On December 14, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) launched the Local Governance Activity in Uzbekistan. The Activity, implemented by Chemonics International, will work closely with national government counterparts to improve the responsiveness and accountability of local governments, enhance citizen engagement, and promote more inclusive and equitable decision-making processes.

HUMO Air, the first low-cost airline in Uzbekistan began operating flights from Terminal 3 at Tashkent International Airport. The airline will start operating in domestic destinations from Tashkent to Samarkand, Nukus, Urgench (Khiva) and Karshi.

On December 4-7, the delegation of the Uzbek Defense Industry Agency under the Ministry of Defense attended the third EDEX-2023 international defense exhibition in Cairo.

Main pastures in Uzbekistan have seen their potential for natural fodder production reduced and have become unusable, it was announced at the meeting of the Senate Committee on Agrarian and Water Management.

Two new stations, Turon and Kipchak, of the Tashkent metro’s elevated ring line today began operating in test mode (without passengers), the press service of the Tashkent metro said in a statement. 

On December 15, 2023, the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan held a ceremony of signing grant contracts within the framework of the Japanese Government’s "Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects" with the participation of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Republic of Uzbekistan HATORI Takashi. The Minister of Health of Uzbekistan Mr. INOYATOV Amrillo took part in the ceremony on behalf of the Government of Uzbekistan.

Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov met with the secretary of the president of the Republic of Korea for economic security, Wang Yun-jeong and discussed the bilateral agenda, including the joint green projects.

Consul General of Uzbekistan Fakhriddin Sultanov visited Thailand's Krabi Province and met with the Governor Somchai Harnpakdeepatima.

The Japanese authorities have announced sanctions for several entities, including companies from Uzbekistan. Japan's personal sanctions list includes 35 individuals. The export ban, which will take effect on December 22, includes 57 organizations from Russia, two from the UAE, one from Syria and two from Uzbekistan.

At the Dec. 14 government meeting, Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized the importance of expediting the transformation of Uzautosanoat, the presidential press service said.

Brussels hosted EU-Central Asia Dialogue on Drugs at the Council of the European Union. According to Dunyo, the Uzbekistan delegation was led by the director of the National Narcotics Control Information and Analysis Center under the Cabinet of Ministers Sadirdin Boydedaev, while representatives of other Central Asian countries' anti-narcotics agencies, as well as representatives of regional countries' diplomatic missions in the European Union also attended the event.

First deputy chief of the Tashkent city police department Doniyor Tashkhodzhaev spoke at a press conference on December 12 about the methods of extortion by criminal groups.

During his visit to Doha, the Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov held talks with the Minister of Transport of Qatar, Jassim bin Saif bin Ahmed Al Sulayti.

Head of the Department of Cooperation with European Countries and EU Institutions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Oybek Shakhavdinov met with senior executives of Ericsson AB, Dunyo said.

The Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov met with the Secretary General of the Cooperation Council of the Arab Gulf States Jasem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi in Doha.

After severe cold weather on December 11-13, temperature will gradually rise across Uzbekistan, Uzhydromet reported today.

19th meeting of the Uzbekistan-EU Cooperation Committee took place in Tashkent on December 5. The meeting was co-chaired: Uzbek Deputy Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Badriddin Abidov, and the EU’s Deputy Director of the European External Economic Service Action for Eastern Europe and Central Asia Luke Devin.

On December 11, the opening ceremony of the Embassy of Uzbekistan took place in Doha, the capital of Qatar, FM Bakhtiyor Saidov said.

On the sidelines of the ICAO-owned ICAN-2023 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a meeting was organized between the aviation authorities of Uzbekistan and Bangladesh.

Uzbekistan Airways plans to launch regular flights to Canada, the press service of the Ministry of Transport said. At the international conference ICAN 2023 in Riyadh, the aviation authorities of the two countries signed a memorandum to begin the development of an air services agreement, including the third and fourth air freedom, which would facilitate flights.