Cultural diplomacy: Nobel laureate Mo Yan arrived in Bishkek to take part in the Issyk-Kul Forum’s 40th anniversary, with the program spotlighting Aitmatov’s legacy and new questions around AI and ethics. Education wins: A Kyrgyz student won bronze at the European Physics Olympiad in Sweden, while another earned an honorable mention. Language & identity: Turkic states unveiled approved Common Turkic Alphabet proposals for Kazakh and Kyrgyz, aiming to support coordinated use in education, media, and digital communication. Media & taxes: Kyrgyzstan’s tax service says a presidential decree can exempt parts of the creative sector from taxes, including journalists and cameramen. Family & rights debate: A draft anti-trans bill passed first reading, drawing Human Rights Watch criticism over legal gender recognition and bans on gender-affirming care. Everyday life: A southern competence center opened in Osh to train school-meal food specialists ahead of higher funding from 2027. Sport & lifestyle: Kyrgyzstan is also pushing health through reality TV training for an amateur triathlon, while the World Nomad Games return Aug 31–Sep 6. International ties: The U.S. ambassador met Kyrgyz education officials to discuss cooperation in higher education, research, and academic mobility.