Issues surrounding the quality of education, the results of international assessments, and the widening gap between schools were at the forefront of a press conference held by Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Preschool and School Education on April 21, reports a Gazeta.uz correspondent.

An oil spill has contaminated a river in Surkhandarya province, according to Shuhrat Suyunov, spokesperson for the Ministry of Water Resources.

The Tashkent Provincial Branch of the Center for State Environmental Expertise has issued a positive finding on the first stage of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Sea Breeze Uzbekistan year-round resort. 

The Mirzo-Ulugbek district has become the fourth administrative area in Tashkent to launch a situational center and implement the Smart District platform. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited the district mayor’s office on Thursday to inspect the new facility.

The European Union has imposed restrictive measures on two Uzbek enterprises as part of its 20th package of anti-Russian sanctions, according to an update on the European Commission’s website.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited Uzbekistan Ovozi Street in the heart of the capital on Thursday to review the results of its total reconstruction completed in 2025, the presidential press service said.

In the Bakhmal district of Jizzakh province, a pilot project may soon introduce "ice stupas"—artificial glaciers designed to combat seasonal water shortages, the representative office of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Uzbekistan reported.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev received a report from Minister of Defense Shukhrat Kholmukhamedov regarding ongoing efforts to strengthen military cooperation with Türkiye.

Kazakhstan is rolling out a series of major infrastructure projects aimed at streamlining logistics and boosting trade with Uzbekistan. This was announced by the Kazakhstan's Deputy Prime Minister/Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin, during an appearance on the President media project.

Uzbekistan plans to lift the recently introduced ban on cash payments for alcohol in cafes, restaurants, and hotels. This was announced on April 21 during an open dialogue with entrepreneurs from the food service industry.

Kazakhstan is currently exploring the possibility of exporting crude oil and petroleum products to Uzbekistan. This was announced by Kazakhstan’s Minister of Energy, Yerlan Akkenzhenov, on the sidelines of the Regional Environmental Summit (RES 2026) in Astana, as reported by BAQ.KZ.

As part of the ongoing reconstruction of bus stops in Tashkent, city authorities have decided to eliminate "bus pockets" (lay-bys). This move was confirmed by the chief of the Tashkent Department of Transport and Road Infrastructure Development Mirakbar Ikramov, in an interview with the Toshshaxartransxizmat press service.

Uzbekistan has seen a slight uptick in meningitis cases since the start of 2026, according to a report from the Committee for Sanitary and Epidemiological Welfare and Public Health.

The criminal investigation into the employees of Taftish.uz media outlet has been transferred to the Military Prosecutor’s Office. This update was shared by the human rights activist and chief of Ezgulik Human Rights Society Abdurakhmon Tashanov.

During a government meeting on Tuesday, president Shavkat Mirziyoyev directed officials to expand the use of land lease rights as a financial instrument and to tighten oversight of land management.

Fast food chains in Tashkent—including Dodo Pizza, Bellissimo Pizza, Evos, Feed Up, KFC, and Papa Johns—have filed a joint appeal against the mass removal of storefront signage across the city.

Banks in Uzbekistan will no longer be allowed to drain bank accounts "to zero." A new mandatory minimum balance has been introduced to protect cardholders.

Uzbekistan is set to overhaul the regulations governing agricultural land leases for foreign investors. This reform was discussed during a presentation to the president Shavkat Mirziyoyev Tuesday.

A school principal in the Orta Chirchiq district has been handed an administrative sentence for sexually harassing a female student. 

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev addressed the Council of the Heads of State of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS), the presidential press service said.