This article is published under an agreement between Armenpress and the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA)

Specialists from the Regional History Museum in Ruse began recovering and transporting here on Thursday the ancient mammoth remains discovered on the bank of the Danube River near the village of Ryahovo, Ruse Region. The discovery was made possible by the river’s low water level. Once the fieldwork is completed, the remains will be conserved and examined at the museum.

The discovery was initially reported by a local resident who brought photographs of the unusual bones to the attention of the authorities. Following notification of municipal environmental officials and the Regional History Museum in Ruse, specialists inspected the site on Wednesday.

Ryahovo Mayor Hristina Ivanova said the area was particularly interesting from a historical perspective.

“Over the years, various finds have been discovered here, including animal remains, vessels and other objects,” she said.

“The news spread very quickly. At first, we did not want to raise unnecessary expectations before we were certain about what exactly had been found. After the specialists carried out their initial inspection, the information quickly reached the media. Now the entire village knows about it – and, in this case, so does all of Bulgaria,” Ivanova said.

Fieldwork to recover the remains began Thursday. Krasimir Kirov, curator in the Nature Department of the museum, said there was a possibility that the remains had been carried there by the river.

“The area near Ryahovo probably represents a kind of deposit where the flow of the Danube carried and accumulated the remains of various animals, not only mammoths. The characteristics of the terrain probably led to their accumulation here, creating sort of a ‘storage bank’. Of course, it is also possible that some of the remains belonged to animals that lived in this area,” Kirov explained.

The preliminary working hypothesis is that the remains belonged to a woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius).

“The animal was impressive in size – it reached nearly five metres in height and weighed more than seven to eight tonnes. A model of the same species can be seen at the Eco Museum with Aquarium at the Regional History Museum in Ruse, where visitors can get an idea of its scale,” Kirov said.

So far, specialists have identified a lower jaw, tusks, a shoulder blade, ribs and other bone fragments. It is possible that a significant part of the skeleton is still buried underground.

“Dating the animal is difficult, but the species we believe this to be existed until around 7,000 to 10,000 years ago and appeared approximately 500,000 to 800,000 years ago. It was a widespread species that lived in a climate radically different from today’s – significantly colder,” the expert said.

According to Kirov, the bones are not in good condition because, after spending a long time in a water environment, they begin to deteriorate when exposed to air. This is why the recovery process is being carried out carefully to ensure that the remains can be successfully transported and conserved.

“There is another interesting feature. The colour of the bones can provide information. If they are very dark, almost black or dark brown, this often suggests that the animal died in a swampy environment. We are talking about events that occurred thousands of years ago, and the colouring is due to the effect of the mud. We have observed similar features in other fossils found in the area. For now, however, this remains a working theory,” Kirov added.

Earlier, Regional History Museum Director Prof. Nikolay Nenov told BTA that local residents had alerted the authorities to the discovery and that specialists from the museum’s Eco Museum had initially identified a lower jaw, two tusks and what was probably a rib from a mammoth.

Nenov said the preliminary evidence suggested that the remains may not have been carried there by the river. Numerous similar finds have previously been discovered in the area and recovered from river sediments using dredging equipment. The current discovery is different, however, as the remains were concentrated in one location, raising the possibility that the animal died there.

Scientists had previously indicated that the area could contain similar finds. One hypothesis is that the site was a swamp thousands of years ago where the animal died.

Following conservation and examination, the remains will be put on display at the Eco Museum with Aquarium at the Regional History Museum in Ruse, if their condition allows.

Kirov said another interesting feature of the area was its fossilized trees, some of which are several million years old.

“We most often find fragments of palms and other species associated with swamp ecosystems, but not entire trunks. They are very distinctive – it is easy to mistake them for ordinary stones. We once had a case in which a company involved in dredging operations used a similar fossilized tree to prop open a door, without realizing what it was. It eventually became part of the museum’s collection,” the specialist said.

Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has begun to increase despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, while the United States says some oil tankers are being escorted by US naval vessels, Bloomberg reported, citing vessel-tracking data and an interview with US Energy Secretary Chris Wright.

 “Despite the continuing hostilities in the Middle East, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has picked up in recent days,” Bloomberg reported. In an interview with the news agency, Wright said oil exports have continued thanks to escorts provided by the US military.

According to Wright, around 6.5 million barrels of oil per day passed through the strait over the past week, with the United States helping to restore supplies of the commodity to global markets. 

According to analytics firm Kpler, 14 crude oil tankers transited the strait in both directions on July 29, compared with single-digit daily figures recorded during the previous week.

The Council of the European Union on July 30 adopted a decision amending the Ukraine Facility and its associated Ukraine Plan, providing for an additional €8.3 billion in financing for Ukraine in 2026, the Council said in a statement.

“The amendments reflect an additional €8.3 billion in financing for 2026, provided through the Ukraine Support Loan, which was agreed by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union in February this year,” the statement said.

The Council noted that the Ukraine Plan sets out “a roadmap of ambitious reforms” that Ukraine must implement before receiving disbursements under the Facility. 

In line with a proposal by the European Commission, the amended Ukraine Plan also introduces additional reform measures, including in the areas of the rule of law and anti-corruption.

The Council recalled that the Ukraine Facility, which entered into force on March 1, 2024, provides more than €50 billion in stable financing, through grants and loans, to support Ukraine’s recovery, reconstruction and modernisation during the 2024–2027 period. 

Since its entry into force, the Facility has already disbursed €6 billion in bridge financing, €1.89 billion in pre-financing, and seven instalments totalling approximately €21.6 billion.

Archaeologists conducting ongoing excavations at the Great Hermitage of Tatev, a medieval Armenian monastery located in the Vorotan river valley in the Syunik Province, have uncovered the monastery complex’s medieval spring, whose precise location had remained unknown for a long time, the Scientific Research Center for Historical and Cultural Heritage has said.

The research center, in cooperation with the French Embassy, is continuing large-scale archaeological excavations at the Great Hermitage of Tatev under the leadership of expedition leader, archaeologist Arman Nalbandyan. The excavations have revealed various parts of the complex, including residential cells, utility structures, entrances, and other areas.

Archaeologists have also discovered a variety of artifacts dating to the 17th and 18th centuries, including objects made of metal, wood, and other materials, shedding light on the daily life and routines of the monastery’s inhabitants during that period.

“Authors as early as the 19th century, particularly Yervand Lalayan, mentioned the spring of the Great Hermitage of Tatev. However, its exact location remained unknown because a significant portion of the complex was buried beneath a thick layer of soil. Based on the descriptions of architect Murad Hasratyan, excavations carried out in 2026 uncovered the medieval spring beneath the soil. The structure is notable for both its engineering ingenuity and artistic design,” the Center said in a statement.

The spring has now been fully excavated and cleared, making it accessible and visible to visitors of the Great Hermitage of Tatev.

Armenia has extradited a suspect wanted by Moldovan authorities for allegedly facilitating illegal migration, the Prosecutor General’s Office said.

Prosecutor General of Armenia Anna Vardapetyan approved the extradition request submitted by Moldovan authorities, and the suspect was transferred to the custody of the Moldovan side.

The Prosecutor General’s Office did not disclose the suspect’s identity, identifying the individual only by the initials A.K.

The Armenian delegation participating in the Games of the Future 2026 in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana, an event combining traditional sports with modern digital technologies, has praised the high level of organization of the competition.

In an interview with Armenpress, Artur Sedrakyan, head of the Policy Development and Analysis Department at Armenia’s Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport and leader of the Armenian delegation, said that the Kazakh side has organized the Games of the Future to a very high standard.

“The Games of the Future is a large-scale and global event. Today, innovative technologies and sports are united here. The host country, Kazakhstan, has organized these games flawlessly, as everyone knows their responsibilities — from the organizing committee to the volunteers. I can even compare the level of organization of these games to that of the Olympic Games,” Sedrakyan said.

The Games of the Future are being held for the third time.

This year, Armenia is represented by a single athlete — Lala Gevorgyan, who will compete in phygital dancing.

Armenia also participated in the 2024 edition of the Games held in Kazan.

In the coming days, competitions at the Games of the Future will be held in both traditional sports disciplines and phygital formats, where physical sports and digital technologies are combined on a single competitive platform.

More than 800 athletes and esports participants from over 30 countries will compete in Astana.

A prominent Armenian scholar believes that the growing tensions between Türkiye and Israel have geopolitical implications, as the United States is preparing to reduce its presence in the Middle East, while the two influential regional powers are competing to fill the resulting vacuum.

In an interview with Armenpress, Ruben Safrastyan, a Turkologist and academician, spoke in detail about the strained relations between Türkiye and Israel and addressed whether the United States has managed to maintain a balanced approach in dealing with its two allies in this context.

“Since the aforementioned geopolitical struggle is, one way or another, connected to the United States, a kind of triangle has emerged. Time will show to what extent the United States will be able to resolve, or at least ease, the conflict between these two centers of power, although at this stage Washington is not making significant efforts in that direction. On the other hand, the confrontation between Türkiye and Israel has not yet reached a critical stage, despite the fact that such a possibility is gradually becoming more likely,” Safrastyan said.

Safrastyan also referred to the past conflict between Türkiye and Greece, when the United States failed to resolve the serious disagreements between its two allies, eventually leading to direct military clashes.

“At present, the Turkish-Israeli confrontation has certainly not escalated to the same level of intensity as the conflict that once occurred between Türkiye and Greece. The United States is still able to keep this confrontation within manageable limits, while the possibility of further escalation is a separate matter. For example, the conflict could intensify in Syria, where both Türkiye and Israel have vital interests. Therefore, it is possible that these disagreements could develop into military clashes, especially since various analytical circles around the world do not rule out such a scenario,” the expert said.

According to the scholar, although the intense geopolitical rivalry continues, there are also factors suggesting that the confrontation may not reach a critical stage.

“For example, oil is transported to Türkiye via the Baku–Ceyhan pipeline and from there is shipped to Israel. Therefore, regardless of the tensions between Türkiye and Israel, the two countries have not severed their ties. This factor should also be taken into account. The United States can therefore still keep the disagreements between its two allies within manageable limits,” he said.

Addressing the US–Türkiye F-35 fighter jet deal, which has become a particularly contentious issue for Israel, as well as the objections raised by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his recent meeting with US President Donald Trump, Safrastyan said that the deal between Washington and Ankara is unlikely to materialize, as there are conflicting views on the issue within the US political establishment.

“Trump is right that the key issue here is not the Israeli side’s opinion, but rather the position of the United States and the dynamics among the circles and groups shaping domestic policy. However, I believe this deal will not come to fruition because it is linked to the Russian S-400 air defense systems, which Türkiye purchased from Russia and has so far been unable to dispose of. There is a clear demand that Türkiye must first get rid of these systems, after which the purchase of F-35 aircraft could become more realistic,” Safrastyan said.

He added that Türkiye had even held talks with North Korea on selling the S-400 systems to Pyongyang or reselling them to Russia, although the United States opposes the systems being transferred back to Russia.

“Therefore, this deal involves unresolved contradictions that have yet to be overcome,” Safrastyan concluded.

Armenian Ambassador to the United States Narek Mkrtchyan was hosted by the Hudson Institute to discuss key areas of the evolving partnership between Armenia and the United States.

During an interview with Michael Doran, Director of the Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East at the Hudson Institute, discussions focused on the current agenda of Armenia–US relations, regional developments, and new opportunities for cooperation, the embassy said in a press release.

In his remarks, Michael Doran praised the evolving partnership between Armenia and the US, saying that the two countries are now in the early stages of a new architecture of connectivity and cooperation. 

He lauded Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s leadership. 

“One of the key architects of this change is, of course, Prime Minister Pashinyan,” he said, highlighting the regional peace.

Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces and First Deputy Minister of Defense of Armenia, Lieutenant General Edward Asryan, met with a delegation led by Daphne Mare, Head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delegation in Armenia.

According to the Defense Ministry’s readout, the meeting focused on the main areas of cooperation between the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia and the ICRC, as well as issues related to the support provided to the Armenian Armed Forces in the field of international humanitarian law.

Lieutenant General Edward Asryan highly praised the joint work and results achieved, expressing gratitude to the ICRC delegation for its cooperation and support in strengthening the capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia.

In turn, Daphne Mare presented the process of long-term cooperation, emphasizing that one of its main goals is the continued development of the armed forces’ capacity to integrate international humanitarian law.

The preservation of Ani, once a powerful center of medieval Armenia, has become not only a matter of architectural conservation but also a key issue in safeguarding global cultural heritage.

The Cathedral of Ani, in particular, is an exceptional monument of medieval architecture and one of the most important examples of the Armenian architectural tradition. It holds not only historical significance but also outstanding universal cultural value.

Restoration efforts are currently underway at this remarkable cultural monument, now located in modern-day Türkiye. The main goal of the project is to reinforce the structure with metal supports to ensure its preservation for future generations. Restoration work is also being carried out on other surviving monuments of the once-powerful city of Ani.

In addition, archaeological research continues at the site of Ani, which bears traces of various civilizations throughout the centuries. The excavations are being conducted by a specialized team from the University of the Caucasus.

Ani has been included on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2016. Prior to that, it was also placed on the World Monuments Fund’s list of endangered heritage sites. These two international designations provide additional recognition and support for preservation efforts.

Armenpress spoke with art historian and cultural researcher Ibrahim Suleymanoglu about Ani’s history, the architectural significance of the Cathedral of Ani, and the ongoing restoration work.

The interview with the expert took place during a visit to Ani by a group of Armenian journalists participating in an exchange program in Türkiye.

Speaking about the history of Ani, once known as the “city of a thousand and one churches,” Suleymanoglu noted that its story is not limited to a single historical period. The city came under the rule of different states throughout various eras. The Cathedral of Ani was built during the reign of the Armenian Bagratuni dynasty; it later came under Byzantine and then Seljuk rule and was later used as a mosque for a period of time.

According to him, all of these historical layers are part of the monument’s history and should be viewed within a broader historical context.

“It cannot be ignored that this area is connected to the period of the Bagratuni dynasty. However, Ani’s history is much broader. It has passed through different eras, and each period has left its mark on this site,” he said.

Speaking about the ongoing restoration work, Ibrahim Suleymanoglu noted that the projects are based on the studies, drawings, and photographs of renowned Armenian architect Toros Toramanian and archaeologist Nikolay Marr.

Toros Toramanian was one of the most important researchers of medieval Armenian architecture. He began studying Ani’s monuments in 1903, carrying out detailed measurements, photographic documentation, and architectural reconstructions of the Cathedral of Ani and other structures. His work played a significant role in the scholarly study and preservation of Ani’s architectural heritage.

Nikolay Marr was a Russian orientalist, linguist, and archaeologist who led the first major scientific archaeological expeditions at Ani. Under his leadership, extensive excavations were carried out between 1892 and 1917, during which the city’s structures, churches, urban environment, and numerous artifacts were studied. Marr’s expedition laid the foundation for systematic archaeological research at Ani, involving various specialists, including Toros Toramanian.

“The goal is not complete reconstruction, but rather the careful and scientifically justified restoration of parts that have been lost over time,” Suleymanoglu said.

According to him, the restoration of the dome of the Cathedral of Ani is particularly challenging. In the medieval period, it was built without modern construction materials such as concrete, cement, or metal frameworks. Applying such materials today could place additional stress on the structure and potentially compromise its stability. Therefore, specialists prefer structural reinforcement rather than complete reconstruction.

He also noted that relevant scientific institutions in Armenia are carrying out three-dimensional modeling of Ani’s monuments, describing it as an important step. However, creating a digital model and conducting actual restoration are entirely different processes, with restoration requiring far more complex engineering solutions.

Suleymanoglu also dismissed reports occasionally circulated in the media claiming that the Cathedral of Ani has been destroyed or altered. According to him, Ani should be treated as an exceptional monument of global cultural heritage rather than as a subject of political or ideological interpretations.

Suleymanoglu also spoke about ongoing archaeological studies at the site of Ani.

He emphasized that the research does not concern an “underground city,” as it is sometimes described, but rather the natural terrain, ravines, and passages formed between them, which are being studied as part of archaeological work.