“Today, the majority of Armenian scientists don’t know how to write and defend theses, which have been defended before due to lack of languages,” this is how President of the Armenian Association for Academic Partnership and Support Khachik Gevorgyan describes academic studies in Armenia. Gevorgyan sets aside the lack of access to scientific journals and articles among the many issues facing Armenian scientists.

“I wrote a letter to Santa Claus once and he made my wish come true. I am writing this letter to thank you. The gifts you sent me were very beautiful. Please, visit us on New Year’s eve,” this is one of the letters of the schoolchildren to Santa Claus.

Employees of Nairit Ltd staged a protest action in front of the government building on December 24. They demanded their salaries of November.

A1+’s recent survey showed that many Armenians prefer spending New Year’s eve overseas as the prices are comparatively lower abroad.

A fire broke out in Tufashen village, Shirak Marz, December 23. A 30-square-metre wooden floor and four windows of a room belonging to resident Khachatryan burnt down in the result.

“We’re not teaching our children to learn. The main function of kindergarten must be to teach how to learn. Parents must start preparing their children for school at home,” said today Minister of Education and Science Spartak Seyranyan during a year-in-review press conference.

The holy table and basin of the newly built St. Stepanos cathedral were blessed in the Nerkin Getashen district of the Gegharkunik diocese. The construction of the cathedral was undertaken by the children of the Aveyan family of the district.

We demand our property certificates,” said the residents of an Etchmiadzin hostel in front of the Presidential resident today morning. The protesters state that in 2007 Serzh Sargsyan promised to return the hostel to its actual owners.

The Moscow City Court has set bail in the amount of 50 million roubles, upon posting of which my son Vasily Aleksanyan can be freed from detention. For now I do not wish to discuss whether this decision is lawful or just.

In comparison with 2008, this year Armenian restaurants offer lower prices for a New Year feast. The highest price in Yerevan restaurants is 25 000 - 60 000 drams.

Today is winter solstice. The winter solstice occurs at the instant when the Sun's position in the sky is at its greatest angular distance on the other side of the equatorial plane from the observers’ hemisphere

One can come across taxis with different names in Yerevan streets. For instance “Khanga,” “Tanta,” “Minutka,” “Taxi jan,” “Mosh,” “Granat,” as well as the names of titles, castles, trees and flowers, marketplaces, etc.

A fire broke out in the village of Kurtan, Lori marz, at 04.40 a.m. A fire fighting team was sent to the scene shortly afterwards.

Violence against women takes different forms in Armenian families starting from isolation to psychological and sexual harassment. Recently, scenes of violence have been accompanied with severe rigour.

Some dairy-producing companies have raised prices for their products before the New Year. “Ashtarak Milk” raised its prices on December 8, while “Marianna” raised prices for sour cream by 10-20 drams a couple of days ago.

Hasmik Daveyan, 46, from the Dastakert settlement of the Syunik Marz came to Yerevan on government session day to organize a protest in front of the government building. Daveyan was waiting silently and patiently until the government officials would come out of the building so that she could ask them for help to save her, as she put it, from hunger.

An alarm was received December 17 at 1:49 p.m. that the resident of the 44th apartment of the building located on 7/2 Komitas avenue of Yerevan wasn’t answering the doorbell for several times and that a rescue team was in need.

Based on results of a survey taken by “A1+”, the majority of Armenian citizens will remember 2008 as the year of the events of March 1.

Armenian fishmongers complain that fish market prices have abruptly gone up in Armenia.

A fire broke out in apartment 14, building 74/1 in David Bek Street, Yerevan, at 5:00 pm, December 16. Two fire-fighting teams were sent to the scene in a short while.

A fire broke out December 15 in the church located in the Aygezard village of the Ararat Marz and left the 10 square meter roof of the church burnt.

Kindergartens nationwide are collecting money from parents. In many districts, kindergartens are still heated with radiators or wood. That is why parents are obliged to make payments and this is the issue facing residents of the Malatia-Sebastia district.

When there is a lack of seasonal vegetables in the market, the tomatoes and cucumbers grown in the greenhouses of Echmiazin sell quickly.

Everyone down with tuberculosis annually contaminates 10-15 people. Numerous people suffer from tuberculosis in Armenia today but they avoid undergoing a course of treatment and simply suffice with in-home treatment.