NEWS

Last week, Armenian United National College is opened in Beirut. Prominent figures of Armenian society, religious leaders and Lebanese Minister of Education were present at the opening ceremony of the school, which is of major importance for Lebanese Armenians.

Businessman and philanthropist Ruben Vardanian declared that he will provide scholarship to 100 children who are Syria, Lebanon or Iraq citizens.

Vazken Davidian made a presentation at “Van and the Region” conference organized by Hrant Dink Foundation and tried to provide an insight to the relationship between Ottoman Empire and Ottoman Armenians in a time of complicated ideological transformations. Here is a broad summary of the presentation by Davidian, who says that “The Figure of the Beggar from Van personified the economic wretchedness and misery of Ottoman Armenia on the streets and the hans [slums] of the imperial capital.”

The eternal chair of Diyarbakir Bar Association, human rights defender and lawyer Tahir Elçi was commemorated in Istanbul on the first anniversary of his murder.

In Adana, fire broke out in a private student dormitory housing middle and high school students, killing 11 children and one resident adviser. Adana Mayor said that the emergency stairway was probably locked.

In Dink Case, Directorate of Intelligence personnel continues to present defence. Yesterday, Tamer Bülent Demirel and Ali Poyraz presented their defences. Today’s hearing is ended with the defence and cross examination of Osman Gülbel.

European Parliament passed the resolution stipulating the suspension of EU membership talks with Turkey.

The regulation that would pardon men accused of sexually abusing underage girls is removed from the bill by the majority of the vote in the Justice Commission. The regulation has caused outcry in the society.

HDP had decided to withdraw from parliamentary committees after the co-chairs and 7 MPs of the party were arrested on November 6. HDP Spokesperson Ayhan Bilgen announced that they have changed their mind and they will take part in the committees once again.

With the recent emergency decree that is published in the Official Journal today, Istanbul Fertility Center, which was shut down on July 25, is reopened.