In Uzbekistan, special attention is paid to the development of handball, creating modern conditions, and motivating young athletes to properly represent the country on the international stage. Various championships and competitions have taken place as part of this work.
From July 19 to 26, games of the 4th stage of the Uzbekistan Handball Championship for junior boys' and girls' teams (U-14) were held in the city of Navoi, at the base of the modern physical culture and sports hall 'So'g'diona'. Fourteen teams representing various regions participated in the competition.
The eight days of competition allowed talented athletes from different regions to test their strength to win the championship title. The events were characterized by intense matches and bright moments, demonstrating the formation of qualified athletes and professional teams in the field of handball in the country.
According to the results of the championship among boys, the team from the Khorezm region took first place, the team from the Surkhandarya region took second place, and the team from the Andijan region took third place. Among girls, the winner was the team from the Navoiy region, the second place was the team from the Namangan region, and the third place was taken by the team from the Karakalpakstan Republic.
At the awards ceremony for winners and prize-winners, the Chairman of the Uzbekistan Handball Federation, Kuvondiq Sanakulov, congratulated the young champions on their achievements and wished them higher results in future competitions.
It was noted that thanks to the support of the Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Combine and the Kasaba Union Council, this sport is gaining popularity. The creation of a modern handball hall based on the 'So'g'diona' complex in the city of Navoi has expanded opportunities for interested parties.
According to the head coach of the Navoiy region handball team, Husniddin Holmurodov, about 150 people regularly train in this hall. Thanks to the initiative of the Kasaba Union Council, six men's and women's clubs were formed, which quickly gained the right to participate in the republic's top league and represent the honor of NKMK on prestigious arenas. Among them played athletes such as Asadbek Tolibov, Rukhshona Roziyev, Nasiba Toxtaeva, Khurshid Yakubov, Gulsanam Ahadova, Sevinc Rahmonova, and Mushtariybon Hamroeva, who achieved success, including victories at the World Cup, and are members of the national handball team of Uzbekistan, as well as Asian and Uzbek champions.
To conclude the competition, the winners, prize-winners, and active participants were duly recognized.
Following a bloody clash in the West Bank, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the army to take decisive measures. The incident occurred near the settlement of Tell.
According to data from the Palestinian Ministry of Health, four Palestinians were killed and four were injured as a result of the incident. The Magav Diamond Adom emergency service reported the death of one Israeli citizen.
The parties disagree on what happened. According to the WAFA news agency, Israeli settlers entered the eastern part of the village and began conducting business in shops, two houses, and agricultural lands.
Israeli military forces (IDF) claim that an attack was carried out on civilians walking in the area, and the shootout began after a security officer who arrived at the scene was disarmed. The IDF also stated that the person who allegedly stole the weapon was eliminated.
As a result, Netanyahu instructed the army to conduct harsh anti-terrorism operations, demolish the homes of alleged attackers, intensify activities in settlements assessed as high-risk zones, and deploy additional forces along the West Bank. He also announced the acceleration of the process of legalizing existing Jewish settlements and creating new ones.
The West Bank has been under Israeli control since 1967. After the war that began on October 7, 2023, violence in Gaza intensified even further. According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in October 2024, about 737,000 Israeli settlers lived in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. International law considers such residences illegal.
The European Union introduced new sanctions against many Israeli settlers in May due to violence in the West Bank.
Kharamon Quronboev, Chairman of the Neighborhoods Society of Uzbekistan and head of the republican working group on studying youth issues, held a meeting with young people in Samarkand, Samarkand region.
The working group conducts research in areas of activity to further improve the system of working with youth in neighborhoods, based on the instructions and tasks given by the head of state during his meeting with the country's youth this year.
During the work of the working group in the Samarkand region, the group leader, Chairman of the Neighborhoods Society of Uzbekistan, K. Quronboev, held a meeting with young people in the city of Samarkand. This meeting took place in an atmosphere of openness and sincerity, during which the problems worrying the youth, as well as their suggestions and initiatives, were heard.
Kharamon Quronboev paid special attention to each problem and gave instructions to responsible persons for its positive resolution, defining the necessary measures. In particular, the youth of the Maroqand neighborhood in the city put forward an initiative to create a modern library in the neighborhood. After the meeting, Kharamon Quronboev visited the neighborhood to inspect the local infrastructure and assess the possibilities of creating a library.
In addition, during the conversation with activists, issues such as filling youth free time with meaningful content, increasing reading culture, effective use of existing opportunities in the neighborhood, and creating modern and comfortable conditions for young people were discussed.
Uzbekistan is strengthening its position on the global tourism map thanks not only to its rich historical heritage but also to its open tourism policy, development of modern infrastructure, and expansion of international ties.
The country, previously known mainly as a place for sightseeing or historical tourism, today attracts significant interest in areas such as cultural, gastronomic, ecological, medical, and business tourism. These trends are clearly reflected in statistical data.
According to the National Statistical Committee, 6 million 565 thousand 410 foreign citizens arrived in Uzbekistan for tourism purposes in January-June 2026. This figure exceeds the same period last year by 1.3 million people, which represents a growth of 24.9 percent.
Neighboring countries contributed the most to the number of tourists: 1.87 million people came from the Kyrgyz Republic, 1.55 million from Kazakhstan, and 1.47 million from Tajikistan. These figures indicate the strengthening of regional tourist ties, border cooperation, and the development of transport routes.
Furthermore, Uzbekistan's international appeal is increasing due to the arrival of 585.5 thousand tourists from Russia, 238.9 thousand from Afghanistan, and 223.4 thousand from China. Other countries that sent a large number of tourists include Turkmenistan, Turkey, India, and Germany.
According to analysts, the main reasons for the increase in the number of tourists are the expansion of the visa-free entry regime, the launch of new flights, the development of hotel infrastructure, active promotion of the country at international exhibitions, as well as growing interest in historic cities such as Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, and Shahrisabz.
Today, Uzbekistan attracts foreigners not only with monuments of history and architecture but also with modern tourist services, national cuisine, festivals, and ecological tourism destinations. This further strengthens the country's status as one of the most competitive tourist centers in Central Asia.
Given plans to implement new international flights, joint tourist routes, and major international events in the second half of the year, it is expected that the number of foreign visitors to Uzbekistan will reach even higher levels by the end of 2026.
