Uzbekistan Bans Valentine's Day

Lonely hearts rejoice: There's at least one place in the world where you'll feel at home. The central Asian state of Uzbekistan will not observe Valentine's Day this year. Russia's RIA-Novosti news agency reports the unofficial ban on the romantic holiday follows years of irritation with the observance, with one newspaper describing the event as being organized by “forces with evil goals bent on putting an end to national values.” In place of Valentine's Day, Uzbeks will have the opportunity to enjoy readings of the poetry of Babur, a 16th-century Mughal emperor, notes AP. (More Valentine's Day stories.)