UN & Afghanistan: UN Secretary-General António Guterres appointed Rabab Fatima (Bangladesh) as the new Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of UNAMA, succeeding Rosa Otunbayeva. Culture Calendar: Bishkek’s museum and gallery scene is busy this week, with new permanent exhibitions at the Fine Arts Museum and rotating shows like “Village,” “Memory Embodied in Art,” and “Nomad,” plus concerts and events. World Nomad Games—Science & Tourism: Kyrgyzstan is gearing up for the VI World Nomad Games with snow-leopard photo spots at airports, a cultural program in Bishkek, and a major international scientific conference on Sept. 3 in Issyk-Kul bringing scholars from around 30 countries. Education & Youth: The Ministry of Science announced the 6th university and college admissions round (Aug 17–22), while a planned reorganization of regional educational methodological centers aims to reshape support for teachers. Mental Health Regulation: A bill is being prepared to set unified rules for psychologists after parents complained about unverified online “consultations.” Lifestyle & Economy: Average salaries in Kyrgyzstan reached 53,759 soms in Jan–Jun 2026, with the biggest jumps in arts, healthcare, and education. Sports: UFC 330’s Islam Makhachev defended his title with a record 17th straight UFC win, while Kyrgyz fighter Myktybek Orolbay faced defeat.