Armenian News - NEWS.am presents a daily digest of Armenia-related top news as of 17.12.2019:

·       Bright Armenia party leader Edmon Marukyan wrote on his Facebook that the party was discussing the issue of recalling its only member in the Yerevan Council of Elders, Davit Khajakyan.

Later, Marukyan noted that the reason is that they have no influence on the Luys faction, which has three members. Khajakyan is from the Bright Armenia party, whereas the other two members—Ani Khachatryan and Tehmina Vardanyan—are from the Republic party

Davit Khajakyan, in turn, noted that Bright Armenia has not yet made a final decision. "The real meaning is to make all these revelations and facts be heard without personal insults," he added, in particular.

·       A girl, 3, has died in Ararat village of Armenia’s Ararat Province.

When asked how accurate the rumors are and whether there were doubts that the child had died from the H1N1 Flu Virus (Swine Flu), director of the medical center in Ararat village Arayik Sardaryan didn’t refute the news.

The Armenian Health Ministry spokesperson Alina Nikoghosyan confirmed that the child was diagnosed with the H1N1 Flu Virus (Swine Flu), but noted that the ministry can’t claim that she died from the virus.

·       Armenian President Armen Sarkissian signed Monday the law on ratification of the agreement between the governments of Armenia and China on the mutual lifting of visa requirements for both countries’ citizens holding ordinary passports.

·       Armenia 2nd President Robert Kocharyan’s son spoke on establishment of new political party.

“It’s hard to imagine collaboration with former director of the National Security Service of Armenia Artur Vanetsyan, but anything is possible,” he told reporters.

Asked to comment on the establishment of the new party, he said: “We have talked about many topics, but I don’t think now is the right time to talk about them.”

Thus, he didn’t rule out the possibility of establishing a new political party.

·       Armenia is 98th in the Global Gender Index issued by the World Economic Forum.

However, Armenia showed a better performance in terms of economic participation gap being in the 78 spot and in educational attainment where Armenia is ranked 45th.

Armenia’s neighbors Georgia and Azerbaijan are 74th and 94th in the Global Gender Index.