Category: News

Oxford University has come top of the Times Higher Education world university rankings, the BBC reports.

Oxford knocks California Institute of Technology, the top performer for the past five years, into second place.

The rankings show a mixed picture for European universities, while Asian institutions continue to rise.

The Times Higher tables rank universities worldwide on measures including teaching, research and international outlook – for example, numbers of overseas students and staff.

Editor of the rankings Phil Baty said it was “fantastic news” Oxford had come top, but the UK’s vote to leave the European Union was a big threat to the sector.

Photo: Reuters

 

A boat carrying African migrants headed to Europe capsized off the Mediterranean coast near the Egyptian city of Alexandria on Wednesday, killing at least 42 people, Egyptian authorities said, AP reports.

The army gave the toll in a statement, saying it had “thwarted an illegal immigration attempt” and that the boat had been 12 nautical miles off the coast when it sank.

Health Ministry spokesman Khaled Megahed said that the total number of dead was still unknown. Local official Alaa Osman from Beheira province said the migrants were from several African countries. He said over 150 people have been rescued so far but that bodies are still being pulled from the water.

Egypt’s official news agency MENA said the boat was carrying 600 people when it sank near the coast, some 180 kilometers north of the capital, Cairo. Osman said the boat had likely come from Kafr el-Sheik province, further to the east.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan needs to play more at Manchester United and in his correct position. That is the view of Arsenal legend and pundit Ian Wright, the reports.

Mkhitaryan has been used as a winger in his short United career but Wright believes he needs to play in his preferred central position.

“I’d like to see Henrikh Mkhitaryan play because he was so good at Borussia Dortmund,” he told .

“He has come in and he hasn’t played.

“What should have happened with Henrikh Mkhitaryan is that when he has come on, he should have come on in the position that he’s used to.

“Simply because that’s where he has done his best work.”

Mkhitaryan joined United from Borussia Dortmund for £26m in the summer.

But the Armenia international has started just one of his four Premier League appearances to date.

The 25th anniversary of Armenia’s independence was celebrated in Damascus on September 21.

Syrian Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Reforms Ahmad al-Qadiri was a guest of honor at the reception hosted by the Armenian Embassy.

Attending the event were Grand Mufti of Syria Sheikh Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun, Adviser to the President Bouthaina Shaaban, Minister of Tourism  Bishr Yazigi, Electricity Minister  Mohammad Zuhair Kharboutli, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, lawmakers, political and public figures, religious leaders, members of the Armenian community.

Addressing the guests, Armenian Ambassador Arshak Poladyan refered to the path Armenia has covered during the 25 years of independence and the Armenian-Syrian relations. The Ambassador  presented the priorities of Armenia’s foreign policy and wished peace and stability to the people of Syria.

A number of political and public figures, representatives of the Armenian community were handed awards and certificates of gratitude of the Armenian Ministry of Diaspora and the Armenian Embassy in Syria for their contribution to the reinforcement of bilateral relations between Armenia and Syria.

“When you dream about your next big trip, your immediate response isn’t likely to be Armenia. But that’s where you are woefully overlooking a beautiful spot that hasn’t yet been overrun by tourists,” the  writes.

In honor of Armenian Independence on September 21, the website presents 15 reasons why Armenia should be the next vacation spot.

Excerpts from the article are provided below:

With its rich cultural heritage, scenic landscapes, and tasty local cuisine, Armenia is a perfect spot for a long trek or a short trip. Throw in the friendly atmosphere (and copious opportunities for extreme sports) and it is clear that Armenia’s reputation is due for a change.

The first Christian country in the world, Armenia officially took on the religion on a statewide level in 301 at the encouragement of Gregory the Illuminator. That century, the country began abolishing their pagan temples and building Christian temples and monasteries, some of which are still active and can be visited today.

Travelers can  visit the Monastery of Tatev, a gem of medieval Armenian architecture and spiritual life. The monastery can be accessed via the longest ropewalk in the world or Wings of Tatev cable car, the world’s longest non-stop double track cable car, according to the Guinness World Records.

Where culture is concerned, as Armenia is situated snugly between on the border between Europe and Asia, their identity is a unique blend of east and west. People are extremely kind and tend to appreciate tourists. It is not uncommon for locals to invite a traveler over for sweets, tea, or even a meal.

If none of that sold you on Armenia, I could always remind you it’s the land of Andre Agassi and Kim Kardashian.

Click to see the full article.

President Serzh Sargsyan visited today Euromotors Company to attend the inauguration of “BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce” exhibition hall.

The opening ceremony was also attended by co-owner of Euromotors, Prince Group President Adel Al Marzuki, BMW Group Vice President Thomas Rhein, Company Sales Director Konrad Baumgartner, Regional Director Victor Eisenbraun, Director of Euromotors Jaber Al Marzuki, co-owner of Euromotors, founder of Multi Group concern Gagik Tsarukyan, Armenian officials.

Accompanied by them, the President of Armenia toured the newly built exhibition hall, which is the largest such facility in the region. After being told about the new jobs and the investments made so far, Serzh Sargsyan was shown the exhibits on display.

“For Latvia, the stability and security of Europe’s neighbors in the East is a strategic priority and remains high on the political agenda,” said President of Latvia Raimonds Vējonis in his statement to the 71st session of the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) on Wednesday, September 21 in New York.

“Resolution of the protracted conflicts in Transnistria, Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Nagorno-Karabakh should remain high on the international agenda. We must remain vigilant and insist that all States including Russia abide by their obligations under international law to respect the borders of sovereign States,” the Latvian President said at a sitting chaired by Armenia’s Acting Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian.

“The international community must work to facilitate the peaceful resolution of the conflict in eastern Ukraine. All parties must fulfill their commitments under the Minsk Agreements and make the Minsk process work,” President Vējonis stated.

On September 21, Edward Nalbandian, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, had a meeting with Michael B. Christides, the Secretary General of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC).

Congratulating Foreign Minister Nalbandian on the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of Independence of Armenia, the BSEC Secretary General commended Armenia’s active engagement within the Organization he presides over.

Expressing his gratitude to the BSEC Secretary General, Edward Nalbandian noted that Armenia attaches big importance to multilateral cooperation in the framework of the Organization in the areas of transport, energy, telecommunications and information technologies.

Edward Nalbandian and Michael B. Christides discussed the primary directions of collaboration within the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, as well as issues related to institutional reforms of the Organization.

A reference was made to the implementation of the BSEC new economic agenda – the 2015/17 Action Plan and the increase of effectiveness of the Organization aimed at the development of regional economic cooperation.

SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Hints of an early exodus of modern humans from Africa may have been detected in living humans, the BBC reports.

Present-day people outside Africa were thought to descend from a group that left their homeland 60,000 years ago.

Now, analysis of nearly 500 human genomes appears to have turned up the weak signal of an earlier migration.

But the results suggest this early wave of Homo sapiens all but vanished, so it does not drastically alter prevailing theories of our origins.

Writing in the academic journal Nature, Luca Pagani, Mait Metspalu and colleagues describe hints of this pioneer group in their analysis of DNA in people from the Oceanian nation of Papua New Guinea.

After evolving in Africa 200,000 years ago, modern humans are thought to have crossed through Egypt into the Arabian Peninsula some 60,000 years ago.

Until now, genetic evidence has shown that every non-African alive today could trace their origins to this fateful dispersal.

Yet we had known for some time that groups of modern humans made forays outside their “homeland” before 60,000 years ago.

President Serzh Sargsyan received participants of the Pan-Armenian scientific conference due on September 21-23 in Yerevan, among them renowned Armenian scientists from the US, Russia, Japan, Denmark, Germany, Spain and several other countries.

Held under the RA President-supported Young Scientists Support Program, the conference is dedicated to the 25th anniversary of Armenia’s independence. Welcoming the scientists, the President congratulated them on the 25th anniversary of Armenia’s independence. Serzh Sargsyan stressed the importance of holding the conference in Armenian capital Yerevan with the participation of well-known Armenian scientists representing almost all the fields of fundamental research.

According to the President, events like that provide a good opportunity to not only bring together Armenian scientists from all over the world, but also to use their experience and contacts in order to properly represent young scientists of Armenian descent on international platforms and keep in touch with the development trends in modern science.

The scientists in attendance shared with the President their impressions and expectations of the conference. Serzh Sargsyan answered the questions of interest to scientists, outlining the main directions of State policy in the field of education and science. In particular, the President dwelt on the programs aimed at providing additional incentives in support of young researchers’ activities.

The Armenian scientists and the President exchanged views on ways of making joint efforts to help promote the development of science and education in our country.