Category: News

The Weightlifting Federation of Armenia has released the schedule for Armenian weightlifters competing at the 2026 World Weightlifting Championships, to be held in Ningbo, China, from October 27 to November 8.

It is the first qualifying event ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games.

The schedule is as follows:

October 28, 12:00 – 65 kg: Garnik Cholakyan (Group B)

October 30, 12:00 – 57 kg: Alexandra Grigoryan

October 31, 09:30 – 75 kg: Tigran Karapetyan (Group C); 15:00 – Gor Sahakyan

November 2, 09:30 – 85 kg: Martin Poghosyan (Group C); 12:00 – Rafik Harutyunyan (Group B)

November 4, 12:00 – 95 kg: Davit Hovhannisyan (Group B)

November 5, 09:30 – 77 kg: Alina Sukiasyan (Group C)

November 6, 15:00 – 110 kg: Garik Karapetyan

November 7, 15:00 – 86 kg: Emma Poghosyan, Liana Gyurjyan

November 8, 10:00 – +110 kg: Varazdat Lalayan

Tax policy can play an important role in mobilizing resources for biodiversity conservation and environmental protection, tax officials say.

Tax revenues lost to profit shifting could otherwise help fund environmental initiatives.

In an interview with Armenpress during the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Yerevan, Andranik Hakobyan, Head of the Transfer Pricing Division of the State Revenue Committee’s International Taxation Department, and Armen Gyurjyan, Head of the Agreements Implementation and Information Exchange Division of the same department, discussed the link between taxation and nature conservation and how double taxation avoidance agreements can contribute to the development of a green economy.

“The link between taxes and nature conservation is actually more direct than it may seem at first glance. Nature conservation is largely a matter of financing. The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework aims to mobilize at least $200 billion annually for environmental purposes, including through countries’ domestic resources, and taxes are the main source of domestic resources for states,” Hakobyan said.

It is a well-known fact that nature recognizes no borders. Therefore, protecting resources for its conservation must also extend beyond national borders, with efforts coordinated among all countries.

“In this context, the environmental burden is not solely the responsibility of the relevant agency. All government agencies have a role to play, even if indirectly. The tax system is part of this chain, and we believe that a transparent and predictable tax system is necessary for a sustainable future, one that will ensure the collection of the resources needed to support this agenda,” Gyurjyan said.

COP17 is being held in conjunction with the 12th meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (CP-MOP-12) and the sixth meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing (NP-MOP-6).

COP17 marks the first global review of collective progress toward implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). The meetings are taking place in Yerevan from October 19 to 30.

The 7th Science-Policy Forum for Biodiversity (SPFB) opened on October 24 at the Meridian Exhibition Center as part of COP17.

The forum has brought together scientists, policymakers, practitioners, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and other stakeholders to bridge the gap between biodiversity science and policy by turning scientific knowledge into practical action.

The forum will explore practical ways to advance biodiversity action, including stronger collaboration across biodiversity, climate, land, food, water, and health, as well as more effective science-policy engagement.

Armenia’s Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan attended the opening of the forum. 

In her remarks, Andreasyan said that nature must first and foremost be understood and studied in order to be protected, and that professional knowledge must form the basis of measures and decisions aimed at nature conservation.

“All reforms in the fields of science and research in our country are based on this very important agenda. Last year, we adopted a new Law on Higher Education and Science, which provides a new foundation for the development of higher education and research, as well as for the integration of these two fields. This year, we adopted a new science development strategy, which identifies 12 priority areas. These include environmental, agricultural, and Earth sciences, which can provide a very important basis for addressing the issues and challenges we face in these areas,” the minister said.

She assured attendees that these were not merely words on paper, noting that the Government of Armenia was making tremendous efforts to secure investment in the field and create opportunities for researchers to work in these very important areas.

Andreasyan recalled that more than 40 billion drams had been allocated for science and research last year, nearly three times the amount allocated seven years earlier.

“As a result, researchers’ salaries have been gradually increased by up to 300%. This enables young researchers to enter the field and carry out new projects and research, creating new opportunities for policy development and decision-making as well,” Andreasyan said, emphasizing that providing modern equipment for research is also very important for promoting the development of science.

She stressed that over the past five years, 20 billion drams had been allocated and more than 20 grant programs had been implemented in the field, creating opportunities for both Armenian and foreign researchers.

“It is truly important for us to connect researchers in Armenia with their colleagues working abroad, and we have special grant projects for this purpose. In recent years, more than 40 researchers from different countries have come to Armenia to conduct joint research with our researchers. Another 60 researchers work remotely with our researchers, creating new opportunities for cooperation,” the minister emphasized.

According to her, another very important project implemented by the Government of Armenia is the establishment of an artificial intelligence center at Yerevan State University. The center provides new opportunities and capabilities that can also support environmental studies and the modeling of processes related to climate change.

“Speaking specifically about the very important biodiversity agenda, I would like to note that studies on these topics have their place and role in the overall grant system in our field. We have various projects under European Union programs, including the European Green Deal, and we have also provided support for joint research, such as joint research projects between Armenia and Germany. Environmental studies are a specific component of these projects. We also attach great importance to incorporating all these principles into the education sector. For example, under the T-Green Erasmus+ project, we are developing master’s programs that can contribute to the development of the green economy and technologies. Another important partnership for us is the international GLOBE program, implemented with NASA’s support. Through this program, schoolchildren have the opportunity to become involved in such studies from the early years of their education,” Andreasyan said.

The minister said it was very important to understand how these achievements could be linked to practical policies. She noted that tools such as the Global Atlas of Ecosystems could play an important role in this regard. The ministry is ready to support this initiative, be part of it, and use the country’s scientific potential and data to advance this shared agenda.

According to Andreasyan, the Academic City project is a very important part of the Government of Armenia’s program.

“This is a major project, and it requires a new environment for our universities and scientific organizations. Academic City will be established as a new university complex built entirely around a green approach, covering everything from water resources to biodiversity. This is a truly important part of our work: not merely talking about these approaches, but implementing them and incorporating them into our ongoing projects and policies. It is truly important for us, when discussing biodiversity and nature conservation, to have an education and research system that serves this agenda. We need research that can help us understand and assess changes taking place in nature, research findings that can serve as a basis for the decisions we make, and the development of behavior that encourages our citizens to act more responsibly toward nature and society,” the minister emphasized.

The 9th Summit for Subnational Governments and Cities was held as part of COP17, with opening remarks delivered by COP17 President and Armenia’s Minister of Environment, Hambardzum Matevosyan.

The Ministry of Environment said that during the summit, Matevosyan emphasized the key role of cities and communities in translating global biodiversity commitments into practical results, highlighting the importance of access to financing, technology, and expert support.

Matevosyan presented new opportunities for community involvement in establishing and managing protected areas of local significance in Armenia, as well as an initiative to designate Hrazdan Gorge as Yerevan’s first community-protected natural area.

“The goal is clear: to move from international commitments to measurable action at the local level, for the benefit of nature and people,” the ministry said in a statement.

COP17 President and Armenia’s Minister of Environment Hambardzum Matevosyan met with Evelyn Ndlovu, Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife of Zimbabwe, on the sidelines of COP17 in Yerevan.

“We discussed opportunities to strengthen cooperation on biodiversity conservation, including the exchange of experience in the sustainable management of protected wetlands, ecosystem restoration and biodiversity monitoring,” Matevosyan said on social media.

“I presented the priorities of the Armenian Presidency, stressing that the first Global Review of the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework should serve as a basis for accelerating practical action to achieve the 2030 targets. In this context, I highlighted the importance of international cooperation, adequate financing and capacity-building. I thanked Zimbabwe for its active engagement in COP17 and emphasized the importance of working together to achieve substantive and balanced outcomes in the negotiations,” he added.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, accompanied by senior government officials, toured Yerevan on Saturday afternoon, speaking with residents on the streets and on public transport to learn about their concerns.

He took a bus from central Yerevan to Ajapnyak and spoke with passengers, some of whom raised concerns about inflation.

Pashinyan presented ongoing government programs.

Speaker of Parliament Ruben Rubinyan and Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan were among the officials accompanying the prime minister.

In Ajapnyak, Pashinyan and the officials visited a newly renovated school to inspect the facilities.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, accompanied by senior government officials, including Speaker of Parliament Ruben Rubinyan, toured Yerevan on October 24, speaking with residents of the Ajapnyak administrative district, where he presented an idea for building a new residential district through an investment project, subject to residents’ consent.

Pashinyan said one possible approach would involve direct negotiations between investors and residents.

“A major investment project is needed, with investors coming in and negotiating directly with you, without the state getting involved. They could either buy your homes from you or commit to providing you with homes in a newly constructed building,” Pashinyan said.

Under the option he outlined, temporary accommodation for residents would also have to be provided during construction. The Prime Minister emphasized that residents’ consent would be a prerequisite, adding that this would make it possible to build a district based on an entirely new concept.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has stressed the importance of informing parents about the possibility of receiving reimbursements for education-related social expenses incurred through organizations providing extracurricular education for children.

Pashinyan addressed the issue on October 24 during a visit to the BRUT Studio and Showroom in Yerevan. While touring the area with government officials, he entered the venue and inquired about the classes offered to children and their fees.

Speaking with the studio’s representatives, the Prime Minister explained that under the universal income declaration system, parents can recover part of the income tax they have paid to cover education expenses.

“You should also inform them, because we introduced this mechanism with you in mind as well,” Pashinyan said, emphasizing that the state indirectly encourages the activities of education service providers through this mechanism.

The Prime Minister asked whether the studio’s educational program had the required license and offered to look into the matter if necessary.

Under the current regulations, the maximum annual reimbursement for education-related social expenses is AMD 100,000. For extracurricular and non-formal education programs, reimbursement is available only if the program is endorsed by the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport and the expense meets the established requirements.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has proposed using artificial intelligence tools in urban management to assess infrastructure maintenance needs and determine when repairs should be carried out.

Pashinyan made the suggestion on October 24 during a tour of Yerevan with government officials.

While visiting the Ajapnyak administrative district, he inspected a courtyard playground and discussed how to assess its repair needs.

“The fundamental issue for me is not the construction itself. The fundamental issue for me is when the first repair should be carried out after it is built,” Pashinyan said.

He stressed the importance of having a mechanism that would provide timely alerts when repairs are needed.

As a possible approach, he suggested using artificial intelligence to combine data on the year a playground was built with information about the number of residents and children living nearby to estimate when repairs would be necessary.

According to Pashinyan, timely repairs could extend a playground’s service life and save money.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan concluded his tour of Yerevan’s Ajapnyak administrative district on Saturday, speaking with residents, listening to their concerns and presenting the government’s programs.

The visit was broadcast live on social media.

Residents raised issues related to housing conditions, courtyard improvements, playground repairs, education, employment and social affairs. They also submitted individual requests and voiced concerns over property disputes.

Pashinyan addressed the idea of building new residential neighborhoods to replace old apartment buildings in Ajapnyak. He outlined possible options, subject to agreement between investors and residents, including purchasing residents’ apartments or providing them with apartments in newly constructed buildings, as well as arranging accommodation for residents during construction.

While walking through courtyards, the Prime Minister discussed playground maintenance and timely repairs, emphasizing the importance of ensuring the long-term use of infrastructure.

Conversations with residents also touched on the universal income declaration system, mechanisms for supporting non-governmental organizations, and the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Pashinyan stressed the importance of signing and ratifying the peace agreement.

Pashinyan was accompanied during the tour by Speaker of Parliament Ruben Rubinyan, Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan and other officials.