Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar said on July 19 that he intends to ask Judit Polgar, widely regarded as the greatest female chess player of all time, to become the country’s next president.

In a Facebook post, Magyar said the 49-year-old Polgar could serve as a symbol of national unity. He added that he would meet with her on July 20 to ask whether she is willing to accept the nomination.

Earlier, Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok signed a constitutional amendment passed by Magyar’s ruling Tisza party that brings his term as head of state to an end after sustained political pressure.

The amendment forms part of Magyar’s broader effort to dismantle the institutional power base built by former Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Magyar has said voters gave him a mandate to pursue those reforms after his party’s landslide victory in April.

Parliament, where Magyar’s Tisza party holds the two-thirds majority required for constitutional amendments, will elect a new president, who will serve until a new constitution takes effect or for a maximum of five years.

Polgar is widely regarded as the greatest female chess player in history. She remains the only woman to have surpassed the 2700 Elo rating mark, a level commonly associated with “super-grandmasters.”

Earlier this year, Netflix released the documentary Queen of Chess, chronicling Polgar’s life and career.

Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi has said Japan should begin an open debate on the role of nuclear weapons in its security policy. According to Kyodo News, Koizumi said Japan can no longer avoid discussing the issue as the country’s security environment becomes increasingly complex.

The Japanese government plans to review its three key national security strategy documents by the end of 2026. 

Since 1967, Japan has adhered to its three non-nuclear principles: not possessing, producing or permitting the introduction of nuclear weapons into its territory. At the same time, the country relies on the United States’ extended deterrence, including the U.S. nuclear umbrella, for its security. 

Koizumi cited Finland and France as examples of changing nuclear security policies in Europe. Finland’s parliament approved legislation in June allowing the import, transit and storage of nuclear weapons when required for national defence, while French President Emmanuel Macron announced in March plans to expand France’s nuclear arsenal.

Armenian Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan has visited INTER AQUA LLC, one of the country’s leading aquaculture companies.

Papoyan said in a Facebook post that the fish farm covers an area of 6.5 hectares and employs 60 people.

“I visited INTER AQUA LLC, one of the leading companies in the aquaculture sector. Its annual production capacity is around 1,100 tonnes. The company raises beluga, sterlet, Siberian sturgeon, rainbow trout, red-spotted trout and Gegharkuni trout,” the minister wrote.

He added that the discussions focused on the sector’s development prospects, opportunities to expand production and the possibility of exporting the company’s products to the European Union.

Armenian Deputy Minister of Economy Arman Khojoyan has dismissed media reports claiming that a shipment of Armenian apricots bound for Spain spoiled in transit and was no longer fit for sale.

On July 19, Armenian news website Armatmedia reported that a consignment of apricots exported from Armenia to Spain had allegedly spoiled on the way to its destination, resulting in significant losses.

Responding to the report, Khojoyan wrote on his Facebook page that Armenia has not yet exported any apricots to Spain.

“The entire internet is saying that apricots exported to Spain spoiled in transit. Armenia has not yet exported any apricots to Spain,” Khojoyan wrote. 

Russia has imposed restrictions on imports of stone fruits and grapes from Armenia since June 2. 

In response, the Armenian government has taken steps to diversify export markets, creating opportunities for Armenian products to enter European markets. Armenia has already begun exporting certain products to European Union member states. 

The European Union also plans to temporarily suspend import duties on around 80% of Armenian products as a support measure for Armenia amid the restrictions imposed by Russia.

Armenian Ambassador to the United States Narek Mkrtchyan took part in a roundtable discussion titled Armenia’s Path Forward at the American Foreign Policy Council (AFPC).

According to the Armenian Embassy in the United States, the ambassador outlined the current agenda of Armenia-U.S. relations, highlighted key areas of bilateral cooperation and emphasized new opportunities for collaboration in high technologies, critical minerals, semiconductors, nuclear energy and artificial intelligence.

Participants in the discussion also raised questions about Armenia-U.S. relations, regional developments, Armenia’s foreign policy priorities and other related issues.

The pre-trial investigation into the criminal case concerning the sale of the Black Fortress (Sev Berd) in Gyumri during the tenure of former Armenian Defence Minister Serzh Sargsyan has been completed.

According to Armenia’s Investigative Committee, the investigation obtained prima facie evidence indicating that, on May 11, 2005, Sargsyan sold the Black Fortress-a 626.45-square-metre immovable monument of history and culture of national significance-together with the 0.7-hectare plot of land designated for its use, to a private individual through a direct sale under a real estate purchase agreement for 22.9515 million drams.

The Committee alleges that the transaction was not based on, or provided for by, decisions of the Armenian government. According to the Investigative Committee, these actions caused significant harm to the state’s lawful interests through negligence, resulting in grave consequences.

Specifically, the state lost ownership of a cultural and historical monument of national significance, and the site was subsequently not included in the appendices to the Armenian government’s March 15, 2007 Decision No. 385-N approving the list of state-owned historical and cultural monuments not subject to privatisation. 

During the investigation, the supervising prosecutor initiated public criminal prosecution against Sargsyan under Article 441(2)(5) of Armenia’s Criminal Code, which concerns abuse or excess of official authority by a public official resulting, through negligence, in other grave consequences. 

The criminal case has been forwarded to the supervising prosecutor together with the indictment. 

Note: A person charged with a criminal offence is presumed innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the procedure established by the Criminal Procedure Code and by a final court judgment.

The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 20 July, USD exchange rate down by 0.92 drams to 365.93 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 0.87 drams to 418.37 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.0002 drams to 4.6651 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 0.12 drams to 492.91 drams.

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

Gold price down by 97 drams to 47005 drams. Silver price down by 15.91 drams to 650.48 drams.

Armenia’s Chief Compulsory Enforcement Officer, Siro Amirkhanyan, chaired a review meeting on July 20 to assess the performance of the Compulsory Enforcement Service during the first half of 2026.

According to the Service, the meeting reviewed the performance of its Yerevan and regional divisions and was attended by the Service’s senior management, as well as the heads of its central office and regional departments.

The Service reported that more than 35 billion drams were recovered in favour of creditors during the first half of 2026, marking a 19% increase compared with the same period last year.

More than 12 billion drams were recovered in favour of the state budget, up around 18% year-on-year.

Recoveries in favour of legal entities exceeded 22 billion drams, an increase of around 23%, while recoveries for individuals rose by 9%. 

During the reporting period, the Service also collected more than 2.5 billion drams in enforcement fees, approximately 64 million drams more than in the first half of 2025.

The meeting also reviewed the implementation of the new Law on Enforcement Proceedings and discussed further improvements to the Service’s digital enforcement tools. In particular, a new software function has been introduced to enable the registration of non-property enforcement proceedings. 

Summing up the first-half results, Amirkhanyan gave a positive assessment of the Service’s performance while issuing instructions aimed at ensuring consistently effective work across specific areas of activity.

Armenian Minister of Environment Hambardzum Matevosyan has discussed preparations for the COP17 UN Biodiversity Conference, due to be held in Yerevan in October, with international biodiversity and multilateral negotiations expert Basile van Havre.

Matevosyan announced the meeting in a post on his Facebook page. The discussions focused on key aspects of the pre-conference negotiating process, existing challenges and Armenia’s role as the COP17 presidency. 

“We discussed Armenia’s role as the COP17 presidency, the strategic priorities of the presidency, approaches to the effective organisation of the negotiating process, and the steps that will help foster constructive dialogue, mutual trust and consensus during the conference,” Matevosyan said. 

The meeting also covered the significance of the COP17 presidency in advancing the global biodiversity agenda, accelerating the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and strengthening cooperation among countries.

“Armenia continues its systematic preparations for COP17 with the goal of delivering a high-level conference, an inclusive and transparent negotiating process, and a results-oriented presidency in support of global biodiversity conservation efforts,” the minister added.

Former England international and manager Kevin Keegan has died at the age of 75. According to Sky Sports, Keegan’s family announced his death. He had been battling cancer and was surrounded by his wife and daughters in his final moments.

 “It is with immense sadness that we announce that Kevin Keegan has passed away at the age of 75,” the family said in a statement. His relatives thanked Keegan’s medical team for their care and support and asked that the family’s privacy be respected.

Keegan’s cancer diagnosis was made public in January 2026. In June, the former England captain revealed that the disease had reached stage four.

Keegan is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in English football history. 

He won the Ballon d’Or in 1978 and 1979, becoming one of the few players to claim the award in consecutive years. During his time at Liverpool, the striker won three English league titles, two UEFA Cups, the FA Cup, and the 1977 European Cup. Over the course of his playing career, Keegan also represented Hamburg, Southampton and Newcastle United. 

He earned numerous caps for England and served as captain of the national team for many years. As a manager, Keegan was in charge of Newcastle United, Fulham, Manchester City and the England national team. His Newcastle side of the 1990s became renowned for its attacking style of football and challenged for the English league title.