Uzbekistan, officially the Republic of Uzbekistan, is a country located in Central Asia bordered by Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. It is the largest Central Asian nation with an area of 447,400 km2 (172,700 sq mi) and a population of 33 million people. Its capital and largest city is Tashkent. The official language of Uzbekistan is Uzbek and its currency is the Uzbek som. Uzbekistan has a rich culture that draws from its ancient roots as well as influences from other cultures that have passed through the region. This includes elements from Persian, Turkish and Russian cultures as well as more recent influences from Western countries. The country also has a long history of artisanship in areas such as ceramics, textiles and metalwork. Uzbekistan’s government system is based on a presidential republic with three branches: executive (the President), legislative (the Oliy Majlis) and judicial (the Supreme Court). Its economy relies heavily on agriculture as well as industry such as textiles, food processing and chemicals. It also has significant energy reserves which are used to generate electricity for domestic consumption as well as exported to neighboring countries. It is currently in transition towards a market economy with reforms being undertaken to improve economic conditions for citizens including privatization of state-owned businesses and increased foreign investment opportunities. Uzbekistan has an active foreign policy focused on regional integration within Central Asia through organizations such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO). It also plays an important role in global affairs such as trade agreements, disarmament initiatives, environmental protection efforts, economic development programs, humanitarian aid initiatives and human rights initiatives. The country’s acronym is UZB which stands for “Republic of Uzbekistan”. See best-medical-schools for Uzbekistan Overview. The major newspapers in Uzbekistan are mostly government-run outlets. The most widely read newspaper is Narodnoye Slovo. It was founded in 1924 and is published by the Ministry of Press and Information of Uzbekistan. It covers a wide range of topics including politics, economics, sports, culture, and entertainment. It also features articles from international news sources such as Reuters and the Associated Press. Another popular newspaper is Pravda Vostoka. This newspaper focuses mainly on local news stories from all regions of Uzbekistan as well as border issues between Uzbekistan and other countries in the region. Additionally, it covers domestic political topics such as the President’s activities and the government’s plans for development. Lastly, there is Halq Sozi. This newspaper focuses mainly on culture and tradition, local businesses, health care initiatives, education initiatives, social welfare programs, religious activities and other topics related to life in Uzbekistan. It also publishes articles about local events such as festivals or gatherings that take place throughout the year. Check simplyyellowpages for other media in the country of Uzbekistan.