Author: Tambiyan Samvel

Henrikh Mkhitaryan praised Manchester United for eventually finding some fluency to down Wigan Athletic 4-0 in the fourth round of the FA Cup, Goal.com reports.

The holders put in a laboured showing during the first half, with former Borussia Dortmund star Mkhitaryan guilty of a terrible miss, but Marouane Fellaini settled any nerves with a headed opener in the 44th minute.

Anthony Martial crossed for Chris Smalling to make it 2-0 and the France international was involved once more, with United clicking sublimely through the gears, Mkhitaryan adding a third with 15 minutes remaining.

Schweinsteiger, on his first United start for 386 days, completed the rout with an improvised finish from Ander Herrera’s knockdown and, on a weekend of shocks and surprises, Mkhitaryan was able to reflect on booking a spot in the last 16 with the minimum of fuss.

“It feels good. It was not our best game in the first half, but in the second we were very good,” the Armenia midfielder told BBC Sport.

“In the first we couldn’t find free space, but in the second we had more of that. The most important thing is we won 4-0 and go through.

“[My goal] was a very nice counter-attack. Everything happened very quickly.

“It doesn’t matter if I am playing or not I am trying to do everything I can, working very hard. I am trying to do my best for the team.”

NKR Defense Ministry has reported 70 cases of ceasefire violation by the Azeri side overnight.

The rival used firearms of different calibers as it fired over 1,050 shots in the direction of the Armenian positions.

More intensive firing from large-caliber machine guns was reported in the southeastern and eastern direction of the frontline.

The front divisions of the NKR Defense Army keep control of the situation at the line of contact and confidently continue with the protection of the military positions.

Armenian Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan visited the Russian Embassy in Armenia today to express condolences over the crash of the Tu-154 plane of the Russian Defense Ministry that claimed dozens of lives.

Vigen Sargsyan conveyed a message of condolences address to his Russian counterpart Sergey Shoygu.

“It’s painful to realize that the terrible tragedy has claimed the lives of dozens of innocent people – the experienced crew of the plane, servicemen, members of the Alexandrov Choir, journalists.

I offer my deepest condolences over this irreversible loss, the relatives and friends of the victims, the staff of the Russian armed Forces, the friendly people of Russia,” the message reads.

What did make of the draw that pits against his brother Florentin’s club?

— Manchester United (@ManUtd)

Jose Mourinho has revealed that Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s dedication and commitment enabled him to win back his place at Manchester United.

Mourinho admits he has been impressed by the player’s determination to prove his worth.

“I have had similar processes and adaptation with other players,” Mourinho told a press conference today.

“We bought him, he was not chosen by other people, he was bought because I asked the club to do it.

“So it would be more frustrating for me if everything went wrong.

“In that period, when he did not play, he was a great professional.

“Another guy would blame the pitch, the weather, the manager — but he was quiet, closed his mouth, worked really hard and waited for opportunity.”

Jose Mourinho said he was “scared” about losing Henrikh Mkhitaryan to a lengthy lay-off after watching a replay of the tackle on the Manchester United midfielder which saw him stretchered off during the Premier League win against Tottenham Hotspur.

Mkhitaryan is expected to be sidelined for just two weeks as a result of the ankle injury sustained after Danny Rose’s challenge during the 1-0 win at Old Trafford.

But Mourinho, who is hopeful of having the Armenian back in the team during the Christmas period, feared the worst initially.

“When I saw the tackle on TV, I was scared,” Mourinho said. “It’s a pity because he will miss matches in his best period, but at least we won’t miss him for long.

“Hopefully he can play at Christmas. We believe that is possible. When I saw on stretcher, I thought it was more difficult.”

Cuba’s former president Fidel Castro, one of the world’s longest-serving and most iconic leaders, has died aged 90, the BBC reports.

His younger brother and successor as president Raul Castro announced the news on state television.

Castro toppled the government in 1959, introducing a Communist revolution. He defied the US for decades, surviving many assassination plots.

His supporters said he had given Cuba back to the people. Critics saw him as a dictator.

Ashen and grave, President Castro told the nation in an unexpected late night broadcast on state television that Fidel Castro had died and would be cremated later on Saturday.

“The commander in chief of the Cuban revolution died at 22:29 hours this evening (03:29 GMT Saturday),” he said. “Towards victory, always!” he added, using a revolutionary slogan.

There is to be several days of national mourning on the island.

Photo: AFP

French ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy has been knocked out of the contest for a centre-right presidential candidate and signalled his withdrawal from politics, the BBC reports.

Admitting defeat, Mr Sarkozy endorsed Francois Fillon, a moderate who finished first in Sunday’s first round, according to near-complete results.

Alain Juppe, who like Mr Fillon is an ex-prime minister, finished second.

They will face each other in a run-off next Sunday. The winner will compete in next year’s presidential election.

The winner of the Republican primary is likely to make the presidential run-off, where he or she will probably face far-right leader Marine Le Pen.

Israel on Tuesday named a new ambassador to Turkey, the foreign ministry said, the latest step towards normalizing diplomatic ties between the once strong Mediterranean allies following a breakdown in 2010, Reuters reports.

Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Emanuel Nahshon said Eitan Na’eh, currently deputy ambassador in London, had been appointed ambassador in Ankara. It was not immediately announced when he would take up his post.

Turkey was also expected to name its envoy to Israel shortly.

Israel and Turkey said in June they would normalize relations – a rapprochement driven by the prospect of lucrative Mediterranean gas deals as well as mutual fears over security risks in the Middle East.

Both countries have recently increased cooperation in the energy sector.

Israeli-Turkish relations broke down in 2010 when 10 Turkish pro-Palestinian activists were killed by Israeli commandos enforcing a naval blockade of the Gaza Strip. The soldiers had raided a ship, the Mavi Marmara, leading a flotilla to the Hamas Islamist-run Palestinian territory.

Israel has agreed to pay compensation to the families of those killed on the vessel, a crucial element in the restoration of ties.

Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni visited the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial today.

Minister Gentiloni laid a wreath at the memorial to the Armenian Genocide victims and paid tribute to their memory with a minute of silence.

Director of the Armenian Genocide Museum (AGMI) Institute Hayk Demoyan briefed the guest on the history of construction of the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial.

The AGMI Director presented the English publication of the “Armenian Genocide: Frontpage Coverage in the World Press” to the Italian Foreign Minister.

On 3 November Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan convoked a meeting of the Security Council. Issues related to army building were on the agenda of the meeting.

Defense minister Levon Mnatsakanyan delivered a corresponding report.

The President gave a range of instructions for proper realization of the discussed issues, underlining that army building and consistent improvement of the Defense Army’s fighting capacity would remain among our key priorities.