Forced Labor Watch: New reporting says Turkmenistan’s cotton harvest relies on state-directed quotas that in 2025 left even teachers and doctors with little ability to opt out, with workers facing threats, abuse, or wage/job loss in extreme heat—raising fresh risks for brands tied to global supply chains. Religious & Civic Life in Ashgabat: Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov marked Kurban Bayram with visits to major religious sites, including a mosque construction project in Arkadag aimed at 30,000 worshippers, while Ashgabat City Day saw the opening of new residential facilities in Berkararlyk and Bagtyyarlyk. UN Diplomacy & Neutrality: Turkmen FM Rashid Meredov met UN leaders in New York, including the UNGA session president, and discussed preventive diplomacy and the push to declare 2028 the Year of International Law; Turkmenistan also joined UN debates on global governance. UNDP Cooperation: Meredov and UNDP Administrator Alexander De Croo mapped the 2026–2030 UNDP country programme, focusing on digital public services, healthcare resilience, climate action, and social modernization. Regional Energy & Transit: Talks continued on the TAPI gas pipeline with UN officials, while Turkmenistan also advanced connectivity messaging with Pakistan and China amid broader multilateral engagement. Public Infrastructure: Turkmentelecom expanded TelecomWi-Fi hotspots across Ashgabat, Arkadag, and major public locations. Economy & Industry Signals: LPG output in Lebap more than doubled in the first four months, and Italy’s ACIMIT/ICE delegation is set to participate in Turkmen Textile Expo 2026 in Ashgabat.