Uzbek–U.S. Diplomacy: President Shavkat Mirziyoyev spoke by phone with Donald Trump, stressing steady implementation of prior agreements and discussing a wider strategic partnership agenda, including AI, digital tech, mining, energy and civil aviation, with an official visit to Uzbekistan invited. AI Push: Uzbekistan is aiming to move into the world’s top 50 on an AI readiness index by 2030, targeting $1.5bn in AI software services and expanding computing capacity, including a new high-demand supercomputer cluster. Regional Water Governance: Central Asian states approved a draft plan to automate Syrdarya water accounting for the 2026 growing season, with a working group to be set up by September and coordination framed through the interstate water commission. Eurasian Parliamentary Ties: Cambodia’s Senate president invited Uzbekistan’s Senate chair to Phnom Penh for the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference, signaling continued legislative cooperation after a Cambodian delegation’s participation in Tashkent. Trade & Industry: Youngone Corporation signed a roughly ₩10bn deal to deploy 180 circular knitting machines from Sam Sung Machinery across Uzbekistan, India and Kenya, boosting apparel production capacity. Security & Migration Context: A U.S.-linked indictment alleges an Uzbek-coordinated cargo theft scheme using hacked shipment data, while Russia’s migration rules are tightening for Central Asian workers amid falling entries from the region. Sports & Soft Power: Uzbekistan’s chess presence remains in focus as Javokhir Sindarov placed second at the Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz, and Uzbekistan is set to host the 2026 FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand.