Category: 2022

Pelosi leading delegation to Asia on Friday with Taiwan visit still undecided – NBC

 10:08,

YEREVAN, JULY 29, ARMENPRESS. US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., is leading an official congressional delegation to Asia on Friday although it’s unclear whether the trip will include a stop in Taiwan, NBC reported citing sources.

One of the sources who reviewed the itinerary Thursday afternoon said it listed a Taiwan visit as “tentative.” The trip will include visits to US allies Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Singapore.

In another development, Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash., said Chinese officials were pressuring him to try to halt Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan.

President Joe Biden, who spoke to Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday, had raised concerns about Pelosi’s possibly traveling to Taiwan. He said over the weekend that U.S. military officials have told him that visiting Taiwan “is not a good idea right now.

 10:23,

YEREVAN, JULY 29, ARMENPRESS. Artsakh State Minister Artak Beglaryan chaired the second session of the State Council for the Protection of Cultural Heritage in Occupied Territories of the Republic of Artsakh.

Beglaryan praised the fact-finding work implemented in a brief period of time following the inception of the council and discussed issues relating to the direction and volumes of upcoming activities.

The list of gallery collections and museums which are left behind in the territories occupied by Azerbaijan was confirmed.

A discussion on the course of implementation of various research and information work was also held.

Brian May to visit Armenia for the first time to rock at STARMUS VI festival 

 12:07,

YEREVAN, JULY 30, ARMENPRESS. This September, STARMUS, the international festival of science and music founded by Garik Israelian and Brian May, will take place in Yerevan, Armenia.  More than 50 speakers will gather together at this sixth STARMUS celebration, including Nobel laureates, astronauts, scientists, authors, and iconic music stars, to enhance and promote science communication and music, the organization group said.

Co-founder of Queen, musician, singer, songwriter, astrophysicist, and stereoscopist, Dr. Brian May has confirmed his presence in Armenia at the beginning of September, 2022. Best known as the guitarist of the rock band Queen, and for his international hit songs composed for the band including "We Will Rock You", "The Show Must Go On", "Tie Your Mother Down", "I Want It All", “Too much love will kill you”, "Hammer to Fall", "Save Me" and "Who Wants to Live Forever", Dr. May is also an astrophysicist and science communicator. In 2020, he was ranked the Greatest Guitarist Of All Time by Total Guitar Magazine.

Brian May will be in Armenia for STARMUS VI festival this fall to perform from the main stage. He will perform a concert “Another World” together with Graham Gouldman, Derek Sherinian, Simon Philips, the Symphonic Orchestra of Armenian National Opera and Ballet Theater and others. The concert will take place on September 7.

 

 12:52,

YEREVAN, JULY 30, ARMENPRESS. The shots fired at the houses of civilians in Artsakh’s Taghavard and Karmir Shuka villages and other ceasefire violations by the Azerbaijani armed forces in recent days once again come to prove that the military-political leadership of Azerbaijan will not change its policy of hatred, physical and psychological violence against Armenians in the visible future, State Minister of Artsakh Artak Beglaryan said in a statement on social media, posting photos showing the houses of the civilians damaged by the Azerbaijani shelling. 

 

“No matter how much the Azerbaijani authorities play peace and civility, they continue the policy of Armenophobia and aggressiveness aimed at deporting Armenians from Artsakh and humiliating the Armenian statehood and all Armenians. 

The conflict cannot be settled and there cannot be a long-term stability in the region as long as the Azerbaijani authorities and people are not ready for a real dialogue and peace dignified for all parties. The recognition and protection of the right of the people of Artsakh to self-determination have no alternative as we are the owners of our fate in our Homeland, and this is the only way of preventing a new genocide in the world”, the State Minister said.

On July 28 the Azerbaijani armed forces fired irregular shots at Taghavard, Karmir Shuka and Tonashen communities of Artsakh for about 20 minutes.

 

 13:12,

YEREVAN, JULY 30, ARMENPRESS. Chief of General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces, Major-General Edvard Asryan continues conducting inspections in military units according to the plan of sudden inspections of combat readiness of the Armed Forces, the defense ministry said.

The purpose is to check the combat preparedness of the troops, the abilities to act quickly in accordance with the situation, etc.

 13:50,

YEREVAN, JULY 30, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada Mélanie Joly visited Ararat Armenian summer camp in Montreal. 

“Our community in Ahuntsic-Cartierville, is home to diverse families and it was a delight to visit the young campers of Ararat Summer Camp”, the Canadian FM said on Twitter and thanked Sourp Hagop “for creating a space for Armenian youths”. “And thank you to the kids for letting me join in for a bit of fun”, the FM added.

Mélanie Joly also visited “Armenia” pastry shop in Ahuntsic-Cartierville, which, she said “serves authentic Armenian foods made by 5th generation Canadians of Armenian decent".

The FM thanked the Merdjanian family for hosting her.

 14:03,

YEREVAN, JULY 30, ARMENPRESS. FemInno women innovation conference launched in Armenia on July 30. 

Vice Speaker of Parliament of Armenia Hakob Arshakyan delivered opening remarks, urging Armenian women to believe in their powers and move forward. 

“FemInno conference has been organized by women. Speakers are women who have already achieved heights and who are going to share their stories. I want to encourage the Armenian women and girls to follow their examples, believe in their strengths and move forward”, Hakob Arshakyan told reporters. He said that women employment in different areas is few which, in its turn, causes negative consequences.

Armenia needs to encourage and motivate women to be engaged in science and technologies. 

“I am happy for being here. It’s a great honor for me to deliver welcoming remarks at this conference. Each of us should make efforts so that women more intensify their activities in different areas”, he said.

Hakob Arshakyan said holding this format conference is an achievement for Armenia. He expressed hope that this international conference will be exported to other countries as a “production”, adding that the government of Armenia will provide state support for that. 

FemInno conference is being held in Armenia for the first time. The conference will last for two days. The results of competition of startups created by Armenian and foreign women will be summed up during the conference. The conference aims at appreciating, showcasing and empowering women in business, science and technology.

 

 14:40,

YEREVAN, JULY 30, ARMENPRESS. US President Joe Biden intends to run in 2024, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at a press briefing.

The press secretary didn’t comment on a new polling out by the New York Times and other news outlets as well, that shows a majority of Democrats don’t want President Biden to run again in 2024. The latest New York Times poll has 26 percent who say they do want him to run. 

“So, the President intends to run in 2024. We are a long ways away from that. I cannot get into specifics of any political — political election polling because I am behind this podium”, Karine Jean-Pierre said.

 16:36,

YEREVAN, JULY 30, ARMENPRESS. Thousands of followers of an influential Shiite cleric breached Iraq’s parliament on Saturday, for the second time this week, to protest government formation efforts lead by his rivals, The Associated Press reports.

Iraqi security forces initially used tear gas and sound bombs to try to repel the demonstrators and caused several injuries. Once inside, the protesters declared an open-ended sit-in and claimed they would not disperse until their demands are answered.

As the numbers inside the parliament swelled, the police backed off. An expected parliament session did not take place Saturday and there were no lawmakers in the hall.

By late afternoon, the Ministry of Health said that about 125 people had been injured in the violence — 100 civilians and 25 members of the security forces.

Earlier in the day and heeding the calls of cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, the demonstrators used ropes to pull down cement barricades leading to the gate of Iraq’s Green Zone, which houses government buildings and embassies.

It was the second time in the span of three days that the cleric has ordered his followers to stage a sit-in inside the Green Zone.

On Wednesday, protesters stormed the parliament building in a similar fashion but left shortly after, at al-Sadr’s command. They had come to warn their rivals against proceeding with government formation efforts, after the alliance named Mohammed al-Sudani as its nominee for the premiership.

 

 17:42,

YEREVAN, JULY 30, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Embassy in Georgia has expressed condolences over the crash of a rescue helicopter in Gudauri. 

“The Embassy of Armenia in Georgia, together with the friendly Georgian people, is mourning the loss of human lives caused by the crash of a helicopter during rescue operation in Gudauri. We express our deepest condolences and support to the families and relatives of the victims, wishing them tenacity at this difficult moment of loss”, the Embassy said in a statement. 

On July 29, the Georgian Border Police helicopter Mi-8 crashed near mountain resort Gudauri, killing four crew, two rescuers and two paramedics.The rescue team was attempting to recover one pilot and his passenger of a paraglider that crashed in the same earlier. The passenger, reportedly a foreign tourist whose identity has not yet been made public, has died. The pilot survived and is being treated for injuries. The reasons for helicopter’s crash are being investigated, Civil Georgia reported.