A leftover piece of a SpaceX rocket has crashed into the Moon, giving scientists a rare chance to study what happens when something hits the lunar surface, the BBC reports.

The empty part of Falcon 9 rocket hit near Einstein Crater on the side of the Moon that faces the Earth.

It smashed into the lunar surface at around 5,400 miles per hour – seven times the speed of sound.

American space agency, Nasa said there is no risk from the crash on Earth and that they will “observe the impact site for scientific purposes”.

None of the spacecraft already orbiting the Moon were positioned to capture the crash live, so the first job for scientists now is to compare before-and-after pictures of the surface to spot a new impact crater.

The object is the upper stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 is a reusable, two-stage rocket designed and manufactured for, what the company calls “the reliable and safe transport of people and payloads into Earth orbit and beyond”.

Rockets are often built in sections, called stages. The first stage gives the rocket its first big push away from Earth. The upper stage then helps send spacecraft farther into space.

This upper stage launched in January 2025, carrying two robotic Moon landers.

Iran and Oman are expected to soon reach an agreement on a new route for the safe transit of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, Press TV reported, citing an unnamed senior Iranian official.

The broadcaster said that negotiations between Tehran and Muscat over the Strait of Hormuz have entered a “new phase,” in which “a bilateral understanding is within reach.”

The talks are aimed at creating a central corridor through the Strait of Hormuz to ensure safe navigation and protect Iran’s rights as a coastal state.

According to the official, once operational, the new corridor will replace both the existing northern and southern shipping routes.

The strait, an international shipping lane that is only 34 kilometers wide at its narrowest point, was closed by Iran in response to attacks by the United States and Israel.

Al Jazeera notes that before the war, ships followed a UN-approved two-way traffic separation scheme, under which navigation corridors passed through both Iranian and Omani waters.

After the outbreak of the war, Iran instructed all vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to use a new route passing near Iran’s Larak Island, known as the northern route.

Following the signing of a ceasefire agreement between Tehran and Washington in June, the United States insisted that ships use an alternative route near Oman’s coast, known as the southern route. Iran, however, opposed the move and resumed attacks on ships, arguing that it violated the ceasefire agreement.

Earlier, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said that ongoing negotiations between Iran and Oman had been “positive” at both the technical and political levels and were focused on establishing safe navigation routes through the Strait of Hormuz.

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan continues to receive congratulations from his counterparts around the world, with the latest felicitations on his reappointment coming from the foreign ministers of Slovakia and Romania.

“Congratulations to Ararat Mirzoyan on his reappointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia. I wish you every success and look forward to continuing our cooperation in further developing friendly Slovak-Armenian relations,” Slovakia’s FM Juraj Blanár said on X.

Romania’s FM Oana-Silvia Țoiu said she was looking forward to enhancing the strategic partnership.

“Congratulation to my friend & colleague, foreign minister Ararat Mirzoyan for his reappointment as FM of Armenia. Looking forward to continuing working with you on enhancing our Strategic Partnership and for further strengthening connectivity projects. Romania will continue to be a trusted partner for advancing an ambitious EU – Armenia agenda where resilience & democratic reforms hold key importance,” she said.

Following the parliamentary elections, PM Nikol Pashinyan’s government began a new term, with nearly all cabinet members retaining their posts.

Bulgaria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has congratulated Ararat Mirzoyan on his reappointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia.

“Heartfelt congratulations to Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan on his reappointment.

We look forward to continuing our joint efforts to further strengthen the Bulgaria-Armenia Strategic Partnership and advance our fruitful bilateral cooperation,” the ministry said in a post on X.

Ararat Mirzoyan has served as Armenia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs since August 19, 2021.

President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Petra Bayr has congratulated Ruben Rubinyan on his election as Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, wishing him success in carrying out his responsibilities.

According to the National Assembly’s Public Relations and Communication Department, Bayr praised the Armenian parliament’s commitment to the work of PACE, noting that Rubinyan’s long-standing involvement in the Assembly, including as one of its vice-presidents and as head of the Armenian parliamentary delegation, provides a strong foundation for further strengthening effective bilateral cooperation.

Bayr reaffirmed PACE’s continued support and readiness to work closely with the National Assembly of Armenia to promote the shared values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

She also said she looked forward to Rubinyan’s participation in the European Conference of Presidents of Parliament, due to be held in Rome in October this year, as well as to the continuation of the excellent cooperation already established.

The formation of a parliamentary friendship group with Armenia was marked by an official ceremony at Argentina’s Chamber of Deputies.

Legislator and Chair of the group Maria Luisa Gonzalez Estevarena, along with other members, representatives of the Chamber of Deputies’ Department of International and Institutional Relations, Armenia’s Ambassador to Argentina Hovhannes Virabyan, and other officials participated in the ceremony, the embassy reported.

Ambassador Virabyan thanked MP Maria Luisa Gonzalez Estevarena for assuming the responsibilities of Chair of the Argentina-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group and the other MPs for joining the group. He also expressed special gratitude to the group’s former chair, MP Lilia Lemoine, for the effective and close cooperation over the past two years.

During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on the prospects for developing Armenian-Argentine interparliamentary cooperation, emphasizing the important role of parliamentary diplomacy in further strengthening bilateral relations. In particular, they discussed opportunities to expand cooperation within the framework of the Parliamentary Friendship Group and outlined future joint programs and initiatives.

The sides also highlighted the significant role of the Armenian community in Argentina as an important bridge for strengthening friendship, mutual understanding, and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries.

The parties reaffirmed their readiness to continue close cooperation, contributing to the further strengthening of interparliamentary ties between Armenia and Argentina and the deepening of friendly relations between the two countries.

On August 4, 2026 the second meeting of the Armenia-Türkiye joint working group on the reconstruction of the historic Ani bridge took place in Yerevan.

At the meeting, the Parties emphasized the importance of signing of the Protocol on the joint reconstruction of the historic Ani bridge on May 4, 2026 in Yerevan.

The Parties agreed to continue efforts toward the earliest implementation of the signed Protocol.

The protocol was signed in Yerevan on May 4 within the framework of the European Political Community Summit.

As the process of normalising relations between Armenia and Türkiye progresses, discussions have also intensified over the sectors in which the two countries could begin economic cooperation once their border is opened and diplomatic relations are established following the negotiations.

Alongside the political dialogue, there has already been some movement towards economic cooperation. In particular, representatives of Armenian and Turkish business circles met in Kars on June 2, 2026, to discuss potential areas of cooperation.

The venue and date of the next meeting have already been set. A second meeting between Armenian and Turkish business representatives will take place in Yerevan in early September 2026.

In an interview with Armenpress, Güven Sak, economist and Executive Director of the Economic Policy Research Foundation of Türkiye (TEPAV), discussed the prospects for economic cooperation between Armenia and Türkiye.

Sak stressed that Turkish goods had already had access to the Armenian market via Georgia, while Armenian goods could likewise reach the Turkish market through the same route. However, he said the possible opening of the border between the two countries would usher in a new stage of economic cooperation, enhancing the competitiveness and diversification of Armenia’s economy while also benefiting Türkiye’s economy.

“We are now looking for sectors where cooperation can be established. At present, we are considering two or three main areas.

The first is tourism cooperation between tour operators in the two countries.

The second, I believe, is logistics cooperation, because the TRIPP route is not only about that 40-kilometre section. On one side, it will extend eastwards through the Caspian Sea to Central Asia, and on the other towards Europe. That is why cooperation on logistics infrastructure is needed.

We are also looking at cooperation in the field of information and communication technologies. Armenia has certain potential in this area. We are seeking cooperation between Turkish and Armenian companies.

We can also talk about cooperation in the food industry because there are agricultural areas just across the border crossing. Armenia has extensive agricultural land. So it may also be possible to identify areas of cooperation in that direction, but we will see. There is no need to rush,” Sak said.

From the perspective of promoting tourism cooperation, the Turkish economist highlighted the restoration of the historic Ani Bridge, for which Armenia and Türkiye signed a protocol in May 2026.

Sak expressed the view that the bridge could become not only a symbol of connectivity but also of tourism exchanges, allowing visitors to cross the border from one side to the other.

The Turkish economist also addressed discussions in Armenia suggesting that opening the border with Türkiye could harm Armenia’s economy and domestic producers.

“I first visited Armenia around 2008. At that time, this argument appeared in Armenian newspapers. We had similar discussions in Türkiye when the country concluded a customs union agreement with the European Union. Until 1996, people were saying that Turkish industry would collapse because of it. They claimed European goods would flood our market, our companies would close, and so on. But that did not happen.

The customs union agreement greatly improved the competitiveness of Türkiye’s economy.

I believe the same will happen in Armenia because there are sectors where Armenian companies and the Armenian workforce have greater potential. There are also sectors where Turkish companies can perform well.

The important issue is bringing those competitive partnerships together. That is what we are looking for.

It will benefit both countries,” the TEPAV director said.

Sak also commented on connectivity in the South Caucasus and the wider region, including whether the fact that Armenia’s railway network is operated under a concession by Russian Railways, through the South Caucasus Railway company, could become an obstacle to regional connectivity.

According to the TEPAV executive director, Russian concession management of Armenia’s railway network is not an obstacle to connectivity. He said the more important issue is the need to modernise and strengthen Armenia’s railway infrastructure, as the network is incomplete and some sections are currently out of service.

“The important thing is to hold discussions with South Caucasus Railway on whether it is willing to make new investments. If it is not prepared to make those investments, then a mechanism should be found to complete Armenia’s railway infrastructure.

The key issue is having transport links in place. That includes not only links with Türkiye and within Armenia, but also links with Azerbaijan, and ultimately with Moscow and Iran,” Güven Sak said.

The Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces and First Deputy Minister of Defense, Lt. Gen. Edward Asryan, visited troops at an army corps post.

The Defense Ministry said that the general met with sergeants and senior enlisted personnel at the undisclosed military station.

The ministry said that the general highlighted the need to improve discipline and uphold the code of conduct.

“During the meeting, a number of issues related to improving discipline in the armed forces, maintaining statutory relations, and efforts to eliminate harmful practices within the army were discussed,” the ministry said.

On August 4, Director of the Rescue Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Aram Ghazaryan received Masahiro Ueki, Resident Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Georgia Office, and Ruzan Khojikyan, JICA Program Coordinator in Armenia.

The JICA Georgia Office also covers the entire South Caucasus region.

According to a readout from the ministry, Ghazaryan emphasized the importance of effective cooperation with JICA, noting that programs implemented with the agency’s support have made a significant contribution to the technical modernization of the Rescue Service, the development of personnel’s professional capacities, and the improvement of the disaster risk management system.

Expressing gratitude for the warm reception, JICA Georgia Office Resident Representative Masahiro Ueki noted that the Armenian side highly values Japan’s long-standing experience in the field of disaster risk management.

The sides discussed the technical upgrading of the Rescue Service, the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, as well as other issues of mutual interest.

The parties reaffirmed their readiness to further strengthen the partnership and continue joint initiatives in targeted areas.