World Environment Day in Ashgabat: Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Environmental Protection hosted a scientific conference on environmental well-being and international cooperation, with President Serdar Berdimuhamedov’s address read to participants and officials outlining state environmental policy priorities. Akhal-Teke “state cult” spotlight: AFP reports rare access to Turkmenistan’s annual Akhal-Teke horse beauty pageant in Ashgabat, where the ruling family’s influence and tightly controlled media access underscore the event’s political symbolism. Textile industry push with foreign tech: Italy’s textile machinery makers returned to Turkmenistan’s Turkmentextile Expo 2026, pitching advanced equipment as Ashgabat aims to deepen its domestic textile supply chain. Child labor concerns in cotton: The ILO says reports of children in Turkmenistan’s 2025 cotton fields rose sharply, with monitors encountering children on a large share of visits despite some improvements. New cement plant planned: President Serdar Berdimuhamedov announced Turkmenistan will commission a 1 million-ton cement plant in Baharden this year to support construction demand. Azerbaijan culture diplomacy continues: Azerbaijan’s Culture Days wrapped with concerts and exhibitions across Ashgabat and Arkadag, reinforcing people-to-people ties alongside broader bilateral cooperation. Regional water stress warning: Analysis highlights Central Asia’s worsening water crisis as a growing economic risk, driven by climate pressure and governance gaps.