Welcome to another report of my one year stay in Japan from mid 2022 to mid 2023! If everything goes according to plan, I'll post the final part on May 27, which would be exactly one year after I returned from Japan! With that being said, after spending a month with a couple of friends in February 2023, enjoying the snow in Hokkaido and early sakura around the Izu peninsula, it was time to face one of the busiest seasons in Japan - proper sakura season in March/April. My mother would join me in late March on her first trip to Japan ever and she was hellbent on seeing some sakura and me being the tour guide. This came with the benefit of her paying for all expenses during our travels, which was very nice of her!
You can find the other reports down below.
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11
Tokyo
Picking up where I left off in the previous report, I decided to show everyone what a "typical" Airbnb I'd stay in during my time in Japan looked like. When my friends left, I booked a very cheap Airbnb in Kunitachi, which is in west Tokyo, about 40 minutes away from Shinjuku on the Chuo line. As I mentioned in some of my earlier reports, I quite enjoyed staying out of central Tokyo and exploring areas that I'd otherwise never go to on a normal vacation. This place had a kitchen, a bedroom and a bathroom. Looks pretty barebones but it was more than enough to satisfy my needs and the internet in Airbnbs was usually very good.
Since it was the beginning of March, I decided to go back to Yushima Tenjin to check the status of the plum blossoms there and they were beautiful at the time. One train stop away from Kunitachi is Kokubunji, which I went to because I saw a couple interesting spots on Google maps to check out. One of which was the small Tonogayato Garden, which was alright for a short visit. More interestingly, there's a small path called Otaka no michi, which looks very cute and goes along a few shrines and another small garden along the way.
Having seen Kawazu sakura a two weeks prior, I checked where I could find early blooming sakura in Tokyo and was happy to find that near my next Airbnb's location (Ojima in the east of Tokyo), a park close to Arakawa river had a few trees so of course I made my way there and it was the perfect time to see them too. One of the many reasons why I enjoy staying in eastern Tokyo is that the further I went out, the more relaxed I felt. It's so far removed from the central and west, where you have tens of thousands of people converging in several spots while here, there is just a wide open park, families and friends just hanging out in what felt like a more accurate represenation of what the average Tokyoite did in their daily lives. I think I went here a few times every evening because it put me at ease and I miss spending time there. And as always, plenty of small mom and pop shops serving all kinds of food, like this wonton soup with a side of fried rice.
Another garden I visited was Kiyosumi! It's in Koto, so again a bit out of the way but definitely worth a visit if you somehow find yourself in the area or just want to see something new if it's your Xth visit to Japan. Bonus pic from when I walked back "home"; sunsets in Tokyo in those side streets with rivers running through the city are particularly great.
The week leading up to my mom's arrival was spent with me visiting a bunch of parks in Tokyo to see how the sakura were going considering my mother wanted to see them. This was a tad stressful because it was supposed to rain for a few days before my mother arrived and in 2023, sakura season started super early so I was scared the rain and wind might kill em off before she even got there. That being said, Shinjuku Gyoen, Yoyogi park, the Kanda river, Chidorigafuchi and Ueno park were going strong! I switched Airbnbs one more time before my mom arrived, staying in Asaka - in Saitama. I had a couple more sakura trees right next door, which was great.
And then, the day had come! My mom arrived at around 7pm, I picked her up from Narita airport and let me tell you, it was an incredibly weird feeling riding back into that airport. Around 10 months earlier, I flew in and it was practically deserted due to the pandemic but now it was back to somewhat normal and I was hit with a weird sort of nostalgia! My mom was surprisingly fit and didn't seem jetlagged at all, demanding me to show her around Ueno park at like 10pm still. We got her her own Suica, her first konbini visit and then just went to the hotel and slept.
My mother had a couple of things she absolutely wanted to see and aside that, I was basically a tour guide who just showed her around spots I decided on on the day. The first thing my mom wanted to see was TeamLabs. Not something I personally had much interest in and the experience was pretty meh overall to be honest but she enjoyed it. Following that we headed to Tokyo station and went to Sushiro because my mom wanted to try Sushi and was keen on trying the "conveyor belt" one she saw on social media. Since it was nearby, we then walked to Chidorigafuchi and the Imperial Palace Gardens, giving my mom her first proper sakura experience. We spent quite a while walking around and it soon got dark so we took a train towards Tokyo Tower. Tokyo Tower looks great at night, especially with some sakura in front of it. We finished the day with a CoCo ichi meal before walking around the pond near Ueno park.
The following day, my mother wanted to check out Akiba to my surprise. She's not into anime or video games at all but she thoroughly enjoyed seeing just how many figures and plushies of everything exists. A visit to nearby Kanda shrine was of course obligatory. Gotta love the ema people put up there due to its close proximity to Akiba. Before going to Sky Tree in the evening, we went to Hamarikyu Gardens, which are way nicer looking in sakura season than in February, when I went there with my friend. Now, Sky Tree was an experience. Having been there just a few weeks earlier with my friends and there being no lines whatsoever, this time around, things were different. We had to wait for around an hour to get tickets and the observation decks were packed. If it was that bad in 2023, I can't imagine how it is now.
On the third day, the jetlag or just general fatigue hit my mother and she slept past noon so we had a more relaxed day without as much walking as the two before. Took a train to Kichijoji in hopes to show my mom Inokashira park with its famous sakura around the pond and we were not disappointed! My mom wanted to shop and since I am the least knowledgeable person when it comes to this, I simply took her to Ikebukuro's Sunshine City and hoped she'd find stuff there and she actually did buy a bunch of "fluffy" dresses!
The final day in Tokyo was a bit more packed again in terms of things to do. First on the agenda was a visit at Cafe Reissue, which my mom of course saw on Instagram. Since you can't reserve, they take your name and give you a time to come back at, which meant we had about an hour and a half to do something else. This was when we headed to Shibuya Sky. I had never been there because I didn't really want to spend 2000 yen on another observation deck but this one is actually good. In my opinion, if you could only pick ONE observation deck in Tokyo, this should be it. Nice, open views in a far better location than Sky Tree for example. Afterwads we headed back to the cafe and got our latte/hot chocolate art. I'm a bit of a hot chocolate snob so I'd say the drink itself was alright, the art is pretty nice and the sandwich was better than I expected. Definitely worth checking out if you can get a spot here.
Shinjuku Gyoen at this point had a fair amount of sakura trees already losing their petals, making for pretty walkways. In general, and this isn't some hidden gem, Shinjuku Gyoen is definitely worth going for sakura because of how many varieties can be found in it. Just make sure to get there early...
And with that, the first portion in Tokyo was done and the next day saw us take the Shinkansen to Kyoto!
Kyoto
I dreaded this visit to Kyoto because during my time in Japan, Kyoto has been relatively empty and enjoyable, contrary to how it was pre-pandemic. And the difference was definitely noticeable just a few weeks after having been there with my friends. Still not as bad as it probably is now, but noticeable. We wanted to go to Kiyomizudera in the evening for that picture, so we spent the time before that just strolling around the east side of Kyoto, but not before getting some lunch at a nearby restaurant. This is where I first realised my mother had no taste, as she didn't like gyudon whatsoever. Meanwhile, I thought this was one of my favourite gyudon I ever had.
We headed over to Maruyama park afterwards, with sakura all around and plenty of food stalls for your typical Japanese festival snack cravings. From there, we walked over to Heian Jingu, passing by Chionin Samnon. I've not been to the garden that is next to Heian Jingu, so we went in there. It's not the biggest place but it's very quaint and beautiful, especially the pond area. The sun was beginning to set and the walk back to Kiyomizudera would have been a bit too much for my mom that day, so we took a bus... and I've vowed to never do that again. It's crazy how packed buses in Kyoto got once regular tourism picked back up. Sannenzaka was also back to what I was used to pre-pandemic. On one hand, this must be great for local business. On the other hand, I can't imagine living anywhere near here...
Kiyomizudera was packed to the brim and my mom really wanted to take a picture from the famous angle, so we stood there for what felt like half an hour with little to no progress before she conceded, but we got nice pictures just off the platform. She enjoyed walking around Kyoto more than actually checking out the sights sometimes, which was great because Kyoto is a beautiful city. Kiyamachi is fantastic at night!
I had to face the PTSD of the prior month's Nara visit because of course, my mother wanted to see there deer there. But we got there early enough, with plenty of time to check out Todaiji, where my mother bought a goshuincho, and Kasuga Taisha. On our way back from Nara, we got out at Fushimi Inari and made our way up for the sunset. No torii pictures here because I've taken so many at that point, that I simply didn't this time.
We were looking for something to eat and up until that day, I had never experienced being denied entry into a restaurant before. Throughout 3 separate Japan vacations and this whole year I spent there, everywhere welcomed me, even out in the sticks. But that day, it happened twice. The first place I kind of give a pass because apparently they had some "bar event" going on so no food was being served that day (Google maps reviews were raving about the food there). But the second place, an okonomiyaki restaurant, does not get that pass. I slid open the door, saw 2 empty tables and the counter having a bunch of space. The owner's wife saw us coming in, I asked whether two people are fine - in Japanese, mind you - she had a very brief chat with her husband and then told us they're full. Obviously I accepted that and we went back out. I was pretty angry outside, though. There was no way they had no space in that restaurant and I am convinced they used that reasoning because they didn't want to serve foreigners. We just went to a nearby Chinese restaurant in the end, my mom not minding the "fuss" much but this was the first time I got denied from multiple places, so I was still somewhat mad lol.
The next day, we headed over to Nanzenji. Since we got off at Keage station, we walked our way up and had a quick look around Nanzenin before getting to Nanzenji. Also worth visiting is Eikando a bit further up the road. I can't remember if pictures inside the facility are just not allowed or if I forgot taking that many but the area is quite large and you can walk inside the temple. We then went to Ginkakuji, which I didn't take pictures of at all since I've been there before in October (so if you want to see pictures of that, check that post out). Unlike in October, this time there was a line to get tickets - which I didn't expect because it used to not be as popular as Kinkakuji.
Final day in Kyoto proper was spent in and around Arashiyama before my mother had her booked Maiko photoshoot. This took about 2 hours, she got the makeup done, was dressed up and had a bunch of pictures taken. She loved it. The place she did it at was called "Kyoto Kimono Rental Yumeyakata). Afterwards, she bought some souvenirs in random stores in the city. She also wanted to check out some other "famous" maccha place called "Maccha House". I'm actually not that big of a fan of maccha and this place really just seemed like a tourist trap. My mother enjoyed it though and as long as she had a good time, I didn't mind going to these places. Looking back at this Kyoto leg of our trip, I realise we didn't really have any "traditional" Japanese food experiences (as in kaiseki or the like). Not sure why that was. That was our last full day in Kyoto since the next one would be a day trip from there to Himeji, before we headed down to Hiroshima.
Himeji
I've been to Himeji before in like 2019 but back then, the castle was covered up for some renovations but this time, it was all there in its glory. And man, Himeji in Spring is absolutely beautiful. The park before it is full of sakura, I'll let the pictures do the talking and say that visiting Himeji is always a must but especially when you are in Japan in Spring. One of my favourite sakura spots for sure. The only negative thing I could report about it is that going inside the castle may not be worth it for you. There's a whole lot of stairs to take, which usually is no big deal for me but at some points, everyone had to wait for like 10 minutes before being able to go up to the highest point because there were so many people inside. I can't imagine this being much better a year later.
Hiroshima
Took the Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka to Hiroshima at around 11, making us arrive at around 1:30pm. Dropped our luggage off at Koko Hotel Hiroshima and then went for lunch at Yotchan, an okonomiyaki restaurant I went to a few months prior. I was a bit scared my mom wouldn't be a fan of okonomiyaki, given she didn't enjoy tonkatsu or gyudon but this turned out to be her favourite meal of the whole trip, which made me very happy. Hiroshima style okonomiyaki are in my opinion far superior to their Osaka counterpart, the noodles at the bottom really elevate the dish. The weather during our time here was pretty bad with mostly rain, but it certainly added something to the mood around the peace park and museum, which we visited of course. Sakura in Hiroshima weren't really existent at this point anymore, understandably so since the season starts a bit earlier here than up in Tokyo. The good thing about Hiroshima is that there's a bit of an underground mall with lots of shops and places to grab some snacks, so we were able to avoid much of the rain. Nevertheless, we ended the day a bit early at around 7pm (even though my addiction kicked in and I went for CoCo ichi at like 10pm lol).
And then we were off to Miyajima on the next day. It was my first time going there since my planned trip in November was foiled due to stomach issues. The weather was still rather bad but just like the day before, I think it actually added to the atmosphere on the island. Obligatory torii picture here. The shrine itself isn't that impressive - maybe this was due to the weather, though. But it wasn't raining super heavily, so we decided to take a walk to Daisho-in, which was maybe 10-15 minutes away on foot from Itsukushima shrine itself. Very much worth a visit, they occasionally let steam (?) out into the yard here, which is pretty cool in these weather conditions. Of course, I was put on goshuin duty ever since my mom had gotten her book in Nara so I had to collect stamps at every shrine we got to. If you go here and it is raining, be a bit careful about the stairs - they can be very slippery and my mother was incredibly lucky to not tumble down all the way down at one point.
After exploring just a little bit of the forest/mountainside, we decided to head back to the shrine and to our surprise, it was completely free of water now! Got lucky there and able to get up close to it! And that was it for Miyajima, we took the boat back to Hiroshima, got another round of okonomiyaki in before returning to Tokyo on the next day.
Tokyo
Since it was my mother's last full day in Japan, we went on a bit of a goshuin hunt around several shrines and temples, both small and large, in Ueno, Uguisudani, Akihabara and Asakusa. We simply walked from on to another, can't really list them all but Ono Tersuaki and Akiba shrine (this was kinda hidden!) were some of the smaller ones. There was a little festival around Sensoji going and we got a few snacks there. After one last walk along the Sumida river, it was time to go shopping. Only this time, it was me doing the buying... Got myself a PS5 that my mother took back home in her suitcase for me, the weak yen was just too good back then already and made me save like 100€ on that thing! We had dinner at my favourite little Chinese place near our hotel and then, my mom's time in Japan was pretty much over as we went back, packed up her stuff and got ready for the next day's trip to Narita, which I will cover in the next (and possibly final) report!
I love showing people around Japan, especially when it's their first time. I was a bit afraid my mother would miss out on the sakura and the mood would be bad but fortunately it all went well and mostly as planned. She absolutely loved it and would love to visit again. For me personally, as you can read about in this thread I made a year ago, I was super glad to have been "living" in Japan during sakura season because I think planning a normal 2 week vacation around sakura would be very stressful. Especially with tourists hitting record numbers currently, I feel like travelling during sakura season would be too much of a hassle for me personally - but to each their own!
To be honest, I had a tough time writing this report due to some depressing stuff going on in real life right now so I am not really that happy with how it turned out. Nevertheless, I am planning to release the final report on the 27th as planned. It's been almost a year since I returned home and I wish I had written these reports while in Japan instead of this late but too late to stop now, I suppose. If there's enough interest, I could write a "Best of..." report as an extra, talking about my favourite restaurants, foods, places to visit, activities and also my least favourite things during my time in Japan. But I'll see how the next report goes. Speaking of which - that one will include my final solo sakura adventure around the north of Japan in cities like Kakunodate, Morioka, Kitakami, Hakodate and, of course, Sapporo.
Thanks for reading and if you have questions, feel free to drop them!

Hello Everyone!
Lamorosii here, back with another trek into K-Pop history. Today's topic? Roo'Ra!
Ever wondered what reggae would sound like in Korean? Wonder no more! This group was definitely a bit of a curve ball back in the day, I'm sure. A different sound, a different look and a whole lot of cheese. Not really my style to be honest, but they were surprisingly popular. They are also fans of either covering or remaking songs for their albums and from rather far fatched places. The Eagles, The Beatles, Biz Markie and even John Denver, of all people.
Any fans here? I feel like this group is quite devisive. You either like them or you don't.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

• Korean Name: 룰라
• English Name: Roo'ra
• Labels: World Music Company, A&B Productions, EMI Records, Madang Dream, LOEN Company
• Years Active: 1994 - 2001 (Disbanded), 2009 (Reunion)
• Final Group Members:
  • 이상민 (Lee Sang-min)
  • 고영욱 (Ko Young-wook)
  • 김지현 (Kim Ji-hyun)
  • 채리나 (Chae Ri-na)
• Former Group Members:
  • 신정환 (Shin Jung-hwan)
  • Mikey Romeo
• Discography:
  • 9 Korean Studio Albums
  • 1 Korean Special Album
• Informational Links: Wikipedia, K-Profiles, Namu Wiki (Korean)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1st Korean Studio Album: Roots Of Reggae
Release Date: July 1, 1994
​

Song Title	Music Video	Live Performance
1. Roots Of Reggae (Roo'Ra Theme)	--	--
2. 100일(日)째 만남	Official Music Video (Poor Quality)	KBS Performance
3. 너의 작은 기억 하나까지	--	--
4. 공주와 하인	--	--
5. Roots Of Reggae (House ver.)	--	--
6. 내가 잠못드는 이유	--	Performance
7. 비밀은 없어	--	KBS Performance
8. 통일	--	--
9. 100일(日)째 만남 (Club Mix)	--	--
10. 100일(日)째 만남 (inst.)	--	--
11. 너의 작은 기억 하나까지 (inst.)	--	--

​

• This is the only album that Shin Jung-hwan participated in.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2nd Korean Studio Album: 날개 잃은 천사
Release Date: March 28, 1995
​

Song Title	Music Video	Live Performance
1. Roo'Ra In 1995	--	--
2. 날개 잃은 천사	Official Music Video (Poor Quality)	KBS Performance
3. 안녕	--	Performance
4. 사랑의 기도	--	Performance
5. 친구를 보내며 (신정환 Theme)	--	--
6. 영웅은 어디로	--	Concert Performance + 안녕 & 프로와 아마추어
7. 프로와 아마츄어	--	MBC Performance
8. 그후로 3년후 (내가 잠못드는 이유 Ⅱ)	--	--
9. Hotel California	--	--
10. Koreana In New York	--	Performance

​

• This is the first album Chae Ri-na participated in.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3rd Korean Studio Album: Reincarnation Of The Legend
Release Date: December 26, 1995
​

Song Title	Music Video	Live Performance
1. Roo'Ra In 1996	--	--
2. 천상유애	Official Music Video	Performance
3. 사랑법	--	Performance
4. 하얀새	--	--
5. 아스라이	--	--
6. 인간인가?	--	--
7. 착한 사랑	--	--
8. 웃긴 아이	--	--
9. Rap-Hop	--	--
10. Come Together	--	--
11. 천상유애 (Remix)	--	--

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
4th Korean Studio Album: All System Go
Release Date: June 18, 1996
​

Song Title	Music Video	Live Performance
1. All System Go! (Intro)	--	--
2. 3!4!	Official Music Video (Poor Quality)	MBC Performance
3. 오늘	--	Performance
4. 그대 곁에서	--	--
5. 우리에겐	--	--
6. 흔들리며	--	Performance (Poor Quality)
7. 아자	Official Music Video	Concert Performance
8. 내 슬픈 사랑은	--	Performance
9. 일,상,성	--	--
10. 희망의 이름으로	--	--
11. 다같이	--	--

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1st Korean Special Album: Pops and Party
Release Date: September 20, 1996
​

Song Title	Music Video	Live Performance
1. Love Me Tender (Remake)	--	--
2. Circles	--	MBC Performance
3. Bong Diggie Bong	--	--
4. Rap Hop (Remix)	--	--
5. 날개 잃은 천사 (Remix)	--	--
6. 남행열차	--	Performance
7. 100일째 만남	--	--
8. 비밀은 없어	--	--
9. 사랑법	--	--
10. 프로와 아마추어	--	--
11. 친구를 보내며	--	--
12. 어두운 곳에 빛을	--	--

​

• This is the first album that Mikey Romero participated in.
• I personally uploaded this album to YouTube. I ask that you PLEASE re-upload or spread it around. It's an almost lost record and I'd like it to survive.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
5th Korean Studio Album: The Final
Release Date: January 24, 1997
​

Song Title	Music Video	Live Performance
1. Introlude	--	--
2. 연인	Official Music Video (Poor Quality)	Performance
3. 미래로	--	--
4. 영혼식	--	MBC Performance
5. Go Go		Performance
6. 난 너의	--	--
7. Party	--	--
8. 뚝! (내가 잠못드는 이유 Ⅲ)	--	--
9. Tonight Is The Night	--	--
10. The Final	--	--

​

• This is the last album Mikey Romero Participated in.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
6th Korean Studio Album: Six n' Six
Release Date: February 26, 1999
​

Song Title	Music Video	Live Performance
1. 6N6 (Intro)	--	--
2. 기도	Official Music Video	KBS Performance
3. Moving	Official Music Video (Poor Quality)	Performance
4. 고백	--	Performance + 아듀인터뷰
5. Spring (혼자한 사랑)	--	--
6. Late Night (밤이여)	--	--
7. Flora (향기로운 너)	--	--
8. 미워도 다시 한번 2	--	--
9. Adios	--	--
10. 변심	--	--
11. Take Me Home Country Road	--	--

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
7th Korean Studio Album: 풍변기곡
Release Date: June 12, 2000
​

Song Title	Music Video	Live Performance
1. 아리랑	--	--
2. 풍변기곡	Official Music Video	Performance
3. Summer Of Love	--	MBC Performance
4. Thinking	--	--
5. 재미	--	--
6. 즐거운 사랑	--	--
7. 기억해	--	--
8. 연서	--	--
9. Big, Big	--	--
10. Sweet Game	--	--
11. 신비	--	--
12. My Life	--	--

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
8th Korean Studio Album: Roo'Ra 8th Best & Last
Release Date: July 27, 2001
​

Song Title	Music Video	Live Performance
1. 정리	Official Music Video	--
2. Oh	Official Music Video	--
3. It's Mine	--	--
4. 함께	--	--
5. 후회	--	--
6. 행복을 주는 사람	--	--
7. 기대	--	--
8. Summer Of Love	--	--
9. 희망의 이름으로	--	--
10. 사랑법	--	--
11. 날개잃은 천사	--	--
12. 무빙	--	--
13. 풍변기곡	--	--
14. 연인	--	--
15. 연서	--	--
16. 기도	--	--
17. 착한 사랑	--	--
18. 호텔 캘리포니아	--	--

​

• I personally uploaded this album to YouTube. I ask that you PLEASE re-upload or spread it around. It's an almost lost record and I'd like it to survive.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
9th Korean Studio Album: A9ain
Release Date: July 2001, 2009
​

Song Title	Music Video	Live Performance
1. 고잉고잉 (Going Going)	Official Music Video	MBC Performance
2. 같이 놀자	Official Music Video	--
3. Dance Dance	--	--
4. Everybody	--	--
5. 가고 싶어	--	--
6. 우리가 간다	--	--
7. 우리들의 축제	--	--
8. 취해서	--	--
9. Beautiful	--	--
10. Smile Again	--	--
11. 별이 진다네	--	--

Hello Everyone!
Lamorosii here, back with another trek into K-Pop history. Today's topic? Roo'Ra!
Ever wondered what reggae would sound like in Korean? Wonder no more! This group was definitely a bit of a curve ball back in the day, I'm sure. A different sound, a different look and a whole lot of cheese. Not really my style to be honest, but they were surprisingly popular. They are also fans of either covering or remaking songs for their albums and from rather far fatched places. The Eagles, The Beatles, Biz Markie and even John Denver, of all people.
Any fans here? I feel like this group is quite devisive. You either like them or you don't.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

• Korean Name: 룰라
• English Name: Roo'ra
• Labels: World Music Company, A&B Productions, EMI Records, Madang Dream, LOEN Company
• Years Active: 1994 - 2001 (Disbanded), 2009 (Reunion)
• Final Group Members:
  • 이상민 (Lee Sang-min)
  • 고영욱 (Ko Young-wook)
  • 김지현 (Kim Ji-hyun)
  • 채리나 (Chae Ri-na)
• Former Group Members:
  • 신정환 (Shin Jung-hwan)
  • Mikey Romeo
• Discography:
  • 9 Korean Studio Albums
  • 1 Korean Special Album
• Informational Links: Wikipedia, K-Profiles, Namu Wiki (Korean)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1st Korean Studio Album: Roots Of Reggae
Release Date: July 1, 1994
​

Song Title	Music Video	Live Performance
1. Roots Of Reggae (Roo'Ra Theme)	--	--
2. 100일(日)째 만남	Official Music Video (Poor Quality)	KBS Performance
3. 너의 작은 기억 하나까지	--	--
4. 공주와 하인	--	--
5. Roots Of Reggae (House ver.)	--	--
6. 내가 잠못드는 이유	--	Performance
7. 비밀은 없어	--	KBS Performance
8. 통일	--	--
9. 100일(日)째 만남 (Club Mix)	--	--
10. 100일(日)째 만남 (inst.)	--	--
11. 너의 작은 기억 하나까지 (inst.)	--	--

​

• This is the only album that Shin Jung-hwan participated in.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2nd Korean Studio Album: 날개 잃은 천사
Release Date: March 28, 1995
​

Song Title	Music Video	Live Performance
1. Roo'Ra In 1995	--	--
2. 날개 잃은 천사	Official Music Video (Poor Quality)	KBS Performance
3. 안녕	--	Performance
4. 사랑의 기도	--	Performance
5. 친구를 보내며 (신정환 Theme)	--	--
6. 영웅은 어디로	--	Concert Performance + 안녕 & 프로와 아마추어
7. 프로와 아마츄어	--	MBC Performance
8. 그후로 3년후 (내가 잠못드는 이유 Ⅱ)	--	--
9. Hotel California	--	--
10. Koreana In New York	--	Performance

​

• This is the first album Chae Ri-na participated in.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3rd Korean Studio Album: Reincarnation Of The Legend
Release Date: December 26, 1995
​

Song Title	Music Video	Live Performance
1. Roo'Ra In 1996	--	--
2. 천상유애	Official Music Video	Performance
3. 사랑법	--	Performance
4. 하얀새	--	--
5. 아스라이	--	--
6. 인간인가?	--	--
7. 착한 사랑	--	--
8. 웃긴 아이	--	--
9. Rap-Hop	--	--
10. Come Together	--	--
11. 천상유애 (Remix)	--	--

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
4th Korean Studio Album: All System Go
Release Date: June 18, 1996
​

Song Title	Music Video	Live Performance
1. All System Go! (Intro)	--	--
2. 3!4!	Official Music Video (Poor Quality)	MBC Performance
3. 오늘	--	Performance
4. 그대 곁에서	--	--
5. 우리에겐	--	--
6. 흔들리며	--	Performance (Poor Quality)
7. 아자	Official Music Video	Concert Performance
8. 내 슬픈 사랑은	--	Performance
9. 일,상,성	--	--
10. 희망의 이름으로	--	--
11. 다같이	--	--

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1st Korean Special Album: Pops and Party
Release Date: September 20, 1996
​

Song Title	Music Video	Live Performance
1. Love Me Tender (Remake)	--	--
2. Circles	--	MBC Performance
3. Bong Diggie Bong	--	--
4. Rap Hop (Remix)	--	--
5. 날개 잃은 천사 (Remix)	--	--
6. 남행열차	--	Performance
7. 100일째 만남	--	--
8. 비밀은 없어	--	--
9. 사랑법	--	--
10. 프로와 아마추어	--	--
11. 친구를 보내며	--	--
12. 어두운 곳에 빛을	--	--

​

• This is the first album that Mikey Romero participated in.
• I personally uploaded this album to YouTube. I ask that you PLEASE re-upload or spread it around. It's an almost lost record and I'd like it to survive.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
5th Korean Studio Album: The Final
Release Date: January 24, 1997
​

Song Title	Music Video	Live Performance
1. Introlude	--	--
2. 연인	Official Music Video (Poor Quality)	Performance
3. 미래로	--	--
4. 영혼식	--	MBC Performance
5. Go Go		Performance
6. 난 너의	--	--
7. Party	--	--
8. 뚝! (내가 잠못드는 이유 Ⅲ)	--	--
9. Tonight Is The Night	--	--
10. The Final	--	--

​

• This is the last album Mikey Romero Participated in.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
6th Korean Studio Album: Six n' Six
Release Date: February 26, 1999
​

Song Title	Music Video	Live Performance
1. 6N6 (Intro)	--	--
2. 기도	Official Music Video	KBS Performance
3. Moving	Official Music Video (Poor Quality)	Performance
4. 고백	--	Performance + 아듀인터뷰
5. Spring (혼자한 사랑)	--	--
6. Late Night (밤이여)	--	--
7. Flora (향기로운 너)	--	--
8. 미워도 다시 한번 2	--	--
9. Adios	--	--
10. 변심	--	--
11. Take Me Home Country Road	--	--

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
7th Korean Studio Album: 풍변기곡
Release Date: June 12, 2000
​

Song Title	Music Video	Live Performance
1. 아리랑	--	--
2. 풍변기곡	Official Music Video	Performance
3. Summer Of Love	--	MBC Performance
4. Thinking	--	--
5. 재미	--	--
6. 즐거운 사랑	--	--
7. 기억해	--	--
8. 연서	--	--
9. Big, Big	--	--
10. Sweet Game	--	--
11. 신비	--	--
12. My Life	--	--

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
8th Korean Studio Album: Roo'Ra 8th Best & Last
Release Date: July 27, 2001
​

Song Title	Music Video	Live Performance
1. 정리	Official Music Video	--
2. Oh	Official Music Video	--
3. It's Mine	--	--
4. 함께	--	--
5. 후회	--	--
6. 행복을 주는 사람	--	--
7. 기대	--	--
8. Summer Of Love	--	--
9. 희망의 이름으로	--	--
10. 사랑법	--	--
11. 날개잃은 천사	--	--
12. 무빙	--	--
13. 풍변기곡	--	--
14. 연인	--	--
15. 연서	--	--
16. 기도	--	--
17. 착한 사랑	--	--
18. 호텔 캘리포니아	--	--

​

• I personally uploaded this album to YouTube. I ask that you PLEASE re-upload or spread it around. It's an almost lost record and I'd like it to survive.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
9th Korean Studio Album: A9ain
Release Date: July 2001, 2009
​

Song Title	Music Video	Live Performance
1. 고잉고잉 (Going Going)	Official Music Video	MBC Performance
2. 같이 놀자	Official Music Video	--
3. Dance Dance	--	--
4. Everybody	--	--
5. 가고 싶어	--	--
6. 우리가 간다	--	--
7. 우리들의 축제	--	--
8. 취해서	--	--
9. Beautiful	--	--
10. Smile Again	--	--
11. 별이 진다네	--	--

• Korean Name: 룰라
• English Name: Roo'ra
• Labels: World Music Company, A&B Productions, EMI Records, Madang Dream, LOEN Company
• Years Active: 1994 - 2001 (Disbanded), 2009 (Reunion)
• Former Group Members:
  • 이상민 (Lee Sang-min)
  • 고영욱 (Ko Young-wook)
  • 김지현 (Kim Ji-hyun)
  • 채리나 (Chae Ri-na)
  • 신정환 (Shin Jung-hwan)
  • Mikey Romeo
• Discography:
  • 9 Korean Studio Albums
  • 1 Korean Special Album
• Informational Links: Wikipedia, K-Profiles, Namu Wiki (Korean)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1st Korean Studio Album: Roots Of Reggae
Release Date: July 1, 1994
​

Song Title	Music Video	Live Performance
1. Roots Of Reggae (Roo'Ra Theme)	--	--
2. 100일(日)째 만남	Official Music Video (Poor Quality)	KBS Performance
3. 너의 작은 기억 하나까지	--	--
4. 공주와 하인	--	--
5. Roots Of Reggae (House ver.)	--	--
6. 내가 잠못드는 이유	--	Performance
7. 비밀은 없어	--	KBS Performance
8. 통일	--	--
9. 100일(日)째 만남 (Club Mix)	--	--
10. 100일(日)째 만남 (inst.)	--	--
11. 너의 작은 기억 하나까지 (inst.)	--	--

​

• This is the only album that Shin Jung-hwan participated in.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2nd Korean Studio Album: 날개 잃은 천사
Release Date: March 28, 1995
​

Song Title	Music Video	Live Performance
1. Roo'Ra In 1995	--	--
2. 날개 잃은 천사	Official Music Video (Poor Quality)	KBS Performance
3. 안녕	--	Performance
4. 사랑의 기도	--	Performance
5. 친구를 보내며 (신정환 Theme)	--	--
6. 영웅은 어디로	--	Concert Performance + 안녕 & 프로와 아마추어
7. 프로와 아마츄어	--	MBC Performance
8. 그후로 3년후 (내가 잠못드는 이유 Ⅱ)	--	--
9. Hotel California	--	--
10. Koreana In New York	--	Performance

​

• This is the first album Chae Ri-na participated in.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3rd Korean Studio Album: Reincarnation Of The Legend
Release Date: December 26, 1995
​

Song Title	Music Video	Live Performance
1. Roo'Ra In 1996	--	--
2. 천상유애	Official Music Video	Performance
3. 사랑법	--	Performance
4. 하얀새	--	--
5. 아스라이	--	--
6. 인간인가?	--	--
7. 착한 사랑	--	--
8. 웃긴 아이	--	--
9. Rap-Hop	--	--
10. Come Together	--	--
11. 천상유애 (Remix)	--	--

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
4th Korean Studio Album: All System Go
Release Date: June 18, 1996
​

Song Title	Music Video	Live Performance
1. All System Go! (Intro)	--	--
2. 3!4!	Official Music Video (Poor Quality)	MBC Performance
3. 오늘	--	Performance
4. 그대 곁에서	--	--
5. 우리에겐	--	--
6. 흔들리며	--	Performance (Poor Quality)
7. 아자	Official Music Video	Concert Performance
8. 내 슬픈 사랑은	--	Performance
9. 일,상,성	--	--
10. 희망의 이름으로	--	--
11. 다같이	--	--

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1st Korean Special Album: Pops and Party
Release Date: September 20, 1996
​

Song Title	Music Video	Live Performance
1. Love Me Tender (Remake)	--	--
2. Circles	--	MBC Performance
3. Bong Diggie Bong	--	--
4. Rap Hop (Remix)	--	--
5. 날개 잃은 천사 (Remix)	--	--
6. 남행열차	--	Performance
7. 100일째 만남	--	--
8. 비밀은 없어	--	--
9. 사랑법	--	--
10. 프로와 아마추어	--	--
11. 친구를 보내며	--	--
12. 어두운 곳에 빛을	--	--

​

• This is the first album that Mikey Romero participated in.
• I personally uploaded this album to YouTube. I ask that you PLEASE re-upload or spread it around. It's an almost lost record and I'd like it to survive.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
5th Korean Studio Album: The Final
Release Date: January 24, 1997
​

Song Title	Music Video	Live Performance
1. Introlude	--	--
2. 연인	Official Music Video (Poor Quality)	Performance
3. 미래로	--	--
4. 영혼식	--	MBC Performance
5. Go Go		Performance
6. 난 너의	--	--
7. Party	--	--
8. 뚝! (내가 잠못드는 이유 Ⅲ)	--	--
9. Tonight Is The Night	--	--
10. The Final	--	--

​

• This is the last album Mikey Romero Participated in.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
6th Korean Studio Album: Six n' Six
Release Date: February 26, 1999
​

Song Title	Music Video	Live Performance
1. 6N6 (Intro)	--	--
2. 기도	Official Music Video	KBS Performance
3. Moving	Official Music Video (Poor Quality)	Performance
4. 고백	--	Performance + 아듀인터뷰
5. Spring (혼자한 사랑)	--	--
6. Late Night (밤이여)	--	--
7. Flora (향기로운 너)	--	--
8. 미워도 다시 한번 2	--	--
9. Adios	--	--
10. 변심	--	--
11. Take Me Home Country Road	--	--

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
7th Korean Studio Album: 풍변기곡
Release Date: June 12, 2000
​

Song Title	Music Video	Live Performance
1. 아리랑	--	--
2. 풍변기곡	Official Music Video	Performance
3. Summer Of Love	--	MBC Performance
4. Thinking	--	--
5. 재미	--	--
6. 즐거운 사랑	--	--
7. 기억해	--	--
8. 연서	--	--
9. Big, Big	--	--
10. Sweet Game	--	--
11. 신비	--	--
12. My Life	--	--

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
8th Korean Studio Album: Roo'Ra 8th Best & Last
Release Date: July 27, 2001
​

Song Title	Music Video	Live Performance
1. 정리	Official Music Video	--
2. Oh	Official Music Video	--
3. It's Mine	--	--
4. 함께	--	--
5. 후회	--	--
6. 행복을 주는 사람	--	--
7. 기대	--	--
8. Summer Of Love	--	--
9. 희망의 이름으로	--	--
10. 사랑법	--	--
11. 날개잃은 천사	--	--
12. 무빙	--	--
13. 풍변기곡	--	--
14. 연인	--	--
15. 연서	--	--
16. 기도	--	--
17. 착한 사랑	--	--
18. 호텔 캘리포니아	--	--

​

• I personally uploaded this album to YouTube. I ask that you PLEASE re-upload or spread it around. It's an almost lost record and I'd like it to survive.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
9th Korean Studio Album: A9ain
Release Date: July 2001, 2009
​

Song Title	Music Video	Live Performance
1. 고잉고잉 (Going Going)	Official Music Video	MBC Performance
2. 같이 놀자	Official Music Video	--
3. Dance Dance	--	--
4. Everybody	--	--
5. 가고 싶어	--	--
6. 우리가 간다	--	--
7. 우리들의 축제	--	--
8. 취해서	--	--
9. Beautiful	--	--
10. Smile Again	--	--
11. 별이 진다네	--	--

Which would you choose between:
InterContinental New York Barclay
Hotel Indigo Lower East Side New York
Crowne Plaza HY36 Midtown Manhattan
Kimpton Hotel Eventi
Hotel Indigo Williamsburg - Brooklyn
We're two people traveling from out of town this summer and it's been a long time since we've been to NY. We don't have specific plans yet and aren't really into touristy stuff but don't mind being in a central area that is close to subway stations if it is in a touristy spot!

i keep seeing people circling around this topic and theorizing on it. being in the hospitality industry for most of my life, i have some insight - all theories and personal experience of course - ive shared a few but they eventually keep getting buried bc, well its fucking wild out here. but yeah, im going to quote my own shit to share so you all can look it over and see if you get a different perspective and maybe shift some dialogue:
“ all the heavy pedo shit tied w all these ominous threats… my initial thought is that bbl and co were bringing in drakes “daughter(s)” behind drake.
in affluent hotels we use a lot of aliases and code names. daughters, brothers, etc, usually means affairs/sex workers/whatever. so then mention in mtg about drakes “daughteother kids”. the receipts are front desk notes, cctv footage.
in the hospitality industry they drill sex trafficking signs into our heads relentlessly. riddler caught some sex trafficking in action, reported it, got fired and it was buried.
thats heavy paranoia type shit. but that was my initial thought. “
edit: original comment
https://www.reddit.com/KendrickLamas/VXOaQpW0r4

15-minute read.

update: Border Commissions and expert groups from Armenia and Azerbaijan have installed 40 border markers on the state border in the Tavush-Gazakh section

source,

the former regime-organized rally continues to march from Tavush to Yerevan

Context in Saturday news. An MP from ARF/Kocharyan party and an opposition churchman Bagrat Galstanyan organized a march in an attempt to "gather 50,000" protesters in Yerevan.
The organizers say "Religious Armenia will defeat Real Armenia", in reference to PM Pashinyan. Archbishop Bagrat was a participant in Robert Kocharyan's 2022 rally during which he made a similar statement: "The church will defeat the street and dux". Street & dux = Pashinyan's 2018 revolution. On Sunday Bagrat said "at this time" their demand is not Pashinyan's ouster; they want to stop the border delimitation because they believe it's "illegal". A week earlier the ARF/Kocharyan faction unsuccessfully promoted a motion to essentially declare the use of 1991 Almaty borders illegal and to rely on the 1993 "de facto" borders instead.
Archbishop Bagrat said he has received the permission and blessing of the church leader Garegin B to hold this rally. "He is our father, our leader."
Along the way, the organizers encountered supporters who brought them water and food, and opponents who called them "idiots" and "sons of donkeys".
MIKA BADALYAN (pro-Kremlin blogger, ex-regime activist): I can't imagine the condition Pashinyan is in right now. He has to meet Putin on May 8, and just a day later Archbishop Bagrat will reach Yerevan, and he won't just arrive there, but will launch a battle that will be Nikol's final one. Get drunk, Nikol, get drunk. Be prepared, Armenians around the world! Each one of you must take part in this battle. //
In related news: Mika Badalyan is accused of assaulting a journalist Zhirayr Voskanyan from a pro-Western media outlet on Sunday. According to authorities, the victim refused to pursue charges on the spot after the incident. An investigation was launched nevertheless. In a video uploaded after the incident, the victim said he plans to visit a police station.
ARTUR SAKUNTS (Helsinki NGO, about the church's role): Let's say the political resource is so low and bankrupt that you have to involve the church to achieve your political goals, but why mythologize the role of the Apostolic Church in Armenian history so much? Have you at least read the works of Leo, or a more modern author and historian Hamlet Davtyan, or the works of monumentologist Samvel Karapetyan? Are you familiar with the positions of the church during the Kingdom of Cilicia? After all, any thought and idea should be based on facts, analysis, and conclusions. There can be no salvation built on myths, it will lead to another defeat.
REPORTER (to Robert Kocharyan, 2022 protests): Would you be open to the idea of being appointed as the President?
ROBERT KOCHARYAN (2022 protests): The best candidate right now would be a respected member of a church. There are such people. They are both respected and driven by national interests. That's my offer. And on that offer, yes, it can be negotiated. //
Armenia's H1 public TV ran a segment describing the attempts to sabotage the border delimitation process as being beneficial for Russia and Azerbaijan. "Some forces do not want to turn the line of contact into a stable state border." Russia has been critical of the Tavush delimitation process and called it a Western plan, and some Armenian analysts believe Russia is afraid of losing all influence in the region if Armenia and Azerbaijan establish stable and peaceful relations. There is also criticism towards the church for "not holding a similar march to the Lachin Corridor to demand Russian soldiers to open it" in 2023. The H1 report also shows several residents of border villages who do not oppose the delimitation process. "Their voices were intentionally drowned out."
video, source, source, source, source, source, source, source, source, source, source, source, source, source, source, source, source,

Q&A with Parliament President Alen Simonyan

REPORTER: What is the likelihood of a peace agreement at this phase?
SIMONYAN: There has been an opportunity to sign a peace agreement since late 2023 but Azerbaijan hasn't displayed political will. The ongoing delimitation is a signal that a peace agreement is possible and it must be signed ASAP.
REPORTER: The Azerbaijani president says the peace agreement document is fully in line with Azerbaijan's interests.
SIMONYAN: The document is fully in line with international norms, which Armenia shares. There are some disagreements, hence the back-and-forth exchange of proposals. We must ensure that all formulations are very clear and both parties understand what the language says because the Nov. 9 agreement and its bargaining by certain countries [Russia] should not happen again.
REPORTER: Do you plan to respond to the letter sent by [Russian Senator Matvienko]?
SIMONYAN: I have not received a letter from Duma. My colleague Sarkis Khandanyan, the recipient, responded within 1-2 days of receiving it. Perhaps it wasn't convenient for [Russian MFA Spokesperson] Mrs. Zakharova to acknowledge it during their usual staged press conference.
REPORTER: But the letter was directed at you, about your speech [in Spain].
SIMONYAN: I stand behind my statements and I represent Armenian voters. If in certain countries [Russia] the government doesn't represent the people, it's their problem. In Armenia, the ruling and opposition parties represent the people.
REPORTER: Does PM Pashinyan plan to attend Putin's inauguration ceremony?
SIMONYAN: No.
REPORTER: What's your assessment of the march originating from Tavush? Is their demand just or unjust?
SIMONYAN: I don't know what their political demand is. They are against the delimitation of state borders.
REPORTER: [Opposition] political parties have joined this march. Do you see a political context here? Is a change of power likely?
SIMONYAN: Not likely until the 2026 elections. How many different people is the ex-regime going to use to attempt to replicate our 2018 success? Can they come up with something new? Who has welcomed the rally so far? In the end, they are going to present the Banani Mihran Poghosyan, Kocharyan, Serj, Vazgen Manukyan, and Vanetsyan Artur [figures who have endorsed the rally].
REPORTER: But anyone can use the technologies you used in 2018. It's not your personal property.
SIMONYAN: Who said it's our personal property? Let them use it. Let them use it. They keep failing because the real actors remain the same and they only change the face of the process. Today they are playing on the emotions of the population.
REPORTER: Are Kocharyan, Serj, and others behind Archbishop Bagrat?
SIMONYAN: Are you seriously asking this? What media outlet do you represent? Is it Azatutyun? I understand your question now. I wonder, the interests of which forces does Azatutyun represent? Sometimes I wonder that. Let's say you receive your funding from international organizations, from foreign structures, do you represent their interests?
REPORTER: Will Pashinyan leave if the opposition gathers many supporters in Yerevan?
SIMONYAN: Will the opposition lay down its parliamentary mandates if they fail to gather more people than they did last time? We are confident that the public supports our effort to delimit the state borders, wants to establish peace, doesn't want a war, doesn't want the return of ex-regime, doesn't want to live in a religious theocracy, and sees through the attempts by politicians to manipulate with the use of religion and emotions. The public is wise.
REPORTER: Do you see a foreign trace behind this rally?
SIMONYAN: I see bloggers financed from various centers [Russia], and statements praising this process by figures located mostly in a single country [Russia]. So of course I see a foreign trace. Do you really not understand what's happening?
REPORTER (Azatutyun, still upset about being called an agent): If it is maybe obvious to you that doesn't mean it is for the general public. You must clarify so the public can know.
SIMONYAN: Yes, and I know what the public knows and what it doesn't know because, unlike the ex-regime, I speak with the people. I know their complaints towards me and their support towards our policies.
REPORTER: Which country is meddling in this process?
SIMONYAN: Can you guess?
REPORTER: Will PM Pashinyan take part in the EAEU (economic bloc) session [on May 8]?
SIMONYAN: Armenia holds the presidency of EAEU and I believe it's the right thing to participate in it. [Pashinyan will take part in the EAEU meeting and will meet Putin as well.]
video, [other video,](source, source,

Armenia has stopped financing CSTO and has frozen its participation in CSTO activities, while simultaneously developing relations with NATO and EU: Putin's assistant Yuri Ushakov

source,

ruling party MP accuses Russia of deceiving Armenia's opposition parties and Nagorno-Karabakh leaders

MP VAHAGN ALEXANYAN: We have to revisit the events of 2023 because the organizers of "Operation Nagorno-Karabakh" are attempting the same operation from Tavush. Let me be clear: the organizers are not located in Armenia.
Pashinyan announced that the international community [West] will support if we lower the bar [not de jure independent republic] for Nagorno-Karabakh's status. This was welcomed by our international partners. There were also international partners who, with the efforts of Armenia, attempted to organize a Stepanakert-Baku dialogue on the European platform, including in Sophia. Everything was ready for the NK-AZ meeting to discuss the safety conditions that would allow 100,000+ Armenians to continue to live in NK.
But the "owners" [Kremlin] of Armenia's opposition parties prohibited NK representatives from flying to Sophia. Simultaneously, the organizers [Kremlin] worked with its puppets in Armenia -- politicians and opposition-owned media outlets -- to convince them that Russia plans to remain 30+ years in NK. They encouraged the opposition to go shout "Nikol traitor", "QP Turks", "you are land givers", this and that. The opposition followed their orders and did those.
"Let's save Nagorno-Karabakh," they said. Today, the parliament building of NK is sadly demolished because of their idiocy. The [pro-Russian] NK forces gathered in that building with maximalist speeches. We knew where it was all headed. We knew there was a circle in NK that believed that Russian peacekeepers would not only protect the remaining parts of NK but would allow them to recapture the lost territories, "if we could only remove Nikol in Armenia".
We warned them that they were being deceived with a false sense of security; we urged them to negotiate with Azerbaijan in Sophia. They refused. "Not a step back from full independence. Who are you? Azgadavs!"
So they removed the NK government [President Arayik was open to Sophia meeting]. You know the names of those who demanded Arayik's removal. Sadly, some of them are currently in Baku jail. But these people removed Arayik and installed a figure who was the most favorable figure for the presence of Russia in NK. Then you know what happened.
After Azerbaijan launched a massive attack on NK, several public figures and politicians began to reveal the things they were told at the Russian embassy in Armenia. A figure named Nairi Hokhikyan claims he was told in the Russian embassy that Russian peacekeepers planned to remain 30+ years in the region and that he believed them and "took their bait". It's fair to say he wasn't the only person in Armenia who took this embassy's baits. There were even forces in Armenia that actively distributed those baits.
When it became obvious that Russian peacekeepers wouldn't do anything, when they stood and watched the forced displacement of 120,000 Armenians, when they watched the killings of NK civilians, it became obvious to everyone, including those who took the bait, what exactly happened.
Armenia, in turn, said that since its allies do not plan to help, it is better for Armenia to establish peace with all of its neighbors and have stable delimited borders. This was a huge psychological shock for some, especially the aforementioned forces because the clarification of Armenia's borders and the adoption of an internationally legitimate stance would open an opportunity to have excellent relations with the US and EU. Armenia with legitimate borders and Western partners is more difficult to attack than Armenia without those; it's a lot more difficult under those conditions to present Armenia as a gray zone and swallow it.
And swallowing Armenia is what this is all about. None of this was about NK. Armenia was the end goal. Robert Kocharyan said he was open to the idea of Armenia joining the [Russia-Belarus] Union State, while Serj's party leaders [Sharmazanov] announced that it's necessary to give Azerbaijan a corridor through Syunik.
Today we have a rally coming from Tavush. On the left side of its leader, we have a politician representing a force that wants Armenia to join the [Russian] Union State, and on the right side, it's a representative of a force that wants to give a Zangezur corridor to Azerbaijan.
Forgive me for saying this, friends: this latest Russian march is also destined to fail. It will fail because the Armenian population won't follow politicians who do not recognize Armenia's 29,743 km^2. Foreign forces will fail. Armenia will remain independent. //
source,

Russia continues the withdrawal of soldiers from Nagorno-Karabakh

A column of vehicles left from Ivanyan airport to a railway station before heading to Russia, through Azerbaijan.
source,

foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan will meet in Kazakhstan on May 10 to discuss the peace process

The agreement was reached last week after the visit of the Kazakh president to the region.
source,

U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan visited occupied Shushi after "two months of preparations"

He was earlier criticized by the Azerbaijani regime for not visiting the occupied parts of Nagorno-Karabakh. The Ambassador said he didn't visit Shushi in the past because he didn't want to take part in "someone's shows".
During this Shushi trip, the Ambassador met state officials and local teachers who were enrolled in the embassy's English classes. The Ambassador said the U.S. will continue to cooperate with Azerbaijan for as long as there are "partners in Azerbaijan who are willing to work with the U.S."
source, source,

the armed forces/MOD of Armenia and United States held their first annual talks

US Embassy in Yerevan: Last week, representatives from across the US European Command and the Armenian Ministry of Defense participated in the inaugural Annual Staff Talks to discuss bilateral defense priorities, develop areas for further cooperation, and outline military engagements for the coming years.
source,

Informed Citizens NGO chief about Armenia's economic ties with Russia and the cost of breaking free

IOANNESIAN: Russia's leverage: Gas, supply of uranium for NPP, disposal of nuclear waste generated by NPP, and Upper Lars cargo traffic. I don't think Russia will attempt to "punish" Armenia unless they achieve a major success in Ukraine, but it can't be ruled out. Let's analyze some possible scenarios.
(1) Gas. If Russia doubles the price for Armenia to $300, which is the realistic upper limit according to experts, your household bill would likely increase by 20%. The $300 is also the price of Iranian gas. If Russia raises it above $300, Armenia will have other more economic sources of energy. I doubt household bills would double because there are a host of steps the government and West could take to remedy or even partly subsidize the cost.
(2) Uranium for NPP. This is easier. Ukraine has replaced Russia with others. Kazakhstan is also a source of uranium. It's important to have decent AM-KZ relations. Our relations have always been toxic despite never having any direct problems with one another. At some point, Kazakhs realized having great relations with Azerbaijan doesn't mean they can't build relations with Armenia. Armenia displayed the same pragmatism. There is an opportunity to move forward.
(3) Export of products. This will be difficult because a significant share of goods MADE in Armenia are exported to Russia. These are real factories, real workers, real wages. The food production industry will face issues because let's be honest, their standards are generally very low. They wouldn't be able to export to Europe today. European countries may love you but they care about the health of their citizens more. We need to raise the food standards, first and foremost for us and our health. I'm aware that the Armenian government is taking steps for a long-term solution, and as a short-term solution they are exploring the possibility of increasing exports to the Middle East and other states to reduce reliance on Russia. The government will face pushback from unhappy businesses that will no longer be allowed to dump a bag of harmful chemicals on crops. The Middle East is a mixed bag. Some countries could have standards higher than the EU, while others don't care at all. Armenian manufacturers of "fake" and lowest-quality alcohol, the type of alcohol that's even unacceptable for Armenians, are exporting their goods to some Middle Eastern countries today.
source,

Armenia and EU discuss education reforms

Education Minister Joanna and EU Ambassador Maragos met on Monday to discuss the ongoing introduction of new state standards in public education, the upcoming bills, STEM and labs, refugee teacher assistance, and AM-EU dialogue.
source,

Armenia and Hungary sign agreement on economic cooperation, will continue to restore diplomatic relations after termination in 2012

FM Mirzoyan is in Hungary to discuss AM-HU and AM-EU relations, a week after media wrote that Hungary is blocking the EU's $10 million military aid to Armenia.
Armenia and Hungary restored diplomatic relations in 2022, and in 2023 they appointed non-resident ambassadors.
HUNGARIAN FM: It's great to see Armenia's flag in this building after so many years. Today we agreed to form a working group to develop economic relations. Last year our economic turnover reached 70%. Our pharmaceutical companies are more active in the Armenian market today. We have agreed to open embassies in the capitals of Hungary and Armenia; today we have consulates. Starting this July, WizzAir will hold direct flights between the capitals of Armenia and Hungary. Hungary will provide humanitarian assistance to families [presumably Nagorno-Karabakh refugees] who begin their lives in Armenia. Some 1,200 Armenian children and parents will receive an opportunity to enjoy their vacation here in Hungary. Armenian students will receive scholarships. We have also allocated funds to help the 4,200 Armenians residing in Hungary maintain their Armenian identity and culture. Ahead of Hungary's presidency of the EU, we were able to take steps to develop AM-EU relations. We plan to develop the AM-EU Partnership Agenda [aka CEPA+]. We also plan to launch a dialogue on visa liberalization between the two parties [unclear AM-HU or AM-EU]. My 2023 visit to Yerevan and your visit to Budapest marks a successful launch of our cooperation.
ARMENIAN FM: This is a result of a process we launched 1.5 years ago, a process to start a new phase of AM-HU relations based on historically warm ties and common values. I'm glad to see the result of this process today. Today we are talking about opening resident embassies. Today we signed agreements on political consultations between foreign ministries of two states, on economic cooperation, and on the formation of an intergovernmental commission. We recently saw a business conference where they discussed possible joint projects. Personal visits are important so it's great to hear about WizzAir's direct Yerevan-Budapest flights. Armenia wants to be part of international economic projects. The CoP project aims to lift the blockade on all transport and passenger connections in the South Caucasus and to streamline the West-East connection. Under the same context, we consider the supply of Armenian renewable energy to Europe [through the Black Sea]; we will soon hold discussions on their implementation. Armenia wants to take part in all of those. Peace is a prerequisite for economic development. We have launched a process to bring Armenia significantly closer to the EU, and vice versa. On the table, we have a package of proposals and here we hope to receive Hungary's support during your EU presidency so the plan will confidentially advance under your presidency as well.
REPORTER: What disagreements remain around the AM-AZ peace treaty?
MIRZOYAN: I hope the agreement reached by border commissions on April 19 will be reflected in the peace agreement as well. That would place us very close to a final resolution of the AM-AZ conflict. Another disagreement is around the unblocking of transportation links in the region. Armenia wants to unblock all routes with full respect to the sovereignty of states. I'd like to thank Hungary for its contribution to humanitarian issues. As you remember, several Armenian POWs were freed with the help of Hungary. These efforts continue.
source, source, video,

starting next week Yerevan subway will operate until midnight, instead of 11 pm

source,

Yerevan municipality will add 50 bus shelters, some of which will come with ticket purchasing terminals and bus arrival timetable

MAYOR AVINYAN: This year we plan to launch the new transit fare system and install 50 bus shelters, which will have arrival timetables. We'll receive 171 new 8.5-meter buses and 15 new trolleybuses. The new bus pricing system goes into effect after all of this is done.
source,

Yerevan municipality wants to review the contract with French water giant Veolia

MAYOR AVINYAN: The recent floods caused issues in transport hubs, tunnels, and streets. The city has a contract with Veolia Jur to service the surface, gutter, and rainwater networks. We receive many complaints that go unaddressed. The residents do not care about the details of the contract with Veolia, although I'm confident there are objective reasons behind these problems. This year we must come to a new agreement with the Government and Veolia because the municipality itself can't chase the sewers in each backyard. We need a company that will assume the responsibility for the entire network. We must understand what the cost of this service is. Last year the city was forced to build 14 kilometers of sewers but I don't even know if we had the right to do it because it's a state property, but it had to be done so we did it. We need to make changes to the Veolia contract.
source,

VIDEO: heavy hail lasted several minutes, turning the streets of Yerevan white and damaging trees and properties

source,

inflation YoY

January -0.4%
February -1.7%
March -1.2%
April -0.7%

... food prices are still lower compared to last year (April YoY stats)

Food and non-alcoholic beverages -4.5%
Non-food -0.5%
Services +3%
Alcohol and tobacco +7%
Clothing -1%
Utilities -0.1%
Household goods & appliances -1%
Healthcare -0.2%
Transportation +8%
Communications +0.3%
Recreation -0.2%
Education +5%
Restaurants & hotels +4%
source,

country of origin of tourists who visited Georgia in Q1 2024

(1) Turkey 255K
(2) Russia 215K
(3) Armenia 192K
source,

the most popular last names in each country: MAP

Grigoryan
source,

https://imgur.com/a/tC93bQp

We're a Lethal Protector, you feel me?

RESPECT VENOM

After a rift in the multiverse opened up into a hotel room in Mexico, a wormhole dropped Eddie Brock and his symbiote, Venom, into an unfamiliar universe. There, they encountered Agent Hardy of the SCP Foundation, a bored undercover operative, who, frustrated from not being able to wine and dine Lady Alcina Dimitrescu, decided to make it Venom's problem.

Sources

Venom originates from the YouTube series, "SCP Explained". All feats are cited from this episode.

• Could SCP Foundation Contain Venom?

Together

^Abilities

^Offensive

• They can grow and extend tentacles to grab and fling people.
• Doesn't have any particular fighting techniques, just chaos.

^Mobility

• They can fire organic webs from their wrists and swing from buildings with them.
• For some reason they've been being bounced around the multiverse, but it's not something they control or even understand.

^Physicals

^Biology

• Eddie is a human, and Venom is a Klyntar. Both can function autonomously.

^Body

• They're seven feet tall and five hundred pounds in weight.

^Durability

• The pain of being flung at random between universes is akin to a hangover.
• They're bulletproof, but not teethproof.
• A car alarm at the foot of a building they're fighting on hurts them.
  • TWO car alarms is enough to make the symbiote retreat into or from Eddie's body, leaving him unprotected.
• Having an exposed face leaves Agent Hardy open to being knocked out; the same presumably applies to Eddie.

^Strength

• In a flashback, Venom is shown to be strong enough to burst through ropes when tied to a chair.
• Throws a symbiote-bonded Agent Hardy across a room. Venom is stated to weight 500 lbs, so it's likely that Hardy weighs a similar amount.

^{Miscellaneous}

• They're broke.
• They argue with each other.
• They sing to each other.

Eddie

^Abilities

• Doesn't have perfect coordination, but manages to lift keys off an unconscious guard's belt with his feet, fling them into the air, and grab them with his hands handcuffed behind his back.
• When separated, can feel a pull that guides him to where the symbiote is.

^Physicals

• Eddie is vulnerable to torture.
• Winds an armoured guard by booting him in the stomach and knocks him out by booting him again in the head.
• Lays in a heap on the floor after being thrown across across into a glass wall.
• Bullet wounds he sustains are healed instantaneously when reunited with the symbiote.

The Symbiote

^Abilities

^Offensive

• Once bonded, it increases the host's strength, can replicate its own mass, and and grow portions of itself to use as weapons. Apparently one of these weapons is an automatic weapon.
  • Agent Hardy's symbiote (which in reality is just part of the Venom symbiote bent to his will) is able to copy SCP-127, a biological submachine gun that fires teeth instead of bullets.

^Physicals

^Biology

• The symbiote needs phenethylamine to live, from brains or chocolate.
• Klyntar can share information across multiple realities, but need to remain bonded to hosts to extend their lifespans.

17-minute read to cover Armenia and neighborhood.

Armenia will have a comprehensive water management strategy "for the first time": VIDEO

It involves the construction of 15+ small-to-large reservoirs, one of which is the Vedi Reservoir, the construction of which was delayed last year because "high levels of humidity and the weather" didn't allow them to work with layers of clay. Vedi Reservoir will collect water from the rivers Vedi and Khosrov.
OFFICIAL: We are cooperating with international partners to draft a national strategy for water management. It's going to include legislation, infrastructure, etc. This is a shift from the previous approach of having separate policies for irrigation water, fresh water, delivery, etc. There is going to be one comprehensive strategy.
For efficient management of water, since 2021 we have installed 3,000 water meters and SCADA systems [for monitoring and automation]. This year we will create a unified monitoring center for water monitoring which will collect and analyze statistics and manage the resources. We are installing sensors in rivers to monitor the flow. //
The Vedi Reservoir cost €90 million and is 99% ready. It will have the largest dam in Armenia and will be the first with international standards. A small amount of work is left on the tunnel and the large and small dams.
EXPERT: What do we want to collect in the reservoir? It's the water that isn't being used for irrigation in spring because it flows away before the irrigation season. This water goes unused and pours into Araks. The reservoir will irrigate 3,200 hectares. There will also be a drip irrigation program on 550 hectares of nearby lands.
CONSTRUCTION CHIEF: Vedi will be the first reservoir in Armenia with modern SCADA water monitoring and management technology. You can monitor it 24/7 and organize its utilization easily. It measures the water available in the reservoir and the demand by farmers. Someone from Yerevan can remotely control the distribution. //
A French company was hired to design the reservoir and supervise its construction.
FRENCH FIRM: The construction had to be delayed for various reasons but we hope to finish it this year. //
In addition to the 15+ reservoirs, the government wants to re/build another 30+ mini-reservoirs.
The construction of Kaps Reservoir began/resumed in 2023. The river's path was changed to allow them to restore some tunnels. Kaps was initially planned to hold 25 million m³ but the government has decided to raise it to 60.
It's too early to predict how much water can be accumulated because it depends on the weather. March 2023 was very hot, with normal levels of precipitation. In March 2024 the temperature was lower but with significantly higher precipitation. On average, this year the mountains have 70 cm more snow.
OFFICIAL: We want to reduce the farmers' reliance on Lake Sevan. There is a World Bank-funded program to re-arm the Mkhchyan and Ranchpar pumping stations to reduce reliance on Sevan water.
source,

how do they measure the water level of Lake Sevan?

It's 7 cm below last year's mark despite a recent 2 cm increase after heavy rain and snow. They use a device to measure the level at 8 am and 8 pm in four locations of the lake, then take the average.
Armenia entered an era of water shortage in 2012. Last winter was the warmest in 57 years. There was plenty of snow this year, though. The mountains surrounding Sevan will remain white until May.
source,

EU border observers deny Azerbaijan's claims about suspicious movement of armed forces in Armenia

AZERBAIJAN: Lately we've noticed an intense movement of personnel and military equipment in Armenia near the AZ-AM border. There is an activation of revanchist forces.
ARMENIA: False. There is no large-scale movement or accumulation of forces or equipment near the border. Azerbaijan is circulating photos of a motorcade of newly drafted soldiers as part of the training process. Azerbaijan also circulated images of large-scale border fortification work done in Armenia over the past several months and presented them as "movements in recent days".
EU Observers: We patrolled along the AM-AZ border all day long, everything is calm and quiet, no unusual movements observed.
EU's Toivo Klaar: Good to have confirmation from the EU Mission that no unusual military movements have been observed. That is what the purpose of the mission is: to provide greater transparency and build confidence. It remains open to more engagement also with the authorities of Azerbaijan.
source, source, source, source, source, source,

Azerbaijan and its allies want to attack Armenia to derail the AM-EU-US meeting scheduled for April 5: Armenia's Ambassador to EU

The Pashinyan-Blinken-Power-von der Leyen meeting is aimed at developing Armenia, said the diplomat.
source,

defense ministries of Armenia and the United Kingdom will cooperate to fight corruption in the defense sector

Armenia sent a delegation to London last week to discuss AM-UK defense cooperation and to look into ways to fight corruption. Armenia presented the current anti-corruption programs. The British side shared their experience and expressed readiness to support Armenia.
A number of agreements were reached to implement joint programs.
source,

a mobile team of U.S. military instructors arrived in Armenia

They will conduct weeklong exercises and exchange experiences in the field of public relations and communication.
source, source,

Armenia's customs agency participated in a CEPA session to discuss customs issues with EU representatives

This was the 4th session. They discussed customs and legislative reforms in Armenia, cooperation with the EU, combatting customs fraud, protection of intellectual property rights, an import control system, and a cargo information exchange system.
source,

it appears the EU wants to restore Armenia's access to the GSP+ trade system: NGO chief Daniel Ioannesian

Context: Europe ended the privileges for Armenia in January 2022 after Armenia crossed the "poverty line" for 3 years in a row.
DANIEL: It appears Europe wants to restore Armenia's access to GSP+. Today there is a major problem in Armenia's food production industry because of low standards. Our companies will have to invest in their production lines to reduce dependence on Russia. We need this first and foremost for ourselves because we are the primary consumers of these products.
REPORTER: What will happen to the price of gas and wheat if Russia decides to retaliate in response to our decision to strengthen ties with the EU?
DANIEL: The gas will cost more. The flour will cost more. The Upper Lars checkpoint will shut down. Our business owners must exit their comfort zones and take steps to diversify ASAP. This is the cost you must pay if you want to have an independent state. The alternative is to take the Belarus route and declare that we don't need independence, human rights or democracy, and that we want to be like Russia's Tatarstan region as [Ruben Vardanyan] suggested. Would you like to be drafted in Yerevan to go fight in Donbas? That's a scenario. Let's discuss that scenario. Maybe we do want to be like Belarus. But if we want to be independent like we've wanted for centuries, it is going to come with a price and your gas bill could increase. During the April 5 meeting in Brussels, I expect one of the topics to be rapid assistance for Armenia in the event Russia retaliates economically.
source, source,

Armenian people have European aspirations: Foreign Minister Mirzoyan

Mirzoyan said Armenia is not actively discussing NATO membership despite the plans to strengthen its ties with the organization.
source, original,

Armenia and Russia do not speak the same language: Foreign Minister Mirzoyan

MIRZOYAN: We have economic relations and security ties, but there are obvious problems. We have different thoughts and we do not speak the same language. These problems cannot be hidden. The security mechanisms that we had for several decades did not work. We are trying to ensure our security and development along the democratic path, and for this, we see that there are good partners in the West. //
source,

what happened between May 2021 to September 2022?

EU: Azerbaijani army crossed into Armenia and currently occupies 170 km² of Armenian territories. They must withdraw.
CSTO: Our zone of responsibility in Armenia ends at the AM-AZ state border. The AM-AZ state border must be settled on a bilateral basis between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
source, source, source,

government figures respond to April Fools article claiming Pashinyan has decided to resign

Well, folks. Someone has to be THAT guy every April 1. Who takes the award this year?
The opposition media outlet ArmLur (Joghovurd), run by Serj party MP Taguhi Tovmasyan, published an article claiming PM Pashinyan has decided to resign under the "Tavush pressure" and that he summoned an emergency meeting with the QP party to discuss elections on September 10. "This is a chance for Pashinyan to save his own skin," writes the outlet.
The author of the article was "K.", which indicates it was katak (joke). Nevertheless, major outlets from Armenia, Russia, and Azerbaijan began to share it.
PASHINYAN'S OFFICE: This is so unserious. //
RULING PARTY: Nothing surprising here. This is exactly how the majority of our media outlets operate year-round. They copy articles without attempting to verify the information. One of them fabricates information, and the others copy it. //
The same outlet wrote a similar article about the head of the Supreme Judicial Council, a frequent target of opposition MPs.
source, source, source, source, source,

Dvin Hotel is suing the government to cancel the auction results for gold license plate 000 OO 01

Businessman Artak Tovmasyan's hotel believes it has won the right to the gold plate.
source,

authorities issue a ֏1.5 million fine to the wife of ex-MP-oligarch Samvel Alexanyan (a.k.a Lfik)

The citation was issued by Yerevan municipality over an allegedly illegal construction of a fence around their property in Ajapnyak district.
source,

anti-corruption: authorities launch an asset forfeiture procedure against the Serj-era chief of All Armenia Himnadram Fund who used part of the donated money for online gambling

Authorities believe Ara Vardanyan possesses a lot more properties and assets that were obtained illegally:
3 real estate properties
1 vehicle (will kill myself if it's cubic brabusik)
The current market value of an apartment in downtown Yerevan.
And тупо $2.9 million.
source, source,

last year prosecutors recovered $44 million in damages done to the state

Submitted for recovery: $169 million
Already recovered: $44 million
The amount recovered in 2023 exceeds the sum of the amount of damages recovered in the previous 4 years, said prosecutors.
source,

crime stats from 2023

Overall crime +8% YoY. Around half of it happened in Yerevan. Clearance rate -15%.
81% of all crimes had small-medium severity, 15% were serious, and 4% were severe.
Minor crimes -6% YoY
Severe crimes +38% (to 546)
Narcotics +124% (about 12% of all crimes)
Corruption cases +153%
Sexual crimes +81%
Human trafficking busts +138%
Property crimes -18%
Crimes against economic activity -270%
Robbery -2%
Theft -30%
Burglary -23%
Fraud +25%
Cybercrime fraud +37%
Crime involving a gun +40%
Murder -5% (55 murders)
Of the 55 murders, 42 were solved (76%), 13 were unresolved, and 7 involved a disappearance.
source, source,

number of drug addicts currently registered in the Health Ministry database

2023: 7612
2022: 7570
2021: 7392
2020: 7209
2019: 6951
2018: 6572
source,

Yerevan held a tender to purchase 15 trolleybuses for $3.9 million

China's Zhong Tong was the winner. They delivered regular buses earlier.
The municipality plans to purchase an additional 171 buses (this year) and 250 electric buses (not this year).
source, source,

չխկ-չխկ, չխկ-չխկ, չխկ-չխկ

Yerevan's subway wagons are badly outdated. The city sent dozens of wheels for repair and has received them back.
Put some veggie oil on them like Boeing.
source,

Yerevan municipality allocated funds to միջին-repair 55.3 kilometers of roads this year

Kentron 10.3 km
Ajapnyak 8.5
Erebuni 7.8
Nor Nork 5.3
Nork Marash 4.4
Avan 4.4
Malatia 3.9
Shengavit 3.4
Olive 3.1
Nubarashen 2.3
Davtashen 1.3
Arabkir 0.6
To minimize the impact on traffic and residents, the city has reached an agreement with construction firms to install the asphalt within 24 hours of launching the process to prep the road.
source,

Yerevan's public kindergartens will have new standards and security cameras

CITY: There is a process to implement the standards found in private kindergartens in the facilities run by the city. We organized 3-day retraining for educators of 40 municipal-run kindergartens. They studied modern tutoring methods and technologies.
MAYOR AVINYAN: We have decided to increase the oversight in kindergartens parallel to raising the tutors' wages. For example, every kindergarten must have CCTV cameras monitored by several individuals. The city must be reassured that children are being treated appropriately.
source, video,

is measles back?

There is a resurgence of measles cases across the world.

A 30-fold rise of measles cases in 2023 in the WHO European Region warrants urgent action. Over 30,000 measles cases were reported by 40 of the Region’s 53 Member States between January and October 2023

In the US, the number of cases in January-April of 2024 has surpassed the entire number of 2023.
In Armenia, there were 545 cases in 2023 and 241 this year so far. The wave began last year. Patients are mostly unvaccinated or partly vaccinated persons. The first dose should be administered when the child turns 1, and the second one at 4-6.
EXPERT: If you aren't sure if you've been vaccinated, taking another dose won't hurt you. Ventilating the room and avoiding crowded areas could help, but vaccination is the best protection. Contact a doctor if you have a high fever, weakness, and a skin rash.
source, source, source, source,

Air Cairo will launch regular flights between Cairo and Yerevan from June 20

from now on Armenia will be available for Egyptian tourists all year round, and for thousands of Egyptian Armenians it will become a direct and short way to their homeland

source,

10-year stats show the number of farm animals in Armenia

Cattle -29% (to 492K)
Sheep -3% (to 691K)
Goats -39% (to 19K)
Pigs +31% (to 187K)
Horses +23% (to 14K)
Birds +16% (to 4.4M)
source,

the amount of taxes collected by the IRS in Q1 2024

֏501B ($1.278B) or +5.8% YoY.
source,

FIDE ranking of Armenian chess players

Men's
(22) Levon Aronian (USA)
(54) Hayk Martirosyan
(63) Gabriel Sargsyan
(93) Samvel Ter-Sahakyan
Women's
(51) Elina Danielyan
(73) Anna Sargsyan
(82) Lilith Mkrtchyan
(95) Mariam Mkrtchyan
source,

Turkey's Erdogan suffers a crushing defeat in municipal elections across the country. An analyst explains the reasons.

This was CHP's best performance since 1977. They won in every large city.
Ankara: 60.3%/31.7%
Istambul: 50.1%/39.6%
Izmir: 48.9%/37.1%
Across the country:
CHP: 37.74% (oppo)
AKP: 35.49% (Erdogan)
DEM: 5.68% (Kurdish-Armenian)
YEN: 6.19% (Islamist-conservative)
Number of cities won by: CHP 35, AKP 24, DEM 10, MHP 8, ...
CHP won in several provinces where up until now their victory was unimaginable, writes the media.
Erdogan conceded and called it a victory for democracy. The opposition called the results a "decision by voters to establish a new policy in Turkey."
BAGRAT ESTUKYAN (editor of Turkey-based Agos newspaper): The polls placed the opposition ahead of the ruling party but no one expected the difference to be this big. In Istanbul, they were expecting the opposition to win with a 1-2% margin but the difference was far wider. In Ankara, the government was hoping it to be a close race but the opposition did even better there. The CHP did better in provinces despite threats by the government that the quality of services could be affected if the same party isn't in charge of municipalities and the central government. It becomes obvious how well the opposition performed when you look at the color-coded map of provinces. And keep in mind that this year CHP didn't have a coalition with other opposition parties; this was just them.
REPORTER: Why did Erdogan win after the 2023 earthquake but fail to repeat it this Sunday? What has changed over the past year?
ESTUKYAN: This is referred to as "delayed victory" because people were expecting this to happen in 2023. A lot depends on the individuals leading the ballots. For example, Ankara's incumbent mayor was viewed as far better than the person nominated by AKP to challenge him. The same about Istanbul.
This was Erdogan's fault because he wanted to surround himself with yes-men figures lacking personal ambitions. He wanted the party members to simply follow his orders. For a while, it worked because his personal rating was high, but it is no longer enough to boost his candidates.
Another reason Erdogan was able to maintain a strong grip on power for decades is because sadly Turkish voters do not vote based on ideas and debates; they are guided by general perceptions. Erdogan was able to craft his message and persona in a way that was digestible by a large share of the population. His defeat in the 2019 Istanbul elections marked the beginning of the end of his mojo.
When the opposition took over Istanbul, they reduced the very large budget resources that were being allocated to several pro-Erdogan Islamic foundations. These foundations were later tasked by the government to develop education programs in schools. That's concerning. They send imams to schools under the pretense of instilling religious values, but they actually teach illogical nonsense. A very large share of the population was against this but they had no leverage to stop it. Perhaps they expressed their displeasure through these municipal elections.
REPORTER: If a lot depends on individuals leading the ballot and the AKP nominated weak figures, does that mean Erdogan himself could still win the presidency if general elections were held today?
ESTUKYAN: Turkey is tired of elections. There have been 18 elections in 21 years. Every election season there is a scandal, there is something that wears people down. This year the turnaround was ~75%, against the usual >85%. Elections are the only way for the population to express their displeasure because Erdogan is suppressing freedom of expression on the streets and the press.
REPORTER: Did Erdogan's failure to help Gaza weaken his rating?
ESTUKYAN: Erdogan found himself in a difficult spot. There were protests during his party rallies with demands for Erdogan to end all trade with Israel. Turkish ships transport all sorts of goods to Israel every day. These include components for weapons. Every AKP rally attracted protesters, who were immediately faced with police or sometimes even officials snatching placards away from protesters. So the topic of Gaza harmed Erdogan. The opposition figures promised to end this trade with Israel if they win. Erdogan's anti-Israel rhetoric was based purely on religion and rallied the antisemitic segment of the population, but no substantial aid was provided to the battered population of Gaza. Erdogan's words were empty propaganda.
REPORTER: Does this major CHP victory mean we are going to see snap general elections?
ESTUKYAN: No. The opposition always declares a need for new elections after local victories but it's not going to happen.
The economy is in poor shape. The lira is losing value and people's salaries are worth less and less every day. I believe the unhappy seniors played a big role in Erdogan's Sunday defeat. They are normally more conservative and the majority of them would normally vote for Erdogan, but this time around it appears many didn't vote for him because this group was one of the heavily affected ones.
REPORTER: In summary, people are disappointed in the Erdogan government. If another party wins, can we expect "another quality" Turkey?
ESTUKYAN: The CHP's main ideology is Kemalism [unintelligible] but there are different factions of hardline religious followers and nationalists. Erdogan attempted to appease the religious faction, which led to a monstrous situation. They wanted to prohibit the teaching of Darwinism in schools. The CHP is more modern and there are higher hopes associated with them, but they do have religious and nationalist elements, so it really is about choosing the lesser of the evil.
source, source, source, source,

Forbes: Ukraine is about to get ammo, lots of it, and it's getting its best guns ready to fire away

Ukraine can finally repair American M777 towed howitzers locally, with locally-made parts. The M777s are "among the best and most important big guns in Ukrainian service." Ukrainians love them for their precision.
Received: >190
Destroyed: 44
Damaged: 38
The biggest problem, however, is the shortage of ammunition. The shell-hungry Ukrainian army is firing 2,000/day instead of 10,000. More ammo is on its way:
Czech-led consortium: 1,000,000s
US: possibly 100,000s soon if GOP lifts the ban
EU: 100,000s out of the million pledged last year
source,

Iran had also warned Russia about a possible terrorist attack days before the March 22 Moscow attack: Reuters source

Days before the attack in Russia, Tehran shared information with Moscow about a possible big terrorist attack inside Russia that was acquired during interrogations of those arrested in connection with deadly bombings in Iran

Iran had earlier arrested an ISIS-K commander linked to a January 3 attack that killed 100 in Iran.
source, source,

migrants are facing repressions and deportations in Russia after the mall terror attack, causing disruptions in logistics and services

REPORTER1: Almost 500 migrants from St. Petersburg are being deported from Russia for violating migration laws as part of a mass-scale law enforcement operation titled "Anti-Migrant".
Tajik and other migrants have begun to voluntarily leave Russia en masse.
Last night the police detained every Tajik national working as a driver at Makhachkala Landfill. As a result, there is soon expected to be a "garbage collapse" in Makhachkala.
Russia's labor market was already facing shortages as a result of the war in Ukraine and working-age men being deployed on the frontlines. How will this anti-migrant wave affect the labor market? Should we expect the price of products to rise?
EXPERT: The departure of migrants will, first and foremost, be a blow to specific sectors that were forced to employ migrants due to a lack of native workforce. The regime sent to war not the engineers and skilled workforce, but primarily the low-skilled male population, and these migrants were essentially substituting them in the labor market.
This will primarily affect delivery services, warehouses, the retail industry, many factories, and also agriculture because it's migrants who pick the strawberries in Podmoskovye.
One industry that certainly won't be directly affected is military manufacturing because they've never employed migrants. The government has been moving skilled native workforce from other sectors to defense manufacturing lately.
The same cannot be said about civilian factories, like poultry. I don't know how some of these factories will make it through this because migrants are their lifeline. There is a lot of non-mechanized labor in Russian factories, and their mechanization will be a challenge because of sanctions.
REPORTER1: Should we expect higher prices for certain products or services?
EXPERT: The impact on the quality of services was immediate. [Anecdotal] Literally this morning my colleague made an online purchase and she was told the delivery would be delayed. The disruption of services would likely be the initial side effect, followed by price hikes. I cannot predict at the moment which products will be affected because the chain is complicated.
Over time, they will have to raise prices to attract whatever native workforce is left in provinces. This is going to introduce further social tensions because many native Russians are Asian and they look Asian, so they will be perceived as foreign migrants. They don't look at your passport, they look at your eyes and skin. So I doubt Asian groups from Russia will agree to risk falling under the wrath of people who dislike migrants.
Nevertheless, there will be an attempt to attract a native workforce from the provinces. The provinces will also suffer. Eventually, they will have to raise wages and product prices, but in the first 2-3 months we would likely notice only logistics and service disruptions rather than price hikes.
REPORTER2: Authorities have now launched a campaign against those who help migrants obtain residency permits and prepare for language exams. Around 30 individuals working at companies licensed to organize migrants' civics and language exams are accused of taking a $160 bribe from each migrant to give them excellent scores.
The raids on migrants have become a daily occurrence. It is pushing many to leave Russia.
TAJIKISTAN GOV'T: We have received numerous complaints from our concerned citizens residing in Russia. More are returning to Tajikistan than leaving.
TAJIK DIASPORA UNION: Tajiks are leaving as a result of threats and the threat of nationalism. Those who leave now do not plan to return.
REPORTER2: The [institute for development of business and economy] has announced that 91% of Russian companies are facing a shortage of workers, especially lower-skilled ones. An exodus of migrants will have negative consequences for the economy.
The anti-migrant raids are happening in several cities. Police are searching apartments and stopping vehicles on highways and cities. They searched 5,000 people, 1,500 of whom were foreign citizens. Several hundred were caught with violations.
The wave of xenophobia has led to a shop owned by Tajik nationals being torched down in Blagoveshchensk (border with China).
Tajik diaspora union has conducted a survey among those who left Russia recently and found that many of them are unlikely to return. For reasons associated with safety and currency fluctuations, it is more beneficial for them to work in Saudi Arabia, UAE, or Turkey. But for many, Russia will remain the main destination because they don't need a visa to enter Russia. [Will Tajikistan kill EAEU?]
REPORTER3: Russia's prosecutor general claims the number of crimes committed by labor migrants has increased by 3/4th, but the official statistics for 2023 show a 9% drop YoY.
MEDIA: A ranking MP from the Russian parliament, Sergey Mironov, has called for authorities to shut down the retail giant Wildberries for "hiring and sponsoring illegal immigrants."
source, source, source, source,

Russian government nationalized 15 private companies in 6 months

source,
End of 17 minutes. Did you find the Easter egg in the post?

As part of a prostitution bust in Fairfield county, a Chillicothe pediatric dentist was rounded up, - https://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/17-arrested-in-prostitution-bust-in-fairfield-county-sheriffs-office-hotel-sting-operation-crackdown-arrests-custody?fbclid=PAAaa2fgkbRCzQpKH_V3ck3kXbkKIAuZ86ZSDhAb_a1Ek99bm6wN8iv78XnJU
Seems like a dentist avoid for other reasons as well, considering this from 2020
https://www.10tv.com/article/news/investigations/10-investigates/ohio-dentist-under-investigation-accused-by-patients-of-hurting-children/530-e86d2433-de67-4850-b23f-4bdd81fc912a

Memorial Day 2024

Please book rooms as refundable in case we need to reroute!!
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Friday May 24 - 25 - $197 (plus ~$30 w/ fees)
Holiday Inn Lexington - Hamburg, an IHG Hotel
1976 Justice Dr, Lexington, KY 40509
https://www.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels/us/en/find-hotels/select-roomrate
https://maps.app.goo.gl/tQPaw6TZBGz3RZHM7
​
Backup Options:
Home2Suites $ 237.71 = ($204.80+$32.91)
1750 Pleasant Ridge Dr, Lexington, KY 40509
https://www.hilton.com/en/book/reservation/rooms/?ctyhocn=LEXHGHT&arrivalDate=2024-05-24&departureDate=2024-05-25&room1NumAdults=1
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Courtyard by Marriott Lexington South/Hamburg Place - 1951 Pleasant Ridge Drive I-75 At, Man O War Blvd, Lexington, KY 40509
https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/lexce-courtyard-lexington-south-hamburg-place/overview/
​
Backup Options - Overflow - avid hotel Lexington $134 - Hamburg Area, an IHG Hotel
1810 Bryant Rd, Lexington, KY 40509
https://www.ihg.com/avidhotels/hotels/us/en/find-hotels/select-roomrate?fromRedirect=true&qSrt=sBR&qSlH=lexav&qRms=1&qAdlt=2&qChld=0&qCiD=26&qCiMy=042023&qCoD=27&qCoMy=042023&qAAR=6CBARC&qRtP=6CBARC&setPMCookies=true&qSHBrC=VA&qDest=1810%20Bryant%20Rd,%20Lexington,%20KY,%20US&qpMn=0&srb_u=1
Backup Options - Cheap - Sleep Inn $80 - 1920 Plaudit Pl, Lexington, KY 40509
https://www.choicehotels.com/kentucky/lexington/sleep-inn-hotels/ky098?adults=2&checkInDate=2023-05-26&checkOutDate=2023-05-27
Dinner at Harry’s or nearby.
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Saturday May 25 - 26 - $144.14 ($160 w/ fees)
Best Western - 130 Shiloh Trl Waynesville, North Carolina 28786
https://www.bestwestern.com/en_US/book/hotel-rooms.34084.html?checkIn=2024-05-25&checkOut=2024-05-26&iata=00170240&rateCode=2U&adults=2&ssob=MTPBM0004G&cid=MTPBM0004G:google:META:34084_mapresults_1_US_desktop_25_05_2024_selected___organic&2334042-2=&hmGUID=76303e1c-84b3-4f8c-942a-bb5e51623e10
​
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Sunday May 26 - 27 - $129.45 ($116.31 + $13.14 fees)
Hampton Inn Maysville - 503 Market Place Drive, Maysville, KY 41056
https://www.hilton.com/en/book/reservation/rooms/?ctyhocn=MAYKYHX&arrivalDate=2024-05-26&departureDate=2024-05-27&room1NumAdults=1
​
Super 8 and Days in are other cheap options
Probably avoid Quality Inn, 1428a US-68, Maysville, KY 41056, USA

https://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/17-arrested-in-prostitution-bust-in-fairfield-county-sheriffs-office-hotel-sting-operation-crackdown-arrests-custody?fbclid=PAAaa2fgkbRCzQpKH_V3ck3kXbkKIAuZ86ZSDhAb_a1Ek99bm6wN8iv78XnJU
I'm all for cracking down on people who solicit underage kids. I also understand prostitution is not legal in Ohio, but the whole operation is seemingly to designed to name and shame.
Curious how everyone else feels?

Hi sorry if this post doesn’t belong here. But I just purchased a few bottles on Suntory yamazaki 12 in Ginza Tokyo. One of the bottles I’m a little confused about. Once I got to my hotel I noticed it was rung out as pure malt whereas the bottle and box says single malt instead of pure malt. When I look up the bar code number on the bottle and box I get bottles that say Pure malt not single malt. I just want to make sure I was charged for the right thing because I purchased several bottles and hope they didn’t charge me incorrectly. photo of the bottle and box
The product that comes up when I look up the barcode number

11-minute read.

consumer prices continue to decline, YoY

January: -0.9% (-5.8% food)
February: -1.7% (-7.4% food)
February stats: Alcohol & tobacco +7.5%, utilities +0.8%, health +0.1%, transportation +10.4%, communications -0.5%, recreation +0.6%, education +4.8%, restaurants & hotels +3.5%, non-food +0.7%, services +3%.
source,

January economy stats, YoY

Industrial output +21%
Processing industry output +38%
Mining -10%
Electricity & energy +8%
Construction +9.5%
source, source,

number of IRS-visible transactions and printed store receipts continues to rise

There were 53.5M (+19%) transactions in February valued at ֏976B (+23%).
source,

Armenians finally rich enough to afford a vacation in Armenia? 🤔

The number of Armenians traveling within Armenia has increased:
2023: 2.3 million
2022: 1.9 million
74% of trips are for tourism, 19% for business.
TOUR AGENCY: One of the benefits of internal tourism is that the vacationers are often Yerevan residents who spend cash in provinces. Internal tourism also makes people love and appreciate their country. //
Tsakhkadzor, Aparan, and Jermuk are the most popular winter destinations, while Lori and Tavush are preferred in hot months.
video,

debt as of January

External: $6.4B (-$40M, MoM)
Domestic: $5.4B (+109M, MoM)
source,

Q&A with NatSec Armen Grigoryan

REPORTER: Do you plan to apply for EU candidacy soon?
GRIGOYAN: It's a topic of discussion, it's on the table.
REPORTER: Update us on the presence of Russian border agents at Yerevan's Zvartnots airport.
GRIGORYAN: Recently we officially informed the Russian side that Armenian agents must carry out those duties at the airport.
REPORTER: Why remove them now? Why not before?
GRIGORYAN: Armenia continuously develops its abilities in various areas. Today we have the ability to fully manage and oversee the airport.
REPORTER: Russia's Foreign Minister Lavrov has essentially demanded Armenia to make a choice between Russia and the West, stating that Russia will draw conclusions and take steps based on Armenia's choice. What's your choice?
GRIGORYAN: Russia is the one that must clarify its stance as a CSTO member. We have been trying to get CSTO to recognize Armenia's state borders since May 2021 [Azerbaijani invasion]. The CSTO has not recognized Armenia's borders and has not condemned the invasion of Armenia. Russia, as a CSTO member, should clarify its stance towards Armenia. Not the other way around.
REPORTER: You just spent 2.5 hours in a closed-door meeting with the ruling party. What did you discuss? Is it true that Armenia will make a decision on EU candidacy by autumn?
GRIGORYAN: During this meeting we discussed Armenia's economic security. Most of what you read in the media about our closed-door meetings is false.
REPORTER: Is there a threat of Russia again blocking Armenian cargo trucks at the Upper Lars checkpoint? We already have reports.
GRIGORYAN: To avoid these issues in the long term, we aim to diversify Armenia's economy. We are seeking new economic partners. Sometimes we succeed, sometimes we don't. The threat you mentioned exists, hence the need for diversification.
REPORTER: Is the West "demanding" Armenia to sever its relations with Russia?
GRIGORYAN: No, and there is no intent on our part to damage our relations with Russia. Look at Russia's relations with other countries, not just Armenia. Russia has damaged its relations with many countries. If you have problems with everyone, YOU might be the cause. Why is Armenia always being blamed for this when Russia itself has damaged its relations with everyone? Will the media outlets in Armenia ever stop asking us about it and redirect the question to Russia instead? Ask Russia. Their foreign ministry holds weekly press conferences.
It's strange that the Armenian government is being accused of attempting to "strengthen" the West at the expense of Russia. Look at the post-Ukraine war reality: NATO is larger and stronger than ever, the EU is more united than ever, and the US military industry is developing very rapidly. Question: Did Armenia do all this to strengthen the West, or was it those who decided to launch the war against Ukraine?
REPORTER: If Russia has problems with everyone, what is the particular gripe that Russia has with Armenia?
GRIGORYAN: Perhaps the choices made by the Armenian people.
source,

Armenia does not find it expedient to use the Russian platform to negotiate with Azerbaijan: a ranking member of Armenia's ruling party

REPORTER: Are you discussing the possibility of holding AM-AZ negotiations in Moscow?
HRIPSIME GRIGORYAN: As we have stated before, the geography or the platform is not the most important thing. What matters is the content. Our previous experience [2020 Nov. 9 and onward] shows that the agreements reached on the Russian platform were not upheld. We do not find it expedient at this time to hold negotiations in Russia.
REPORTER: Describe our relations with the EU.
HRIPSIME GRIGORYAN: Strengthening progressively. Pashinyan said during the European Parliament speech that Armenia will get as close as the EU allows us to. The EU has responded positively. We are currently implementing the CEPA agreement. During a February meeting, they recorded that Armenia has made great progress in the implementation of CEPA. Additionally, today we have new cooperation in defense and other areas.
REPORTER: Russian officials are using unfriendly rhetoric toward Armenia.
HRIPSIME GRIGORYAN: Armenia is taking steps to strengthen its sovereignty. Any country that opposes Armenia's sovereignty is not an ally of Armenia.
source,

Russia continues to flex/threaten

PUTIN's SPOKESMAN: Did you know that more Armenians live in Russia than in Armenia? And they are Russians, and they are well-off here, and we love them, and they love us, and it's been like this for centuries and will be like this for centuries to come. Agree?
ACTIVIST: Of course.
PUTIN's SPOKESMAN: We highly value our special relations with Armenia. Russia is exercising constructiveness and political foresight. The difficulties in AM-RU relations will pass. Today Armenia is reaping the economic benefits of strong ties with Russia and EAEU. I'm confident the Armenian leadership will take this into account while making foreign policy decisions; it's their sovereign right, and we won't dictate.
source, source, source,

Azerbaijan and Russia strengthen relations; new documents signed

PM Mishustin visited Azerbaijan this week to sign several agreements in "strategic" areas. The countries will revamp the border infrastructure to boost trade including through North-South passing via Iran, railway and sea transport, develop a tourism roadmap, and strengthen cultural ties.
source,

Iran and Azerbaijan strengthen relations

Foreign ministers of two states met recently in Saudi Arabia.
IRAN: This is a new page in our relations with Azerbaijan. Great opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation are opening up for both countries.
AZERBAIJAN: We have taken steps to resume the activities of our embassy in Iran after the January 2023 attack. We have also expressed our position to Iran about the acquisition of weapons by Armenia.
source, source,

Armenia's defense minister visited Iran on Wednesday to meet his counterparts

Papikyan, Bagheri, and Ashtiani discussed the present state of cooperation in the defense sector and future development, and reiterated their commitment to establishing long-term peace in the South Caucasus.
A number of agreements were reached on issues of mutual interest. No details.

... Armenian political analyst accuses Russia of attempting to position Iran against Armenia

Context: Armenia's National Security Council chief Armen Grigoryan recently complained that Russia was attempting to push Iran against Armenia's decision to deploy EU border observers. It was also reported that Iran had stopped authorizing the delivery of Indian weapons to Armenia through its territory. MOD Papikyan's Wednesday visit to Iran was viewed by some analysts under this context.
EDGAR ARAKELYAN (analyst): There are forces who have been trying to damage Armenia-Iran relations under "northern" [Russian] orders by promoting the idea that Armenia's pro-West aspirations were not only against Russia but also against Iran. These forces will soon be deprived of all arguments. A chain is being formed: India-Iran-Armenia-Georgia-France-Greece-Cyprus-Egypt.
source, source, source, source,

French ambassador Decottignies about Armenia and Iran

AMBASSADOR: We have long-term plans to develop ties in defense and other sectors with Armenia. We have also signed an agreement to retrain Armenian army officers and provide advisory.
REPORTER: There are complaints that you are trying to push Russia out of this region by deepening the cooperation with Armenia.
AMBASSADOR: That is not the goal. The goal is to help defend Armenia's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Over the last few years, Armenia's neighbor Iran has also expressed concerns about Armenia's territorial integrity. France and Iran have disagreements in many areas but this is one area where we have consensus. In reality, every UN country should agree on this topic because territorial integrity is in the UN Charter. We assure Azerbaijan that the weapons we supply to Armenia are meant to strengthen its defense. If you don't violate Armenia's air, you won't have to face the [French] air defense systems.
REPORTER: What about economic cooperation?
AMBASSADOR: During Pashinyan's latest trip to France, it was emphasized the importance of Armenia's infrastructure, energy sources, transport, and communication. To strengthen Armenia you must strengthen its infrastructure. We are paying close attention to this.
REPORTER: Any plans for French officials to visit Armenia?
AMBASSADOR: There were high-profile visits just weeks earlier and Pashinyan has invited PM Attal to Armenia. But there are other important visits as well. Recently French surgeons visited Armenia to share valuable experiences that can help save the lives of bleeding persons. Around 30% of deaths during recent armed clashes were a result of bleeding.
full,

Armenia and Greece have signed a military-technical cooperation agreement

Pashinyan cabinet is expected to greenlight it during tomorrow's government session and send it to Parliament for ratification.
The agreement includes the exchange of information to help produce weapons, ammunition, explosives, and other technologies; technical assistance; research and development; and establishment of joint organizations for production.
A new Armenian-Greek committee will be formed.
source,

Armenia is ditching a Russian "chekist" celebration day

Armenia's National Security Service (NSS) celebrates its day on December 20. It is a Soviet-era tradition inherited from Russian CHEKA (chekists). The Armenian government has decided to move it to January 8 instead.
From December 20 news digest: Will Pashinyan unKremlin the NSS? The Parliamentary Defense Committee approved a Government motion to change who and how can be appointed as the director or deputy director of the National Security Service (NSS). The NSS leadership will no longer be required to be ranking career officers; they can be "civilians". Members of civil society have long complained that Armenia's "militarized" NSS is the servant of the Russian KGB. The NSS leaders have long been students of Russian school. The ties are so close that both NSS and KGB celebrate their employee day on December 20. That's the day when Bolsheviks formed the "Chekist" agency in 1917.
source,

one of the public squares in Cairo will be named "Armenia"

The decision was announced during PM Pashinyan's trip to Egypt. The PM of Egypt, in turn, thanked Armenia for naming one of the Yerevan squares after Egypt. Pashinyan was given a tour of Egyptian and Armenian cultural sites on Wednesday.
source, video,

day 2: PM Pashinyan was invited to the Egypt-Armenia business forum

PASHINYAN: Armenia is open for business. We are building highways, tunnels, reservoirs, and schools. Come help us because we have a shortage of construction companies. The state will subsidize the cost of modernization of businesses. The size of the workforce keeps growing in Armenia. We have also abolished the "progressive" tax and set a flat one. Armenians love spending their vacations in Egypt during the hot months, so I hope Egyptians will visit Armenia during the winter months for skiing and winter activities. You can also enjoy a cool 20C temperature in the Armenian mountains during the hottest months of the year. The services sector and gastrotourism have been actively developing in Armenia so come and invest in this sector, agriculture, and winemaking. We will allow the private sector to invest in a new project called Academic City, which will house all universities and various public venues.
full, source,

Armenia and EU discuss a smarter management of water resources

The government, the World Bank, the EU, and the UNDP held the 4th policy dialogue of a joint platform to improve the use of water in Armenia. It also promotes the development of the green economy. The dialogue began in 2022.
WORLD BANK: Armenia has sufficient water resources, however, this resource is fast declining because of climate change and too much water lost on its way from the source to its destination. A shift in the mindset is needed, recognizing that water requires better management. The World Bank is ready to help Armenia with investment in infrastructure, as well as improvements in its governing institutions and policies.
EUROPEAN UNION: Increased irrigation needs, climate change, and an outdated water infrastructure pose risks to the available water resources in Armenia. In order to prevent further water losses, Armenia needs to develop better wastewater treatment, step up efforts to clean Lake Sevan and develop and implement a water management strategy, in line with the CEPA. The EU stands ready to support the Government in all of these efforts, including in the context of the EU-Armenian Investment Coordination Platform that was established to accelerate investments of critical and strategic importance for Armenia.
source,

anti-corruption: authorities launch a criminal case against several Patrol Police officers accused of writing fake citations to boost their numbers

The alleged violations occurred in November-January. The officers are accused of writing citations without stopping the cars, and during the periods when their cameras were off. A criminal case is launched.
source,

Appeals court slaps the Lower court for sending a breastfeeding employee of Synergy tech company to jail as a pretrial restriction

Several economy ministry employees and Synergy tech firm employees were recently sent to jail by a Lower court judge after authorities charged them with corruption and rigging a bid. Members of the ruling QP party later "vouched" for the Synergy employees to be released before their trial. The court later released them after prosecutors requested the court to ease their restriction.
The Appeals court has just ruled that the Lower court ignored many details and should have never sent at least one of the employees to jail: Lilith Makyan was breastfeeding a 2-year-old and there was not enough evidence that she could interfere with the ongoing investigation if not jailed.
The ministry and company employees are still facing prison time for the alleged corruption scheme. A house arrest has become a popular option used instead of jail after recent legal reforms. The now-former economy minister Kerobyan is under house arrest as part of this case.
source,

update: permanent housing assistance for Nagorno-Karabakh refugees

Refugees can use a simpler path to become Armenian citizens and qualify for a housing program when it becomes available.
The government will offer ֏3 million ($7,500) per household member under the condition that sometime in the future, but not in the near future, the adult members will begin to repay their share. If we assume there are up to 150,000 refugees, this translates to $1.125 billion, part of which will be presumably repaid years later unless the government decides to forgive the debt down the road.
Several organizations and former public officials from Artsakh have suggested raising the benefits to ֏5 million ($12,400) per person without the repayment and citizenship requirement. For 150,000 refugees this would mean $1.860 billion. During a Wednesday press conference, they said ֏5 million per person is the minimum amount necessary to buy an apartment or a house without the need to cover part of the cost out of pocket.
source, other,

73% of Turkish citizens believe the country is headed in the wrong direction: Ipsos

74% said the economy is in poor shape.
Top concerns: Inflation 50%, poverty 30%, crime 22%, unemployment 22%, corruption 21%, terrorism 20%, climate change 5%.
source,

there is a car equipped with sensors that travels across Armenia to decide which roads are in need of repairs: VIDEO

The Road Department has a car that scans the asphalt as it travels, around 1,600 km per year. The sensor measures how bumpy the road is and calculates a score. The scores are sent to a special software, created by the World Bank and used in hundreds of countries, that calculates the expected cost of repairs and the longevity of a repaired road. It helps decide whether to rebuild the road or patch it.
source,

12-minute read.

Armenia is refusing to host Russia's special representative Khovayev: Russia's Foreign Minister Lavrov

Khovayev, who was tasked with negotiating with the sides the implementation of the Nov. 9 agreement and other issues, recently visited Baku but surprisingly skipped Yerevan. Lavrov says the Armenian government has not yet approved Khovayev's visit, which is in line with the Armenian government's recent "unfriendly" steps towards Russia, said Lavrov.
Lavrov also criticized Armenian leaders for saying it was a mistake for Armenia to rely solely on Russia for its defense needs since 1991.
Context: Russia and Azerbaijan are demanding a Russian-controlled corridor from Armenia. Armenia has rejected the demands and openly accused Russia of intentionally attempting to keep Armenia diplomatically and physically vulnerable against Azerbaijan.
source, source, source, source, context, context, context, context,

update: Armenian fish producer accuses Russia of politically-motivated suspension of imports

Last week we learned that Russia suspended the import of caviar from Armenian producer Max Fish after supposedly discovering harmful bacteria. The Armenian regulator has received an official response from the Russian regulator and will launch an investigation.
Max Fish: We have been exporting exclusively to Russia since 2016. This is the first time our products are being suspended. We see a political context here. What the Russian regulator claims to have found is a secondary infection that's destroyed under high temperatures. Perhaps it was a result of improper transportation or storage. We use high-tech equipment at our factory and take lab samples every day. Russia is using its regulatory agency as a strategic tool to punish countries whose interests do not align with theirs. //
source, source,

a group of Armenians gathered near Zvartnots airport to protest the presence of Russian agents

The organizer was the nationalist BEVER faction. They are known for public rallies against Russia.
Armenian ruling party members have expressed concerns over the presence of Russian agents. Media sources say they plan to remove the agents sometime this year. Armenia is simultaneously negotiating to liberalize the visa regime with the EU, reform its border crossing regime, implement a new biometric passport system, and strengthen the refugee readmission policies.
source,

Armenian authorities drop charges against Azerbaijani soldier who escaped a military position and accidentally crossed the border last week

Armenian observers say they witnessed how a group of Azeri soldiers had an argument after which a soldier left the position and accidentally crossed the border before being captured by Armenian soldiers.
On Monday the authorities confirmed the story and decided to return Ruslan Penakhov to Azerbaijan as part of the post-war agreement to repatriate soldiers who cross the border accidentally. The agreement was reached after the war at a time when the sides had not yet built their border positions and border accidents were a more common occurrence. In 2021 Azerbaijan returned an Armenian soldier who accidentally crossed the border near Goris due to heavy fog. Two months ago Armenia returned 2 Azeri prisoners and received 32 POWs back as part of a renewed effort to improve the relations. Tens of Armenian POWs remain illegally jailed in Azerbaijan.
source, source, source,

Armenia-Greece defense relations

Last week PM Pashinyan visited Greece. On Monday Greek MOD Dendias visited Armenia. They discussed army reforms, military education, retraining, exchange of information and experience.
The Greek MOD expressed interest in developing Greece-Armenia-Cyprus ties, as well as possible cooperation under the Greece-Armenia-France-India format.
The Armenian MOD emphasized the importance of AM-GR cooperation within the frameworks of the EU and NATO.
The Greek MOD condemned "expansionist forces" and called for peaceful resolution of conflicts, and said he has been in talks with Armenia on military-technical cooperation; a cooperation agreement has been signed.
Greece is inviting Armenian companies to take part in a new Greek research and development project.
source, source, source,

is Erdogan ok? 🤔

Turkey's inflation reached 67% in February and exceeded expectations despite the central bank's earlier decision to gradually raise the interest rate to 45%.
2023 Jun: 8.5%
2024 Feb: 45%
The government expects the impact of drastic rate hikes to become visible with delay, within the next 12 months.

Restaurants and hotels led the price rises in February, surging 94.5%, followed by a 91.8% rise in education prices. Heavily weighed food and non-alcoholic drinks prices jumped 71.1%.

Economists have said that February inflation was also driven by the lingering impact of this year's minimum wage hike on the services sector.
source, source,

PM Pashinyan took part in the opening ceremony of a new Democracy School

It's a project launched by the ruling QP party. Anyone can apply. The organizers said the party members, including NatSec Armen Grigoryan and other ranking MPs, will give lectures, share personal experiences, and promote democratic policies and theories.
MP: We are going beyond the theoretical. Students will study materials based on the practical experiences of politicians. This isn't going to be an ordinary political science class.
PASHINYAN: It's important for us to have a forum where we can occasionally detach from day-to-day activities and gather to think and share our thoughts. We will discuss our perception of the world, the world's perception of Armenia, social psychology, etc.
video, source, source,

prosecutors have over 100 asset forfeiture cases worth over $1.3 billion against former and current officials and their associates accused of possessing assets with illegal origins

The asset forfeiture process began a few years ago. The targets are hundreds of officials and thousands of properties worth ֏532 billion possessed by them. Prosecutors have so far reached a deal with 6 suspects who agreed to return ~75% of the shady assets. These include real estate properties worth several billions of drams and hundreds of millions in cash.
The latest subjects are the ex-governor of Aragatsotn Sargis Sahakyan and his brother Nairi, an ex-MP from the HHK party. Prosecutors demand several real estate properties, vehicles, and over ֏1 billion. Ex-gov Sahakyan was convicted of forgery and abuse of power in 2019.
The parliamentary opposition parties, many of whose members are suspected of possessing illegal properties, have asked the Constitutional Court to strike down the asset forfeiture law. The latter had requested the Venice Commission to provide an opinion. The Venice Commission said the asset forfeiture law can be legal and serve as an effective tool against corruption as long as it's used reasonably. The Constitutional Court therefore proceeded to request information and statistics from prosecutors so it can decide whether the law is being used within reason. They have not yet made a ruling.
source, source,

the city is collecting more money from fewer car owners after drastically raising "red line" parking fees in central Yerevan

For example, the cost of 1-year parking has increased from $30 to $395 in small Kentron (~1 km radius). The increase was much smaller outside Kentron. This has led to fewer drivers purchasing the annual parking passes.
YEREVAN OFFICIAL: Just 10% of car owners have decided to continue to park their cars permanently in this district. People have started to use the paid parking spots only when necessary. //
Despite a drop in the number of pass owners, the revenues have increased in January-February YoY.
2023: ֏551 million (Zone A and B)
2024: ֏693 million (Zone A and B)
The city says the primary goal was to help offload Kentron and they claim it is working to a degree. Stats will be available soon.
Pro-car lobby: The city raised the fees just to collect more cash. Raising parking fees has never led to fewer cars in any developed country.
Pro-bus lobby: Park your car outside Kentron for a much cheaper price, then use the subway or bus to travel within small Kentron.
Pro-car lobby: The city should increase the number of one-way streets and better manage the traffic. Parking should be banned in certain areas and converted into car lanes.
The city says the number of lanes dedicated to buses will significantly increase this year. They also plan to build several multi-story parking garages, possibly just outside Kentron, to help offload Kentron.
The city recently banned the entry of large vehicles in small Kentron outside of certain hours usually used by businesses for deliveries. The enforcement will begin in March.
Sunday parking is free.
source,

Yerevan municipality has prepared a gift for women on International Women's Day

Public transport will be free for women on March 8, and around 15,000 female employees will receive free tickets to cultural venues.
source,

"Kanaz" sports & culture center has been returned under the city's ownership

Mayor Avinyan said they plan to revamp it.
source,

Cascade's upper section, abandoned for decades, is finally returned to Yerevan municipality which plans to revamp it with the help of French architects

MAYOR AVINYAN: It's a 11.5-hectare area. The construction of this section has been left unfinished since the USSR. We plan to implement a large-scale program to develop the area. Cascade will finally present its full beauty to the residents and visitors of the capital. Last week I met the famous French architect Wilmotte [presumably from Wilmotte & Associés]. They have agreed to give us free sketches so we can discuss them.
source, documentary,

Yerevan has imported Volvo garbage trucks and hundreds of new recycling bins

In 2020 the residents of the capital with access to recycling bins recycled 300 tons of cardboard. By 2023 that number had doubled to 600 tons, without increasing the number of bins.
People recycled 30 tons of plastic and 30 tons of glass last year. The real amount of recycled plastic is likely higher because there is "rampant theft" from plastic bins. The new bins are expected to prevent theft, said the city. They expect the plastic and glass recycling volumes to double.
The city collects the recycled materials and sells them to companies specializing in the processing of materials. These businesses, in turn, are selling it abroad and rely heavily on Russia. As a result of "geopolitical" changes, plastic businesses are earning significantly less than before. This, in turn, has reduced the recycling revenues for the city. The city expects the volumes of recycled plastic to sharply increase after the installation of hundreds of new bins, so they hope the businesses will catch up and find a solution to expand their capacities in time.
The new bins will begin to appear later this month. There will be the 4th type of bin for aluminum waste. The locations will increase from 130 to 430. The locations are chosen to be close to residential apartments, commercial clusters, and schools.
source, source, source,

Yerevan municipality accuses utility companies of laying down thin layers of crappy asphalt after conducting work that requires excavation

DEPUTY MAYOR: Over thousands of permits were issued to utility companies last year to dig the streets. They never seem to do proper work when it comes to rebuilding the asphalt. We are discussing legal solutions. Over half of the holes you see on the streets were caused by construction workers hired by ՀԷՑ, Veolia, and Gazprom. From now on, not a single company will receive a permit unless they start doing a better job. The penalty for violators could increase from current ֏100,000 to ֏500,000. //
Last month the central government discussed possible laws to increase oversight over the quality of post-excavation construction work that's currently handled between municipalities and utility firms. Yerevan has been installing new gas pipes, irrigation systems, and underground cables.
source,

PM Pashinyan and Speaker Alen Simonyan were filmed walking in Yerevan's Northern Avenue: VIDEO

source,

how well are cities collecting local taxes?

Last year the combined budget of all the settlements in Armenia was ֏243 billion ($601 million). If we deduct the subsidies issued by the central government, the funds collected by municipalities themselves amounted to ֏91 billion ($225 million). This comes largely from property tax, transportation tax, and various fees.
Yerevan's share in that ֏91B was ֏50B ($124 million). The city says they collected more than expected. The "worst" collection performance is in the real estate area, where the collection performance was 92%.
Infrastructure Ministry says Armenians have gotten better at paying taxes and fees promptly, partly thanks to easier electronic systems that allow you to pay taxes "with a few taps on a telephone screen". Last year people made 2.5 million tax & fee transactions electronically, up from 1.4 million in 2022.
Infrastructure Ministry says the tax collection performance by cities has improved from an average of 60% several years ago to above 90% today.
The official believes the taxes are being paid more promptly because it has become easier to pay electronically, and because not paying it can now lead to lower credit scores; in 2022 an agreement was signed with the credit bureau to share information on delinquent payments.
source,

Yerevan will have a new "law enforcement" division under a newly proposed municipal law. It will enforce rules in the following areas:

⚖️ illegal buildings and appropriation of lands
⚖️ illegal commercial activities
⚖️ stop or tow away vehicles that violate construction or sanitation rules, for example, if they exit the construction site and enter public roads with dirty tires. It's practically "impossible" to enforce this today.
⚖️ illegal parking in bus stops or other asshole-like parking habits
⚖️ schlagbaum control and enforcement
⚖️ etc.
source,

anti-corruption: police officers arrest a speeding driver after he tries to bribe them with $50

The incident happened on Yerevan-Sevan տռաս: The driver is accused of approaching the police vehicle and placing ֏20,000 on it before walking away.
source,

education ministry instructs schools not to "clutter" classroom walls with random posters, "it can impact the academic performance"

MINISTRY: We have instructed schools to wait for instructions and a ruleset on how to design the walls. Many studies have shown that walls have a significant impact on the student's academic performance and progress. For example, a certain % must be left empty, and this is different based on grade. //
EXPERT: This is correct. Random papers and posters are known to distract students and harm their performance. The walls should be of bright color, especially for lower-grade students. Stick to international practices. //
source,

anti-corruption: felony charges are filed against the mayor of Aygepar and two family members

Authorities say the (2005-current) mayor of Aygepar, his wife and father-in-law, committed property fraud worth millions of drams in 2012-2018.
source,

how much is being spent on social benefits and pensions?

2020: ֏453B
2021: ֏485B
2022: ֏534B
2023: ֏597B
2024: ֏676B ($1.7 billion)
488,000 seniors will receive ֏295B in pensions this year.
106,000 people will receive various forms of assistance in the amount of ֏46B.
37,000 army officers and family members will receive ֏41B.
source,

some residents complain that pharmacies are now requiring prescriptions for antibiotics

Context: The health ministry is proceeding with the expansion of e-prescription ahead of Universal Healthcare rollout. Some medications were already being prescribed electronically. Starting March 1, the number has increased by 400, with another 2,500 medications expected to become electronic starting in 2025.
Patients will only need their ID card to pick up a prescription after a visit to the doctor's office. All pharmacies were already required to connect to the electronic ARMED medical system. Another 500 holdout pharmacies requested permission to connect on March 1. They will establish a connection to the e-prescription system with the same computer and internet "without the need for additional purchases or infrastructure".
One resident was taken by surprise on March 1 when the pharmacy refused to sell him antibiotics.
RESIDENT: How am I supposed to get it on weekends or holidays? Today is Friday, so am I supposed to wait 2 days until Monday, plus 9 hours to see a doctor just to get a prescription for an antibiotic? //
Doctors and the health ministry advise residents not to buy or use antibiotic without a professional prescription:

մարդիկ երբեմն բարեկամի կամ հարեւանի խորհրդով դեղեր են գնում եւ ընդունում, չգիտակցելով, որ դրանց ընդունումն իրենց առողջության վրա կարող է բացասական ազդեցություն ունենալ: Առանց դեղատոմսի վաճառքի ամենավատ հետեւանքներից է հակաբիոտիկակայունությունը

A pharmacist says some residents rushed to buy year's worth of antibiotics and other medications before the March 1 deadline. "There was panic."
A pharmacist says some doctors were also unaware of the e-prescription requirement for certain types of medications and continued to write the old paper forms. On February 19 the government had warned that antibiotics and other medication will become e-prescription starting March 1, after multiple public discussions in January. This came after a 6-month-long pilot program with pharmacies to help them adapt. Nevertheless, one pharmacist says it's necessary to preserve the paperwork option for now until all the doctors learn about the requirement.
Besides curbing the unauthorized use of antibiotics and other medications, the government says the latest reform allows the patient to choose the manufacturer of the medication as opposed to being "required" by doctors to use a specific brand, as long as the contents of the medications are the same.
PASHINYAN: There have been complaints that some doctors were being bribed by pharmaceutical companies to prescribe only their products. This reform is going to put an end to it. The electronic system will also provide statistics that we can use to monitor various issues, such as possible shady ties between various entities, including specific doctors and pharmacies. //
MINISTRY: All paper procedures, except for one, will be replaced with electronic databases. One paper book will be maintained and used only during emergencies if the internet is out in pharmacies. //
source, source, source, source, source, source,

drinking just 2 cans of soda per week reverses the positive effect of exercise on the cardiovascular system: scientists

Weekly 150-minute workouts are rendered worthless by 700 ml of soda, according to Canadian scientists who studied 100,000 adults over the span of 30 years.
SCIENTISTS: Drop cane and syrup-based sodas altogether. Artificially sweetened drinks didn’t have the same negative impact. Nevertheless, the best drink option remains water. //
Or թան․
source,

I had another idea of a post, similar to the Billboard thing, but this time, analyzing which songs sound more like it fits with the Y2K/Millennium era (90s/00s transition) and which songs just scream 00s.
There may have been certain songs from 2000 like "Country Grammar" that sound like neither era (a.k.a., what you guys call "2K1") but most songs were predominantly Y2K era. Vice-versa for 2005 and the Core '00s.

2001

Y2K Era

• Survivor - Destiny's Child
• Lady Marmalade - Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mya, Pink
• When It's Over - Sugar Ray
• Fat Lip - Sum 41
• Smooth Criminal - Alien Ant Farm
• Peaches & Cream - 112
• Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger - Daft Punk
• Love Don't Cost a Thing - Jennifer Lopez
• Lapdance - N.E.R.D.
• All or Nothing - O-Town
• Can't Get You Out of My Head - Kylie Minogue
• I'm a Believer - Smash Mouth
• Raise Up - Petey Pablo
• Hit 'Em up Style (Oops!) - Blu Cantrell
• Pop - NSYNC
• Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me) - Train
• One Minute Man - Missy Elliott
• It’s Been Awhile - Staind
• Chop Suey! - System of a Down
• Rollout (My Business) - Ludacris
• Where's Your Head At - Basement Jaxx
• Jaded - Aerosmith
• Upside Down - A*Teens
• Where The Party At - Jagged Edge ft. Nelly
• All for You - Janet Jackson
• How You Remind Me - Nickelback
• Let Me Blow Ya Mind - Eve ft. Gwen Stefani
• Everywhere - Michelle Branch
• Someone to Call My Lover - Janet Jackson
• The Middle - Jimmy Eat World
• Rock The Boat - Aaliyah
• Perfect Day - Hoku
• Short Skirt/Long Jacket - Cake
• American Skin (41 Shots) - Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
• Standing Still - Jewel
• Hey Baby - No Doubt
• Dejame entrar - Carlos Vives
• Jezebel - Chely Wright
• Romeo - Basement Jaxx

Core '00s

• Everything Hits at Once - Spoon

Hard to place (could go either way or neither way; quintessential "2K1" songs, I guess)

• Clint Eastwood - Gorillaz
• Bad Boy 4 Life - Diddy ft. Black Rob & Mark Curry
• Break Ya Neck - Busta Rhymes
• Last Nite - The Strokes
• I’m Real - Jennifer Lopez ft. Ja Rule
• Differences - Ginuwine
• Hotel Yorba - The White Stripes
• Island In The Sun - Weezer

2002

Y2K Era

• A Moment Like This - Kelly Clarkson
• The Game of Love - Santana ft. Michelle Branch
• Foolish - Ashanti
• Without Me - Eminem
• Addictive - Truth Hurts
• Cry Me a River - Justin Timberlake
• A Thousand Miles - Vanessa Carlton
• Still Fly - Big Tymers
• Gangsta Lovin' - Eve
• Here Is Gone - Goo Goo Dolls
• By the Way - Red Hot Chili Peppers
• Halfcrazy - Musiq Soulchild
• Hey Ma - Cam'ron
• Made You Look - Nas
• Nothin’ - N.O.R.E.
• In a Little While - Uncle Kracker
• All My Life - Foo Fighters
• Freak Like Me - Sugababes (it's got some '80s elements because of the Gary Numan sample)
• No Me Enseñaste - Thalía
• Somebody Like You - Keith Urban
• Ave María - David Bisbal
• Po' Folks - Nappy Roots ft. Anthony Hamilton
• El problema - Ricardo Arjona
• Seventeen - Ladytron
• The Last DJ - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (it's got a few '70s and even '80s elements though)

Core '00s

• Grindin’ - Clipse
• California - Phantom Planet
• Gossip Folks - Missy Elliott
• In My Place - Coldplay

Hard to place (could go either way or neither way; quintessential "2K1" songs, I guess)

• Hero - Chad Kroeger
• Sk8er Boi - Avril Lavigne
• Oops (Oh My) - Tweet
• Oh Boy - Cam'ron
• Happy - Ashanti ft. Ja Rule
• Like I Love You - Justin Timberlake
• No One Knows - Queens of the Stone Age
• Beautiful - Christina Aguilera
• Dirrty - Christina Aguilera
• Let Go - Frou Frou
• Don't Know Why - Norah Jones
• Sweetness - Jimmy Eat World
• Jenny from the Block - Jennifer Lopez ft. Jadakiss, Styles P
• Hot In Herre - Nelly
• Dilemma - Nelly ft. Kelly Rowland
• Personal Jesus - Johnny Cash
• Lover I Don’t Have to Love - Bright Eyes
• Do You Realize?? - The Flaming Lips

Anomaly (odd one out)

• You Know You’re Right - Nirvana (Core '90s)
• Hands Clean - Alanis Morissette
• Where Are You Going - Dave Matthews Band (Core '90s/Y2K hybrid, a.k.a. "Live '97")
• Ángel De Amor - Maná (Core '90s)

2003

Y2K Era

• Magic Stick - Lil' Kim
• I Believe in a Thing Called Love - The Darkness
• The First Cut Is the Deepest - Sheryl Crow
• Mundian To Bach Ke - Panjabi MC
• So Gone - Monica
• It's My Life - No Doubt
• It's Five O'Clock Somewhere - Alan Jackson, Jimmy Buffett
• No Es Lo Mismo - Alejandro Sanz
• Bonito - Jarabe De Palo

Core '00s

• Seven Nation Army - The White Stripes
• Hey Ya! - OutKast
• Right Thurr - Chingy
• Stand Up - Ludacris
• Someday - Nickelback
• 12:51 - The Strokes
• There there. (The Boney King of Nowhere.) - Radiohead
• Get Low - Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz ft. Ying Yang Twins
• So Yesterday - Hilary Duff
• Crazy in Love - Beyoncé
• Pass That Dutch - Missy Elliott
• Title and Registration - Death Cab for Cutie
• No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems - Kenny Chesney
• Milkshake - Kelis
• Me Against the Music - Britney Spears
• Here We Kum - Molotov

Hard to place (could go either way or neither way; quintessential "2K1" songs, I guess)

• Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh) - Lumidee
• 21 Questions - 50 Cent ft. Nate Dogg
• Miss Independent - Kelly Clarkson
• Stacy's Mom - Fountains of Wayne
• Where Is the Love? - Black Eyed Peas
• Gay Bar - Electric Six
• P.I.M.P. - 50 Cent
• Rock Wit U (Awww Baby) - Ashanti
• Intuition - Jewel
• Why Can’t I? - Liz Phair
• Trouble - Pink
• Change Clothes - Jay-Z ft. Pharrell
• You Don't Know My Name - Alicia Keys
• So Says I - The Shins
• Beer for My Horses - Toby Keith ft. Willie Nelson
• In Those Jeans - Ginuwine
• Breathe - Michelle Branch
• Girl’s Not Grey - AFI
• Pump It Up - Joe Budden
• Soñé - Zoé
• Like A Pimp - David Banner ft. Lil Flip
• Feeling This - blink-182

Anomaly (odd one out)

• Sister Saviour - The Rapture (70s/80s transitional era, a.k.a. the "Post-Disco" era)
• Such Great Heights - The Postal Service (Core '00s/Recession era mix, a.k.a. "2K7")
• Behind Blue Eyes - Limp Bizkit (this is honestly hard to place in any period but I guess this'll do)
• I Luv You - Dizzee Rascal (Core '00s/Recession era mix, a.k.a. "2K7"; sounds ahead of its time)

2004

Y2K Era

• Amazing - George Michael
• I Believe - Fantasia Barrino
• F.U.R.B. (F U Right Back) - FrankeeBN

Core '00s

• Goodies - Ciara ft. Petey Pablo
• Lean Back - Fat Joe
• Dip It Low - Christina Milian
• Somewhere Only We Know - Keane
• Leave (Get Out) - JoJo
• Tipsy - J-Kwon
• Somebody Told Me - The Killers
• American Idiot - Green Day
• Confessions Part II - Usher
• My Band - D12
• Pieces of Me - Ashlee Simpson
• Freek-A-Leek - Petey Pablo
• Overnight Celebrity - Twista
• 1985 - Bowling for Soup
• On Fire - Lloyd Banks
• Breakaway - Kelly Clarkson
• I Like That - Houston
• On the Way Down - Ryan Cabrera
• Lose My Breath - Destiny's Child
• Yeah! - Usher
• Let’s Get It Started - Black Eyed Peas
• Burn - Usher
• Welcome to My Life - Simple Plan
• All Falls Down - Kanye West ft. Syleena Johnson
• Hotel - Cassidy ft. R. Kelly
• My Boo - Usher, Alicia Keys
• Redneck Woman - Gretchen Wilson
• Live Like You Were Dying - Tim McGraw
• Through the Wire - Kanye West
• Drop It Like It's Hot - Snoop Dogg
• Over and Over - Nelly ft. Tim McGraw
• Car Wash - Christina Aguilera ft. Missy Elliot
• Slow Jamz - Twista ft. Kanye West & Jamie Foxx
• Don't Tell Me - Avril Lavigne
• I Go Back - Kenny Chesney
• When the Sun Goes Down - Kenny Chesney ft. Uncle Kracker
• Game Over (Flip) - Lil' Flip
• 100 Years - Five for Fighting
• What You Waiting For? - Gwen Stefani

Hard to place (could go either way or neither way; quintessential "2K1" songs, I guess)

• Sunshine - Lil' Flip
• My Place - Nelly ft. Jaheim
• Just Lose It - Eminem
• Headsprung - LL Cool J
• Dude - Beenie Man
• Leaving New York - R.E.M.
• U Saved Me - R Kelly
• Bless the Broken Road - Rascal Flatts

Anomaly (odd one out)

• I Don't Wanna Know - Mario Winans (Core '90s)

hello, thought i'd share a breakdown of my recent points success over the last 3 months.
i'm super pumped because my husband and i were just able to book classic reward economy round-trip flights + 6 nights resort accommodation through qantas hotels for a week in a bali at a cost of 220k points and $460 cash :)
i've only been hounding for qantas points since october (my husband has been hounding for longer, uses amex biz + b2b) and i was able to collect 92k in 3 months, without churning any credit cards! (i will be starting to churn CCs this year & i'm excited to level up my hounding)
data porn is below, but first a note to those who came before me and those who come after:
i hope this is received by the reddit points experts as an expression of gratitude for all you have taught me. i love this hobby (or obsession? lol) and am really in awe of the dedication that the experts put in. i hope to reach your level one day and take some epic trips with classic reward seats in business.
and for those who haven't begun their points journey yet and are wondering if it's worth it — it totally is. i am a casual worker with an inconsistent sole trader business, so i don't qualify for the big bonus cards or big $$ minimum transactions, but as of now, i still get to go on a super cheap and luxurious holiday!
highly recommend if you have the time and mental energy to do research and keep track of required spends etc. i use the "reminders" app on my iphone to stay on top of it all. and i am pretty strict about how much i will spend just for the sake of points, so it hasn't thrown off my budget much at all.

DATA:

qantas car insurance: i chose the highest possible cover for a 50k sign up bonus after 60 days. i just got this bonus in my account so i will now cancel the policy and switch to a cheaper insurer. maybe woolies everyday insurance? 6k QP over 12 months is their current offer, it kinda sucks in my opinion, not sure if it's worth it. and i won't inflate the cover this time because i already spent $200 extra for the qantas insurance bonus and excessive spending is a real danger with this lifestyle... my car is only worth $7k or so, need to be careful.
everyday rewards: i got served up some great 10x points promos etc around christmas and have been using the item-based boosters at woolies where i can. funnily enough the best earner has been cat food at 50 ER points per can. they keep giving me that one every other week and i keep stocking up since it keeps for years and we go through a can a day for our two fur children. a few big w shops and some EG/ampol fuel promos helped with this too. total points since october: 26k
everyday extra: i've earned 2k points from the 2x points perk so far and saved way more $ than the plan cost me
qantas shopping: i don't do that much online shopping usually but i got 2k points from shopping at the iconic with a browser plug-in, must have been on a 10x points promo or similar.
origin internet: all ISPs seem to suck equally, so i had no qualms about switching to origin for a bonus :) i haven't found another ISP points bonus to switch for, so my next move is optus for 26k flybuys points. i haven't paid any attention to virgin thus far but i figured that was a better deal than nothing. total points bonus: 12k QP
bp rewards: i commute 1hr20min to work each way, which i hate, and getting points on fuel makes me feel better about it, especially when a 5x points promo comes around. i am having trouble tracking these points but it's probably around 2k
qantas wellbeing app: i have been focusing on my physical fitness lately anyway, so i enjoy the step challenges. and the "check up" activities are super easy—especially when you lie ;). approx 2k so far
bankwest qantas everyday account: at first, 10k bonus points for opening a free bank account seemed great. i just needed to deposit $2k per month for 3 months, and do 10 transactions per month. however, this has been the most annoying promo to follow, with the longest wait for the points bonus. i haven't actually received the bonus yet, it'll probably be another 1-3 weeks. i did get 200 points from transactions so far, but that is really not worth it to me and i can't wait to close the account once i get the bonus. i usually use bank australia for ethical reasons and will return to them now that the minimum deposit/spend is done.
as another bonus, i'm now looking at a potential points club membership in april. not sure if it will bring me much benefit besides the lounge passes, but i'll take it! i got to try a domestic lounge in melbourne for the first time this past november and loved it, so i'm looking forward to trying more. i get overstimulated easily in airports and i found the lounge to be a much more sensory-friendly environment than the general gate area :)

19 Jan update: https://www.reddit.com/singaporemusicchat/comments/19aa5rg/megalist_sg_concerts_gigs_raves_late_jan_art_week/

05 Jan, Fri

• 薛之谦 JOKER XUE - Day 1, Indoor Stadium, $237
• DESOLATED (UK Beatdown hc) ft Lost Control (MY), Hollow Threat, Kill on Sight, 2DK by wetheuncouth, Phil's Studio @ High Street Centre L3 (city hall), tix 🎟 $55
• TGIF Music Station 周5音乐站：Reminiscing School Days! 我的少年时光 - Bonnie Loo 罗美仪, Dawn Yeoh 姚懿珊, Christy Mai 麦芷琪, Music-in-Law 乐父大人, Arya Yunata, SCCC Concourse @ 1 Straits Blvd (shenton way), more info free
• Jupiterkid & Lauren Ong - soup!, singer-songwriters, Saylah Studios @ 180 Paya Lebar Road Yi Guang Building L11 (taiseng macpherson), $15
• Esplanade: vanako - To Better Days (jazzy bedroom pop), free
• Esplanade: All things gud by gudjujus - YAØ, hongjoin, ryoko, xena giam et al, sg city pop, rnb, indie, singer-songwriters, outdoor, free
• Esplanade Dance Comedy: The 11th Hour by Decadance Co (choreo - Rachel Lum & Sam Coren) - Day 1, $30
• Temasek Polytechnic Open House - with Music & Drama Co. - Axel Brizzy, Rines, Josiah, Feng, Jeyes, Danial, Temasek Polytechnic (tampines west), free
• VCHpresents Chamber: Chloe and Isaac Go Baroque - Day 1, Victoria Concert Hall (city hall), $20
• Cool Cats Jazz: Alpaca Quartet (nu-soul) - Day 2, cool cats nco club @ 32 beach rd (esplanade), $38
• Boater's Bar @ Sentosa Cove: Gin & Jazz Night, ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove, $80
• Jazz Loft: Sharik Hasan And Friends (going back to NY) - A Singapore Farewell Day 1, The Jazz Loft @ Blu Jaz, $24

 

• DJ, APPARATUS x CŪN - MT Farewell Party ft KUNNUK, Ayne & PRN + D-Linez, BlvckVox b2b Lorius (hard industrial techno night), and life in arp intro. Peace Centre (bencoolen, selegie mt sophia), $15
• DJ, TASTY vol. 14.0 by Party Movement SG - DJ Sweezy, DJ Nadd, Emcee T.Williams (hiphop, reggaeton, afrobeats), Blu Jaz L2 @ bali ln (bugis), $22
• DJ, High House: Mingz & Faz (house, techno, progressive), High House Lounge @ 1 Raffles Place Roof (old 1-altitude), $38
• DJ, Potato Head: Seng Wei (deep funky tech house, nu-disco electro), 36 Keong Saik Rd, bistro speakeasy bar
• DJ, Neil Conversion: New Jeans Night (kpop) + werq drag competition, 43 Neil Road (maxwell), lgbt gay bar-club
• DJ, Offtrack: Snooze (atmospheric), bs hong lim park, music gastro bar
• DJ, CUBAR 29: Fantastic Dinosaur (80s pop, 90s alt dance), 29 Ann Siang Rd (chinatown/maxwell), free/bar
• DJ, Club Rich: Chri-Z, @ 114 middle rd (bugis), asian club
• DJ, Club Lunar: DJ Dollar (THA), Orchard Plaza @ 150 Orchard Road (somerset) L4, asian club
• DJ, Marquee: DJ Zippy 's Utopia (future rave), marquee club @ marina bay sands shoppes, $20-$40
• DJ, Zouk Group: Phuture - SONIQ (hard techno trance house rave), Mainroom - 100& Bulletproof, Capital Lounge - Pop & Bop, $35 onwards
• DJ, Thugshop Giveaways - TUFF CLUB (amir & ma de), tuff club @ 138 robinson rd cbd, free rsvp
• DJ, Thugshop Giveaways - Headquarters (aya, leland, dexter colt), headquarters techno-house club @ 66A boat quay, free rsvp

Non-Music Weekend

• 6 Jan: Indian Heritage Center - Pongal Open House 2024 (6 Jan - 14 Jan), 5 Campbell Lane, free
• 6 Jan: Chinese Crosstalk Comedy: 菜鸟相声社2024新年相声大会-晚场 , 200 Jln Sultan, $15
• If You Haven't noticed: Peace Centre is now a temporary art takeover zone by PlayPan before demolition, Straits Times
• 6-7 Jan: Pop-up local board games Fair, Peace Centre
• 6-7 Jan: Vinyl Sale at Peace Center, Peace Centre (bencoolen / selegie)

06 Jan, Sat

• BOWKYLION (THA chill pop), Gateway Theatre Bukit Merah, $118
• COM'Z 康姆士 (TW rock, alternative), Capitol Theatre (city hall), $88
• 薛之谦 JOKER XUE - Day 2, Singapore Indoor Stadium, $237
• Plainsunset & Friends 1 by kittywu records - PLAINSUNSET, I Am David Sparkle, Marijannah, Taledrops, pop-punk icon, instrumental post-rock, stoner metal, melodic prog-lite rock, ESPLANADE, esplanade link $40
• AMORPHOUS DOMINION (TH) A Blaze in the Eastern Sky EP Launch ft Narsamum (MY Vrykolakas, Balberith, Nafrat (SG), black metal gig, $40
• NUS Amplified pres. Common Ground - Nosedive, Reserate, outer orbit, rathmock, soggy jeans, pathetic ordinary, Olisymps, Rooftop Max, Lobster, alt-funk to shoegaze to pop-punk to metalcore, Aliwal Arts Centre (nicoll highway), $20
• Esplanade: A Night with New Mongrels with Fatbear, CURB, ABANGSAPAU, AE$OP CA$H, indie, emo, hiphop, see schedule, outdoor, free
• Esplanade: Hanging Up The Moon (indie folk) - aka Sean Lam of Concave Scream, concourse,free
• Wisma Geylang Serai: Muzikita ft H.A Band, Wisma Geylang Serai CC (paya lebar), free
• Strait Up Blues Jam by Nineteen Eighty Studios, 361 Joo Chiat Road L3 (future Marine Parade MRT), $20
• Blackbird: Peep Show (rock and covers), Blackbird Music Bar Gillman Barracks @ 8 Lock Rd, free/bar
• Wicked Wallop - hot rod customs motorcycle, cars & music festival Day 1 - John and Bernie Project, Iman's League, Zul Mystroe, The Hydrant, info, Carros Centre @ 60 Jln Lam Huat (kranji), free

 

• VCHpresents Chamber: Chloe and Isaac Go Baroque - Day 2, Victoria Concert Hall (city hall), $20
• Ding Yi Music Company and Canada's Sound of Dragon Ensemble - Rising Dragon, Soaring Merlion 《温[新]情缘》- Chinese Style Orchestra, Stamford Arts Centre @ 155 Waterloo St (bugis), $15
• ITE Concert Band presents Musica Fantasia XIV, ITE College Central (ang mo kio) free RSVP
• Kpop Cafe Events: WAYV's Kun Celebration, bingsu - ice lab @ bugis
• KPop Cafe Events: ZB1's Gunwook, Cafe de Paris @ 313 Somerset
• Cool Cats Jazz: Alpaca Quartet (nu-soul) - last, cool cats nco club @ 32 beach rd, $38
• Jazz Loft: Sharik Hasan (NY) And Friends - A Singapore Farewell- Day 2, Blu Jaz L3 @ bali ln (bugis), $24

 

• DJ, Release the Bats! by Batcave Project - Goth Industrial EBM Darkwave Rave and some psytrance - ft Jono, Grave, Fish Winters, Sopranos Bistro @ 18 Carpenter Street (Clarke quay), $25
• DJ, 4BYFOUR pres 4xF013 Hard Techno - DRUMPOWDER: SHEYTAN (FR-MY), howrøng, BXLLA, JumbogoatXXL, Jaya, C0SMIC MIN@H, residents Cosmo Carbon & Läbraatz, So High Social Club @ Hotel Chancellor Orchard (somerset)
• DJ, 🏖 Fuego Night - Afro Beach 2.0 with Skilla, Zax, Smookey, K Faith (afrobeats dancehall amapiano), Sand Bar @ 53 Siloso Beach Walk (Sentosa/Harbourfront), $25
• DJ, AFRO LATÉ (afro & latin - afrobeats, reggaeton, amapiano, kizomba etc) - DJ Gillou, Kelibre, Snickaz, hard rock cafe orchard cuscaden, $30
• DJ, BOOMBAYAH 2 - K Pop Queer Party - DJ AMPRSND & Lokies Khan, Projector X Golden Village Ruby Lounge L6 @ Cineleisure Orchard, $30
• DJ, iki: Get Real (2000s Hip Hop x RnB x Reggaeton), club iki @ ikigai izakaya riverwalk (clarke quay), $15
• DJ, Wallich Manor: Wallich House Party ft Josh M, Wallich Manor Lounge @ Sofitel City Centre Hotel / Guoco Tower (tg pagar)
• DJ, Yang Club: from ministry of djs - Gemstarr, red, kennerve, effen, soundalike ft mc hund, yang club clarke quay
• DJ, MARQUEE: Complimentary Entries for Tertiary Students - today is Wonderland so it is eligible, Marquee Club @ Marina Bay Sands Shoppes
• DJ, Moonstone: The Beat Usagi (aka lifeinarpeggio) - techno/electronic, Moonstone BAR @ 103 Amoy St, free/bar
• DJ, Potato Head: DJ Titus (funk, soul, hip-hop & rnb), 36 Keong Saik Rd, bistro speakeasy bar
• DJ, Offtrack: Ash Sagara & Kevin Sy (italo disco, house), bs hong lim park, music gastro bar
• DJ, EnDesiHeaux EDH - BACK TO SCHOOL: MIDNIGHT NOSTALGIA (00s- 10s), 37 Jln Pemimpin L6 (marymount), $25
• DJ, High House: Fred E & Lincey (house, techno, progressive), High House Lounge @ 1 Raffles Place Roof (old 1-altitude), $38
• DJ, Neil Conversion: Retro Pop Night (90s), 43 Neil Road (maxwell), lgbt gay bar-club
• DJ, Thugshop X FomoHomo Presents - YONTI (techno), lgbt friendly, headquarters techno-house club @ 66A boat quay, $36
• DJ, ØGravity x Thugshop Presents - COLLÉ [ANJUNADEEP, SIAMESE] - (NED melodic deep house n techno), tuff club @ 138 robinson rd cbd $36

07 Jan , Sun

• Fly By Midnight (US synthpop duo), ESPLANADE, $110
• 薛之谦 JOKER XUE - Day 3, Singapore Indoor Stadium, $237
• Temporal Dimension LP launch by woes, with Curb & outer orbit, math rock, indie post-hardcore, Phil's Studio @ High Street Centre L3 (city hall), $23
• Esplanade: PARKA's Playground with Jeyes, Elaine, Adriel, Icebox, SG bedroom pop rnb label, indoor concourse, free
• Esplanade: THEWONDAFACTORY ON THIS! by The Wonda Factory: Zalelo, Sarah Syazlina, ARDY, Wafiq Hadee, Nurhakeem, ITSDATBOYINBLVCK, rnb hiphop pop indie label, outdoor, free
• Esplanade: Nanyang Symphonic Wind - Harmonious Homecoming: Celebrating Our Legacy, concert hall, free RSVP
• or join Beautiful Sunday Tour Experience,, Esplanade Concert Hall, $12
• Kpop Cafe Events: Ateez "Crazy Form" Comeback Party, Real Studio - near 111 Somerset, meet 313 Somerset , $22
• Kpop Cafe Events: SEVENTEEN's honshi & wonwoo celebration, 5 The Moments Cafe @ 73 Tg Pagar Rd
• Blackbird: Chris Rene Surath, Jack and Rai, Blackbird Music Bar Gillman Barracks @ 8 Lock Rd, free/bar
• Wicked Wallop - the hot rod customs motorcycle, cars & music festival Day 2 - Crozzroads, Hunger Tanks, The Souls, info, Carros Centre @ 60 Jln Lam Huat (kranji), free
• DJ, Thanni Party at thunderbird bistro, Robertson Walk

08 Jan, Mon

• Esplanade: Your Summer Soundtrack by DLKC (modern synthpop) - Day 1, free

09 Jan, Tue

• Esplanade: Your Summer Soundtrack by DLKC (modern synthpop) - Day 2, free
• Simply Jazz: Alpaca, Simply Jazz Lounge @ CHIJMES, free/reserve

10 Jan, Wed

• MAYKIDZ (JPN J-rock, pop-punk) ft Iman's League, more [info](infoLion Studios @ 115B Commonwealth Drive L2 (commonwealth, ridout), $58
• Esplanade: Get edgy with reggy by Regina Song - day 1, bedroom / alt pop, free
• NUS Temasek Hall THreshold Soundbox - Really Great, Winter Wanderers ft TaleDrops, NoseDive, various rock, Phil's Studio @ High Street Centre L3 (city hall), $12
• Candlelight: Best of Hans Zimmer by Vocalise String Quartet, CHIJMES Hall @ City Hall, left $93
• Cool Cats: Jazz Wednesdays - Jacintha, nco club @ 32 beach rd (esplanade), $30
• Comedy: Tom Segura: Come Together, mediacorp theatre one-north, $98
• Magic: Wednesday Night Magic Open Mic at The Magic Attic Singapore, 3 Lorong Salleh (Eunos), $15
• Music for Wellness: Drum Jam 2024, Ritmo Music Studio @ 531 Upper Cross St (chinatown), $17
• DJ, High House: DJ Tang & Kong (rnb hiphop), High House Lounge @ 1 Raffles Place Roof (old 1-altitude), $38 ladies free
• DJ, Marquee: Mixtape Rewind ft DJ Sabio (AU hiphop), marquee club @ marina bay sands shoppes, $20 ladies free

11 Jan, Thu

• YOASOBI (JPN night electropop-rock), Resorts World Sentosa Ballroom, $128
• Esplanade: Regina Song - day 2, bedroom / alt pop, free
• Jazz Loft: Bright Eyes Series: The Jazzling - Exchange Project 2024, Blu Jaz L3 @ bali ln (bugis), $24
• Cool Cats Jazz: Marques Young (rnb-electro) - Day 1, cool cats nco club @ 32 beach rd (esplanade), $38
• DJ, Moonstone: Abery (deep house, techno, breaks, sg early electronic), Moonstone BAR @ 103 Amoy St, free/bar
• DJ, High House: Bongomann & Mako (disco / tech), High House Lounge @ 1 Raffles Place Roof (old 1-altitude), free
• DJ, Offtrack: Sivanesh (deep house, world), bs hong lim park, music gastro bar
• DJ, Yang: Oriental Rave: Miggy T, EZ RAWR, Raydxn, Kasho, yang club clarke quay, free/rsvp

12 Jan, Fri - Comma, SCAPE youth arts fest

• IMRAN AJMAIN, Victoria Concert Hall (city hall), $88
• Freen-Becky 1st Fanmeeting, Capitol Theater (city hall), $188
• Mortiferum (US death doom metal) ft Doldrey, Haal, Plague Bearer, Central-East Side Area, tix 🎟 $30
• Plainsunset & Friends 2 - Back To Basics ft Forests, Cactus Cactus, 7nightsatsea by blacklisted productions, pop punk, midwest emo math pop, post-hardcore-punk, post-rock, aliwal arts centre (nicoll highway), $30
• PUPA by Flame of the Forest (SG ethnic fusion band) ft Electronics by Leo (Ceratone), see promo video, Gateway Theatre Bukit Merah, tix 🎟 $38 (CODE 20% OFF: FOTF20OFF)
• NYP Music & Bands: NYP Crew Studios - Through the Ages (1970s to 2000s), Nanyang Polytechnic Theatre of Arts (Ang Mo Kio), free
• Esplanade: All Things New: Baybeats 2023 Edition Coda Day 1 - Taledrops, The Workshop, xena giam, prog-lite alt-rock, hiphop band, alt rnb/singer-songwriter outdoor, free
• Esplanade: Paul Neo (indie pop / electronic folk singer-songwriter), free
• Esplanade Dance: Love All Around by Abhaya, $24
• Esplanade SSO: Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto 2 and Symphony 2 - Day 1, ESPLANADE Concert Hall, $15 - $88
• Virtuoso Kevin Zhu - French Flair & Fireworks • Violin Recital by, Victoria Concert Hall, note: He plays again on 21st see deal, $25
• Cool Cats Jazz: Marques Young (rnb-electro) - Day 2, cool cats @ nco club (esplanade), $3
• Jazz Loft: Kersley Piron Band (MAU, SEGA infused melodic jazz fusion), Blu Jaz L3 @ bali ln (bugis), $24
• Obar Downtown East: Maia Lee (y'know Singapore Idol), Downtown East Live Music Bar
• Projector X Cine: Night of Music - Live Oud Melodies and Electronic Beats - Kheir Yasin, A'alely & Yetpet, Projector X Golden Village No Spoilers Bar @ Cineleisure Orchard, free

 

• DJ, Wild Pearl x Yes You's Immersion - The Morning Cold Plunge Wellness Rave, 36 Keong Saik Rd, tix 🎟 $27
• DJ, This Is Heartbreak - Taylor Swift & Friends - THIEVVES (disco hue/brb), DJ KRYS, CLAMMR, Hard Rock Cafe Orchard @ 50 Cuscaden Road, $20 DJs x Dance Cyphers, BASS WERK @ Wild Pearl - Footwork, Juke, Ghettotech, Electro, Jungle, Rave, Dubstep, Garage ft DJS Alias-Ten, AKA SOunds, B10N, wild pearl mini club @ 195 Pearl's Hill Terrace L3 (chinatown) DJ, Neil Conversion: TWICE NIGHT (kpop), 43 Neil Road (maxwell), lgbt gay bar-club
• DJ, Zouk: MAMBO JAMBO (disco retro night), zouk club clarke quay, $35
• DJ, Cherry Discotheque Presents Entity: Volume 7, 133 cecil st (cbd), $22
• Drag & DJ, Catch Us Move CuM presents ICONS, MDLR club @ 62 cecil street (cbd), $33
• DJ, METAPHYSICAL PRESENTS: CLOUD 9 (prog house, techno, alternative edm) by smu, Mortar & Pestle - rooftop bar bistro @ 269 South Bridge Rd, tix 🎟 free,
• DJ, Brown Roast: Weekend Takeover at Magic Carpet - Kollywood Day 1 - DJs KANESH , SUBEN M & Dholi Rai, Magic Carpet Bollywood Lounge @ 7500E Beach Rd (opp. Haji Ln), $25
• DJ, Potato Head: Stephen Day (disco/house), 36 Keong Saik Rd, bistro speakeasy bar
• DJ, Offtrack: Dean Chew (jazzy soul global dance), bs hong lim park, music gastro bar
• DJ, High House: Muttiah & Zushan (house, techno, progressive), High House Lounge @ 1 Raffles Place Roof (old 1-altitude), $38
• DJ, Black Horse: DJ Nicole Lim + Gerlexis, Black Horse now at Oxley Tower 138 Robinson Rd, Asian-style Club
• DJ, iKi invites TRANCE4M International ft Rinaly x Rina Mirai (JPN trance), more promo vidclub iki @ ikigai izakaya riverwalk (clarke quay), tix 🎟 $37
• DJ, Thugshop Presents - BLUE HOUR (GER acid techno, ambient tech, rave breakbeat), headquarters techno-house club @ 66A boat quay, $36
• DJ, Marquee: BLASTOYZ (psytrance), marquee club @ marina bay sands shoppes, $45
• DJ, YUNG SINGH b2b SALUTE (UK) b2b raaj by collectiveminds asia, UK bass, garage dnb, south asian punjabi, house, ESPLANADE Annexe Studio, tix 🎟 $80

Weekender

• From 12 Jan: Alexandra Technopark Tunnel Installation feat. The Analog Girl, Beside Alexandra Point
• 12 - 21 Jan: Singapore Palestine Film Festival, the projector x golden village, orchard cineleisure
• 13 Jan: Drag, RIOT! Bright Futures , hard rock cafe orchard cuscaden, $25
• MBS ICE MAGIC OPENS UP FOR DOG OWNERS, Bayfront Event Space @ Marina Bay Sands (downtown, bayfront)
• 12-13 Jan Sentosa Night Luge - Ride the Beat to Coldplay Hits, Sentosa skyline Luge, $36
• 12 Jan Sentosa Movies at Southside, Siloso Point Sentosa free
• DJ Open Store, The Slow Press Turns THR33 - Best Before Zine Launch, Natural Wine Tasting + DJ SET (indie-electro-disco-house) by secret pals, Kapo Factory Building @ 8 Playfair Rd (tai seng), free
• Workshop: Zines of Song and Dance by Vann Law, scape, reg

13 Jan, Sat

• 五月天 MAYDAY (TW rock icons) - Day 1, National Stadium, $168
• Hetty Koes Endang, mediacorp theatre one-north, $110
• 潘越云 Pan Yueh Yun (TW) - 那一年那首歌5 , ESPLANADE, $78
• BETWEEN US THE SERIES FAN MEETING, Capitol Theatre (city hall), $188
• Indie FEST Day 1: Music Day Out! 2024 by SCAPE/COMMA - NO GOOD (MY alt rock/punk), Gabba (PH math rock), Blush, Regina Song, Woes, Impulse, Bellied Star and DJ Prontaxan (ID funkot, happy hardcore dangdut euro), rest shoegaze, pop, grungy, math, SCAPE ORCHARD, $25
• Bloodstone 'Electrocution' LP Release Party - 20th Hellnniversary ft B.C, Nuclear Warfare (TH), Xanadoo, Deceased, thrash metal, hardcore, grind, Aliwal Arts Centre (nicoll highway), tix 🎟 $28
• MORSECODES EP LAUNCH ft TARIOT, Terrestrea, Faraday, post hardcore/metalcore gig, ESPLANADE Annexe Studio, tix 🎟 $28
• DXS presents Clash of the Punk Rock Night - Johny 23 & Rise of Rejectors R.o.R (MY), Iman's League, Myopix, Sugar, Anythingpress, $20
• Yongkytown Presents: Music Within Our Midst - ft Yongkytown, Vanako, Narysal, Jason Yu, see OG, pop/folk singer-songwriter ft jazz-pop, soul rnb, english-mando pop Stamford Arts Centre @ 155 Waterloo St (bugis),$26
• Yung Parents VACATION RESPONDAAA single release party, comedy hiphop sixteen ounces craft beer bistro @ rail mall (hillview), info free/bar
• Wisma Geylang Serai: Muzikita ft H.A Band, Wisma Geylang Serai CC (paya lebar), free
• Esplanade Dance: Love All Around by Abhaya, $24
• Esplanade: Enigmatic Reveries by Jilian Summers (chill pop), free
• Esplanade: All Things New: Baybeats Edition 2023 Coda Day 2 - M.Y.T.H, Count Vernon, Hijack Hayley, instrumental prog metal, indie rock variants , outdoor, free
• Blackbird Mini Blues & Rock Day: UBlues aka The Universal Blues Band - Reunion (SG blues band icons/timbre) - Day 1 and also Strait Up Blues Jam and Decibel Riot (rock & punk) Blackbird Music Bar Gillman Barracks @ 8 Lock Rd

 

• SSO: Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto 2 and Symphony 2 - Day 2, ESPLANADE Concert Hall, $15
• SCO: Enchanting Sceneries: Xu Zhijun and SCO with Vocal Associates Festival Choruses 秀丽山河：许知俊与新加坡华乐团, Singapore Conference Hall @ 7 Shenton Way, $20
• Play with STRIVNGS - sort of open mic for string ensemble (noob ok), NAFA Campus 1 @ 80 Bencoolen St (bencoolen) info $20 to play, $10 to watch
• Dance: Noooice! Recital 2024: Outclass - Day 1, NUS university cultural centre, $30
• Cool Cats Jazz: Marques Young (rnb-electro) - Day 3, cool cats @ nco club (esplanade), $38
• Maduro Jazz: A Classical Whisky Night with Piano Man: Chee-Hang See, maduro @ sofitel sentosa, $38++ drink credits
• Jazz Loft: BALKAN BEATS by Boyana Fabel, Blu Jaz L3 @ bali ln (bugis), $24

 

• Indie Arts SHOWCASE GIG & Workshops: DEEP CUTS with CŪN Peace Centre, also Panels/Discussions or Deep Dives or Workshops, @ Peace Centre Selegie (bencoolen), tix 🎟 from $25 pamphlet
• Deep Cuts - Local Underground DJs Allstars + 1 Symphonic Metal Gig, ATOM by Deep Cuts - Basil b2b Jehm, Benedict & Palmer, YETPET b2b Tashasan, James Selva b2b Pengsoo, Shinj Mura, Sivanesh b2b Haili, Taaka b2b Chris of Wild Pearl, XaetherX b2b Falling Island, Metal Gig by Sangrieto, Peace Centre (bencoolen, selegie), tix 🎟 from $25

 

• DJ, CULTURE pres Tiktok Night ft STEVEN LIM, Hafiy the Dude, Dew Francis, hard rock cafe orchard cuscaden, $30
• DJ, The Dream House presents: Studio 24 (70s Disco to disco house) ft DJ Just Jubes, Barbie & Ken ft drag burlesque, Projector X Golden Village Ruby Lounge L6 @ Cineleisure Orchard, tix 🎟 $25
• DJ & Live Electronic, Offtrack: FZPZ Live Set x Daryl Knows - disco, house, soul jazz, bs hong lim park, music gastro bar
• DJ Vinyl, Singapore Soul (& Reggae) Vinyl Only - DJs Major Lens, Dr Phil & Sir Eddy, shawyard @ 20 Shaw Road (Tai Seng), free/bar
• DJ, Phil's Studio Afro Beats Night Party - DJ Z, Phil's Studio @ High Street Centre L3 (city hall), tix 🎟 $18 w/ drink
• DJ, Club Hell: Throwback in Hell (90s pop rnb etc), gay lgbt club @ 113 telok ayer st, tix 🎟 $30
• DJ, Potato Head: Fadille (open format), 36 Keong Saik Rd, bistro speakeasy bar
• DJ, Brown Roast: Weekend Takeover at Magic Carpet - Bollywood Day 2 DJ ALVIN G and POINT PEDRO, Magic Carpet Bollywood Lounge @ 7500E Beach Rd (opp. Haji Ln), $25
• Sand Bar Sentosa: Fusion on Saturday - Afrobeats with Badgaldidi & The Partyman, 52 siloso beach walk sentosa
• DJ, Sector 26 - SG BHANGRA EVENTS - DJ Freaazz Desi Hip Hop Party, Sector 26 Bollywood Club @ Cuppage Plaza 5 Koek Rd (somerset), $20
• DJ, High House: Shaun Nocturnals & Mings (house, techno, progressive), High House Lounge @ 1 Raffles Place Roof (old 1-altitude), $38
• DJ, Wallich Manor: House Party with Vanan M & Friends, Wallich Manor Lounge @ Sofitel City Centre Hotel / Guoco Tower (tg pagar)
• DJ, Moonstone: Nez Senja (hiphop rnb dnb jungle), Moonstone BAR @ 103 Amoy St, free/bar
• DJ, Tipsy Unicorn: The Infamous, Tipsy Unicorn Beach Club @ 36 Siloso Bch Walk (Sentosa), ~$25
• DJ, Marquee: Hypersonic house DJ night with DJ FVDER (dark techno, hardstyle, rave), marquee club @ marina bay sands shoppes, Free Entries for Tertiary Students rest $20-$40
• DJ, MANIFEST - Jungle Fever with Stephen Day, Labaude, Raaj (afrohouse + tribal tech), Behind the Green Door @ 97 Duxton Rd, tix 🎟 $30
• DJ, Drip: INQUISITIVE (sg edm icon), drip club @ 100 Orchard Rd Concorde Hotel, $27
• DJ, MISMATCH X FOMOHOMO: MISS HOMO - ENERGLITCH Rave - Alex Wilcox, Mister Willis (Berlin), Nydthakid, Howrøng (SG) - techno/tech house, `lgbt friendly, MDLR club @ 62 cecil street (cbd), $25

14 Jan, Sun

• SCRUBB (TH indie pop/rock), Gateway Theatre Bukit Merah, $98
• 五月天 MAYDAY - Day 2, National Stadium, $168
• 张水蓉 Zhang Shui Rong (Angeline Teo, MY), ESPLANADE, $68
• Indie FEST Day 2: Music Day Out! 2024 by SCAPE/COMMA - Golden Mammoth (MY indie rock jazzy psych pop), Leipzig (ID post punk revival), Approaching Aphelion, mondae(e), Naedr, Spider, Fuse, Intermission, rest: math rock, screamo, hardcore, post-punk, SCAPE ORCHARD, $25
  • MDO Sharing Sessions: What is Tour Life Like, Artist Promoters
• Deep Cuts: INDIE ARTS SHOWCASE & TALKS pamphlet Day 2: DEEP CUTS Perf Day 2 and Workshop 2, and Panels 2, and Deep Dives 2, Peace Centre Selegie (bencoolen, dhoby), tix 🎟, from $30
  • Deep Cuts: POP UP Roland Synth MUSEUM & LIVE JAM + workshops by Synth Commune & Dad Bods Collective, Peace Centre Selegie (bencoolen, dhoby), free
• Esplanade Dance: Love All Around by Abhaya, $24
• Esplanade: rhyu's tunes (neo-soul jazzy singer-songwriter), free
• Esplanade: Gareth Fernandez & The Momma Shop STRIKE BACK (pop-soul), free
• Blackbird: UBlues aka The Universal Blues Band - Reunion (SG blues band icons/timbre) - Day 2, Blackbird Music Bar Gillman Barracks @ 8 Lock Rd

 

• Dance: Noooice! Recital 2024: Outclass - Day 2, NUS university cultural centre, $30
• Jazz Loft: Sunday Jam Session, The Jazz Loft @ Blu Jaz, free
• DJ, 🏖 Drip Pool Party - DJ Shai, K Faith & Knrck (hiphop, rnb, latin hits, afrobeats), 1-Altitude Coast at The Outpost Hotel Sentosa, $16

15 Jan, Mon

• Esplanade: jun (indie pop-blues singer-songwriter) - Day 1, free

16 Jan, Tue

• Comedy: Jimmy Carr, The Star Vista Theatre (buona vista), $138
• Esplanade: jun - Day 2, free
• Simply Jazz: Aya & Maya Jazz Communion, simply jazz bar by tin box @ CHIJMES

17 Jan, Wed - M1 Singapore Fringe Festival

• * L. HENDERSON (NY indie power pop, acoustic blues) ft acoustic oi act ASH, The Flying V Bar @ The Adelphi City Hall, bc free/bar
• SCCC's Happy Sing Along 欢喜来唱歌: 唱响新春欢乐颂 Celebrating the New Year (Chinese dialect), SCCC Auditorium @ 1 Straits Blvd (shenton way), $4
• Esplanade: Moments of Clarity by Darryl Sim (singer-songwriter / ambient-pop-folk) - Day 1, free
• Fringe Fest Dance Theatre: aMoratorium by J'Sun Howard - Day 1, ESPLANADE, $35
• Jazz Loft: Jazz Loft Legacy Series presents Sinclair Ang & His Rhythmakers, Blu Jaz L3 @ bali ln (bugis), $24
• Cool Cats Jazz Wednesdays: Amanda, nco club @ 32 beach rd (esplanade), $30
• Lion City Jazz Festival Audition - Dizzying Heights - Celebrating the music of Dizzy Gillespie, 150 Sims Drive L2 (near City Music - aljunied/geylang bahru) - now closed
• DJ, Club Rich: DJ KIKIE (TH), @ 114 middle rd (bugis), asian club
• * DJ, Asiatic Club: ANIME NIGHT, Also @ 114 middle rd (bugis), asian club

18 Jan, Thu

• SSO: Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto 3 and Symphony 3 - Day 1, ESPLANADE Concert Hall, $15
• * Parliament Bar Coldplay Countdown - Parliament Sessions, Parliament Bar @ 18 Teck Lim Rd, free/bar
• Musical till 28 Jan: Madagascar the Musical , ESPLANADE, $58
• Fringe Fest Theatre: Motherland - by, Very Shy Gurl by fendy - Day 1, The Theatre Practice @ 54 Waterloo St (bras basah), $35
• Fringe Fest Dance Theatre: aMoratorium by J'Sun Howard - Day 2, ESPLANADE, $35
• Esplanade: Moments of Clarity by Darryl Sim (inger-songwriter / ambient-pop-folk) - Day 2, free
• NAFA School Of Music Open House 2024 Music Faculty Showcase Concert, NAFA Lee Foundation Theatre @ 151 Bencoolen St (bencoolen) , free.
• Jazz Loft: ONE MORE NIGHT STAND by The Jazz Djogets, The jazz Blu Jaz L3 @ bali ln (bugis), $24
• Comedy: SIAO CHAR BORS COMEDY FT. ROBYN PERKINS, the projector golden mile tower, $22
• DJ, Capricorn Sunz - DJs ESTR, prostatelatte and Burlesque stars, lgbt friendly, Projector X Golden Village Ruby Lounge @ Cineleisure Orchard, $26

I have a group on telegram: search sg music chat or visit t.me/sgmusicchat

19 Jan - SG ART WEEK