Sunday, 18 October

The day's stories

1. 1

   

   Blindspot: pro-government media Pro-government outlets barely covered this story, while opposition outlets covered it widely. Church

   Father Asoghik criticizes UNESCO chief's failure to visit Etchmiadzin

   Hieromonk Asoghik Karapetyan, director of the archive and museums of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and a member of Armenia's National Commission for UNESCO, described as regrettable and deplorable the fact that a visit to Zvartnots Cathedral was organized for the UNESCO Director-General, but not to the Mother See.

   Opposition 86%

   15 sourcesPublished 17:00

2. 2

   

   Economy

   Analytical center to be created for Armenia's mining sector

   On October 17 in Tsaghkadzor, on the sidelines of the Mining Armenia 2026 forum, Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Davit Khudatyan and Vardan Jhanyan, president of the Union of Miners and Metallurgists of Armenia, signed a memorandum of understanding on creating an analytical center for the mining and metallurgy sector.

   Balanced 44%

   8 sourcesPublished 16:59

3. 3

   

   Security

   Three minors set fire to sports club's electrical system in Davitashen

   On September 21, the Davitashen police division in Yerevan received a report that electrical wires were burning on the premises of the Reebok sports club.

   Opposition 47%

   7 sourcesPublished 16:59

4. 4

   

   Blindspot: pro-government media Pro-government outlets barely covered this story, while opposition outlets covered it widely. Church

   Archbishop Ezras consecrates new Armenian church in Ivanovo

   Archbishop Ezras Nersisyan, Primate of the Russian and New Nakhichevan Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, on October 17 consecrated the newly built Armenian church in the Russian city of Ivanovo.

   Opposition 100%

   10 sourcesPublished 16:58

5. 5

   

   Blindspot: opposition media Opposition outlets barely covered this story, while pro-government outlets covered it widely. Economy

   State to subsidize interest rates on loans for energy storage batteries

   Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan announced on his Facebook page that the state will subsidize interest rates on loans and leasing for purchasing electricity storage batteries for solar plants.

   Pro-government 58%

   8 sourcesPublished 16:58

6. 6

   

   Foreign policy

   Armenia reaffirms commitment to lasting peace at the UN

   Armenia's delegation to the UN took part in an interactive dialogue with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk within the framework of the General Assembly's Third Committee.

   Balanced 44%

   9 sourcesPublished 16:38

7. 7

   

   Blindspot: pro-government media Pro-government outlets barely covered this story, while opposition outlets covered it widely. Justice

   Court rejects Alen Simonyan's lawsuit against Edgar Ghazaryan

   According to MP Edgar Ghazaryan, on October 14 the Yerevan Civil Court of First Instance rejected the lawsuit filed by Security Council Secretary Alen Simonyan, who demanded a retraction of information he considered defamatory and 2 million drams in compensation.

   Opposition 65%

   18 sourcesPublished 16:37

8. 8

   

   World

   Explosion at Canada's Wainwright military base kills at least 7

   An explosion followed by a large fire occurred at the Wainwright military base in the Canadian province of Alberta.

   Balanced 54%

   11 sourcesPublished 16:37

9. 9

   

   World

   Ukrainian drones attack St. Petersburg and Leningrad Region

   Overnight, Ukrainian drones carried out a massive attack on St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region.

   Balanced 44%

   15 sourcesPublished 16:37

10. 10

    

    World

    City hall burns during protests in Limoges, France

    On October 17, during mass protests in the French city of Limoges, a fire broke out in the roughly 140-year-old city hall building, which was reportedly set alight by rioters.

    Balanced 52%

    21 sourcesPublished 16:36

11. 11

    

    Economy

    Pashinyan attends opening of PROFAL glass processing plant

    Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan attended the opening of PROFAL's new glass processing plant in the industrial zone of Nairi community.

    Pro-government 48%

    17 sourcesPublished 16:36

12. 12

    

    Blindspot: pro-government media Pro-government outlets barely covered this story, while opposition outlets covered it widely. Politics

    Samvel Karapetyan to renovate Gyumri's Kirk Kerkorian Street

    Narek Karapetyan, head of the Strong Armenia faction, said at an event marking Gyumri City Day that Samvel Karapetyan will fully renovate Kirk Kerkorian Street.

    Opposition 69%

    11 sourcesPublished 16:36

13. 13

    

    Culture

    Armenia's Junior Eurovision 2026 delegation departs for Malta

    Armenia's delegation to the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2026 has departed for Malta, Armenia's First Channel (Public Television) reports.

    Pro-government 45%

    10 sourcesPublished 16:35

14. 14

    

    Economy

    Pashinyan proposes listing mining companies on stock exchanges

    Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at Mining Armenia Forum 2026 that the mining industry should lead the development of public share ownership by listing companies on stock exchanges.

    Pro-government 55%

    18 sourcesPublished 16:35

15. 15

    

    Foreign policy

    Pashinyan hosts Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov

    Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan hosted Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, who arrived in Armenia on an official visit.

    Pro-government 65%

    14 sourcesPublished 16:34

16. 16

    

    World

    Sweden to provide Ukraine with SEK 522 million in civilian aid

    The Swedish government has decided to allocate SEK 522 million ($52.71 million) to Ukraine for a 2026 civilian support package.

    Opposition 48%

    7 sourcesPublished 16:34

17. 17

    

    World

    Trump says he would be glad to see Putin at the G20 summit

    US President Donald Trump, speaking with reporters at the White House on October 16, said he would like to see Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G20 summit to be held in Miami in December.

    Opposition 64%

    8 sourcesPublished 14:21

18. 18

    

    World

    IRGC: Oil supertanker hits mine in Strait of Hormuz

    According to a statement by the naval forces of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a supertanker carrying more than 2 million barrels of crude oil struck a naval mine in the Strait of Hormuz, followed by an explosion and fire.

    Opposition 44%

    14 sourcesPublished 13:10

19. 19

    

    Blindspot: opposition media Opposition outlets barely covered this story, while pro-government outlets covered it widely. Culture

    UN Secretary-General António Guterres visits TUMO center

    UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who arrived in Armenia ahead of the COP17 conference, visited the TUMO Center for Creative Technologies on October 16, accompanied by Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan.

    Pro-government 63%

    11 sourcesPublished 13:10

20. 20

    

    Security

    Body of 50-year-old Russian found at Yerevan's Erebuni hotel

    On October 10, at around 22:30, the Central police department received a report that there was a body in one of the rooms of the Erebuni hotel complex on Vazgen Sargsyan Street.

    Opposition 81%

    8 sourcesPublished 13:10

21. 21

    

    Society

    Armenia hosts international conference of eTwinning school programme

    On October 16-18, Armenia is hosting an international conference of the pan-European eTwinning school programme, attended by about 60 representatives from more than 10 countries, the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports reports.

    Pro-government 45%

    9 sourcesPublished 13:10