Turkmen-Japan Business & Tech Talks: Turkmenistan’s Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov met Japan’s Toshimitsu Motegi in Ashgabat, with both sides flagging cooperation in gas chemicals, electric power, transport, and new areas like artificial intelligence and data centers, plus continued work under the “Central Asia + Japan” framework. Energy & Environment: UN-linked reporting says Turkmenistan has started plugging methane mega-leaks at ageing oil and gas sites, stopping eight leaks so far, after receiving dozens of methane alerts—an industry and climate win that also signals tighter operational controls. Trade-Zone Push: Turkmenistan’s ECO joint trade zone plan moved forward after ECO officials visited Iran’s Golestan Province; a host site was designated at the Incheh Borun Free Trade and Industrial Zone near the Turkmen border, aiming to boost transit flows and investment. Agriculture Calendar: The government set autumn sowing and harvest dates—wheat sowing starts Sept. 2 and mass cotton harvesting begins Sept. 9—alongside training for farmers and machine operators ahead of the 2027 harvest. Tourism & Industry Branding: Turkmenistan highlighted tourism growth at CIS media-agency talks, pointing to 70+ private tour operators, UNESCO heritage sites, and expanding Avaza infrastructure—useful for the services and hospitality supply chain.