickson and a devoted, selfless volunteer Charles Takesian – 10 years with Fuller Center for Housing Armenia, 10 years of dedicated and selfless service to help the dream of having a decent home of the families in need come true.

”I am very happy to be working with the Fuller Center Armenia all these years. They have dedicated and extremely competent staff who have generous hearts and are devoted to helping their fellow Armenians be successful in Armenia. It is a pleasure for me to bring a team of Americans to Armenia to work with these selfless folks and contribute to the completion of a suitable home for a family.  Armenia is in my blood and, for me, this is the best way I can honor the memory of my grandparents and their family members who were deprived of their lives and their homeland – by helping others gain a home and strengthen their homeland,” said Cynthia Reimers Erickson.

Many families have felt the constructive force of Cynthia Erickson’s team. This time the Margaryans from Lejan Vilage of Lori Region were among the happy ones, who have been the eyewitness of the unreal seeming change of their house since June 15.

The Margaryans lost their house during the 1988 earthquake and since then they have been living in a temporary shelter (domik).

”Each time I see the Armenian families becoming homeowners  it fills me with special joy and sense of pride. Today it’s the 400th times I am the eyewitness of such happiness. I hope that we will still build many more homes with the help of our friend, Cynthia, who helped us in our mission throughout her 10 years of devotion, her team and many other volunteers who come to Armenia to help build homes,” said Fuller Center for Housing Armenia President Ashot Yeghiazaryan.