Author: Jhanna Virabian

 16:36,

YEREVAN, JULY 30, ARMENPRESS. Thousands of followers of an influential Shiite cleric breached Iraq’s parliament on Saturday, for the second time this week, to protest government formation efforts lead by his rivals, The Associated Press reports.

Iraqi security forces initially used tear gas and sound bombs to try to repel the demonstrators and caused several injuries. Once inside, the protesters declared an open-ended sit-in and claimed they would not disperse until their demands are answered.

As the numbers inside the parliament swelled, the police backed off. An expected parliament session did not take place Saturday and there were no lawmakers in the hall.

By late afternoon, the Ministry of Health said that about 125 people had been injured in the violence — 100 civilians and 25 members of the security forces.

Earlier in the day and heeding the calls of cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, the demonstrators used ropes to pull down cement barricades leading to the gate of Iraq’s Green Zone, which houses government buildings and embassies.

It was the second time in the span of three days that the cleric has ordered his followers to stage a sit-in inside the Green Zone.

On Wednesday, protesters stormed the parliament building in a similar fashion but left shortly after, at al-Sadr’s command. They had come to warn their rivals against proceeding with government formation efforts, after the alliance named Mohammed al-Sudani as its nominee for the premiership.

 15:07,

YEREVAN, JULY 18, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan chaired a consultation today discussing the construction of Garden of Life – a park dedicated to the memory of the victims of all Artsakh wars.

The Garden of Life will be built in the territory of the Botanical Garden of Yerevan.

During the meeting the PM was briefed on the construction project of the park, the architectural solutions and the functional zoning scheme. It was reported that the project area is around 35 hectares, there will be walking and recreational areas, alleys, bicycle paths, a stepped cascade and the peak will be the part symbolizing the life of heroes fallen for homeland. Completely new irrigation system will be built to serve the entire Botanical Garden.

The meeting touched upon issues relating to the implementation of the project, infrastructural solutions, equipment of the area, etc. A number of proposals and recommendations were made.

The issue of improving the Botanical Garden was also on the agenda. In this context the PM proposed to develop also the Garden’s development program in line with the construction of the Garden of Life.

The PM stated once again that the purpose of the Garden of Life is to assess life, symbolize the presence of the victims of Artsakh wars, adding that all architectural solutions should derive from this logic. Nikol Pashinyan said that any commercial activity in the territory of the park must be ruled out. He tasked to start the works taking into consideration the proposals and ideas discussed during today’s meeting.

 11:00,

YEREVAN, JULY 11, ARMENPRESS. A 2.8 magnitude earthquake was registered on the Armenia-Georgia border 13km north-east from the village of Bavra at 10:14 on July 11, the Seismic Protection Survey Seismological Network of the Armenian Ministry of Emergency Situations said.

The earthquake was recorded at a depth of 10km.

The tremor measured magnitude 3-4 point at the epicenter area.

The earthquake was felt in Bavra, Saragyugh, Ghazanchi and Tavshut villages of Shirak province – 3 point.

Earlier today, two earthquakes with 4.4 and 3.8 magnitudes were registered at the same place at 07:36 and 09:10 local time.

 13:32, 7 July 2022

YEREVAN, JULY 7, ARMENPRESS. The clearance capacity of the Upper Lars checkpoint at the Russian-Georgian border has greatly increased in the past one and a half month, Minister of Economy of Armenia Vahan Kerobyan told reporters after the Cabinet meeting today.

“The clearance capacity of Armenian cars has doubled. If two months ago the average daily number of Armenian cars passing through Lars was 130, now it is approximately 250”, he said. “We think that the problem of queues will be completely solved within the next month, the queues will disappear, and we will have no problem until weather conditions worsen”, he said.  

Commenting on the ferry transportation options, the minister said that the issue is expected to be solved in coming days. “If not, we will be able to do the same action via the Batumi port and create an alternative option. The problem is that the Dutch company joined the sanctions against Russia and because of sanctions the permit is being delayed. The company in Batumi is managed by a Philippine company from where it is easier to get a permit. We think the Poti port is a good option, but if it doesn’t work, we will do the second option”, he said.

As for the inflation, the minister said that the Central Bank is fighting inflation with its tools.

“Due to the high prices of food we are facing a danger of increase in poverty, and the government is preparing several actions in this respect. The minimum salaries and pensions will rise, new jobs will be created”, he said.