Uzbek-Afghan-China Business Push: Afghanistan’s Commerce Minister Nooruddin Azizi told the Surkhandarya–China Business Forum in Termez that the country is ready to attract investment from Uzbek and Chinese firms, highlighting new transit corridors and fresh opportunities for trade and investment. Taliban Five-Year Mark: Reuters reports the Taliban staged a “victory day” parade in Kabul while UN and aid groups warn crises are worsening, especially for women under severe restrictions, as well as ongoing violence including recent assassinations in the northeast. Central Asian Heritage Talk: A Kazakhstan-led podcast brought together historians from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Russia’s Tatarstan to discuss how the Golden Horde still shapes regional identities and historical narratives. Medieval Steppe Finds: Archaeologists in Kazakhstan announced new discoveries, including 11th–12th century mud-brick structures, a mosque, paved streets and a well-preserved Kimak-Kipchak mobile dwelling. Silk Road Rethink: A new study points to much earlier silkworm cocoons found in Uzbekistan’s Surkhan-Darya region, suggesting silk spread to Central Asia far ahead of the traditional Silk Road timeline. Sports in Tashkent: Bahrain finished 11th at the Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships in Tashkent, with Jhon Lopez winning three medals; meanwhile, India U17 women are set to play Uzbekistan in Tashkent on Aug 27 and 30 ahead of AFC qualifiers. Culture & Lifestyle Calendar: Uzbekistan will host World Cotton Day 2026 in Tashkent on Oct 7, with an open partners conference bringing together global cotton and textile stakeholders.