The total debt of Uzbekistan electricity consumers has reached 3.5 trillion soums, (US$ 330 million), said Jahongir Obidzhonov, first deputy chairman of Regional Electric Networks.

On December 27, residents of the Obi Hayot mahalla in Muzrabad district of Surkhandarya province blocked a road and burned car tires in a sign of discontent due to the lack of electricity. A footage of surfaced on social networks that the action took place in front of Headquarters of the 2nd sector (every city and town are divided into 4 sectors between tax, prosecutor, police and customs authorities, with these responsible for the development of the sector).

On Tuesday, December 29, at 11:00, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev will adeliver an address to the Oliy Majlis at the International Congress Center, the presidential press service said.

On December 26, at a regular meeting of the Legislative Chamber, the MPs considered in the first reading the State Security Office of the President of Uzbekistan Bill.

The National Anti-Corruption Strategy for 2021-2025 is being developed by the Anti-Corruption Agency of Uzbekistan with the involvement of international organizations, the agency said on its website. Civil society institutions can also contribute to the discussion.

The Anti-Corruption Agency has posted for discussion a draft bill amending the Anti-Corruption Law. The draft proposes to amend article 28 of the law, according to which the state provides social and legal protection not only to whistleblowers, but also to their close relatives.

The Anti-Corruption Agency sent a request and began to study the situation with public procurement in the Jizzakh province, which bloggers and the media reported on the eve, the agency's press service said.

On December 25, the President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed the Bill introducing punishment for disseminating false information into Law. While, the Law abolishes imprisonment for libel and insult. The Bill was passed by the Legislative Chamber on December 15 and approved by the Senate on December 19. It took effect immediately, on December 26.

On December 26, the President Shavkat Mirziyoyev got acquainted with the newly commissioned Sergeli metro line. “Despite the difficult situation caused by the pandemic, the work in our country did not stop. Major projects are being launched one after another. This year, on the eve of Independence Day, the phase I of the elevated metro was commissioned. And on these pre-holiday days, another important link in the new transport system, the Sergeli line, was commissioned,” the presidential press service said.

Uzbekistan may purchase one of three Indian vaccines, the Indian Ambassador Manish Prabhat said on Uzbekistan 24. The Indian Medical Research Council is working on three vaccines, he said. The first, manufactured by Bharat Biotech, is in its third stage of clinical trials. The second vaccine was developed by the Serum Institute and the third by Zydus Cadila, both in the second phase of trials.

Uzbekistan has resumed gas supply to Khujand city in Tajikistan. Recently was held the supplies resuming ceremony, which was attended by the authorities of Sughd province, heads of supplying companies, local and foreign journalists.

FAO Representation in Uzbekistan, together with the Association of Uzbekistan Beekeepers, held a meeting to discuss an innovative information exchange system that is being designed within the framework of the FAO Technical Cooperation Program “Support to sustainable apiculture development”.

Uzbekistan is expanding cooperation with UN’s three agencies. The decision was signed by the head of state on December 15, the Norma said.

The issuance of ID-cards, which will replace the internal passport of an Uzbekistan citizen, will commence throughout the country on January 4, the first business day of 2021, the Colonel Ulugbek Mirzakambarov, the chief of the Migration and Citizenship Department of the Tashkent Police department.

The Korea Republic has contributed US$ 1 million to the UN Multi-Partner Human Security Trust Fund for the Aral Sea region in Uzbekistan. An agreement to this effect was signed between the government of the Republic of Korea and the Foundation's office in New York on December 17.

On December 23, 2020, political consultations between the Foreign Ministries of Uzbekistan and Japan were held in the form of a video conference, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The Uzbek and Russian officials are still in talks over the common terms agreement for the first nuclear power plant project in Uzbekistan, UzAtom said in a statement.

Uzbek authorities should halt attempts to criminalize sharing allegedly false information and ensure that journalists can operate freely without fear of reprisal, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

UzAuto Motors, following the efforts with the American automaker GM, received the build in quality certificate BIQ4, the company said.

On December 23, the President Shavkat Mirziyoyev chaired a meeting to discuss the effectiveness of the policies to boost investment and foreign trade and the main tasks for 2021.