Forest Monitoring: Tajikistan has begun what officials call its first full forest inventory using satellite images plus field checks, aiming to map forests across all ownership types and feed into 10-year management plans. Civil Society Under Pressure: A new rights report says Tajikistan’s civil society and independent media face growing constraints in practice—intimidation, politically motivated cases, self-censorship, and weak accountability after the 2021-2022 GBAO crackdown. Taliban Ethnic Divide: Analysis warns Afghanistan’s Taliban leadership is dominated by Pashtuns, sidelining non-Pashtun commanders once they gain local military or economic leverage. UNSC Race: India formally launched its 2028-29 UN Security Council bid under “SHANTI,” setting up a contest with Tajikistan, which is already lobbying for the Asia-Pacific seat. Energy Crunch: Tajikistan is preparing for winter power shortages by conserving water for hydropower, cutting electricity exports, and promoting solar and efficiency; officials say rationing could return at peak load. Russia Migration Impact: Tajikistan says nearly 160,000 citizens are listed in Russia’s controlled persons register, reflecting tighter Russian migration enforcement. Air Quality Portal: Tajikistan launched an official air-quality website (airquality.meteo.tj) after disputing an external IQAir assessment. Border Security: Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan started installing border pillars after completing delimitation, marking the next step in implementing their border treaty.