Aviation Decarbonization in Uzbekistan: Topsoe and Sasol signed a licensing deal with Allied Biofuels for an eSAF and bio-based SAF plant in Khorezm, combining SynCOR and Fischer-Tropsch tech to make SAF from biomass, green hydrogen and CO2—supporting Allied Biofuels’ reported $6.1bn clean fuels push. Higher Education Expansion: Uzbekistan approved a 2026–2027 intake of 234,000+ full-time bachelor places, including 36,023 state-funded scholarships, with priorities in engineering, IT, teacher training and agriculture. Digital Tourism Boost: A VAT Tax Free refund system for foreign visitors launched at Uzbekistan’s international airports (from April 1), offering 85% VAT back on eligible purchases, with cashless refunds credited within 3 business days. Talent & Public Service Modernization: President Mirziyoyev reviewed plans to select and train managers and a new executive generation, citing a digital civil-servant database and AI used to map sector “growth points,” especially in energy/green tech and digitalization. Central Asia Connectivity: A Pakistan report says the country could earn up to $3bn annually from transit and logistics by linking Central Asia to the Arabian Sea via trade, energy, tourism and skills integration. Biodiversity Monitoring Upgrade: SMART Patrol training in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan equips protected-area inspectors with rugged smartphones for real-time violation tracking and “digital passports” for rare species. Regional Diplomacy: Uzbekistan and Belarus discussed joint projects after Mirziyoyev’s Minsk visit, targeting $2bn trade and hundreds of initiatives across industry and agriculture. Security & Tech Governance: Japan moved to strengthen counterintelligence after reports alleging Russia’s “spy hub” use of Japanese-made dual-use components.