TAPI Pipeline Progress: Taliban officials say construction of the Afghanistan section of the Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India gas pipeline in Herat has hit 52% completion, with 80 km laid and 72.3 km of pipe transported from Turkmenistan, aiming to finish the 130-km Herat segment by end-2026. EU-Central Asia-Afghanistan Coordination: Turkmen Deputy Foreign Minister Akhmet Gurbanov joined an EU–Central Asia meeting in Almaty focused on Afghanistan’s sustainable development, humanitarian support, and expanding transport and transit links to boost trade and regional stability. Research and Policy Links on Afghanistan: The Taliban will host a Kabul forum of Afghanistan, Central Asia and Azerbaijan research centers to discuss connectivity, stability, trade, energy, transit, investment and practical policy recommendations. Turkmenistan–Europe Economic Commissions: Ashgabat is preparing a Turkmenistan–Slovakia Joint Economic Cooperation Commission, while the 13th Turkmenistan–Austria Joint Commission in Ashgabat highlighted new cooperation vectors in energy, green projects, digitalization/AI, construction and healthcare. Trade and Market Signals: SCRMET auctions totaled $19.5m, with foreign buyers purchasing Turkmen LNG and other goods, while domestic transactions topped 244m manat. Digital Border Management: IOM trained Turkmen agencies on digital tools for integrated border management, including data exchange and migration case systems. Science and Leadership Titles: President Serdar Berdimuhamedov received academic titles in economic and political sciences and was elected an academician, tied to innovation and socio-economic transformation.