Turkmenistan–Afghanistan Trade & Transit: The Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment met Turkmenistan’s business authorities to expand trade and propose a new transit corridor linking Türkmenabat with northern Afghanistan and Mazar-i-Sharif, while inviting Ashgabat to send a delegation of 100 entrepreneurs to Kabul. OSCE/Switzerland Cooperation: President Serdar Berdimuhamedov received Switzerland’s OSCE chair Ignazio Cassis, highlighting Turkmenistan’s priorities for energy security, transport, environmental protection, and water management under OSCE programs. Caspian Energy & Digital Infrastructure: Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan completed the subsea section of the Sumqayit–Aktau Trans-Caspian fibre-optic cable, with commercial operations expected by end-2026, aimed at boosting Middle Corridor data flows. Fuel Crunch Spillover: A report warns Russia’s fuel shortages after Ukraine strikes are already pushing Central Asia toward tighter gasoline and diesel supply, with Turkmenistan and others cited as potential sources. Regional Power Demand Surge: Uzbekistan hit a record electricity load in mid-summer, underscoring rising cooling-driven demand across Central Asia and the strain on grids. U.S. Funding for TRIPP+: The U.S. doubled the TRIPP+ Enterprise Fund to $402m, supporting private-sector development across Central Asia including Turkmenistan.