Uzbekistan–Malaysia Food Security & Standards: Uzbekistan’s Agency for Technical Regulation met Malaysia’s Palm Oil Council to discuss food safety, international standards, lab testing, and specialist training—aimed at improving quality and access to global markets. Central Bank Cools “Overheating” Economy: The Central Bank of Uzbekistan warned growth is running above potential, urging higher interest rates and restraint on spending to avoid demand-side pressure, echoing IMF advice to curb preferential lending and tighten public investment management. Uzbekistan–U.S. Strategic Partnership: President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a phone call with Donald Trump covering implementation of prior agreements, a new Economic Cooperation Program, business council work, visa-free benefits, and cooperation across aviation, mining, infrastructure, energy, metallurgy, AI, and digital tech. Regional Water Governance: Central Asian states approved a draft plan to automate Syrdarya water accounting for the 2026 season and discussed reservoir limits, CAWEC progress, and Aral Sea-saving tasks under interstate coordination. Tashkent Hosts Youth Weightlifting: Tashkent opened the 2026 Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships with 300+ athletes from 29 countries, running through Aug. 14. Sports Diplomacy in the Region: Uzbekistan’s ties also surfaced via parliamentary outreach—Cambodia’s Senate president invited Uzbekistan’s Senate chair to a speakers’ conference in Phnom Penh.