The results of the 19th annual International Microelectronics Olympiad were summarized in Yerevan and the winners were awarded. Ucom acted as the main supporter of the event again this year. The initiator and organizer of the event is Synopsys Armenia, and it is held under the auspices of the RA Prime Minister, in cooperation with the Institute of Electronic and Electronics Engineers Test Technology Technical Council (IEEE TTTC). The Olympiad, which was held in two stages, this year had 332 participants from 16 countries: UAE, USA, Brazil, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Armenia, Jordan, Sri Lanka, Chile, Peru, Portugal, Russia, Serbia, Vietnam and France. Second, the final stage was held on November 15, 2024 at the Department of Education of Synopsis Armenia. The 34 finalists, 10 of them from Armenia, fought for the main prizes by solving complex engineering tasks. Vicente Corvalan from Chile won the first prize, Cesar Alburquerque from Brazil took the second place, Emmanuele Saki from Italy and Harutyan Karapetyan from Armenia won the third prize. "The main goal of the International Microelectronics Olympiad founded by Synopsys Armenia is to identify the most talented engineers under the age of 30 and, at the same time, to make sure that in Armenia we provide a competitive and global quality of education in our field," said Synopsis Armenia President, Synopsis Lead Scientist Dr. Yervand Zorian. "There is no doubt that microelectronics and technological sciences are extremely important for our prosperous future. Both I and Ucom are very happy to be a part of this event, to show our support and encourage young people to acquire, develop and apply modern knowledge," said Ucom CEO Ralph Yirikyan. This year the Olympiad covered the following topics: Design and Testing of Digital Integrated Circuits, Design and Testing of Analog and Mixed Signal Integrated Circuits, Semiconductor Devices and Technology, Mathematical and Algorithmic Support for Automated Design of Integrated Circuits. The annual International Microelectronics Olympiad was founded in 2006 with the aim of promoting interest in microelectronics, creating a global community of young professionals, understanding the level of microelectronics knowledge and modernizing educational programs, as well as increasing the visibility and awareness of Armenia as a leading microelectronics center.

Albania's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku has been suspended and banned from traveling abroad as part of the ongoing investigation. On October 31, the anti-corruption prosecutor's office informed Balluku that an investigation is being conducted against him for violating the rules of tenders related to road construction in 2020. He denies the accusations. At the request of SPAK [Special Prosecutor for Corruption and Organized Crime], the Special Court of First Instance imposed personal security measures on [Balluku], banning him from performing his duties and leaving the country. Personal security measures were also applied to two other persons under investigation. Balluku, a key figure in the ruling Socialist Party led by Edi Rama, has been Minister of Infrastructure and Energy since 2019 and Deputy Prime Minister since 2022. The opposition Democratic Party demanded his resignation. Speaking in the parliament on Wednesday, he called the accusations against him groundless. Prime Minister Rama also expressed his support to the Deputy Prime Minister when the opposition demanded his resignation.

On the occasion of the anniversary of the occupation of Artsakh by Azerbaijan and the forced deportation of the people of Artsakh, on September 19, at 9:00 a.m., a tribute will be paid at the Yerablur military pantheon in Yerevan. "On the same day, at 1:00 p.m., a memorial service will be held in the Church of the Holy Cross on Komitasi Street (64 Komitasi Street) for the peace of the souls of the martyrs of the September 2023 aggression and the victims of the explosion at the fuel warehouse. Let's pray together to the Almighty Lord to grant peace to the souls of the deceased and bring comfort to their families and the Armenian nation," the message reads.

On August 16, Armenia celebrated the 197th anniversary of the Battle of Oshakan. The representative office of "Rossotrudnichestvo" organized a solemn rally on this occasion. Representatives of Armenian and Russian clergy, military and public organizations participated in the ceremony. The rally took place near the "Heroes of Oshakan" monument (Armavir marz). On August 29, 1827, during the Russo-Persian War (1826−1828), the Battle of Oshakan (also known as the Battle of Ashtarak) took place, during which General A. Krasovsky's three-thousand-strong combined detachment went into battle against the Persian army of Prince Abbas-Mirza, who was ten times superior. In August 1827, the Persian army invaded Eastern Armenia and united with the forces of Erivan Sardar Husein Khan Qajar to besiege Etchmiadzin Monastery. The Russian military detachment of General Krasovsky, located 35 versts away from Etchmiadzin, together with the Armenian and Georgian volunteers who joined him, came to the aid of the besieged monastery and, despite the tenfold numerical superiority of the Persian army, managed to break through the enemy's defensive lines, after which the siege was lifted the same night. Archbishop Nerses Ashtaraketsi (the future Catholicos of All Armenians), who was in Etchmiadzin at that time, holding the monk's relic, "the Roman spear stained with the blood of Christ", prayed for the victory of the "Russian army". The Russian detachment entered the monastery amid bells and prayer songs. Archbishop Nerses Ashtaraketsi of Etchmiadzin greeted everyone. "A handful of our Russian brothers reached us through the fierce enemy's army of thirty thousand. This storm gained immortal fame, and the name of General Krasovsky will remain forever unforgettable in the annals of Etchmiadzin." 1833-1834 On the initiative of Catholicos Ephraim I Dzorageghts and Archbishop Nerses Ashtaraketsu, the monument to the soldiers who fell on August 29, 1827 was built 4 kilometers away from Etchmiadzin with the funds of the monastery and local residents. On April 19, 2011, the solemn opening of the monument "Dedicated to the Russian warriors-saviors of the Mother See of Etchmiadzin who fell in the battle of Oshakan in 1827" took place.

On July 4, the annual International Music Festival started in Kapan. It has been the second year that it brings together famous Armenian and foreign musicians, giving an opportunity to enjoy classical and jazz music in Kapan, the regional center of Syunik. Within the framework of the festival, from July 4 to 18, a rich program was organized, from daily concerts to workshops and master classes with young musicians. The concerts are held at Kapan State Art College V. Named after Stamboltsyan. in the organ hall. About 40 gifted young musicians from Armenia, as well as children from the Panz region, who are engaged in music, participate in the master classes. The best students will receive monetary awards and scholarships from Miaseen.org and MG Concerts organizations at the end of the festival. Among the new names of professional musicians participating this year are pianist Julien Lieber from Belgium, violinist Ellie Sun from the United Kingdom, cellist Denis Severin from Switzerland, double bassist Nazareth Kyrkchyan from Spain, cellist Mikael Hakhnazarian from Germany, musician Marius Preda from Hungary, organist Irina Rozanova from Russia, jazz musician Artur Satyan and others. Renowned musicians who have been actively involved in the festival since its inception last year, including Hayk Ghazazyan, Marianna Shirinyan, Hayk Melikyan, Anna Sarkisova, Liana Aleksanyan, Andrey Gridchuk, Hrachya Avanesyan, Narek Avagyan, Tigran Suchyan and others, will perform at the festival with their performances and master classes. From July 4 to 8, the festival hosted an exclusive exhibition of five 18th-century Stradivari and Guarneri del Jesu violins, brought to Capa by the world-renowned violin master Florian Leonard. It is noteworthy that such an exhibition was organized for the first time in Armenia. The Kapan International Music Festival will conclude on July 18 with a closing concert with the world-famous Hungarian band "Robbie Lakatosh and Friends" and the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra. According to the founder of Kapan International Music Festival, Belgian-Armenian cellist Sevak Avanesyan: "Kapan is truly a cultural diamond, the discovery of which is now a reality. Our festival is unique for several reasons, and, first of all, that it is initiated and implemented by the musicians themselves. We would like to see similar initiatives in other regions of Armenia as well, making high art accessible to our public and giving cognitive and development opportunities to young talents." The supporters of Kapan International Music Festival are Kapan Municipality, Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine, RA Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, Armenian General Benevolent Union, "Karas Wines" Company, ARARAT Museum of Yerevan Cognac Factory, VIWA Swiss Organization, Syunik Governor's Office, Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium in Armenia, Amaras Art Alliance, "Hamazkayin" Washington Office branch, and a number of benefactors who supported the organization of the festival.

Another group of deminers and doctors left for Aleppo to carry out their mission. The Center for Humanitarian Demining and Expertise reports that on July 18, the shift of the 10th group carrying out a humanitarian mission took place in Aleppo, Syria. "According to the international standards of anti-mine operations, the sappers of the 10th group, after passing the training exercise, will start the field work," the message says. Let's remind that the deminers carrying out the mission in Syria cleared and handed over to the authorities more than one million hundred and sixteen thousand square meters of demined territory by July 4. In addition, more than 900 munitions and sub-munitions were recovered, including anti-tank and anti-personnel mines, remnants of artillery shells and aerial bombs, landmines and improvised explosive devices. The medical group provided medical assistance to more than 45 thousand local residents.

On May 7, at 20:40 (at 16:40 GMT), the seismological network of the Seismic Protection Territorial Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Armenia registered the geographical coordinates of 40.67⁰ north latitude and 45.31⁰ east longitude in the Armenia-Azerbaijan border zone, 19 km north of the village of Shoghakat, with a depth of 10 km of the hearth, 2.0 magnitude earthquake. The strength of the underground shock in the epicentral zone was 2-3 points. The earthquake was felt in Chambarak town, Ttujur, Aygut, Drakhtik villages in Gegharkunik marz with a magnitude of 2-3.

Today, an unprecedented mass protest action was organized in front of the Government building. As a result of the new aggression unleashed by Azerbaijan on September 19, there are again casualties on the contact line, and in some areas it is not possible to communicate at all, and there is already an official confirmation that they have no information about dozens of servicemen who were in the positions of hot battles in recent days. The parents of servicemen performing fixed-term and contract service in the mentioned areas have not been able to communicate for several days and now they are demanding the government to take steps to organize security issues and to provide information about their children.

The parents of those who went missing during the 44-day war also joined today's action and demanded to show responsibility towards the defenders of the homeland and the citizens of Armenia. Many of those gathered are already afraid that the same fate awaits them as the parents of the missing, who are still fighting for their sons. Lawyer Gohar Mkrtchyan, who represents the interests of relatives of missing servicemen, was also present at the rally, and he was joined by cases from other ministries.

"Look at how the special unit of the police guards the government building. If the borders of our country had such protection, we wouldn't be in this situation," remarked Gohar Mkrtchyan during an interview with us, adding that the gathered people don't want power, they came themselves, they just want responsibility towards their soldiers.

Let's remind that about a month ago, the police used brute force to disperse the participants of the action held in front of the government and the Prosecutor General's Office, many of them were detained. "The personal grief of those people is small, and now they have to face the illegalities of the law enforcement officers. During our previous actions, 23 people were illegally arrested and spent days in police stations, a total of six dozen people were charged, and another 37 people were detained for a period of up to two months," Mkrtchyan informed. According to the lawyer, he is also dealing with that issue and will pursue the legal assessment of the actions of the police. "Otherwise, we will have to deal with the facts of new violence in the future," he emphasized.

Directed by: Alisa Navasardyan