Uzbek Space Tech: Uzbekistan’s AI module has reached orbit aboard the hyperspectral Earth observation satellite Samarkand-2028, marking the first time Uzbek-developed onboard intelligence is deployed on a STAR.VISION mission; the system can process imagery in space to speed analysis and cut down data sent to ground. Regional Digital Trade & Industry: Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov outlined new EAEU cooperation priorities for Uzbekistan—digital trade, industrial projects, eco-technologies, labor mobility and tourism—plus work on aligning technical regulations and a new working-group meeting planned in Tashkent. International Informatics Boost: Bulgaria’s national informatics team visited INSAIT ahead of the 2026 International Olympiad in Informatics in Uzbekistan, with four students set to compete. Agriculture & Tech Transfer: Uzbekistan and Türkiye’s Seedling Producers Union discussed expanding nursery production know-how, including certified seedlings and in vitro lab experience, with a memorandum signed for scientific cooperation. Water & Climate Risk: A new study links falling Caspian Sea inflows to reduced river water from countries including the region’s Volga basin, raising alarms as withdrawals intensify. Cybersecurity Watch: Kaspersky reports two new Windows backdoors, OctLurk and SilkLurk, targeting government and public institutions across Central Asia, including Uzbekistan, since January 2025. Education & Talent Pipeline: Uzbekistan is set to host IOI 2026, with 386 students registered from 97 countries, turning Tashkent into a major global programming hub.