Uzbekistan

Spring Holiday for Uzbek Students Announced from March 20

The Fatwa Center of the Muslim Board of Uzbekistan has provided a detailed explanation for why the holy month of Ramadan can sometimes last 29 days and other times 30 days. The center emphasized that the Islamic lunar calendar is based on the moon's movement in the sky, where the first day of a new month is considered the day after the new crescent moon is sighted.

Under the chairmanship of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, a large-scale meeting on the socio-economic development of Samarkand Region was held in Uzbekistan. The head of state congratulated residents on the upcoming Ramadan Hayit and Navruz holidays, emphasizing that the region should become a model testing ground for implementing new methods to combat poverty and unemployment.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan issued directives for large-scale preparations for the upcoming Ramadan and Navruz holidays during a meeting in Samarkand region. The head of state tasked regional leadership with strengthening social support for vulnerable population groups, carrying out improvement works in all districts, and ensuring markets are supplied with affordable food products.

Riko Ueki and Maika Hamano scored first-half goals to propel Japan to a commanding 4-1 victory over South Korea in the Women's Asian Cup semifinal, securing a spot in the championship match against Australia. The match took place at Stadium Australia in Sydney, where Japan asserted control from the outset, showcasing their tactical superiority.

A new state program has been announced for the economic development of the Narpay, Kushrabat, Kattakurgan, and Pakhtachi districts, as well as the city of Kattakurgan in the Samarkand Region. Currently, these areas contribute only 10% to the regional industrial output, highlighting a significant imbalance in the country's economic landscape. To address this issue, a record-breaking allocation of 1.2 trillion sums has been designated, underscoring the government's comprehensive efforts to reduce regional disparities and stimulate growth in underdeveloped zones.

In the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Ramadan Eid holiday will be celebrated on March 20. This announcement was made in a decision by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, based on information from the Muslim Board. The religious festival holds significant importance and is one of the most widely observed celebrations in the country.

Samarkand Region is poised to become the center of Uzbekistan's largest economic reforms and technological modernization. According to plans announced by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Narpay District, the region will receive record funding totaling 11 trillion soums from all sources, with local businesses granted additional credit resources of 18 trillion soums.

Starting April 1, Uzbekistan is implementing new regulations that require all major transactions involving real estate and automobiles to be conducted exclusively in cashless form through escrow accounts. This move is part of a broader reform aimed at protecting citizens' interests and whitening the economy. In commercial banks with state participation, the fee for managing an escrow account in housing purchases cannot exceed 50% of the base calculation value (BCV), currently set at 206,000 soums. For car purchase and sale transactions, the commission is even lower—no more than 25% of the BCV, or up to 103,000 soums.

Authorities in Tashkent have initiated a project to create a tourism street operating 24/7 on Buyuk Ipak Yuli Street in the Mirzo Ulugbek district. The task of developing project-estimate documentation was approved by a decision of the capital's administration on February 13, 2026. However, the decision by Mayor Shavkat Umurzaqov (No. 73−14−0-Q/26) was adopted in a "for official use only" format and concealed from the public, raising significant questions about transparency and accountability in the city's development plans.

Fazliddin Salomov has been appointed as the Deputy Chairman of the National Committee for Ecology and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan. This appointment is part of the government's policy to strengthen focus on environmental issues, amid growing challenges related to ecological protection and climate change in the country.

According to the Central Bank's commentary on international migration and currency operations by individuals, the volume of remittances from Uzbek citizens working in developed countries and a number of Asian states increased by nearly 21.7% compared to the same period last year. This growth is linked to stable demand for labor in migrant-receiving countries, steady wages, rising economic activity, and the strengthening of national currencies in these nations.