Sanctions Tightening: Armenia’s Central Bank has ordered banks to identify and block payments suspected of bypassing Western sanctions on Russia, with checks extending to counterparties, currencies, goods/services origins, and ongoing monitoring after list or customer changes. Capital Markets: Armeconombank completed ahead of schedule a 3 billion AMD bond placement in dram, offering a 9.75% annual coupon and listing on the Armenia Stock Exchange. FX Watch: Armenia’s interbank FX market saw a sharp rebound in USD activity (while ruble trading fell and euro trading halted), with the dram edging weaker vs the dollar and euro. Banking Growth: ACBA Bank said it has issued over 1 million cards and topped the market for years, with 2025 card payments exceeding 1.9 trillion drams. Defense Ties: Armenia and India discussed expanding defense cooperation during a visit by India’s defense secretary, including military-technical collaboration. Armenia-Ukraine Links: Armenia’s deputy foreign minister met Ukrainian leaders in Kyiv, reaffirming intensified political contacts and plans to deepen the bilateral agenda. Public Sector Reform: Armenia lifted the 65-year age cap for many public sector roles, ending forced retirement that conflicted with the newer labor code. Energy & Tech Debate: A former Azerbaijani FM commented that an Armenia data center could plug into US digital infrastructure, hinging on electricity supply. Cyber Safety: Armenia’s cyber police warned of “easy jobs” scams using Alibaba-style ads on Telegram and WhatsApp, urging people not to pay or share card details. Tourism/Travel: A report on Armenia-linked travel rules noted that Armenians need a Schengen visa for short stays in Italy. Regional Trade Pressure: Russia outlined conditions to resume Armenian agricultural imports, after expanding restrictions across multiple product categories.