Category: 2022

 11:20, 5 August 2022

YEREVAN, AUGUST 5, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Ministry of Defense denies the statement of the Azerbaijani defense ministry on opening fire at the border.

“The defense ministry of Azerbaijan continues spreading disinformation, announcing that the units of the Armenian Armed Forces have shelled the Azerbaijani positions located in several directions of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border in the past few days”, the Armenian Defense Ministry said, stating that the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border is relatively stable and is under the full control of the Armenian Armed Forces.

 11:49, 5 August 2022

YEREVAN, AUGUST 5, ARMENPRESS. The Defense Army of the Republic of Artsakh denies the statement of the Azerbaijani defense ministry according to which the Defense Army units violated the ceasefire regime.

The Defense Army said that the situation in the Line of Contact is relatively stable despite the existing tension.

“The statement of the Azerbaijani defense ministry according to which the units of the Defense Army of Artsakh have violated the ceasefire regime 9 times by using sniper rifles and various caliber firearms is another disinformation and has nothing to do with the reality”, the Defense Army said, once again stating that the Azerbaijani side is regularly violating the ceasefire regime.

“Despite the existing tension, the operational situation in the Line of Contact is relatively stable”, it added.

 11:58, 5 August 2022

YEREVAN, AUGUST 5, ARMENPRESS. South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is taking active steps to develop urban air mobility (UAM) sector. Korea plans to launch the program of the so-called “flying taxis” in 2025. As a first step, the Ministry plans to connect the country’s capital airport with the center of Seoul through the flying taxis. For the fulfillment of the program, South Korea is mobilizing the capacities of the country’s major companies. The country is also cooperating with the United States for the project.

SK Telecom, the largest wireless telecommunications operator in South Korea, is also engaged in the activities of launching the program.

During a media tour organized by the Korean Culture and Information Service, Irene Kim, Manager, Communication Planning Team at SK Telecom, told ARMENPRESS that Korea is making serious efforts to develop UAM in the country. “This sector, in fact, is actively developing in the United States and Europe. In Korea, the Ministry of Land and Transport plays a key role in the development of this sector. In 2025 the Ministry seeks to connect airport with the city center through “flying taxis”. SK Telecom, Hanwha Systems and other companies have set up a consortium. A testbed will be created this November in Seoul’s district of Cheongdam-dong. And we plan to achieve the commercialization of this technology by 2025. Our country really seeks to develop this direction. We also cooperate with the United States on this matter”, she said.

During a tour at SK Telecom headquarters, reporters were provided with an opportunity to get acquainted with the company’s “Smart City” project through a “virtual tour”. The company is presenting its own concept of the future, particularly how life will look like in 2052. Words are not enough to describe that virtual tour. You will see the future flying taxis during this tour, the launch of which is not far away.

Incheon International Airport, the largest airport in South Korea, is 40km away from the capital Seoul. It takes 40 minutes, or up to an hour, to reach from downtown Seoul to the airport by car. According to different estimates, this trip with a flying taxi will last only 20 minutes. Some air taxi concepts have already been tested in a number of countries, particularly in US, Japan and also in South Korea. In some cases, these air taxis look like a small helicopter, or a small plane, but according to various estimates, they are safer and more eco-friendly.

Irene Kim also introduced another major project of SK Telecom – ifland. ifland is SK Telecom’s metaverse service that offers a range of features for social networking and is growing into a globally accessible service fueled by cooperation with various partners. It’s a platform where people can create their own characters in virtual domain and communicate with each other.

“These services have already been launched in Korea. During the spread of COVID-19 people were communicating in this platform a lot. After the mitigation of the pandemic these services are still very popular. Many people, especially, the youth, continue using infland. And we plan to launch these services in 80 countries of the world by the end of the year”, Irene Kim said.

SK Telecom Co., Ltd., a South Korean wireless telecommunications operator, was founded in 1984. It is one of the country's largest chaebols. The company leads the local market with 50.5 percent share.

 

Shant Khlghatyan

Photos by PENTA PRESS

 12:04, 5 August 2022

YEREVAN, AUGUST 5, ARMENPRESS. A conscripted soldier of the Azerbaijani army was killed in a military base in the country’s Tovuz district, Azerbaijani media outlets reported August 5.

The victim is identified as Pyunkhan Siyavush oglu Aghamirov.

The serviceman was killed in non-combat conditions.

According to preliminary information the soldier was murdered by a comrade.

A criminal case on murder is opened.

 12:54, 5 August 2022

YEREVAN, AUGUST 5, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s advisor Artashes Tumanyan held a meeting with the Ambassador of France to Armenia Anne Louyot, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a press release.

Tumanyan and Ambassador Louyot addressed the latest regional developments, as well as a number of issues pertaining to bilateral relations.

Artashes Tumanyan presented the Armenian government’s activities in the economy, particularly the ongoing programs for the development of infrastructures. In this context the possibilities for Armenian-French cooperation in building transport infrastructures, water and irrigation systems and in other areas were discussed.

 13:08, 5 August 2022

YEREVAN, AUGUST 5, ARMENPRESS. Nicolas Aznavour, son of late renowned French-Armenian singer Charles Aznavour, the co-founder and chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Aznavour Foundation, is celebrating his 45th birthday today.

In a statement on social media, the Aznavour Foundation congratulated Nicolas Aznavour on birthday and quoted his words about his father, Charles Aznavour:

“My father never gave advices, not even to his children. He taught by example. It was by example that he conveyed to us the importance of hard work.

In my father's life, the ability to share what he had and express empathy towards people was of key importance, that's why he wanted to see those who also carry these values united around the Aznavour Foundation. It is a great honor and responsibility for me to be able to continue his humanitarian mission through the Foundation”.

 13:11, 5 August 2022

YEREVAN, AUGUST 5, ARMENPRESS. The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) will provide up to US $37 million to finance the construction of 11 solar power plants with a total capacity of up to 65 MW in the Gegharkunik and Aragatsotn Regions of Armenia. The relevant documents were signed in Yerevan by Nikolai Podguzov, Chairman of the EDB Management Board, and Hayk Harutyunyan, President of the New Energy Group, the EDB said in a press release.

All the facilities are scheduled to be commissioned this year. The investment will be repaid from payments under electricity sales contracts between the borrower and the Electric Networks of Armenia.

Developing renewable energy sources (RES) is a priority of the Armenian government’s energy strategy. RES reduce the country’s dependence on fossil fuels, which are fully imported. The priority of RES and the intentions of Armenia’s government for their development are enshrined in the nation’s 2021–2040 Energy Strategy.

The potential of solar power plants in Armenia is estimated at 8 GW. The average annual sunshine is 2,700 hours while the average annual solar radiation falling on a horizontal surface is about 1,720 kWh per sqm (the European average is 1,000 kWh per sqm). A quarter of the country is endowed with solar energy resources of 1,850 kWh per sqm per year.

“Today, Armenia’s energy system is based on thermal, nuclear and hydroelectric power. Natural gas remains the largest source of total energy supply and the main energy carrier in total final consumption. According to our strategy in Armenia, the EDB focuses on distributed solar power projects and the construction and modernisation of hydropower facilities. The Bank’s objective until 2026 is to help diversify the country’s sources of electricity generation. In doing so, we not only increase the reliability of the energy system, but also significantly improve the environment by reducing carbon emissions,” said Nikolai Podguzov, Chairman of the EDB Management Board.

 13:19, 5 August 2022

YEREVAN, AUGUST 5, ARMENPRESS. Russia’s COVID-19 case tally rose by 18,555 over the past day to 18,672,422, TASS reports citing the anti-coronavirus crisis center.

The country records over 18,000 daily cases for the first time since April 1.

As many as 1,906 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 in Russia over the past day, down 0.5% from a day earlier. 

Russia’s COVID-19 recoveries rose by 9,817 over the past day, reaching 18,019,883, the anti-coronavirus crisis center told reporters on Friday.

Russia’s COVID-19 death toll rose by 47 over the past day, reaching 382,651, the anti-coronavirus crisis center told reporters on Friday.

 14:51, 5 August 2022

YEREVAN, AUGUST 5, ARMENPRESS. The men’s national chess team of Armenia is facing the US team in Round 7 of the 44th Chess Olympiad.

Armenia scored 12 points after 6 rounds and is the sole leader of the tournament, while the US is the second with 11 points.

Armenian chess grandmaster Levon Aronian, who is representing the United States, missed this tour.

In Round 7, Gabriel Sargsyan is competing with Fabiano Caruana, Hrant Melkumyan with Wesley So. Samvel Ter-Sahakyan is competing with Leinier Domínguez Pérez, Robert Hovhannisyan with Sam Shankland.

In the previous Rounds, the team of Armenia defeated Madagascar (4:0), Andorra (3:1), Egypt (2,5:1,5), Austria (3:1), England (2,5:1,5) and the leader India-2 team (2,5:1,5).

The Armenian women’s national team is facing Israel in Round 7. In the previous rounds, the team defeated Botswana (4:0), Norway (4:0), Ireland (4:0), Indonesia (3:1) and England (3,5:0,5), but lost to Estonia (1,5:2,5).

 15:19, 5 August 2022

YEREVAN, AUGUST 5, ARMENPRESS. One Azerbaijani serviceman was killed and another one was injured in what Azerbaijani authorities described as a rockfall incident.

According to the Azeri defense ministry, a block of rock fell on servicemen Khudiyev Samir Samad oglu and Aliyev Tair Chingiz oglu in the Lachin district.

Khudiyev was killed instantly, while Aliyev is in serious condition.

The Azeri defense ministry said they are investigating the incident.

Earlier on August 5, the Azeri media reported that a conscripted serviceman of the Azeri army was killed in a military base in Tovuz district in a suspected murder by one of his comrades.