Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United have drawn Belgian side Anderlecht in the Europa League quarter-finals.
The Red Devils secured their passage to the last eight with a narrow 2-1 aggregate win over FC Rostov on Thursday.
Lyon were drawn against Besiktas, Dutch giants Ajax will face Schalke and Celta Vigo were paired with Belgium’s Genk.
The first legs will take place on Thursday, April 13, with the second legs scheduled for a week later on Thursday, April 20.
Manchester United edged a nervy encounter with Russian minnows FC Rostov at Old Trafford to reach the Europa League quarter-finals with a 2-1 aggregate victory.
Juan Mata got the decisive goal for United when he stabbed in from Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s flick, but Rostov threatened to take the game to extra time and Sergio Romero made two good saves late on.
The United goalkeeper first kept out Sardar Azmoun’s flicked header before thumping away Christian Noboa’s free-kick.
A number of Somali refugees were killed when their boat was hit in an air strike off the coast of Yemen, the UN says, the BBC reports.
At least 31 people died in the incident, news agencies reported, quoting officials in Hudaydah port.
Women and children were among those killed when the vessel was attacked near the Bab al-Mandeb strait, the port officials said.
Images from the scene showed a boat strewn with bodies.
The refugees were on their way from Yemen to Sudan when they were attacked by an Apache helicopter near the strait, coastguard Mohamed al-Alay told Reuters.
It was not clear who carried out the attack. The port is controlled by Houthi rebels who are fighting a Saudi-led coalition in Yemen’s two-year war.
Ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee Rep. Adam Schiff delivered powerful testimony Thursday before key House foreign aid appropriators, calling for the expansion of U.S. assistance to Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) and Armenia, and the implementation of measures to check escalating Azerbaijani aggression, reported the Armenian National Committee of America.
The California Democrat, who also serves as a Vice-Chair of the Congressional Armenian Caucus, offered his recommendations during a hearing of the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on State-Foreign Operations, led by Chairman Hal Rogers (R-KY) and Ranking Democrat Nita Lowey (D-NY), as this panel prepares the Fiscal Year 2018 (FY18) foreign aid bill.
“We appreciate Congressman Schiff’s leadership in supporting a broad array of Armenian American foreign aid priorities, including continued U.S. support for Artsakh, increased assistance for Armenia’s international peacekeeping missions, and a substantial contribution to Yerevan’s efforts to settle Middle East refugees,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “We will continue to work with members of the State-Foreign Operations Subcommittees in both the House and Senate and with appropriators in both chambers to strengthen the U.S.-Armenia partnership and promote a durable and democratic peace for the Republic of Artsakh.”
In voicing his support for increased U.S. assistance to Artsakh, Rep. Schiff noted that he is “deeply disturbed by the escalation of violence in the last year and the major military assault by Azerbaijani forces against the people of Artsakh,” noting the “strong evidence of human rights abuses on the part of Azeri troops, and the appalling desecration of the bodies of Armenian and Artsakh citizens.” Rep. Schiff went on to outline three concrete steps Congress can take to address these concerns, including implementation of the Royce-Engel peace proposals, the suspension of U.S. military aid to Azerbaijan, and the expansion of humanitarian aid to Artsakh.
Rep. Schiff stressed that the U.S.-Armenia relationship “is founded upon a shared commitment to freedom and democratic values,” citing Armenia’s participation in U.S. led peacekeeping deployments. He emphasized the importance of ongoing foreign military financing assistance for peacekeeping purposes, funding for U.S. training opportunities for Armenian officers, and recommended no less than $40 million in U.S. economic assistance to Armenia.
Rep. Schiff also focused on the important role Armenia has played as a “regional safe haven for Middle East refugees,” noting that over 20,000 individuals from Syria have found a new home in Armenia. The Congressman requested that the Subcommittee’s proposed FY18 foreign aid bill include provisions supporting Armenia’s efforts through aid and international organizations.
President Serzh Sargsyan attended today the general meeting of the National Academy of Sciences dedicated to the main results of the Academy’s 2016 scientific and administrative activities. The President of the Academy, academician Radik Martirosyan presented the most important results of the scientific works of the Academy’s structures and applied developments, spoke about activities in the area of international cooperation, training of scientific cadre, programs of the Academy aimed at the enhancement of scientific research and some other activities of the Academy in 2016.
Noting that currently the country has entered the pre-election period, the President of Armenia said that he would refrain from making a statement and expressed readiness to respond to the questions raised by the participants of the meeting and listened to their proposals.
Today, President Sargsyan also sent a congratulatory message to the academician of the National Academy of Sciences, professor Sergey Hambardzumyan on his 95th birth anniversary and on the occasion of the impressive jubilee wished him success, strength and tenacity to carry on with his patriotic activities.
Photo:Aris Messinis/ AFP
Forty-two people, mostly civilians, have died in an air strike on a mosque in a rebel-held village in northern Syria, a monitoring group says, the BBC reports.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the raid by unidentified planes was in al-Jineh, Aleppo province.
Russian and Syrian aircraft operate there and US warplanes also target jihadist rebels in the region.
The US said it had carried out an air strike, killing several al-Qaeda militants, but had not hit a mosque.
US Central Command originally said the strike took place in neighbouring Idlib province but later clarified that the precise location was unclear.
“We did not target a mosque, but the building that we did target – which was where the meeting [of militants] took place – is about 50ft (15m) from a mosque that is still standing,” spokesman Col John J Thomas said.
The UK-based observatory, which relays information from sources on the ground, said the al-Jineh mosque had been packed with worshippers for evening prayers.
The village lies in one of the main rebel-held regions of Syria.
Asbarez – In this 102nd year of the Armenian Genocide, plans are in place for the Armenian community of Southern California to gather on Sunday, April 23 at 3pm, at the Montebello Armenian Genocide Martyrs Monument to remember and demand justice for the 1,500,000 martyrs of the Armenian Genocide.
Traditionally, the memorial event in Montebello has taken place on April 24th, the day Armenians world-wide formally commemorate the horrific tragedy. This year, the event will take place on April 23rd, because the community-wide “March for Justice” event in front of the Turkish Consulate will be held on April 24th.
The ceremony at the Montebello Armenian Genocide Martyrs Monument will feature a full program which includes political messages and a religious service officiated by all religious denominations of the Armenian community and cultural presentations to honor the memory of those lost.
The United Armenian Council of Los Angeles (UACLA) which is comprised of close to 45 Armenian religious, political, compatriotic, and other active community associations is the organizer of the commemorative event. The UACLA is also active throughout the year by organizing educational events about the Armenian Genocide.
The Montebello Armenian Genocide Martyrs Monument is located at Bicknell Park, 910 Via San Clemente, Montebello, California, 90640.
Photo: PA
The Queen has given Royal Assent to the Brexit bill, clearing the way for Theresa May to start talks to leave the European Union, the BBC reports.
The European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill was passed by MPs and peers on Monday.
It allows the prime minister to notify Brussels that the UK is leaving the EU, with a two year process of exit negotiations to follow.
Mrs May says she will trigger the process by the end of the month.
It is unlikely to happen next week to avoid a clash with an informal summit of EU countries.
The meeting will mark the 60th anniversary of the Treaties of Rome, which established the European Economic Community, and in turn became the European Union.
Asbarez – The Armenian American Museum unveiled a new animated tour video of the cultural and educational center’s concept design, providing a first look at the project’s iconic design and ambitious program. The video can we watched above.
The animated video tour begins with an aerial view of the in the proposed Downtown Glendale location adjacent to the Central Library and Americana at Brand. The tour continues with the interior of the Museum, revealing the grand lobby, state-of-the-art auditorium, and exhibition halls, where Museum officials plan to feature permanent exhibitions on the Armenian American experience and traveling exhibitions on diverse cultures and subject matters that will engage all audiences. The video concludes with an evening shot featuring the rooftop sculpture garden and Museum exterior.
“The Armenian American Museum will be one of the most historic cultural and educational centers built in the region and we are excited to share our vision through the concept design animated tour,” said Museum Executive Committee Chairman Berdj Karapetian. “The Museum will serve students, artists, historians, and diverse audiences from across the Southern California region.”
The vision for the Armenian American Museum is a cultural campus that enriches the community, educates the public on the Armenian American story, and empowers individuals to embrace cultural diversity and speak out against prejudice.
Museum and City officials are on schedule to complete the concept design, traffic, parking, economic, and environmental studies in time for the consideration of the ground lease agreement by the Glendale City Council during the fourth quarter of 2017.
Russia’s relations with Armenia are at a high level, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with Armenian Regional Post – Caucasus magazine. The text of the interview is posted on the Russian Foreign Ministry’s website.
“We have a long record of friendship and mutual support and are bonded by cultural and spiritual affinity. Russia and Armenia are reliable allies in international affairs and security. Together, we are forging the forward-looking Eurasian Economic Union. We have a shared perspective on today’s most pressing challenges,” Lavrov said.
“Russia is Armenia’s leading economic partner, whose share in the Republic’s foreign trade amounts to 24.3 per cent. The bilateral trade between the two countries reached USD 1.24 billion in 2015 and USD 745.3 million in the period from January to August 2016.A considerable increase in Armenian exports of agricultural products to the Russian market has been registered lately. Accumulated Russian investments in the Armenian economy amount to USD 4.3 billion, making up 40 per cent of its overall foreign investments. The total number of enterprises with Russian participation is about 1,300. They operate in a wide range of sectors, such as energy, transportation, banking, telecommunications, mining and smelting,” the Russian Foreign Minister said.
“This normalization between Russia and Turkey should not be regarded as a process that may harm other States. Russia has no hidden agenda,” Lavrov assured.
“We build no political and no economic alliances directed against third countries or adversely affecting any interests. In general, we are open for constructive and mutually respectful cooperation with all who express same readiness,” he said.
“We are convinced that getting the Russian-Turkish ties out of months-long crisis will enhance trust and mutual understanding in the region. We expect the gradual restoration of bilateral cooperation with Ankara to benefit peace, security and stability in the South Caucasus,” Lavrov said.
The Russian Foreign Minister said they would “most certainly welcome the opening of the Armenian-Turkish segment of the EAEU’s external border for free movement of people, goods and services.” “This will obviously benefit the entire region,” he added.
The Foreign Minister reminded that Russia played an important role in attempting to restore the relations between Armenia and Turkey during the active phase of this process in 2007 2009. “The collective efforts, first and foremost those of Yerevan and Ankara, led to the signing in Zurich on October 10, 2009 of the Protocol on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations and the Protocol on the Development of Bilateral Relations between the two countries in the presence of the Foreign Ministers of Russia, France and Switzerland, the U.S. Secretary of State and the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.”
“Sadly, the normalization process subsequently stalled and by now has come to a complete halt. It is of principled importance, though, that the sides have demonstrated the ability to reach agreement and take serious and responsible decisions. I am convinced that Armenia and Turkey are able to resolve the current problems. That said, quite a lot depends on themselves. After all, the quality of the politicians is measured not only by the depth of their realistic analysis of the objective difficulties, but also by their ability to be optimistic in order to fulfill the hopes and aspirations of their citizens. When Yerevan and Ankara sit at the negotiating table, Russia will be ready to provide them with most vigorous assistance,” he added.