The European Union welcomes the news on the closure of the Jaslyk penal colony; it is a step towards better prison management. The EU is also looking forward to a reform of the prison system based on the ratification and full implementation of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and to empowering the Ombudsman's office to carry out the function of National Preventive Mechanism according to international best practise.

As per the President’s August 13 Measures To Further Develop Uzbekistan’s Tourism Sector decree, US $ 20 per person shall be refunded in equal shares from the state budget and the off-budget fund to travel agents or air carriers for organizing charter flights to Uzbekistan to boost the tourism sector.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev yesterday signed the Privatization of Non-agricultural Land Plots Bill into Law, whıch was passed by the Legislative Chamber on April 26 and was approved by the Senate on May 3.

Uzbekistan Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov is currently in Turkmenistan leading a delegation to attend the 1st Caspian Economic Forum on August 11-12 at the Avaza tourist zone in Turkmenbashi, with delegations from Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Bulgaria and other countries also presetn in the forum.

The President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev spoke to his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdoğan over the phone Sundey, the presidential press service said.

Spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry Sibghatullah Ahmadi expressed on Twitter that the government is not pleased with Uzbekistan receiving Taliban delegation, “for facilitating any peace talks”.

The Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov had a telephone conversation with the UK Minister of State for Europe and the Americas  Christopher Pincher, the Foreign Ministry said.

Female teachers were forced to sweep school yard, while their male collegues were “asked” to perform repair works and to paint at the Tashkent’s school # 202 Tuesday, the Telegram From You channel said.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is hosting ten popular international travel bloggers from August 8-18, 2019 to promote tourism in Central Asia.

In the evening of August 8, the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a telephone conversation with the President of Kyrgyzstan Sooronbai Jeenbekov, the presidential press service said.

Turkey's Nurol Makina delıvered 24 Ejder Yalçın armored vehicles to the Uzbekistan Armed Forces, the Sabah reported. The armored vehicles will reportedly be used to protect the Uzbek-Afghan border.

Ranked 25th Uzbekistan is facing High Water Stress, says a new report that ranks countries and regions on their exposure to water stress, flood and drought risk.

Delegation of Taliban led by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar arrived in Uzbekistan. The delegation was met at the airport by the Uzbek President’s special representative for Afghanistan, Ismatulla Irgashev.

The Extradition Treaty and the Treaty on legal assistance in civil, family and criminal matters between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan took effect on August 7, the Foreign Ministry said.

Uzbekistan Airways agreed to provide slots for the Egyptian low-cost airline Nile Air after the intervention of the Antimonopoly Committee (AMC).

The Uzbek Ambassador to Germany Nabijon Kasimov met with the State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure Guido Beermann, the Foreign Ministry said.

The UN Country Team in Uzbekistan welcomes the President’s Resolution on closing the prison in Jaslyk. This decision is in line with the long-standing recommendations of the UN Human Rights Mechanisms, including most recently at the 3rd UPR cycle (30th session of May 2018): “Close the Jaslyk prison colony, facilitate full and unhindered access for monitoring by the International Committee of the Red Cross, and ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.”

Cooperation Action Plan between the Academy of the Armed Forces of Uzbekistan and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) was signed on August 6, the Ministry of Defense said.

On August 6, Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov was hosted by the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the ministry said in a statement.

Tashkent city plans to deploy 40-strong tourist police, equipped with transport and uniforms, with currently 10 policemen dispatched to Tashkent tourist sites by September, the Tashkent city mayor’s office said.