Armenia parliament votes down mobile location data billMarch 31, 2020 - 14:34 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The Armenia National Assembly on Tuesday, March 31 voted down a proposal to track mobile location data for monitoring whether coronavirus response measures are being adhered to. 65 lawmakers voted in favor of the measure instead of the necessary 67, although the ruling My Step bloc has 88 mandates in the parliament. Using location data from cell phones, the government hoped to better track and respond to the COVID-19 epidemic across the country. If the parliament approved the measure, operators would have to hand over phone location and usage data, including confidential medical information, to the authorities. Several countries, like Israel, have already started enlisting location data from mobile phone networks. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Armenia grew by 50 to reach 532 on March 31 morning. The country declared a 30-day state of emergency on March 16 and banned citizens of 16 nations from entering the country. So far, 30 people have recovered, three have died from the coronavirus in Armenia. Top stories The number of state universities will be reduced from 23 to 8 by 2030, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has said. From September 21 to November 11, a total of 2,820 Russians registered at a place of residence in Armenia, the police has said. The situation on the contact line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan was relatively stable overnight, the Defense Army says. Defense Minister Suren Papikyan has visited the southern Armenian province of Syunik, the Defense Ministry reported on March 18. Partner news | Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Macron says France commemorates 109th anniv. of Armenian genocide Today France commemorates the 109th anniversary of the Armenian genocide of 1915, Macron says. CSTO recognizes Armenia’s sovereign right to withdraw Tasmagambetov has said that if Armenia decides to leave the organization, “it will be the sovereign right of Armenia.” Ex-President: Only removal of “defeatist” rulers can save Armenia Former Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has shared a message on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. |