Parental Hour Rules: Armenia’s Labor and Social Affairs ministry says “Parental Hour” took effect July 10, letting working parents, foster/adoptive parents, and guardians take paid time off to care for children and join education—up to 30 minutes daily for one or two kids under 12, up to 1 hour for three or more, and up to 1 hour for children under 18 with severe/profound limitations. TRIPP Corridor Push: U.S. engineering firm AECOM surveyed TRIPP rail and infrastructure sites in Armenia with Armenian partners, as the project is framed as boosting connectivity and regional integration; Iran’s ambassador also said Armenia assured Tehran TRIPP poses no threat, while warning about managing risks from U.S. presence. Ararat Cement Nationalisation: Prime Minister Pashinyan says Gagik Tsarukyan’s Ararat Cement will soon become state-owned; after raids and a shutdown that left workers without pay, the plant reportedly resumed work following talks with police and management. Opposition Under Pressure: Aregnaz Manukyan (Mother Armenia/Prosperous Armenia) was ordered held for two months in a state-secrets case, while Samvel Karapetyan’s house arrest was extended again. Politics at the Edges: Two Civil Contract figures—Talin mayor Tavros Sapeyan and MP Vagharshak Hakobyan—announced resignations from parliamentary mandates. Health Tech Milestone: Slavmed Medical Center carried out Armenia’s first robotic remote surgery, with a urologist operating from Belgium. Regional Economy Watch: ADB kept Azerbaijan’s growth forecast at 2% for 2026 but cited weaker prospects for Armenia tied to Russia’s trade restrictions. Culture & Education: Yerevan and Paris expanded education ties, including AI in schooling, and Golden Apricot runs July 12–19 with Ibrahim Maalouf joining the festival.