TAPI Pipeline Update: Taliban officials say construction on the Herat section of the Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India gas pipeline is past halfway, with 52% complete and about 80 km laid, while Turkmenistan has reportedly assured the full 130-km segment will be finished by end-2026. Military & Security: A ceremony in Ashgabat honored graduates of Turkmenistan’s Military Academy and other defense and law-enforcement schools, with new officers swearing an oath and laying flowers at memorials. Presidential Honors: President Serdar Berdimuhamedov was awarded the title of professor and elected an academician of the Academy of Sciences, with state media citing contributions to science, innovation, and modernization. Cultural Heritage Restoration: International experts from the Getty Museum are in Turkmenistan to continue restoring a rare 5th-century Buddha sculpture from ancient Merv, using 3D printing to replicate and stabilize the head. Oil & Gas Procurement: Berdimuhamedov authorized major purchases of steel pipes, casing, and drill pipes from Chinese firms to support Turkmenistan’s oil and gas infrastructure. International Cooperation: Turkmenistan is preparing for a Malaysian prime minister visit and for a Turkmenistan–Slovakia joint economic commission, while a Turkmen–Austrian commission meeting in Ashgabat focused on energy, green economy, digitalization, and AI. Information Controls: A new report says Turkmenistan is tightening digital controls, including targeting tools used to bypass online censorship.