Journalist Dilmurad Saidov, who was sentenced in 2009 to 12 years and 6 months of imprisonment for committing crimes contemplated by clause "a" of part 3 of Article 165, clause "b" part 2 of Article 228 and part 3 of Article 228 of Uzbekistan’s Criminal Code, has been released, the Kashkadarya province criminal court said in a statement.

Uzbekistan intends to engage Boston Consulting Group (BCG) to prepare its innovative development strategy. BSB is expected to help prepare Uzbekistan’s Innovative Development Strategy, which should offer new approaches for the development of territories and industries in the ever changing world.

Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov will pay an official visit to the People's Republic of China on February 6-7, the Ministry reported.

Tajikistan Government delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Azim Ibrohim arrived today in Tashkent, the Uzbek Foreign Ministry reported.

Botirjon Asadov has been appointed as the first deputy foreign minister of Uzbekistan, the ministry said. Today he was presented to the ministry’s collegium.

Spanish think-tank CIDOB placed the President Mirziyoyev in its list of Key Figures 2017.  In particular it noted, “with the new Uzbek atmosphere, unexpected optimism inside and outside the country, Uzbekistan is having its own spring under the presidency of Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who, in the first year of his mandate, has defied all predictions by beginning a process of opening up, which though tentative, is visible in daily life.”

Uzbekistan advanced 2 positions to rank 91 in the 2017-2018 WJP Rule of Law Index® which measures rule of law adherence in 113 countries worldwide based on more than 110,000 household and 3,000 expert surveys. Featuring primary data, the WJP Rule of Law Index measures countries’ rule of law performance across eight factors: Constraints on Government Powers, Absence of Corruption, Open Government, Fundamental Rights, Order and Security, Regulatory Enforcement, Civil Justice, and Criminal Justice.

Representatives of the Bucheon University led by Professor Li Dong Wook held talks at the Uzbek Preschool Education Ministry, gazeta.uz said.

Starting from February 10, 2018 Uzbekistan will introduce 30-day visa-free regime for the nationals of 7 countries: Israel, Indonesia, Korea Republic, Malaysia, Singapore, Turkey and Japan.

Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva, the second daughter of the late Uzbek President Islam Karimov, on her Facebook page announced she had stepped down as Uzbekistan's Ambassador at UNESCO.

The United States announced Wednesday that it will be providing the Uzbekistan Ministry of Health with state of the art medical equipment for the rapid diagnosis of Tuberculosis (TB).  The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Central Asia Deputy Regional Mission Director Sara Walter and World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in Uzbekistan Dr. Lianne Kuppens joined Uzbek Ministry of Health First Deputy Minister of Health Dr. Baxodir Yusupaliyev at a Ceremony in the Republican Specialized Scientific and Practical Medical Center of Phthisiology and Pulmonology to announce the donation.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev yesterday chaired the extended meeting at the General Prosecutor's Office.

Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov today hosted Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Alice Wells, the ministry said.

As reported earlier, yesterday was held the expanded meeting of the National Security Service collegium, chaired by the President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, which was devoted to the analysis of the work done and measures to totally improve the activities of the National Security Service, the President’s press service said.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed decree appointing Adham Islamov as deputy chairman of the Central Bank, the regulator said in a statement. Before the appointment,  since 2014 he worked as the chief consultant of the Office for Coordination of Social and Economic Policies within the President's Office.

Rustam Inoyatov, 73, who led the National Security Service (NSS) since 1995, has left his post, a source in the government said.

Today in Karshi was held the inauguration ceremony of a monument to the First President Islam Karimov, the President’s press service reported. Today marks the 80th anniversary of the first President, with commemoration events held across the country and in particular in the Kashkadarya province, where Islam Karimov also served as governor.

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Alice Wells will travel to London and Tashkent, Uzbekistan from January 30 – February 2, US Embassy to Uzbekistan said. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Wells will stop in London on January 30 to discuss regional issues at the International Institute of Strategic Studies, as well as meet with UK government officials and international media at the State Department’s London Media Hub. 

Since 1993, UNDP has supported Uzbekistan’s continued development, and a significant amount of that work has taken place in the Fergana valley. From the 16th to the 17th of January 2018, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative Helena Fraser visited Andijan, Namangan and Fergana regions and  familiarized with sites that demonstrated the variance of UNDP’s development work in the region to review the successes that have made in the regions to date.

White & Case has opened its office in Uzbekistan. The US firm is to launch in the country’s capital Tashkent, with the office focusing on disputes and large cross-border matters.