Education Policy: Tajikistan’s State Commission approved 2026–2027 university admission quotas for 155,852 applicants, with most seats in Uzbek-language instruction (130,843) and smaller shares for Russian (19,341) plus Tajik (315), Karakalpak (4,888), and other languages; it also set targeted state-grant quotas for people with disabilities (2%), orphans (1%), internal affairs and customs employees’ children (5% and 2%), Social Register families (10%), and a 5% track for citizens completing compulsory military service. SCO Security: Pakistan chaired the SCO border services chiefs meeting in Islamabad, where members including Tajikistan exchanged border risk assessments and approved joint operations “Solidarity-2025” and plans for “Solidarity-2026,” with Tajikistan backed to host “Solidarity-2027” in 2027. Regional Connectivity: Iran, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan agreed to a new road transit corridor through Afghan territory, with a pilot shipment expected within a month to boost freight movement between Iran and Tajikistan. Energy Watch: Tajikistan warned winter electricity demand may again outstrip supply, keeping the seasonal shortfall risk alive despite reduced network losses and planned Uzbekistan power imports. Tourism Numbers: Tajikistan reported 1.063 million foreign entries in the first half of 2026 (889,400 tourists), alongside a growing hospitality base of 216 hotels and 191 registered travel firms.