U.S.-Turkmen Ties: Kristin Hawkins took over as Chargé d’Affaires ad interim in Ashgabat, meeting Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov to reaffirm cooperation across diplomacy, trade, and culture. Non-Proliferation & Security: An OSCE workshop in Ashgabat backed Turkmenistan’s work on its national Action Plan for UNSC Resolution 1540 (2004) on WMD non-proliferation. Energy & Industry: NEW JCM won a major Turkmengaz tender to maintain eight DG-90L2 gas turbines across two compressor stations, aiming to restore performance and cut downtime. Science & Innovation: Turkmen scientists are running state programs across 586 research topics, including new pharmaceutical preparations and environmentally safer pesticide tech. Finance Watch: Fitch affirmed Turkmenistan’s ‘BB-’ long-term foreign-currency rating with a stable outlook, citing strong external reserves and gas-sector expansion. Sports & Education: Turkmen schoolchildren won medals at the IMO in Shanghai, while the national tennis team begins Davis Cup zonal play in Sri Lanka. Connectivity & Logistics: Turkmenistan discussed pilot e-TIR freight shipments with Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, and My Freighter plans daily cargo flights from Liege to Central Asia from August. Regional Environment: Research says climate change is the main driver of Caspian Sea shrinkage, with human water use a factor but not the top one.