IT & Telecom:

Armenia internet traffic biggest among CIS countries

Review of January 17-23 information technology and telecommunication events.

January 23, 2011
Armenia's internet traffic is the biggest among the CIS countries, where VimpelCom offers its services. ArmenTel subscribers use 300 TBytes monthly, passing ahead of Kazakhstan. The network capacity of external channels has increased 137 times since Beeline entered the Armenian market. Two circles of fiber optic backbone were build throughout the country in 2010.
Culture:

“Here” movie screened at Sundance Fest, Kohar Carpet on display at Boston Museum of Fine Arts

Review of January 17-23 cultural events.

January 23, 2011
Over the past week, cultural life in Armenia and abroad featured a number spectacular events.
Economy:

New Year has a bad start for Armenian tradesmen

Cargo transportation companies imposed higher tariffs, on the one hand, while the city administration toughened conditions, on the other.

January 22, 2011
The New Year brought new difficulties for Armenian trade industry. Cargo transportation companies imposed higher tariffs, on the one hand, while the city administration toughened conditions, on the other.
Armenia and world:

Iran and Azerbaijan share tense relations, but there’ll be no rupture

Baku is trying to distance itself from Iran, since the latter has become a “rogue state” and only the powerful can afford to make friends with her.

January 21, 2011
The increased number of high words in the Iranian and Azerbaijani media involuntarily suggests that the two countries are not doing well. By and large, the relationship between the two countries is not a role model for the rest of the Islamic world, and it has its objective reasons. Azeris position themselves with the Turks, being at the same time Shiites, not Sunnis. And, as is known, Shiism is the official religion in Iran.
Sport:

Siranush Andriasyan wins Armenian Women’s Chess Championsip

Review of January 13-20 sports events.

January 20, 2011
Chess Armenian grandmaster Levon Aronian defeated Russia’s Ian Nepomniachtchi to climb to the 3rd place in the standings with 2.5 points at the 73rd Tata SteelChess tournament on Wijk-aan-Zee. In the next round he will play v. Vladimir Kramnik (Russia). Gabriel Sargissian scored 2.5 points in tournament B, beating Wouter Spoelman of the Netherlands. In round 5, he will rival Li Chao (China).
Society:

Brand or not brand: behind the windows of Yerevan boutiques

There is a rumor that representation of original Zara Spanish brand will open in Yerevan soon.

January 14, 2011
Brand or not brand: behind the windows of Yerevan boutiques
Are the clothes sold in expensive shops original? Is the new collection similar to that presented abroad? These are the questions frequently asked by purchasers. But it's not easy to find the answer to them. Shops do not pursue a transparent policy while “masters” counterfeit the original, thus disappointing fashion lovers.
Politics:

Armenian political parties distributing seats in NA 1.5 years prior to parliamentary election

Review of November 7-12 domestic events.

November 13, 2010
Political events in Armenia focused on the possible outcomes of the 2012 parliamentary election.
 
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