12:33,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 26, ARMENPRESS. The Danish government on Friday said it will propose a law that would make it illegal to desecrate any holy book in Denmark, where a recent after a series of burnings of the Quran led to uproar in Muslim countries, AP reports. 

The Danish government seeks to extend Denmark’s existing ban on burning foreign flags by also “prohibiting improper treatment of objects of significant religious significance to a religious community,” Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard said. 

“The bill will make it punishable, for example, to burn the Quran or the Bible in public. It will only aim at actions in a public place or with the intention of spreading in a wider circle,” Hummelgaard said. He said such acts would be punishable by fines or up to two years in prison.

Hummelgaard told a news conference that the recent protests were “senseless taunts that have no other purpose than to create discord and hatred.”

Denmark’s government has repeatedly distanced itself from the desecrations, but has insisted that freedom of _expression_ is one of the most important values in Danish society. It said that would not be affected by the proposed law.

Freedom of _expression_ is “a cornerstone of Danish democracy, and the freedom to express oneself is a central value in Danish society,” Hummelgaard said. The proposal is “a targeted intervention which does not change the fact that freedom of _expression_ must have a very broad framework in Denmark,” he said.

 12:46,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 26, ARMENPRESS. Italy’s northern city of Milan registered a new record high average daily temperature of 33 Celsius (91.4 Fahrenheit) on Wednesday as a heatwave which began around mid-August reached its peak, Reuters reported citing the regional environmental protection agency (ARPA).

It was the hottest day since the Milano Brera weather station started recording temperatures in 1763. Milan’s previous record of 32.8 C was set on Aug. 11, 2003.

The Italian capital Rome registered a record peak of 41.8 Celsius (°C) in July, as much of southern Europe broiled this summer, fuelling wildfires, prompting governments to issue health warnings, and disrupting holidays for many tourists.

ARPA said in a statement that Aug. 23 and 24 have been the hottest days of the summer across the whole of the Lombardy region which surrounds Milan, with several towns registering peak temperatures above 40 C.

 13:35,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 26, ARMENPRESS. United States Senator Bill Cassidy has accused Azerbaijan of committing a crime against humanity in Nagorno-Karabakh by weaponizing food.

“The humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh is growing more and more dire by the day. If Azerbaijan doesn’t lift the blockade people will starve. Weaponizing food constitutes an Article 7 Violation of the Rome Statutes, a ‘Crime against Humanity,’” Cassidy said in a post on X.

 16:55,

YEREVAN, 25 AUGUST, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 25 August, USD exchange rate up by 0.02 drams to 385.98 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 1.95 drams to 416.97 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.01 drams to 4.08 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 2.71 drams to 486.84 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price up by 6.20 drams to 23789.72 drams. Silver price up by 5.41 drams to 300.12 drams.

 17:13,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 25, ARMENPRESS. On August 25, Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ararat Mirzoyan held a meeting with Ambassador of the Netherlands Nicolaas Schermers on the occasion of the end of his diplomatic mission in Armenia.

The sides touched upon the undertaken and outlined steps towards deepening bilateral cooperation between Armenia and the Netherlands, as well as the Armenia-EU partnership agenda, the foreign ministry said in a readout. 

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia highly appreciated the efforts made by the Ambassador in this direction in the last three years, awarded him with an honorary medal of the Foreign Ministry of Armenia and wished him success in next steps in diplomatic career.

During the meeting, the interlocutors also touched upon the issues on regional stability, particularly discussing the worsening humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh resulting from the blockade of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan. Highlighting the importance of the clear positions expressed by international organizations and countries, including the Netherlands, Ararat Mirzoyan emphasized the urgency of taking steps towards the immediate lifting of the blockade of the Lachin corridor blockade in accordance with the Orders of the International Court of Justice of February 22 and July 6, 2023.

Minister Mirzoyan stressed that the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh is close to turning into a humanitarian catastrophe and can significantly undermine the efforts of Armenia and the international community to establish stability in the region.

 17:50,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 25, ARMENPRESS. It has been a month since the “Generation AI” high school pilot project was launched and is being presented in various regions of Armenia engaged in this initiative. This program is developed by the Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology (FAST) and implemented in partnership with the RA Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports (MoESCS) and field organizations. In pursuit of presenting program details and perspectives, the FAST’s team visited the south of Armenia, Syunik region, to meet with teaching staff, parents, and students of Kapan High School N2. The Foundation also donated computers to the school to empower students with modern resources, enabling them to delve into the world of artificial intelligence and become proficient in its applications.

“The main goal of the “Generation AI” program is to nurture a generation of competitive AI specialists right from their school years. Recognizing Syunik’s pivotal role in Armenia, the decision was made to modernize the school’s computer infrastructure. This step is crucial in equipping students with the essential resources required for a superior education. With this, we encourage the involvement of different organizations in the process of supporting the schools and enhancing the schools’ labs with new technologies”, mentioned Suzanna Shamakhyan, Vice President of Strategic Programming at FAST. She highlighted  the importance of consolidating the efforts of various ecosystem players to achieve systemic change in the country.

An interactive info session was held, during which beneficiaries were introduced about the program’s components, benefits, and prospects of artificial intelligence, including its recent advancements and practical applications. The ceremonial opening of the newly outfitted computer lab occurred in participation with the director of Kapan High School N2, Rita Ovchyan, and Suzanna Shamakhyan. On that day, the students also had the opportunity to test their learning skills with one of the program’s educational platforms for Python programming.

Sixteen high schools, from six different regions and Yerevan, will execute the “Generation AI” program beginning in September 2023. The program will involve at least 250 high school students and 40 educators in the 2023-2024 school year.

In the framework of the visit, Gevorg Parsyan, the mayor of Kapan, met the representatives of the Foundation, Suzanna Shamakhyan and Anush Ayvazyan. They discussed the details of the “Generation AI” program during which the Foundation team underscored the importance and readiness of combined efforts from various sectors to drive technological advancements and achieve substantial outcomes in the Kapan community.

As the Foundation’s regional visits continue, the upcoming events will unfold in other cities, featuring interactions with industry professionals in Gyumri and Vanadzor. The momentum of the “Generation AI” program highlights a collaborative spirit aimed at propelling Armenia’s educational and technological landscape forward.

***

FAST was founded in 2017 by aiming to support Armenia’s transformation into a science-driven, innovative country by 2041 through scientific discovery and innovation. To reach this milestone, FAST has designed and structured numerous programs and initiatives to become independent parts of the STI ecosystem, ensuring continuous sustainability. FAST has implemented 25 programs impacting more than 10,000 beneficiaries in the last six years.

 19:07,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 25, ARMENPRESS. Yielding to Azerbaijan’s terms would further deepen and complicate the situation, Nagorno-Karabakh’s State Minister Gurgen Nersisyan warned Friday.

“The people of Artsakh have been facing a new challenge since 12 December 2022. Artsakh was first blockaded under a false environmental pretext, then the corridor link with Armenia was blockaded, and then the Hakari Bridge was closed. A device was installed there under the pretext of arms shipments from Armenia, then it was removed and a checkpoint was installed instead. Humanitarian shipments have been suspended since June 15, instead of free movement of persons we only have transfer of patients through the Red Cross, while the shipment of goods has been completely halted. After keeping the people of Artsakh in this condition for over two months, Azerbaijan presented new demands, the launch of the Aghdam-Askeran road and a meeting with representatives of ethnic Armenians in Karabakh on Azerbaijani territory. There will be endless demands like this as long as the Azerbaijani plan to subject the people of Artsakh to genocide, to give a final solution to the Karabakh conflict by way of depopulating Artsakh isn’t completed. Therefore, the claims that making concessions in response to Azerbaijan’s demands would allow us to recover are baseless illusions. Furthermore, it would only further deepen and complicate our situation,” Nersisyan said in a video address.

Nersisyan said that they must accept the reality that the international community, including the peacekeeping forces in Artsakh, are ensuring insufficient security in Artsakh and are unable to create the conditions necessary for the most basic livelihood, and are tacitly defending or encouraging the Azeri agenda which intends to eventually lead to genocide.