The Armenian Ministry of Defense has explained why it changed the army emblem and its heraldic symbolism.

In a video, the Ministry said that the old version, adopted in 2001, contained a number of “heraldic, morphological, and ideological shortcomings”; therefore, in the context of the army’s transformation, a process of modernizing and refining the emblem has been initiated.

“The main figure of the previous emblem—the eagle—has significant heraldic and aesthetic shortcomings. The eagle is depicted with a closed beak. In heraldry, a closed beak is considered to indicate a calm, non-combat state and is often perceived as a lifeless image, which contradicts the essence of the military. The main body of the eagle—the torso—is missing; it is merged into the overall surface, creating an image composed only of feathers forming an eagle-like figure. The eagle’s claws, which serve as its weapon, are also absent. This creates the impression of a dismembered, powerless, and vulnerable creature, which is unacceptable for a military symbol,” the Ministry of Defense said in a video statement.

It is noted that in the previous emblem, the sword is placed behind the shield, which in heraldry signifies a lack of readiness for defense.

“However, the mission of the Armenian Armed Forces is to remain constantly ready to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia. In the previous version of the emblem, there is a major error in the depiction of the state flag: it is not shown as a single whole but is fragmented into separate ribbons or pieces. Such distortion of the flag can symbolically be interpreted as a divided, fragmented, or incomplete statehood,” the Ministry explained.

The Ministry of Defense states that the central figure of the new emblem of the Armenian Armed Forces—the eagle—has been reinterpreted and is depicted in a fully realized and complete form. Its head, body, wings, and claws are clearly visible, addressing the shortcomings of the previous emblem.

“The eagle’s beak is open, which in heraldry symbolizes vitality, readiness, vigilance, and the right of speech and power. As an apex predator, the eagle’s clear and dynamic posture directly symbolizes the Armenian Armed Forces’ alertness and combat spirit. It embodies the army’s mission to defend Armenia’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. In the new emblem, the eagle is reinforced by a radiant golden sun behind it, with its rays clearly spreading in a circular pattern. The sun here serves as a symbol of light and vitality, embodying the idea of the Armenian people’s endurance. The chosen golden color is not accidental; it represents eternity, prosperity, and power,” the statement in the video said.

According to the Ministry of Defense, the placement of the sun behind the eagle emphasizes the sacred values that are under the protection of the state and the eagle’s guardianship. On the eagle’s chest, there is a round golden shield decorated with the Armenian eight-pointed sun cross, and at its center is a seed, serving as a core symbol of the Armenian Armed Forces.

“The seed reflects future soldiers who are shaped by the call of duty, grow into trees and fruit, and, through the symbolism of eternal continuity, once again produce new seeds. The shield on the eagle represents protection. The eagle holds historically significant weapons in its two talons: in the left, a golden sword, and in the right, the sacred cross of Ashot II the Iron, Patron of the Armenian Army, serving as the army’s military symbol. The sword in the eagle’s claw symbolizes constant readiness. At the top of the emblem are the Armenian national tricolor flag and a map of Armenia. This element harmoniously connects the emblem to Armenia, emphasizing that the army is one of the guarantors of security,” the Ministry of Defense said.

It is noted that reforms under the transformation concept of the Armenian Armed Forces are ongoing.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has called for the advancement of negotiations between the United States and Iran, Xinhua news agency reported.

China has been making efforts to resolve the current conflict, Wang Yi told reporters after presiding over a high-level open debate of the Security Council on upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and strengthening the UN-centered international system.

China has maintained communication and coordination with the main parties involved, as well as important regional and international partners, the Chinese FM said.

“We believe that the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of all countries in the region must be respected, that civilian and non-military targets must be protected, that the security of passages and energy infrastructure must be safeguarded, and that the provisions of the nuclear non-proliferation regime must be implemented,” he said.

The key issue concerning the Iran situation is the negotiations between Washington and Tehran, he said.

“We support the active mediation by Pakistan and other countries, and also support efforts made by the United States and Iran, respectively,” he said.

A longstanding issue cannot be resolved overnight, the foreign minister said. However, every step forward in the negotiations brings more hope for peace, he said, adding that the earlier the conflict ends, the fewer civilian casualties there will be.

“We hope that the parties concerned can stay committed to pursuing a ceasefire and continue to meet each other halfway, so that peace can return to the Middle East as early as possible,” the Chinese FM added.

Russian air defense units in the port of Sevastopol in Crimea downed over 20 Ukrainian drones early on Wednesday, the city administration reported on Telegram.

There were no injuries according to preliminary data, Governor of Sevastopol Mikhail Razvozhayev said, adding that a few buildings were damaged in the attack. He said Ukraine also used Storm Shadow missiles.

Russia, which took over Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, has previously summoned the British and French ambassadors to protest Ukraine’s use of the weapons, as Storm Shadow missiles are made by a Franco-British consortium.

Separately, two people were wounded in the southern Russian port city of Taganrog after Russia downed a missile early on Wednesday, Taganrog Mayor Svetlana Kambulova said on Telegram.

Overall, Russia downed 140 drones overnight, Russian state media Interfax reported, citing the defense ministry.

Meanwhile, Reuters reported, citing Ukrainian authorities, that Russian strikes on Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions wounded 21 people.

Airspace for flights has been temporarily closed in various regions of Russia.

Kyiv considers Crimea to be sovereign Ukrainian territory that was illegally occupied and annexed by Russia in 2014. The Ukrainian government does not recognize Russia’s control over the peninsula and has repeatedly stated that Crimea should be returned to Ukraine. Moscow views the peninsula as Russian territory following a disputed 2014 referendum.

The Canadian government said Tuesday that travelers from Ebola-affected regions will be required to self-isolate for 21 days, and that immigration authorities are temporarily suspending decisions on applications from Congo, South Sudan and Uganda, The Associated Press reported.

Luc Brisebois, director-general for the Centre for Border and Travel Health at the Public Health Agency of Canada, said the measures are being implemented out of an “abundance of caution” and will stay in place until Aug. 29.

Travelers who have symptoms will be transferred to hospital for further medical assessment. The stricter border measures are being implemented starting Saturday, and those who do not have somewhere to isolate will be provided with a place.

Canadian officials also said that starting Wednesday, they are pausing final decisions on immigration applications for people from affected countries for 90 days, though that could be extended or lifted based on the evolution of the outbreak.

The outbreak is centered around northeastern Congo and is of a rare type of Ebola that is outpacing response efforts, the World Health Organization says, with more than 900 suspected cases and more than 220 deaths.

The United Nations Security Council has condemned the ‌attack on Barakah Nuclear Plant in the United Arab Emirates, adding that ⁠the attack constituted a violation of international law, Reuters reported, citing the UNSC statement. 

The council did not attribute blame for the attack.

The UAE said last week that six drones had been launched ‌against ⁠it from Iraq, including one that at the nuclear power plant ⁠in the Gulf state.

Iraq is home to powerful Iranian-backed ⁠militia groups which have claimed attacks against “enemy bases ⁠in Iraq and the region” during the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, according to Reuters.

The treaty is part of Starmer’s efforts to deepen cooperation with the European Union, which the UK voted to leave in 2016 following a divisive referendum campaign, Euronews reported.

The document will cover a wide range of issues, including border security, the fight against organised crime, the strengthening of collective defence and deeper cooperation with the European Union. The British prime minister’s office said the countries also intend to jointly develop new air defence systems, including the launch of joint production of medium-range anti-aircraft missiles.

Ahead of his visit to London, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stressed that the deepening of the defence alliance between London and Warsaw is aimed at countering a potential threat from Russia.

Tusk also confirmed that the purpose of concluding the bilateral agreement is to secure faster mutual defence guarantees in the event of an attack, despite the existence of the collective defence mechanism within NATO.

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.

UEFA has revealed the schedule for the European competition qualifiers for the 2026–2027 season.

According to the schedule, Armenian Premier League champions Ararat-Armenia will begin their European campaign in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League.

Armenian Cup winners Noah will enter the second qualifying round of the UEFA Europa Conference League. Alashkert and Pyunik will start in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Europa Conference League.