Russia Slams Armenia’s Alen Simonyan for Welcoming Russians Fleeing Possible Mobilization
Russia’s Foreign Ministry has sharply criticized Armenia’s newly appointed Security Council Secretary Alen Simonyan after he said Armenia would remain open to Russian citizens seeking to leave the country if Moscow announces another mobilization. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova called Simonyan’s remarks “provocative” and accused Armenian officials of making statements that damage relations with Moscow. Simonyan made the comments in an interview with TV Rain afte
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Azerbaijan Destroys Stepanakert Cathedral and Irreplaceable Armenian Sacred Art
The destruction of the Holy Mother of God Cathedral in Stepanakert also wiped out significant works of Armenian sacred art, including a set of handcrafted entrance doors created specifically for the church by artist and sculptor Robert Askaryan. The cathedral was completely destroyed sometime between March 3 and April 2, 2026, according to satellite monitoring cited by Artsakh Cultural Heritage Ombudsman Hovik Avanesov. Among the works lost were Askaryan’s entrance doors, whi
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Jennifer Lopez Concert Organizer Yet to Return $1.4 Million, Receives $9 Million in New Contract
An Armenian company that received nearly $6 million in public funding to organize Jennifer Lopez’s concert in Yerevan has not returned about $1.4 million sought by the government, even as another ministry has awarded the same company roughly $9 million in new contracts for a major international event. The Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports has been seeking the money from Doping Space, the company behind Lopez’s August 2025 concert, for nearly two months. The a
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Armenia to Provide 50,000 ChatGPT Edu Subscriptions to Schools and Universities
Armenia will provide 50,000 ChatGPT Edu subscriptions to high schools and universities beginning in September, bringing artificial intelligence tools into classrooms and academic institutions on a broad scale. Education, Science, Culture and Sports Minister Zhanna Andreasyan announced the rollout Friday during an Aug. 28 news conference. The initiative is being carried out in partnership with OpenAI and Firebird. In public schools, the program will apply only to high school s
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Anti-Armenian Flyers Found Near Glendale School Days After Launch of Western Armenian Program
Glendale police are investigating anti-Armenian flyers found near Glenoaks Elementary School, days after the campus launched a Western Armenian dual-language program described by local officials as the first of its kind in the United States. The material was scattered through the residential area surrounding the school and was designed to look like folded $100 bills. When opened, the flyers contained an insulting reference to Armenians and the message, “THIS IS AMERICA NOT ST
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Catholicos Aram I Blesses Armenian Wrestling Champion Arsen Harutyunyan Ahead of World Championships
Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia received Armenian freestyle wrestling champion Arsen Harutyunyan on Thursday, offering his blessing as the athlete prepares for major international competition this fall. The meeting brought together the Armenian spiritual leader and one of Armenia’s most decorated active wrestlers. Their conversation focused on Harutyunyan’s career, his upcoming competitions and the responsibility of representing Armenia on the international st
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Diaspora Armenian Reflects on VOMA Training Camp in Armenia
A member of the Armenian diaspora who completed VOMA’s 10-day training camp in northern Armenia says the experience gave him practical skills while deepening his connection to the country. The camp was held Aug. 14-23 in Athan, a village in Lori Province, and brought together participants from Armenia and Armenian communities abroad. Training included firearms instruction, first aid, physical and tactical exercises, mountaineering, field marches and wilderness survival. VOMA
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Pashinyan Vows to Strip Kocharyan, Sargsyan and Tsarukyan of Allegedly Illicit Wealth, Says They Should Live on Pensions and Lawful Income
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said Thursday that former Presidents Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan, along with businessman Gagik Tsarukyan, should be left to live on their pensions and lawful income while any property obtained illegally is returned to the Armenian state. Pashinyan made the remarks to reporters after a government meeting, a day after a court ordered Kocharyan held in pretrial detention in a bribery and money laundering case. “The political issue is this:
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Armenia Opens AI-Powered Greenhouse Using Robots to Grow 20 Tons of Tomatoes a Day for International Markets
A new high-tech greenhouse in Armenia is using artificial intelligence and robotics to monitor thousands of tomato plants, detect disease and pests, and track crops before they are harvested and shipped to international markets. The greenhouse complex officially opened in Nor Yedesia, a village in Armenia’s Aragatsotn Province. The facility currently produces about 18 to 20 tons of tomatoes a day, with exports going to Latvia, Bulgaria, Romania, the United Arab Emirates and o
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Turkish Weightlifter Refuses Handshake With Armenian Competitor, Later Returns to Apologize and Hug Him
A Turkish weightlifter declined to shake hands with Armenia’s Artur Petrosyan during a medal ceremony at the European Youth Weightlifting Championships, but later returned to apologize and embrace the Armenian athlete. Footage from the ceremony shows Petrosyan reaching out to shake the Turkish athlete’s hand as the medalists stood together on the podium. As Petrosyan extended his hand, the Turkish competitor pulled his own hand back and moved on without acknowledging the gest
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