Author: Lilit Nahapetian

Hayastan All-Armenian Fund affiliates in the United States of America (Armenia Fund, Inc./Los Angeles and Armenia Fund USA/New York), have announced the launch of their joint fundraising campaign “Our Home,” Massis Post reports.

This innovative campaign will culminate with the live 12-hour broadcast of the 18th Annual International Thanksgiving Day Telethon which airs on November 26, 2015.

Having become a Thanksgiving Day tradition for Armenians around the world, the Telethon will air from Los Angeles and be broadcast from coast to coast and internationally on cable and satellite television as well as online:

This year’s flagship ground-breaking project is the construction of single family homes for families in Artsakh who have 5 children or more and lack adequate housing. There are already 466 families identified in Artsakh who fit the criteria and 211 are known to live in unacceptable housing conditions.

“This is truly a humanitarian project and we have received a great deal of positive feedback from our donors. It is not easy to raise 5 or more children even in the United States, let alone Artsakh. We all should pitch in to help the parents who are raising the next generation of Armenia’s scientists, doctors, statesmen and artists by providing them adequate housing. These are parents who work hard, who do their absolute best to provide for their children, but, unfortunately, they cannot save enough money to build a home big enough for their children,” explains Antranik Baghdassarian, President of Armenia Fund, Inc. the U.S. Western Region affiliate of Hayastan All-Armenian Fund.

The homes that Armenia Fund constructs will have land plots of 10,000 sq. ft. each, where the families can grow fruits and vegetables. Armenia Fund will provide furniture for every room in the house as well as provide household appliances, including water heaters, refrigerators, washers, stoves and vacuum cleaners.

“Coming off the heels of the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, we reflect not only on our survival but our future – our children, the beneficiaries of this year’s Telethon’s target project. I am glad we are combining our efforts with our Western Region affiliate this year. It projects unity and highlights the importance of this year’s project. By streamlining our efforts and joining our unique talents and resources, we will better serve Armenia and Artsakh by reducing costs and operational expenses, thus allowing more funds to be allocated for projects. We call on all Armenians in the United States and around the world to watch the Telethon and donate generously for this noble program,” stated Khoren Bandazian, President of Armenia Fund USA, the U.S. Eastern Region affiliate of Hayastan All-Armenian Fund.

According to the program, priority will be given to low income families, as well as the families of active duty officers of the armed forces, families of veterans of the Artsakh Liberation War and to the survivors of soldiers who lost their lives defending Artsakh.

“This is a great partnership benefiting the children of Artsakh. Their parents do the heavy-lifting of providing for the children through their hard work, the government of Artsakh does its part by providing subsidies and allowances for every child, and we will build them new beautiful homes. The Fund will only be able to do this with the support of our donors, who we cannot thank enough for their generosity and caring. Today, when we hear about Azerbaijan’s unprecedented aggression against the peaceful population of Artsakh, it is important for all of us to send a powerful message to our brothers and sisters that our support for Artsakh is stronger than ever,” explains Ara Vardanyan, the Executive Director of Hayastan All-Armenian Fund, Yerevan.

The Telethon airs for 12 hours on U.S. Thanksgiving Day, November 26 beginning at 10:00AM Pacific Standard Time.

Reality TV star Kim Kardashian got a surprise 35th birthday party from her husband Kanye West. West gathered Kim’s mother Kris Jenner and sisters Kourtney Kardashian, Kendall Jenner and Kylie Jenner for a special movie screening at the Westlake Cinepolis theatre in LA, reported Us Weekly.

Keen to not let Kim feel like the odd one out, the rapper engineered the party so that all of her friends came dressed as their ‘best pregnant Kim’ so she could enjoy her birthday surrounded by fellow bumps.

And the reality TV star was so touched by his gesture, which included hiring out a cinema for her friends and family to enjoy as well as a lavish birthday cake, she took to Twitter to gush about how lovely her husband is, according to Metro.

Kim Kardashian gushed over the attractive birthday cake via an Instagram post and called it “the flawless chill yummy food birthday.”

President Serzh Sargsyan took part today in the congress of the European People’s Party (EPP) in Madrid. It was presided over by EPP President Joseph Daul. The congress was joined by the Presidents of the European Council and the European Commission, Donald Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker, heads of EU and European Partnership states and governments representing the EPP member parties.

Among the congress’ agenda items are the elections of EPP President, as well as the discussion and approval of the party program and the amendments to the party rules. From 21 to 22 October, the congress delegates will focus on some issues of pan-European importance, e.g. the refugee problems, the consequences of the economic crisis and the opportunities to overcome thereof. The parties will touch upon the European Neighbourhood issues, the developments in the area of the Eastern Partnership and upon contemporary international challenges.

Armenia’s president delivered a speech at the congress.

Statement by the President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan at the European People’s Party Statutory Congress

Dear Colleagues,

At the outset I would like to thank the EPP President Daul for the invitation to take part in this meeting. Thank You Mr. Prsident.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Eastern Partnership Summit of Riga welcomed the common understanding reached on the scope for a future agreement between the EU and Armenia. Today I am glad to note that we have reached a new responsible milestone in our relations with the EU: last week the EU Council in Luxembourg adopted mandate to open negotiations on a new, legally binding and overarching agreement with Armenia. I strongly believe that negotiations will result in an elaborate document outlining comprehensive cooperation in all areas of mutual interest, and it will become the best assurance for our joint commitment to elevate Armenia-EU relations to a new stage.

There is no doubt that our journey should not have been unclouded unless it was supported by our partners, not least of the EPP family. I strongly hope that the EPP will stand by us also in the course of negotiations in order to conclude it as soon as possible and continue with the European agenda of Armenia upon a new legally binding foundation.

In our country we continue development of the democratic institutions, balance separate branches of power, protect human rights and independence of judiciary. We have taken an important step in this direction by initiating constitutional reform in our country, which is implemented in close cooperation with the Venice Commission. Should our people approve the Constitutional amendments on December 6, Armenia will transform its semi-presidential model of governance into the parliamentary one, which in its turn will make more efficient interaction of the separate branches of power, lay ground for more intensive economic development, increase the level of the human rights protection and institutional role of the opposition. We have invited the EU, PACE, OSCE and other international structures to observe the referendum. I am confident that you participation and best practices will give a further impetus to the progress of the democratic process in Armenia.

Dear Attendees,

In conclusion I would like to note once again that the Armenian nation highly values the EPP contribution to the adoption of the European Parliament resolution to condemn the Armenian Genocide, as well as the adoption of the resolution dedicated to the Armenian Genocide Centennial titled “The Armenian Genocide and European Values” by the EPP Political Assembly. They came to prove that the European People’s Party, as the largest political group represented in the European Parliament and the force that advances the European identity and idea, notwithstanding the most diverse set of political considerations, is committed to the protection of the fundamental human rights.

Last but not least I wish this unique platform of dialogue continuous and fruitful work.

New details have emerged in investigation into the murder of Armenian-Turkish journalist Hrant Dink that shows officials linked to the shady Gülen Movement hid intelligence on the murder and covered up their tracks, reports. 

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) will nominate Armenian Sevan Nisanyan as candidate at the forthcoming parliamentary elections in Turkey, assistant to the party’s Secretary General Tarik Beyhan told

Beyhan said Nisanyan has greatly contributed to linguistics, culture and architecture, but more noteworthy is his role in the field of the freedom of speech.

“Freedom of speech and tolerance are the two important pillars of liberalism. Therefore, we think that Nisanyan is a very important figure both for our party and the country as a whole,” he said.

Nisanyan is currently serving time over a charge of “deliberately causing harm to the protection of immovable cultural heritage” for his building an addition to his home in the Aegean village of Sirince. However he is known for his outspoken criticism of the government, and it is widely believed that his sentencing was simply an excuse to silence the vocal critic.

Nisanyan has been imprisoned since January 2014, and he also has a pending prison sentence of 14 years 2 months.

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has summoned journalist and Platform for Independent Journalism (P24) Chairman Hasan Cemal to testify because of a column titled “The number one [person] who is responsible for the bloodshed is the sultan in the palace, period!”

The sultan in the headline apparently refers to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and the accompanying column says Erdogan is responsible for the current bloodshed in Turkey, Today’s Zaman reports.

Cemal was called to testify in the case and was told that if he did not appear voluntarily he would be brought in by the police. The written notice of Cemal’s investigation was signed by Istanbul public prosecutor Umut Tepe.

Cemal received the prestigious Louis M. Lyons Award for Conscience and Integrity in Journalism from Harvard University this year.

Facebook founder snagged the top spot on Vanity Fair’s latest – the 21st annual ranking of the most powerful people in business and media, NBC reports.

The list is broken up into two categories: “Disrupters,” which ranks 50 people who are shaping the way we interact, work, play and consume, and the “Powers That Be,” which includes 25 visionaries in business and entertainment who have used their influence to impact cultural change.

Zuckerberg is the youngest person to ever top the New Establishment list.

25-year-old Taylor Swift, who made headlines this summer for prompting policy change at Apple, leads the “Powers That Be” ranking. Rapper Kanye West and reality star Kim Kardashian are ranked 12^th in the list.

According to the Vanity Fair, “The West-Kardashian coupling represents a strong argument in favor of corporate synergy.” West gives Kardashian artistic legitimacy, and the reality star and spokesperson offers her acclaimed yet famously difficult rapper husband something bordering on broad appeal. Kardashian’s new book, Selfish, earned what seemed like genuine praise—at least in a Warholian way—from some book critics. West is currently recording his next album, under the working title Swish, which reportedly includes collaborations with Paul McCartney and Bruno Mars. It promises to be even more Spotify-friendly than his critically beloved Yeezus.

Kardashian and West also demonstrated a well-honed alacrity for entering new industries. Kardashian authorized her likeness to an app developer in a deal that could pay her up to $85 million. West, who is moving further into the fashion business, recently released his latest collaboration with Adidas, the Yeezy Boost 350, a limited edition that fetched up to $10,000 on eBay from eager sneakerheads.

Iran has agreed to open its airspace for Russian planes carrying humanitarian cargo for Syria, press secretary of the Russian Embassy in Iran Maxim Suslov told TASS on Wednesday.

On Monday, the Greek Foreign Ministry announced that it had received a US request to close its air space for the flights of Russian aircraft with humanitarian cargoes for Syria. Athens said that the Russian side chose the route to the east of Greece for the delivery of humanitarian aid to Syria.

On the same day, Bulgaria refused to provide an air corridor to Russia for these purposes. Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said earlier Moscow would continue to supply humanitarian aid to Syria on alternative routes.

A British Airways plane bound for London caught fire at Las Vegas airport, forcing the evacuation of 172 people on board on emergency slides, the BBC reports.

Airport officials said at least 13 people were taken to hospital with minor injuries.

US Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said the left engine of the Boeing 777-200 caught fire before take-off.

The plane was seen engulfed in flames and smoke. The fire was later put out.

There were 159 passengers and 13 crew members on board.