Washing your hands makes you HAPPIER: Cleaning boosts our confidence and washes away feelings of failure

Posted on by
Reply

washing boost self esteem

 

It seems you really can wash away your pain, as the song lyrics go.

A new study has found that the ritual of cleaning makes us more optimistic after failure.

Dr Kai Kaspar, from the University of Cologne, examined how physical cleansing affects us after a bad event.

He found that people who washed their hands after failing a task were more confident they could complete it the next time.

Dr Kaspar divided 98 people into three groups. In the first part of the experiment, participants from two groups had to solve an impossible task.

When both the groups failed, one group then washed their hands.

Both groups were optimistic that they would better at the task next time but the ‘clean hands’ group were much more optimistic.

But there was a twist. While people who washed their hands felt better afterwards, they were also less likely to complete the task successfully next time.

Dr Kaspar explained: ‘While physical cleansing after failure may eliminate negative feelings, it reduces the motivation to try harder in a new test situation.’

Meanwhile, the non-hand washers performed better on the next occasion.

The study was published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science.

Previous research from the University of Michigan found that handwashing is physically and emotionally cleansing.

A team of psychologists reported that the simple act of washing hands made people feel more comfortable about the decisions they had made.

 

Police smash high class prostitution ring that paid well-known Brazilian models £60,000 a WEEK to ‘service’ clients around the world

Posted on by
Reply

photo of an unconnected dancerPolice in Brazil have smashed a high-end prostitution ring that delivered well-known Brazilian models and cover girls to businessmen and politicians in Europe and Africa, it was reported today.

The women, who according to police appeared regularly on Brazilian TV and in men’s magazines, are believed to have been paid as much as £60,000 a week, investigators said.

Police claim the gang transported as many as 90 women a year from Brazil to wealthy clients in Angola, South Africa, Portugal and Austria in a racket believed to have amassed them over £28 million since 2007.

Federal police officers moved in on the gang yesterday following a year-long investigation, arresting three men and two women in the state of Sao Paulo, southeast Brazil.

Eleven luxury cars, as well as 23 passports, 14 visa requests for travel to Angola, foreign money and drugs were also seized, police said.

Police chief Luiz Tempestini, who led the investigation, told Brazil’s O Globo newspaper that many of the women, who have not been named, worked as dancers, models or actresses on popular Brazilian TV shows.

The gang members who were arrested have been charged with participation in organised crime, international people trafficking, embezzlement, false imprisonment and endangering the health and life of others, and face a maximum jail term of 30 years.

Two other suspects wanted by Brazilian police and believed to be living outside the country were placed on Interpol’s red notice list.

 

More than 250 students sick after eating in school cafeteria in China

Posted on by
Reply

school lunchAt least 253 students are undergoing treatment following suspected food poisoning this week in northern China, state media reported.

In addition to students, two teachers were also hospitalized, Xinhua news agency reported.

The incident occurred Thursday at a middle school in Baotou, which is in China’s inner Mongolia autonomous region.

Victims suffered various symptoms, including stomach ache and vomiting after eating at the same counter in the school dining hall, the news agency said Friday.

Employees who work at that counter are in police custody undergoing questioning, according to Xinhua.

 

PRESIDENT PARTICIPATED AT THE COUNCIL OF THE CIS HEADS OF STATE IN MINSK

Posted on by
Reply

4405_bIn the framework of this working visit to the Republic of Belarus, President Serzh Sargsyan participated today at the session of the Council of the CIS Heads of State conducted initially in the restricted and later in the extended format.

The Presidents of the Commonwealth member states in the framework of the agenda discussed 14 items encompassing different areas and pertinent to the prospects of expanding trade and economic relations, cooperation in the law enforcement area, further development of cultural and humanitarian ties.

Issues under consideration comprised programs related to cooperation in 2014-2016 in fighting terrorism and other violent manifestations of extremism, cooperation in fighting drug trafficking and program of countering drug abuse for years 2014-2018. Participants of the meeting approved all programs mentioned above.

The Presidents discussed and approved also the interstate program of joint events for 2014-2018 of fighting crime and program of cooperation of the CIS member states in fighting human trafficking for the same period of time.

Adopted at the meeting were also the agreement on the establishment of the interstate council for fighting corruption and the concept on the fight against crimes carried out with the use of technological means.

With regard to the cooperation in the humanitarian area, discussed were preparatory issues for the celebration of the 70th anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. It was decided to declare year 2014 a Year of Tourism in CIS. In addition, it was decided to implement in 2014 the interstate program The Cultural Capitals of CIS.

It was decided to convene the next meeting of the CIS Heads of State in Kiev. Ukraine assumed Presidency in the CIS.

In the capital of Belarus, President Serzh Sargsyan along with other Presidents of the CIS member states participated also in the founding of the Alley of Honorary Guests in the courtyard of the Independence Palace.

2 wonderful classical music concerts with Vladimir Spivakov and Hasmik Papian

Posted on by
Reply

1 (12)Within the framework of Aram Khachaturian International Festival, dedicated to the 110th anniversary of the great composer, on November 10-11 National Philharmonic Orchestra of Russia under the artistic director and principal conductor Vladimir Spivakov will perform in Armenia.

On November 10 at 19.00 the concert will be held in Aram Khachaturian concert hall. The Yerevan concert is dedicated to the 80th anniversary of violist and conductor Zareh Sahakyanc, the founder of Chamber Orchestra of Armenia.

And on November 11 National Philharmonic Orchestra of Russia headed by V.Spivakov will perform in Gyumri. The Gyumri concert will be held in the frames of “Gyumri CIS Cultural Capital 2013”.

The soloists will be Alexander Romanovsky (piano, Italy), Vasily Ladyuk (baritone, Russia), Juliette Galstian (mezzo-soprano, Switzerland), Hasmik Papian (soprano, Armenia).

The concerts of National Philharmonic Orchestra of Russia in Armenia will be held with the assistance of Ministry of Culture of RA, Ministry of Culture of RF and Interstate Fund for Humanitarian Cooperation of CIS member states.

Aram Khachaturian International Festival is organized by the State Youth Orchestra of Armenia.

 

The £40million pink sparkler: Enormous diamond set to become the world’s most expensive jewel

Posted on by
Reply

Pink Star

 

The diamond is dazzling and so is the price. This flawless 59.60-carat gem, known as the Pink Star, is expected to go for more than £40million at auction next month.

That will make the huge diamond, one of the world’s rarest and with an extraordinary depth of colour, the most valuable jewel ever to be sold.

Discovered in South Africa in 1999 by mining giant De Beers, the pink gem was polished and cut over two years.

The oval-cut stone is more than twice the size of the Graff Pink diamond that was sold for a world record £29million in 2010.
Sotheby’s, which will auction the Pink Star in Geneva, described it as ‘exceptional’.

The gem belongs to small group of diamonds – known as type 11a – that are renowned for their transparency and chemical purity.

 

վարդագույն ադամանդ

Can a sex strike work? Women in small Colombian town launch ‘Crossed Leg Movement’ to demand dangerous road be repaved

Posted on by
Reply

Barbacaos-Colombia-women- sex strikeWomen in the small town of Barbacaos, southwest Colombia, have reportedly gone on their second sex strike in two years, demanding that the roads to their remote region be repaved.

Dubbed the ‘crossed legs movement,’ the women in the town are refusing to have sex with their significant others until the road that connects their small, isolated town to the rest of the country is repaired, according to Colombia-based reporter John Otis.

And it might have actually worked. PRI reports that construction has resumed on the single road, which is in such poor condition that trips to the nearest hospital take up to 14 hours, and many people in need of care die along the way.

Women in the town first began withholding sex in 2011 to protest the poor condition of the road, where Judge Marybell Silva joined the strike after seeing a young woman die along with her unborn child because the ambulance got stuck on the road and failed to reach a hospital in time.

Strike leader Ruby Quinonez said at the time: ‘Why bring children into this world when they can just die without medical attention and we can’t even offer them the most basic rights? We decided to stop having sex and stop having children until the state fulfils its previous promises.’

After three months and 19 days of abstinence, town politicians promised the road would be repaired and the government pledged $21million to pave at least half of the 35-mile road.

But after two years and no change, women resumed the strike. Now it seems the Army Corps of Engineers have brought in bulldozers and ‘heavy machinery’ to prove  they will indeed rebuild the road.

 

Russian Parliament Passes New Anti-Terror Bill

Posted on by
Reply

Ռուսաստան,Պետդումա,ահաբեկչություն

 

The lower house of Russian parliament has approved a new legislation that toughens punishment for terrorism and requires terrorists’ relatives to pay for the damages caused in attacks.

The bill, unanimously passed Friday by the State Duma, is expected to see a similarly swift approval in the upper house and be signed by President Vladimir Putin to become law.

The document says that training for terrorist activities is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. It also introduces a punishment of up to six years for those participating in a militant group abroad.

The measure appears to be a response to Russian nationals fighting alongside rebels in Syria. Russian officials have voiced concern that they may launch attacks at home when they return.

 

RA Prosecutor General G. Kostanyan received EC Commissioner for Human Rights N. Muiznieks

Posted on by
Reply

G. Kostanyan , EC Commissioner for Human Rights N. MuizniekOn 21 October, 2013 RA Prosecutor General G. Kostanyan received the delegation headed by EC Commissioner for Human Rights N. Muiznieks. The head of EC Office of Commissioner for Human Rights I. Gashe, the deputy head B. Urumova, the representative of EC Secretary General to Armenia O. Pavlyuk were involved in the delegation.

RA Deputies Prosecutor General A. Tamazyan, H. Badalyan, E. Babayan also took part in the meeting.

Greeting the guests Mr. Kostanyan mentioned that he highlighted the cooperation with EC Commissioner for Human Rights both as RA Prosecutor General and as Armenian Representative to the European Court of Human Rights.

The Prosecutor General expressed readiness to continue the cooperation with the Commissioner for Human Rights on stable and comprehensive bases. Mr. G. Kostanyan briefly represented the steps implemented in the process of providing guarantee for human rights and fundamental freedoms. The Prosecutor General highly evaluated the cooperation with the ex-Commissioner for Human Rights T. Hammerberg.

Congratulating Mr. Kostanyan on appointment as RA Prosecutor General Mr. N. Muiznieks emphasized that he was well-aware of Mr. Kostanyan’s activity and said he was sure they would have an efficient cooperation with RA Prosecution Office. EC Commissioner mentioned that his visit had a cognitive aim.

The members of EC delegation were interested in a number of issues regarding the soldiers’ rights in armed forces, issues on alternative service, the functions and authorities of prosecution office in the stage of judicial reforms.

RA Prosecutor General G. Kostanyan gave detailed answers to the questions the guests were interested in. He also offered to establish direct relations between the Office of Commissioner for Human Rights and RA Prosecutor General’s Office to have a quick exchange of information.

Staff changes in RA Prosecution Office are not due to close or not close relationship

Posted on by
Reply

Կադրային փոփոխություններ դատախազությունումHighlighting the public right to be informed, the provision of democratic principle of being accountable to public for one’s own activities and taking into consideration the public interest on staff changes in RA prosecution system and comments of several types, we inform the following;

It is commendable that inner administrative changes attract the attention of mass media and a wide mass of society. We hope that this attention shown to prosecution is conditioned by public perception of importance of prosecution role in the process of struggle against crime, legality provision, protection of citizens’ rights and interests.

The commentaries in media that there is allegedly a “staff massacre” in prosecution office, that the staff changes are based on personal motives are groundless, as

during the meetings with the deputies in National Assembly and at the very first conference in Prosecutor General’s Office RA Prosecutor General G. Kostanyan declared that he would not be guided by the principle of close and not close relationship. At the same time, G. Kostanyan proposed new conditions, new approaches to the system employees demanding from them to implement the proposed conditions, to be honest, to have high professionalism. So, any honest and hard-working person will always be in office without any obstacles, and the person who does not coincide with these principles will be dismissed.

We would like to emphasize that the changes in RA Prosecution system up to now are not connected with condition implementation proposed by RA Prosecutor General. Mr. G. Kostanyan has not dismissed any official of prosecution office, yet.

All the employees have been dismissed pursuant to their own requests. In the interviews many of them have clearly represented the reasons of their dismissal, that is, a long-term retirement, rest, health state or desire to do another job.

We think it is not reasonable to doubt the announcements of persons who have a long-term experience of prosecution work and have numerous state rewards.

The fact that the newly-appointed prosecutors in head offices appointed by G. Kostanyan are also long-term employees of the same system indicates the absence of personal motives in staff changes. The public responds on professional and human properties of newly-appointed prosecutors, which are only positive, just prove that staff changes in prosecution system are not based on subjective grounds.

From now on, when any prosecutor is dismissed not pursuant to his own request, but on the base of the conclusion of Ethics Commission adjunct to RA Prosecutor General by Ra Prosecutor General’s order, or is subjected to a disciplinary penalty, the public will be properly informed about the dismissal reasons and disciplinary penalties.

Orlando Bloom and model Miranda Kerr confirm their three year marriage is over… after being ‘amicably separated for months’

Posted on by
Reply

Օռլանդո Բլում,մոդել Միրանդա Քեր

 

Pirates Of The Caribbean star Orlando Bloom and model Miranda Kerr have announced they have split after three years of marriage.

A representative for the British actor confirmed the breakup to E! News.

The couple’s spokesperson said in a statement: ‘Orlando Bloom and Miranda Kerr have announced that they have been amicably separated for the past few months.

‘After six years together, they have recently decided to formalise their separation.’

The British actor and the Australian model began dating in late 2007 before tying the knot three years later.

Former Victoria’s Secret Angel Miranda, 30, gave birth to the couple’s son Flynn back in January 2011.

 

French soccer clubs to strike in protest at Francois Hollande’s ‘rich tax’

Posted on by
Reply

ֆուտբոլային ակումբ

 

France’s controversial 75% tax for high earners drove award-winning actor Gerard Depardieu to take Russian citizenship.

Now, French football clubs are going on strike to protest the legislation’s planned implementation next year, claiming it will make them less competitive against European rivals and cause further financial hardship.

The Professional Union of Football Clubs (UCPF) announced Thursday that they will boycott all matches in the top two divisions scheduled between November 29-December 2.

It will be the first such strike in France since 1972, when players protested about their salaries, and will be the first in a major European league since the start of the 2010-11 Italian season was disrupted.

“This unprecedented day must be the occasion for the silent majority of French football to express its opposition,” UCPF president Jean-Pierre Louvel said in a statement Thursday.

The 75% tax will apply to players who earn more than €1 million ($1.38 million) a year. Under the law’s initial wording the earners themselves would have had to pay it, but after protests Francois Hollande’s Socialist Party government moved the responsibility to their employers.

The UCPF claims the tax will make French clubs less competitive against European rivals in countries which have lower taxes.

 

Baby Prince George is christened, 7 godparents named

Posted on by
Reply
By Laura Smith-Spark and Max Foster, CNN
Watch this video

Prince George’s big day out

London (CNN) — Prince George made his first public appearance in three months Wednesday, as he arrived with his parents, Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, for his christening at St. James’s Palace.

The baby prince smiled as he was shown off to family members including his great-grandparents, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, before the royals entered the Chapel Royal.

George was dressed in an elaborate lace and satin christening gown that’s a replica of one made in 1841 for the christening of Queen Victoria’s eldest daughter.

Being baptized into the church is more significant for George than for most people, since he is in line to become king, which would also make him the supreme governor of the Church of England.

 

Back row, from left: the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry, Pippa Middleton, James Middleton, Carole Middleton and Michael Middleton. Front row, from left: Queen Elizabeth II, Duchess of Cambridge with Prince George and Prince William.Back row, from left: the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry, Pippa Middleton, James Middleton, Carole Middleton and Michael Middleton. Front row, from left: Queen Elizabeth II, Duchess of Cambridge with Prince George and Prince William.
Prepping for Prince George’s christening

Royal couple’s 1st appearance since baby

Royal family portrait

The occasion was kept uncharacteristically small, in a shift away from the larger ceremonies that his father and grandfather enjoyed at Buckingham Palace.

His grandfather Prince Charles and uncle, Prince Harry, were among the select few invited to the ceremony, along with Catherine’s parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, and her siblings, James and Pippa.

New photos of Prince George released

The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev. Justin Welby, greeted the guests as they arrived at the chapel.

The royal baby, who was born in July, has seven godparents, among them Prince William’s cousin Zara Tindall, daughter of Princess Anne, and close friends of the couple.

They include Oliver Baker, who got to know William and Catherine at St. Andrew’s University, Emilia Jardine-Paterson, who went to school with Catherine, and William van Cutsem, a childhood friend of William.

The other godparents are Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, a former private secretary to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry; Julia Samuel, who was a good friend of William’s mother, Diana, Princess of Wales; and Earl Grosvenor, son of the Duke of Westminster.

The replica christening gown was brought into use in 2008 to help preserve the 170-year-old original, used until then for every royal christening, including those of Prince William and his father, Charles.

The venue for the christening also has a special significance for Prince William. The body of his mother, Diana, rested in the Chapel Royal for five days before her funeral in 1997.

After the service, Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, held a private tea at Clarence House. The guests were served slices of christening cake, which is a tier taken from William and Catherine’s 2011 wedding cake.

Prince William interview: Future king talks fatherhood, baby George

‘What a gift’

In a short video posted on his website, Welby spoke of the significance of the baby prince’s baptism, which will see him “join the family of the church,” numbering almost 2 billion people around the world.

Welby said any christening was a moment for the parents to celebrate the birth of their child, royal or not.

“All babies are unbelievably special, not only royal babies,” he said.

But Prince George’s christening does carry an extra significance, he said.

“As a nation we are celebrating the birth of someone who in due course will be the head of state. That’s extraordinary. It gives you this sense of forward looking, of the forwardness of history as well as the backwardness of history, and what a gift to have this new life and to look forward.”

As with any other infant’s baptism, Welby marked the Prince with the sign of the cross on his forehead and splash water on his head.

The silver font used for George’s baptism has been used for every royal christening since 1841 and will be filled with water from the River Jordan.

The 3-month-old boy has already made history. He’s the first royal baby to be honored with a christening coin from the Royal Mint.

The design of the coins, produced by the mint in a range of sizes and materials, has been approved by his parents and the Queen, the Royal Mint said.

The public can buy the keepsakes, which start at 13 pounds ($21) for the simplest type but rise to a whopping 50,000 pounds ($80,000) for a version containing a kilogram of gold.

A historic look at royal baby clothes

Service details

Prince George’s christening ceremony included two hymns, two lessons and two anthems, according to Kensington Palace.

Prince Harry read him a lesson form John 15:1-5, and his aunt Pippa Middleton read Luke 18:15-17.

The music started with a processional, Bach’s “Fantasia in G,” played on organ.

The Choir of Her Majesty’s Chapel Royal, made up of six men and 10 boys, sang the anthem “Blessed Jesu! Here we Stand,” which was written for the baptism of baby George’s father, Prince William, in 1982.

The second anthem was “The Lord Bless You and Keep You” by John Rutter.

The newest royal also heard the hymns “Breathe on Me, Breathe on God” and “Be Thou My Vision” before the organ played the recessional, which was C.W. Widor’s Toccata from Symphony No. 5.

 

President in Minsk participated at the session of the Eurasian Economic Supreme Council held in a restricted format

Posted on by
Reply

Սերժ Սարգսյան,Բելառուս,Մաքսային միություն,Միասնական տնտեսական գոտի

President Serzh Sargsyan, who is in the Republic of Belarus on a working visit, today in Minsk participated at the session of the Eurasian Economic Supreme Council held in a restricted format with the participation of the Presidents of Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Ukraine.

At the session presented for discussion were three documents pertinent to the preparatory works on Armenia’s accession to the Customs Union and Common Economic Zone which were approved. These documents are: a draft decision on Armenia’s accession to the Customs Union and Common Economic Zone, declaration on Armenia’s participation in the Eurasian integration processes and memorandum on deepening cooperation between the Eurasian Economic Commission and the Republic of Armeni

ANCA RALLIES AGAINST WHITE HOUSE DECISION TO BLOCK SMITHSONIAN DISPLAY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ORPHAN RUG

Posted on by
Reply
Coolidge_Armenian_Orphan_RugWASHINGTON, DC — Armenian Americans across the U.S. are calling upon the White House and Congress to secure a prominent and permanent public display of a historic rug woven by Armenian Genocide orphans and presented to President Calvin Coolidge in 1925, in appreciation for U.S. humanitarian assistance in the aftermath of Turkey’s murder of over 1.5 million Armenians from 1915-1923, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
The ANCA campaign was initiated after The Washington Post reported, earlier this week, that a planned December 16th Smithsonian Institution exhibit featuring the rug, organized in conjunction with the Armenian Cultural Foundation and the Armenian Rug Society, was abruptly cancelled when the White House, reversing an earlier affirmative decision, refused to lend the iconic symbol of American and Armenian shared heritage to the museum.
Armenian Americans can take action by visiting:
Armenian_Orphan_RugWashington Post staff writer and Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Philip Kennicott, reported, “There was hope that the carpet, which has been in storage for almost 20 years, might be displayed December 16th as part of a Smithsonian event that would include a book launch for Hagop Martin Deranian’s ‘President Calvin Coolidge and the Armenian Orphan Rug.’ But on September 12th, the Smithsonian scholar who helped organize the event canceled it, citing the White House’s decision not to loan the carpet. In a letter to two Armenian American organizations, Paul Michael Taylor, director of the institution’s Asian cultural history program, had no explanation for the White House’s refusal to allow the rug to be seen and said that efforts by the U.S. ambassador to Armenia, John A. Heffern, to intervene had also been unavailing.”
Kennicott described the controversy as “a sign of the Obama administration’s dismal reputation in the Armenian American community that everyone assumes… must be yet another slap in the face for Armenians seeking to promote understanding of one of the darkest chapters in 20th-century history.”
The complete Washington Post article is available online at:
The White House response thus far has been vague – with National Security Staff Assistant Press Secretary Laura Magnuson offering the following comment to the Asbarez Armenian Newspaper: “The Ghazir rug is a reminder of the close relationship between the peoples of Armenia and the United States.  We regret that it is not possible to loan it out at this time.”  A statement with the same exact wording was released by the White House last week and included in Kennicott’s article.
“The White House should simply come clean,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.  “It’s time for the White House to open up about Turkey’s role, and lay out all the facts about its decision to block the Smithsonian’s exhibit of the Armenian Orphan Rug – a historic, Armenian Genocide-era work of art that speaks powerfully to the common values and shared experiences of the American and Armenian peoples.”
In a letter sent earlier today to President Obama’s Chief of Staff, Denis McDonough, ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian reminded the White House that “upon receiving the rug, President Coolidge wrote, ‘The rug has a place of honor in the White House where it will be a daily symbol of goodwill on earth.’ I ask you, in this spirit, to remove any obstacles to the Smithsonian’s display of this historic artwork and to secure a prominent and permanent public home for this powerful symbol of America’s humanitarian values and friendship with the Armenian people,” continued Hachikian.
Placing this latest controversy in context, Hachikian noted that: “since taking office, President Obama has not only failed to recognize the Armenian Genocide, but has actively blocked Congressional legislation (H.Res.252, 111th Congress) to commemorate this atrocity and, through his Solicitor General, officially opposed efforts in the U.S. courts (Arzoumanian v. Munchener Ruckversicherungs-Gesellschaft Aktiengesellschaft AG) to allow American citizens to pursue Genocide-era property claims.  In addition, the Administration has regularly sent senior officials to speak at events organized by Armenian Genocide deniers, while refusing repeated invitations to simply attend Congressional observances of this atrocity.  In these areas, and, sadly, many more, the President has not simply failed to honor his pledge, but rather – in both letter and spirit – worked to fundamentally undermine and reverse the very policies he pledged to pursue.”
According to Dr. Hagop Deranian, the Armenian orphan rug measures 11’7″ x 18’5″ and is comprised of 4,404,206 individual knots.  It took the Armenian girls in the Ghazir Orphanage of the Near East Relief Society 10 months to weave.  A label on the back of the rug, in large hand-written letters, reads “IN GOLDEN RULE GRATITUDE TO PRESIDENT COOLIDGE.”
Additional information about the history of the Armenian Orphan Rug is available in Dr. Hagop Martin Deranian’s book, “President Coolidge and the Armenian Orphan Rug,” published on October 20, 2013, by the Armenian Cultural Foundation and soon to be available on Amazon.com

Meeting with personal representative of the OSCE chairman-in-office Andrzej Kasprzyk

Posted on by
Reply

ԵԱՀԿ,Բակո Սահակյան,Անջեյ ԿասպշիկOn 24 October Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan met personal representative of the OSCE chairman-in-office, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk.

Issues related to the current stage of the Azerbaijani-Karabagh conflict settlement negotiations and its prospects as well as situation along the contact line between the NKR and Azerbaijan armed forces were discussed during the meeting.

 

 

2013-10-24

Boxer Klitschko to Run for Ukraine Presidency

Posted on by
Reply

vitali klitschko,կլիչկո

Vitali Klitschko, a heavyweight boxing champion and top Ukrainian opposition leader, says he will run for the ex-Soviet nation’s presidency in 2015.

The 42-year-old was elected to parliament last fall as the head of his pro-Western party Udar (“Punch” in English). Since then, Klitschko, the reigning WBC heavyweight champion, has campaigned against what he calls authoritarian moves by President Viktor Yanukovych.

He particularly criticized the jailing of former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, which was seen as politically motivated by the West.

Klitschko announced his widely expected presidential bid Thursday in response to efforts by pro-government forces to pass a bill that could prevent him from running because he has permanent residency status in Germany.

Klitschko vowed that he “will not be frightened or stopped by this.”

 

Sharon Stone Receives Peace Summit Award in Poland

Posted on by
Reply

Շերոն Սթոուն, Լեհաստան,Խաղաղության գագաթնաժողովի մրցանակով

 

Sharon Stone was honored with 2013 Peace Summit Award on Wednesday, October 23. Wearing a camel-colored coat, Stone attended the official ceremony for the 13th World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates in Warsaw, Poland.
The event, which was held at the Grand Theater and National Opera House, was also attended by Mikhail Gorbachev and Betty Williams. Stone bowed to Dalai Lama and made peace sign before receiving the award from the spiritual leader.
Stone is honored with the prize for her “activities that brought solidarity and new hope to the millions of people who have fought and are fighting against the tragedy of HIV/AIDS,” Daily Mail reports. The “Basic Instinct” actress has been working with U.S. charity amFAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research, and has vowed to be their campaign chairman until a safe and effective vaccine is found.
A committee of Nobel Peace laureates names one person from the world of culture and entertainment who is actively involved in bringing awareness about peace and global issues to receive the award every year. Previous honorees include Cat Stevens, Bono, former soccer player Roberto Baggio and Sean Penn.

 

United Nations in Armenia and Partners mark 68th anniversary of UN

Posted on by
Reply

մակ

The UN in Armenia, together with its strategic partners – government officials, representatives of the diplomatic corps, international organizations, private sector, civil society, educational institutions and media, celebrates the 68th anniversary of the UN today.

During the month, the UN organized various outreach events around the country: from the opening of a new UN Corner in the Gyumri Central Library, UN materials distribution through Bibliobus, numerous debates with youth, education outreach in different universities and organization of the Model UN Conference.

The celebration culminated with the UN Journalism Awards Ceremony, where two best journalists received awards for their professional coverage of issues related to the UN work in Armenia. The winner of category “coverage of UN Armenia work in general” was Martha Hahknazaryan from Golos Armenii, who received a tablet and a special certificate. Within category“coverage of UN work in the regions of Armenia” the winner was Lia Khojoyan from Panorama.am and WomenNet.am who also received a tablet and certificate. All other top candidates received certificates and other gifts, which will be useful for their professional work.  The UN expert jury selected the winners based on their in-depth coverage, professionalism, knowledge of the UN mandate, importance of the issue in Armenian context and vision.

The UN Resident Coordinator Bradley Busetto said: “Since the establishment of the UN Office in Armenia to present day, due to the combined efforts of many agencies of the UN family, we can humbly point out that the UN had its tangible input in the advancement of the country and, certainly, is going to have in the coming future. The areas of application of our efforts through diverse programs are pretty much broad, encompassing mostly those in need. Nevertheless, we can express in one word the resolute objective for the entire UN system activities in Armenia – people, with particular focus on the vulnerable segments of the population”.

Other partners, also spoke about the important role the UN has in supporting the country’s efforts to advance sustainable human development and achieve the nationalized Millennium Development Goals.

Bradley Busetto thanked all UN partners, including the government, civil society and media for their cooperation and assistance in the work of different UN institutions operating in Armenia.

On 24 October 1945, sixty-eight years ago, the founding Charter of the UN entered into force. The UN Office in Armenia was opened in December 1992, after Armenia became a member of the United Nations in March 1992.

She just fell into television: Moment worker faceplants in background of live broadcast

Posted on by
Reply

Ջեսիկա Գարեյթ,ԱՄՆ,KRQE

 

 

KRQE news anchor Jessica Garate says ‘I love how my days are unpredictable – that’s why I work in TV’.

 

In a recent show, while she was reporting on same-sex marriages, an unnamed person flew into shot and landed with a thud on the floor.

 

Ever the professional, Mrs Garate, who has been working for Albuquerque-based KRQE since 2004, maintained her composure throughout the incident and didn’t even flinch when the uninvited guest arrived at an alarming velocity.

 
This could be, of course, because she didn’t notice.

 

The person who made the unexpected appearance, a volunteer tasked with answering the phones at the station’s call center, didn’t appear to be hurt. She quickly got up and walked off.

 

Footage of the ‘faceplant’ has gone viral after being posted by Drew J. Lynch on YouTube, amassing over 13,000 views to date.

 

 

 

  2. 1
  3. ...
  4. 47
  5. 48
  6. 49
  7. 50
  8. 51
  9. 52
  10. 53
  11. ...
  12. 95