UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said that under his leadership London will continue to support Kyiv by supplying electronic warfare technologies to help protect Ukrainian military drones, RIA Novosti reported.

“We will continue to support Ukraine. To demonstrate our commitment, I can announce that we are taking the next step by providing the Ukrainian side with new domestically produced electronic warfare technologies that will protect Ukrainian drones,” Burnham said during a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The UK prime minister said the technologies would also help Ukrainian drones strike their targets.

Armenian Ambassador to Cyprus Inna Torgomyan met with Cypriot Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas.

The Armenian Embassy in Cyprus announced the meeting in a statement.

According to the statement, the sides discussed the agenda of Armenia-Cyprus bilateral relations and prospects for further strengthening them.

They also exchanged views on Armenia-European Union relations and opportunities to expand cooperation within the EU framework, reaffirming their commitment to continued dialogue and close cooperation.

Armenian Ambassador to Kazakhstan Armen Ghévondyan met with Kazakhstan’s Minister of Industry and Construction Yersayil Nagaspayev.

The Armenian Embassy in Kazakhstan announced the meeting in a statement.

According to the statement, the sides discussed expanding interstate cooperation between Armenia and Kazakhstan in the industrial sector.

In particular, Minister Nagaspayev reaffirmed the interest and readiness of Kazakh manufacturers to increase supplies to Armenia of machinery, metallurgical and light-industry products, including power transformers, batteries and other goods.

The sides also discussed prospects for implementing a number of projects of mutual interest.

Following the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their readiness for close cooperation aimed at expanding ties between Armenia and Kazakhstan, in line with agreements reached at the high and highest levels.

The official opening ceremony of Seaside Startup Summit Armenia 2026 took place on July 26. For the second consecutive year, the event is being co-financed by the Armenian government.

A total of 200 million drams was allocated from the state budget to organise the event in both 2025 and 2026.

Armenian Minister of High-Tech Industry Mkhitar Hayrapetyan delivered welcoming remarks at the opening ceremony, noting that the event, held on the shores of Lake Sevan for the tenth consecutive year, has become a unique platform bringing together people driven by innovative ideas and fostering a technology community.

“Hundreds of talented individuals, innovators and start-ups have participated in this project. This is an initiative of great importance to the Armenian government, which is why we continue to support the programme with strong confidence and enthusiasm,” Hayrapetyan was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the Ministry of High-Tech Industry.

According to the minister, Seaside Startup Summit Armenia is not merely a summit, but an environment where new ideas are born, partnerships are formed and the technological solutions of the future are created.

“I am confident that new success stories will begin here and that participants will leave Armenia and Seaside Startup Summit Armenia 2026 not only with vivid memories, but also with new partnerships, knowledge and ambitious goals,” the minister concluded.

Held from July 26 to August 1, Seaside Startup Summit Armenia 2026 will bring together start-up founders from around the world, investors, representatives of venture capital funds and technology companies, mentors, leading industry experts and innovation ecosystem leaders.

Armenia’s economic activity index in the first half of 2026 was 7.9% higher than in the same period last year, according to the Statistical Committee of Armenia.

In June, the index rose by 4.4% compared with May and by 7.7% compared with June 2025.

Construction remained the fastest-growing sector. Construction output in January–June increased by 24.5% year on year to 282.22 billion drams. In June alone, construction volumes rose by 19.5% compared with May and by 25.4% compared with June 2025, reaching 74.88 billion drams.

The services sector, excluding trade, recorded the second-highest growth rate. Services increased by 11% year on year in the first half of the year to 2.149 trillion drams. In June, the sector grew by 5.7% compared with May and by 19.7% compared with June 2025, with output reaching 414.97 billion drams.

Industrial output increased by 10.8% in January–June compared with the same period last year, reaching 1.523 trillion drams. In June, industrial production declined by 3.1% compared with May but remained 4% higher than in June 2025. Industrial output in June was valued at 256.70 billion drams.

Trade turnover increased by 0.9% year on year in the first six months of 2026 to 3.156 trillion drams. In June, it rose by 6.3% compared with May but declined by 0.1% compared with June 2025, reaching 585.95 billion drams.

Gross agricultural output fell by 11.9% year on year in the first half of the year and was estimated at 310.05 billion drams.

The consumer price index in January–June was 4.6% higher than in the same period last year. In June, it declined by 0.5% compared with May but rose by 5.1% compared with June 2025.

The industrial producer price index increased by 8.9% year on year in January–June. In June, it rose by 0.2% compared with May and by 8.8% compared with June 2025.

Armenia generated 4.658 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity in January–June, up 7.7% from the same period last year. In June, electricity generation increased by 1% compared with May and by 7.7% compared with June 2025, reaching 663.5 million kilowatt-hours.

The figures do not include electricity generated by autonomous producers as part of electricity exchange flows. To ensure comparability, this output was also excluded from the corresponding figures for previous periods when calculating growth rates.

No data on the average monthly nominal wage were provided for the reporting period.

The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 27 July, USD exchange rate up by 0.85 drams to 366.72 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 1.48 drams to 417.91 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.0289 drams to 4.7052 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 1.1 drams to 488.51 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price up by 375 drams to 47955 drams. Silver price down by 2.35 drams to 687.67 drams.

Armenia’s Central Electoral Commission has allocated four vacant seats on the Yerevan Council of Elders to the next eligible candidates on the electoral lists of the Mother Armenia alliance and the Civil Contract party.

The decision was adopted at the commission’s meeting on July 27, 2026.

The commission based its decision on records submitted by the mayor of Yerevan concerning the early termination of the mandates of council members Mesrop Manukyan, Levon Levonyan, Mikayel Khachatryan and Natalya Sinoryan.

The seat from the Mother Armenia alliance’s electoral list was allocated to Karapet Vardanyan.

The seats from the Civil Contract party’s electoral list were allocated to Gohar Safaryan, Sergey Apresyan and Artur Mayilyan.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

According to the Armenian Prime Minister’s Office, the two leaders exchanged views on the Armenia-Russia bilateral agenda, focusing in particular on issues that have emerged in economic relations between the two countries.

Pashinyan stressed that the restrictions on exports of Armenian-origin goods to the Russian market run counter to the legal and treaty framework governing Armenia-Russia relations, as well as the regulations of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). He asked Putin to take steps to help resolve the issue.

Regarding the possibility of holding a referendum in Armenia on EU membership, which was mentioned in the joint statement adopted by the leaders of four EAEU member states on May 29, Pashinyan said that such a referendum would be practically possible only after Armenia formally submits an application for membership to the European Union, making the issue a concrete one.

At the same time, Pashinyan reaffirmed the Armenian government’s readiness to address these issues through open, constructive and friendly dialogue with its partners.

Restrictions on the export of Armenian-origin goods to the Russian market run counter to the legal and treaty framework governing Armenia-Russia relations, as well as the regulations of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan made the remarks during a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Pashinyan asked the Russian president to take measures to help resolve the issues affecting the import of Armenian goods into Russia.

A referendum on Armenia’s accession to the European Union would be practically possible only after Armenia formally submits an application for EU membership, making the issue a concrete one.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan made the remarks during a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The possibility of holding a referendum in Armenia on EU membership was mentioned in the joint statement adopted by the leaders of four Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) member states on May 29.