Banking & Finance: Moody’s lifted Acba Bank’s outlook to positive and raised the bank’s long-term deposit/issuer outlook to match Armenia’s Ba3 sovereign level, citing strong asset quality, capital buffers, and liquidity. Central Banking: The Central Bank of Armenia kept the refinancing rate at 6.5%, pointing to higher June inflation (5.1% y/y) alongside export-market pressure and weaker global demand. Banking Performance: Armenia’s banking system net profit rose 6.8% y/y to about AMD 214bn in H1 2026, with UBA expecting 6–7% profit growth for the year. US–Armenia Connectivity Funding: The US doubled support for the TRIPP+ Enterprise Fund to $402m, with Armenia listed as the primary implementation location for the southern Armenia transport corridor concept. Trade & Sanctions Fallout: Russia suspended sales of over 70,000 bottles of Armenian water and soft drinks, while Armenia’s Central Bank warned that reduced exports to Russia could endanger 1.5–2% of GDP. Energy & Daily Life: Power outages hit multiple Armenian regions, and the Electric Networks operator said repairs are underway. Regional Diplomacy: Azerbaijan says it has largely fulfilled its TRIPP-related obligations and expects construction to start in Armenia after a preparatory phase. Policy Watch: Armenia’s Foreign Ministry denied any EU discussions about setting up an irregular-migrant detention center in Armenia.