13 moments that defined Dodgers’ 2025 World Series championship run
They were going to win. They were going to lose. All in one breath, all in one month.
Win. Lose. Win. Lose. Win. Lose.
Win!!!
Weeks later the chest still pounds, the throat still thickens, the mind still has not completely grasped.
The Dodgers won their second consecutive World Series championship this fall in pure dramatic art.
A catch worthy of a statue. An out at home plate by history-making inches. A cheating outfielder steals a victory. A struggling first baseman steals a marathon. A sore-handed catcher steals a title.
The greatest postseason game by one player in baseball history. The greatest World Series by one pitcher in baseball history. The greatest moment by a Dodger benchwarmer in baseball history, a guy so embedded in the landscape of Los Angeles sports that he will be forever known simply by two abbreviated versions of his name…
Enough said.
It’s perhaps appropriate today to give thanks for the drama, thanks for the art, thanks for the breathtaking uncertainty of the diamonds of October.
Thanks, baseball, for creating the tableau for the Dodgers’ 13 most memorable playoff moments, one for every win, one for every scream, one for every occasion when you thought it couldn’t get any crazier.
Then it did.
The Philadelphia Phillies’ Nick Castellanos is out at third after Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts gets the throw from Max Muncy and applies the tag in the ninth inning of Game 2 of the NLDS at Citizens Bank Park.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
S. Korea confirms successful 4th Nuri rocket launch; main satellite establishes contact

The Nuri space rocket takes off from Naro Space Center in Goheung, some 205 miles south of Seoul, on Thursday. Photo by Yonhap
South Korea on Thursday confirmed the successful launch of its homegrown space rocket Nuri, which took off from Naro Space Center, with the main unit of the 13 satellites deployed establishing communication with King Sejong Station in Antarctica.
The 200-ton Nuri blasted off from the center in the country’s southern coastal village of Goheung, some 330 kilometers south of Seoul, at 1:13 a.m., slightly behind the original plan of 12:55 a.m. due to a sensor issue.
According to the KASA and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), the main satellite, CAS500-3, made communication with South Korea’s research center in Antarctica at 1:55 a.m., allowing experts to check the unit’s condition.
“The fourth launch of Nuri was successful,” Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon said during a press briefing at the center, noting all satellites have been put into orbit.
“This was an important turning point in which the focus of the space ecosystem shifted to the private sector from the previous government-oriented approach,” Bae added, noting the government will make efforts to become one of the world’s top five space powerhouses in an unwavering manner.
Yoon Young-bin, administrator of the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA), echoed the view, while stressing the government’s plan to continue efforts to bolster South Korea’s space exploration capabilities.
President Lee Jae Myung hailed the successful launch of Nuri in a social media post, calling it “a moment that opens a new chapter” in the country’s space exploration history.
Researchers will continue to monitor the main satellite through communication with other ground stations, including those in the central city of Daejeon and Norway, space authorities added.
The CAS500-3, built by Korea Aerospace Industries Co., is a medium-class satellite unit developed using the standard platform technology from the first CAS500 model.
The satellite will conduct observations of Earth’s auroras and upper atmosphere, and be used in various experiments, including the verification of three-dimensional stem cell cultivation using bio 3D-printing technology.
About two minutes after liftoff, Nuri separated the first stage, followed by the second-stage four minutes and 30 seconds into the flight.
After reaching the target altitude of 600 km, Nuri separated the main satellite, along with 12 cube satellites.
The main satellite will be tasked with conducting space science research, including measurement of space magnetic fields and plasma along with observation of auroras.
Nuri’s flight ended at 1:31 a.m., completing its 18-minute mission. It will later reenter Earth’s atmosphere and disintegrate as it falls.
South Korea first launched the Nuri rocket in October 2021, which failed to enter orbit while carrying a 1.5-ton dummy satellite. In June 2022, the rocket successfully put a Performance Verification Satellite (PVSAT) and a 1.3-ton dummy satellite into orbit.
The third launch was held in May 2023 with South Korea putting a next-generation small satellite and seven cube satellites into orbit.
The latest launch marked the first time for Hanwha Aerospace Co. to oversee the entire assembly process as part of the government’s long-term plan to hand over space technologies to the private sector.
South Korea, meanwhile, plans to carry out the fifth launch in 2026, followed by another in 2027.
Yoon said KASA will seek to secure additional funding beyond the sixth launch.
“We are planning to secure funds for the seventh launch (in 2028) as part of efforts to advance Nuri’s performance, although it has not been confirmed,” Yoon said, noting the administration aims to launch the rocket at least once every year starting with the eighth launch.
KARI noted Hanwha Aerospace will take on a broader role in the fifth and sixth launches in terms of launch and operation.
“Currently, Hanwha Aerospace is playing a secondary role (in the area), but it will take a more proactive role in the fifth and sixth launches and receive technology transfers related to the launch process,” said Park Jong-chan, director of the Korean Launch Vehicle Enhancement Program at KARI.
Park added that while the government does not plan to charge for satellites loaded onto Nuri for public purposes through the sixth launch, KARI will coordinate with KASA on how to assess costs when the launch is led by the private sector starting with the seventh launch.
Following the liftoff, spectators at a launch viewing site at the Naro Space Center erupted in cheers, lifting their phones to capture the historic moment in photos and videos.
Park Sung-wook, 40, who traveled from the central city of Dangjin with his son, said observing the launch in person was “overwhelming,” adding, “We came here at 3 p.m. yesterday to wait, and it was absolutely worth it.”
Kim Do-yun, a 22-year-old university student who visited Goheung with friends, said he had worried the rocket might be difficult to see at night, “but it was even clearer than I had expected, which was surprising.”
Copyright (c) Yonhap News Agency prohibits its content from being redistributed or reprinted without consent, and forbids the content from being learned and used by artificial intelligence systems.
6 clever travel hacks ‘make trips way cheaper and smoother’
One Reddit user recently posted six travel hacks they said “made my trips way cheaper and smoother”. The tips covered topics ranging from booking flights, to finding your way around and eating
Travel, whether it’s a relaxed few days on the beach with a cocktail, a fast-paced city break, or an exciting adventure exploring a foreign land, can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience – but it can also be very stressful. Whether it’s making sure you’ve packed everything you need, sorting out travel to and from your destination, and of course, remembering your passport, there are a lot of things to think about before setting off.
Thankfully there’s a wealth of handy tips online to help make any trip easier. One Reddit user recently posted six travel hacks they said “made my trips way cheaper and smoother”.
The first of these is to book flights online using your internet browser’s incognito mode. This allows you to browse the internet without storing history or data, meaning sites you visit won’t have any information about you and adjust prices accordingly.
The Reddit user said: “Check the same route on your phone’s browser, prices sometimes differ.” To access incognito mode on Google Chrome, click the three dots in the top right and click New Incognito Window. Others browsers operate in a similar way.
The second tip was: “Save the offline version of your Google Maps area before you even leave home.” This will allow you to navigate using your phone without relying on having internet access, and without using data abroad, which can be costly.
The next was: “Carry a cheap carabiner, hangs bags, locks zips together, secures stuff in hostels.” And the fourth tip concerned one of the most important parts of travelling. The user said: “Eat your big meal at lunch – same food, half the price in most cities.”
Something leaking in your bag can be a nightmare, and this can be doubly frustrating while travelling as you might not have a way of containing it or cleaning it up. The Reddit user has a solution for this. They said: “Always pack a ziplock bag: wet clothes, snacks, leaking toiletries, you name it.”
The final tip read: “Last one: When you arrive somewhere new, take the first hour slow, no rushing, just orienting. Saves mistakes and money.”
Reddit users added their own tips in the comments. One said: “Always bring safety pins! They can fix so many different problems and/or help other travellers.”
Another wrote: “My essentials case is small sewing kit (I collect the ones from hotel rooms), 5cm wide cotton adhesive tape (find it more versatile than duct tape), and superglue. Can fix almost anything with that.”
Someone else said: “Keep all important information in a small notebook. Key addresses, directions, passwords, etc, in case your phone battery goes dead, or your phone is lost or stolen. Have heard so many stories of people having major travel problems due to a dead or missing phone.
“Saves a lot of time, money, and stress. If traveling with a partner, never keep all wallets and phones in one bag in case one is lost or stolen. I’m a huge fan of traveling with Ziploc bags, packing blocks, bandannas, small fabric shopping bags.”
And a different user added: “Book hotels that offer breakfast if you are in an expensive city such as Reykjavik, Iceland. I stuff myself with good, delicious food that last me for the day.
“In between, I have tasting samples of baked goods or something very light to snack on. It’s well worth it since breakfast can easily cost about £22 ($30) per person anyway.”
After death sentence, Bangladesh ex-PM Hasina gets 21 years for land grab | Sheikh Hasina News
Public prosecutor vows to appeal the verdict saying the government wants the maximum penalty.
Published On 27 Nov 2025
Ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been sentenced to 21 years in prison in separate corruption cases related to allocations of land in a government project, dealing another legal blow to the country’s former exiled leader.
In a decision issued on Thursday, a court found Hasina guilty of illegally securing plots of land in a suburb of capital Dhaka for herself and her family despite their ineligibility.
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Last week, Hasina was sentenced to death by hanging, after she was found guilty for crimes against humanity for ordering a deadly crackdown against a student-led uprising last year that eventually ousted her.
Hasina fled Bangladesh by helicopter on August 5, 2024, after weeks of student-led protests against her autocratic rule.
The 78-year-old former leader is currently residing in India and has defied court orders that she return to Bangladesh. New Delhi is said to be studying Dhaka’s extradition request.
Shaina Begum, the mother of a 20-year old student Sajjat Hosen Sojal, who was shot and his body burned by the police hours before the student-led uprising forced Hasina to resign and flee the country, told Al Jazeera after the verdict, “I cannot be calm until she [Hasina] is brought back and hanged in this country,”
Hundreds of families who lost loved ones in the protests wonder if the deposed prime minister will actually face justice.
The three corruption cases were brought against her by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) over land grabs of lucrative plots in the Purbachal New Town project .
Hasina’s conduct “demonstrates a persistent corruption mindset rooted in entitlement, unchecked power, and a greedy eye for public property”, ruled judge Abdullah Al Mamun.
“Treating public land as a private asset, she directed her greedy eye toward state resources and manipulated official procedures to benefit herself and her close relatives.”
Each sentence was seven years in prison, and Mamun ruled that Hasina would need to serve them consecutively.
Her son Sajeeb Wazed and daughter Saima Wazed were each sentenced to five years in prison in one of the three cases.
Other details of the verdict were not available immediately.
Public prosecutor Khan Moinul Hasan said he would appeal, telling AFP news agency that he was “not satisfied” with the verdict and wanted the maximum sentence.
Hasina and her former ruling Awami League party have denounced the trials against her.
She did not appoint a defence lawyer, and some global human rights groups have questioned the credibility and fairness of the trial process against Hasina.
Other cases also involving alleged land grabbing are still pending, and a separate verdict is expected December 1.
Bangladesh has been going through a difficult political transition under an interim government headed by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, and new elections are planned in February 2026.
The United Nations says up to 1,400 people were killed in crackdowns as Hasina tried to cling to power.
Who plays Derek Turnbow in Stranger Things season 5?
Stranger Things season five has introduced new character Derek Turnbow and he is already proving to be a fan favourite
*WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Stranger Things season 5, Volume 1.*
Netflix viewers have finally returned to Hawkins after a gruelling three-year wait, and there’s a host of new characters joining the group.
Stranger Things season five has now released its first four episodes, which follow the original gang as they attempt to find the season four villain, Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower).
While Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) is training for the moment she comes face to face with the monster, the nerds and teens take on their own plans to support the mission.
Viewers then meet potty-mouth newcomer Derek Turnbow, who is seen bullying Holly Wheeler by forcing the playground carousel to speed up while she is lying on it.
It later emerges that Vecna is targeting Derek, so the group plans to kidnap him in order to save his life and track down Vecna’s hiding spot.
Their plan falls apart, but Derek is soon enlisted to go undercover as ‘Delightful Derek’ in an attempt to rescue the mission.
Many Stranger Things fans have been raving about the new character, taking to social media to praise the actor behind the emerging favourite.
Who plays Derek Turnbow in Stranger Things?
Jake Connelly is an American actor whose breakout role came in Stranger Things 5.
Before joining the Netflix show, Connelly’s only IMDb credit was in a short film called Between the Silence.
You can follow Jake on Instagram @jakeconnellyofficial.
How old is Stranger Things star Jake Connelly?
Connelly is only 13 years old and was around four when the show premiered. But he managed to catch up on the sci-fi hit a few years ago.
Speaking to The Wrap at the season five premiere, he revealed: “I started watching it a good couple of years ago, probably around when Season 4 came out.”
“As a family, we sat down every night and watched an episode before bed. It was just so fun seeing everything that my mom grew up with in the ’80s,” Connelly added.
Despite being a newcomer, Connelly was welcomed with open arms. In the same interview, he told The Wrap that the main star, Brown, was especially kind.
He recalled: “I gotta say, one of the first days of the table read, Millie Bobby Brown called me over to her [trailer] and — my mom had no idea where I went — I was just there with Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi just chilling it up, just talking.
“And she said, ‘Oh yeah, we were all your age when we started. If you ever need anything, you can just call us.'”
Stranger Things 5 episodes 1-4 are streaming now on Netflix
I found a pretty UK village ‘taken over by tourists’ as locals say they’ve been forced out
In the summer, the village is a hive of activity. Attracted to the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, its pretty stone homes, a hotel named best in the country and a large seal population, the visitors come in great numbers when the sun is shining
One of the prettiest villages in England has been emptied of locals, aside from those who have found a way to beat the effects of mass tourism.
In the summer, Blakeney in North Norfolk is a hive of activity. Attracted to the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, its pretty stone homes, a hotel named best in the country and a large seal population, the visitors come in great numbers when the sun is shining.
In the winter, it’s a different matter. Visitor numbers plummet and many of the former fishing cottages stand empty. It’s a dilemma for those who work in the hospitality industry in the area. “It is a double-edged sword for me,” Tore Hill, who works in the Manor Hotel, told the Mirror during a visit to the town at the end of November.
It’s obvious why people come. Blakeney is a lovely place. Just metres from the front of the award-winning Manor Coastal Hotel and Inn is the River Glaven, which winds its way through the National Nature Reserve. Blakeney Point is renowned for its seal colonies, with Beans Boat offering guided tours throughout the year.
READ MORE: I found a beautiful UK seaside town packed with independent shops — it’s perfect for winter
In the 19th century, the coastal village was much closer to the sea than it is today. The estuary has silted up over the past 100 years, coinciding with the decline of the fishing industry in the area, which has prevented all but the smallest boats from reaching the quay. What was once a fishing village is now a tourism village. In the summer, Blakeney’s two pubs and three hotels are packed full.
“I love living here, but unfortunately, during the summer, it is just a full, full village. There’s far too much traffic going through such a small place, but that does mean I’m busy with my work, which is fantastic. The cottages and second homes are so quiet during the winter. It’s sad to know that there are so many people who’d love to live in those houses, but unfortunately, they can’t live in them permanently. They’re sitting there empty during the winter, and then it’s so, so busy during the summer. It’s a tricky one for me, as working in the tourist industry, I need it to be busy. But to see the small village that’s very quaint and dainty overrun with people, yeah, it’s a lot,” Tore continued.
Tore is one of the few people born and raised in Blakeney who hasn’t inherited a home but continues to live there today. She moved back to the area a decade ago, after returning from a whirlwind romance in Libya. Because she was born in the village of 400 houses, she could sign up to the Blakeney Neighbourhood Housing Society.
The Society’s website explains its mission. “The price of housing has risen steeply as many properties have become second homes or places to retire to, and many local people can no longer afford to buy or rent them. The purpose of the Blakeney Neighbourhood Housing Society, founded 1946, is to provide affordable housing for local people. It owns 39 houses and cottages in Blakeney or neighbouring villages and they are all let at affordable rents to tenants with a local birth tie.”
Fifty years ago, tens of millions of people across the UK were in Tore’s position, with 30% of the entire population living in social housing of some kind. After decades of Right to Buy and slow building rates, that figure has been slashed in half.
“I started working at the hotel at 14, and lived in the area my whole life. Working in a hotel and in the trade that it is all around here, the chances of buying a house would just be impossible. I was lucky enough to be signed up to Blakeney Housing Society in 2017, and then moved in in 2019,” Tore continued.
“It has changed my whole life. It means I can be around my whole family. A lot of my friends who were born and bred here couldn’t live here due to housing problems, so they moved away to somewhere cheaper. But it is the perfect place to live. There’s community spirit, it’s a very olde-worlde place. I’d never want to be anywhere else but here.”
The figures underline the stark reality of the place. House prices in the Blakeney area sell for an average price of £714,000 as of November 2025, according to OnTheMarket – three times the national average of £273,000. According to the Office for National Statistics, the median average salary in North Norfolk is £571 a week.
Thanks to her controlled rent, Tore pays just £478 a month for her family home.
Clearly concerned with the huge gap between average incomes and house prices, earlier this year the district council decided to act. It imposed an additional 100% premium on top of the Council Tax bills of owners, leaseholders, or tenants of second homes in North Norfolk, meaning they will pay double the amount for their second home.
Blakeney Parish Council chairman Rosemary Thew has said that the measure is not designed to keep tourists away, making clear that tourism is a “big part of the village economy”. However, she admitted that the number of second and holiday homes in the area was a major issue.
“The volume of second homes is very high, around half. It’s pushing prices up quite considerably. It means that, as far as locals are concerned, they can’t afford to live here. It’s a lovely place to live but you’ve got people [taking up dwellings] who are not key workers. A lot are retired people or second home owners. In winter time, it’s [the impact] particularly marked. The streets are jet black because there are no lights on in houses,” she told Mail Online.
Do you live in a village that’s been impacted by tourism? We’d love to hear from you. Email webtravel@reachplc.com
Super League: Hull KR start title defence at York Knights
Treble winners Hull KR will start the defence of their Super League title with a visit to newly promoted York Knights in the opening game of the 2026 season.
Rovers will travel to York’s LNER Community Stadium on Thursday, 12 February (20:00 GMT).
Hull KR won the Challenge Cup, League Leaders’ Shield and Grand Final last season, sealing the title by beating previous champions Wigan Warriors 24-6 at Old Trafford in October.
York are one of three new clubs in Super League for next season as part of an expanded 14-team competition.
The Knights and Toulouse Olympique were selected to join the top flight by an independent panel, while Bradford Bulls were promoted in place of financially troubled Salford Red Devils after climbing to 10th in this year’s grading system.
York will play in Super League for the first time while Toulouse return to the top tier after their one-season stint in 2022.
Both the Bulls, who return to Super League after an 11-year absence, and Toulouse start the campaign with away games on Saturday, 14 February.
Bradford will make the journey east to face Hull FC, while Toulouse travel to Wakefield Trinity.
Indonesia races to evacuate Sumatra residents as flood deaths soar to 34 | Weather News
Up to 8,000 people across North Sumatra have been evacuated and roads remain blocked by landslide debris.
Floods and landslides brought about by torrential rain in Indonesia’s North Sumatra province have killed at least 34 people, authorities said, with rescue efforts hampered by what an official described as a “total cutoff” of roads and communications.
North Sumatra regional police spokesman Ferry Walintukan told Detik news website that aside from the confirmed deaths, at least 52 people remain missing as of Thursday.
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A rare tropical cyclone blew across Indonesia’s Sumatra island, inundating the nearby Malacca Strait and causing floods and landslides, the country’s meteorological agency said on Wednesday, as large swaths of Southeast Asia grappled with deadly flooding.
Up to 8,000 people across North Sumatra have been evacuated, and roads remain blocked by landslide debris, with aid now being distributed via helicopters, Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for the country’s disaster mitigation agency, said on Thursday.
The regions of Sibolga and Central Tapanuli were among the hardest hit, Yuyun Karseno, an official at the agency’s North Sumatra division, told the Reuters news agency, adding that communications and power had been cut off.
“There is no more access, due to a total cutoff,” Yuyun said when asked about the rescue efforts. “Until now, we can’t communicate with folks in Sibolga and Central Tapanuli.”
Among the dead were one family in Central Tapanuli, Indonesia’s search and rescue agency said.
A video shared by radio channel Elshinta on its social media account showed a person carrying a baby in a plastic container on a roof in Central Tapanuli.

Footage and photos shared by the agency show rapid currents of water overflowing across the region, leaving buildings destroyed in their wake, with rescuers using orange rafts to visit the flooded homes of residents.
Flooding and landslides also affected the provinces of West Sumatra and Aceh, authorities said. Indonesia’s official news agency Antara reported that 10 of the 23 cities and districts in Aceh have been submerged.
More flooding is expected in several other Sumatran provinces, including Aceh and Riau, over the next two days, the meteorological agency said, citing extreme weather.
Flooding elsewhere in Asia
The Indonesian flooding is one of a series of disasters to hit Southeast Asia this week.
On Thursday morning, a magnitude 6.6 earthquake hit the island of Simeulue off the coast of Sumatra in western Indonesia, according to the United States Geological Survey.
The quake, which struck Simeulue Island at 11:56am (04:56 GMT) at a depth of 25km (15.5 miles), prompted rain-soaked residents to rush outside. There were no immediate reports on casualties or a possible tsunami.
Meanwhile, more than 30 people were killed by floods in Thailand and Malaysia in recent days, with water levels high enough to submerge hospitals.
In Sri Lanka, floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains killed at least 31 people this week, with 14 others missing, authorities said on Thursday.
Devastating fire leaves thousands homeless in Dhaka’s Korail shantytown | Gallery News
Published On 27 Nov 2025
A devastating fire swept through Dhaka’s sprawling Korail shantytown, destroying or damaging some 1,500 shanties and reducing tin-roofed dwellings to smouldering ruins, officials reported.
The inferno, which erupted on Tuesday evening, required 16 hours to extinguish, according to Rashed Bin Khalid, a duty officer at the fire department.
Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury, the fire service’s director, confirmed approximately 1,500 shanties were burned or damaged, leaving thousands without shelter.
Official records indicate about 60,000 families — many displaced by climate disasters — inhabit this 65-hectare (160-acre) shantytown. Korail sits adjacent to Dhaka’s affluent Gulshan and Banani districts, surrounded by modern high-rise developments.
Dense smoke enveloped the area as flames consumed dwellings throughout the night.
By Wednesday, displaced residents desperately sifted through debris, attempting to salvage their belongings.
Firefighters reported difficulty accessing the blaze due to the area’s narrow pathways.
Dhaka, home to 10.2 million people as of 2024, contains hundreds of informal settlements populated by rural migrants fleeing poverty, exploitation, and climate-related calamities. Those living there typically survive on daily wages earned as rickshaw drivers, housemaids, and cleaners.
Sharon Osbourne makes first red carpet appearance since Ozzy’s death as she joins daughter Kelly at London party
SHARON Osbourne made her first red carpet appearance since husband Ozzy’s death last night, as she attended a London event with daughter Kelly.
Ozzy sadly passed away aged 76 on July 22, with the cause of death later revealed to be a cardiac arrest.
Last night Sharon, 73, and Kelly, 41, stepped out for a party at Japanese restaurant Aki London.
The mother and daughter duo put on a glitzy display, with music manager Sharon stunning in a sequined floor-length red dress.
Meanwhile Kelly opted for a halter-neck baby pink number studded with rhinestones.
Kelly has been supporting her mother through their loss, previously revealing she slept in her parents’ bed for two months after Ozzy passed away.
In a special episode of their family podcast titled Remembering Ozzy, Sharon confessed she “hates” going to bed at night.
Kelly said: “I mean, I slept with you for the first two months so that you weren’t on your own.
“But then I felt like you needed some space.”
She then confessed how her daily routine had been altered and admitted: “I wake up and for the first three seconds I feel normal.
“And then I remember everything.
“Mornings are the hardest for me. What is the morning?
“Because it happened in the morning. And I used to spend most of my time with Dad in the morning.”
Kelly then told how she still cries such a lot since Ozzy’s death.
She added: “It’s just all I seem to find myself doing these days because I miss him so much.”
Sharon and Ozzy’s son Jack, 40, is currently taking part in I’m a Celebrity and recently left fans concerned as he ended up in tears while discussing Ozzy.
During a discussion with Eddie Kadi, Jack was asked what he missed most about Ozzy.
As he attempted to answer the question, Jack became overcome with emotion as he tried to compose himself.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to bring it out like that,” Eddie expressed as Jack said: “No it’s fine.”
“I haven’t experienced what you’ve experienced,” he told the grief-stricken star before asking him: “What do you miss most about your pops?”
Again, Jack was unable to answer the question as he held his face into his hands and sobbed.
He finally expressed: “Just his energy. He had this force, so hard to describe. But he had this energy.”
Closed UK airport to open to the public for unique event
AN airport that was forced to close in 2022 is inviting people back – and they even even walk on the runway.
Doncaster Sheffield Airport axed all flights and shut its doors three years ago, due to financial viability issues.
With new plans being pushed to relaunch operations in the next year years, it is opening to the public for a special event.
Being organised by Libra Races, the new Run the Runway event will let people run a race directly on the abandoned runway.
Guests can choose between a 3.5k – which is open to anyone over the age of seven – or a 5.8k race – for anyone aged 12 and above.
Runners will be given a ‘bespoke’ medal with the race being chip timed.
At the end, there will also be t shirts on sale, and people will able to take pictures with a Vulcan Bomber aircraft currently on the tarmac.
Proceeds from the race are going towards the upkeep of it, as it also offers rare cockpit and wing tours still.
Libra Races said: “We are very excited to announce that Run the Runway is now open for entries, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to run a race on the Doncaster Sheffield Airport Runway ahead of flights returning hopefully in 2027.”
The one-day event is set to take place next year on March 21.
Tickets are on sale with the shorter race costing £14 and the longer route costing £20.
More than 300 tickets have already been sold since they went on sale yesterday.
A huge drive to reopen Doncaster Sheffield has resulted in plans to relaunch passenger flights.
The airport first opened in 2005, then called Robin Hood Airport, before being renamed to Doncaster Sheffield in 2016.
The airport welcomed both TUI and Wizz Air, operating to destinations across Europe.
This included destinations such as Paris, Alicante, Dubrovnik and Berlin.
However, the airport closed back in 2022 after Peel Group – the then operator – said it was making yearly losses.
But new plans will see a £193million reopening project, the City of Doncaster Council confirmed.
Airlines such as Ryanair and TUI have been in talks with the airport, and it is hoped that some flights could relaunch as soon as 2027.
Yet this is likely to initially be limited to cargo flights, with commercial routes following in 2028.
Reopening the airport could boost the economy by as much as £5billion.
Here is another closed UK airport that wants to reopen.
Late goals sink the Ducks against the Canucks
Max Sasson and Drew O’Connor scored in a late 2:10 span, Nikita Tolopilo made 37 saves in his first NHL appearance of the season and the Vancouver Canucks beat the Ducks 5-4 on Wednesday night.
Sasson gave Vancouver the lead with 4:02 remaining on a tip, and O’Connor followed with 1:52 to go on a wrist shot. Cutter Gauthier got one back for the Ducks with seven seconds left, his 14th of the season.
The 6-foot-6 Tolopilo was called up Monday from Abbotsford of the American Hockey League. He has won both of his career NHL starts.
Linus Karlsson, Evander Kane and Conor Garland also scored for Vancouver. The Canucks had lost three straight and six of seven.
Jackson LaCombe, Leo Carlsson and Mason McTavish added goals for the Ducks, who have three victories in the first five games of a six-game homestand.
Trump to review Afghan immigrants after Washington DC shooting | Donald Trump
US President Donald Trump has called for a review of all Afghans who entered the US under the Biden administration, after two National Guard members were shot and critically wounded in Washington DC. US immigration authorities have also halted all Afghan-related applications.
Published On 27 Nov 2025
‘I watched Xmas films on freezing zero degree rooftop but it was wonderfully cosy’
With Christmas cinemas popping up all over the country, The Mirror ventured out to try one that promised some of the most epic views in London – and it didn’t disappoint
I’ve watched Love Actually at least 1,000 times now, but this was a viewing with a difference. Never before have I watched it on the rooftop of a stunning hotel overlooking the imposing beauty of Battersea Power Station.
The iconic buildings lovingly brought back to life in October 2022 and is now a vibrant shopping and entertainment area with the existing architecture adapted to accommodate restaurants, stores and luxury flats.
At night, it is beautifully lit up with its historic chimneys serving as a focal point along the river. And it was that view that I was treated to when I arrived for the JOIA Rooftop Movie Pop-Up.
Situated in floor 14 of the art’otel Battersea Power Station, JOIA restaurant is the first London restaurant by award-winning two Michelin-starred Portuguese chef Henrique Sá Pessoa, and takes its inspiration from his travels on the Portuguese Iberian Peninsula.
On the floor above sits the rooftop with its famed swimming pool and breathtaking views of London’s Grade II listed Battersea Power Station. We enjoyed a three-course set menu in the restaurant first, with a delicious sharing starter of sourdough bread, beef pica pau and grilled leeks.
Main course was a choice between fillet of beef, wild Scottish turbot and roasted cauliflower. My friend and I shared the steak and fish, both were melt-in-the-mouth delicious.
Sides included patatas bravas and greens while dessert was a sharing portion of torrija – a moist, caramelised brioche with almonds, raspberries, all eaten while looking out across the London skyline.
Fortified by a couple of rose wines, it was up to the roof where we were prepared to freeze in the 0 degree temperatures. But we were in for a more than pleasant surprise. Each seat came with its own cosy blanket and faux fur hot water bottle. Hand warmers were provided alongside free popcorn. That, combined with the mulled wine, made for a toasty evening watching Love, Actually under the stars.
The rooftop cinema runs until December 21 with packages starting from £80pp for chairs or £90pp for a sofa to seat two. Different films will be shown including The Holiday, The Santa Clause, It’s a Wonderful Life, Home Alone, Elf and The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.
For more information, visit https://www.joiabattersea.co.uk/whats-on/joia-rooftop-christmas-movies/
What we know about the Hong Kong apartment fires
Tiffany Wertheimerand
Yvette Tan
A devastating fire has ripped through a high-rise public housing complex in Hong Kong, killing at least 55 people, making it the city’s deadliest in more than 60 years. More than 270 people have been reported missing and thousands of residents are in evacuation shelters.
Images from the scene show several of the high-rise blocks still ablaze, and thick smoke billowing into the air, dominating the Chinese territory’s skyline.
Three men have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter connected to the fire, according to local media reports, and an investigation has been launched.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has expressed condolences to victims, including a “firefighter who died in the line of duty”, state media report.
What caused the blaze is still unclear, but here is what we do know, so far.
Where and when did the fire start?
The blaze broke out at Wang Fuk Court, a large housing complex in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district, at 14:51 local time on Wednesday (06:51 GMT).
Wang Fuk Court consists of eight tower blocks, each 31 storeys high. Seven have been affected by the fire, Tai Po district councillor Mui Siu-fung told BBC Chinese. Built in 1983, the tower blocks were undergoing renovations when the fire broke out.
Tai Po is a residential district in the northern part of Hong Kong, near the city of Shenzhen on the Chinese mainland.
The complex provides 1,984 apartments for some 4,600 residents, according to a 2021 government census.
Nearly 40% of the 4,600 people who lived in the Wang Fuk Court housing complex are at least 65, or older, according to the census.
Some of them have lived in the subsidised public housing estate since it was built.

What caused the fire?
The cause of the fire is unknown but a preliminary investigation found that the rapid speed at which it spread was unusual, Hong Kong’s security secretary said early on Thursday morning.
Police say a mesh material and plastic sheets were found on the outside of the buildings – both of which are not believed to be fireproof.
Styrofoam was also found on the building’s windows – and that, together with the other construction materials is likely to have caused the flames to spread so quickly, said police.
Police have arrested three men aged between 52 and 68 on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with the deadly blaze – two of them are directors of a construction firm while the other is an engineering consultant.
A police spokesperson said investigators were looking into the alleged actions, or failure to act, of the firm’s top officials.
“We have reason to believe that those in charge at the company were grossly negligent, which led to this accident and caused the fire to spread uncontrollably, resulting in major casualties,” said the spokesperson.
Local media reports also quote some residents who say the fire alarms in the building did not go off.
How serious is the fire?
This is Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in at least 63 years and has been classified as a level five alarm – the highest in severity.
Within 40 minutes of first being reported, it was declared a level four, but by 18:22, about three and a half hours later, the level was raised again.
Local media had earlier reported that explosions could be heard inside the building and fire hoses could not easily reach the higher levels.
The ferocity of the heat had prevented firefighters from entering the buildings to conduct rescue operations, deputy director of fire services Derek Armstrong Chan told media.
As well as 767 firefighters, 128 fire engines, 57 ambulances and some 400 police officers were deployed.
What do we know about the victims?
Among the dead is firefighter Ho Wai-ho, 37, who was with the service at Sha Tin Fire Station for nine years.
The fire service says it lost contact with him at 15:30, and about half an hour later, found that he had collapsed. He was taken to hospital but declared dead shortly after.
“I am profoundly grieved at the loss of this dedicated and gallant fireman,” said Andy Yeung, director of the fire service.
At least one other firefighter is in hospital, the Hong Kong fire service said.
Police officers have been helping residents search for family members by using a loudspeaker, say local media reports.
Where will evacuated residents stay?
Several emergency shelters have been set up to accommodate residents who were evacuated, the government said. The South China Morning Post reported that one of them – at Tung Cheong Street Sports Centre – was full, and residents were being directed to other shelters.
Another, the Kwong Fuk Community Hall, which is just over the road from the housing estate, was deemed unsafe. Evacuees were moved to another shelter, further away.
BBC Chinese reporter Gemini Cheng saw elderly residents, some using walking sticks or wheelchairs, arriving at some of the shelters.
At least 900 people are taking shelter in such temporary facilities, Agence France-Presse reports, quoting Lee.
Six schools in Tai Po will remain closed on Thursday, the Education Bureau announced, listing the affected schools on its website.
An emergency monitoring and support centre is in operation to manage the impact of the fire, security secretary Tang Ping-keung said in a statement.
A hotline for the public to ask about casualties has been set up by Hong Kong police.
What could have exacerbated the fire?
ReutersThe tower blocks at Wang Fuk Court are covered in bamboo scaffolding and green construction netting, right up to the rooftops, because they are undergoing renovations.
As mentioned earlier, police have attributed the quick spread of the fire to materials used in the renovation, such as mesh netting, plastic sheeting and styrofoam.
It’s still unclear what caused the fire, but no matter the cause of the fire, proper netting on the buildings’ exterior would have been key to preventing the spread of fire, Jason Poon, chairman of construction NGO China Monitor, told news outlet Initium Media, adding that substandard netting could cause the fire to spread rapidly.
Another engineer told Initium Media he believes that the vast majority of mesh netting used in construction across Hong Kong is not made of fire-retardant material.
There are also often cardboard, debris and paint thinner found on the scaffolding, which along with dry weather could hasten the spread of fire, the engineer said.
One fire safety expert the BBC spoke to earlier said the bamboo scaffolding – a common part of the city’s urban landscape – also played a part in fanning the flames.
Local media reports in March said the government’s development bureau had been trying to phase out the use of bamboo because of safety concerns.
The push towards using metal instead of bamboo came after a spate of scaffolding-related deaths in Hong Kong.
Professor Jiang Liming from Hong Kong Polytechnic University also noted that the blocks at Wang Fuk Court were “relatively old” – they were built in the 1980s – so “the glass windows are not that fire resilient”.
“The modern buildings have double pane glass windows, but for this one they perhaps used just a single pane… [which makes it] very easy to be broken by the flames and the flames can then penetrate through the facade.”
Additional reporting by Jack Lau, BBC Global China Unit and Gemini Cheng, BBC Chinese in Hong Kong.
Price of holiday park breaks could DOUBLE thanks to new Budget tax
THE price of holiday park breaks could almost DOUBLE following the new tourist tax announced in the budget.
Yesterday, Rachel Reeves announced a wave of new rules including the rise of Air Passenger Duty and new tourist tax regulations.

And industry sources have said the shocking tourist tax rise – set to be £2 extra a night – would be ‘scary’ and put prices up for thousands of families.
A senior holiday park executive said: “This tax will destroy holiday dreams, putting a short break at the seaside out of reach for many.
“Have they put Basil Fawlty in charge of boosting tourism?”
North Yorkshire’s local authorities said they are in favour of introducing the tax – hitting the thousands who holiday in the popular resorts of Scarborough, Whitby and Filey.
Read more on holiday parks
West Yorkshire councils have also said they would impose the charge – putting holiday parks in the Dales in the firing line.
And families taking the cheapest holiday park breaks face the biggest increases.
Right now, a family of four can enjoy a four-night break at a holiday park for around £49 in low season, made up of a £40.80 charge for the break and VAT at 20 per cent.
But the new tax is imposed on four people at the suggested rate of £2 per night that will add £32 to the cost of the holiday – bringing the total up to £81.
That’s a tax rate of 98.5 per cent – an increase of 65 per cent on what holidaymakers currently pay.
If a family of six have to pay the £2 tax on the same four-night break it would bring the cost of the tax to £48 – and increase the price of the holiday to £97.
That works out as a tax rate of 138 per cent, an increase of 98 per cent over the current costs.
For a family of five paying £100 – £83.33 cost plus 20 per cent VAT – for a four night break, the tax would add £40 to the bill, an increase of 40 per cent on the price of a holiday and a total tax rate of 69 per cent.
For a seven night stay for a family of four, prices for next year start at popular holiday parks at just £79 – £65.83 cost plus 20 per cent VAT.
With the tourist tax, a family of four would have to pay £56, bringing the total cost of the holiday to £135, an increase of 71 per cent on current costs.
Dermot King, COO of Unity Holidays which owns Skirlington Coast in East Yorkshire, said: “Any tax such as this is clearly regressive as it a tax on hard-working people who choose to spend their money taking holidays in this country.
And the far-reaching impact of the tax will also hit those enjoying cottage breaks.
Sykes Holiday Cottages – one of the UK’s biggest self-catering companies – fear the tax increase could devastate staycations.
Ben Spier, Head of Policy and Regulation at Sykes Holiday Cottages, said: “This levy won’t just be felt by families already managing rising household costs.
“It threatens to deter people from choosing holidays in the UK which would be a serious blow for the many communities that depend heavily on spending from the overnight visitors who will face this levy.
“The UK’s tourism and hospitality businesses are already among the most heavily taxed in Europe, facing everything from steep business rates and corporation tax to some of the highest VAT levels in the sector.
“Adding a new tourism levy risks putting more pressure, and more admin, on the many small businesses – from holiday let owners to local pubs, shops and attractions – who rely on a thriving visitor economy.
“And all this, for a relatively small extra return from visitors who still choose to come.
“Rather than adding another cost for visitors, disincentivizing them when the aim is to attract more of them, the focus should be on ensuring that the substantial tax income already generated is properly directed to the local communities where it’s generated.”
Eleven holiday parks across the UK went into administration earlier this month – here’s everything you need to know.

‘Rush Hour 4’ will be distributed by Paramount after Trump’s reported request
NEW YORK — After President Trump’s reported intervention, Paramount Pictures is set to distribute Brett Ratner’s “Rush Hour 4,” a project that Hollywood had eschewed after earlier sexual misconduct allegations against the director.
Paramount Pictures on Tuesday was in closing talks to distribute the film, according to a person close to the negotiations who requested anonymity because they weren’t authorized to announce a deal. Paramount would be stepping in to take a distribution fee on the film, not finance it.
In 2017, during the #MeToo movement, six women said Ratner sexually harassed them in a Los Angeles Times report. Warner Bros., which had a $450-million co-financing deal with his production company, severed ties with Ratner. Ratner, who denied the allegations, hasn’t produced a film this decade.
But on Sunday, Semafor reported that Trump personally requested Paramount take on “Rush Hour 4.” Paramount recently merged with Skydance in an $8-billion deal that required regulatory approval from the Trump administration. Trump has praised the studio’s new chair and chief executive, David Ellison, the son of Oracle executive chair and prominent Trump supporter Larry Ellison.
The White House didn’t immediately comment Wednesday.
Ratner had been shopping “Rush Hour 4” after Warner Bros., which released the three previous films in the franchise, passed on the project. The movie would reteam Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker in the action-comedy series launched in 1998, with sequels in 2001 and 2007.
Ratner has managed to get one other film made: a documentary on First Lady Melania Trump. Earlier this year, Amazon MGM Studios acquired the film for a reported $40 million. It’s set to open in theaters Jan. 30.
Coyle writes for the Associated Press.
‘I took my son on Windsor’s Christmas light trail but there was a problem’
Now in its fifth year, Windsor Illuminate snakes its way through the Great Park with a spell-binding array of displays and activities, including the world’s first LED snowman
Nothing says Christmas like a light trial, and Windsor Illuminated is up there with the best.
Now in its fifth year, the stunning display in Windsor’s Great Park’s Savile Gardens sees visitors walk a 2.2km loop through ancient forests enjoying the Windsor Express Train, Snowball Elves, Woodfest, a dazzling Water Show and ‘Frosty Fred’ – the world’s first outdoor LED screen snowman. It takes between one and a half and two hours to complete.
Dog friendly, the trail has ample stops for little legs – and thirsty adults alike – with cosy alpine bars serving mulled wine and open fires to toast marshmallows lining the route. Organisers warn that some areas as unsuitable for pushchairs but there were many families giving it a crack when I visited with seemingly relative ease.
At one point, owls fly out of the trees as deer scatter, escaping a hungry wolf that stalks through the forest – all projected on huge screens.
Another section sees guests walk through a magical tunnel of snow but the most incredible part came at Woodfest – a stage buried in the woodland featuring cute performances from animals.
Setting the scene was a bubble machine, but these aren’t regular bubbles. Reaching out to pop one, it disappeared in a puff of smoke. My confusion soon turned to amazement. Magic! The only problem was that I couldn’t get my four year old to leave.
There’s a traditional funfair featuring a carousel, heater skelter and big wheel that my son convinced me to go on. He loved every second. I’m scared of heights and did not.
We finished off with a stop at the cosy outdoor bar where we tucked into hot chocolate around the fire pit. A lovely festive treat for all the family.
The trail runs until January 3 with a family ticket for two adults and two children starting at £56.10. For more information, visit https://www.windsorilluminated.com/.
FPL gameweek 13 tips: Thiago, Dango Ouattara and Morgan Gibbs-White are great punts this week
Eberechi Eze, Arsenal, £7.7m – Chelsea (a)
Why not ride the hot hand of London derby hero Eze?
His hat-trick against Spurs was not out of the blue and he makes this team of the week before because of his underlying statistics.
With 31 shots in 11 starts, Eze leads the way among Arsenal players. He had six in the derby alone.
The only note of caution is that he is yet to have a ‘big chance’ this season. While he has 21 shots in the box, they tend to be from near the edge of the area. His goals against Spurs were all from about 15-16 yards out.
But when you are that good shooting from range, is it really an issue?
Morgan Gibbs-White, Nottingham Forest, £7.3m – Brighton (h)
Speaking of hot streaks, Gibbs-White has three goals in three games for Sean Dyche’s revitalised Forest.
He scored a 10-pointer in this team of the week in his most recent home game against Leeds, so he comes back in.
Forest have a nice fixture run coming up too, with Wolves away next.
Morgan Rogers, Aston Villa, £6.9m – Wolves (h)
It would be negligent not to target Wolves this week – they have lost five in a row and conceded 27 goals in 12 games.
If you are feeling brave then Donyell Malen is Villa’s most explosive midfield option, with the highest expected goals (xG) of 2.08 this season, four big chances (three more than any other midfielder) and three goals.
But his gametime is not guaranteed and Rogers showed with last week’s double at Leeds what a key part of Villa’s attack he is. His goal and assist threat make him an easy choice this week.
Phil Foden, Manchester City, £8m – Leeds (h)
Since his two goals against Manchester United in week four, Foden has only one assist, but that does not tell the full story of some fine performances.
For a start, he has created 20 chances. He has had more shots in that period than any City player except Haaland – 14 – and has an xG of 1.29.
This game against struggling Leeds is surely the moment Foden turns underlying data into returns.
Dango Ouattara, Brentford, £6m – Burnley (h)
Burnley have the leakiest defence in the league away from home and are a team to attack this week.
It is a toss-up between Outarra and Kevin Schade for a midfield spot. Per start, they have almost an identical xG of 0.27 and 0.28.
What swings it Outtara’s way is his 0.88 big chances per 90 minutes compared to Schade’s 0.33.
If you have watched Outarra recently, he always seems to be getting chopped down in the box, so his assist potential is high.
Idyllic and enchanting village with red cottages and babbling brook
Nestled in North York Moors National Park, this charming village features red-roofed cottages, a babbling brook and a fascinating museum that ‘takes you back in time’
Tucked away in North Yorkshire, approximately seven miles from Pickering, this delightful village attracts visitors and locals seeking a peaceful existence.
Within North Yorkshire’s Ryedale district lies Hutton-le-Hole, a petite yet enchanting village that sits within the breathtaking North York Moors National Park. It offers the perfect quintessentially English village retreat, complete with grazing sheep, crimson-topped cottages and a gentle stream meandering through its lanes.
A key draw for the area, enabling guests to explore the village’s past, is the Ryedale Folk Museum, which displays regional traditions. The facility comprises various structures designed to educate about life across different periods – from a blacksmith’s workshop to a Victorian classroom.
One TripAdvisor reviewer said: “This was my third visit, and each time I see something new because there is just so much to see. It’s not the sort of museum with loads of information boards to read; it’s buildings and artefacts. You see what a great hall or roundhouse was actually like.”
Another added: “Our first visit here, and we were not disappointed. We loved exploring all the different areas, and it was really interesting to learn about the history, essentially travelling back in time.”
The village boasts a pub, a tearoom and a collection of charming shops flogging souvenirs, crafts and gifts, perfect for a gentle stroll around the locality before tackling a more ambitious trek. Hutton-le-Hole’s enchanting appeal has caught the attention of television and film producers, featuring in productions such as Death Comes to Pemberley, a BBC adaptation of the novel, and the outdoor adventure programme, Robson Green’s Weekend Escapes.
The peculiar name derives from the ancient English expression ‘Hoh Tun’, signifying ‘a settlement on a spur of land’ or possibly ‘high farm’. From its very name, it’s obvious just how much wilderness and pristine countryside encompasses Hutton-le-Hole, establishing it as a perfect destination for keen hikers and walkers.
Picturesque trails include a moderately demanding 15 km circular route across the moorland, requiring just over four hours to finish. Alternatively, there’s a more relaxed choice that leads you on a 6.4 km journey to Lastingham, linking the two villages for an enjoyable day of discovery.
Following a day of trekking, the classic country boozer, The Crown, provides the ideal stopping point for a comfortable evening. One recent guest said: “Excellent food served up in a very cosy country pub.”
They added: “Prices aren’t bad considering the food is top-notch. A good range of drinks are on offer, including non-alcoholic for those who drive. Well worth a visit for a Sunday lunch.”
Another visitor praised: “Hutton le Hole is a beautiful peaceful town and well worth a visit. Sheep roam freely, which adds to its charm. The Crown is the only pub, but it’s a good one. Sit outside and enjoy the village scene.”
Real life fairytale village in gothic UK country park with willow cathedral
Margam Country Park in Wales transforms into a magical winter wonderland in December, with a miniature fairy village, elf workshop and Santa feeding the deer
A magical fairy village is hidden in the picturesque Margam Country Park, a sweeping gothic estate nestled in the old coal lands of Wales.
The park, near Port Talbot, is surrounded by stunning purple rhododendrons during the summer months and transforms into a winter wonderland in December with its enchanting miniature fairy village. This Welsh estate boasts a grand gothic country house, nestled within a vast expanse of land. The 19th-century mansion was crafted by architect Thomas Hopper for Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot in 1830, using sandstone sourced from the nearby Pyle quarry, according to Margam Country Park. The impressive staircase hall and octagonal tower offer panoramic views over the park, which offers a plethora of activities for the whole family, particularly during the festive season, reports Wales Online.
The Elf workshop provides children with a unique glimpse into Santa’s workshop, where they can participate in craft activities under the guidance of the head elf. Meanwhile, visitors can enjoy a festive winter walk in the gardens and watch Santa feed the deer. The fairy village consists of charming storybook-like buildings, including miniature houses all themed around fairytales, a willow cathedral, and a giant chess and draughts board. The fairy village is encircled by beautiful, award-winning Grade I listed gardens, complete with their own orangery. The Orangery is home to several large Tulip Trees, a Cork Oak and a very large cut-leaved Beech.
Margam Country Park, recognised for having the 2020 tree of the year – a historic fern-leaved beech with an impressive canopy surrounding the remains of one of the country’s first Cistercian abbeys, is also home to around 500 deer and other thriving wildlife hubs.
The park, built on former coal lands, witnessed extensive deforestation as allied forces scrambled for timber during the war. Now, the grass and scrubland is home to foxes, badgers, hares, grey squirrels, voles, moles and shrews, while woodland birds like the nuthatch, jay, blue tit, stonechat and reed bunting also inhabit the park.
Just two miles south of Port Talbot, Margram is easily accessible via the M4 motorway at Junction 38. Most attractions within the park open at 10am and close at 3.30pm, with fishing hours starting from 9.15am and Charlottes Pantry Café opening from 10.30am.
Car parking charges apply and can be paid using the on-site pay and display machines or with MiPermit, costing £8.50 per car, with an option to purchase an annual season parking ticket. Disabled parking is available at the rear of the estate, with additional disabled parking in the Orangery car park.
Trump withdraws South Africa’s invitation to next year’s G20 summit

Nov. 27 (UPI) — President Donald Trump has withdrawn South Africa’s invitation to next year’s G20 summit in Miami, Fla., escalating a row with Johannesburg.
Trump made the announcement Wednesday on his Truth Social platform as this year’s summit of the wealthy nations, held in South Africa, came to an end without the United States participating.
“South Africa has demonstrated to the World they are not a country worthy of Membership anywhere, and we are going to stop all payments and subsidies to them, effective immediately,” the American leader said in the statement.
Trump has escalated his criticisms against South Africa since returning to the White House.
In February, he threatened to cut U.S. funding to the African nation over a new law allowing authorities to expropriate land in the public interest as part of efforts to redress racial inequalities rooted in apartheid.
Though the law states that property cannot be expropriated arbitrarily and allows expropriation without compensation only in limited cases, Trump accused South Africa of “confiscating land” in violation of the human rights of White South Africans.
Trump has since escalated his rhetoric, alleging that White South Africans face genocide — a claim rejected by South African officials and regional leaders and not supported by available evidence.
After Trump announced that the United States wouldn’t be attending the G20 summit in Johannesburg due to “Afrikaners … being killed and slaughtered and their land and farms … being illegally confiscated,” the African National Congress described Trump’s allegations as “part of a long and disgraceful pattern of imperial arrogance and disinformation.”
“These statements are not borne of ignorance, they are deliberate attempts to distort the reality of South Africa’s democracy and to mobilize racial fear for political gain in the United States,” the African National Congress, the ruling political party of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, said Nov. 8 in a statement.
“Donald Trump’s continued siding with racist and right-wing movements across the world is well-documented and consistent with his dangerous rhetoric. From defending White supremacists at Charlottesville to vilifying African nations as ‘expletive countries,’ his record speaks of a man driven by prejudice, not principle.”
Trump on Tuesday reiterated his allegations that Afrikaners were being killed and their land being stolen from them, while stating that at the conclusion of the G20 summit in Johannesburg, the South African delegation “refused” to hand over the G20 presidency to a senior U.S. Embassy official who attended the closing ceremony.
In response, the office of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said that since the United States did not participate in the summit, it handed over the instruments of the G20 presidency to a U.S. Embassy official at South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation.
The office added that it will continue to participate as a full, active and founding member of the G20.
“It is regrettable that despite the efforts and numerous attempts by President Ramaphosa and his administration to reset the diplomatic relationship with the U.S., President Trump continues to apply punitive measures against South Africa based on misinformation and distortions about our country,” his office said in a statement.




























