Culture & Education: The Ministry of Culture is proposing a new state scholarship “Kelechek” to fund Kyrgyz citizens studying, interning, or upgrading skills abroad in culture and arts—music, theater, choreography, cinema, restoration, museums, cultural management, and creative pedagogy—awarded competitively based on selection, not just an invitation. Arts Loss: People’s Artist Ulukmyrza Polotov, a major educator and mentor in Kyrgyz traditional music, has died at 83. Issyk-Kul Forum: President Sadyr Japarov opened the 40th Issyk-Kul International Forum in Cholpon-Ata, calling for dialogue beyond politics and highlighting climate change and AI. Chess Push: A working group met to draft a 2026–2030 national chess program, including plans for a National Chess Academy. Youth & Learning Wins: Kyrgyz students made history at the European Physics Olympiad in Sweden—Askar Abdiev won bronze, and Aitegin Emilbekov earned an honorable mention. Lifestyle & Health: Kyrgyzstan is using reality TV to fight obesity, with a government-backed “New Path” show pushing everyday people into training. Media & Taxes: A presidential decree may exempt Kyrgyz creative-sector media and information services from certain taxes, with the State Tax Service clarifying who qualifies. Language & Identity: Turkic alphabet proposals for Kazakh and Kyrgyz under the Common Turkic Alphabet framework have been approved in Astana. Gender Rights: A family values bill is moving forward that would ban gender changes and surgeries, drawing strong rights concerns.