09:00 News in Brief: Zelensky Discusses Armenia and Azerbaijan; Iran Plans Strike on Ukraine

Yesterday's news summarized and content-rich:

• The U.S. has doubled funding for the TRIPP+ fund aimed at developing the private sector in the South Caucasus and Central Asia, raising it to $402 million, with Armenia being the main implementation site.
• The President of Ukraine has emphasized the importance of strengthening relationships with Azerbaijan and Armenia in order to protect the independence and sovereignty of former Soviet countries.
• By a presidential decree, the Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S. has been dismissed following his voluntary resignation.
• Iran has canceled planned strikes on three Ukrainian sites that were set in response to an attack on an Iranian trade ship after Ukraine apologized for the incident.
• The U.S. and Iran continue negotiations, prioritizing discussions on opening the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear capabilities.
• According to CSTO strategic documents, the possibility of using nuclear weapons is considered for the protection of allied states.
• A cargo ship traveling from Turkey to Russia in the Black Sea was attacked by drones, resulting in casualties and a fire outbreak.
• Drone attacks in the Rostov and Moscow regions of Russia have led to deaths, injuries, and destruction.
• The interim manager of the Armenian Electricity Networks company has announced the inaction of the board of directors and the high salaries received from the budget, suggesting voluntary resignation from these amounts.
• A total of 1,141 applications have been received from graduates of leading universities worldwide to be involved in the Armenian public administration system, with 459 passing to the second selection phase.