From April 23 to 28, Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun will visit Russia and Kyrgyzstan and attend a meeting of defense ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states in Bishkek, the Kyrgyz capital, China’s Xinhua state news agency reported citing a statement from the country’s defense ministry.

During the meeting, Dong will deliver a speech and meet with heads of delegations from relevant countries to exchange views on international and regional situations as well as defense and security cooperation, according to the report.

U.S. Navy Secretary John Phelan is leaving his job, the Pentagon abruptly announced Wednesday, marking the latest instance of a top defense leader stepping down or being ousted, AP reported.

According to Axios, Phelan was fired by Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, while the Department of Defense framed it as an immediate departure.

“Phelan didn’t understand he wasn’t the boss. His job is to follow orders given, not follow the orders he thinks should be given,” Axios quoted a person familiar with the situation as saying.

The same person said Phelan and Hegseth did not “get along,” according to Axios.

Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said Phelan was “departing the administration, effective immediately” in a post on X. He did not provide a reason.

Navy undersecretary Hung Cao will take over in an acting capacity.

The firing comes amid a naval standoff with Iran and about three weeks after Hegseth removed Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George and two other military leaders.

The Pentagon told U.S. lawmakers this week it will likely take six months to clear the mines set in the Strait of Hormuz, The Associated Press reported, citing a person familiar with the situation who was granted anonymity to discuss the sensitive information.

Officials from the U.S. Department of Defense delivered the information during a classified briefing at the House Armed Services Committee on Tuesday, according to the report.

The session left more questions than answers as lawmakers probed for information about the cost of the war against Iran, the strategy and objectives, the person told AP. The lawmakers also raised questions that have still gone unanswered about the strike on a school compound during the early days of the Iran war.

The Washington Post, citing three officials speaking on the condition of anonymity, reported that lawmakers were told that Iran may have emplaced 20 or more mines in and around the Strait of Hormuz, the vital waterway for the movement of Middle Eastern oil through the Persian Gulf.

Some were floated remotely using GPS technology, which has made it difficult for U.S. forces to detect the mines as they are deployed, the senior defense official told lawmakers. Others are believed to have been laid by Iranian forces using small boats.

Lebanon’s prime minister has accused Israel of war crimes after Israeli air strikes killed one journalist and wounded another in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, the BBC reports.

The strike killed Amal Khalil, who worked for a Lebanese newspaper, and injured freelance photographer Zeinab Faraj.

Officials in Lebanon say they were deliberately targeted as they sought shelter in a home after an initial air strike hit the vehicle in front of them, killing two men.

The officials also accused the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) of intentionally targeting a marked ambulance as it tried to reach the journalists in the village of Tayri.

The IDF denied that it was preventing rescue teams from reaching the area and said it did not target journalists.

Journalists Khalil, 43, who worked for Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, and Faraj, a freelance photographer, were travelling together. The two men who died have not been named by officials.

The BBC quoted Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam as saying: “Targeting journalists, obstructing access to them by relief teams, and even targeting their locations again after these teams arrive constitutes described war crimes.”

In a statement, the IDF said it “does not target journalists and acts to mitigate harm to them while maintaining the safety and security of its troops”.

The IDF said it identified two vehicles that had “departed from a military structure used by Hezbollah”.

Earlier this month, two journalists were killed in separate Israeli strikes in Lebanon – Ghada Dayekh, a presenter with privately-owned radio station Sawt al-Farah, and Suzan Khalil, a reporter and presenter on Al-Manar TV, which is affiliated with the armed group Hezbollah.

Last month, three Lebanese journalists were killed in a targeted Israeli strike in the town of Jezzine, their employers said.

Ali Shoeib, a reporter for Hezbollah-affiliated Al Manar TV, and reporter Fatima Ftouni and her brother, cameraman Mohamed Ftouni, both from Al Mayadeen channel, were killed in the strike.

At the time, the IDF confirmed it killed Shoeib and Mohamed Ftouni, describing them as “terrorists” from Hezbollah’s military wing, while saying it was aware of reports a female journalist was also killed.

At least 2,475 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Lebanon since the latest war began, and more than 7,500 wounded, according to the Lebanese authorities, whose figures do not differentiate between civilians and combatants. The number includes at least 274 women and 177 children.

Israeli authorities say Hezbollah attacks have killed two civilians in Israel since 2 March, and that 13 Israeli soldiers have been killed in combat in Lebanon.

Both Hezbollah and Israel have accused each other of violating the ceasefire agreement. The IDF said earlier on Wednesday that Hezbollah launched an attack on Israeli forces in southern Lebanon.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan reported a sharp increase in Armenia’s corporate income tax revenues, highlighting strong long-term growth driven by economic expansion and a reduction in the shadow economy during his administration since 2018.

Speaking at a Cabinet meeting, he presented corporate income tax (profit tax) collection data, noting that as of April 20, 2026, it amounted to 265.8 billion drams (roughly $700 million USD), marking a significant increase compared to previous years.

April 20 of each year is the deadline for corporate income tax payments for companies in Armenia.

“I would like to remind you that after the 2018 revolution, we reduced the corporate income tax rate in Armenia from 20 percent to 18 percent,” the Prime Minister said.

“As of April 20, 2026, 265.8 billion drams in corporate income tax was paid compared to the previous year,” he added.

According to the Prime Minister, a significant increase has been recorded over the long term.

“Compared to 2017, corporate income tax collections increased by 5.4 times, or 444 percent,” Pashinyan emphasized.

In his assessment, this growth is driven by several factors.

“This is about two things. First, part of the previously shadowed turnover has been brought out of the shadow economy and is now entering the state budget, serving public needs,” the Prime Minister noted.

At the same time, Pashinyan said the increase is also due to expanded economic activity.

“On the other hand, we have ensured economic growth, and since 2018, Armenia has recorded growth rates higher than both global averages and those of the Eurasian Economic Union,” he said.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan rejected opposition claims that Armenia has a heavy tax burden for businesses, accusing these oppositionists of being former corrupt businessmen who no longer have access to such “levers” after losing the ability to evade taxes.

At the same time, he indicated plans for reforms to the microenterprise tax system.

“I fully understand the opposition’s statements about a heavy tax burden, because when they were in power, they were used to not paying taxes. Naturally, now that they are forced to operate within the tax system, it feels heavy for them. In essence, they are not businessmen; they are specialists in using corrupt systems to evade taxes, push competitors out of the market, and make money in favorable conditions—and, as it is commonly said, to loot. So it is understandable that now, when such opportunities are no longer available, it feels burdensome to them,” Pashinyan said at a press briefing when asked about claims made by some opposition figures.

Some opposition parties have argued that the country’s tax system is burdensome for businesses, notably small businesses, and have pledged to lower taxes—or even introduce tax exemptions for microbusinesses—if they win the upcoming elections.

When asked whether he sees the need for changes in the tax system in the near future, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that the government is currently considering raising the 24-million-dram turnover threshold for the microenterprise regime to encourage them. 

“I would like to remind you that it was during our governance that the microbusiness system was established, when special conditions were created for the smallest businesses, and our policy has been to encourage businesses to become more successful, not less successful,” he said.

“We see an opportunity to raise the microbusiness threshold in the near future. The current threshold is 24 million drams, and it is clear that this level—also due to inflationary developments—is no longer relevant. We are considering raising the threshold so that truly small businesses can operate under special conditions, while others cannot use small-business status to avoid taxes,” the Prime Minister explained.

He recalled that after 2018 it became evident that many large businesses were splitting themselves into smaller entities in order to avoid taxation, a practice that is now significantly restricted.

“I want to address the citizens of Armenia who work, create results, generate and pay taxes, and tell them that we are transforming the taxes they pay into beautiful and modern kindergartens and schools, equipped with up-to-date furniture and infrastructure. I also want to emphasize that taxes are an important attribute of the state and sovereignty. I call on citizens, when making any purchase, not to forget to request a fiscal receipt, because this is also how we ensure healthcare insurance and pension increases,” Pashinyan said.

The Prime Minister stressed that those whose public discourse focuses on demonizing taxes are effectively advocating for the cancellation of healthcare insurance, pension increases, school and kindergarten construction, road development, and other public projects.

“Where there are taxes, there is prosperity; where there are no taxes, there is no prosperity. The well-being of every citizen depends first and foremost not on how much they spend on their own welfare, but on how much the state spends on their welfare,” Nikol Pashinyan concluded.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has commented on reports indicating that Karabakh’s main Armenian cathedral has recently been demolished by Azerbaijani authorities.

Pashinyan was asked to comment on the report at a press briefing on Thursday.

He said the Armenian government is currently trying to obtain complete information on the matter but called for “prudence” in such cases, “especially at this stage.”

“On such issues, especially at this stage, one must be prudent, because they are a double-edged sword. As the New Testament says to its readers: ‘For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you,’” he said, reciting the Gospel of Matthew 7:2, part of the Sermon on the Mount.

“So we will look into it and analyze it. I do not think that, taking into account our previous experience, we will make this a subject of international discussions at the state level. This is a situation that we need to fully and comprehensively understand,” the Prime Minister said.

Addressing a journalist’s remark that the destruction of cultural heritage is more an _expression_ of hostility than a step toward peace, Pashinyan said:

“I have already stated what my criteria for peace are. For two years now, no people have been killed or injured as a result of Armenia–Azerbaijan exchanges of fire. Armenia and Azerbaijan have recognized each other’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, inviolability of borders, and political independence based on the Alma-Ata Declaration. And we—Armenia and Azerbaijan—must approach any issue from this perspective.”

RFE/RL earlier published satellite images showing an empty space at the site of the imposing Holy Mother of God Cathedral, indicating that the church has been demolished by Azerbaijani authorities.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan confirmed on Thursday that he is reuniting with his former wife Anna Hakobyan, days after they made headlines following a joint public appearance in the city of Gyumri.

Pashinyan was asked at a press briefing whether he has reunited with Anna Hakobyan.

“When Anna made her statement, I said that I respect that decision, but I did not say that I was at peace with it. And, naturally, with that logic, I also made efforts to ensure that the event you are referring to would take place, and I am glad that it is happening, and I am glad that I now have another chance for our family to remain together,” Pashinyan told a reporter.

Anna Hakobyan announced her separation from Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in February 2026. The couple were never legally married and had been in a common-law relationship for nearly thirty years, but she was widely referred to as Pashinyan’s wife.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has claimed that former President Serzh Sargsyan, despite claims of skipping the upcoming elections, is actively backing the Strong Armenia party in an effort to restore the old political coalition, effectively running for office behind the scenes.

Earlier in April, former President Serzh Sargsyan – whom Pashinyan-led demonstrations removed from office in 2018 –  said his Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) had decided to opt out of the 2026 parliamentary elections, scheduled for June 7, in order to avoid “dividing the opposition arena” even further.

Speaking at a press briefing on April 23, Pashinyan described the claim that Sargsyan is not running as a “fake narrative.”

He indicated that the Strong Armenia party, a newly formed political force led by business tycoon Samvel Karapetyan and running for parliament this year, has Sargsyan’s endorsement, with several high-ranking Republicans attending Strong Armenia rallies.

“In the previous elections, Serzh Sargsyan participated with the ‘I Have Honor’ alliance, and in these elections, he is participating with ‘Strong Armenia.’ First, he has publicly expressed his support for that force; second, the entire known group has been attending their rallies, and in today’s electoral process, they seek revenge and aim to restore the 2006 coalition — ARF-Dashnaktsutyun, Prosperous Armenia, and the Republican Party of Armenia. There is no other story behind this. Before 2018, it seemed that there were liberals in the political field, I don’t know, with different views. So, what has now become clear? It has become clear that, for example, [former President] Levon Ter-Petrosyan is a pure ARF member. Moreover, the most unsuccessful ARF member. The rest was a performance, it was a game,” Pashinyan said, referring to ex-President Ter-Petrosyan’s public endorsement of Strong Armenia despite his own party, the ANC, formally running for office.

Pashinyan described the upcoming parliamentary elections as a “unique opportunity” to “oust” the representatives of the former governments from the political arena.

“I believe that these elections are a unique opportunity for us to simply oust criminal-oligarchic former officials from the political arena. I see that opportunity, I see it in my interactions with people,” Pashinyan said.

Pashinyan has repeatedly described Strong Armenia, the Armenia Alliance led by former President Robert Kocharyan (which includes ARF), and the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) led by businessman Gagik Tsarukyan, as a “tripartite war party” that risks plunging the country into war, while he has argued that his Civil Contract party is a party of peace. The opposition forces have rejected the accusations.