The EU must avoid creating new ‘dependencies’ and offer an alternative to partner countries as it reshapes its diplomatic approach after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the bloc’s chief diplomat Josep Borrell told EURACTIV.

A new thermal power plant was commissioned in Khavast district of Syrdarya province, the Ministry of Energy reported. 220 MW gas piston thermal power plant was erected by the Turkish company Cengiz Enerji. According to the ministry, the TPP began supplying energy to the power grid on November 20 at 10:00 (initially, the launch was planned from October 25).

A German investigation into Russian-Uzbek billionaire businessman Alisher Usmanov, who is accused of money-laundering and tax evasion, has strained diplomatic ties between Germany and Uzbekistan, Spiegel news magazine reported on Friday.

Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan Vladimir Norov at a conference on the interconnectivity of the European Union and Central Asia: Global Gateway announced the areas in which Uzbekistan was ready to develop cooperation with the EU.

Samarkand is hosting the international Interconnectivity Conference of the European Union and Central Asia: Global Gateway for Sustainable Development.

The Liberal Democratic Party has taken the initiative to ease the restrictions on the use of the national flag. Party leader Aktam Khaitov said that on November 18, the Uzbek Flag Day, the expanded meeting of the party decide to form a working group to develop relevant amendments to the legislation.

On November 17, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev hosted the Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Helga Schmid.

On November 17, Samarkand hosted a meeting of the foreign ministers of the countries of Central Asia and the European Union. The ministers discussed the ways to advance cooperation between the two regions in the political, diplomatic, trade, economic, investment, water and energy, environmental, social and cultural areas.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has accepted the invitation of the French President Emmanuel Macron, and will pay an official visit to France on November 21-22, the presidential press service said.

For the first time in many years, Tashkent Zoo got two panthers, the press service of the zoo said. Bagheera and Typhoon were brought in with the help of the zoo's management company, Wildlife Care.

Qoyliq station, or station 7 of the overground metro line will be closed from November 21 to December 6, the Tashkent Metro reported. The closure is reportedly due to reconstruction work on Ferghana Yuli street next to Qoyliq market.

Throughout history, countries have found themselves slaves to their geography, and the geographical prison in which the Central Asian nation of Uzbekistan finds itself is a particularly tough one. Uzbekistan is one of only two “double-landlocked” nations in the world (the other being the Alpine country Liechtenstein) and, as a result, is at the mercy of its neighbours, particularly the Russian Federation and its rail network, for access to the sea. Such a geographical predicament causes Uzbekistan logistical severe problems.

Senate will be convened for the thirty-fifth plenary session on November 18. The senators will review amendments to the State Duty Law, Guarantees of Equal Rights and Opportunities for Women and Men Law and others, including in connection with the improvement of the corporate governance system and aimed at protecting the rights and legitimate interests of convicts.

Two new combined-cycle plants with a total capacity of at least 900 MW will be built at the Talimarjan thermal power plant by 2025. The project will be implemented through soft loans from the Asian Development Bank.

High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell will visit Kazakhstan from 16 to 17 November and Uzbekistan from 17 to 19 November, the press service of the EU Delegation reported.

Today, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced a call for concept papers from Uzbekistan companies to co-finance the introduction or improvement of diagnostic soil and leaf testing to guide fertilizer use. Through accurate assessment and informed use of fertilizer, crop yields can be dramatically increased, and the environmental damage caused by fertilizer can be minimized. Selected companies will be provided with equipment and/or customized training valued at up to 2 billion soums each.

Uzbekistan is ready for active cooperation with the international community against the climate change and advocates the creation of a regional Climate Council, stated by Tanzila Narbayeva, Chairperson of the Senate, in her address at the 27th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27). in Sharm el-Sheikh (Egypt) on November 15.

Akbar Tashkulov, 50, who has been working as the rector of the Tashkent Law University since 2021, has been appointed Minister of Justice to replace Ruslanbek Davletov who was moved to presidential adviser role, the Cabinet of Ministers said.

On November 15, the Foreign Minister Vladimir Norov hosted the newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America Jonathan David Henick, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Today, as part of the program of the World Conference on Early Childhood Care and Education held in Tashkent, the President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with the Director General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Audrey Azoulay, the presidential press service said.