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Nov. 27 (UPI) — Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that he was receptive to the latest U.S. plan to end the conflict in Ukraine, but insisted the country’s forces would have to give up territory.

Putin made the comments to reporters during a visit to the central Asian country of Kyrgyzstan ahead of U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff’s visit to Moscow next week. Witkoff is expected to discuss a version of the Trump administration’s 28-point peace plan that’s been criticized for allowing Russia to keep territory seized by force and barring Ukraine from joining the western NATO military alliance.

The Russian leader said the U.S. government is now taking some of its positions into account and that the U.S. plan “can be used” as the basis for future agreements, the state-run TASS news agency reported. However, the plan needed to be refined into “diplomatic language,” while other points were non-starters.

Russia currently controls about 20% of Ukraine, about 1,500 square miles, since launching its invasion nearly four years ago. Putin said Russian forces would continue their advance in the eastern Donbass region, The Moscow Times reported.

“Ukrainian forces will have to leave the territories they currently occupy, and then the fighting will stop,” he said. “If they don’t, we will achieve this by military means.”

Russia analyst Tatiana Stanovaya wrote in a post on X that Putin “feels more confident than ever about the battlefield situation and is convinced that he can wait until Kyiv finally accepts that it cannot win and must negotiate on Russia’s well-known terms.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected calls for the country to cede territory and has insisted that any peace deal include security guarantees against further Russian aggression.

“The Russians are peddling the narrative around the world that Ukraine allegedly cannot defend itself,” Zelensky said in a post X Wednesday. “They are saying that Ukrainian warriors cannot defend themselves. The daily combat results of the Ukrainian army, our special forces, and deep strikes — these are all proof that Ukraine can defend its interests.”

Putin also stated that signing any agreement with Ukraine was pointless, implying that it was illegitimate because it had not held elections during the conflict, The Kyiv Independent reported.

However, the paper pointed out that Ukraine’s constitution prohibits elections from being held under martial law, which was declared at the beginning of the conflict in 2022.

Public prosecutor vows to appeal the verdict saying the government wants the maximum penalty.

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.

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.

Eldar Mamedov, a fellow at Quincy Institute, says given the history of Baltic states under Soviet rule, many fear more aggression from Russia if Ukraine is forced to give up land.

A SNOW-capped mountain towers behind an ancient clock tower, its frosty peak protruding a whopping 36-metres into a cloudy sky.

At its foot, a wooden-rimmed postbox is waiting to receive a bundle of postcards, Arendelle’s first ever mail, while a magnificent snowflake-shaped fountain sparkles in the centre of the street.

No detail has been spared on ensuring Disneyland Paris’ new World of Frozen is its most magical venture yet.

I was taking an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the much-hyped area of the theme park, scheduled to open on March 29 next year with a bundle of new rides and activities based entirely on the animation blockbuster.

Visitor postcards sent home from the fictional kingdom of Arendelle, over which Frozen characters Elsa and Ana rule, are just one small part of what makes this land so special.

The clock tower, complete with mini Ana and Elsa figurines, sparks into song every 15 minutes and flickering lanterns dangle from pastel-coloured buildings.

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Classic cuddly toys have been scrapped and in their place sits Rúna, an animatronic teddy-sized troll doll that interacts with its owner.

Only available to buy at World of Frozen’s themed shop, for a rather hefty 70 euros, this doll communicates not just with its owner, but the park too.

As kids carry their Rúna doll towards certain trigger points, he’ll vibrate with excitement or gossip enthusiastically about the ride he’s approaching – something that hasn’t been seen at any Disney park before.

I’d like to know what Rúna thinks about the food at the kingdom’s local boozer, Nordic Crowns Tavern, where dishes have been inspired by the flavours of Norway.

It’s certainly not your typical Disney fare – think fermented goods, smoked fish and light cakes shaped into an icy snowflake, in fitting with the Frozen theme.

But that’s just the pub. There’ll be a whopping 13 other dining venues in Arendelle alone, including food stalls serving sticky cinnamon rolls and the grand Regal View, World of Frozen’s character-dining venue.

This spot is impressive enough without the meet-and-greets. Disney Princesses have been painted into fresco-like murals across the walls and curved chandeliers dangle from the ceiling.

Parents haven’t been forgotten about either. How does a flight of kir royales sound?

Knock them back to keep you going until the nightly fireworks displays.

These are the pinnacle of any Disney trip and the fiesta here promises to be spectacular.

Technological enhancements have been made to a team of drones, which can withstand most weathers as they flash to the beat of the music, morphing into characters in the sky and concluding with an explosive fireworks finale.

You won’t need to panic about securing a decent spot, either, like many do for the displays at the main park, with the show taking place above the circular lake, offering 360-degree views.

And of course, no trip to Arandelle would be complete without a visit to the kingdom’s impeccably dressed Elsa and Ana.

And the duo won’t just appear on the street; they will dramatically sail across the lake via a huge wooden vessel, preparing to greet their fans at the “Royal Encounter” in the castle.

A lifesized and hyper-realistic Olaf will make an appearance, too. But unlike every other character at Disneyland Paris, Frozen’s star snowman has been built using clever robotics that allow the character to talk and even waddle away on his stumpy snow feet.

And what about the rides? The highlight will most definitely be the lands boat ride, Frozen Ever After, which will carry riders through the snowy forest towards the Valley of the Trolls and Elsa’s sparkling Ice Palace.

Animatronics promise to bring scenes to life as riders approach Arendelle Bay which will be showered in snowflake-shaped fireworks.

It’s not all about Elsa and Ana, though. Rapunzel has left her mark on the Raiponce Tangled Spin ride.

This is a reinvention of the classic teacups where a series of wooden boats twirl underneath a ceiling of swaying pastel lanterns.

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It was the postbox that stuck out for me, though.

What could be more special than returning home to a self-written letter, delivered straight to your door all the way from Arendelle?

Disneyland Paris has officially confirmed the opening date for its World of Frozen land in 2026 – and we got a sneak peek into the land where guests can meet Anna, Elsa, Olaf and more

Disneyland Paris has finally confirmed an opening date for its highly-anticipated World of Frozen land – and we’ve got an exclusive first look inside the Arendelle kingdom.

From March 29, 2026 , Disney fans will be able to explore the home of Anna and Elsa with a host of experiences including a brand new ride, character meet and greets, new shows and exclusive food and drink.

I was lucky enough to be one of the first to get a sneak peek at the new Frozen land in the Walt Disney Studios Park (which will rebrand as Disney Adventure World when the Frozen land also opens). From the moment you arrive, it’s clear that Frozen fans aren’t going to be disappointed.

As you walk up to the area, you can see a huge snowy mountain with Elsa’s ice palace visible in the distance, Nordic inspired buildings that look like the stuff of Instagram dreams, and pretty fountains with icicles because – well, it’s Frozen. I also spotted some Mickey-shaped detailing for those who like to search for hidden Mickeys in the park!

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As for the character meet and greets? There is a brand new little Olaf animatronic who you’ll be able to spot with the princesses; he’s absolutely adorable and kids are no doubt going to love him. It’s very impressive technology; he waddles around, talks and waves, and had everyone awwing and cheering as he wandered about, joined by Anna and Elsa. The Olaf animatronic is a first-of-its-kind in the world, and really brings the character to life especially when he interacts with the princesses.

If you want to meet the princesses, you’ll need to book a slot at the Arendelle castle – the perk being that you then can enjoy the rest of the park rather than waiting around for hours. The good news is that it won’t be the only character interaction available throughout the land. There’ll be chances to meet Oaken (‘Yoohoo, big summer blowout’), some of the adorable baby trolls, and villagers ready to share some quirky stories about life in Arendelle.

There will be a show occurring multiple times a day within the bay in the Frozen village including a float of boats led by Kristoff and Olaf, with a chance to spot the princesses as they wave to their guests from their own gorgeous boat. The 15-minute colourful show will include a chance for the audience to sing along with characters too, including iconic songs like ‘Let It Go’ or ‘Show Yourself’.

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Foodies, you won’t want to miss the abundance of snacks; at the Nordic Crowns Tavern you can create your own bowl for lunch/dinner including a base, protein, veg and sauce. Apparently, chefs went through 30 different types of mashed potato before they settled on the one that’s used in the restaurant. The restaurant will also include vegan and gluten-free options.

For those who fancy a tipple, The Regal View Restaurant & Lounge is the place to be. It’s so pretty with murals inspired by the princesses – and yes, you can book Character Dining to meet the princesses at the restaurant. The vibe is gorgeous florals, dark green furniture and heaps of nods to all of the princesses, not just Elsa and Anna. Meanwhile the lounge bar – a first for these parks – felt quite fancy for a theme park, especially with the impressive range of Kir Royale and Champagne cocktails on offer.

We didn’t get a sneak peek at the new ‘Frozen Ever After’ ride (it’s still under construction!), but it will involve a gentle boat ride taking families from a snowy forest to the Valley of the Trolls, through Elsa’s dazzling Ice Palace, before ending in Arendelle Bay lit by snowflake-shaped fireworks.

As for that all-important merchandise, one highlight has to be the adorable Rúna troll, at the Fjord View Shop. This little toy is a bit like a Furby, in that it interacts with you. The Runa can talk, it can be ‘put to sleep’ with rocking, and if you have more than one, it interacts with other toys. However, one of the coolest features is that if you carry it around the Frozen land, it will interact with specific ‘trigger points’ in the land, for example by fountains or certain buildings.

Anyone who buys one will be given a map to show you the areas where you can find these interactions, although you won’t be given the specific locations as part of the fun! These dolls will cost €70 each which didn’t feel wildly overpriced considering how much you can get out of the toy if you buy it before going around the land.

Frozen won’t be the only exciting attraction at Disney Adventure World. The theme park already boasts Marvel and Pixar inspired lands, and is set to undergo another expansion with a Lion King land over the next few years.

As you walk towards World of Frozen, you’ll get to enjoy two new adorable attractions; one swing-style carousel inspired by Up, and a teacups-esque ride inspired by Tangled.

Disney fans will also get to see a new nighttime show above the large Adventure World lake that offers a central point leading out to the lands; we got a sneak peek and it involves drones, pyrotechnics, fountains and some very impressive special effects, including nods to beloved films like Moana.

You can find out more on disneylandparis.com

Russian forces continue to report advances in eastern Ukraine while the United States ramps up intensive diplomatic pressure on Kyiv and its European allies to accede to its proposed 28-point plan, which heavily leans towards the Kremlin’s demands, by Thursday.

The Russian Ministry of Defence announced on Saturday that its soldiers “liberated” the settlement of Zvanivka in Donetsk region’s Bakhmut, allegedly inflicting “significant losses” on Ukrainian forces.

It also released footage of air attacks and FPV drone attacks on Ukrainian positions in the Zaporizhia region, where Russian forces have been getting closer to the strategic town of Huliaipole using glide bombs and tactical ground incursions.

The Defence Ministry claimed that the Novoe Zaporozhye area was taken under Russian control, including a “major enemy defence node” covering an area of more than 14sq km (5sq miles).

This would add to a growing number of villages in the southeastern Ukrainian region that have been captured by Russian troops since September as they try to push back the Ukrainian military and strike energy infrastructure with another punishing winter of war approaching.

Ukrainian soldiers are also under intense attacks in the Pokrovsk area, where the fighting is believed to be fierce as the Russian military command redeploys forces to strengthen its offensive.

Regional Ukrainian authorities have reported at least one civilian death and 13 injuries over the past day as a result of Russian air attacks. The fatal strike took place in Donetsk, Governor Vadym Filashkin said.

Ukraine’s air force said Russian troops launched one Iskander-M ballistic missile from annexed Crimea and 104 drones from several areas towards multiple Ukrainian regions overnight into Saturday, of which 89 drones were downed. Most of the drones were of Iranian design, it added.

Ukrainian media said the Yany Kapu electric substation in northern Crimea was targeted by drones overnight, with footage circulating on social media showing explosions and strikes. The Russian Defence Ministry said its air force shot down six fixed-wing Ukrainian drones over Crimea early on Saturday, without confirming any hits on the ground.

EU pushes back against US plan

Ukraine’s allies have not been cheering the plan put forward by the administration of US President Donald Trump without consulting them, despite an ominous Thursday deadline set by Washington approaching.

The unilateral US plan to end the war in Ukraine “is a basis which will require additional work”, Western leaders gathered in South Africa for a G20 summit said on Saturday.

“We are clear on the principle that borders must not be changed by force,” said the leaders of key European countries, as well as Canada and Japan, in a joint statement.

“We are also concerned by the proposed limitations on Ukraine’s armed forces, which would leave Ukraine vulnerable to future attack,” they said, adding that any implementing elements of the plan linked with the 27-member bloc and NATO would have to be undertaken with the consent of member states.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Russia’s war could only be ended with Ukraine’s “unconditional consent”.

“Wars cannot be ended by major powers over the heads of the countries affected,” he said on the sidelines of the summit.

Ukraine and its allies continue to emphasise the need for a “just and lasting peace”, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy saying on Saturday that real peace is based on guaranteed security and justice that secures sovereignty and territorial integrity.

But Zelenskyy approved a Ukrainian delegation to launch talks with US counterparts in Switzerland on ways of ending the war, and appointed his top aide Andriy Yermak to lead it.

Ukraine’s Security Council secretary, Rustem Umerov, who is on the negotiating team, confirmed in a post on Telegram that consultations will begin over “possible parameters” of a future deal.

“Ukraine approaches this process with a clear understanding of its interests,” he said, thanking the Trump administration for its mediation.

Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said in an interview with the state-owned International Affairs magazine, published on Saturday, that he would not rule out the possibility of another meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has backed the US proposal.

“The search for a way forward continues,” he said, adding that Moscow and Washington continue to keep channels for dialogue open despite the lack of an agreement during a Trump-Putin meeting in August, and the indefinite suspension of another planned round in Budapest.

Putin has refused to engage in a summit that includes Zelenskyy and will be even less likely to now, given he believes Russia has the upper hand on the battlefield and the ear of the US on the diplomatic front.

Nov. 14 (UPI) — Jaguar Land Rover reported a loss of $637 million over the three months ending in September, when it was hit by a cyberattack that shut down production.

In the same quarter last year, the company reported $523 million in profits. The company also reported additional costs of $258 million, which included outside consultants and other support after the attack, the BBC reported.

The company had to shut down production through all of September and early October because the attack disabled its computer systems.

Retail sales dropped in all markets. In the United Kingdom they were down by 32.3%. Sales fell by 12.1% in Europe, 9% in North America, 22.5% in China and 15.8% in the Middle East and North Africa.

Revenues for the quarter fell 24%, from $8.5 billion last year to $6.4 billion, the company told BBC.

JLR also had phased out several models as part of a plan to become an all-electric brand. Those new models are now delayed until at least 2026. The JLR CFO Richard Molyneux wouldn’t confirm a launch date.

“We will launch it when it is perfectly right,” he said.

The English manufacturer has confirmed that all plants are back up and running at capacity or near it.

“JLR has made strong progress in recovering its operations safely and at pace after the cyber incident,” said outgoing JLR CEO Adrian Mardell, The Guardian reported. “In our response we prioritized client, retailer and supplier systems, and I am pleased to confirm that production of all our luxury brands has resumed.

“The speed of recovery is testament to the resilience and hard work of our colleagues. I am extremely grateful to all our people who have shown enormous commitment during this difficult time,” Mardell said.

Auto production in the United Kingdom was at its lowest level for September since 1952, said the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

WOLF POINT, Mont. — On the open plains of the Fort Peck Reservation, Robert Magnan leaned out the window of his truck, set a rifle against the door frame and then “pop!” — a bison tumbled dead in its tracks.

Magnan and a co-worker shot two more bison, also known as buffalo, and quickly field dressed the animals before carting them off for processing into ground beef and cuts of meat for distribution to members of the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes in northern Montana.

As lawmakers in Washington, D.C., plod toward resolving the record government shutdown that interrupted food aid for tens of millions of people, tribal leaders on rural reservations across the Great Plains have been culling their cherished bison herds to help fill the gap.

About one-third of Fort Peck’s tribal members on the reservation depend on monthly benefit checks, Chairman Floyd Azure said. That’s almost triple the rate for the U.S. as a whole. They’ve received only partial payments in November after President Trump’s administration choked off funds to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program during the shutdown.

Fort Peck officials say they anticipated such a moment years ago, when they were bolstering their herd with animals from Yellowstone National Park over objections from cattle ranchers worried about animal disease.

“We were bringing it up with the tribal council: What would happen if the government went bankrupt? How would we feed the people?” said Magnan, the longtime steward of Fort Peck’s bison herds. “It shows we still need buffalo.”

Treaty obligations

In October, the tribal government authorized killing 30 bison — about 12,000 pounds of meat. Half had been shot by Tuesday. A pending deal to end the shutdown comes too late for the rest, Magnan said. With Montana among the states that dispersed only partial SNAP payments, Fort Peck will keep handing out buffalo meat for the time being.

Tribes including the Blackfeet, the Lower Brule Sioux, the Cheyenne River Sioux and the Crow have done the same in response to Washington’s dysfunction: feeding thousands of people with bison from herds restored over recent decades after the animals were hunted to near extinction in the 1800s.

Food and nutrition assistance programs are part of the federal government’s trust and treaty responsibilities — its legal and moral obligations to fund tribes’ health and well-being in exchange for land and resources the U.S. took from tribes.

“It’s the obligation they incurred when they took our lands, when they stole our lands, when they cheated us out of our lands,” said Mark Macarro, president of the National Congress of American Indians. “It lacks humanity to do this with SNAP, with food.”

Fort Peck tribal members Miki Astogo and Dillon Jackson-Fisher, who are unemployed, said they borrowed food from Jackson-Fisher’s mother in recent weeks after SNAP payments didn’t come through. On Sunday they got a partial payment — about $196 instead of the usual $298 per month — Agosto said.

It won’t last, they said, so the couple walked 4 miles into town to pick up a box of food from the tribes that included 2 pounds of bison.

“Our vehicle’s in the shop, but we have to put food on the table before we pay for the car, you know?” Jackson-Fisher said.

Moose in Maine, deer in Oklahoma

Native American communities elsewhere in the U.S. also are tapping into natural resources to make up for lost federal aid. Members of the Mi’kmaq Nation in Maine stocked a food bank with trout from their hatchery and locally hunted moose meat. In southeastern Oklahoma, the Comanche Nation is accepting deer meat for food banks. And in the southwestern part of the state, the Choctaw Nation set up three meat processing facilities.

Another program that provides food to eligible Native American households, the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, has continued through the shutdown.

Mi’kmaq is among the tribes that don’t have the program, though the tribe is eligible. The Mi’kmaq also get funding for food pantries through the federal Emergency Food Assistance Program, but that money, too, was tied up by the shutdown, tribal Chief Sheila McCormack said.

Roughly 80% of Mi’kmaq tribal members in Aroostook County are SNAP recipients, said Kandi Sock, the tribe’s community services director.

“We have reached out for some extra donations; our farm came through with that, but it will not last long,” Sock said.

The demise of bison, onset of starvation

Buffalo played a central role for Plains tribes for centuries, providing meat for food and hides for clothing and shelter.

That came to an abrupt end when white “hide hunters” arrived in 1879 in the Upper Missouri River basin around Fort Peck, which had some of the last vestiges of herds that once numbered millions of animals, Assiniboine historian Dennis Smith said. By 1883 the animals were virtually exterminated, according to Smith, a retired University of Nebraska-Omaha history professor.

With no way to feed themselves and the government denying them food, the buffalo’s demise heralded a time of starvation for the Assiniboine, he said. Many other Plains tribes also suffered hardship.

Hundreds of miles to the west of Fort Peck, the Blackfeet Nation killed 18 buffalo from its herd and held a special elk harvest to distribute meat to tribal members. The tribe already gave out buffalo meat periodically to elders, the sick and for ceremonies and social functions. But it’s never killed so many of the 700 animals at once.

“We can’t do that many all the time. We don’t want to deplete the resource,” said Ervin Carlson, who runs the Blackfeet buffalo program.

In South Dakota, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe has distributed meat from about 20 of its buffalo. The tribe worked to build its capacity to feed people since experiencing shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic. It now has a meat processing plant that can handle 25 to 30 animals a week, said Jayme Murray with the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Buffalo Authority Corp. Tribes from Minnesota to Montana have asked to use the plant, but they’ve had to turn some down, Murray said.

A former ‘food desert’ leans on its own herds

The Lower Brule Sioux Tribe in central South Dakota recently got its first full-fledged grocery store, ending its decades-long status as a “food desert” where people had to drive 100 miles round trip for groceries. The interruption to SNAP benefits stoked panic, tribal treasurer and secretary Marty Jandreau said.

Benefits for November were reduced to 65% of the usual amount.

But the Lower Brule have buffalo, cattle and elk in abundance across more than 9 square miles. On Sunday, the tribe gave away more than 400 pounds of meat to more than 100 tribal members, council members said.

“It makes me feel very proud that we have things we can give back,” tribal council member Marlo Langdeau said.

Brown and Brewer write for the Associated Press. Brewer reported from Oklahoma City, and Schafer, who reports for ICT, from Lower Brule, S.D.

CAPE TOWN, South Africa — President Trump says that his government will boycott the Group of 20 summit this month in South Africa over his claims that a white minority group there is being violently persecuted. Those claims have been widely rejected.

Trump announced Friday on social media that no U.S. government official will attend the Nov. 22-23 summit in Johannesburg “as long as these Human Rights abuses continue.” South Africa’s Black-led government has been a regular target for Trump since he returned to office.

In February, Trump issued an executive order stopping U.S. financial assistance to South Africa, citing its treatment of the Afrikaner white minority. His administration has also prioritized Afrikaners for refugee status in the U.S. and says they will be given most of the 7,500 places available this fiscal year.

The South African government — and some Afrikaners themselves — say Trump’s claims of persecution are baseless.

Descendants of European settlers

Afrikaners are South Africans who are descended mainly from Dutch but also French and German colonial settlers who first came to the country in the 17th century.

Afrikaners were at the heart of the apartheid system of white minority rule from 1948-94, leading to decades of hostility between them and South Africa’s Black majority. But Afrikaners are not a homogenous group, and some fought against apartheid. There are an estimated 2.7 million Afrikaners in South Africa’s population of 62 million.

Afrikaners are divided over Trump’s claims. Some say they face discrimination, but a group of leading Afrikaner business figures and academics said in an open letter last month that “the narrative that casts Afrikaners as victims of racial persecution in post-apartheid South Africa” is misleading.

Afrikaners’ Dutch-derived language is widely spoken in South Africa and is one of the country’s 12 official languages. Afrikaners are represented in every aspect of society. Afrikaners are some of South Africa’s richest entrepreneurs and some of its most successful sports stars, and also serve in government. Most are largely committed to South Africa’s multiracial democracy.

Trump claims they’re being ‘killed and slaughtered’

Trump asserted that Afrikaners “are being killed and slaughtered, and their land and farms are being illegally confiscated.” The president’s comments are in reference to a relatively small number of attacks on Afrikaner farmers that he and others claim are racially motivated.

Trump has also pointed to a highly contentious law introduced by the South African government that allows land to be appropriated from private owners without compensation. Some Afrikaners fear that law is aimed at removing them from their land in favor of South Africa’s poor Black majority. Many South Africans, including opposition parties, have criticized the law, but it hasn’t led to land confiscations.

Trump first made baseless claims of widespread killing of white South African farmers and land seizures during his first term in response to allegations aired on conservative media personality Tucker Carlson’s former show on Fox News. Trump ordered then-U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to look into the allegations, but nothing came of any investigation.

South Africa rejects the claims

The South African government said in response to Trump’s social media post that his claims were “not substantiated by fact.” It has said that Trump’s criticism of South Africa over Afrikaners is a result of misinformation because it misses the context that Black farmers and farmworkers are also killed in rural attacks, which make up a tiny percentage of the country’s high violent crime rate.

There were more than 26,000 homicides in South Africa in 2024. Of those, 37 were farm murders, according to an Afrikaner lobby group that tracks them. Experts on rural attacks in South Africa have said the overriding motive for the violent farm invasions is robbery, not race.

Other pressure on South Africa

Trump said it is a “total disgrace” that the G-20 summit — a meeting of the leaders of the 19 top rich and developing economies, the European Union and the African Union — is being held in South Africa. He had already said he wouldn’t attend, and Vice President JD Vance was due to go in his place. The U.S. will take on the rotating presidency of the G-20 after South Africa.

Trump also said in a speech last week that South Africa should be thrown out of the G-20.

Trump’s criticism of Africa’s most developed economy has gone beyond the issue of Afrikaners. His executive order in February said South Africa had taken “aggressive positions towards the United States and its allies,” specifically with its decision to accuse Israel of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza at the United Nations’ top court.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio boycotted a G-20 foreign ministers meeting in South Africa in February after deriding the host country’s G-20 slogan of “solidarity, equality and sustainability” as “DEI and climate change.”

Imray writes for the Associated Press.

A POPULAR theme park hailed as the ‘best in the UK’ will unveil an exciting new ride in 2026.

Every year, Paultons Park in Hampshire attracts revellers in their droves with its over 70 rides and attractions.

The attraction even scooped the gong for the Theme Park of the Year at the UK Theme Park Awards 2025.

And now, thrill-seekers have another reason to flock to the beloved spot as a brand new ride will open up in May next year.

Revellers can get a taste of what is to come after Paultons released a POV animation of what the new Drakon ride will offer up punters.

The inverted rollercoaster will be the latest addition to the Valgard, Realm of the Vikings section.

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The Valgard area is aimed at families with older children and teenagers, the theme park previously said. 

Drakon will comes complete with a vertical lift hill and will cost around £12million to build.

There will also be a restaurant for visitors who work up an appetite after a few rounds on the new ride, as well as a themed playground.

Those brave enough to take their seat on the Drakon will need to wait until May 16, 2026 before doing so.

Earlier this year, Paultons Park nabbed an incredible 10 trophies at the at the UK Theme Park Awards this year.

“We are delighted to have been awarded 10 awards this year at the annual UK Theme Park Awards, including the prestigious Theme Park of the Year Award,” Lawrence Mancey, marketing and technology director at Paultons Park, said.

“These accolades are a true reflection of the hard work, creativity and dedication shown by every team member at Paultons Park, many of whom have been part of our family for over twenty years.”

It comes after news that the UK will be getting a brand new theme park in 2026.

Kynren – An Epic Tale of England, is the UK’s largest live action outdoor theatre production and next year it will launch Kynren – The Storied Lands, a new daytime historical theme park.

Set to open in summer 2026 in County Durham, the theme park will immerse visitors in multiple live shows and experiences that “span millennia”.

Phase One of Kynren – The Storied Lands will reveal The Lost Feather and four other live-action shows and immersive experiences, including Fina, a Medieval horse show, a viking show and a Victorian Adventure with characters from the past.

In other theme park news, the UK’s best value theme park has been named.

Plus, the UK theme parks with the best Black Friday discounts – from extra park tickets to free waterpark entry.

Zohran Mamdani’s stunning victory in New York City’s mayoral race was built on a promise of hope and political change, a message that is resonating loudly with the people in Uganda, where he was born.

The 34-year-old leftist’s decisive win in the United States’ largest metropolis on Wednesday was celebrated by many in Uganda’s capital Kampala, the city where Mamdani was born in 1991.

For many Ugandans, the unlikely rise of Mamdani – a young Muslim with roots in Africa and South Asia – in the world’s most powerful democracy carries an inspirational message in a country where an authoritarian leader has been ruling since even before Mamdani was born.

Uganda’s 81-year-old President Yoweri Museveni is seeking a seventh term in January elections as he looks to extend his nearly 40-year rule. He has rejected calls to retire, leading to fears of a volatile political transition.

“It’s a big encouragement even to us here in Uganda that it’s possible,” Joel Ssenyonyi, a 38-year-old opposition leader in the Parliament of Uganda, told The Associated Press.

He said that while Ugandans, who are facing repressive political conditions, had “a long way to get there”, Mamdani’s success “inspires us”.

Mamdani left Uganda when he was five to follow his father, political theorist Mahmood Mamdani, to South Africa, and later moved to the US. He kept his Ugandan citizenship even after he became a naturalised US citizen in 2018, according to AP.

The family maintains a home in Kampala, to which they regularly return and visited earlier this year to celebrate Mamdani’s marriage.

‘We celebrate and draw strength’

While Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist, has vowed to tackle inequality and push back against the xenophobic rhetoric of US President Donald Trump, opposition politicians in Uganda face different challenges.

Museveni has been cracking down on his opponents ahead of next year’s elections, as he has in the lead-up to previous polls.

In November last year, veteran opposition figure Kizza Besigye, who has stood against Museveni in four elections, and his aide, Obeid Lutale, were abducted in Nairobi, Kenya, before being arraigned in a military court in Kampala on treason charges. The pair have since repeatedly been denied bail, despite concerns raised by the United Nations’ human rights officials.

Other opposition figures have also faced crackdowns.

Tens of supporters of the National Unity Platform (NUP) party, led by 43-year-old entertainer Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, have been convicted by Uganda’s military courts for various offences.

“From Uganda, we celebrate and draw strength from your example as we work to build a country where every citizen can realise their grandest dreams regardless of means and background,” Wine wrote on X as he sent his “hearty congratulations” to Mamdani.

Robert Kabushenga, a retired Ugandan media executive who is friendly with the Mamdani family, told AP that Mamdani’s win was “a beacon of hope” for those fighting for change in Uganda, especially the younger generations.

Describing the new mayor-elect as belonging to “a tradition of very honest and clear thinkers who are willing to reimagine … politics”, Kabushenga said Mamdani’s victory underlined that “we should allow young people the opportunity to shape, and participate in, politics in a meaningful way”.

Okello Ogwang, an academic who once worked with Mamdani’s father at Kampala’s Makerere University, said his son’s success was an instructive reminder to Uganda “that we should invest in the youth”.

“He’s coming from here,” he said. “If we don’t invest in our youth, we are wasting our time.”

Anthony Kirabo, a 22-year-old psychology student at Makerere University, said Mamdani’s win “makes me feel good and proud of my country because it shows that Uganda can produce some good leaders”.

“Seeing Zohran up there, I feel like I can also make it,” he said.

Ditching the gloomy UK for the blue skies of Dubai is an appealing thought to alot of us. But there are strict rules locals and visitors must abide by, or risk being imprisoned

Now more than ever, Brits are looking to ditch the grey skies for a more desirable lifestyle under the year-round sunshine of Dubai.

The hugely popular city in the United Arab Emirates offers tax-free income, appealing career opportunities with higher earning potentials and low crime rates within a modern infrastructure. Its appeal is only enhanced by its luxury shopping complexes, golden sand beaches, impressive architecture and its yearly warm weather.

Despite welcoming more than 15 million tourists every year, it still holds some strict laws and traditions that visitors and locals must follow. One of which is an easily mistaken crime that could land you in prison, according to a Brit who lives there.

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Janelle Ciara discovered this stern custom after uprooting her life from the gloomy UK to sunny Dubai. The Brit originally thought she’d only be living in the emirate for a month, but after quickly adjusting to life in the lavish city, she extended her stay and is currently in the process of getting a visa.

Navigating her new way of life in Dubai, Janelle learnt that swearing or using rude gestures, even on social media, could get her in serious trouble. In a video on TikTok (@janelleciara1), she revealed: “There are some people that have actually been fined for even sharing rude or swearing messages across WhatsApp, Facebook and other social media platforms.”

On the Gov.uk website for the United Arab Emirates, it states: “It is illegal to swear and make rude gestures, including online, as they are considered obscene acts. You could be jailed or deported. Take particular care when dealing with the police and other officials.”

Janelle’s video accumulated 2.6 million views as she went on to detail a list of other crimes that “will send an English person into a coma”. Another is the consumption of alcohol and being drunk in public.

While drinking alcohol is no longer a criminal offence in Dubai, and a licence fee is no longer required for residents or tourists, you cannot drink in public places. Janelle explained: “Drinking or being drunk is not allowed in public areas. You’re only allowed to drink in licensed venues – that can be bars, restaurants and hotels. But if you are drunk in public, you can be fined and even put into prison.”

In addition to this, PDA (Public Displays of Affection) is also frowned upon. “You can get in a lot of trouble for this,” Janelle said. In 2010, a British couple were arrested after allegedly sharing a kiss on the mouth at a restaurant, with locals dubbing it a violation of the country’s decency laws.

Ayman Najafi, 24, and Charlotte Adams, 25, appealed their conviction and stated it was simply a peck on the cheek. However, the pair lost their appeal and were sentenced to a month in jail before being deported. “Showing affection in public is frowned upon. You can be arrested for kissing in public,” the Gov.uk website states.

There are also strict rules when it comes to same-sex relationships in the Emirates. Janelle revealed: “Penalties for same-sex relationships could be deportation or imprisonment.”

The Gov.uk website also states: “Same-sex sexual activity is illegal in the UAE, and same-sex marriages are not recognised. “

Dressing modestly is a custom that is strongly advised and followed by locals and visitors, especially when out in public, as it’s an Islamic country. However, there’s no official dress code, and it’s typically alot more relaxed when staying at a hotel.

The Brit shared in the video: “You can’t be nude in public and it is advised that when you’re in public spaces to cover up and dress modestly. If you are leaving the beach, make sure you cover up afterwards.”

On the dress code, the Gov.uk website states: “Dress modestly in public areas like shopping malls:

• Women should cover shoulders and knees, and underwear should not be visible
• Avoid transparent clothing or any attire that features imagery or phrases that could potentially offend others
• Swimming attire should only be worn on beaches or at swimming pools
• Cross-dressing is illegal

“Some venues, events or buildings may have specific dress codes.”