Chess Olympiad logistics: India’s defending champions hit a rough start in Samarkand as players reportedly waited hours for hotel rooms after landing, with GMs Srinath Narayanan and Vidit Gujrathi publicly slamming the accommodation delays ahead of the Sept 16-27 FIDE event. Korea–Central Asia ties: South Korea and Uzbekistan agreed to deepen cooperation in culture and tourism, including library projects and language education, as Seoul prepares for its first leaders’ summit with Central Asia on Sept 16. Tourism demand beyond the classics: Uzbekistan logged 9.1 million foreign visits in the first eight months of 2026, with spending up sharply and more travellers venturing past Tashkent–Samarkand–Bukhara–Khiva routes. Visa update for Indians: Uzbekistan’s embassy says eligible Indian passport holders with certain valid multiple-entry visas (US/UK/Canada/Australia/Japan/NZ/South Korea/Schengen) can get a 30-day visa-free stay with a confirmed onward ticket. Regional travel policy: The Turkic Council says citizens of five member states may be able to travel using ID cards, aiming to expand the arrangement across OTS countries. Safety travel note: Kerala vlogger Arunima, who earlier reported detention fears in Afghanistan, says she is safe after authorities threatened arrest over rules for women travelling alone.