Venture Capital for AI Startups: Qazaqstan Investment Corporation, IT Park Ventures (Uzbekistan), Mirae Asset Venture Investment and SparkLabs Group signed a term sheet to launch the SparkLabs Mirae Silk Road Fund I, backing Central Asian startups at Series A and later, with a focus on AI-native products. Agriculture Modernization in Karakalpakstan: Uzbekistan plans melon production on 10,000 hectares in Nukus, importing high-yield varieties and know-how, while setting up a specialized training center with labs and testing grounds to support growers across the region. Ancient Human Migration Research: Archaeologists report tiny arrowheads at Uzbekistan’s Obi-Rakhmat site that may point to Homo sapiens in Central Asia about 80,000 years ago, potentially rewriting migration timelines. Mining & Critical Metals Talks: Uzbekistan and Israel discussed cooperation in mining, hydrogeology and critical metals, including groundwater management solutions and investment opportunities. Digital & AI Security: INTERPOL’s “Operation Shams II” used AI to identify 126 suspected foreign terrorist fighters from 108,000+ facial images, with Uzbekistan among participating countries. Competition Policy for the Digital Age: Uzbekistan’s antimonopoly authority shared progress at an SCO meeting, highlighting its Fair Tech system for digital regulation and consumer protection results.