Azerbaijan–Uzbekistan Alliance Talk: Ilham Aliyev tells UzA that relations have reached an “alliance” level, rooted in shared history, culture, language and moral values, and backed by the Supreme Interstate Council as a key mechanism for long-term cooperation. East–West Connectivity: Aliyev calls Baku and Tashkent “natural partners” on strategic transport routes, linking the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway with the Middle Corridor and TRIPP to open new transit and economic opportunities. Turkic Culture in Defense: Azerbaijani and Uzbek defense ministries met in Tashkent to exchange ideological and psychological services know-how, with joint cultural and mass events, concerts and music festivals highlighted as part of strengthening friendship and preserving folklore heritage. Craft Heritage Spotlight: A new handbook on Bukharan jewelry making profiles Uzbek jeweler Zokir Negmatov and the master-to-apprentice tradition behind Bukhara’s gold-and-silver craft legacy. Women’s Football Path: Ghana’s Black Queens were drawn to face Ecuador, Uzbekistan and Papua New Guinea in the 2027 Women’s World Cup play-off preliminary phase. Accessibility Watch: Kyrgyzstan’s ombudsman reports only four of 20 government websites meet partial accessibility standards for people with disabilities, underscoring a wider push for inclusive digital services. Sports Note: Banaat FC (UAE) routed Master FC (Laos) 9-0 in the AFC Women’s Champions League preliminary stage in Qarshi, Uzbekistan.