Education Accountability: Bishkek officials say textbook shortages are tied to the state “Okuu Kitibi” ordering system and the single supplier “Uchkun,” noting books aren’t stored locally and can’t be bought by the city—sparking calls for clear responsibility as parents struggle with costs. Youth Sports: Bishkek hosted a cheerleading championship and city competition with 247 participants from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Russia, awarding cups and medals and highlighting growing youth interest. Culture & Film: Kyrgyz drama “Kurak” was denied a censor certificate just before its Bishkek premiere, pulling it from the Bishkek International Film Festival; the film tackles gender-based violence and patriarchal structures. Bilateral Culture & Education: Georgia’s PM Irakli Kobakhidze made his first official visit to Kyrgyzstan, with talks covering transport, trade, tourism, culture, sports, and education, plus signed cooperation documents and discussion of possible direct flights. Tourism Flights: Kyrgyzstan and the UAE are working on a Sharjah–Issyk-Kul (Tamchy) direct flight for summer 2026 and a Sharjah–Karakol route for winter 2026–27, aiming to boost Gulf tourism. School Meals Boost: From 2027, school meal financing is set to rise to 40 soms per student per day, with plans for more meat/fish, dairy, and fresh produce. Sports Integrity: Kyrgyz lawmakers heard there’s no anti-doping lab in-country, so samples are sent to Kazakhstan for testing. Vocational Training: The Education Ministry approved new state standards for dozens of vocational specialties, including IT, design, beauty services, and railway roles. Activism Detention: Activist Mavlian Askarbekov was detained by the State Committee for National Security for 48 hours amid claims tied to his social media posts, with a court set to consider a preventive measure.