Category: News

Combined capital spending by Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta from the beginning of the AI boom in 2023 through the end of June this year reached $1.1 trillion, the Financial Times reported, citing the companies’ financial statements.

According to the newspaper’s assessment, such spending reflects both the scale of their ambitions in artificial intelligence and the speed at which U.S. technology giants have transformed from companies with relatively low capital expenditures into major investors in physical infrastructure.

Together, the four companies plan to spend $745 billion in 2026, primarily on data centers, chips, and the electricity required to operate them.

This article is published under the cooperation agreement between Armenpress and the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA).

Bulgaria’s National Assembly on July 31 voted 138 in favour, none against and seven abstentions to hold the presidential and vice-presidential elections on October 25, the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) reported.

The decision was supported by Forward Bulgaria, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) and Vazrazhdane. Seven lawmakers from the We Continue the Change party abstained, while GERB-UDF and Democratic Bulgaria did not participate in the vote.

If a second round is required, it will be held on November 1. Under Article 93(4) of Bulgaria’s Constitution, if no candidate is elected in the first round, a new vote is held within seven days between the two candidates who received the highest number of votes. The candidate receiving the most votes is elected.

The draft decision was submitted by representatives of various parliamentary groups.

Yordan Ivanov of Democratic Bulgaria said his party believes the date was chosen by the ruling majority to address declining public confidence in the government.

“In addition, Democratic Bulgaria considers it inappropriate that the second round, which is most likely to take place on November 1, coincides with a national holiday, when Bulgarian schools, community centres and municipalities take part in commemorative events. That is why Democratic Bulgaria did not support this date for the presidential election,” Ivanov said.

Petar Vitanov, leader of the Forward Bulgaria parliamentary group, said that the representative of Democratic Bulgaria, along with representatives of the other parties, had agreed to the date during earlier discussions.

“This is not an _expression_ of authoritarianism. The date was discussed by the parliamentary leadership, and with the exception of We Continue the Change, which did not sign the joint decision, we all discussed it and agreed that it was the most appropriate option,” he said.

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan held a meeting in Yerevan with visiting Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Diplomacy Hamid Ghanbari.

According to the Foreign Ministry’s readout, the sides discussed the strategic nature of Armenia-Iran relations, with particular emphasis on infrastructure projects, including those in the energy and transport sectors.

The importance of the opportunities created by the implementation of new connectivity projects was underscored.

According to the statement, the meeting also addressed regional developments. Foreign Minister Mirzoyan stressed that Armenia is closely monitoring the current situation, emphasizing the importance of establishing peace and supporting efforts to resolve existing issues.

Separately, during a meeting with Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan, Ghanbari and Kostanyan reviewed issues on the Armenia-Iran agenda and ongoing bilateral cooperation.

The sides also exchanged views on other matters of mutual interest.

A delegation led by Colonel Garik Muradyan, Commander of the Border Guard Troops of Armenia’s National Security Service (NSS), paid an official visit to Georgia from July 27 to 30 at the invitation of David Tamazashvili, Head of the Border Police of Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs.

According to the NSS readout, the delegation met with Tamazashvili, who presented the structure, main functions, and priority areas of activity of the Georgian Border Police.

The sides discussed issues related to ensuring border security and enhancing cooperation between the two border agencies, reaffirming their readiness to continue developing bilateral cooperation.

The delegation also met with Levan Maisuradze, Chief of the Patrol Police Department of Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs. During the meeting, the Georgian side outlined the department’s main areas of activity, while the sides discussed issues related to queues at Armenia-Georgia border crossing points.

The Armenian delegation also visited the Public Safety and Police Academy of Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, where it was briefed on the academy’s structure, the organization of the educational process, modern training facilities, and professional development programs, including training for border guards.

During the visit, the delegation also toured the Georgian Interior Ministry’s 112 Public Safety Management Center.

At the conclusion of the visit, Colonel Garik Muradyan thanked David Tamazashvili for the invitation, warm hospitality, productive meetings, and constructive discussions aimed at further strengthening bilateral cooperation.

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan held a farewell meeting with outgoing French Ambassador Olivier Decottignies.

According to the Foreign Ministry’s readout, the two sides praised the results of the extensive joint work carried out in recent years, which has contributed to the establishment and development of a strategic partnership between Armenia and France.

Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan highlighted Ambassador Decottignies’ personal contribution to expanding the bilateral agenda and deepening the Armenia-France partnership, wishing him success in his future endeavors.

The Armenian Interior Ministry has proposed legislation to establish a unified procedure for the collection, processing, and exchange of information related to disaster risk management and public protection.

The draft has been published online for public discussion.

Currently, there is no unified procedure in place for the collection, transmission, and processing of information related to disaster risk management and public protection.

The new procedure will apply to state administration bodies, territorial administration and local self-government bodies, organizations, and officials involved in the system for preventing emergencies and responding to their consequences.

Information will be collected around the clock through dispatch services, monitoring systems, and automated management systems. The data will be classified according to the level of threat — national, regional, municipal, or local — as well as by urgency: operational, current, and analytical.

In cases involving a threat to human life and operational information, data must be transmitted immediately, within no more than 10 minutes. Information about the occurrence or threat of an emergency must be provided within 30 minutes, while situational analytical data must be submitted within 24 hours.

If there is a sudden change in the situation, updated or additional information must be communicated immediately. During periods of rapidly developing events, information must be provided at least once every two hours.

In the event of an emergency threat, information must be immediately transmitted to the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ 112 Emergency Management Center. State bodies will provide the center with free, permanent access to information systems containing the necessary data, while ensuring compliance with information security and personal data protection requirements.

The 112 Emergency Management Center will operate around the clock to receive, register, and process reports, conduct initial assessments, and, when necessary, promptly forward them to relevant bodies and organizations.

The Rescue Service will coordinate the collection and exchange of information, maintain records of emergencies, and submit an annual report to the government by March 15 each year on the state of protection of the population and territories.

Public awareness, including among vulnerable groups, is planned to be carried out through alert systems, official government websites, mobile applications, SMS and Cell Broadcast messages, as well as television and radio broadcast interruption systems.

Armenian Ambassador to Austria Andranik Hovhannisyan held a meeting with Michaela Mayr, Director General of the Austrian National Library, the embassy reported.

The sides discussed opportunities to further develop cooperation between the Austrian National Library and partner institutions in Armenia, including the implementation of joint academic, educational, and other professional initiatives, according to a readout.

Ambassador Hovhannisyan also viewed a number of Armenian manuscripts preserved at the library, underscoring their significance as a symbol of the rich historical and cultural ties between Armenia and Austria.

The Armenian Greco-Roman wrestling team returned from the U17 World Championships in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku with three medals.

Janes Nazaryan won the gold medal in the 71 kg weight category, while Ararat Avetisyan (48 kg) and Gevorg Harutyunyan (51 kg) claimed bronze medals.

Speaking at a press conference, head coach Gagik Khachatryan praised his team for doing a “tremendous job,” while saying that it could have achieved even more.

“Our team competed with 10 wrestlers and came away with three medals. I am very pleased with our medalists; they truly did a tremendous job. This is the World Championships, where the strongest wrestlers compete and the battle for medals is extremely difficult. We also had other athletes who were capable of winning medals, but it did not work out. Naturally, we will analyze our shortcomings and mistakes and continue working on them,” Khachatryan said.

Referring to the medalists, Khachatryan said they had given the team great pride by raising Armenia’s flag and hearing the Armenian national anthem played in Baku.

“It was a very emotional and inspiring moment. When Janes won the gold medal and Armenia’s national anthem was about to be played, we even thought they might not allow it, but there were no problems at all. The officiating was also fair. To be honest, we had concerns before traveling, but the situation on the ground turned out to be completely different,” Khachatryan said.

Gold medalist Janes Nazaryan became a U17 world champion for the second time. He said the responsibility was even greater this time, especially given the level of competition.

“Since I had also won gold the last time, I was the center of attention for all the participants. There was pressure, but I managed to overcome it. I am satisfied with my bouts, and we worked well together with the coaches. There were some mistakes, but, thank God, they did not affect the overall result. Of all my matches, I would single out the final against Russia’s Aslan Dzuev. At first, the bout did not go according to our plan, but thanks to my coaches’ guidance, I managed to achieve a good result,” Nazaryan said.

Team member Gevorg Harutyunyan fought through injury to win the bronze medal. He injured his hand in his opening bout, but his determination to win a medal was so strong that he ignored the pain and continued competing to finish in third place.

“I wrestled opponents from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Georgia. I suffered an injury to my hand in my very first bout, and it affected me somewhat. Otherwise, I think I could have gone further. It was difficult, but once I realized I had a chance to win the bronze medal, I ignored the pain in my hand and fought until the end,” Harutyunyan said.

Ararat Avetisyan, who added another bronze medal to Armenia’s tally, said the competition was very strong and that he was satisfied with finishing third under those circumstances. The medal is Avetisyan’s third bronze medal at the international level.

“The opponents were strong, but my desire to win a medal was even stronger. I am happy that I managed to overcome the difficulties and claim the bronze medal. During the medal ceremony, I felt great pride seeing Armenia’s flag raised in Baku,” Avetisyan said, adding that he now intends to work on his mistakes and shortcomings and prepare even better in the future. 

Prime Minister of Singapore Lawrence Wong has congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his electoral victory.

“Please accept my heartfelt congratulations on your victory in the parliamentary elections of the Republic of Armenia held last month,” PM Wong said in a letter to PM Pashinyan, as published by the Armenian Prime Minister’s Office.

“Singapore and Armenia enjoy friendly relations rooted in longstanding historical ties. Although 2027 will mark the 35th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations, Armenia’s contribution to Singapore dates back more than a century before that.

“Singapore’s oldest church, the Armenian Church of Saint Gregory the Illuminator, was built in Singapore in 1835 and designated a national monument in 1973 in recognition of the contribution of Singapore’s early Armenian community, which, though small, was highly influential. The Armenian Church is celebrating its 190th anniversary this year.

“Singapore’s national flower, the Vanda Miss Joaquim orchid, was also cultivated by an Armenian woman, Mrs. Agnes Joaquim.

“I also welcome Armenia’s opening of an Honorary Consulate in Singapore in May 2025. This is another step toward strengthening our bilateral cooperation.

“As fellow partner members of the Forum of Small States, we also share a common interest in upholding international law, promoting free trade, and maintaining a rules-based international order. Given our shared interests, there remains potential to further expand our bilateral cooperation in mutually beneficial areas, such as trade and people-to-people exchanges.

“I look forward to working together with you for the benefit of our two countries and peoples, as well as to meeting with you. Please accept my best wishes for your good health and continued success.”

The Azatutyun Premium-Class Multifunctional Complex continues to expand its international partnerships by engaging world-leading companies in the development of the project.

The Azatutyun Complex and Yuglift, the official representative of KONE, have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on the integration of KONE’s modern elevator systems into the complex.

The Memorandum of Cooperation, announcing the partnership, was signed by David Atanessian, Founder and CEO of the Azatutyun Complex, and Harutyun Amirjanov, Chief Executive Officer of Yuglift.

The Finnish company KONE is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of elevators and escalators, with more than a century of experience. The company is renowned for its innovative technologies, high safety standards, and solutions aimed at creating sustainable urban environments. KONE’s systems are installed in numerous premium-class residential, commercial, and multifunctional developments around the world, ensuring the safe, efficient, and comfortable movement of people. Guided by these principles, the Azatutyun Complex chose the KONE brand for its elevator systems. The concept behind the project envisions not only premium-class architecture, but also attention to every detail, from engineering solutions to the everyday comfort of its residents.

David Atanessian, Founder and CEO of the Azatutyun Complex, said:

“It is important to us that Azatutyun becomes a project where international best practices and the Armenian reality come together around a single, unified vision. When selecting each of our partners, we are guided not only by the company’s global reputation, but also by the value it can bring to our project. KONE’s new generation technologies fully align with our approach of creating a safe, comfortable, and modern environment that will serve its residents for many years to come.”

Harutyun Amirjanov, Chief Executive Officer of Yuglift, the official representative of KONE in Armenia, added:

“We are pleased to begin this partnership as part of a project such as the Azatutyun Complex. For more than two decades, as KONE’s official representative in Armenia, we have been offering our clients world-class elevator solutions by combining innovative technologies, high safety standards, and professional expertise. We are confident that KONE’s systems will fully meet the high standards of the Azatutyun Complex and become one of the key components ensuring safe, comfortable, and seamless movement for its residents.”

The event brought together partners, investors, industry representatives, and supporters of the project to mark a partnership that represents another step forward for Armenia’s premium-class residential development sector.

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Azatutyun is a premium-class multifunctional complex that sets new standards for the urban environment, architecture, and modern living.

The complex has been designed using advanced engineering, contemporary architectural, and innovative construction approaches, with a high seismic resistance rating of 9+. The construction incorporates the latest generation of energy-efficient building materials. The ventilated façade system is clad with non-combustible composite panels, ensuring a high level of fire safety.

Strategically located as the northern gateway of Yerevan, the complex occupies one of the capital’s key transport hubs, providing convenient access to the city’s main roads and intersections, with quick connectivity to both Yerevan’s city centre and its other administrative districts.

The complex comprises 18 floors, with the first four floors dedicated to commercial spaces. Amenities include a concierge service, 24/7 security, 3,600 sq m of landscaped green areas and an Art Zone, as well as a supermarket, pharmacy, cafés, food outlets, a fitness centre, and a spa.

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KONE is one of the world’s leading providers of elevators, escalators, and smart building mobility solutions. Founded in Finland in 1910, the company operates in more than 70 countries and maintains approximately 1.7 million elevators, escalators, and automatic door systems worldwide. KONE is renowned for its innovative, safe, and energy-efficient solutions, which are used in residential, office, hospitality, healthcare, and multifunctional developments, contributing to the sustainable development of urban environments and the comfortable movement of people.

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Yuglift LLC has been the official representative of the KONE brand in Armenia since 2006. The company specializes in the supply, installation, modernization, and maintenance of elevators, escalators, and moving walkways, delivering engineering solutions that meet international standards.

Over the years, Yuglift has completed numerous projects across Armenia, partnering with developers of residential, commercial, hospitality, and public buildings while maintaining the highest standards of quality, safety, and long-term reliability.