Category: News

U.S. musician Chris Cornell, who gained fame as the lead singer of Soundgarden and later Audioslave, died on Wednesday in Detroit, his representative said, Reuters reports. 

Cornell’s family would be working closely with the medical examiner to determine the cause, representative Brian Bumbery said in a statement.

“His wife Vicky and family were shocked to learn of his sudden and unexpected passing,” Bumbery said. “They would like to thank his fans for their continuous love and loyalty and ask that their privacy be respected at this time.”

Seattle-born Cornell was the lead singer of Soundgarden, one of the leading bands in the grunge music movement in the ’80s and ’90s. In 1991, the band released platinum album “Badmotorfinger.”

Three years later, Soundgarden released “Superunknown,” a mainstream music scene success that earned the band two Grammys after it reached the top of music lists.

The band’s “wild soundscapes combined visceral punk attitude with artistic depth,” his bio said on his website.

He was last pictured by the press was a little over a month ago, at a screening of The Promise in New York with his two daughters. Cornell’s latest single, also called The Promise, had been written for the Christian Bale film.

Photo: Reuters    

The ex-chairman and founder of Fox News Roger Ailes has died aged 77, his family says, the BBC reports.

A statement from his wife Elizabeth said she was “profoundly sad and heartbroken”, calling him a “patriot”.

Mr Ailes ran Fox News for two decades and is credited with transforming it into arguably the most powerful voice in conservative media.

But he stepped down last year after a number of female employees accused him of sexual harassment.

At the time he said he was resigning because he had become a “distraction”.

Mrs Ailes’ statement said: “During a career that stretched over more than five decades, his work in entertainment, in politics, and in news affected the lives of many millions.

“And so even as we mourn his death, we celebrate his life.”

Before joining Fox, he served as adviser to several US presidents, from Richard Nixon to George Bush Senior.

“I was impressed as well!” ? Goal of the Season winner, …

— Manchester United (@ManUtd)

Henrikh Mkhitaryan has won Manchester United’s Goal of the Season Award.

The stunning effort against Sunderland secured a landslide win for the Armenian, whose remarkable scorpion kick picked up 57 per cent of the votes.

On receiving the award, Mkhitaryan said of his goal: “To be honest, I was impressed as well! I couldn’t imagine I could score such a goal. I didn’t know what was happening! I don’t think you can practise them – you just have to take the decision.” Zlatan provided the assist with a cross and Micki joked: “I couldn’t miss because I received a great ball from the god!”

Wayne Rooney’s record-breaking 250th goal for United, a spectacular last-gasp free-kick in January’s draw at Stoke City, was the runner-up with 13 per cent, and Paul Pogba’s long-range drive at Swansea City on nine per cent completed the top three.

Fans’ favourite Mkhitaryan also provided three other contenders in the original 10-strong shortlist for the prize but his inventive strike against the Black Cats, the finest goal of his career by his own admission, proved a landslide victor.

President Serzh Sargsyan has addressed the National Assembly of 6th convocation during its first session convened today:

Your Holiness,
Distinguished Members of the National Assembly,
Dear Guests,

I once again congratulate the Republican Party of Armenia, Tsarukian Alliance, Yelk Alliance of political parties, and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation on assuming their share of political responsibility for the Republic of Armenia for the next five years. It happened through the free and transparent elections which were highly praised. I congratulate all participants of the first session of the 6th National Assembly and wish you productive work.

Two years ago, when the concept of the RA constitutional reforms was being approved, I was confident that soon we would enter a groundbreaking period of time which would be promising but also challenging. That day has come, and I congratulate us all on that occasion. And I congratulate you, dear parliamentarians, twofold since on this critical stage you are to make the first and most important step towards the establishment of a new state system of governance. We all realize that there is much work to be done but we have resolve, great optimism, and enduring experience of many years to bring our task to a successful end.

Certainly, the laws pertaining to the priority functions of the Parliament have already been created, the laws which should not only be legally correct but also functional and coherent. Constitutional reforms cannot be fully carried out without such laws. Some would say, it’s better to have a deficient law than no law at all. It is a minimalistic approach, and for me it is unacceptable. At this most serious period of time, when the country is going through legal and political changes, we cannot afford such luxury. Deficient or bad laws are not only unapplicable but also harmful. Your mission is to create laws which will meet the expectations of the public; you, as the main actors of this process, are responsible for the task.

However, activities of the legislature are not limited to adopting legislation. Transition to the parliamentary system of governance, which is stipulated by the changes introduced to the RA Constitution, entails a considerably greater role of the parliament also in foreign policy issues.

From this point of view, the priority should be given to the introduction of the principles aimed at the enhancement of parliamentary diplomacy as well as implementation of concrete steps and actions. It is obvious that nowadays Armenia should intensify her actions at the international parliamentary organizations and come up with new initiatives. International parliamentary organizations are the best and probably the largest platform for introducing different idea to the international community and presenting the views of the Armenian side. It is necessary to conduct active politics in the framework of that platform to reduce the number of the anti-Armenian resolutions and projects regularly instigated by Azerbaijan, promoting instead the truth.

It is expedient to re-organize our parliamentary diplomacy to make it more efficient laying its foundation on the following principles: participation, initiative, partnership, constant ongoing work, accountability, coordination, personal responsibility, continuity, and consistency. This is indeed a vast and important area of work, which we will revisit later.

As a result of the amendments made to the Main Law, the parliament is from now on entitled to form constitutional bodies endowed with important and extensive functions. Constitutional Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court Council – these are the new and significant justice structures which will be formed through your direct participation. It is the greatest popular and democratic trust which is given to form independent and professional judicial authority. At the same time, you will be responsible for the results – positive as well as negative – of these bodies’ activities.

I also envision a law enforcement structure – robust and cooperative, strong and ready to assume responsibility. To promote the development of that structure is everybody’s duty. Only structure like that will allow for everyone – the state, the entire society, and every member of it, to feel strong and safe, and in the development of such structure you, through your control and containment functions, are to play the pivotal role.

Appointment of Prosecutor General and Ombudsman, formation of autonomous bodies and investigation commissions: these are constitutional tools whose utilization allows the parliament to participate directly or indirectly in the improvement of the law enforcement structure, or rather to say, law upholding structure. Consistency of each parliamentarian and constant parliamentary control should result in transparency and public accountability of the structure becoming an established practice, a workstyle. I am sure you realize that.

At the same time, I would like to invite your attention to an important issue: We have said on many occasions that the amended Constitution will enhance the role of the political parties in our public life. We have also stressed that that ideologically like- minded people will be the driving force behind these parties. However, as the President of the country and as the head of the largest political structure, I urge all political forces represented at the National Assembly while electing individuals dealing with the justice or law enforcement systems or in formation of such bodies to be guided by the principle “he or she is a professional” rather than “he or she is a confederate.” Only based on this approach we can ensure a viable justice system.

I would also like to underscore that such a system will be successful only if there is intolerance towards corruption. No doubt, the face of corruption today has changed.

Gradually it becomes more visible and vulnerable. The state continues to enroot in the minds of the society and individuals the culture of “zero tolerance towards corruption”. But we cannot be content with the exiting results. We need to improve the institutionalized anti-corruption system and ensure its consistent development. We all realized that otherwise all initiatives are doomed to failure.

U.S. Senator John McCain, one of the leading foreign policy voices in Congress, on Thursday urged the expulsion of Turkey’s U.S. ambassador after during President Tayyip Erdogan’s recent visit.

The Armenian Parliament voted 88 to 12 to elect Ara Babloyan as Chairman of the National Assembly of 6th convocation.

Of 100 MPs that participated in the voting only 12 cast their ballot for opposition candidate Edmon Marukyan.

Kurdish lawmaker Knyaz Hasanov chaired the first sitting of the Armenian National Assembly today. He retained the right to open the session as the most elderly Member of Parliament.

“This is a great honor to open a parliament session,” he said.

“I want to express gratitude to Armenia’s leadership on behalf of ethnic minorities for an opportunity to be represented in the Parliament,” Knyaz Hasanov said.

Hasanov represents the Kurdish community in the newly elected National Assembly of sixth convocation. Three other national minorities – Yezidis, Assyrians and Russians –  also have representatives in the new Parliament.

On May 18 Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan visited the town of Shushi.

At the ministry of culture and youth affairs the Head of the State held a working consultation on the realization of a range of projects in the corresponding spheres.

Thereafter the President got acquainted with the Shushi Culture Center reconstruction process and excavations being carried out in the former Meghretsots church.

Bako Sahakyan also participated in a meeting of young naturalists during which intellectual game “Brain Ring” was held. President Sahakyan considered important such events from the viewpoints of recognizing the native land and deepening the knowledge.

OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier said today that the Organization had to start the process of closure of the Office in Yerevan, since no consensus could be reached on the future mandate of the Office.

The closure of the OSCE Office in Yerevan follows months of negotiations and extensive efforts by the 2016 German OSCE Chairmanship and the 2017 Austrian OSCE Chairmanship to resolve the deadlock on the extension of the Office’s mandate.

The OSCE opened its field presence in Armenia in 2000. Zannier said that the Office in Yerevan, with its dedicated staff, had made a significant contribution in assisting and advising the Armenian authorities on the implementation of OSCE commitments. “Co-operation with Armenia has always been very fruitful,” he said.

The OSCE’s activities in the country included, among others, assistance with police reforms and support for reviewing and streamlining the national regulatory frameworks affecting business activity and the daily lives of citizens. In 2006, the Office in Yerevan established a Programme Implementation Presence in the Syunik region to contribute to sustainable development.

Secretary General Zannier emphasized that the OSCE will seek to continue its engagement with Armenia in line with existing OSCE commitments across all three security dimensions – the politico-military, the economic and environmental and the human dimension.

The Office in Yerevan will discontinue its operations on 31 August 2017.

On May 16, the Supreme Spiritual Council, which was convened in Moscow under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; reflected on the recurring provocations on the Artsakh – Azerbaijan border, the most recent incident which occured on May 15, and issued an announcement.

The announcement states in part: “After being informed about the provocative actions undertaken by the Azerbaijan armed forces on the Artsakh- Azerbaijan border on 15 May, we express our concern and strongly condemn the incident.

Azerbaijan has adopted a military resolution to the conflict in Artsak (Nagorno-Karabakh). The continuous escalation of the situation and resulting loss of human life, greatly endangers the move towards a peaceful settlement of the conflict; and the success of the negotiation process that has been initiated through the efforts of the international community.

Faithful to her mission, the Armenian Apostolic Church, will continue to exert every effort for the sake of the peaceful settlement of the conflict, and a safe and secure life for our children living in Artsakh (Nagorno Karabagh)”.