For the first time ever Uzbekistan announced its intention to be elected a member of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) for 2021-2023, the Minister of Justice Ruslanbek Davletov declared at the 37th session of the HRC in Geneva on Monday.

From February 26 to 27, Termez hosted a meeting of experts from water authorities of Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, initiated by the Ministry of Energy and Water of Afghanistan, the Foreign Ministry reported.

Uzbekistan delegation attended the first meeting of foreign ministers of the Visegrad Group+Central Asia in Budapest yesterday, the press service of the Foreign Ministry reported.

The Interior Minister Major-General Pulat Bobojonov signed an order appointing Colonel-General Zakirjon Almatov as the advisor to the Interior Minister, the ministry said in statement.

The United States of America handed over 230 handheld radiation detectors to Uzbekistan, the US Embassy in Tashkent said.

Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov today hosted the newly appointed Ambassador of Brazil with the residence in Moscow, Antonio Luis Espinola Salgado, the Ministry reported.

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev will visit Tajikistan on March 9-10. According to Aziya-Plyus, during Shavkat Mirziyoyev's first visit to Dushanbe he will be awarded the title of the honorary doctor of the National University of Tajikistan. The President will meet with the University professors and students.

The President's draft Measures for Total Improvement of System for Supporting Development of Entrepreneurship and Improving Conditions For Doing Business decree, prepared by the Ministry of Justice, proposed to create an Agency for Protection of Consumer Rights, which will become a single authorized body in this area.

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev today spoke to the President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan by the phone, UzA reported.

The next joint meeting of the Uzbek-Tajik intergovernmental commission on the delienation of the state border took place on February 24 in Fergana under the co-chair of the Uzbek PM Abdulla Aripov and Tajikistan PM Kokhir Rasulzoda,the Uzbek Foreign Ministry reported.

The Research Institute for Hematology and Blood Transfusion (RIHBT) conducted an operation of stem cell transplantation, the Ministry of Health said.

Farhad Roziev has been appointed as director general of UzbekTelecom replacing Shukhrat Kadirov, who ran the company since March 2017, the Minister of IT Development Azim Ahmedkhodjaev announced on Saturday, the company said.

Russia supports Uzbekistan's initiative to hold an international conference on Afghanistan in March entitled "Peace Process: Security and Regional Cooperation, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced on Friday following the talks with his Uzbek counterpart Abdulaziz Kamilov, Tass reports.

The Government of Uzbekistan by its Feb. 21 resolution approved the resumption of activities of a number of checkpoints on the state border with Tajikistan, Gazeta.uz said.

The Uzbek Prosecutor General's Office initiated a criminal case against former Prosecutor General Rashitjon Kadirov under articles 165 (extortion), 205 (abuse of power or official authority), 210 (bribetaking) of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan.

Tajik Foreign Minister Sirodjidin Aslov today hosted the newly appointed Ambassador of Uzbekistan Ergash Shoismatov, the Tajik Foreign Ministry said.

Tajikistan delegation led by Prime Minister Kohir Rasulzoda will arrive in Fergana on Saturday, the Uzbek Foreign Ministry reported.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in a government meeting yesterday instructed to introduce Open Skies policy in Uzbekistan's three more international airports in Andijan, Nukus and Navoi.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev at a meeting devoted to the state of affairs in tourism yesterday instructed to simplify the registration of foreign tourists, the President's press service reported.

Tranparency International issued Corruption Perceptions Index 2017, in which Uzbekistan ranked 157th, slipping one position to the last year's Index. In the Central Asia, Turkmenistan is ranked the lowest, 167, Kazakhstan ranks 122th (131 in 2016), Kyrgyzstan - 135 (136 in 2016), Tajikistan - 161 (151 in 2016).