Ukraine has proposed a mutual halt to strikes on commercial vessels in the Black Sea and on logistics facilities considered important by both sides.

According to Reuters, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Ankara had proposed that the two sides establish a mechanism for a moratorium on attacks in the Black Sea.

“The Ukrainian side already had such a proposal. We have also conveyed it to our Russian counterparts and are now awaiting a response,” Fidan said.

The Turkish foreign minister noted that military ports and vessels had initially been the targets of strikes, but commercial ships were now also coming under attack.

According to Fidan, both sides are striking logistics facilities that are important to the other, which he described as a dangerous development.

Minister of Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan chaired a review of the work carried out by the Police units in Aragatsotn Province during the first half of the year.

Acting Police Chief–Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Kamo Tsutsulyan and other senior officials were present at the meeting.

According to a press release issued by the ministry, Sargsyan, addressing crime trends, instructed officials to intensify operational and intelligence measures to combat the criminal subculture, emphasizing that any such manifestations must receive a swift, proportionate, and uncompromising response from the police.

Minister Sargsyan also instructed officials to pursue consistent efforts to detect, investigate, and prevent economic crimes, particularly by strengthening oversight in the mining sector.

The minister stressed the importance of an active police patrol presence in communities, noting that preventive policing should be more visible and accessible, including in residential courtyards. She instructed authorities to strengthen police services during the holiday season and ensure continuous monitoring in recreational areas.

Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan, accompanied by other officials, visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex in Yerevan again to inspect the ongoing second phase of maintenance and renovation work.

The ministry said in a press release that, as part of the second phase of the improvement works, the foundations of three more pillars of the Temple of Eternity are being completely renovated, along with renovation work in the museum section.

During the visit, representatives of the contractor briefed the minister on the progress and scope of the work, as well as the tasks ahead. It was reported that continuous professional oversight is being carried out to ensure the quality of the construction and improvement works.

Minister Zhanna Andreasyan stressed the importance of carrying out the work to a high standard, in accordance with the established requirements and within the specified deadlines.

Since the maintenance work began, the minister has regularly visited the site to inspect the progress on the ground.

The Armenian government has allocated an additional AMD 2.64 billion ($7.24 million) from the reserve fund to the Ministry of Environment for organizing and hosting the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17).

Speaking at a Cabinet meeting, Environment Minister Hambardzum Matevosyan highlighted that Armenia will host and preside over COP17.

He noted that representatives from the 196 countries that are parties to the convention, as well as tens of thousands of participants from around the world, are expected to attend.

“By hosting and presiding over COP17, we will also become one of the centers of global decision-making,” Matevosyan said.

He said preparations are in full swing.

COP17 will be preceded by a Leaders’ Summit, which will bring together heads of state and government, as well as leaders of international organizations.

The summit is expected to adopt the “Yerevan Declaration for the Preservation of Life on Earth.”

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that Armenia has never hosted an event of this scale before.

“There will be a very significant influx of tourists, and this is a great opportunity for our private sector—first to provide services and then to promote those services. People who visit Armenia once often return and also recommend Armenia to others,” Pashinyan said.

He noted that the organizational costs of the event are being financed from the state budget, while major investments have been directed toward the private sector. According to him, significant investment has also been made in the Meridian Center, the venue for the meeting, resulting in an eight-year service agreement being signed with the center.

“We sometimes face difficulties when organizing events, and this investment addresses that issue. It is very important for us to have infrastructure that meets international standards,” Pashinyan added.

The 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity will be held in Yerevan from October 19 to 30, 2026.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced on Thursday several high-profile reappointments.

Speaking at the Cabinet meeting, he said that Suren Tovmasyan has been reappointed as head of the Cadastre Committee, Eduard Hakobyan as chairman of the State Revenue Committee, and Yeghiazar Vardanyan as chairman of the Urban Development Committee.

The prime minister also said that several governors have been reappointed.

In particular, Sergey Movsisyan will remain governor of Aragatsotn Province, Sedrak Tevonyan governor of Ararat Province, Vahram Khachatryan governor of Armavir Province, and Karen Sargsyan governor of Gegharkunik Province.

Aren Mkrtchyan will remain governor of Lori Province, David Arushanyan governor of Shirak Province, Robert Ghukasyan governor of Syunik Province, Vahagn Arsenyan governor of Vayots Dzor Province, and Hayk Ghalumyan governor of Tavush Province.

Pashinyan thanked the officials for their work during the previous period and wished them success in their future activities.

“Of course, I also know that some of our governor colleagues may perhaps take on different roles in the near future, including in the context of the upcoming local elections,” the prime minister said.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has appointed former Parliament Speaker Alen Simonyan as Secretary of the Security Council, replacing Armen Grigoryan who held the position since 2018. 

The decree appointing Simonyan and the decree dismissing Grigoryan, both signed by Pashinyan, were published online on Thursday.

A street connecting Victory Bridge to Arshakunyats Avenue in Yerevan is currently being restored and will be named COP17 Street to mark the significance of the Armenian capital hosting the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17) and Armenia’s presidency. The meeting will be held in Yerevan from October 13–30, 2026.

“The area around Yerevan’s Meridian Center is undergoing revitalization,” Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at a Cabinet meeting, referring to the area near the summit venue.

“During preparations for COP17, we discovered that there is a road connecting Victory Bridge to Arshakunyats Avenue that has not been in operation for many years. As a result of the organizational work, Yerevan will have a new street, and I have proposed that our colleagues at Yerevan City Hall name it COP17 Street, as a commemoration of the event,” Pashinyan said.

According to Pashinyan, infrastructure in the area is also being restored, including roads and sidewalks. Together with Red Bridge, these improvements will form an important part of the area’s infrastructure.

“Another historical and cultural cluster is being added to Yerevan,” Pashinyan said.

He also emphasized the importance of hosting COP17 in terms of Armenia’s international role.

“Holding COP17 at an appropriate level is very important for us. It is also a very good opportunity to increase Armenia’s international visibility and recognition,” the prime minister said.

President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov has congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his re-election.

“We in Turkmenistan highly value our relations with the Republic of Armenia, which are based on the principles of equality, mutual respect and trust. I am confident that they will continue to develop and deepen in the spirit of mutually beneficial cooperation for the benefit of our peoples,” the Turkmen president said in the message, according to Pashinyan’s office. 

President Berdimuhamedov wished Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan good health and great success in his responsible state duties, for the sake of peace, well-being and prosperity of the friendly people of Armenia.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that Armenia may soon face increased electricity demand, taking into account the rapid development of artificial intelligence factories in the country.

Pashinyan spoke about the matter at a press briefing on Thursday in response to a question about Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s statement that a project to build power transmission lines through Armenia to Nakhchivan is being considered as part of the TRIPP initiative.

Aliyev also said that the project would be beneficial for Armenia, as the Armenian nuclear power plant will eventually be shut down, creating a need for electricity, and the project could provide an alternative source of electricity for Armenia.

Pashinyan clarified that two aspects should be taken into account regarding energy trade.

“Until quite recently, we were talking about Armenia having a surplus of electricity. Now we need to talk about Armenia potentially having electricity demand because, as you can see, artificial intelligence factories are developing rapidly, and they consume electricity on a scale beyond our imagination. Of course, at this point, nothing has fundamentally changed in our overall situation, but the plans that investors have, particularly regarding the construction of new artificial intelligence factories in Armenia, are forcing us to revisit our energy strategies so that we have sufficient capacity to meet these new conditions and expectations,” Pashinyan said.

He emphasized that the Armenian government’s strategy is to achieve “100% energy independence.”

“How? Through the development of solar power plants and energy storage facilities. Armenia is more than rich in solar resources. But this does not mean that we will withdraw from international electricity trade. Sometimes we may export, sometimes import, including potentially having a partnership and cooperation with Azerbaijan in terms of exporting and importing electricity, as with all other countries — Türkiye, Iran, Georgia, and so on,” Pashinyan said.

A fire broke out at an ammunition factory near the Italian capital, Rome, followed by a powerful explosion.

According to ANSA, the incident occurred at the former Simmel Difesa plant in the town of Colleferro, which is now owned by KNDS Ammo Italy.

According to preliminary information, the fire and subsequent explosion occurred in the gunpowder pressing workshop. Several fire and rescue units were dispatched to the scene.

Emergency services said there were no casualties. The fire and explosion affected one of the areas used for the production and storage of explosives and ammunition.

KNDS Ammo Italy produces medium- and large-calibre ammunition for land and naval forces, as well as solid propellants for launch vehicles.