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A market in Yerevan demolished to make way for luxurious buildings

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On Wednesday, the Yerevan authorities began demolishing an open-air market as part of the redevelopment of a neighboring downtown neighborhood. This redevelopment encounters strong resistance from local residents and traders.

The market, located a few hundred meters from the Republic Square in Yerevan, has existed since the early 1990s. Hundreds of people have sold cheap clothes and other consumer goods on the narrow Firdousi Street, Which runs through the neighborhood, mainly composed of old houses.

In 2007, the Armenian government authorized a private company to demolish the entire area in order to build high-end offices and apartments. The global financial crisis, which hit the building sector in Armenia very hard, put these projects on hold. And the company in question, Glendale Hills, went bankrupt two years ago.

Last year, the Yerevan mayor’s office announced that another private developer was interested in the project and began preparations for demolitions, provoking demonstrations organized by the owners of several dozen houses district. The market traders also joined the demonstrations, considering that the municipality deprived them of their means of subsistence.

The municipality has offered merchants commercial space in other markets in Yerevan. Most of them rejected this offer, saying they would have to pay higher rents and suffer a loss of income.

On Wednesday morning, officials from the municipality and the workers sent by the developer met with strong resistance from traders when they arrived to begin demolitions. They did not come to the end of the resistance until the demolition machines arrived.

The traders protested angrily, while their stalls and small warehouses were destroyed within hours that followed.

For the moment, the houses on Firdousi Street have been spared by the demolition. Their owners fear that the authorities are preparing the ground to force them to sell their homes at a fraction of their value.

Some residents also complained that representatives of the construction company had still not contacted them to discuss the amount of compensation that would be paid to them. Even the name of the company has not been revealed by the municipality so far.

On Wednesday, Armenian human rights activist Arman Tatoyan asked the municipality to suspend the demolitions until traders are moved to other markets.

Thursday 20 July 2017,
Claire © armenews.com

Major French companies show interest in Armenian market, Ambassador says

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Major French companies show interest in Armenian market, Ambassador says“The trade-economic relations between Armenia and France are at a low level. The commodity turnover in the two directions amounts to 50 million euros,” Jean-François Charpentier, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Armenia, said at a news conference on Thursday, reports Panorama.am.

In his words, this is also conditioned by the fact that the Armenian economic market is not well known in Western Europe. “Currently the things tend to change, however a clearly marked desire to immediacy get integrated in that market is not yet observed. The positive dynamics is that major French enterprises already show interest towards the Armenian market. This is also linked with the fact that the Armenian market also entails another potential opportunity to get in touch with the Iranian market. Armenia’s membership to the EAEU can also promise possible prospects,” Mr. Charpentier noted.

The Ambassador underscored that regardless the low commercial and economic turnover, France has quite a significant presence in the Armenian economic field.

Jean-François Charpentier noted that the situation can be considered more satisfactory in terms of investments, since there are French companies operating in Armenia.

Asked whether the improvement measures taken by the Armenian Government inspires trust to the French investors to make investments in Armenia, the French diplomat noted that the Government’s trust actions are among the factors that condition the outlined interest of French enterprises towards Armenia.

BREAKING NEWS: Berlin Christmas market Truck massacre suspect Anis Amri ‘shot DEAD by police’

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Friday, December 23, 2016 5:16 AM EST
Anis Amri, the chief suspect in the deadly terrorist attack on a Christmas market in Berlin earlier this week, was killed by the police in a shootout outside Milan early Friday morning, Italian officials said.
Law enforcement authorities across Europe have been hunting since Wednesday for Mr. Amri, a 24-year-old Tunisian who moved to Italy in 2011 and then relocated to Germany in 2015.

Christmas markets a deeply rooted tradition in Germany

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Christmas in Europe? Germany’s holiday markets quickly come to mind. After the attack on a market in Berlin, we look at the centuries-old history and meaning of Christmas markets for Germany.

When locals and tourists come to sip mulled wine and purchase hand-made Christmas presents at Germany’s holiday markets, they are participating in a tradition that has been around for centuries – and has even become more beloved lately. Some 85 million people visited German Christmas markets in 2012, up from 50 million in 2000, according to the most recent statistics.

Even before Christmas markets began, winter markets were held in Europe during the Late Middle Ages. At that time they usually took place over just several days, rather than weeks; the markets were an opportunity for residents to come together, trade food and handicrafts, and stock up for the coming winter months.

While the markets didn’t initially have a strong Christmas focus, people started using them to purchase baskets, toys, wood carvings and baked goods for Christmas.

During the Middle Ages, German-speaking Europe was made up of numerous principalities – the nation of Germany wasn’t created until 1871. The markets differed slightly from region to region, and some of that local flair has been preserved among the over 1,400 markets in Germany today.

Germany’s oldest Christmas market

The city of Dresden boasts what is most likely Germany’s oldest official Christmas market. According to the official website of the “Striezelmarkt,” as Dresden’s market is known, the first event was approved by Frederick II, Elector of Saxony, to take place in 1434. It lasted just one day.

Grilled meats play an important role in today’s Christmas markets, as apparently they did in 1434, too. The first Striezelmarkt was a meat market, where residents could purchase their Christmas dinner, which would end their Advent fast.

Now in its 582nd year, the Striezelmarkt is known for its Dresden Stollen festival, during which the world’s largest Stollen cake is baked every year. A 14-meter Christmas pyramid – a large version of a traditional holiday decoration from the nearby Erzgebirge region – graces the middle of the market and serves as an unmistakable landmark.

In response to Monday’s attack on a Christmas market in Berlin, however, authorities have erected a temporary cement wall around the market – to the chagrin of many locals. Closing Germany’s borders would eliminate the need for a wall, commented some users on Twitter. This user wrote: “‘We’re making cement mobile.’ Saxony responds to the attack in #Berlin by building a wall. Striezelmarkt in Dresden is secured with concrete.”

Germany’s most famous Christmas market

Among Germany’s oldest Christmas markets is the Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg – arguably also the country’s most famous abroad. Michael Fraas from the Nuremberg finance bureau told DW that the first written reference dates back to 1628.

While the Christkindlesmarkt is named for the Christ Child, the figure is traditionally represented as a female angel rather than Baby Jesus. Every two years, the city chooses an adolescent to play the angel and open the market by reading a Christ Child poem in the Church of Our Lady.

Since Nuremberg was a center of the spice trade, “Lebkuchen” (gingerbread cookies) became particularly popular there. The Christkindlesmarkt has also become known for its “Zwetschgenmännla,” souvenirs that are edible figures intricately decorated with dried fruit.

While the market lost its significance in the 19th century, it was rejuvenated by the Nazis during the 1930s when Nuremberg was the site of the Nazis’ large propaganda rallies. While the Christkindlesmarkt was canceled during World War II, it reopened in 1948 and now hosts at least two million visitors a year. Faas told DW that Nuremberg saw a record number of visitors last year – 2.2 million – shortly after the terror attacks on November 13, 2015 in Paris.

“I will be going with my children to the Christmas market over the next few days and won’t worry,” he said.

Did Martin Luther boost the Christmas markets?

The Christ Child is not restricted to the Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg. In many parts of Germany the Christ Child is said to bring the presents on Christmas Eve – a tradition that is attributed to Martin Luther. Some have even speculated that the church reformer contributed to the success of the Christmas markets by encouraging people to give gifts on Christmas Eve, rather than on St. Nicholas Day (December 6).

Source: dw.com

 

British market to open for Armenian IT companies in February 2017

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it-marketYEREVAN. – In February 2017, 10-15 Armenian IT companies will meet with their potential partners in Britain.

Founding director of BSC, Samvel Gevorgyan, told the aforementioned to Armenian News – NEWS.am during DigiTech Expo 2016 technological exhibition held in Yerevan.

The business trip will take place in cooperation with the UK Embassy in Armenia and Union of Information Technology Enterprises (UITE).

The Armenian companies have not yet tried to take orders from Britain. The local business is also mainly conservative there, preference being given to tested Indian companies. “But recently they have begun looking for alternatives in other countries. Therefore, Armenian companies can now draw attention,” Gevirgyan noted.

The meetings will be held with four groups of potential partners: British IT unions, state institutions supporting British IT sector and foreign trade ties, direct customers (companies, giving outsourcing orders) and IT consulting companies, which will help establishing partnership between Armenian companies and the British colleagues.

The process of getting familiarized with Britain is still ahead, but there will be no ‘discounts’ for the newcomers: It will be necessary to reach agreements or launch negotiations on the ground.  And because there are no trifles in the work with the British, the Armenian IT specialists will be provided assistance with regard to holding talks and developing business models according to the British standards.

“We will select the companies based on what projects they are implementing, what clients they are already working with and the kind of feedback they have. We want to attach greater importance to small companies, but we will put no restrictions for anyone,” Gevorgyan noted.

To disseminate the knowledge on the IT sphere in Armenia more widely, the Embassy brought to DigiTech journalists of British newspapers.

Life After Sanctions: Will Iranian Goods ‘Conquer’ Russian Market?

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1031112402While the Russian embargo on the food and other imports from Turkey is in place, Iranian producers are ready to replace Turkish products and export them to Russia.

Director of the Organization of Industry, Trade and Mines in the Iranian province of Mazandaran, Mohammad Mohammadpour, said that Iran can replace Turkey and become Russia’s key partner in the food and agricultural sector.

“Our climate enables farming all year around. That is confirmed by the figures: today Iran is among the ten largest producers of fruits and vegetables in the world,” the economist said in an exclusive interview with Sputnik Persian.

According to him, Iran is holding leading positions in the production of pistachios, dates and saffron.

“We are proud of the fact that our potential has not been exhausted,” Mohammadpour said.

In his opinion, Iran and Russia are not only friends, but real allies: the countries created a coalition on the basis of their strategic interests.

According to the economist, Iranian economic and business circles maintain constant contact with Russian top officials and look forward to a broad economic cooperation between the two countries.

The current political situation, namely Russia’s deteriorating relations with Turkey, plays a significant role in the rapprochement between the two countries. However, Mohammadpour argued, it is not a decisive factor for Iran’s willingness to expand cooperation with Russia.

“Those who say Iran is solely using the current political environment and seeking to conquer the Russian market in this way, are wrong. The history of relations between our peoples goes back to the distant past. We are geographically separated, but economically united by the Caspian Sea,” the economist argued.

Earlier, in an interview with Sputnik Persian, Hedayat Asghari, the executive director of the Iranian Trade Association, outlined the prospects of replacing Turkish fruit, meat and fish with Iranian produce in the Russian market.

Hedayat Asghari said that an Iranian delegation had already clinched a preliminary agreement with a Moscow-based wholesale company on the supply of Iranian fruits and vegetables to the Russian capital.

Egypt Interested in Replacing Turkish Goods on Russian Market

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1016812192Cairo asked Moscow to provide it with a list of goods recently prohibited or restricted for import to Russia from Turkey to replace them Egyptian goods, Egypt’s Ministry of Industry and Foreign Trade said in a statement Sunday.

CAIRO (Sputnik) – According to the statement, the issue was discussed by Egypt’s Minister of Industry and Trade Tarek Kabil and his Russian counterpart, Denis Manturov, at a meeting in the United Arab Emirates.

“Egypt is interested to meet the needs of the Russian market in goods, especially those that came from Turkey, in light of Russia’s decision to limit the Turkish imports to the Russian market in fruit and vegetables to 66 percent, as well as in clothing and leather,” the statement said.

Relations between Russia and Turkey escalated after the downing of a Russian Su-24 Fence in Syrian airspace by the Turkish Air Force on Tuesday.

On Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree to boost national security and introduce economic measures against Turkey, including restrictions in labor, travel and trade spheres.

“Cluster Of Central Banks” Have Secretly Invested $29 Trillion In The Market

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By Tyler Durden
Global Research, June 16, 2014
zerohedge.com

Another conspiracy “theory” becomes conspiracy “fact” as The FT reports “a cluster of central banking investors has become major players on world equity markets.” The report, to be published this week by the Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum (OMFIF), confirms $29.1tn in market investments, held by 400 public sector institutions in 162 countries, which “could potentially contribute to overheated asset prices.”

China’s State Administration of Foreign Exchange has become “the world’s largest public sector holder of equities”, according to officials, and we suspect the Fed is close behind 20140611_death_0(courtesy of more levered positions at Citadel), as the world’s banks try to diversify themselves and “counters the monopoly power of the dollar.” Which leaves us wondering where are the central bank 13Fs?

While most have assumed that this is likely, the recent exuberance in stocks has largely been laid at the foot of another irrational un-economic actor – the corporate buyback machine. However, as The FT reports, what we have speculated as fact for many years now (given the death cross of irrationality, plunging volumes, lack of engagement, and of course dwindling credibility of central planners)… is now fact…

Central banks around the world, including China’s, have shifted decisively into investing in equities as low interest rates have hit their revenues, according to a global study of 400 public sector institutions.

“A cluster of central banking investors has become major players on world equity markets,” says a report to be published this week by the Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum (Omfif), a central bank research and advisory group. The trend “could potentially contribute to overheated asset prices”, it warns.

…

The report, seen by the Financial Times, identifies $29.1tn in market investments, including gold, held by 400 public sector institutions in 162 countries.

…

China’s State Administration of Foreign Exchange has become “the world’s largest public sector holder of equities”, as the report argues is “partly strategic” because it “counters the monopoly power of the dollar” and reflects Beijing’s global financial ambitions.

…

In Europe, the Swiss and Danish central banks are among those investing in equities. The Swiss National Bank has an equity quota of about 15 per cent. Omfif quotes Thomas Jordan, SNB’s chairman, as saying: “We are now invested in large, mid- and small-cap stocks in developed markets worldwide.” The Danish central bank’s equity portfolio was worth about $500m at the end of last year.

Read more here

So there it is… conspiracy fact – Central Banks around the world are buying stocks in increasing size.

To summarize, the global equity market is now one massive Ponzi scheme in which the dumb money are central banks themselves, the same banks who inject the liquidity to begin with.

That would explain this.