Caspian Sea Security & Environment: Turkmenistan marked Caspian Sea Day with a major Awaza conference on protecting the ecosystem, while Russia’s charge d’affaires warned that attacks on civilian vessels and infrastructure in the Caspian must be stopped and that littoral states should prevent escalation. Caspian Water Levels: The same conference heard that there’s no single scientific explanation for the Caspian’s receding water levels, pushing for shared research and joint forecasting across Caspian countries. UN Diplomacy: The UN General Assembly resolution declaring 2028 the “International Year of International Law,” initiated by Turkmenistan, has been published in all six UN official languages. Turkmen-Saudi Ties: In Ashgabat, Turkmen and Saudi diplomats discussed deepening political dialogue and expanding trade and economic cooperation, including on multilateral platforms. Visa Facilitation: Turkmenistan urged Benelux countries to consider a mutual visa waiver for holders of diplomatic and service passports to match growing cooperation. Sports & Youth: Ashgabat is set to host Kids Expo-Chess Cup 2026, Turkmenistan’s first official international rapid and blitz chess tournament, with young players from 15+ countries.