In the beginning, your uncle(your stepmother's brother) was a rapist, and your uncle(your stepmother's brother) gave birth to an illegitimate child with the girl who was raped . Then, your stepmother was a prostitute, and your stepmother suffered from severe schizophrenia. And at the same time, because your father had some conflicts with the Chinese government, your father was likely to been arrested by the Chinese government. Therefore, your father wanted to get married as soon as possible to escaped the attention of the Chinese government. Then, your stepmother (your stepmother's parents) cheated on your father into getting married. Just like that, your father and your stepmother married for their own benefit. Then, your father raped your biological mother after he learned that your stepmother was a prostitute and suffered from severe schizophrenia. Therefore, your stepmother gave birth to a child, and your biological mother gave birth to you, an illegitimate child. Later, because the child your father and your stepmother gave birth to was the child of a prostitute, your father felt that his family could not survive in this society. Therefore, your father killed their own child with his own hands. Then, your father and your stepmother deceived and abducted you. And if it weren't for your father and your stepmother not wanting to have their own children, your father wouldn't had wanted you. Then, your stepmother and you moved to your stepmother's hometown. In this city, people only knew that your stepmother was once a prostitute, but they didn't know that you are just your stepmother's stepson. And in this city, people only knew that your uncle is a rapist, but they didn't know that your father is also a rapist. Later, your father also suffered from severe schizophrenia. And later, your biological mother sold you to your stepmother. Later, your father also moved to your stepmother's hometown. And later, your father still felt that it was difficult for his family to survive in this society. Therefore, your father always wanted to divorce your stepmother and always wanted to kick your stepmother out of the family. However, your stepmother had been using you to prevent your father from divorcing your stepmother. So, your father must draw clear boundaries with you and your stepmother for his own survival. Then, your father had been abusing you and beating you at home and bickering and fighting with your stepmother all the time to make others felt that your father had drawn clear boundaries with you and your stepmother. Moreover, your father once wanted to beat you to death and then divorce your stepmother. Then a few years later, to get back at your father, your stepmother went to the home of the woman who was raped by your uncle and the place where you studied to tell the people there that you were the son of a prostitute and that you should bear the crime for your prostitute mother. Moreover, your stepmother also told the people there that your uncle was a rapist and that you should bear the responsibility for your rapist uncle. And, your stepmother asked the woman who was raped by your uncle, the illegitimate child of your uncle, your teachers and your university teachers to beat you and commit violence against you. Then, the woman who was raped by your uncle, the illegitimate child of your uncle, your teachers and your university teachers actually sent your classmates and others to beat you and commit violence against you. So, your classmates and others kept beating you and being violent to you. Then, after your classmates and others beat you and violently assaulted you for two years, most people in this city also learned about your situation. However, the mayor of this city and the officials from the Provincial Department of Education only came to your school to give a few speeches and asked you all to be good children and students. Then, after ten years of beating and violence against you by your classmates and others, the Chinese government and the 1.42 billion Chinese people had also learned of these things about you. Then, your father also learned that your stepmother instigated people outside to beat you and commit violence against you. However, in order to protected himself, your father had been pretending that nothing happened and hiding the truth from you. Then, the Chinese government, the woman who was raped by your uncle, the illegitimate child of your uncle, the family of the woman raped by your uncle, your teachers and your university teachers, and the 1.42 billion Chinese people had also been hiding the truth from you and suppressing you and making you unemployed. Then ten years later, your stepmother took advantage of your father's illness and killed your father. Then, in the ten years since then, the Chinese government, the woman who was raped by your uncle, the illegitimate child of your uncle, the family of the woman raped by your uncle, your teachers and your university teachers, and the 1.42 billion Chinese people have been sending your stepmother to do domestic violence against you and put poison in the food you eat. That's it, your father, the woman who was raped by your uncle, the illegitimate child of your uncle, your teachers and your university teachers, the family of the woman raped by your uncle, the Chinese government and the 1.42 billion Chinese people have been committing adultery with your prostitute stepmother for forty-seven years. Hehehe.
So if the above story really happen in China, would the Japanese feel that the Chinese Communist Party and 1.42 billion Chinese people have committed an unforgivable crime and must die? And if the Japanese feel that 1.42 billion Chinese must die and the Chinese nation must be wiped out, are the Japanese authorities willing to send troops to kill all 1.42 billion Chinese and wipe out the Chinese nation? Hehe.

Labor Day, internationally recognized as International Workers' Day, falls on May 1st. This day celebrates and honors the contributions and achievements of workers and the labor movement. The date commemorates the Haymarket Affair, a significant event in Chicago, USA, in 1886, where a labor demonstration for an 8-hour workday turned violent, resulting in deaths and injuries. This incident became a pivotal moment for the international labor movement.
The labor movement of the 19th and 20th centuries brought about monumental changes for workers' rights, including the establishment of the 8-hour workday and 40-hour workweek, improved working conditions, the introduction of minimum wage and overtime pay, the abolition of child labor, and the recognition of workers' rights to unionize. Additionally, milestones such as unemployment insurance, workers' compensation, and social security were introduced, along with civil rights and anti-discrimination laws, further protecting and empowering workers.
In Pakistan, the labor movement has made significant strides in advancing workers' rights and welfare. Notable achievements include the establishment of the Workers' Welfare Fund, providing financial support to workers and their families, the passage of the Maternity and Child Benefits Act, guaranteeing paid maternity leave, and the introduction of the Employees Old-Age Benefits Institution, offering pension and insurance benefits. The movement has also secured the minimum wage, the right to form and join trade unions, and the Labor Policy, aiming to protect and promote workers' rights in the country.
However, the Pakistani labor movement has faced challenges, including weak enforcement of labor laws, limited recognition of union rights, persistent gender discrimination, inadequate social security coverage, and the vulnerability of informal sector workers. Political and economic instability further compound these issues. Addressing these challenges requires continued efforts to strengthen labor laws, protect workers' rights, and tackle underlying structural issues to ensure the welfare and rights of Pakistani workers are upheld.
Labor Day serves as a reminder of the sacrifices and struggles of workers throughout history and celebrates their enduring contributions to society. It is a day to reflect on the progress made and to recommit to the ongoing pursuit of fair and just working conditions for all.

Pros-
The college faculties push students to do research and write papers for IEEE which is good for research-based opportunities.
Infrastructure is good at some things; libraries are good and amenities can overall make it good compared to other colleges in the region.
Rigorous attendance is not an issue here so students can-do part-time work as well within the college itself or like some other things too.
cons -
They don't offer any extra curriculum activities as per the standards and the fees they are taking from the students. No fests and events are organized.
No overall development of the student is there , you won't get sports opportunities or any other academically driven opportunities.
Crowd in this college is from local villages and they don't have basic etiquettes . Even faculties speak local languages and come from nearby places with inclination of local behavior .
Faculty -
The student-faculty ratio at the college is quite imbalanced, with an average class size of 60 students per faculty member. As a result, there is a frequent turnover of teachers, which adversely affects the overall quality of teaching. Additionally, some faculty members lack professionalism, often resorting to using the local language and displaying behaviors that can be quite irritating at times.
However, despite these challenges, I have found that interacting with teachers can be beneficial, particularly for local students. Building a good rapport with faculty members can lead to advantages such as higher grades and better attendance records.
While there are some exceptional faculty members who demonstrate a deep understanding and mastery of their subjects, there are others who lack the necessary competence in their teaching. This discrepancy in the quality of instruction can impact the overall learning experience for students.
Course Curriculum -
The course curriculum is somewhat relevant, but lacks comprehensiveness in several areas. While there are a few aspects that caught my attention and influenced my decision to enroll, such as practical projects and case studies, they are overshadowed by the gaps in content coverage.
In terms of real-world applications or further academic pursuits, the curriculum falls short. It provides only a superficial understanding of key concepts and fails to adequately prepare students for the complexities they'll encounter beyond the classroom.
Improvements are needed across the board in both the course curriculum and teaching methods. The content should be updated to reflect current industry trends and advancements. Additionally, there's a dire need for more interactive and engaging teaching strategies to enhance learning outcomes.
The frequency and timing of exams are quite burdensome and poorly spaced out. They often come too close together, leaving little time for thorough preparation. Moreover, the difficulty level of exams is disproportionately high compared to the depth of understanding gained from the coursework, leading to undue stress and anxiety among students.
Scholarships / Placements / fees -
Tuition Fee Increase Policy: Unfortunately, our institution doesn't have a favorable policy regarding tuition fee hikes. Increases occur yearly and are typically at a significant rate, making it challenging for students to predict and budget for their expenses. The unpredictability adds stress and financial strain to students already grappling with the cost of education.
Complete Cost of Education: When considering the total cost of my education, it's essential to account for more than just tuition. Alongside exorbitant development fees, students are burdened with various other fees and other compulsory charges, which seem to escalate every academic year. Fines are there which are enormous. My total cost was lumpsum 12 lakhs. (Btech) (very High) (ROI - Low)
Scholarships and Financial Aid: While there are a few scholarships and financial aid options available, they are not as abundant or generous as one would hope. The amounts offered are often meager and only provided on the tuition fees. They have strict policy of retaining scholarship for the next semesters with merit based selections. The stringent eligibility criteria further limit the accessibility of these funds, leaving many deserving students overlooked and struggling to afford their education. All the things are mentioned on the college website.
Campus Employment Opportunities: Campus employment, though advertised as a means of financial support, often falls short of expectations. The roles available are typically low-paying with minimal stipends, barely making a dent in the overall cost of education. Moreover, these jobs demand significant time and energy from students, detracting from their academic pursuits and overall well-being. Moreover on the website they even show fake and non promised placements of the students , while in real they are just unemployed and offer lettes were forged.
Overall Campus life -
Overall, campus life has been quite disappointing. Social aspects are lacking, with minimal club involvement and limited participation from students. Most clubs are inactive, with only a few individuals managing them throughout the years until graduation. The infrastructure is decent, but it's nothing to write home about.
Regarding festivals, there are no annual celebrations to speak of, but there are technical festivals held sporadically throughout the year, typically during the colder months. The library offers a reasonable range of books and journals, although I can't compare it to other universities. There are around 4-5 large libraries available.
Classroom facilities are adequate, but there's nothing groundbreaking in terms of technology provision. Sports primarily revolve around cricket, leaving little room for other activities. Student-run groups exist, but they lack enthusiasm and fail to make a significant impact on student life.
Admission process -
The admission process at our university is geared towards enrolling as many students as possible, sometimes even bending the eligibility criteria to accommodate applicants. You can access the application form online, via email, or by visiting the admission cell, but the transparency regarding the cut-off criteria is questionable. While they claim there's a minimum requirement of 60 percent, it's not consistently enforced. The application dates and fees are listed on the website, but the process lacks clarity, especially concerning reservation benefits.
Exams are held frequently, with morning and afternoon shifts, but the difficulty level often exceeds what students are taught, making it challenging to perform well. However, there's a silver lining for those in the know – if you're on good terms with the faculty, you might get a heads-up on the questions.
One of the major downsides is the onboarding and orientation process, which leaves much to be desired. It's clear that the admission process could be vastly improved with better communication, transparency, and alignment with actual teaching standards. While the convenience of online applications is appreciated, it doesn't compensate for the lack of integrity in the admission standards and processes.

I am currently looking to change my job as an administrative assistant & social media planner, because of a very difficult coworker. It is mentally draining and I would like to do a job in peace. I absolutely love my job when my coworker isn’t around. I am scared to leave my job because of the uncertainty in Canada and I am worried that I would end up being unemployed for a long time if I make a choice like that. I get paid $24/hr, but I am looking for something better. Also, I work for a nonprofit and have no benefits. Looking to upgrade in any way.

Umuwi ako sa bahay kagabi after two weeks of working onsite. Akala ko makakapagpahinga kahit papaano ang utak at katawan ko but my dad dropped the bad news.
Seven months nang nakasick leave yung nanay ko after niyang ma-mild stroke. Until now, di niya pa rin magalaw yung left hand niya at nanghihina pa rin. Kahapon,wala nang pumasok sa payroll account niya. In short, for this month and onwards, sa sahod ko na lang dedepende for our needs, including her medication. Wala ring trabaho yung tatay ko since 2018. Di ko maisip paano papagkasyahin yung kakarampot kong sahod na 20k since nagrerenta rin kami at mataas lagi ang bill sa kuryente.
Eversince she had a mild stroke, parang bumaliktad na yung buhay namin. I used to earn more rin last year until ma-lay off ako the same time na nakaconfine siya sa hospital. After 3 months lang ulit ako nagkawork kaya kinuha ko na kahit sobrang baba compared sa dati kong sahod. Sobrang nasimot ung emergency fund ko just to provide for her medication. Lahat ng plano ko including out of the country trips na feeling ko deserve ko naman, napurnada.
I took care of her naman noong unemployed ako. Kaso nga lang, nakakasama ng loob how she didnt recognize all of that. Alam kong nahihirapan na rin siya sa sitwasyon niya pero kapag nagkakausap kami, parang wala na akong nagawang mabuti para sa pamilya. Ako ang sinisisi niya kung bakit hindi pa siya gumagaling. Bakit daw kasi nagtrabaho pa ako sa malayo ayun daw tuloy hindi ko siya maaalagaan. Nagpaalam akong mag wfh noon pero parang mamamatay ako sa pagod kasi nagwowork ako and at the same time, inaalagaan ko sya mag-isa because my father would always go out kapag nasa bahay ako. Minsan mula 6pm hanggang 5 am siya gising kaya madalas bitin ang tulog ko tapos work ulit ng 7am.
Ngayon, we cannot afford to rent na and pay our electric bill kaya sabi ng tatay ko, maghiwa hiwalay muna raw kami. I wanna scream at him kasi sa mga benefits na nakuha ng nanay ko mula nung nagkasakit siya, alam kong may parte doon na nagamit lang niya sa pagbili ng kung anu anong gamit niya at mga masasarap na pgkain na sila lang naman ng mga half-siblings ko ang kumakain. Nasimot talaga nila yung pera ng nanay ko down to the last drop. They cant even help us right now at mukhang kami na lang ng nanay ko ang magkasama sa laban na ito.
I tried reaching out to my mother's side pero matatanda na rin ang mga kapatid niya. Yung mga inalagaan niyang pinsan ko, wala rin. Puro onsite work rin ako kaya kahit kunin ko siya sa nirerent ko sa manila, wala rin siyang makakasama madalas. I dont really know what to do. Sometimed I want to unalive myself na lang. Mula nung pagkabata ko, I never felt any genuine happiness. My parents ruined my childhood so I refrained myself from happiness when I was studying kasi nga akala ko kapg nagfocus akong mag aral, guaranteed na yung bright future ko. Pero mula nung nagwork ako, more than half of my salary goes to them that's why I barely saved any money and yun nga eh nasimot nung naconfine siya.
Sabi nila, soon it will get better pero I dont even know if I can still wait for that "soon". Naiinggit na ako sa mga kabatch ko who are living their lives. Kapag tinatanong ako if bakit single pa ako, sinasagot ko na lang na single ako by choice. Little did they know, I also want to have my own family. I want to love and be loved. I promise to build a happy one and make sure na my children will have a happy childhood and the support system that they need kahit na mag senior citizen pa sila. Kaso with my situation right now, parang di ko afford to dream that dream.
Pero what if it will not get better? What if I was meant to live a life like this? What if nabuhay lang ako to suffer at maging retirement aid ng nanay ko? I wanna be a good daughter but this is taking a toll on my mental health and pakiramdam ko nasasayang lang ang buhay ko. I didnt ask for this. I still pray na she will recover and we will get our lives back tho. Pero not really getting my hopes up because kahit sanay na ako, I still get hurt from disappointments.

22-minute read to cover the latest developments in Armenia beyond headlines.

Azeri public continues to discuss the possible return or exchange of Armenian exclave Artsvashen currently under Azerbaijani control

Context in Monday news digest. A ranking member of Azerbaijani parliament suggested returning Artsvashen to Armenia in exchange for the Azeri exclaves, or swapping them so each side can keep what it currently controls. An Azeri analyst called it dangerous to allow Armenians to return to Artsvashen because he believes it would make the entire territory of Azerbaijan "up to Ganja" vulnerable.
AZERI JOURNALIST (Fatima Movlamli): There are currently [Azeri] military positions near the entrance of the village [Artsvashen]. Although the local population is not strictly checked upon entry and exit, some control appears to be in place. The army checks "strangers". The village is also observed from far away. All the houses are empty; they are crumbling. There is no one around. The only people you see are nearby villagers who take their cattle to [Artsvashen's] pasture.
NEARBY AZERI VILLAGER: I visit the [Armenian] village to feed my cattle and my family. If they give it to Armenians, it will be my end. This is our source of bread, and these areas will no longer be safe for us. Many of us rely on these territories for a living. There is total unemployment and none of us have other jobs. We will have to emigrate if they give this village.
NATIN JAFARLI (ReAl party): There are two reasons why the village was not populated [by Azeris, after the capture in 1992]. The first is for legal reasons because Armenia could claim it's their land and demand compensation. There are also socio-economic components that have forced the population to migrate to Baku over the past 30 years. If there was a normal socio-economic policy, there would be no migration. It's not easy to create social infrastructure in Bashkend [Artsvashen] for natural reasons. If we decide to swap the enclaves, then referendums must be held in both countries. Can you imagine the Armenian police or army marching 30 kilometers deep into Azerbaijan? It doesn't sound realistic. The same about Azeris entering the exclaves inside Armenia. How will you guarantee the population's food, banking, communication, gas, etc.? It doesn't seem realistic.
ELKHAN SHAHINOGLU (Atlas research center): Even if Armenians return our 4 villages [presumably within Azeri exclaves], it will be difficult for Azeris to live in them because we will be forced to reach the villages through Armenia. The same is true if we transfer [Artsvashen] to Armenia. Therefore, I believe this issue can be resolved if the lands are exchanged.
AZERI RESIDENT: I used to work as a nurse in [Artsvashen]. I remember how I attempted to save the lives of the soldiers who captured it. I don't want it to be returned to Armenia because I'm concerned that the same events will repeat. Nothing good will happen if Armenians return here. This place connects Shinikhi to the entire Ganja region. Should we allow Armenians to stand between the two? I'm 65 so the future generations will have to live here but no one will dare to come if they hear about the presence of Armenians.
source,

Azerbaijan is still reluctant to include the Almaty Declaration in the final peace agreement despite the April 19 separate agreement to use it for border demarcation

FM MIRZOYAN: Recently we agreed that the demarcation should take place on the basis of the Almaty Declaration and the Regulations of the border commissions should also refer to the Almaty. This is one of the principles, and if we manage to include Almaty in the peace agreement, then we will get very close to a final resolution. Our neighbor is still reluctant to make a clear reference to the Almaty Declaration in the peace treaty, which is a more comprehensive document.
The second issue is with the unblocking of communication routes. Armenia is ready to become a part of the international transit route. The Crossroads of Peace will benefit Armenia and the entire region. Turkey and Azerbaijan would also benefit by connecting East and West. If this is implemented, it will be another interesting way to connect the Persian Gulf countries with the Black Sea economic region.
QUESTION: You froze your participation in CSTO. Do you plan to join NATO?
MIRZOYAN: We do not want to be part of a dysfunctional mechanism [CSTO]. But we are still a CSTO member so it's necessary to take steps to make it function; we are discussing the issues on the AM-RU agenda. Simultaneously we have launched a process to strengthen AM-West relations and to diversify Armenia's economy.
source, video,

interview with Azeri opposition activist-in-exile Arif Yunusov

REPORTER: Azerbaijan had long refused to use 1991 Almaty for delimitation but on April 19 they agreed to launch the process based on Almaty. Why did they change their position?
YUNUSOV: Because of the problems Aliyev developed with the West. When Blinken makes a phone call, that means extensive work was done prior to the call. The issue of sanctions raised earlier this year was also raised after months of work. The collective West is pressuring Azerbaijan. We have entered the decisive phase of the West-Russia confrontation. The physical fights are taking place in Ukraine, while diplomatic wars rage in the South Caucasus.
Russia attempted on several occasions to destabilize Armenia's internal stability by using Azerbaijan but their efforts have failed and there hasn't been any serious escalation on the AM-AZ border. Pashinyan was not exaggerating the possibility of a war in Tavush a few months ago; there was indeed a real threat. However, the likelihood is much lower now and Azerbaijan has given its approval to launch the delimitation process. The ongoing delimitation process is part of the effort to regulate AM-AZ relations and push Russia out of the region.
REPORTER: Blinken spoke on Sunday with Aliyev and Pashinyan. I'm under the impression that this AM-AZ delimitation, despite being called "bilateral", is actually being moderated by the US.
YUNUSOV: Absolutely agree. Aliyev has a lengthy history of rejecting many Western efforts and being close with Putin, so the fact that he didn't reject it this time indicates serious pressure from the West. By the way, Aliyev became president in February but Biden hasn't congratulated him yet. For Aliyev, it's very important to receive a congratulation personally from Biden.
The US is moderating this process step-by-step. This process began in 2022 when Pashinyan recognized Nagorno-Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan; that was part of the US plan to normalize AM-AZ relations. Under this plan, Azerbaijan announced the formation of a commission to "integrate" Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians. Obviously, it all changed later and the US officials began to raise the issue of Aliyev being too close to Russia and about a need to pull him away from Putin. It appears the US is gradually getting what it wants because the US's role in this demarcation process is huge.
REPORTER: Is this also why Azerbaijan asked Russia to withdraw its military base from Nagorno-Karabakh? Was it under the US pressure?
YUNUSOV: I'm not entirely sure about the full details behind their withdrawal. I don't even know if they are truly being withdrawn because there is a motive to calm the Azerbaijani public that's anti-Russian.
There is also the fact that Russia was unable to deploy those peacekeepers on the AM-AZ border and push out the EU border monitoring mission from Armenia. Russia attempted to achieve this in December 2023 during a meeting in St. Petersburg but Pashinyan rejected Putin's efforts. Moreover, Pashinyan said that Armenia is no longer interested in the fate of Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh and that this topic must be resolved between Russia and Azerbaijan. This was followed by Pashinyan's order to remove Russian agents from Yerevan's airport by August 2024. So Russia's effort to pressure Armenia with the hands of Azerbaijan has totally failed.
It's a strange situation, the withdrawal of peacekeepers. We don't know how many were removed and how many remain. I do not have information that the US pressured Azerbaijan to remove the Russian peacekeepers. [audio cuts off] The US is only strong when there is Armenia, during meetings, and we tend to receive information whenever Armenia is part of a negotiation process, whereas Azerbaijan-Russia talks are more secretive.
It appears Russia is withdrawing the equipment first because they need it ahead of the May offensive in Ukraine, before possibly a wider withdrawal by September.
Regarding the demarcation of the AM-AZ border, Russia understands that if the parties reach an agreement, that could mean the end of Russian presence in the South Caucasus. The AM-AZ border is a geopolitical issue. Russia will publicly formally welcome the delimitation efforts but it's not in their interest.
REPORTER: Why is France silent about the April 19 delimitation agreement?
YUNUSOV: France has adopted the correct position. First of all, Western states coordinate their policies [including on delimitation], but in each region, each Western state takes up a different position. For example, on the Ukraine issue, France provides support to Ukraine but the main locomotive is the US. In the South Caucasus, it's the opposite: the US provides the moderation efforts while the main locomotive - in this case, support for Armenia - is France. There is a crisis in FR-AZ relations. So France doesn't want to hinder the delimitation effort by intervening; they let the US handle it. There is currently an anti-French hysteria in Azerbaijan. The French endorsement of the AM-AZ delimitation agreement would be a big blow to the process.
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ruling party rejects opposition's motion to conduct the AM-AZ border delimitation based on 1993 "de facto" borders instead of 1991 Almaty borders

Context and debates in April 23 news digest. The opposition is against delimiting borders with the 1991 Almaty maps.
The opposition accuses the ruling party of serving Turkey's interests while the ruling party accuses the opposition of attempting to derail the 1991 delimitation process so they can drag Armenia into a new conflict before bringing the Russian "empire" as a savior to establish their rule in Armenia.
One thing that struck the ruling party's nerves was the opposition's narrative that "Armenia ends where the Armenian soldier stands". The ruling party believes that this principle is both dangerously expansionist [in the case of 2.5 Azeri villages] and would also endanger the fate of occupied Armenian lands. "We have a clear border with Azerbaijan, and it must be reproduced on the ground," said a ranking ruling party MP. Yesterday the government said over 50% of the task was done on a section of the Tavush-Gazakh border.
In response to the opposition's accusations that the ruling party serving the interests of Azerbaijan by "surrendering lands", a ruling MP accused the opposition of pressuring the government to surrender a corridor to Russia and Azerbaijan.
RULING MP: Mr. Sharmazanov [ex-president Serj's party] routinely says the quiet part out loud. At first, he spoke about the need to give a corridor [to Azerbaijan and Russia, via Syunik], and more recently he made another fantastic statement. Sharmazanov said "a homeland is eternal while a state is variable. The state's borders can expand or shrink." This stems from their mentality that today they are MPs of the Armenian parliament but tomorrow they could just as easily be Russian Duma MPs, representing the Armyanski Oblast. This is the clash of values: a stable state with borders vs. a "homeland" with variable borders. For us, the Republic of Armenia is irreplaceable and the independence of Armenia is non-negotiable. //
source, video, source, source,

the independent TV & radio regulator was summoned to parliament to report the 2023 activities

REGULATOR: Last year the broadcasters under our watch operated freely, without government intervention. The TV outlets stated that they were not pressured or obstructed by any branch of the government to limit their freedom of expression.
The issue persists with misinformation and hate speech, but our 3-year-long monitoring reveals that this negative content has been significantly reduced in public multiplex. This positive trend has multiple reasons, including our Committee's fight against the abuse of "freedom of speech". This type of negative content has, by in large, moved from television to the internet and social media.
We are strongly against the government's electoral code amendment that required private media outlets to allocate a limited number of free hours to candidates during electoral campaigns. How is this different from requiring gas stations to provide free gas to candidates? The media outlets are deprived of hours that they could use to generate income.
We've been calling for reforms in the law regulating the media. The 2020 law on liberalizing media regulations is a welcoming change. The field is free, with minimal intervention from the Committee (regulator) or the government.
However, this liberalization also endangers Armenia's media security. For example, foreign channels broadcasted over Armenia's public multiplex and cable often spread content illegal under Armenian law and against the Republic of Armenia's interests. The law does not grant the Committee enough powers to curtail this. At the moment, the Committee has jurisdiction over public multiplex TV and licensed radio channels only. This creates an uneven competition field with channels broadcasted over the net, which do not have to follow the same rules. Under European directives, a minimal level of regulation of internet content has become a requirement for European countries. We advise the government to follow European practices.
The public often wonders what share of cable TV content is in Armenian or made in Armenia. Our research reveals the content based on the country of origin: Armenian 71 (vs 68 last year), Russian 174 (vs 167), European 75, American 38, Other 15. As you can see, relevant parties should take steps to increase the share of Armenian content.
We have very important progress in another metric: Armenian-language programs aired over Armenian channels, nationwide or in Yerevan. The Armenian-language programs accounted for 95% of the air. This includes foreign content translated into Armenian or with Armenian subtitles.
2018: <60%
2020: 79%
2021: 81%
2023: 95%
We have progress in another important area. Over the last 3-4 years, on the public multiplex, the share of partisan ideological content has been gradually replaced by content more beneficial to the general public. For example, (1) we now have a sports program that promotes the development of local sports and provides coverage of local events. (2) We have a family channel called Noor available in Yerevan. Despite some challenges and flaws, they are doing their best to establish themselves as a family channel. (3) We have an educational channel Bun. (4) We have a music channel Dar21.
By in large, the public multiplex still falls short of delivering what we envisage. We believe the time has come to adopt a new state strategy on media to prevent a crisis. We could have a crisis because the state has too many regulations and not enough incentives to allow channels to use their slots to generate income and produce quality content.
We fear that during the next auction for slots in 2027, several slots could be left uncontested, which could pave the way for the entry of propagandistic channels or clearly weak channels unable to deliver quality content. If the channels fail to generate income, they could also be sold to foreign buyers. Therefore, some channels could begin to serve the interests of foreign states and serve foreign propaganda to Armenian citizens.
We advise the government to...
(1) reduce the number of channels on public multiplex. It's an unreasonably high number for a country size of Armenia. Fewer public multiplex channels means each channel would receive more ad dollars, which would raise the quality of content.
(2) establish a media assistance fund to incentivize quality content over the public multiplex.
How do we monitor media channels for compliance? The monitoring phase lasts 2 months per year. In Lithuania and Georgia, it's 1 month. The rest of the time the monitoring is done by NGOs, the public, and other institutions.
We penalized 34 companies for broadcasting pirated content. This is a shamefully high number. There are unfortunately companies that do not respect intellectual property. The only option left is to ramp up the enforcement. The atmosphere of impunity among channels is driven by the fact that the size of the penalty is only $130, which is a lot less than what they'd spend on obtaining the rights to the content.
We've been enforcing rules more vigorously, and in 2023 alone there were 64 administrative proceedings. In comparison, between 2011-2018 there were a total of 17 such proceedings.
2011-2018: 17
2021: 84
2023: 64
Reasons for administrative proceedings: copyright violation, illegal ads, content harmful to children, gore & violence, cussing on air, failure to meet the minimum threshold of 20% for certain types of content, etc.
In December we made a decision to suspend the re-broadcasting of [Russian] Sputnik Radio for a month. We were accused of violating their free speech [by Armenia's opposition factions], however, the radio's leadership visited Armenia, apologized for their content, and agreed to exclude the violating show [Kremlin propagandist Tigran Keosayan] from their programming aired in Armenia. We lifted the suspension.
Once again, the Committee reminds that it will suspend any foreign outlet that broadcasts content that spreads hatred towards the Republic of Armenia or its people, interferes with Armenia's internal affairs, questions Armenia's sovereignty, or engages in provocative actions.
Along with increased enforcement, we also have more complaints filed against our decisions in courts, which shows that the enforcement & appeals process is functioning freely. Sometimes we lose these trials. We learn and gain experience.
We recently signed the first-ever agreement with a country outside Eurasia. The agreement with friendly Argentina's state media agency will allow Armenia's public channel to film a big սերիալ.
The Committee is cooperating with the high-tech ministry to use AI in our work to save resources and raise efficiency.
ASSYRIAN-ARMENIAN MP: The law requires television to provide content in the Assyrian language. Similar programs exist for Yezidis but not Assyrians.
REGULATOR: The law requires the content to be either in Assyrian language or about Assyrian culture. The latter requirement was met.
ASSYRIAN-ARMENIAN MP: But we would like to hear content, speech, in Assyrian language.
REGULATOR: We want to do that by requiring local television channels [presumably where Assyrians mostly live] to provide content in Assyrian language, rather than requiring the public channel to broadcast that content nationwide, because the vast majority of nationwide consumers would not be able to consume content in a language they do not speak. It should be more targeted. Assyrian subtitles on public nationwide channels are also an option so submit your suggestion and we'll negotiate with H1.
RULING MP: I welcome your decision to take action against [Kremlin's] Solovyov and Keosayan for their anti-Armenian and anti-Armenian Republic content, but people wonder why you don't take similar measures against others, like [Kremlin's] Kisilyov. What have you done in this regard and what suggestions have you sent to the high-tech ministry?
REGULATOR: Our Committee has the authority to suspend re-broadcasted radio channels, as in the case of Sputnik, but we cannot suspend television channels. We can only send complaints to the high-tech ministry so they can take action against TV channels based on the AM-RU interstate agreement. We have been frequently sending reports to our high-tech ministry, and after 3 years of inaction, they finally decided to take steps recently. You already know about their actions against Solovyov's content. The ministry is working with Russia to replace the [empty] Solovyov timeslot with other cultural or entertainment content. You can forget about Solovyov. As a reminder, this program was banned in Armenia not for being "anti-Armenian", which is a vague term, but for violating specific laws of Armenia. They often call for violence, incite steps to launch a war, etc. Even Armenian channels are not allowed to broadcast such content. We need to revise the AM-RU interstate agreement to grant the Committee more powers to regulate foreign channels as well. In the future, we should entirely ban all foreign channels on Armenia's public multiplex.
RULING MP: What is Shoghakat TV, who owns it, and does its content meet the requirements? [It's the channel operated by the church]
REGULATOR: Shoghakat was formerly called a religious-cultural channel. Under the new law, it must broadcast cultural-educational content; its genre legally is not religious-cultural. A recent study shows that the share of religious content is too high and it must be reduced by raising the share of cultural-educational programs to meet the requirements. The channel is receiving funds from the state and must therefore meet the cultural-educational programming requirements.
RULING MP: In other words, Shoghakat is a public channel, at least in part financed by the taxpayers, and does not provide the content it is legally required to? Religious content is not a bad thing but we must be mindful of the state resources.
REGULATOR: It's co-financed by the church and state. Shoghakat is also operating from a building owned by the church, and not the public TV.
OPPO MP: Isn't it time to also regulate the TV channels' social media accounts on Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok? They get more views than the content aired over the public multiplex. Children consume dangerous content on YouTube and TikTok. There are countries that are attempting to regulate it. Can Armenia do this? There are also unlicensed channels on the internet that spread whatever they want. How do we regulate all of this?
REGULATOR: This morning the EU's Ursula von der Leyen announced the possibility of banning TikTok in the EU. The same about the US. Even the most democratic states restrict platforms that pose a danger to their societies. It will be expensive to technologically restrict these platforms in Armenia but we must consider any measure that would protect the Armenian society. Armenia is falling behind the EU directives in terms of content restrictions.
OPPO MP: Today a 9-year-old boy sees as many naked girls in one day as the world's richest sultan throughout his whole life. This is going to have a negative impact on children. The same about narcotics. When are we going to amend the law to regulate this?
REGULATOR: In the case of the 9 y/o boy, the most important institutions are the school, parents, and the surrounding environment. As for regulating the media field, I've been saying this for 4 years and this appears to be a bipartisan issue so let's get together and decide how to regulate it.
RULING MP: Under the existing media regulation law, foreign companies are not allowed to operate a cable service in Armenia. Why is Rostelecom able to operate? Should we lift the ban on all foreign firms or should we ban Rostelecom?
REGULATOR: I believe they meet the requirement by not owning over 49% of the company shares. I believe 51% of their shares belong to an Armenian resident company. In their defense, Rostelecom has voluntarily banned Solovyov's show in Armenia.
full report, source,

անախորժ միջադեպ պառլամենտի բակում

The bodyguard of Armenia/ARF MP Levon Kocharyan, the son of ex-president Robert Kocharyan, is accused of punching and knocking down a journalist in the backyard of the parliament building after the outlet's criticism of opposition churchman and his portrayal as a corrupt agent of Russia.
REPORTER (Davit Levonyan, civic.am, affiliated with ruling party): After finishing an interview with a ruling party MP, I noticed that Levon Kocharyan's assistant/bodyguard Arthur Sukoyan was waiting nearby. He approached me and asked to speak for 2 minutes. I asked my operator to stand a bit further from us so we could talk. The bodyguard attempted to provoke a fight. He was unhappy about my opinion about churchman Bagrat [the co-organizer of the opposition's road closures in Tavush] and he said my actions were blasphemy. I said dear Arthur I have the right to free speech and I don't force my opinion on others, and that he can express his own opinion and that I don't really care about his opinion. He went on to escalate it into a physical fight in a way to present it as "two boys fighting" rather than hooliganism. He began to cuss at me. I said, "If you think I'm that type of person then I can say the same about you". I never punched him, knowing well that it was a provocation. He punched me and knocked me to the ground. I got up and cussed at him but chose not to fight. I told him that "you and the likes of you will answer for this". I wanted to verify whose assistant he was so he said Kocharyan's, and he invited me to his office to "settle the dispute". I told him to get the hell out of here and that he will answer later pa lyubomu.
QUESTION: Were there witnesses and is there a video recording?
REPORTER: My operator witnessed it and it was in front of the parliament building's security cameras. //
The alleged suspect, Arthur Sukoyan, is the son of Judge Alexei Sukoyan whose duties as a judge were terminated by SJC last year for "severe violations".
OPPO MP (Mher Sahakyan): That guy has no right to be called a journalist because I've seen his video [about the opposition churchman] and as a Christian Armenian, it's prosto unacceptable for me. Are you telling me you can describe a representative of a church any way you like and not answer for it? //
MP Mher Sahakyan himself was arrested last year after punching a ruling party MP and forcing him to get stitches.
What was the outlet's report that angered Kocharyan's bodyguard? The outlet accused the churchman of serving Russian interests and owning a meat production business in Tavush. A fact-checker has found that the churchman is indeed reported as a 25% shareholder of the company but the company says the churchman hasn't received profits. The ruling faction accuses the church of unethically using the church's media resources to advertise the "churchman's meat business".
source, source, source, source, source, source, source, source,

PM Pashinyan hosted the European Commission's Director-General of EU Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations

Pashinyan considered the AM-EU-US high-level meeting held in Brussels on April 5 as key and emphasized the need for effective implementation of the agreements reached.
Koopman noted that the European Commission is ready to contribute to the implementation of the priorities of the Armenian government to strengthen the resilience of Armenia and its economic growth.
Koopman expressed confidence that Armenia-EU relations will continue to develop and expand dynamically. The interlocutors discussed a wide range of issues related to Armenia-EU cooperation.

... On Tuesday Armenia, the EU, and Germany signed an agreement to reduce the Armenian rural population's reliance on imported Russian gas

They want to help low-income villagers and municipal buildings of Tavush, Shirak, Gegharkunik, and Syunik provinces to switch to solar energy. It will include solar water heaters, etc.
EUROPEAN COMMISSION rep.: The EU-Armenia relations are stronger than ever and the EU's dedication to Armenia is reflected in the agreements reached on April 5 in Brussels. This is a 3-year program worth €12.5 million.
GERMAN EMBASSY: Why not use the sun's energy for daily activities? Yesterday we noticed on our faces and skins how powerful the Armenian sun is. [please SPF 100 yourselves]
source, source,

World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved a $116 million program for Armenia to enable reforms aimed at promoting green, resilient and inclusive development

It includes a $100 million loan from IBRD and a $16 million grant. This budget support will help the Government of Armenia to build climate resilience and reduce vulnerabilities to future shocks, as part of the 2021-2026 plan.

It includes actions that will fortify anti-corruption measures by implementing a robust framework with a whistleblowing system and gift monitoring mechanism for public servants. Further, it is aligned with the Paris Agreement.

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Azerbaijani regime arrested another pro-democracy activist as part of a crackdown on an independent outlet

Mammadli, the head of the Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Centre, had his home raided by the police and was detained on Monday on charges of smuggling.
EUROPEAN UNION: This detention is the latest in a series of arrests of independent journalists & activists, and a matter of concern for the EU. All those imprisoned for exercising their fundamental rights should be released.
UNITED STATES: We are deeply concerned about the ongoing arrests of representatives of the Azerbaijani political society, in particular, Anar Mammadli. We call on the government of Azerbaijan to immediately release all those unjustly arrested. We continue to call on the government of Azerbaijan to respect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all.
source, source,

Armenia's Ambassador to the US Lilith Makunts met the experts of the US-based analytical center RAND that recently advised the West to provide defense assistance to Armenia and not to pressure Armenia to cut all ties with Russia prematurely

Ambassador Makunts presented the latest developments in the AM-AZ peace process and the Crossroads of Peace logistics process.
source, source,

Hungary is blocking the €10 million military assistance to Armenia

Context in April 17 news digest. Hungary is so far preventing the transfer of European Peace Facility resources to provide Armenia with a mobile field camp capability for a battalion-size unit, including a medical treatment facility as well as relevant services and facilities
Armenia submitted the application for funding in 2023. Georgia had earlier received €30 million in assistance as part of the same fund. They received equipment for controlling artillery divisions and engineering equipment.
Hungary, led by Turkish-Azeri-Russian ally Orban, demands that Azerbaijan receive assistance with demining activities in exchange for authorizing the transfer to Armenia. However, since Azerbaijan has not formally requested assistance with demining, it's possible the process could reach a dead end. The internal negotiations continue.
source,

Armenia's Defense Minister discussed AM-FR defence cooperation and army reforms with a French Senator

MOD Papikyan hosted Ronan Le Gloyot from the French Senate Committees on Foreign Relations, Defense, Armed Forces and European Affairs. The parties discussed AM-FR defense ties, the AM-EU ties, the Armenian army reforms, etc.
source,

Armenia and France discussed cooperation in military industry and aerospace (🤔)

High-Tech Minister Mkhitar Hayrapetyan hosted the French Senate delegation led by Ronan Le Gloyot. They discussed cybersecurity, digitization, the establishment and operation of French high-tech firms in Armenia, defense, military industry, and aerospace cooperation.
source,

France donates 4 diesel power generators with 100 kW to city halls and hospitals in Syunik

source, source,

Saudi Arabia's ethnic Armenian Prince Abdulaziz bin Talal Al Saud will visit Armenia

The agreement was reached during the recent visit by Armenia's Labor Minister to SA. The Prince and the Minister also agreed to establish cooperation between the Prince's AGFUND and Armenia's labor ministry.
source,

Armenia's Central Bank continues to cut the refinancing rate

2020: 4.25%
2022: 10.75%
2023: 9.25%
Jan 2024: 8.75%
Mar 2024: 8.50%
Apr 2024 8.25%
source, source,

Armenian migrant workers are sending fewer remittances from Russia and could find working in Armenia more beneficial

The net inflow of individuals' remittances from Russia in Q1 2024 amounted to $656.6 million compared to $1.1 billion in Q1 2023.
CENTRAL BANK: There is a decline this year due to economic and geopolitical issues, the exchange rate, and the ratio of salaries. It is necessary to have an understanding of whether Armenian migrant workers plan to continue working in Russia. Some prefer to return to Armenia and work here, as the difference in salaries now is much smaller than, for example, 10 years ago.
source, full,

agreement is signed to build a World Trade Center in Yerevan

Details in September 7 news digest.
Construction company RenShin presented the $212 million project to the government for approval. It's expected to create 10,000 jobs. There will be 4- and 5-star hotels as well.
PASHINYAN: It will be in place of the HayPost [post office] building on 22 Saryan St. Modern construction standards will be introduced in Armenia. Since our independence, there has never been a complex of this scale. It will help Armenia raise the "we are open for business" flag.
MHER GRIGORYAN: Armenia is the only country in the region without a World Trade Center. Being the last means we can have the best quality and newest technology. //
Armenia-based Renshen will invite the international architectural giant Norman Foster, known for developing the Apple Park in California, Germany's Reichstag Building, New York skyscraper Hearst Tower, the City Hall of Southwark (London), Millennium Bridge in London, Bilbao Metro, and more.
Who will own the complex? 50% investors, 30% HayPost, 20% Government. The company will buy HayPost's shares within the next 5 years. The revenue will help develop HayPost. It will have a new modern sorting facility to handle more parcels.
source,

16-year-old boy survives a fall from Kievian Bridge

source,

Yerevan's Yeritasardakan subway station has new lighting: VIDEO

It's the first of several to come.
video,

Hello. I (30 F) am currently on my third month of pregnancy. I am planning to resign from my work this month due to stress. Is there any maternity benefit that I can still get even if I become unemployed? I have been paying SSS, Philhealth and PAG IBIG since July 2017 by the way. Thank you.

Hello. I (30 F) am currently on my third month of pregnancy. I am planning to resign from my work this month due to stress. Is there any maternity benefit that I can still get even if I become unemployed? I have been paying SSS, Philhealth and PAG IBIG since July 2017 by the way. Thank you.

So will call him J, J is one of my brothers friends. My brother asked if it would be possible to let J park his RV on our property as he was going through a rough divorce and needed a place to crash. We had the space at the back of our property, so we said yes. J was very kind and helpful up front. Helped with chores, did a few odd jobs, was polite. He told us that he was going through a nasty divorce. His story was that he lost his job and shortly after his wife kicked him out and wouldn't let him see the kids.
After a few weeks of my husband trying to help him find a job, I noticed my husband getting a little irritated. He said that he had tried to line J up with 6 different jobs, but J kept declining offers. J was a car sells man. My husband is a carpenter. My husband tried to set him up with a buddy that owns his own Steal erection's business, he'll take on any green guys as long as they commit to working with him, even helps them with tools. J declined. Tried to set him up with a local farmer driving trucks.. J declined. Husband offered to let him work with him, J said "carpentry wasn't his thing", Landscaping.. nope... you get the pattern.
My husband basically told him that he needs to suck it up, pick a job. All those jobs were decent pay, some had benefits. But I could tell the whole situation was getting under my husbands skin. The other night my husband said "I think there is more to his situation than he's telling us"
I work from home running a small business. J would hang out while I worked and we'd talk. He kept going on and on about how much he missed his kids, how terrible his wife was, and how no one understands him.
Well, his wife contacted me yesterday looking for him. Apparently he's not answering her calls. She was concerned for his well being. I found that odd seeing as how he lost his job and she tossed him out. Well.. that was not the whole story by a long shot.
Yes he lost his job, but not recently. He lost it over 8 mo ago. They have 3 small children at home. She's been working 2 jobs to keep up with bills. After he lost his job he just did nothing. Sat around and watched tv, gamed, drank, smoked pot. She has no clue why he lost his job, he wouldn't give her a straight answer. I aske if he had applied for unemployment, she said no, she asked him to, he kept saying he'd do it. She offered to do it for him, he blew up at her, so she dropped it. He never got it. He was spending money on alcohol and pot when they did not have the funds for. He wasn't helping out with chores, he wasn't helping with the kids. The final straw came when she got home after working 16 hours and found their 18 mo old in the same diaper he had on when she left. She knew it was the same one because they only had 3 diapers left, and all 3 were still there when she got home. She begged him to step up, he said some nasty things to her. She called her dad to see if he would watch the kids while she worked. Her dad came to stay with them. After about a week, her dad and J got into a pretty nasty fight. Her dad was pretty pissed that he had not found a job, wouldn't help with the kids, wouldn't help around the house. J told his wife that her dad had to leave or he was leaving. She told him he could leave if he wanted to, but she wasn't kicking her dad out because she had no one else to help with the kids. J left. He hasn't tried to contact her, hasn't tried to see the kids. She's been trying to contact him since he left, he hasn't responded. She sent me screen shots of all the missed calls and all the texts. It broke my heart, despite what she is going through, you can tell that she is very concerned about him and you can tell she still loves him. She has not filed for divorce, even though her dad is pushing her to do so.
So now he's on our property, and he's our problem it feels like. I did confront him, he said she was lying and trying to turn everyone against him. I pointed out he has had several opportunities to get a job, he keeps turning them down. And that does not sit well with me at all. I asked if his wife was working 2 jobs. He said yes. I asked about the kids, he said that his wife has high standards and that the kids where fine. I asked about the diaper incident, he said that he's not changing diapers on a kid who is old enough to pee in the toilet himself and that his wife should have had him potty trained by now. Being a mother myself, I had to walk away, the way he talked, what he was saying.. it felt like a total 180 to how he has been talking and behaving. He's in his RV. I've been stress cleaning and baking in my house.
Husband will be home soon and I don't know what's next. I don't appreciate being misled, or lied to. Had he told us the truth up front, we still would have let him stay under the conditions that he's getting help and looking for a job.
I don't think telling him to leave is the solution. I do think this guy is having some mental health issues. I'm not sure what the out of pocket costs would be to get him help. But we do have a vacation fund we could dip into. I just don't know what we should do next.
I do plan on going to see the wife, I thought maybe some homecooked freezer meals and treats would be nice. I plan on stopping and getting some diapers and basic groceries. Id like to see what I can help with, and to talk to her dad. Maybe together we can find a solution. I don't know if J has always been like this or if it was a sudden change in behavior. Regardless I feel like we should help if we can, but you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.
I know I have a tendency to try and "save" everyone. I know I can't, but I feel obligated to try.
What would you do in our situation? Kick him out and offer help to the wife and kids, try and help both of them, or wash our hands of the whole situation?

Myself (18 F) and my best friend (19 F) moved in together at the beginning of our freshman year of college. With neither of us having any rental history or credit scores, my dad was kind enough to offer us the basement apartment of his house, free of rent, while we get jobs and get on our feet this first year. I immediately found a job, wanting to save up to have some spending money for myself and the future so I could begin to contribute to paying bills if I needed to or if I were to want to move out. My roommate, however, is still unemployed after a year of living together. Whenever we go out, she always says she doesn't have any money on her, so most times, I am the one paying. Sometimes she does pay me back, but I used to shrug it off when she wouldn't because she didn't have a job and times are tough so I wasn't going to insist on her paying me back if she didn't have the money to. However, I began to see things on her social media, like her going on shopping sprees with some of her other friends at the mall. It's happened a lot of other times; she'll mention how she doesn't have money to buy things or go out, but then I catch her doing things like splurging at Ulta (some of you know how expensive things are there) and even buying herself 2 different coach bags. This has made me feel as though she's been taking advantage of me, but I feel like I'm also just being dramatic. We have even talked about moving out and getting our place in the past, but I just don't see that happening any time soon if she still doesn't have a job and wouldn't be able to contribute. About five months into us living together, I began to notice some habits of my roommate that I didn't like, like leaving all her things all over the house and not cleaning up after herself. I'll admit, I'm not perfect either, but she also began to have people over without even giving me a heads up and not bothering to clean up afterward, which has made me uncomfortable at times. Both my dad and I have asthma, and my dad also suffers from chronic bronchitis. My roommate already knows this, but she still has had friends come over to the house where I have found them all smoking weed in the living room/ kitchen (which is a shared space.). I have been giving her the benefit of the doubt because we have been friends since we were 6, but the fact that she was smoking in a shared space and stinking up the house when she knew both my dad and I had breathing issues annoyed me. The next day, she acted like nothing happened, and we haven't been able to properly address it. I love her; she is one of my oldest friends. But I don't know how to properly address these things with her. She is a very emotional person who gets annoyed and offended easily, so I would hate to come across as rude or judgemental for her choices. I don't care if she decides to smoke weed or party, but I would appreciate it if she would at least not smoke in shared spaces due to my dad and I's health issues. And, I know times are tough when it comes to job hunting, I am also struggling in looking for a second job, but I would appreciate it if she would contribute more when we hang out, or at least not lie about not having money. All of this has been eating away at me for a while. I feel like I'm being over dramatic about all this, so I would really appreciate any advice anyone may have to offer!

I’m 22 years old and I have autism. Back in February, I was unemployed. I quit my job at Taco Bell a month prior. In the past 5 years, I’ve had 8 jobs. The second one I was fired from. I quit the rest of them because of the work environments and/or the fact they weren't paying me enough. Getting and maintaining a job has been hard for me because of my autism.
From August to November 2020 (when I turned 19), I received Child Survivor Insurance benefits. My mom died on October 2, 2013 when I was 11. I called the SSA and put in applications for that, SSDI, and SSI. The lady I spoke to on the phone said that I would still be able to pull more from my mom's record. An examiner was assigned to my case. in the mail, I was given paperwork to fill out from the Disability Determination Services in Nashville, TN. I filled it out and mailed that to them, as well as copies of documentation of my disability. I have notes from my pediatrician and a psychological evaluation confirming and describing my autism. I was told that I should hear back from them by the end of May with a decision.
My autism affects me physically, emotionally, and socially. I’m able to walk, talk, drive a car, eat, do chores, etc.
Where do I go from here?
EDIT: a couple weeks after I called the SSA, I got a part-time job as a night janitor for a college library.

I'm currently on the one shot SNAP/CA/Medicaid, and unemployed.
A counselor at CareerCompass told me that even after finding a full-time job, I would have a 6-month grace period to continue receiving full CA benefits, regardless of income level - to get settled, make sure it works out, etc. Is this correct? They were only referencing CA and not SNAP/Medicaid.
I'm frantically job searching and not expecting this at all, though it would be a welcome surprise. Thanks!

Quit my job last year, started filing for unemployment benefits but didn't respond to them asking for more details around separation. Had the hearing today which I provided more information but my employer didn't show up.
Should I expect a decision ruling in my favor within 5 days? Just curious on what the outcome could be

Maybe someone can help answer my question. I voluntarily left my long term job in NY state to move to AL for family reasons last year 2023. I found a new job in AL but was laid off Involuntarily last month due to lack of work after 4 months working there. AL labor dept says I am only eligible apply for unemployment in NY state, because of my residency and full time job there in last 18 months, which I did . It is pending now with NY. Does my old employer in NY have to pay the unemployment charge? I left that job voluntarily to move to AL so I am concerned they might contest it because I resigned from my job there. It sounds unfair for them to be "charged" for my layoff which happened in Alabama. Also, max benefit in Alabama is quite low compared to New York. Does anyone know if NY labor will give me reduced benefits because I am a full time resident of Alabama?

I am going to make my weekly benefit doing freelance work this week. I want to not apply for unemployment this week, but not lose out on a week of benefits I could be collecting. I was wondering if benefits work as a total amount of time (ex, you get 20 weeks of unemployment whether you apply and collect each week or not), or by a total amount of benefits that need to be used by a certain time (ex, you get 10,000 in benefits total, paid 1,000 a week, and have a year time frame to collect that total until it runs out).

Recently unemployed funds are a little tight I got denied snap benefits because of roommates income anybody know good food deals for veterans

Does anyone here know the situation regarding seasonal employees at the IRS?
My friend is trying to decide whether to accept a tentative offer for a seasonal Contact Representative, and the hiring contact said that you are furloughed after the "season" but you still have your job until you are called back.
So far, he has been unable to figure out:
— How long is the typical season?
— Do people typically get called back unless there is, e.g., a work performance issue?
— Are there still benefits (medical) while furloughed?
— is it possible to get state unemployment while furloughed?
— can you apply for non-seasonal internal-only positions while working as a seasonal employee?
The lack of details makes it difficult for someone to decide whether to quit a job to take this one.
Thanks for any information you can provide.

Please help me to navigate my situation, I receive C4 and I would like to know to whom exactly I should forward to get unemployment benefits, in the mean time I am still registering my business. Is there any free attorney services I can reach to. I would appreciate your help.
Also a side question regarding unlimited work permit, I have 36 payslips, am I eligible to apply for it.
​
Thanks

Hi Guys.
I need an urgent suggestion.
I have been offered Termination agreement (mutual termination) by my company where i have been working since 2 years. It has more then 50 employees.
The termination agreement has no extra benefits and i want to counter negotiate.
One thing i wanna know if that if i signed on the mutual termination, after the notice period will i get the arbeitlos geld. like would i get my salary from the unemployement agency?
If yes how much will get monthly? will i get full salary or some percentage?
Thanks alot in advance.

Hi there,
I live in New Jersey, company is based in Maryland.
I have been in limbo at a small management consulting company for the past few weeks. I was hired in a dual role as a Senior Financial Analyst and Project Analyst. Before being hired full-time I worked 2.5 years for them as a contractor through a 3rd party company.
Here's a quick timeline of events. (obviously working off memory and had to stick with highlights)

• Nov 16 - Hired
• Jan '24 - I was responsible for project budgets and resource planning of 7 projects. Company begins berating me for not being able to complete the work they assigned to me due to their poor management skills. Project managers have no knowledge of project budgets and CEO had no time to give me the information I needed to get the work done.
• Late Jan '24 - given 2 warnings in the span of 4 days. Accusing me of not getting my work done. Put me on a unofficial "pip" (they didnt use this word) where I had to meet with my manager daily for 2 weeks. I completed that process successfully.
• February 5th - Owner calls me and says she can't afford me anymore, and has to convert me to part time. No written record of this was provided. The following weeks I get about 5-8 hours weekly of work. Which means I'm no longer making good money.
• March 10th - I submit my application for unemployment citing lack of work and get approved.
• March 30th - A contractor refuses to renew his contract, has his final paycheck withheld for over 2 weeks.
• April 5th - A Project Manager is fired.
• April 12th - Owner calls me up with an extremely hostile tone and accuses me of not doing my work. Nobody has warned me. My manager says i'm doing good work. The auditor she hired says i'm doing good work. Completely unwarranted. I ask "why dont you part ways with me then?" Owner says "ok if you want that, write an email to HR and resign." I respond "why would I resign?" She says "YOU don't want to do the work, therefore you are verbally resigning." Turns into an argument where she uses personal attacks - "I wrote a rec letter for your university for you!" "I know your parents raised you better than this!"
  
• April 15th - Owner removes me from meetings stating "Thanks for the discussion on friday, thanks for letting me know." I immediately forward this to HR declaring that I have no declined any work and that the discussion on friday was extremely hostile. HR said they would meet with me.
  
• April 16th - my access from email and Teams is removed. IT doesn't respond to my email. HR ignores this.
  
• April 18th - 45 Meeting with HR, they record on zoom. I record on my phone. I tell them everything that happened on that friday "discussion" with the owner and then:
  

I state the following to HR:
Since being hired I have experienced the following:

1. Abusive work environment with pervasive office politics and mistrust, an environment that sets you up to fail.
   
2. Unreasonable work expectations and accusations of incomplete tasks and declined tasks.
   
3. Inappropriate personal comments about the way my parents raised me and guilt-tripping over a recommendation letter.
   
4. Physical and mental health issues exacerbated by excessive work hours, evidenced by an average of 4 hours of sleep per night in January as per my sleep tracker device. As well as exacerbated ADHD symptoms which have become even more prominent under the pressure I am experiencing.
   
5. A shift from full-time to an undocumented prorated part-time status.
   
6. Assignment of tasks beyond my qualification, notably in advanced accounting.
   
7. Removal of my financial analytics duties due to unattainable expectations.
   
8. Lack of trust in management and fear of retaliation.
   
9. Pressure to resign if unable to meet the constant changing job requirements.
   
10. Impact on my education, leading me to drop my graduate course for the semester.
    
11. Consistent reframing of what I've said and making it out to be something it is not.
    
12. Character assassination to delegitimize my work efforts.
    
13. Access to the system shut off as of the 16th, which is when the new pay period started. No response from HR until yesterday, no response from IT.
    
14. The above point also impacts my ability to request PTO which considering I just had it sorted out with HR and it was stated in writing that I would be able to begin utilize it this pay period, with everything else, is quite suspicious.
    
15. OWNER admitted interest from Friday in protecting her unemployment insurance rates.
    
16. No warning from my current manager, MANAGER. From her perspective, I have done nothing wrong and there was nothing to give me a warning about.
    
17. AUDITOR who is managing the PROJECT NAME projects also had no criticism toward me in the context to my work there.
    

Attorney friend said that I scared the shit out of their HR team but legally speaking they're only liable for discrimination and EEOC complaints, beyond that, I could potentially pursue a legal case but it would be a pain in the ass. But in regards to my case to keep my unemployment benefits from being disrupted, from her understanding, is likely very strong.
April 30th - HR offers to pay out 40 hours of my accrued PTO plus 35 hours of pay for a "soft landing" but asks me to sign a document stating i'm the one resigning. I show it to my attorney friend (although she specializes in a different state and isn't familiar with Maryland or NJ) and she says that if I sign this, I won't be entitled to unemployment.
I refuse to sign, and declare that I am not resigning and have never stated an intent to resign and that they should send me the recording links, which i've asked for before and they never sent it. They ignore everything I say and just say "ok we will fix the address on file and update our records."
Am I fucked? Why are they trying to fight me so hard? I have witnesses, screenshots, proof in every ounce of everything I state even though they've conveniently locked me out of the system. Is this not constructive dismissal? Some people said that small business owners take benefits payouts personally and they can be vindictive when faced with situations like this.
Man, i'm exhausted dealing with this shit and just want to move on but if they want to fight this I swear to God I will go to the deepest lengths possible to fight this to the full extent of the law. It's destroying my mental health and i'm doing my best to prepare for technical interviews but it's so distracting to deal with.
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Hi all, I was laid off end of last year. My last day of employment was 31.03.2024. I notified Agentur für Arbeit immediately and registered as a job seeker and for unemployment benefits. However, I forgot to notify the Auslanderbehörde. Maybe because I was too focused on getting a job and preparing for interviews (I know it's a mistake).
I notified them after my employment ended around mid April that I don't have a job, and asked about the next steps. But I haven't asked them to extend the validity of my Blue Card (ends 2027) for a few months, while I look for a job. They replied today asking for documents so that they issue a job search visa.
Some people who were laid off with me got 6 months extension for Blue Card (but they notified them earlier). They say that I am entitled by law for that. I couldn't find the law online. Could you advise? I appreciate it!