TAPI Pipeline Progress: Taliban officials say construction of the Afghanistan section of the Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India (TAPI) gas pipeline in Herat has passed the halfway mark, with 52% complete and about 80 km laid so far; Turkmenistan officials reportedly assured the full 130-km Herat segment will be finished by end-2026, with further underground burial and service-road work underway. Energy Supply Deals: Turkmenistan’s state firms are authorized to contract with Chinese pipe suppliers for oil-and-gas infrastructure needs, signaling continued focus on materials procurement for drilling and construction. Turkmenistan–Austria Business Push: Ashgabat and Vienna held the 13th Turkmen-Austrian Joint Commission meeting, reviewing implementation of prior agreements and discussing expansion across energy, environmental projects, waste management, construction/transport, healthcare/pharma, and agriculture processing. U.S. Critical Minerals Drive: The U.S. held an in-person C5+1 Critical Minerals Dialogue in Astana, aiming to shift from raw exports toward processing and supply-chain integration, with Turkmenistan included among the five Central Asian partners. Science & Industry Skills: Turkmenistan marked Science Day with events and leadership messages backing innovation and youth research, reinforcing the push to link scientific output to industrial modernization.