Did you know that the authors of Shrek, the beloved animated comedy, could not bind two plot lines for a long time, that the script was written for over 3 years and that the 90-minute film was created on the basis of thin book with uninteresting plot?

Head of High and Information Technology Department at the Armenian Ministry of Economy Vache Kirakosyan said that an educational multimedia laboratory will open in Gyumri in 2011. Besides, certain educational programs will be developed in this field for school students, he said during MARANI business forum on animation and information technologies. “The government will launch an e-education program,” he said. Kirakosyan also said that the Armenian government will increase financing of the IT field in 2011.The drop in funds for IT development in 2010 - from AMD 200mln to AMD 80mln - was reasoned by general reductions in the budget with respect to the global economic crisis, Kirakosyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

Last week the region, comprising the Middle East and the South Caucasus, registered developments, which to some extent will determine its future for 10-15 years. Turkey held a referendum on introducing amendments to the constitution and it can be considered the main event of the week. After summarizing the plebiscite, the United States and some EU countries immediately declared that the country is moving towards the European Union and, according to U.S. State Department, America favours Turkey’s EU membership.

Karabakh issue continues to dominate Armenia’s internal political agenda. Azerbaijani authorities turned provocations into tradition, Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Shavarsh Kocharyan stated, referring to recent incident on the line of contact of NKR and Azeri armed forces. “Diversions aim at frustrating the mediators’ efforts toward maintaining ceasefire, withdrawal of snipers from the line of contact as well as promotion of conflict settlement negotiations,” he said. Kocharyan called on international community to give adequate assessment to Azerbaijan’s provocative actions, aimed at undermining the peace process.

By decision of the Public Services Regulatory Commission, the gas prices have risen 37.5%, totaling AMD 132 against the previous AMD 96 for ordinary consumers, and 13%, totaling USD 243.13 for 1 thousand cu m for enterprises respectively since April 1, 2010.

Football: Football Academy opened in Yerevan on September 1 with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and UEFA President Michel Platini participating in the ceremony. According to FFA President Ruben Hayrapetyan, the project cost $12 million of which $ 7 million 475 thousand was allocated by the UEFA and $400 thousand by FIFA. The territory of the Academy covers 13 thousand m2. It has 5 playing fields, 2 pools and several gyms. “UEFA built many academies in Europe but the one in Yerevan is special,” Mr. Platini noted.

For dozens of centuries Armenians had been celebrating the New Year, Navasard, on August 11. Once a favorite popular holiday, it now became a topic of historians’ remarks or Armenian folklore only. “August 11 is the first day of the new year according to the ancient Armenian calendar. It was celebrated by all – the rich and the poor,” said ethnographer Gohar Vardumyan, senior fellow at the Armenian National Academy of Sciences.