Israel’s Parliament Bans Christmas Tree Display

Իսրայել, խորհրդարան,տոնածառ

 

The office of the speaker of Israel’s parliament says he has rejected a Christian lawmaker’s request to publically display a Christmas tree in the building.

Eran Sidis, a spokesman for Yuli Edelstein, said Monday that the speaker rejected yesterday’s request, but said the parliamentarian could display a Christmas tree in his office and his party’s conference room.

Sidis denied the rejection was connected to Israel’s Jewish character. He said displaying the tree until Orthodox Christmas January 7 would be too long.

Hanna Swaid, a Christian opposition lawmaker from Israel’s Arab minority, said a Christmas tree would promote multiculturalism and freedom of religion.

There have been previous bans on public Christmas tree displays. The mayor of a Jewish town bordering Nazareth has previously refused them, though some Christians live there.

 

Indonesia Warns Local Chief Who Blocked Airport

օդանավ

 

The Indonesian government has warned a district chief who forced an eastern airport to close temporarily after he failed to get a ticket on a booked flight.

Ngada District head Marianus Sae ordered dozens of city security officers to block the runway of Turarelo airport on Flores island on Saturday, forcing a Merpati Nusantara Airlines plane to fly back to Kupang, the capital of East Nusatenggara province.

The closure lasted more than two hours. Transport Ministry spokesman Bambang Ervan said Sae was denied a ticket from Kupang because the flight was fully booked.

He described the closure as unlawful and could harm the safety.

Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi deeply regretted the incident and issued a warning to the district chief.

 

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Chinese Vineyard Owner Dies in Bordeaux Crash

French authorities say a Chinese magnate, his 12-year-old son and two others died in a helicopter crash as they toured Bordeaux vineyards the businessman had recently purchased.

Vincent Corbel of the regional gendarme service said Monday that emergency workers recovered the boy’s body and most of the helicopter from the Dordogne River, but are still searching for the others. He said the reason for the Friday night crash is unclear.

Corbel said the former owner of the Chateau de la Riviere vineyards, James Gregoire, owned the helicopter and appeared to have been piloting it.

Lam Kok, who headed Hong Kong-based company Brilliant Group, drew attention in the French media when he bought the chateau, one of a string of Chinese purchases of French vineyards in recent years.

Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters march in Bangkok

Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters took to the streets of Thailand’s capital Sunday, some surrounding the home of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, whom they want to oust.

An estimated 90,000 protesters were marching in Bangkok, Lt. Gen. Paradon Patthanathabut, Thailand’s national security chief, told CNN. He said that number rose to 150,000 at the peak of the rally in the late afternoon.

He earlier said 10,000 had surrounded the premier’s home while she tours the northeast provinces. The demonstration there was later disbanded.

In a bid to cool tensions, Shinawatra dissolved the nation’s parliament earlier this month and called for new elections, to be held on February 2.

But the move has done little to appease anti-government protesters, who remained on the streets by the thousands.

The main opposition party, the Democrat Party, has said it will boycott the polls.

During the weeks of demonstrations, protesters have occupied various government offices. The rallies have been mostly peaceful, but there have also been deadly clashes between protesters and government supporters.

 

The Presidential Palace hosted numerous children from border villages of Armenia

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 Today, on the occasion of New Year and Holly Christmas, President Serzh Sargsyan and First Lady Rita Sargsyan at the Presidential Palace hosted children from a number of border villages of Armenia such as – Chambarak and Vahan villages of Gegharkunik marz, Khndzorut, Bardzrouni, Khachik, Sers villags of Vayots Dzor, Eraskh village of Ararat marz, Barekamavan, Berdavan, Dovegh, Baghis villages of Tavush marz – two hundred kids in total. In attendance of the little guests, the Christmas tree was lit up and festive events kicked off.

On behalf of Mrs. Rita Sargsyan and his own behalf, the President of Armenia warmly congratulated the participants of the event and all children on the occasion of New Year and Holly Christmas holidays and wished them all the best. “I wish you happiness, success; I wish that you – beloved kids of your parents, make them happy with your good learning performance, exemplary behavior, and greatest esteem towards your parents.

 

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I wish you all happy childhood, I wish you become good citizens of our country, active citizens, I wish you become successful persons, which first and foremost, dear children, requires good learning, diligence and, certainly, respect for the parents, elderly, and the country, “ President Serzh Sargsyan said. He also noted that he always wanted all children and young people to have the necessary opportunities to reveal their abilities and assured that the state is doing and will continue to do everything it can to create such opportunities.

Festive events for children will continue at Baghramian 26 also for two more days – December 24 and 25. Tomorrow, at the Presidential Palace hosted will be Armenian kids from Syria, children of fallen and disabled freedom fighters, children and grandchildren of the veterans and servicepersons of the Artsakh war, including those from the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh, while on December 25 at the Presidential Palace will gather schoolchildren with excellent learning performance – almost 1000 children in total.

Children from the border villages have arrived to Yerevan yesterday, December 22 and before attending a festive event at the Presidential Palace they participated at the cultural program which was created particularly for them. They visited the Museum of History of Armenia, watched a performance at the H. Tumanian State Puppet Show Theater, and in the evening they participated at a festive New Year event organized at the Republic Square.

 

5021Festive events organized at the Presidential Palace on the eve of New Year have become a good tradition. Last year, hosted here were children aged 6-12 from the care and protection institutions (boarding schools and orphanages) as well as Armenian kids from Syria, schoolchildren with excellent learning performance, children and grandchildren of servicepersons and fallen freedom fighters.

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