The list of world’s most powerful passports for 2020 was recently released with Uzbekistan at the 86th rank. The Henley Passport Index 2021 showed Uzbekistan’s position 5 ranks lower in 2021 than it was the previous year. Nevertheless, Uzbek passport holders can still access 57 countries visa free.

Several changes took place in the leadership of a number of government bodies. Bakhodir Yusupaliev was dismissed from the deputy minister of health job, while he will keep the position of the chief of the Sanitary and Epidemiological Welfare and Public Health Service.

Online talks were held between the foreign ministers of Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan on July 7 at the initiative of the UN Center for Preventive Diplomacy, the Uzbek Foreign Ministry.

471 new cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Uzbekistan on July 6 (the previous day - 496) and 195 (172) cases of pneumonia, 4 (3) people who had COVID-19 died, the Ministry of Health. The Ministry has been publishing statistics on pneumonia since July 5.

From January 1, 2022, Uzbekistan will introduce a system of of mandatory income and property declaration by civil servants, heads and deputies of state enterprises and institutions where government holds a stake of over 50%, as well as their spouses and minor children.

Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's") has today changed the Government of Uzbekistan's rating outlook to positive from stable, and concurrently affirmed the B1 long-term issuer and senior unsecured ratings and the (P)B1 senior unsecured MTN program ratings.

The President Shavkat Mirziyoyev by his July 1 decree approved the National Strategy of Uzbekistan on Countering Extremism and Terrorism for 2021-2026 and a roadmap for its implementation.

Today, the Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov met with the Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Vladimir Norov, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Today, Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a telephone conversation with the former president of Kazakhstan - Nursultan Nazarbayev, the presidential press service said in a statement.

On July 5, the President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed the Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations Bill into Law.

Russian military instructors have begun training for Uzbek servicemen at the Sazagan military training facility in Samarkand province, the Uzbek Ministry of Defense said.

The Ministry of Health has begun publishing statistics on the incidence of pneumonia along with data on new cases of coronavirus.

On 29 June 2021 was held the first award ceremony for Uzbek Universities “Entrepreneurial University Award” organized by British Council, the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Specialized Education of the Republic of Uzbekistan and ChangeSchool London. The winner of the Enterprising University of the Year award became Tashkent State Technical University.

The National Anti-Coronavirus Commission takes decision on temporary ban of all public events such as festive mass events, sports competitions, as well as concerts, festivals, theater and film programs, regardless of whether the event is held in an open area or indoors from August 1, the Ministry of Health said.

On July 5, the President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a telephone conversation with the Russian President Vladimir Putin, the presidential press service said in a statement.

Today, the President Shavkat Mirziyoyev had a telephone conversation with the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, the presidential press service said in a statement.

On July 2, the President signed a decree On additional measures to ensure transparency and improve the efficiency of public procurement.

On July 2, 2021, a government delegation led by the Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov held talks in Washington with the Special Representative of the United States for Reconciliation in Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad, the Uzbek Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Abnormal heat by 5-8 degrees Celsius higher than average, due to the moving of heat wave from Iran, is expected in Uzbekistan on July 6-8, Uzhydromet said. In the daytime, the air temperature copuld hit 41-43 degrees, and in the north, south and desert zone of the country - up to 44-46 degrees.

More than 685.5 thousand people in Uzbekistan have been fully vaccinated from April 1, when the vaccination commenced through June 30, the Ministry of Health said.