Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said during a meeting of NATO defense ministers that Europe should take responsibility for its own defense, while the United States will reassess its military presence in Europe over the next six months by conducting a corresponding review. The BBC reports that Hegseth also confirmed that the United States will reduce its participation in NATO Response Force units. The U.S. defense secretary once again stated that the United States wants Europe to invest more in its own defense and rely less on Americans. “Make no mistake, this will be a real review. It will be conducted in a way that allows Europe to play the leading role in assuming primary responsibility for its own defense,” Hegseth said.

The UK Ministry of Defence has announced that the United Kingdom will deliver 150,000 drones and 350 air defense missiles to Ukraine by the end of the year. RIA Novosti reports that the aid package for Kyiv will include, in particular, Martlet lightweight multirole missiles, LMM drones and ground-based radar systems. The total value of the assistance to be provided to Ukraine will amount to £752 million (nearly $1 billion). The package is part of the £2.26 billion loan announced by London in 2024. The United Kingdom is financing the assistance through profits generated from frozen Russian assets. The support package was announced by UK Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry Dan Jarvis during a meeting of NATO defence ministers and a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group in the Ramstein format.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has expressed outrage that none of the defendants in criminal cases related to vote-buying during the 2021 snap parliamentary elections have received prison sentences, saying that this reflects a “crisis” in the criminal justice system.

“We need to understand on what grounds these cases were dismissed and why the defendants were not sentenced to imprisonment. Otherwise, it means that our criminal justice system is greenlighting those who distribute electoral bribes,” he said at a press briefing.

According to the Prime Minister, he will give a political assessment of the situation, while the legal assessment should be made by lawyers.

Pashinyan also recently stated that it will be a priority for him to ensure that by the time of the next general elections in 2026, all individuals involved in vote-buying cases are held accountable and imprisoned.

Throughout the campaign for the June 7 parliamentary elections in Armenia, as well as after the vote, law enforcement agencies have made multiple arrests and launched numerous criminal investigations into alleged vote-buying involving representatives of the “Strong Armenia” and “Armenia” alliances and the “Prosperous Armenia” party. The law enforcement agencies have been regularly releasing audio recordings obtained through surveillance, allegedly capturing suspects discussing vote-buying schemes.

The Armenian State University of Economics (ASUE) has achieved a major international milestone, becoming the first university in Armenia to have its educational program join the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program.

Following a comprehensive assessment conducted by the CFA Institute, ASUE’s Bachelor’s degree program in Finance has been recognized as significantly aligned with the CFA Program’s content, ensuring that students are well-prepared for further professional development in finance, investment, banking, and capital markets, ASUE said in a press release.

The CFA Institute highly commended the program’s alignment across several key areas, including professional ethics, quantitative methods, economics, financial statement analysis, corporate finance, equity and fixed-income investments, derivatives, and portfolio management. This affiliation enables ASUE to join the CFA Institute’s international network of partner universities, which comprises the world’s leading higher education institutions training finance and investment professionals.

“One of the most significant benefits of joining the University Affiliation Program is access to CFA Institute student scholarships. For 2026, ASUE has been allocated 3 CFA Program Student Scholarships, which provide students with the opportunity to participate in the CFA Program under privileged conditions and begin their journey toward one of the world’s most prestigious financial professional credentials, the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). The CFA Program Student Scholarship reduces the CFA exam registration fee to $600 and waives the one-time program enrollment fee, providing a benefit of approximately $1,000 for new candidates. In addition to scholarships, ASUE students will have access to CFA Institute educational resources, study materials, industry analyses, and opportunities offered by the international professional community. ASUE students who are interested in the CFA credential and wish to take advantage of the scholarship opportunities allocated to the university can apply here. Applications will be evaluated based on academic performance, motivation to participate in the CFA program, and vision for professional development,” the university said.

The CFA credential is considered one of the most prestigious professional certifications in finance and investment worldwide. ASUE’s membership in the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program demonstrates the university’s commitment to providing an education aligned with international standards and preparing competitive specialists for both the Armenian and international labour markets. This achievement is an important step toward implementing ASUE’s internationalisation strategy, continuously improving its educational programs, and creating new professional opportunities for students.

CFA Institute is the leading global association of investment professionals, setting the standards for professional excellence and ethical conduct in the financial industry. There are more than 200,000 CFA charterholders worldwide across 164 countries, and the CFA designation is widely regarded as the ultimate industry standard for investment and finance professionals.

Armenian Grandmaster Shant Sargsyan has defeated five-time World Chess Champion and FIDE’s top-ranked player, Magnus Carlsen, at the World Team Rapid Chess Championship in Hong Kong, the Armenian Chess Federation reported.

Armenia’s Sargsyan faced Carlsen in the seventh round of the championship and secured a victory over the Norwegian grandmaster.

Hong Kong is hosting the 2026 World Team Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships.

Sargsyan is ranked 74th in the FIDE world rankings as of June 2026.

Armenia has exported hundreds of tonnes of agricultural produce and nearly two million flowers so far this month, while exports of apricots have also begun, Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan said on Thursday amid efforts to diversify export markets.

Speaking at the Cabinet meeting, Papoyan said Armenia exported 411 tonnes of greenhouse-grown vegetables and strawberries, as well as around 1.8 million flowers, between June 1 and June 17.

By export volume, the main destinations were Georgia, Uzbekistan, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Latvia, Romania, the Czech Republic, Austria, the Netherlands, France, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

According to Papoyan, exports of apricots have also begun.

“We have exported 162 tonnes of apricots. The first shipments were sent yesterday to Ukraine and Georgia,” the economy minister said.

The delegation of the Union of Communities of Armenia will participate in the World Congress of United Cities and Local Governments: Eurasia, which will take place on June 22-26 in Tangier, Morocco. This year’s congress is being held under the theme “The New Generation of Universal Local Public Services.”

The Armenian delegation includes Armen Harutyunyan, Director General of the Union of Communities of Armenia, and Garik Sargsyan, Mayor of Vedi, the Union of Communities of Armenia said in a press release. 

“United Cities and Local Governments: Eurasia” is the Eurasian regional branch of the global organization “United Cities and Local Governments” (UCLG). The global organization brings together more than 240,000 cities, communities, regions, and metropolises from 140 countries around the world, representing the interests of more than 70% of the world’s population. It is recognized by the United Nations as the main partner of local and regional authorities and has played an important role in shaping the Sustainable Development Goal focused on “Sustainable Cities and Communities.”

The World Congress in Tangier will bring together more than 3,000 local and regional leaders, mayors, governors, members of municipal councils, civil society representatives, and partners from international organizations. Within the framework of the congress, meetings of the General Assembly, World Council, and Executive Bureau will take place, during which key decisions regarding the future development of the international local government movement will be discussed and adopted.

The event will also provide an opportunity for regional structures to present their priorities, share best practices in local governance, and showcase innovative solutions. Participants will discuss current challenges facing communities, as well as present successful initiatives and development models.

During his speech, Armen Harutyunyan, Director General of the Union of Communities of Armenia, will address the key role of communities in national development, strengthening democracy, and ensuring sustainable progress. He will present Armenia’s experience in community development, recent achievements, and future prospects, emphasizing that strong communities are the foundation of a strong and competitive state.

The speech, built around the idea that “A strong community is the foundation of a strong country,” will also highlight initiatives aimed at developing local self-government, improving the efficiency of community management, enhancing public services, and improving citizens’ quality of life.

Garik Sargsyan’s speech will focus on Armenia’s practical experience in the fields of climate planning and adaptation. In particular, he will present the results of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s “Green Cities” program, within the framework of which, in cooperation with GCoM (Global Covenant of Mayors), climate adaptation action plans have been developed and implemented in several Armenian cities. This experience demonstrates the effectiveness of combining international cooperation with local solutions in strengthening the climate resilience of communities.

“United Cities and Local Governments: Eurasia” represents the interests of local and regional authorities from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Mongolia, covering a vast geographic area with a population of around 300 million people. The organization’s headquarters are located in Kazan.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš has congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his electoral victory.

The letter from PM Babiš was published by Pashinyan’s office.

“Dear Prime Minister, allow me, on behalf of myself and the Czech Republic, to sincerely congratulate you on your victory in the recent parliamentary elections. The results of these elections clearly demonstrate the trust that the citizens of your country have in you. I warmly recall our meeting in Yerevan this May and am pleased that the Republic of Armenia hosted the European Political Community summit, which can be considered successful and was accompanied by a positive international response.

I am confident that, under your leadership, the Republic of Armenia will successfully overcome existing challenges, continue to prosper, and maintain its pro-Western orientation.

Relations between our countries have traditionally been friendly, based on shared values, mutual respect, and close cooperation in a number of areas, particularly trade, transport, and the defense industry. I greatly value this partnership and look forward to our future personal cooperation both bilaterally and within international organizations.

I wish you success, good health, and great strength in carrying out your demanding and responsible duties.”

Green Rock press release 

The international forum “Hospitality Investment Forum Yerevan 2026” brought together more than 1,000 leading representatives of the hospitality and tourism sectors, investors, and experts from over 28 countries in Yerevan.

At the official opening ceremony of the forum, Armenia’s Minister of Economy, Gevorg Papoyan, delivered a speech highlighting the importance of the event as a leading regional platform for stimulating investment in hospitality and tourism. He emphasized that the forum, year after year, contributes to the creation of new partnerships, the exchange of international experience, and the presentation of investment opportunities.

The Minister also presented Armenia’s tourism potential and recent positive trends in the sector, noting that approximately 825,000 tourists visited the country in the first five months of 2026.

Katerina Danekina, CEO of Green Rock, gave a keynote speech titled “Unlocking the Potential of Small Cities: Private Capital for Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality Development.”

She described small cities as a promising new focus for hospitality investment, where private capital can support local growth while opening new opportunities for investors. Tourism, she added, remains a powerful economic driver — creating jobs, attracting investment, and strengthening regions’ links to the global economy.

According to Danekina, Armenia remains an emerging and relatively undiscovered market, which requires a realistic approach and increased international competitiveness in order to attract both tourists and foreign capital.

She stressed that the real foundation of sustainable development is formed only when two factors come together — tourism demand and investment capital — and that this combination ensures long-term and effective growth.

As a practical example, she presented the multifunctional development model implemented by Green Rock in Dilijan.

“Hotel infrastructure alone is not enough for the sustainable development of small cities. Alongside building a hotel, Green Rock is developing cultural and social infrastructure — a music hall, an art park, the Villa3 community hub, PPLS Rooms co-living, and the Cabinet café-restaurant. Projects like these help attract professionals, entrepreneurs, and digital nomads, while also creating social connections between tourists and residents of Dilijan,” Danekina said, adding that PPLS Rooms and the Villa3 community hub had opened just a few days earlier.

The CEO of Green Rock also highlighted the importance of education in the hospitality sector, noting the launch of Apicius Armenia, developed in partnership with the Apicius International School of Hospitality in Florence. With the involvement of Italian experts teaching in Dilijan, the school aims to train professionals for the sector and support long-term human capital development.

Addressing the importance of community engagement, Danekina emphasized that sustainable tourism is impossible without the involvement of local residents. For this purpose, the Green Rock Foundation has been established, implementing cultural, educational, and community programs.

In the forum’s exhibition area, Green Rock and the Green Rock Foundation presented two initiatives: Meet Dilijan, focused on developing Dilijan as a destination, and Apicius Armenia, focused on hospitality education.

Armenia’s Davit Chaloyan has reached the semifinals of the European Cup Gold Grand Prix Ústí nad Labem 2026 in the Czech Republic after defeating Germany’s Delil Yazgan in the men’s super heavyweight bout by unanimous decision, following a clear advantage in all rounds of the quarterfinal.

Chaloyan, the silver medallist at the 2021 World Boxing Championships and bronze medallist at the 2025 IBA World Boxing Championships, has thus secured at least a bronze medal.

He will face Clinton Achusin of England in a semifinal bout for a place in the final. Achusin had earlier defeated 2024 Olympic bronze medallist Djamili Aboudou in the quarterfinals.