A fire has broken out at Egypt’s Damietta Port, involving several gas carriers and dry cargo vessels, with authorities currently assessing the extent of the damage, RIA Novosti reported on July 29, citing the Al Nahar newspaper.

“A fire broke out near the liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal at Damietta Port, engulfing several LNG carriers and dry cargo ships. Civil defence forces and the relevant authorities immediately began firefighting operations to prevent the blaze from spreading to other parts of the terminal,” the newspaper reported.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said he does not plan any further changes to his government beyond the appointments already required to fill vacant positions in the cabinet and within his party.

“I believe the current composition of the government is the right one to address the challenges we face over the next two and a half years,” Merz said after an extraordinary meeting of the parliamentary group, according to TASS.

He added that, for this reason, he sees no grounds for considering any further personnel changes.

A parliamentary candidate who ran for office in the June 7 elections on the Armenia Alliance ticket has been arrested as part of an ongoing criminal investigation into alleged vote-buying, authorities confirmed Wednesday.

The Anti-Corruption Committee confirmed Ara Nakhshkaryan’s arrest to Armenpress.

“We confirm that A. N., a parliamentary candidate from the ‘Hayastan’ Alliance electoral list, was arrested today as part of a criminal investigation launched by the Anti-Corruption Committee into alleged cases of offering and receiving electoral bribes,” the Anti-Corruption Committee said.

The Armenian government plans to introduce new regulations that would establish stricter oversight of foreign adoption agencies operating in Armenia, including approval requirements, monitoring, reporting obligations, and possible suspension of authorization.

A bill establishing rules for the authorization, supervision, suspension, and termination of activities of accredited foreign organizations operating in the field of international adoption has been published online.

The regulation will apply to accredited organizations from countries that are members of the Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention), as well as their representatives and offices operating in Armenia.

If the draft is adopted, organizations seeking to operate in Armenia will need to obtain authorization from the central authority. They will be required to submit documents regarding their accreditation, experience, staff qualifications, planned activities, services provided, service fees, and other expenses.

Information about the organization, its representative, and the staff of its Armenian office will be sent to the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ Police and the National Security Service to check for possible violations or circumstances that could prevent the organization from carrying out adoption-related activities.

Organizations will be required to submit annual reports at the end of each year detailing their activities, services provided, fees charged, and expenses incurred. After each adoption process is completed, a separate report will also be required on the work carried out and funds transferred.

For three years following an adoption, the organization, its office, or its representative must submit annual reports to the central authority on the adopted child’s post-adoption situation.

The reports will also be reviewed by the Police and the National Security Service to verify that the organization’s activities comply with Armenian legislation and the international convention, including whether expenses are justified.

In case of violations, an organization’s authorization may be suspended. If the violations that led to the suspension are not corrected within six months, the authorization may be terminated.

The city of Stepanavan in Armenia’s Lori Province is gearing up to host the highly anticipated 13th Pan-Armenian Barbecue Festival.

The 13th edition of the festival comes after a four-year hiatus, with organizers hoping it will help boost tourism in the region.

“The Barbecue Festival has been held since 2008. As many know, it was previously hosted in the community of Akhtala in Lori Province. Our goal there was to promote the region, support balanced regional development, boost tourism, and promote Armenian cuisine. We believe we achieved that and now aim to do the same in Stepanavan. In our view, Stepanavan’s tourism potential has not yet been fully realized, and we hope to contribute to its promotion,” Sedrak Mamulyan, president of the Armenian Cookery Traditions Development and Preservation NGO, said at a press conference.

The festival will officially open at 12:00 p.m. on August 1. 

Approximately 50 booths will feature chefs presenting their original barbecue creations. Visitors will have the opportunity to sample a wide variety of dishes before a professional jury evaluates the competitors’ work.

Awards will be presented in the following categories: Best Taste, Best Presentation, Most Creative Concept, Special Prize, and the Grand Prix.

Mamulyan noted that every edition of the festival showcases innovative barbecue creations.

“There’s always a chef who surprises everyone with something unusual. Last time, for example, one participant created an entire barbecue menu using only fruit, including grilled watermelon. So, visitors can expect new surprises this year as well,” he said.

Festival organizer Vladimir Gevorgyan highlighted the many attractions Stepanavan and the broader Lori region have to offer.

“Visitors can explore Lori Fortress, which is currently undergoing major restoration, as well as the Dendropark and the Water Lily Pond. The Surb Nshan Chapel is another must-see destination. And, of course, all of this comes with the region’s exceptionally clean, oxygen-rich air.”

According to Diana Karapetyan, head of the Marketing and Promotion Department at Armenia’s Tourism Committee, the festival plays an important role in promoting Armenian cuisine and developing gastronomic tourism.

“The festival also generates significant tourist traffic for the host community. When the Tourism Committee supports a festival, one of the requirements is that it attracts at least 3,000 visitors. According to last year’s figures, the festivals we supported each welcomed more than 5,000 visitors,” she said.

The festival will also provide 20 free booths to residents of local communities, who will showcase their agricultural products and handmade crafts.

A live concert program will accompany the event throughout the day.

To make attendance easier, the organizers will provide round-trip transportation from Yerevan. Buses will depart from Republic Square at 10:00 a.m. on August 1 and return from Stepanavan at 8:00 p.m. Interested participants can register in advance through the festival’s social media pages.

Admission to the festival is free.