Reserves Surge: Armenia’s gross international reserves hit a record $5.899bn by July 2026, up 45.7% year-on-year, driven mainly by a jump in convertible-currency assets. Government Continuity: Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan kept almost all ministers in the new cabinet; the only change is David Tadevosyan taking over the High-Tech Industry post. High-Tech Leadership: President Vahagn Khachaturyan appointed Tadevosyan, previously head of state telecom infrastructure operator International Radio Network. Immigration Rules Update: Armenia delayed key amendments to its Law on Foreigners from Aug 1 to Nov 1, shifting toward more electronic, centralized processing for work and residence. EV Import Quotas: 2,447 zero-duty EV quotas still unused as of Aug 2, with dealer-distributors using 57% and other entities using 90%. FX Moves: The dram weakened slightly vs the US dollar (AMD 365.98/$1) while the euro rose to AMD 421.76. Corporate/State Control: The Yerevan Ararat Brandy-Wine-Vodka Factory was placed under state administration, with Garik Boshyan appointed manager. Tax Incentives Debate: A business executive argues Armenia should treat tax incentives as state programs with clear goals and measurable outcomes, not just “concessions.” Crypto Security: A Coldcard Bitcoin wallet flaw is linked to theft of tens of millions of dollars from offline wallets. Regional Business Risk: Europe’s river drought is already cutting transport and power output, raising fears for earnings and energy reliability. Politics & Parliament: Ruben Rubinyan was elected Speaker of the new National Assembly, with opposition boycotting the vote.