Railway-Russia Tensions: Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said Armenia won’t unilaterally scrap the 2008 Russian Railways (RZhD) management contract, signaling room for an “amicable solution” and arbitration rather than dissolution. Church vs State: The World Council of Churches urged protection for the Armenian Apostolic Church amid a long-running dispute with the government, warning of “undue influence” in internal church matters. Electricity Deal with Georgia: Armenia approved a KfW-backed power transmission project to boost electricity exchange capacity with Georgia to 1,050 MW, with an initial rise from 200 MW. Armenia-Russia Trade Friction: Armenia and Russia discussed lifting restrictions on Armenian exports and transit, while Armenian officials also pushed closer food-safety regulator cooperation. Iran on TRIPP: Iran’s military leadership said it has no preliminary agreement with Armenia on TRIPP and warned the project, as framed, threatens Iran’s security. Local Politics: Parliament resumed after a heated incident, while the Strong Armenia faction nominated David Ghazinyan for a key territorial administration and environmental committee post. Armenians in Turkey: Reports say Armenian citizens’ children in Istanbul Armenian schools may be barred from enrollment, raising rights concerns. Economy Watch: Armenia’s service sector growth accelerated to 11.0% in H1 2026, led by information/communications and financial services.