Central Asia Diplomacy: PM Narendra Modi began a two-day state visit to Uzbekistan with a warm Tashkent welcome, as India looks to deepen strategic ties ahead of the SCO summit in Bishkek. SCO Power Play: Russia’s Vladimir Putin is set for nine bilateral meetings at the SCO, including with Xi and Modi, underscoring Moscow’s push to keep key Asian relationships steady amid pressure. Nuclear-Free Message: Kazakhstan marked the International Day against Nuclear Tests, recalling the closure of the Semipalatinsk site and renewed focus on disarmament and a Central Asia nuclear-weapon-free zone. Sports & Jobs in India: Manipur will reserve 5% Home Department posts for outstanding sportspersons, tying recruitment to continued performance. State Development Push (India): Haryana approved budgets and MoUs for waste-to-energy plants and backed regional cinema and sports as engines of youth opportunity. Culture & Heritage: Japan’s Shibechari Ainu tribe launched a bid to repatriate ancestral remains, spotlighting ongoing colonial-era grievances. Climate Science: A new study says the Pacific–Indian Ocean climate link has flipped direction as human-driven warming overtakes natural Pacific influence. Tourism (China): Guizhou is courting Malaysian travellers with karst scenery and cultural exchange programming. Public Health Data (India/NE): A webinar in India’s North-East urged better use of health datasets to ensure people actually receive welfare benefits.