Uzbekistan has stepped up watering efforts for trees, shrubs, and city streets in response to the ongoing extreme heatwave, the press service of the National Committee for Ecology and Climate Change said.

More than 70 children in the Namangan province have undergone free heart surgeries, according to a report by the Uzbekistan 24 TV channel.

Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov met with the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, during an official visit to Ashgabat. The dialogue focused on strengthening the strategic partnership between the two nations, expanding trade and economic cooperation, and further developing their centuries-old friendly relations.

Uzbekistan is exploring the possibility of opening an official international Barcelona football academy, known as the Barça Academy, the press service of the Ministry of Sports said.

A masked individual who stormed a bank in Samarkand and demanded money has been apprehended, and a criminal case has been launched against him, with the Security Department under the Ministry of Internal Affairs announcing the arrest and posting the video footage of the crime.

The simplification of visa procedures for Uzbek nationals traveling to Kuwait was discussed during a recent high-level meeting between officials from both nations. The two sides emphasized the importance of tightening cooperation between their respective relevant agencies to achieve this goal.

Employers have been advised to review working conditions for outdoor employees and, where possible, reduce or suspend operations during the hottest hours of the day. The State Labor Inspectorate under the Ministry of Employment and Poverty Reduction announced the advisory.

Dilnoza Primkulova, a specialist at the Uzbekistan Metallurgical Plant ("Uzmetkombinat"), has been awarded the prestigious State Zulfiya Prize after reciting her original poem about the hard work of metallurgists during a meeting with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The Tashkent province governor office announced the honor.

MPs of the Legislative Chamber have passed, in its second reading, a bill aimed at improving labor relations. Reportedly, the document is designed to simplify the process of formalizing labor relations, cut through excessive bureaucratic red tape, and provide more reliable protection for employees' rights.

New record for summer electricity consumption in Uzbekistan was set on July 13, the Ministry of Energy said.

A bill passed by the Legislative Chamber proposes introducing administrative liability for foreigners and stateless individuals who work in Uzbekistan without a valid work permit.

The price of AI-95 gasoline in Uzbekistan remains among the highest in Central Asia, even though it sits below the global average. According to GlobalPetrolPrices, a liter of gasoline in the country is more expensive than in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Belarus, and Azerbaijan.

Starting August 1, civil courts across Uzbekistan will deploy judges specializing exclusively in labor disputes, following a resolution passed by the Presidium of the Supreme Court of Uzbekistan. These specialized positions will be filled using existing judicial staff allocations.

The President Shavkat Mirziyoyev today reviewed a series of proposals aimed at reforming the national pension system.

Between January and June 2026, the number of foreign citizens visiting Uzbekistan for tourism purposes exceeded 6.5 million, the National Statistics Committee said in a report.

The international wanted notice for Ravshan Muhitdinov, an entrepreneur residing in Turkey, has been officially rescinded. Following an extensive investigation, the Ministry of Internal Affairs announced that the allegations against Muhitdinov, popularly known as Ravshan The Golden Boy, could not be substantiated. The name of the 37-year-old businessman had previously appeared on Interpol’s website in April.

Between 2010 and 2026, the population of Namangan city surged by 65% to reach 728,000 residents, while its population density climbed to 8,289 people per square kilometer. Namangan now ranks first nationwide in both categories. Over those same sixteen years, Uzbekistan’s overall population grew from 28.0 million to 38.2 million. However, urban centers expanded and densified at drastically different rates: some cities saw a population jump of over 60%, while others grew by a mere 12%. Urban density across the country now spans a wide spectrum, ranging from 1,058 to 8,289 people per square kilometer.

The United Nations has warned that earthquakes remain the deadliest of all natural disasters, urging Central Asian nations to step up their preparedness. Between 2000 and 2023, earthquakes accounted for more than half of all disaster-related fatalities worldwide.

As of July 1, more than 2.57 million Uzbeks have activated the Credit Freeze service, which allows individuals to place a voluntary ban on taking out new loans, the Credit Information Analytic Center (CIAC) said in a statement.

A 31-year-old man who covered a woman’s mouth and pulled her hair during a date in Tashkent has been sentenced to 5 days in prison. The incident occurred on July 9, 2026, around 11:56 PM, in a park in the Shaykhontohur district.