Author: Badalian Vardan

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that a deal with Iran has been finalized.

“The Deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now complete. Congratulations to all! I hereby fully authorize the toll free opening of the Strait of Hormuz, and, simultaneously herewith, authorize the immediate removal of the United States Naval blockade. Ships of the World, start your engines. Let the oil flow!” Trump said on Truth Social.

The White House also commented, saying the agreement marked a historic breakthrough that would end decades of hostility and help promote stability in the region.

Russia’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) will impose restrictions on the import of quarantine-regulated products from Armenia starting June 12, 2026.

According to a statement issued by Rosselkhoznadzor, the measure applies both to products manufactured in Armenia and to goods shipped from the country.

The agency said transit of such products through Russian territory to other member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) will also be restricted. “The ban will remain in force until a special algorithm is developed to ensure the safety and traceability of the supplied products,” the statement said.

Rosselkhoznadzor noted that the decision was taken due to the repeated detection of quarantine pests in imported goods.

“Since May of this year, the service has gradually restricted imports of certain categories of Armenian quarantine-regulated products and has repeatedly informed the Armenian side about disruptions in supplies. Despite this, detections of quarantine organisms have continued. In June, three cases of infestation by the khapra beetle were identified in walnuts, dried peaches and dried tomatoes imported from Armenia,” Rosselkhoznadzor said.

According to the agency, this allegedly indicates insufficient oversight by Armenia’s competent authority and undermines confidence in the country’s phytosanitary certification system.

 “The ineffectiveness of Armenia’s Plant Quarantine and Protection Service poses a threat to the phytosanitary well-being of Russia and the EAEU,” Rosselkhoznadzor said, adding that the khapra beetle is a storage pest that is not present in Russia.

The agency stated that the pest can damage grain crops, oilseed crops, legumes, industrial crops and their by-products, as well as forest, ornamental and other plants.

“It can infest grain storage facilities, transport vehicles, raw material and flour warehouses, mills, feed plants, confectionery factories, malt storage facilities and other sites. It can destroy up to 70% of stored products,” the statement said.

Rosselkhoznadzor also noted that economic damage to the Russian Federation could arise not only from crop losses and the costs of containment and eradication measures, but also from the possible loss of export markets in countries where the khapra beetle is not classified as a quarantine pest.

In recent months, Russia has restricted or completely banned imports of a number of Armenian products, citing the discovery of various violations. Such measures intensified in the period leading up to Armenia’s parliamentary elections.

Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan has said that anyone involved in electoral bribery must face strict accountability, stressing that the issue is a matter of both national security and democracy.

“If it is necessary to implement legislative and institutional changes for this, then those changes should be made now, without delay. However, I do not think such changes are necessary,” Pashinyan told members of his Cabinet during a live-streamed meeting.

“There is tolerance toward electoral bribery. I would not be surprised if it turns out that none of those caught taking or giving electoral bribes in previous elections are in prison today. Those who were caught during local elections continued their activities in parliamentary elections, and they will continue in the upcoming local elections as well.

I clearly demand that those who are caught taking or giving electoral bribes, regardless of their social status or position, be in prison at least until the official conclusion of the next national elections,” the Prime Minister added.

Rescuers searched ruined buildings in the southern Philippines on Tuesday to ensure no one was still trapped a day after one of the strongest earthquakes to hit the country in a half-century killed at least 37 people and displaced more than 20,000, The Associated Press reported.

Only four people were considered missing on official records in the southern provinces near where the 7.8 magnitude quake struck Monday morning, but the Office of Civil Defense acknowledged several collapsed and heavily damaged buildings must be thoroughly inspected for possible survivors or casualties.

The earthquake centered off Mindanao, the second most populous Philippine island, injured nearly 500 people and displaced more than 20,000, most of whom fled to emergency shelters.

Many people who left their homes feared a tsunami. Waves up to 1.4-meter (4.6-foot) above tide level were measured in the Philippines, but the only tsunami damage reported was to six shanties on stilts in a coastal village. Smaller waves washed ashore in Indonesia and Palau and as far away as southern Japan.

Monday’s earthquake was centered at sea at a depth of 33 kilometers (20 miles), about 32 kilometers (20 miles) southwest of Maasim town in Sarangani province.

It was set off by movement in the Cotabato Trench and was the strongest since the same undersea depression triggered an 8.1-magnitude quake that whipped up tsunami waves on Aug. 17, 1976, said Teresito Bacolcol, the director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

A criminal scheme involving the distribution of election bribes totaling approximately 7.5 million Armenian drams to around 45 voters has been uncovered and neutralized by officers of Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Committee and the Kotayk Regional Department of the Criminal Police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Seven individuals have been detained in connection with the case.

“Factual evidence has been obtained indicating that individuals appointed as responsible officials at the Charentsavan office of the Strong Armenia Party in Kotayk Province, including a person registered as a parliamentary candidate of the same political force, acting as part of a group and in prior agreement with other supporters, promised and distributed election bribes totaling 7.5 million Armenian drams to approximately 45 voters,” Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Committee said.

Parliament once again failed to convene its plenary session on Wednesday as the required number of lawmakers were absent.

Deputy Speaker Hakob Arshakyan said that, pursuant to the rules of procedure, registration will remain open for up to four hours.

Aside from Arshakyan, only two MPs were present – Hovik Aghazaryan and Hakob Aslanyan.

The MPs are busy campaigning ahead of the parliamentary elections. Parliament failed to ensure a quorum earlier on Tuesday as well.