Tajikistan–Iran Energy Deal: Dushanbe and Tehran have finalized a framework for a long-term agreement on exporting Iranian oil products and supplying crude to Tajikistan’s refineries, with a working group set to handle technical and logistics details. HIV Investigation in Dushanbe: Tajik police detained 10 people suspected of intentionally infecting others with HIV, with claims they may have infected more than 60 people; cases are headed to court with penalties of 3–10 years. Fuel Cooperation Expands: Separate reporting says Tajik officials met Iranian counterparts to discuss diesel, aviation fuel, and crude imports, aiming to ease Tajikistan’s fuel shortages and raise bilateral trade volumes. Regional Security Training: OSCE ran a medical support course for explosive ordnance disposal operations in Kazakhstan, with specialists from Central Asia trained to improve emergency response. Central Asia Power Blackout: A major August 14 outage hit parts of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan; Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan gave conflicting accounts of the trigger, with investigations ongoing. Armenia–CSTO Tension: An Armenian MP criticized CSTO for not recognizing Armenia’s borders and warned of possible consequences tied to Armenia’s suspension. Afghan Border Incident: Afghanistan’s foreign ministry expressed regret over a Tajik woman’s death in cross-border gunfire, blaming “disruptive” elements and stressing commitment to stability. Kyrgyzstan Climbing Search: Rescue efforts continue for three missing climbers in Kyrgyzstan’s mountains, with chances reportedly fading. Russia Labor Crackdown Signals Pressure: Russia’s planned overhaul of foreign worker recruitment could tighten rules for migrants from Central Asia, raising concerns about informal work.