Natural Hazards Monitoring Upgrade: Kyrgyzstan’s hydrometeorological agency is modernizing equipment and field tech to improve forecasts and early warnings as floods, mudflows, landslides, and extreme heat become harder to predict. AI Governance Push in Central Asia: Central Asian officials attended China’s World AI Conference in Shanghai and backed the creation of WAICO, a new AI cooperation body headquartered in Shanghai, with Kazakhstan offering to host WAICO’s first meeting and set up a regional office. Secure Satellite Connectivity: Kazakhstan’s ZHARYQ is partnering with Rivada Space Networks to deliver a secure low-earth-orbit connectivity network across Central Asia for government and enterprise digital services. One Health & Better Reporting: Central Asia’s One Health program ran a media webinar urging more accurate, less alarmist coverage of zoonotic risks like avian influenza. SCO Science Exchange: The SCO Young Scientists Camp in Cholpon-Ata wrapped up with projects spanning environmental chemistry, biomedicine, renewable energy, aquatic robotics, and astroinformatics. Tajikistan–Mongolia Cooperation: Mongolia and Tajikistan signed 11 cooperation documents and launched their intergovernmental commission covering trade, transport, energy, education, culture, and tourism. Venture Capital Spotlight: A Central Asia AI startup, Higgsfield, hit unicorn status as regional startup funding grows and global investors look beyond the “afterthought” narrative. Road Safety Data Note: A comparison of road death rates ranks Tajikistan among countries with higher traffic mortality than many European peers, highlighting the need for safer transport policy.