Uzbekistan slightly improves in the World Press Freedom Index to 165th among 180 countries. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) noted that still much has to be done in Uzbekistan for the press freedom adding that the president Shavkat Mirziyoyev has promised to improve the human rights situation. Well-known detained journalists have been freed and the signs of a thaw are growing.

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko noted that the bilateral trade turnover had the potential to reach US$ 1 billion.

Bakhrom Ashrafkhanov, Uzbekistan's ambassador to Russia as of 2016, has been appointed chairman of the board of Uzbekneftegaz, replacing Alisher Sultanov, who will keep the post of Deputy Prime Minister, a source in the government told The Tashkent Times.

The prominent journalist Sharof Ubaydullayev was elected as the deputy chairman of the Nuroniy Foundation at the September 12 meeting of the Board of Trustees of the foundation, UzA reported.

The first outlet of KFC in Uzbekistan opened on Wednesday near Tashkent's Buyuk Ipak Yuli metro station.

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko today arrived in Uzbekistan on an official visit. At the Tashkent airport, he was welcomed by the Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov, UzA said.

Uzbek Foreign Ministry today hosted a meeting with visiting U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Economy and Business Brian McFithers, the ministry said.

The Uzbek Foreign Ministry hosted a meeting with the Secretary-General of Norwegian Helsinki Committee, Bjorne Engesland, the ministry said.

Headwall Power International will invest US$ 1.2 billion in renewable energy in the Surkhandarya province, the Surkhandarya governor’s office said.

As reported earlier, several bloggers were arrested in the end of August for their Facebook posts on religious issues, in particular their protest against the ban of hijab in schools. The arrests caused wide public outcry on social networks, with authorities making no statement.

Tashkent city deputies council took a decision Tuesday to rename Yakkachinor street in downtown Tashkent to Yakub Kolas street, a prominent Belarusian poet and public figure.

On the 17th anniversary of September 11 attacks, the Islam Karimov Foundation posted a statement on its Facebook page on why Islam Karimov allowed to opening of U.S. base in Uzbekistan's khanabad:

8-10 officials of Cotton Campaign may be allowed to visit Uzbekistan’s cotton fields for monitoring, the Minister of Employment and Labor Relations Sherzod Kudbiev said.

In Uzbekistan, Ambassador Brownback will meet with senior government officials to discuss Uzbekistan’s recent positive steps on religious freedom policies and encourage legislative reforms that ensure Uzbekistan upholds its international obligations on freedom of religion or belief.

Mayor of Tashkent's Yunusabad district Bakhtiyor Abdusamatov was caught taking US$ 400 thousand in bribe from an investor after promising he would in return allocate him a land plot, Kun.uz said.

Mr TimothyTorlot has been appointed Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Uzbekistan in succession to Mr Chris Allan who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Mr Torlot will take up his appointment in summer 2019, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said in a statement.

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko will pay an official visit to Tashkent on September 12, the press service of the President of Uzbekistan said.

Samarkand will host the 5th meeting of the India-Central Asia dialogue on September 13-14, 2018, co-rganized by the Information and Analytical Center for International Relations in conjunction with the Indian Council for International Affairs, the Uzbek Foreign Ministry said.

Prime Ministers of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov and Russia Dmitry Medvedev signed an agreement on construction of a nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan. The signing ceremony took place following the 19th meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation in Moscow Friday.

The United States Government, in partnership with the Government of Uzbekistan, today launched a program that is helping Central Asian countries accelerate the adoption of clean, efficient, cost effective renewable energy. The Power the Future (PtF) program, supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), provides assistance to national governments and coordinates closely with donors and other key stakeholders to address the policy, regulatory, technical and financial barriers to scaling up and improving the climate for investment in clean energy across the region.