Cloud Seeding for Drought Relief: Kazakhstan is turning to aircraft-based cloud seeding to boost rainfall in its Turkestan cotton belt, aiming for higher precipitation and better harvests. Uzbek-Korean Business Push: South Korea and Uzbekistan used a Seoul business roundtable to line up cooperation in critical minerals, AI, manufacturing, and infrastructure ahead of a Korea–Central Asia summit. Energy & Industry Partnerships: Uzbekneftegaz and Sinopec discussed deeper oil and gas exploration, deep well drilling, and modern refining tech, including new Ustyurt prospects. Digital Education Spotlight: Uzbekistan hosted the 38th International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI 2026) in Tashkent for the first time, reinforcing its push to become a regional IT hub. Critical Minerals Drive: Uzbekistan is seeking deeper processing of copper and rare earths by inviting foreign tech and investment, as demand rises for EV and clean-energy supply chains. Climate Context: July 2026 tied with July 2024 as the hottest month on record, underscoring intensifying heat risks across the region. Agritech & Value Chains: ICBA and Uzbekistan’s innovation agency launched a Farmers’ and Agro-Entrepreneurs Accelerator in Karakalpakstan to help 200 participants build value-added products and market access. Regional Research on Heritage: A multinational “Great Altai: Turkic Heritage 2026” expedition is studying indigenous traditions across Altai and Central Asia, including researchers from Uzbekistan.