Daily Archives: May 20, 2013

President Bako Sahakyan signed a decree and an order

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QG3Z2884Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan signed a decree according to which for personal bravery shown in battles defending the Fatherland freedom fighters Ararat Avanesyan and Arthur Gasparyan were awarded with “For the Liberation of Shoushi” medal.

The President also signed an order on handing in valuable gifts to a group of Artsakh Liberation war veterans and to a freedom fighter’s widow in connection with the Victory Day, the Day of the NKR Defense Army and the 21st anniversary of Shoushi’s liberation.

 

Opening the monument of perished freedom fighters in the village of Patara

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20.05.13PataraHushahamalirOn 20 May Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan visited the village of Patara in the Askeran region and partook there in a solemn ceremony of opening the monument of perished freedom fighters.
In his speech the Head of the State considered important the construction of such monuments perpetuating the memory of heroes martyred for the independence and freedom of the Motherland and thanked all those who contributed to the implementation of this patriotic initiative.
Bako Sahakyan noted that the residents of the Patara village, who devotedly fought in all the fronts of Artsakh and demonstrated themselves as brave and courageous fighter, today continue to serve in the Defense Army. He expressed confidence that the residents of the village would continue to live and work with the same vigor to the glory of our state and nation.
The President handed in state awards and valuable gifts to a group of Artsakh Liberation War veterans.
Primate of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan, chairman of the National Assembly Ashot Ghoulyan and other officials partook in the events.

 

 

Iranian authorities hang two ‘spies’ convicted of working for U.S. and Israel

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Iranian authorities have executed two men convicted of spying for Israel’s Mossad and the American CIA spy agency, according to the country’s state radio.

Mohammad Heidari, accused of passing security-related information and secrets to Mossad agents in exchange for money, and Kourosh Ahmadi, accused of gathering information for the CIA, were hanged at dawn, it said.

The sentence for their execution was handed down by Tehran’s Revolutionary Court and confirmed by the country’s Supreme Court.

The report did not say when the pair were arrested nor when their trial took place.

Iran has in the past said it had successfully detected and dismantled spy networks operating inside the country.

Tehran accuses Israel and the U.S. of spying on its vital interests, particularly its nuclear program, which the West suspects is aimed at producing an atomic weapon.

Tehran denies the charge. It has blamed the assassinations of scientists associated with its disputed nuclear programme on Western spy agencies, especially Mossad.

The United States has denied any role in the killings. Israel has not commented.

Last month, Amnesty International reported that Iran had 314 officially confirmed executions in 2012, the second highest behind China. It is feared that the actual total is much higher.

Queue here for Everest: Photographer captures the crowds of tourists who pay up to $50,000 to climb the world’s tallest peak

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It may be the tallest mountain on Earth, but conquering Everest is increasingly becoming an achievable aim due to the growth of inexperienced ‘hobby climbers’ who flock to the daunting peak.

Critics say too many people are trying to climb Everest at the same time, leaving behind huge amounts of rubbish and also making casualties inevitable. Often there are up to 200 — many of them thrill-seeking amateurs.

Clients pay around $50,000 to buy permits and equipment to traverse the 29,029 ft mountain first climbed in 1953 by New Zealander Edmund Hilary and Tenzing Norgay.

Since Hillary’s historic ascent, about 10,000 people have tried to climb Everest, at least 2,500 successfully.

These pictures from the June issue of National Geographic highlight the booming industry which has grown up around the iconic mountain.

Last year in May, four people died after scores of people attempted to scale the peak and reach the world’s tallest mountain.

Just a few decades ago, scaling Everest was a feat attempted by only a handful of hardy and experienced mountaineers, trained to the highest fitness levels.

It has become a booming tourist industry in its own right, boosting the economy of Nepal, particularly during the climbing season from late March to the first week in June.

Anyone with the money to spare could sign up with one of the many tour operators that arrange trekking trips.

Nepali mountain officials say about 200 people will attempt to scale the summit this weekend when the next safe window of weather is expected to allow safe ascent.

Beatles guitar auctioned for $408,000 in US

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A six-cord electric guitar that Beatles John Lennon and George Harrison played went under the hammer for $408,000, Julien’s Auctions said Sunday.

The customized VOX guitar was the centerpiece of the annual Music Icons auction held Saturday at the New York Hard Rock Cafe by the Beverly Hills, California-based auctioneers.

Julien’s Auctions had valued the guitar ahead of the auction at between $200,000 and $300,000.

The guitar, which had been at several exhibitions prior to auction, was a gift from John Lennon to “Magic Alex” Mardas, an engineer at Apple Records and a friend of the band in 1967, Julien’s said.

Harrison used the guitar while practicing the song “I am the Walrus.” Lennon played it during a video session for “Hello, Goodbye.”

Some 450 other items were also auctioned at the event, including the pants that Elvis Presley wore in the “Jailhouse Rock” movie, a jumpsuit worn by 70s pop star David Cassidy and objects from David Bowie, Michael Jackson and the Grateful Dead.

Oxfam warns of health risks to Syria refugees

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Aid organisation Oxfam warned on Monday that the warmer weather will increase health-related risks for hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees in Jordan and Lebanon, and appealed for urgent funds.

With temperatures set to soar up to 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), and as refugees continue to flee to Jordan and Lebanon, “the health risks must be urgently addressed,” Oxfam said in a statement.

“Increased cases of public health-related diseases such as diarrhoea and skin infections have already been recorded in host communities and temporary settlements where an increasing number of refugees now live,” it added.

Oxfam said it is “crucial to ensure funds are in place to provide refugees with shelter, clean water and adequate sanitation,” adding that it is aiming to raise $53.4 million (41.6 million euros) over the next year.

So far Oxfam’s appeal is only 23 percent funded, the statement said.

Bird flu costs China industry $65 bln

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China’s human H7N9 bird flu outbreak has cost the country’s poultry industry more than 400 billion yuan ($65 billion) as consumers shun chicken, government officials said, according to state media.

The sector has been losing an average of one billion yuan a day since the end of March, the Beijing Times said on Monday, citing Li Xirong, head of the National Animal Husbandry Service.

H7N9 avian influenza has infected 130 people in China, killing 35, since it was found in humans for the first time, according to latest official data.

Poultry sales have tumbled and prices plunged, Li said, causing major financial problems and job losses as a result.

In a stunt to boost confidence, officials and poultry business leaders in the eastern province of Shandong held a widely reported all-chicken lunch last week, according to Chinese media.

President Serzh Sargsyan sent a congratulatory letter to the national benefactor Louis Manoogian-Simon on the occasion of her 80th birth anniversary

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Լուիզ Մանուկյան-Սիմոն

 

On behalf of the entire Armenian nation and his own behalf, President Serzh Sargsyan cordially congratulated the national benefactor Louis Manoogian-Simon on her 80th birth anniversary and wished her health and many happy years ahead.

“You are a brilliant follower of the best traditions which have been present and continue to be present in the Armenian reality. In different times and in different circumstances, you have been able to assume responsibility and implement projects that were patriotic in nature and all-Armenian in scope. Through your weighty recognizance, lasting and proficient activities, you have rightly acquired a great reputation in Armenia as well as in Spyurk,” the letter of the President of Armenia reads.

 

The Chess Federation of Armenia held its report and election convention

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3030Today, at the Tigran Petrossian Chess House there took place the report and election convention of the Chess Federation of Armenia. The convention was chaired by the President of the Chess Federation of Armenia, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan. At the gathering summarized were activities of the Federation for year 2011 and set were new goals.

Before taking up the agenda items, President Serzh Sargsyan noted that this year the convention has coincided with one of the most momentous events in the history of the Armenian chess and history of the Armenian people in general: Fifty years ago, on May 20, 1963 a genius of our nation Tigran Petrossian became the 9th World Chess Champion. “It can be stated without doubt that all the success of our chess players and glorious achievements are results and continuance of the traditions and great legacy left by Tigran Petrossian,” President Sargsyan underscored.

Serzh Sargsyan noted with satisfaction that in this period of time, the chess organization of Armenia has achieved incredible results. The President highlighted some of them: the Armenian national team’s victory at the World Championship in 2011 in Ningbo, China; Armenia’s third victory at the World Chess Olympiad in 2012 in Istanbul, Turkey.

The President expressed gratitude to the members of the Armenian national men’s team and all those who in different ways assisted these talented chess players in revealing their potential. Serzh Sargsyan spoke also about successful performance of the women’s chess team, noting however that their achievements are somewhat lagging behind those of the guys. The President expressed hope the women’s chess team would also become a champion or win the Cup.

The reporting period was assessed as important also because Armenia has become the first country in the world which made chess a mandatory course in the secondary school programs.

After the adoption of the agenda of the convention, the First Vice-Chair of the Federation Smbat Lputian, keeping on with the Chairman of the Federation presented in greater details all the conducted works. In the framework of the agenda, presented was also the report of the oversight commission of the Federation and set the main directions for the Federation’s forthcoming activities. The works of the Chess Federation of Armenia for the reporting period were given a positive assessment.

The participants of the convention discussed the progress report, presented also works conducted in this period of time in the regions of the Republic aimed at the development of chess playing as well as the existing problems.

Later, there took place the elections of the Chairman of the Federation and the Board of the Federation. The President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan was re-elected the Chairman of the Armenian Chess Federation. The delegates of the convention discussed and approved the Board of the Federation comprising 59 members and the composition of the oversight commission.

After the convention, the newly elected Board of the Federation held its first meeting. In accordance with the Charter of the Federation, the Board approved the candidatures of the Vice-Chairs, Executive Director, and Secretary General who are members of the Council of the Federation. Smbat Lputian was elected the first Vice Chair of the Federation, Vice Chairs are Yuri Arustamian, Gagik Gevorkian, Hovik Khalikian, Levon Yolian, Tigran Sarkissian, and Ashot Vardapetian. Hrachik Tavadian was elected Executive Director, Gagik Hovhannissian was elected Secretary General. Vanik Zakarian was re-elected the Honorary Chairman of the Federation.

At the meeting appointed were also chairmen of the commissions of the Federation.