Foreign Policy Reset: Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan says Armenia will rename its foreign affairs ministry to better reflect today’s focus on international economic relations, arguing much of the old agenda was conflict-driven. Government Programme 2026–2031: The cabinet approved a new five-year plan built around “Real Armenia” and the “Fourth Republic,” aiming for stability, deeper EU cooperation, and peace institutionalization with Azerbaijan. Parliament Power Shift: Armenia’s National Assembly elected nine of 12 standing committee chairs in secret ballots, with Civil Contract taking most posts and Strong Armenia failing to secure any. Trade Pivot to Europe: Exports to EU countries jumped more than 80% in H1 2026 to $516m, while trade with Russia fell as restrictions hit Armenian goods. Karabakh Peace & Security: Pashinyan defended diversification and tough Karabakh-related decisions, and Armenia reiterated it will not let Russia market access derail export expansion. Gaza Medical Aid: Armenia approved extra funding to transfer and treat children with serious health conditions from Gaza in Armenian hospitals. Railway to Turkey: Armenia opened a tender to design a 21-km rail link to the Turkish border, signaling a push to move beyond Russian Railways control. US-Iran Shockwave: Trump’s threat to isolate Iran could pressure major trading partners, with China highlighted as a key buyer of Iranian oil. Cyber Threats: Google reported suspected Russian hackers abusing legitimate account sign-in flows to target academia, defense, and think tanks. Local Politics: The CEC set local elections for Oct. 25, with candidate registration deadlines in late September.