Central Asia Power Crisis: A sudden change in Central Asia’s electricity flow triggered emergency shutdowns, leaving parts of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan in the dark; Kazakhstan’s energy ministry blamed a power imbalance, with KEGOC saying three 500 kV lines tripped at 14:37, while outages and voltage surges were also reported in Bishkek and Dushanbe as crews worked to restore service. Badakhshan Border Tensions: Tajikistan sent a protest note to Afghanistan after alleged airspace violations during clashes in Badakhshan’s border districts, saying a civilian was killed and homes were damaged in Darvoz. Tajik-Afghan Violence Spillover: Fighting in Badakhshan’s Nusay district entered its fourth day, with reports of disputes involving Taliban intelligence forces and conflicting accounts about damage to a Taliban helicopter. Tajikistan-Japan Energy Push: In Dushanbe, Tajik Energy Minister Daler Juma met Japan’s parliamentary vice minister Eri Arfiya to advance a new substation and the Varzob-2 hydropower plant, with talks on investment and technology transfer. Somon Air Route Expansion: Somon Air will launch weekly Dushanbe–Minsk flights starting Aug. 29, as it continues adding international routes. Russia Migration Pressure: A report says Central Asian labor flows to Russia fell sharply in the first half of 2026, including Tajik entries down to 494,500, as permit costs and restrictions tighten. Afghanistan Resistance Attacks: The Taliban-appointed mayor of Faizabad was assassinated, with the National Resistance Front claiming responsibility amid wider violence in Badakhshan.