13:00 News in Brief: What Pashinyan Promised Drivers, the 'Exodus' of Russian Businesses from Armenia

Past hour's news summarized and contextualized:

• Pre-election campaign in Yerevan: During the ongoing campaign in the capital, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan discussed the issue of restoring rights to citizens deprived of driving licenses under certain conditions and a new point-based system.
• Trolleybus fleet expansion: Yerevan has received a batch of 45 new trolleybuses, which will completely replace the old trolleybus fleet in the capital.
• Prosperous Armenia Party campaign in Aragatsavan: Gagik Tsarukyan met with residents, stating that he is aware of the people's problems and criticized the current government for failing to fulfill promises made over the past 8 years.
• Departure of Russian businesses from Armenia: Russian citizens have started closing their businesses and leaving Armenia due to uncertainty about the future and a significant decline in bilateral trade.
• US position on Taiwan: Donald Trump hinted that Americans would not defend Taiwan in the event of a potential conflict with China, opposing the island's independence.
• US aid to Belarus: Alexander Lukashenko announced that two-thirds of all humanitarian aid received by Belarus, despite current sanctions, comes from the United States.
• NATO's new pipeline project: Turkey has proposed constructing a military fuel pipeline through Bulgaria to Romania to meet the needs of the alliance's eastern flank.
• Border restrictions in Estonia: Estonia's Ministry of Internal Affairs has extended the nighttime closure of border crossing points with Russia for another three months.