The decision was made during the Commission’s regular meeting held on June 30, where members reviewed several regulatory issues related to Armenia’s broadcasting sector.

The Commission voted to satisfy the application submitted by Azatutyun TV LLC and declared invalid, effective July 1, 2026, the authorization certificate that had been issued to the company on February 3, 2021.

During the same meeting, the Commission also approved the audiovisual program notification submitted by Hybrid Production and Distribution LLC, announced new licensing competitions for broadcasting slots on the public multiplex in Yerevan and Armenia’s Armavir Province, published the list of participants in a regional radio frequency licensing competition in Tavush Province, and concluded administrative proceedings involving Husaber CJSC.

The comments come after the Armenian government on June 25 approved draft amendments to the Law on Electronic Communications, which envisage the creation of a nationwide system for registering and monitoring International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) codes. Under the proposed changes, only mobile phones that have been legally imported or properly registered will be able to operate on Armenia’s mobile networks.

The initiative sparked widespread public debate, with some information security experts and members of the public expressing concerns that the system could be used to monitor citizens.

Responding to those concerns, Galyan reiterated that the sole purpose of the reform is to prevent the illegal importation of mobile phones into Armenia.

“A high standard of personal data protection must be ensured in all such cases, and we are currently working on drafting new legislation on the protection of personal data. I believe all of your concerns should be dispelled,” Galyan told reporters.

“We should return to the actual purpose of the draft. Its objective is absolutely not to place anyone under surveillance, but simply to prevent the illegal entry of mobile phones into the Republic of Armenia,” she added.

The government plans to continue consultations on the draft law with industry representatives and members of parliament. If adopted, the IMEI registration system is expected to come into effect on January 1, 2027.

The new measures, which are part of the Immigration and Asylum Bill, are aimed at recovering costs from all adults with sufficient funds.

Asylum seekers who have the right to work in the UK will have to pay the flat-rate fee before they are eligible to settle permanently.

Those whose claims have been rejected and leave the country will have to repay the costs before they can return to the UK.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the changes would demonstrate “asylum support is a right, but it is also a responsibility”.

She added: “Once people can contribute and repay the generosity of the British people, we expect them to do so.”

The plans will mean migrants working and earning a specific amount will be required to pay back a flat-rate sum, which is expected to be set at £10,000.

The Home Office has not determined how much people would need to earn before making monthly instalments.

In his remarks, Abisoghomonyan highlighted the significance of the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the Convention on Biological Diversity, which will be hosted by Armenia later this year. He stressed the conference’s pivotal role in advancing the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and conducting its first global review, while strengthening the link between biodiversity conservation, sustainable development, and the rule of law.

The deputy foreign minister underscored that combating environmental crime is a key component of achieving global biodiversity goals. He reaffirmed Armenia’s commitment to promoting inclusive and results-oriented discussions aimed at enhancing international cooperation and reinforcing the role of criminal justice institutions in protecting biodiversity.

Abisoghomonyan also presented a number of initiatives that will be organized under Armenia’s COP17 presidency, both in the lead-up to and during the conference, in cooperation with international partners. The initiatives are designed to foster closer collaboration between environmental and criminal justice communities.

Concluding his remarks, the deputy foreign minister emphasized that Armenia’s COP17 theme, “Acting for Nature,” is more than a slogan.

“It is a call to action that requires political will, effective implementation, and collective responsibility to transform our shared commitments into tangible results,” he said.

During the visit, Minister Tamazashvili is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Minister Sargsyan. Together with the Georgian delegation, he will also visit several police units in Armenia to learn about their operations and activities.

As part of the official visit, the Georgian minister is also expected to meet with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Director of the National Security Service Andranik Simonyan.

Paul Ignatius was born in Glendale in 1920 to Armenian immigrant parents who fled persecution overseas and put down roots on San Fernando Road. The same street where, as a young man, Paul clerked at the very post office that will carry his name. He answered the call in World War II as a naval officer and went on to serve eight years across two presidential administrations as Assistant Secretary of the Army, Under Secretary of the Army, Assistant Secretary of Defense, and ultimately as Secretary of the Navy. His honors include the Army, Navy, and Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service Awards. The Navy named a guided-missile destroyer, the USS Paul Ignatius, after him. He continued giving back to his community well past his hundredth birthday, passing away last fall at the age of 104.

“Paul Ignatius is the kind of American we should all aspire to be. The son of immigrants who fled persecution, he built a new life in this country, answered the call to serve under presidents of both parties, and went home and kept giving back to his community right up to the very end,” said Congresswoman Laura Friedman (CA-30). “As we approach our nation’s 250th anniversary, his story is exactly the one we should be telling.”

The legislation brought together Democrats and Republicans from the California Delegation. Friedman urged the Senate to take up and pass the bill without delay so the designation can be signed into law.

Arsenal forward Kai Havertz and Newcastle’s Nick Woltemade both had their spot-kicks saved by goalkeeper Orlando Gill.

But Paraguay twice missed chances to go through as Antonio Sanabria shot wide and Fabian Balbuena’s effort was stopped by 40-year-old Manuel Neuer.

However, in sudden death, Jonathan Tah blazed over for Germany before defender Jose Canale scored the decisive kick to send Paraguay through 4-3 on penalties.

Earlier, Julio Enciso, who previously played in the Premier League with Brighton and Ipswich, had headed Paraguay into a shock lead in the 42nd minute.

But Germany produced a much improved performance in the second half and equalised when a glancing header from Havertz connected with a cross from Liverpool midfielder Florian Wirtz.

Paraguay defended superbly to take the tie to extra time, although Germany thought they had won it when Tah headed into the net, only for it to be ruled out as Waldemar Anton was adjudged to have fouled Gill.

Germany went first in the shootout, but were never ahead as Havertz missed his country’s first penalty, before Woltemade was also denied. Paraguay missed two chances to seal it, but took their third opportunity with the impressive Canale staying calm to score and spark incredible scenes of celebration.

Paraguay will play either two-time champions France or 1958 runners-up Sweden in the last 16 in Philadelphia on Saturday (22:00 BST).

The victims – four women and two men – were all staff members at the facility in the northern city of Stade, near Hamburg. A number of other people were also wounded.

The three-month-old baby and her mother were in the office at the time but were not harmed, officials said.

Three people including the suspected gunman have been detained by police and officials said there was no further threat to the public.

The shooting appeared to have been “committed for family reasons”, Lower Saxony’s Interior Minister Daniela Behrens told reporters late on Monday.

She called it “an act of violence carried out in an extremely cold-blooded manner, with no political or economic motives”.

As part of the visit, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will hold talks with the President of the European Commission.

Following the meeting, Prime Minister Pashinyan and President von der Leyen will make statements to the press and answer questions from media representatives.

Further details of the visit have not yet been announced.

Participants recalled that during the fifth session of the Investment Committee, it had been decided to establish a working group on hydrogen to explore opportunities for developing the green hydrogen sector, including its advantages, production methods and technologies. The purpose of the meeting was to review proposals developed by the working group and consulting companies following their studies on the development of green hydrogen production in Armenia.

During the discussion, officials presented the legal framework for green hydrogen development and outlined its potential applications. They also addressed a long-term strategic vision aimed at decarbonizing Armenia’s energy system, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and meeting the requirements of green taxonomy standards.

The meeting featured the results of feasibility studies conducted by consulting firms BDO Advisory and Civitta, focusing on the production and integration of green hydrogen. Participants reviewed proposed development scenarios for the sector in the short, medium and long term.

The studies and recommendations prompted discussions on green hydrogen production methods and their role in Armenia’s energy transition.

Prime Minister Pashinyan welcomed the work carried out by the working group and the consulting companies, emphasizing the importance of implementing a pilot green hydrogen project in cooperation with the scientific community and by drawing on international experience.

The Prime Minister instructed the relevant authorities to submit a report in the near future on the progress made toward implementing the pilot project.