Khachkar Studios Reports 59% Attendance Gain Across Pilot Churches
Churches in a revitalization program run by Khachkar Studios have grown average Sunday attendance by 59%, according to figures the Washington-based organization released October 13. The 11 churches in the program's First Group averaged 1,595 worshippers over the past four weeks, up from a baseline of 1,004. The update is the fifth in a weekly series the organization calls T•A•P, short for Transparency, Accountability and Performance. It tracks 26 pilot parishes worldwide, whi
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Pashinyan Mixes Up Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, Then Dismisses Protocol Chief
In diplomacy, there are a few golden rules: shake hands firmly, don't trip on the red carpet, and above all, know which country your guest is president of. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stumbled on rule number three this weekend. Two days later, on Monday, Oct. 19, his chief of protocol was out of a job. Gagik Vanoyan, who had run the government's protocol service for nearly four years, was dismissed with no public explanation. Officially, nobody has said the two ev
5 hours ago
Emma Poghosyan Crowned European Junior Weightlifting Champion
Armenian weightlifter Emma Poghosyan won gold in the women’s 86kg category on the penultimate day of the European Junior and U23 Weightlifting Championships, narrowly defeating Georgia’s Mariam Murgvliani by just one kilogram. Poghosyan lifted 109kg in the snatch and 140kg in the clean and jerk, finishing with a combined total of 249kg to claim the European junior title. Murgvliani secured silver with 248kg, while Finland’s Minni Hormavirta took bronze with 235kg. Poghosyan a
1 day ago
Leonardo DiCaprio Praises Armenia’s Role in Global Effort to Save Endangered Species
Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio has spotlighted Armenia’s role in a new international campaign to save endangered wildlife, praising an initiative launched by 17 countries at the United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP17) in Yerevan. In an Instagram post, the Oscar-winning actor and environmental activist highlighted the Coalition of Action to Recover Endangered Species (CARES), led by Armenia and Colombia. The coalition brings governments together to help threatened spe
3 days ago
Wildlife Populations Down Over 70% as Governments Act Too Slowly, WWF Says at Armenia Summit
Wildlife populations have declined by more than 70% over the past 50 years, and governments are moving too slowly to stop the damage, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) International President Adil Najam warned Friday at the COP17 Biodiversity Leaders Summit in Armenia. Addressing the international gathering in Yerevan, Najam said environmental destruction is already putting pressure on food supplies, water resources and economies, with communities around the world facing growi
3 days ago
Armenia and Azerbaijan Consider Land Swap to Resolve Long-Disputed Enclaves
Armenia and Azerbaijan are discussing a land swap that could permanently change parts of their shared border, allowing both countries to keep territories they currently control rather than return them to their Soviet-era owners. Armenian Security Council Secretary Alen Simonyan confirmed the discussions Friday, October 16, saying one proposal would allow Armenia to retain Tigranashen, while Azerbaijan would keep Artsvashen, an Armenian village it has controlled since 1992. Th
3 days ago
Where Are the Armenian Prisoners? Azerbaijan Sends Photos of Empty Rooms as Lawyer Warns of Torture
Armenian prisoners held in Azerbaijan are being subjected to systematic torture and inhumane treatment, according to a lawyer representing the detainees before the European Court of Human Rights, who says the lack of outside access has made it increasingly difficult to determine their condition. Siranush Sahakyan, speaking at a news conference Friday, said evidence gathered from Armenians who have returned from Azerbaijani captivity points to a pattern of abuse inside the cou
3 days ago
Yerevan Schools Close, Roads Restricted as Armenia Hosts COP17, Welcoming 15,000 Visitors
Thousands of schoolchildren in Yerevan are getting an extended autumn break, government offices are shifting to remote work, and police are restricting traffic across the capital as Armenia prepares to host more than 15,000 international visitors for a major United Nations environmental conference. The disruptions began days before the official opening of COP17, the U.N. biodiversity summit scheduled for October 19-30. World leaders have already started arriving in Yerevan fo
4 days ago
Armenian-American Composer Ari Balouzian Nominated for Critics Choice Documentary Award
Armenian-American composer Ari Balouzian has been nominated for Best Music Score at the 2026 Critics Choice Documentary Awards for his work on You Can See Everything, a documentary released by A24. The Critics Choice Association announced the nominations Tuesday, October 13, placing Balouzian among six contenders in the category. His fellow nominees include Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer, who shares a nomination with Niccolò Pacella and George Hutson Warren for Lion. Dire
5 days ago
Armenia’s Narek Grigoryan Becomes European Junior Weightlifting Champion
Armenia’s Narek Grigoryan has won the European junior weightlifting title in the 75-kilogram division, claiming three gold medals with a combined lift of 322 kilograms. Grigoryan delivered a flawless performance in the snatch, completing all three attempts at 140, 144 and 146 kilograms to take gold. He followed with successful lifts of 170 and 176 kilograms in the clean and jerk, securing another gold medal and the overall European championship title. His Armenian teammate, H
5 days ago
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