Public Health & Safety: Russia’s Rospotrebnadzor says the death of a 28-year-old researcher at a plague control centre in Irkutsk is not linked to plague and calls circulating claims about restrictions “false,” while hospitals in Irkutsk and Shelekhov were temporarily closed and staff quarantined. Regional Diplomacy: Russia hosted “Moscow format” talks on Afghanistan with 11 countries, aiming to normalize engagement with the Taliban and boost regional cooperation on security and economic stability. Defense Industry: India says its indigenous Akash surface-to-air missile production has stabilized and that Tajikistan and Turkmenistan are overseas customers, adding demand beyond domestic procurement. Hydropower Finance: Tajikistan’s parliament ratified a $300m World Bank grant for Rogun, bringing total World Bank support to $650m and pushing construction and safety work forward. Energy Supply: Tajikistan has begun importing Iranian oil and petroleum products after Tehran talks, seeking a long-term supply framework amid Russia’s tightening fuel exports. Social & Water Projects: Sharjah Charity International inaugurated healthcare, education, water and social projects in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan worth over $2.45m, including a Tajik dispensary, orphanage, school and a village with an artesian well and water network. Infrastructure Connectivity: Afghanistan officially opened a 121-km Wakhan Corridor road linking to China’s Xinjiang, built by Afghan engineers and positioned to strengthen trade routes affecting the wider Tajikistan region.