As a result of cooperation between Armenia’s Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, OpenAI, and Firebird, Armenian schools and higher education institutions will gain access to the ChatGPT Edu and Codex platforms starting in September. The initiative will provide approximately 50,000 educational subscriptions.

ChatGPT Edu is designed specifically for educational institutions, enabling schools and universities to use advanced artificial intelligence tools while ensuring high standards of data protection, information security, and governance. The platform will be available to university lecturers and students, as well as teachers and senior high school students in the general education system.

During the discussions, participants reviewed plans for the official launch of the first year of the “Education for Countries” program. The talks focused on governance mechanisms, success metrics, and an implementation roadmap developed with OpenAI’s support.

The program will be implemented through cooperation between the Ministry of Education, the National Center for Educational Technologies (NCET), the National Center for Education Development and Innovation (NCEDI), and partner organizations.

At a meeting with Deputy Chairman of the Higher Education and Science Committee Harutyun Sargsyan and committee specialists, discussions centered on the management structure for implementing the program in higher education institutions, the role of partner organizations, decision-making mechanisms, and the process of introducing the tools at universities.

Separate discussions dedicated to general education focused on the effective use of artificial intelligence in the learning process, emphasizing the development of digital skills among teachers and students, as well as the provision of methodological support.

Artashes Torosyan, Adviser to the Minister of Education, stressed the importance of simultaneously engaging all key groups within the education system, including school principals, teachers, and students. He noted that the use of artificial intelligence should contribute to improving the quality of education and student learning outcomes.

The parties also discussed capacity-building programs for teachers, researchers, and other education stakeholders, including practical training sessions, train-the-trainer initiatives, and the development of localized research workshop models.

The discussions additionally addressed the technical readiness of schools. Officials noted that the ministry has been consistently investing in digital infrastructure in recent years, expanding internet connectivity, establishing computer laboratories, and creating conditions necessary for STEM education.

According to Alina Leon, OpenAI’s lead for cooperation with the Armenian Ministry of Education, close collaboration with state institutions and educational organizations is planned to support the introduction of innovative solutions and the effective implementation of technological transformation in education.

The parties reaffirmed their commitment to completing preparatory work before the start of the new academic year to ensure the successful launch of the program and the responsible, safe, and effective use of artificial intelligence tools throughout Armenia’s education system.

As part of the visit, the OpenAI delegation will also meet with university staff and students and visit schools, the TUMO Center for Creative Technologies, the National Center for Educational Technologies, and the National Center for Education Development and Innovation.

During the meeting, the two officials discussed opportunities for the development of regional transport links and connectivity projects.

Both sides underscored the importance of advancing efforts aimed at unblocking railway and road communications and ensuring the necessary infrastructure for their operation.

The ministers also exchanged views on the restoration works of the historic Ani Bridge, which spans the border area between Armenia and Turkey.

In addition, the parties discussed a range of other issues of mutual interest.

The decision was adopted unanimously by the Sofia Municipal Council, receiving 33 votes in favor, with no votes against or abstentions.

Located in the Peyo Yavorov neighborhood, the promenade is among the area’s most picturesque public spaces. The Armenian Embassy described the decision as an important expression of friendship and mutual respect, reflecting the centuries-old ties and enduring relations between the Armenian and Bulgarian peoples.

The embassy expressed its gratitude to the Sofia Municipal Council and the administration of Sofia’s Sredets district for their dedication and consistent efforts in bringing the initiative to fruition.

According to the embassy, the newly named Armenia Alley will serve as a lasting symbol of the historic Armenian-Bulgarian friendship and as recognition of the Armenian presence in Bulgaria and the contributions of the Armenian community to the country’s public life.

An official opening ceremony is expected to take place in the near future. Additional details will be announced later, the embassy said.

The EU delegation, which will also include Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, will visit Armenia in a high-profile show of support for Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan after his pro-European party secured a decisive victory in the country’s June parliamentary election.

“We have seen the country under intense and consistent pressure from Russia; a visit would send a strong signal of support, following on from the concrete support already delivered,” said one EU official working on the prospective trip, granted anonymity to speak frankly, as were the other people with knowledge of the planned trip.

They added it would send the message that “Europe is here for you.”

Next week’s trip will be von der Leyen’s second to Armenia in less than two months. The Commission president was in Yerevan in May for the European Political Community summit, which Armenia hosted, before taking part in the inaugural EU-Armenia summit.

The press conference comes as the House Foreign Affairs Committee prepares to hold a recorded roll call vote this week on the Sherman Amendment to the House Foreign Service Act (H.R. 9086), which calls on Azerbaijan to immediately and unconditionally release all Armenian prisoners of war and political prisoners. It also follows the introduction of seven pro-Armenian amendments to the FY2027 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 8800) and the National Security and Foreign Operations Appropriations Act (H.R. 8595) — advanced by Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Caucus Vice-Chair Sherman, and Representatives Gabe Amo (D-RI) and Jim Costa (D-CA) — now under House Rules Committee review.

European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos announced the development in a post on X following a meeting with Armenia’s Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures Davit Khudatyan.

Sharing a photograph of the meeting, Kos thanked Khudatyan for the gift of Armenian apricots and described their discussion as productive.

“The first symbolic batch of Armenian apricots has arrived in the European Union,” Kos wrote, adding that the two officials met ahead of the launch of the Connectivity Agenda Platform.

According to the Commissioner, the platform, set to be launched on June 24, will advance efforts to improve Armenia’s connectivity with its neighbors and Europe. Enhanced transport and trade links are expected to help Armenian producers diversify their exports and access new markets.

“This will help Armenian producers diversify their exports and bring more of their high-quality products to new markets,” Kos said.

Over the years, Golden Apricot has welcomed some of the most influential figures of Iranian cinema, including Abbas Kiarostami, Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Jafar Panahi, and Asghar Farhadi. This year, audiences will have the opportunity to meet the artist who stood behind the camera on many of the acclaimed films created by these masters.

Since the 1980s, Kalari has contributed to the production of more than 60 feature films, while his photography has been exhibited around the world. Widely regarded as one of the leading cinematographers of contemporary Iranian cinema, he has collaborated with some of the industry’s most celebrated directors.

Among the internationally acclaimed films shot by Kalari are Asghar Farhadi’s A Separation, Jafar Panahi’s Offside, Dariush Mehrjui’s Leila, and Abbas Kiarostami’s The Wind Will Carry Us.

The 23rd Golden Apricot International Film Festival will take place in Yerevan from July 12 to 19, 2026. This year’s edition will once again feature competitive and non-competitive programs showcasing films from around the world, including works presented at major international festivals such as Cannes and Berlin.

The festival will also bring together internationally recognized filmmakers, directors, actors, and industry professionals, creating a unique platform for cultural exchange, dialogue, and the sharing of new ideas with Armenian audiences.

The information was announced on the official Facebook page of Armenia’s Security Council.

The conference is expected to bring together government officials, international organizations, financial institutions, and representatives of the private sector to discuss Ukraine’s reconstruction and recovery efforts amid the ongoing consequences of the war.

The city’s main liquified natural gas (LNG) processing site suffered a “technical accident” in Ras Laffan industrial zone on Sunday night, the interior ministry said, with the city’s skyline turning orange because of the explosion.

Qatar’s Energy Minister Saad Sherida al-Kaabi said the explosion would not affect the country’s exports, adding “this was an accident and not sabotage or hostile in nature”.

The Ras Laffan Port is the largest artificial harbour in the world and has the world’s largest LNG export facility. It was targeted by Iranian strikes earlier this year.

The blast on Sunday rattled windows and was felt across central Doha, panicking residents more than 70km (43 miles) from Ras Laffan.

Sherida al-Kaabi added the government was working on determining the cause of the blast which occurred at the Barzan local gas supply facility, he added there was no environmental risks.

However, the energy minister said it would be difficult to determine when operations would resume.

“Plant production was intentionally completely stopped since December 2025 due to urgent maintenance requirements, it was first restarted again only two days ago,” Sherida al-Kaabi said.

NBC News correspondent Andrea Mitchell said in a statement reported by her employer that her husband had died from complications of Parkinson’s Disease.

Mitchell’s statement said Greenspan was “a giant of a man who helped shape the US economy for decades under presidents of both parties, but was always honest in acknowledging his mistakes”.

For nearly 20 years, Alan Greenspan was charged with safeguarding the US economy and keeping the dollar sound.

As chairman of the Federal Reserve from 1987-2006, a post described as the second most important after the presidency, he presided over the longest sustained period of US economic growth in a generation.

Described as the “God in the machine” of American finance, Greenspan declined all requests for interviews during his time at the Fed.

The media and the money markets hung on his few public statements, and a sign in his office said simply, “the buck starts here”.

But critics argue that an over-reliance on easy credit fuelled the dot-com bubble of the late 1990s and caused the sub-prime mortgage crisis of 2008.