Despite the danger in Berkaber, there are young people starting business, exporting organic products and even trying to develop tourism – for thrills seekers who want to have a cup of coffee between the fighting posts of the conflicting countries
The forum sought to attract businessmen and investments to help the local population
Armenia has held its sixth Business Innovation Forum. This time it took place in the country’s north and was called “My step for the Shirak Province”.
My Step is the slogan by which the Armenian Velvet Revolution came to be known. Today, the current ruling party’s parliamentary faction in parliament also goes by this name.
The goal of the forum is to attract entrepreneurs who are willing to help the Armenian provinces develop economically.
“My step for Shirak Province” was held in the region’s largest city, Gyumri, which is also the second largest city of the country.
Previously, similar forums have taken place in the Ararat, Lori, Gegharkunik, Syunik, and Tavush regions.
This event gives a chance to young entrepreneurs to pitch their projects to businessmen and long established companies.
Ordinarily, such forums also feature exhibitions of local products that are typical for each given region.
This year more than 60 companies from the Shirak province have taken part.
The prime minister was given two gifts: a doll crafted in the likeness of him as the leader of the velvet revolution, and a pair of shoes made by a local business.
“I would love to wear these shoes,” he said. “Everything I am wearing now, except the tie, has been made locally. So I will gladly wear shoes made in Gyumri.”
Nikol Pashinyan also looked into how the region’s banking system worked.
More than 300 people took part in the forum. In addition to government members, there were heads of various departments, MPs, foreign ambassadors, heads of large state-owned and private companies, 50 foreign and 150 local businessmen.
The prime minister reiterated that the business forum was a good opportunity to talk about the conceptual approaches of the government’s economic policy a year after the revolution:
“It is important that we have created a new stratum in the Armenian economy – something we’ve called ‘microbusiness’. Starting from January 1, 2020, companies with a turnover of up to 24 million drams [50,000 US dollars] will be exempted from certain taxes. Plus, the tax for these companies’ employees will only be 5,000 drams [10 dollars].”
After the forum, Nikol Pashinyan took to Facebook:
“At a time when businessmen struggle to find themselves employees, some able-bodied people in the Shirak province scream and shout, demanding humanitarian aid every time they see a ‘man wearing a tie.’”
He listed the benefits that his government provides to various segments of the population, and concluded:
“Other than that, every family should solve their problems through work. There is plenty of work in Armenia. It is possible to create jobs in Armenia. There is no way to achieve well-being other than through working.
“By the way, people who have received a solid education fare well in Armenia, and they deserve to do even better. We should encourage our children to pursue competitive education, to work on personal growth, to be self-critical and creative. This is a simple formula for achieving well-being.”
A body of a retired Syrian-Armenian schoolteacher was discovered by locals in Idlib province, the White Helmets said on Friday, with activists saying the woman was brutally tortured for hours before her murder.
Sixty-year-old retiree Suzan Dirkerkur – also spelled Der Kirkour – lived in the Christian village of Yacoubiya, near Jisr al-Shighour in opposition Idlib province, where she was a keen gardener and volunteer at a local church.
She had worked as an Arabic teacher before she retired, where she lived with a small number of other Christian Syrians in the Idlib village before her murder.
“A shocking discovery was made of the body of the beloved and respected school teacher, Susan Dirkerkur, who was killed in a farm in Yacoubiya village near Jisr al-Shighour City,” the White Helmets confirmed on Friday.
“Our teams responded to calls from the community and transferred her body to the forensic medical clinic, which confirmed that the teacher had been violently murdered with a sharp object.”
The Syrian civil rescue team said they would provide all possible assistance in the hunt to find Dirkerkur’s killers and called for an investigation into her murder.
The White Helmets shared an image showing its workers covering a body outside a villa.
Christian groups had earlier reported Dirkerkur’s murder saying she was abducted by militants on Monday evening, repeatedly raped and then stoned to death with her body discovered in a field early Tuesday morning.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights earlier this week confirmed the circumstances surrounding Dirkerkur’s horrific murder.
“Her body was found with marks of torture on it. And according to forensic medicine, the woman had been tortured for about nine hours before she was stoned to death by unidentified persons,” the observatory reported.
Christian groups have blamed former Al-Qaeda-linked elements from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which controls Idlib province.
The more hard-line Al-Qaeda aligned Huras Al-Din jihadi faction are also active in the Jisr al-Shighour region of Idlib.
Yacoubiya is one of the few remaining Christian villages in opposition areas, although activists have said that most have locals left the region after hardline factions took over Idlib.
Christians took part in the early anti-regime protests in Syria, which were brutally suppressed by Bashar al-Assad’s forces, with some even taking up arms as part of the Free Syrian Army.
Most of Syria’s Christian minority have remained neutral in the conflict, despite the calls of some leading clerics to support the regime.
This article has been adapted from its original source.
Portugal predictably punished a poor Armenia side 4-0 at the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium in Yerevan to advance to the UEFA U19 European Championship semi-finals. The host nation were no match for the defending champions, Vitor Ferreira’s first half penalty putting Portugal 1-0 up at half-time, João Mário scoring a stunner and substitute Tiago Gouveia bagging a brace in a result that was never in doubt.
Manager Filipe Ramos made one change to the side that drew 1-1 with Spain, Tiago Lopes on the bench with Costinha starting at right back which saw Tomas Tavares switch to left back.
Portugal started on the front foot with Fabio Vieira close to winning a penalty and Tiago Rodrigues heading Tomas Tavares’ cross just wide. Armenia were sitting deep and inviting pressure, Costinha taking advantage of his first start in the competition by beating two players and crossing to Vitor Ferreira who shot over the bar.
Costinha was enjoying plenty of space, drifting infield and getting involved in attacks due to Armenia offering little attacking threat. Félix Correia shot wide but Portugal took their foot off the gas, playing pedestrian football with little investment in a high pressing line, perhaps due to the extreme heat in Armenia.
Grenik Petrosyan shot straight at Celton Biai to give Portugal’s goalkeeper something to do, but the defending champions immediately resumed the monopolisation of the ball in Armenia’s half. Costinha’s cross saw Tiago Rodrigues produce a weak header, Fabio Vieira’s free kick going very close to Diogo Machado who couldn’t get his head on the ball.
Armenia’s attempts to play the ball out from the back were non-existent, the very definition of amateur football and from another wayward goal kick Correia saw a shot deflected over the bar. Armenia goalkeeper Harutyun Melkonyan was insistent on giving the ball straight to Portugal and the hosts eventually paid the price.
Fabio Vieira was clumsily taken down by Narek Alaverdyan on the edge of the box, referee Nikola Dabanović pointing to the spot and Vitor Ferreira sending Melkonyan the wrong way for a belated yet deserved lead. Aremia had their best chance of the game not long after, Petrosyan squeezing the ball through to Rafik Misakyan who shot way too close to Baia.
Tiago Rodrigues’ shot from distance forced a save from Melkonyan before a Portugal fast break just before half time went begging. Fábio Vieira broke clear and found Félix Correia, the winger releasing João Mário who decided to square instead of shoot on his right foot.
The second half saw Portugal play with an intensity that was lacking in the opening period and it paid immediate dividends. Corriea drew a foul that resulted in a clever free kick, Vitor Ferreira feeding Fábio Vieira who shot over from a tight angle.
Armenia’s goal kick attempts went from the ridiculous to the absurd, completely clueless and it was no surprise when Portugal went 2-0 up. Vitor Ferreira’s shot was blocked but fell straight to João Mário, the winger taking a touch and curling a right footed effort into the far corner.
It was only a matter of how many Portugal would score now with Armenia praying for the final whistle. Diogo Capitão’s long ball saw Félix Correia sneak in behind the defence but his shot went wide. Did I mention Armenia’s attempts to play it out from the back?
They fearlessly and foolishly persisted with this pointless play, Tiago Rodrigues stealing the ball on the edge of the area and shooting wide when a cross was on. Armenia had almost given up by the time Fábio Vieira went down in the box but no penalty was forthcoming.
Vitor Ferreira saw a shot blocked, Costinha headed over from close range and João Mário shot wide after a fast break before Felipe Ramos made his first two substitutions. Fábio Vieira and Félix Correia made way for Rodrigo Fernandes and Tiago Gouveia and minutes later both players were involved in Portugal’s third goal.
João Mário played a neat 1-2 with Fernandes, Mário crossing for Gouveia who headed home with Armenia’s defence looking for answers. Tiago Lopes replaced Tomas Tavares in the 69th minute but the contest was over and Portugal had little reason to extend themselves.
João Mário released Tiago Lopes with his cross going unanswered, Mário then providing for Tiago Rodrigues who couldn’t get a shot away. Mário went himself with a curling effort just wide, Portugal’s final two substitutions seeing Gonçalo Loureiro and Celton Biai make way for Levi Faustino and Francisco Meixedo.
There was still time for Gouveia to make it 4-0 with a great strike in the 88th minute. The Benfica winger picked the ball up outside the area, made space and smashed the ball into the top corner.
Portugal’s 4-0 victory and Spain’s 2-1 win against Italy means the Seleção finished top of Group A with a superior goal difference than their Iberian neighbours. Portugal will now avoid France and face Norway, Republic of Ireland or Czech Republic in the semi-finals on Wednesday.
Manager Felipe Ramos has largely stuck with the same starting side in Portugal’s three group games. Striker Tiago Rodrigues replaced Gonçalo Ramos who hasn’t been seen since the opening 3-0 win against Italy, right-back Costinha coming in for Tiago Lopes against Armenia and having a strong game.
Tiago Gouveia scored two goals off the bench to push for a starting spot, but that will surely only come if Tiago Rodrigues is benched and Félix Correia moves to a central attacking position.
Felipe Ramos found joy switching the wings of João Mário and Félix Correia in the opening two games, but we didn’t see that tactic used against Armenia. Mário spurned an opportunity to shoot with his right foot in the first half against Armenia, but then produced a stunner with his right foot when he was positioned on the left side.
The Porto UEFA Youth League winning winger overcame a forgettable first half to be man of the match. Mário seems to get better as games progress and has shown himself to be one of Portugal’s star players at the UEFA U19 European Championship alongside Gonçalo Cardoso, Fabio Vieira and Félix Correia.
Celton Biai (SL Benfica) – Costinha (Rio Ave FC), Gonçalo Loureiro (SL Benfica), Gonçalo Cardoso (Boavista FC), Tomás Tavares (SL Benfica) – Fábio Vieira (FC Porto), Diogo Capitão (SL Benfica), Vítor Ferreira (FC Porto) – João Mário (FC Porto), Tiago Rodrigues (Sporting CP), Félix Correia (Sporting CP).
Gevorg only started making bamboo straws a month ago, but he has already received many offers for cooperation
Gevorg Gasparyan has invented straws from bamboo stalks as an alternative to plastic. He calls his fight against plastic a “green revolution”.
According to a study by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), by 2030 the volume of plastic waste will increase by 40 percent.
The by-products of burning plastic can cause an increase in cancer rates and is responsible for the disappearance of hundreds of animal species. The Fund calls on all governments to reduce the production of plastic products and take necessary measures for the safe disposal of waste.
Gevorg lives in the town of Kapan in the Syunik region – in the very south of Armenia. He is 33 years old, he is a network administrator, but does not like sitting in front of the computer all day – he considers himself a man of nature and knows by heart all the hidden corners of these places.
After work, he organizes hiking and camping expeditions for tourists – both from Armenia and from other countries. He leads them through the forests and mountains of Syunik. He also finds time for beekeeping.
“The idea of eco-straws was suggested by one of my environmentalist friends. I began to study plants – more than a thousand that grow in the forests of our area. And I stopped on bamboo. Judging by what is written in the scientific literature, it is not poisonous, the roots are useful for the liver, it is used in medicine as a medicinal herb, the seeds are edible. And I started collecting bamboo and making models”, Gevorg says.
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He is sure that bamboo tubes are safe for health, so that children can also use them. He says the straws do not have an unpleasant smell or taste, they are durable and can be used many times.
Gevorg usually goes to the forest before dawn. He carries a backpack, with breakfast and tools for collecting bamboo. He walks 15-20 kilometers on foot, by bike or by car, depending on the area where he is going this time.
Bamboo is found in the Kapan forests on high grounds. But it grows better where there is high humidity, because bamboo is found with there are readily available sources of water.
Gevorg has several hours to collect bamboo and return to the city – he does not like being late for work.
About a month ago, he announced the existence of his straws on Facebook – and he has already received many offers of cooperation from Armenia and from abroad. These are orders from environmental companies, cafes and people just interested in the idea.
“We use the straws Gevorg makes in our gastronomic studio. Firstly, we are against plastic, and secondly, we use only local products. This idea was a discovery for us. The straws look great, they are pleasant and convenient to use”, says Ani Harutyunyan, founder of the experimental kitchen of the Arm Food Lab studio.
Making the straws does not take much time. The green stems of bamboo can be turned into straws in a few minutes time. Then they need to be washed, dried and thermally treated in a special oven. That’s the whole process.
“Bamboo grows from spring to autumn. And during this time you need to collect and prepare material for the whole year. I also tried to make soft eco-straws from green bamboo stalks, but they become deformed in two or three days. And these durable tubes can be used for a long time – for months. From one bamboo, on average, you can get about five eco-straws. I’m still not thinking about a business – what I want is a green revolution, ” Gevorg says.
But numerous orders for the straws have forced him to think about opening a factory in Kapan – at least in the future.
“Now I do everything alone. Sometimes my family helps. If interest continues, I will consult with experts, maybe we will start growing bamboo. Perhaps, I will start a family business or, together with friends, expand the business, open jobs, create a brand. I am an optimist”, says Gevorg.
A strong fire broke in the territory of Ani ruins, medieval Armenian city in the territory of modern Turkey, that rapidly spread by gusts of wind through dry grass, Ermenihaber reported citing Anadolu news agency.
As the source report number of firefighter brigades dispatched to scene to extinguish the fire as the security forces in the area failed to combat the flames through local forces.