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Armenian Council Announces Endorsements for Tuesday’s Vote

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The Pasadena-based Armenian Council of America-Political Action Committee (ACA-PAC) has released its list of endorsements for California’s primary election on June 5, a report media report said.

Before endorsing anyone, the ACA-PAC Board said it carefully reviews each incumbent’s track record and each new candidate’s answers to questions concerning their Armenian- American constituency.

ACA-PAC endorsements are based largely on the candidate’s preparedness and ability to address issues ranging from reaffirmation of the Armenian genocide, promoting Armenian genocide education in public schools, and support for the independent Republics of Armenia and Artsakh, according to the Massis Post said.

The majority of these endorsements, ACA-PAC said in the report, include incumbents who have served as a strong voice for the community.

For California governor, the organization is endorsing Antonio Villaraigosa as its candidate, and Ed Hernandez for California lieutenant governor.

The ACA-PAC’s other statewide endorsements are:

California Secretary of State – Alex Padilla
California State Controller – Betty Yee
California State Treasurer – Fiona Ma, CPA
California State Insurance Commissioner – Ricardo Lara
California State Board of Equalization – Scott Svonkin
California Attorney General – Xavier Bacerra
California State Superintendent of Public Instruction – Tony Thurmond
U.S. Senate – Kevin de Leon
U.S. House of Representatives
Congressional District 27, Judy Chu
Congressional District 28, Adam Schiff
California State Assembly – Chris Holden – AD 41
Los Angeles County Assessor – Jeffrey Prang

ACA-PAC said it is encouraging all Armenian-Americans to exercise their rights as citizens on June 5 by voting for these candidates who represent its common values, ideals, and aspiration for the progress of our long-standing and growing communities of California and the United States.

Bosch announces ‘breakthrough’ in diesel technology

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German auto parts supplier Bosch has said it has developed a new and cleaner exhaust technology that will end the current debate about dirty diesels. The company said customers could buy the new system soon.

Bosch said Wednesday it had developed a new exhaust emissions treatment technology that’s able to cut pollution from health-threatening nitrogen oxides (NOx) to 13 milligrams per kilometer, well below the current legal limit of 168 milligrams and a limit of 120 milligrams as of 2020.

The German company spoke of a “breakthrough,” adding the new technology would cost roughly the same as a sophisticated exhaust filter system included in high-end diesel vehicles.

“This breakthrough offers the opportunity to shift the heated debate over diesel into new territory and hopefully bring it to a close,” Bosch CEO Volkmar Denner said.

According to the company, the technology is good enough to be incorporated into its series production soon. Bosch emphasized the new system would have minimal impact on fuel consumption and performance and would function independently of external factors such as driving style, route and outside temperature.

Combustion engines not yet on their way out

While welcoming the announcement in general, German automotive expert Uwe Wagner told AFP he wouldn’t call the technology in question a genuine breakthrough.

He argued that all the components needed for the new system were already in diesel cars and just needed to be repositioned, with a software update also required for optimization purposes.”

The catalytic converter for instance has to be moved closer to the engine for the exhaust gases to be hotter when reaching the converter as a prerequisite for reducing NOx emissions.

US announces terms for Syria to avoid more missile strikes

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US State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert told Fox News that if Syria declares its entire chemical weapon stockpile, it can avoid more missile strikes.

“The Syrian regime needs to do a couple of things,” Nauert said, in particular. “One, right now, it can declare its entire stockpile and all of its programs.”

In her words, Damascus may have “woken up” after Saturday’s airstrikes, now it may change its mind regarding chemical weapons, and she added that the US would certainly hope so.

In this case, Nauert said the US can help Syria enter the Geneva peace process that will eventually get the country to the point where it can hold elections and start to rebuild itself.

 

New Saudi king announces major government shake-up

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By Ian Timberlake

New-Saudi-kingRiyadh (AFP) – Saudi Arabia’s new King Salman further cemented his hold on power, with a sweeping shakeup that saw two sons of the late King Abdullah fired, and the heads of intelligence and other key agencies replaced alongside a cabinet shuffle.

Top officials from the Ports Authority, the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the conservative Islamic kingdom’s religious police were among those let go.

The new appointments came a week after Salman acceded to the throne following the death of Abdullah, aged about 90.

Salman also reached out directly to his subjects on Thursday. One of his more than 30 decrees ordered “two months’ basic salary to all Saudi government civil and military employees,” the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said.

Students and pensioners got similar bonuses.

“Dear people: You deserve more and whatever I do will not be able to give you what you deserve,” the king said later on his official Twitter account.

He asked his citizens to “not forget me in your prayers”.

General Khalid bin Ali bin Abdullah al-Humaidan became the new intelligence chief, holding cabinet rank.

The change comes after authorities in the kingdom last year blamed suspects linked to the Islamic State extremist group for shooting and wounding a Dane, and for gunning down minority Shiites.

A separate decree said Prince Bandar bin Sultan, a nephew of Abdullah, was removed from his posts as Secretary General of the National Security Council and adviser to the king.

Prince Bandar was the kingdom’s ambassador to the United States for 22 years until 2005 before moving to Saudi Arabia’s Security Council.

Two sons of the late monarch were also fired: Prince Mishaal, governor of the Mecca region, and Prince Turki, who governed the capital Riyadh, according to the decrees broadcast on Saudi television.

– Super-ministry –

Another of Abdullah’s sons, Prince Miteb, retained his position as minister in charge of the National Guard, a parallel army of around 200,000 men.

Salman, 79, a half-brother of Abdullah, named a 31-member cabinet whose new faces include the ministers for culture and information, social affairs, civil service, and communications and information technology, among others.

Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi, Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal, and Finance Minister Ibrahim al-Assaf stayed in the cabinet of the world’s leading oil exporter.

A 50 percent fall in global oil prices since last June has left Saudi Arabia projecting its first budget deficit since 2011, but government spending is set to continue.

Salman merged the ministries of higher education and education, naming Azzam bin Mohammed al-Dakheel to head the super-ministry.

Saudi Arabia is trying to improve its basic education system and has built more universities as it seeks to diversify its oil-dependent economy.

Another decree replaced the chief of the country’s stock market regulator, ahead of a mid-year target for opening the Arab world’s largest bourse to foreign investors.

Hours after Abdullah died on January 23 Salman appointed his son, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as defence minister.

Powerful Interior Minister Prince Mohammed bin Nayef became second in line to the throne, while Deputy Crown Prince Moqren, 69, was elevated to king-in-waiting.

Moqren would reign as the last son of the kingdom’s founder, Abdul Aziz bin Saud, leaving bin Nayef as the first of the “second generation,” or grandsons of Abdul Aziz.

In March 2014, King Abdullah named Moqren to the new position of deputy crown prince with the aim of smoothing succession hurdles.

The appointment of Prince Mohammed bin Nayef helps to solidify control by the new king’s Sudayri branch of the royal family.

Their influence had waned under King Abdullah.

Regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and home to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.

Along with other countries in the Gulf, Saudi Arabia has joined a US-led air campaign against the Islamic State group that has seized parts of Syria and neighbouring Iraq.