Korea-Central Asia Summit Momentum: South Korea’s Daewoo E&C is turning summit-level ties into projects, including a Turkmenistan water deal to modernize the Karakum Canal (about 250 km) and broader water and environmental cooperation. Regional Tech & Industry Push: The Eurasian Development Bank says Central Asia’s path to high-income status hinges on domestic industry, human capital for innovation, and state-backed infrastructure that de-risks private investment. Tajikistan in the Spotlight: Tajikistan’s deputy foreign minister briefed IAEA delegates in Vienna on radiotherapy and oncology progress and Tajikistan’s 2025–2030 national cooperation plan under the “Rays of Hope” cancer-care initiative. Cybersecurity Warning: Researchers link the SilkParasite campaign’s SpiceRAT/NodeEdgeRAT/NomadRAT infrastructure across Central Asia, suggesting a longer, broader cyberespionage operation targeting government and critical sectors. Air Quality Reality Check: IQAir ranks Pakistan the world’s most polluted in 2025; Tajikistan is listed among the high-PM2.5 countries, underscoring urgent public-health pressure on air monitoring and mitigation. Trade-to-Implementation Test: The first Korea-Central Asia leaders’ framework sets a 30-year agenda and regular summits, but the key question remains whether deals become mines, processing plants, and long-term contracts.