An explosion occurred on a mayor highway in Armenia on Friday afternoon, the emergencies ministry’s press service reported.
A rescue squad of the ministry responded to the blast on Yerevan-Sevan highway after receiving a report at 12:17pm.
Around 30-meter-long section of the highway has become hardly passable due to the incident.
No injuries were reported.
The cause of the explosion was not immediately clear.
Sanitek Armenia, the Yerevan waste management company, has no political affiliation, Sanitec CEO Nicholas Tawil stated during an online news conference on Friday, commenting on accusations and ‘rumors’ about a possible link of the company with the former authorities.
He stressed the company’s key concern is to properly serve the city and its residents and to strengthen the company’s position to provide those services.
Tawil said that regardless of the unstable situation and persistent efforts of local authorities to exhaust the company’s resources, the company continued its work, hoping to come to an agreement with the city administration.
The CEO said the disastrous state of Nubarashen landfill, the active construction works in Yerevan and the increase in the number of tourists have made it difficult for the company to operate.
The company proposes the Yerevan residents instead of repeatedly pointing out their failures to join efforts to discuss the situation and find solutions.
He said the company is ready to invest $4 million to purchase new waste collection trucks and containers, acquire 500 containers annually, modernize the fleet, introduce corporate management principles to ensure transparency and accountability.
Members of the Artsakh delegation on Thursday met with representatives of the Armenian community structures in Sydney, Australia.
The head of the delegation, Foreign Minister Masis Mayilian and member of the National Assembly of Artsakh David Ishkhanyan delivered speeches at the meeting. The speakers presented the foreign and domestic policy of Artsakh and answered the numerous questions of the participants, the Artsakh Foreign Ministry’s press service reported.
During the event, Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee (Hay Dat) of Australia Haig Kayserian announced the establishment of a Circle of Friendship with Artsakh in Australia. On behalf of the committee, he handed a special memorable plaque to Masis Mayilian with the list of members of the Friendship Circle with Artsakh.
Members of the Federal Parliament, senators, ministers, as well as the prime minister of New South Wales, the speakers of the Upper and Lower Houses of the Parliament of the state, scientists, clergymen and cultural figures have joined the Friendship Circle. The circle currently includes about 40 members.
The Artsakh FM expressed confidence that a similar Circle of Friendship with Australia would be established in Artsakh.
By LUKE CHILLINGSWORTH
The 223 stone structure of rocks placed in a circle, similar to Britain’s legendary tourist attraction, could 7,500-years-old, much older than its Wiltshire counterpart. But two rival groups have agreed to unite to hunt down the real truth of the Carahunge site, located near the town of Sisian.
The two factions have argued over the meaning of the site, with one even claiming the site was used for space research.
The Bnorran Historic-Cultural NGO has said that the site is an ancient astronomical site and would be the earliest known observatory.
“We think Carahunge, where more than 200 stones are located with 80 having holes in them, is an ancient astronomical observatory,” said board member Arevik Sargsyan.
But, the American Institute of Archaeology and ethnography have slammed the claims, saying that the rubble is an ancient settlement.
The rocks resemble Britain’s famous Stonehenge (Image: Wikipedia Commons)
Some say holes in the rocks could prove the site was used for space observation (Image: Wikipedia Commons)
The group see the stones as remains of a now destroyed city wall, where the rocks supported rubble.
Team leader Dr Ashot Piliposyan adds that no astronomical tools have been unearthed from the site.
While the group says the holes located in the stones are at the base of the rocks and do not point up towards the stars.
Speaking to the Armen Press, Dr Piliposyan said: “It requires studies in all aspects.
“We discussed many issues during the signing of the agreement.
“We even considered that maybe in the future it will be possible to build a museum near the monument to display all materials regarding the ancient site.”
Both teams have suspended their excavations and work at the monument before they join forces as one unit.
It is still unknown what the site was formerly used for (Image: Wikipedia Commons)
Professor Paris Herouni studied the site in 1994 (Image: Wikipedia Commons)
The two will come together after a new research plan is put into place. This will be decided at a joint seminar between the two groups which will involve experts such as astronomers, archaeologists and ethnographers.
Carahunge was rediscovered in 1984 by Onik Khnikikyan who also believed the rocks were some kind of observatory.
Professor Paris Herouni backed up the astronomical claims after he conducted a deep analysis of the site in 1994.
Two rival groups will join forces to study the site (Image: Wikipedia Commons)
Professor Pavel Avetisyan, an archeologist at the National Academy of Sciences in Armedia told Smithsonian Magazine that he feels the site is caught between two branches of science and that both theories are credible.
He added: “Experts have a clear understanding of the area and believe it is a multi-layered monument which requires long-term excavation and study.”
https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1160786/Carahunge-mystery-armenia-stonehenge
PM Pashinyan surprised at development pace of Kalavan community, Gegharkunik Province
17:33,
YEREVAN, JULY 31, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, who is still on vacation, visited Kalavan community in Gegharkunik Province and got acquainted with its development process and strategies. ARMENPRESS reports the PM toured in the village accompanied by resident of the village Robert Ghukasyan who presented the works done during the last years and future plans.
Robert Ghukasyan informed that during the last years the flow of tourists to their village has increased so much that at the moment there are not enough guesthouses. He explained that the reason of the success is that the members of the community have preserved the nature and offer ecologically clean food.
In addition to eco-torisim, cattle breeding also develops in the village. Ghukasyan said that in the village that has population less than 200 people 3 farms are being constructed at the moment.
”Now we are in Kalavan community of Gegharkunik Province. Today we decided to visit Kalavan because I think that it’s one of the villages that has some ideological sense for new Armenia. I always speak about individual efforts and here we can say that individual effort leads to success”, Pashinyan said, hoping thatthe success of the village will be examplery for many other villages of Armenia. Pashinyan also expressed conviction that the community will have solved all its problems in a period of 5 years by its own efforts, including the condition of the roads roads.
Robert Ghukasyan ephasized that each village of Armenia has some economic potential that has not been used yet, calling on people to rely on their own ideas and love towards the country and their community.
Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan
Artsakh’s President convenes expanded consultation
17:36,
YEREVAN, JULY 31, ARMENPRESS. Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan convened an expanded consultation with the participation of Primate of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan, members of the Security Council and representatives of the political parties on July 31.
As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of Artsakh President’s Office, a number of issues related to the domestic and foreign policy were on the discussion agenda. Special attention was paid to the organization of the 7th Pan-Armenian Summer Games.
The Head of the State gave relevant assignments to the heads of the concerned bodies for proper solution of the discussed issues.