Alfie Holt claimed the England and City star had insulted him after he shouted abuse.
Day: July 15, 2025
This is a drop from the 12,106 children waiting for their first contact at the end of April.
Khiva, the ancient Silk Road city in Uzbekistan’s Khorezm region, will host the traditional Melon Festival, or “Qovun sayli,” from August 8–10. The celebration will be held across the historic Itchan-Kala complex and the Arda Khiva cultural space.
Organized by the State Tourism Committee and the Khorezm khokimiyat (local government), the festival promotes regional identity and agritourism by highlighting Khorezm’s famed melons. Farmers from across the region will exhibit scores of different melon varieties — around 125 types were showcased last year — in pavilions decorated with traditional designs.
More than a fruit fair, the festival offers puppet shows, folk music, national costume displays, and culinary exhibitions, including Khorezm bread and other regional dishes. Artisans will host workshops on handicrafts such as silk weaving and pottery, giving visitors hands-on exposure to Uzbek heritage and traditions. Evening gala concerts featuring local and international performers will take place on August 8–9 in the Itchan-Kala and conclude on August 10 in Arda Khiva.
Image: TCA, Stephen M. Bland
Qovun sayli will also have a competitive edge, with awards sponsored by the regional khokimiyat and private sponsors recognizing standout agronomists, artisans, and performers.
Image: TCA, Stephen M. Bland
Melons occupy a special place in Uzbek tradition. Over 150 varieties are grown nationwide, many prized for their sweetness and storied past. In Khorezm, melons are more than food — they are cultural icons. Ancient Uzbek kingdoms would send the fruit as gifts by camel caravan to Baghdad, and to the Russian tsars and Mughal emperors. Writing in 1876, British colonel and explorer Frederick Burnaby noted that the “taste was so delicious that anyone only accustomed to this fruit in Europe would scarcely recognize its relationship with the delicate and highly perfumed melons of Khiva.”
The festival has become a cornerstone of Khiva’s cultural calendar, attracting approximately 30,000 foreign and 400,000 domestic visitors in 2024 alone. Tourism officials view Qovun sayli as essential to boosting regional visibility and economic growth, with Khiva’s festivals, including the Lazgi International Dance Festival, a key part of Uzbekistan’s broader push to spotlight cultural tourism.
A California professor was arrested for allegedly chucking a tear gas canister at ICE agents during a raid on a marijuana farm being investigated for child labor violations.
Rescuers search for 11 missing after speedboat capsized in western Indonesia [deltaMinutes] mins ago Now
The congressman’s luxury Washington, DC, apartment overlooking the Potomac River comes with a hefty $20,833 per month price tag — and he hasn’t paid rent since March, his landlord claims.
Trump tells the that he trusts “almost no-one” in a wide-ranging phone call on the war in Ukraine, Nato and the UK.
Australian and Chinese leaders seek to boost trade despite differences on other issues [deltaMinutes] mins ago Now
Acting commissioner Shane Chelepy says other state agencies should have a greater role in responding to ‘social issues’ including DV and mental health
-
Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast
Domestic violence case management is not the “core business” of policing, and other agencies should take on greater roles in this, Queensland’s acting police commissioner says.
The Queensland police service on Tuesday released a 100-day review of its operations and structure, finding that the police have been the victim of “significant mission creep”, with officers increasingly tasked with non-core functions such as mental health response, domestic and family violence case management, and prisoner transport.
Bangladesh struggles to contain the fallout of an uprising that toppled its leader last year [deltaMinutes] mins ago Now