Warm

The UNESCO-listed town comes alive with lanterns and tinsel in December – with 30p beers and T-shirt weather.

If you’re fed up with the prospect of yet another freezing cold Christmas market, clutching an £8 mug of mulled wine to keep warm, there’s an alternative option.

For a truly unique festive experience, this market deserves a spot on your bucket list.

With beers at just £0.30, hot chocolates for £1.50 and hundreds of twinkling lanterns lighting up the evening sky.

This enchanting market destination is Hoi An – a UNESCO-listed port town along Vietnam’s central coastline. Throughout December, this historic port transforms with glowing lanterns, fairy lights and tinsel adorning shop windows.

Whilst it might not deliver a conventional Christmas experience – it provides a breathtaking alternative at a fraction of the cost.

There are numerous stalls to explore offering everything from keepsakes to local confectionery and handcrafted goods. Vietnam is renowned for being budget-friendly and Hoi An maintains this reputation, reports the Express.

A glass of locally-brewed beer costs between £0.30 and £0.70 – even at the tourist-popular riverside locations.

Asia travel experts TransIndus describe December as one of the finest periods to experience Hoi An.

A spokesperson said: “Daytimes are usually in the low- to mid-20s, so it’s T-shirt weather for exploring the old streets, and in the evenings you might just want a light jacket if there’s a breeze coming off the river.”

It falls at the tail end of the wet season, meaning occasional downpours or overcast days are possible – but once the rain clears, the atmosphere becomes genuinely enchanting.

They said: “When the rain clears and the pavements start to dry, the reflections from the lanterns in the puddles are beautiful.

“You get steam rising off the street-food stalls, scooters back out within minutes, and the whole old town has this slightly surreal, cinematic feel.”

December in Hoi An blends Western festive imagery with Vietnamese lantern celebrations. Visitors might spot a nativity display or youngsters wearing Santa hats, before witnessing a silk-draped, illuminated riverboat gliding peacefully across the water.

It’s an ideal destination to break away from traditional Christmas habits and immerse yourself in a completely different culture.

The village boasts harming harbour, stunning coastal walks and an ancient church dating back to 440 AD

It’s almost December and the weather is pretty chilly, but it doesn’t mean we have to hibernate. There are so many stunning places in the UK that are perfect for a wintery trip, even when it’s cold outside.

One of these places is Cemaes in Wales, which journalist Catrin Williams recently visited. It’s the most northerly village in the country, and Catrin described it as the ‘perfect day out’. With a dramatic coastal walk and plenty of great shops and eateries, it’s not hard to see why.

Cemaes, originally a humble fishing village, has evolved into a bustling port over the centuries. Ships were constructed in the safety of the harbour, and locally quarried limestone, marble, bricks, corn, and ochre were shipped far and wide, according to North Wales Live.

Catrin said: “Walking along the harbour, it’s easy to imagine the buzz of trade that must have once filled the air.

“The high street is full of charm, it is lined with pretty and colourful houses. Small shops sell everything from handcrafted decorations to local crafts, and the cafes are equally inviting.”

Catrin stopped by Caffi Bane and got to a hot chocolate, the perfect pick-me-up on a chilly winter morning.

On the same street, the Stag Pub is a true local gem, buzzing with a friendly atmosphere and contributing to the village’s sense of community. There’s also a fish and chip shop that seemed to be very popular.

Catrin continued: “The beach is another highlight. Here, I discovered St Patrick’s Bell, part of a series of Time and Tide bells scattered around the coast of Great Britain.

“These bells ring with the high tide and serve as a thoughtful reminder of rising sea levels. I watched as the tide rolled in over Traeth Mawr, the beach with its stunning harbour view, it is a place that somehow feels both peaceful and alive with history.”

From the shore, Catrin walked along a section of the Anglesey Coastal Path, which forms part of the larger Wales Coast Path. The route offers breathtaking views of the sea on one side and rugged cliffs on the other, creating a picturesque landscape.

According to Catrin, the highlight of her visit was at the end of the walk: Llanbadrig Church, also known as St. Patrick’s Church. This is considered one of the oldest churches in Wales, with its roots tracing back to 440 AD, while the current structure is believed to have been built in the 12th century.

Local folklore tells the tale of a young St. Patrick who was shipwrecked on Ynys Badrig in the 5th century. Miraculously surviving the ordeal, he founded the church as an act of gratitude to God.

Raving about the village, Catrin said: “All in all, my day in Cemaes Bay was a perfect blend of history and beautiful scenery. Even in the quieter months of winter, there’s a warmth to the village that makes it feel welcoming.

“From the colourful streets and cosy cafes to the dramatic coastline and centuries-old church, it’s a place that is definitely worth a visit.”

WASHINGTON — President Trump is set to fete Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday when the de facto leader of Saudi Arabia makes his first White House visit since the 2018 killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents.

The U.S.-Saudi relationship had been sent into a tailspin by the operation targeting Khashoggi, a fierce critic of the kingdom, that U.S. intelligence agencies later determined Prince Mohammed likely directed the agents to carry out.

But seven years later, the dark clouds over the relationship have been cleared away. And Trump has tightened his embrace of the 40-year-old crown prince he views as an indispensable player in shaping the Middle East in the decades to come. Prince Mohammed, for his part, denies involvement in the killing of Khashoggi, a Saudi citizen and Virginia resident.

Khashoggi will likely be an afterthought as the two leaders unveil billions of dollars in deals and huddle with aides to discuss the tricky path ahead in a volatile Middle East. They’ll end their day with an evening White House soiree, organized by first lady Melania Trump, to honor the prince.

“They have been a great ally,” Trump said of the Saudis on the eve of the visit.

Rolling out the red carpet

Technically, it’s not a state visit, because the crown prince is not the head of state. But Prince Mohammed has taken charge of the day-to-day governing for his father, King Salman, 89, who has endured health problems in recent years.

Most foreign leaders who come to meet with Trump are driven up to the doors of the West Wing, where the president often greets them. But Prince Mohammed, accompanied by the Saudi prime minister, will be welcomed with an arrival ceremony on the South Lawn.

An Oval Office meeting and luncheon in the Cabinet Room will follow.

Trump will then see the crown prince off in the afternoon but he’s expected to return to the South Lawn, with the first lady, to welcome the crown prince when he returns for the evening East Room dinner.

In addition to White House pomp, the two nations are also planning an investment summit at the Kennedy Center on Wednesday that will include the heads of Salesforce, Qualcomm, Pfizer, the Cleveland Clinic, Chevron and Aramco, Saudi Arabia’s national oil and natural gas company, where even more deals with the Saudis could be announced.

Fighter jets and business deals

Ahead of Prince Mohammed’s arrival, Trump announced he has agreed to sell the Saudis F-35 fighter jets despite some concerns within the administration that the sale could lead to China gaining access to the U.S. technology behind the advanced weapon system.

Trump’s announcement is also surprising because some in the Republican administration have been wary about upsetting Israel’s qualitative military edge over its neighbors, especially at a time when Trump is depending on Israeli support for the success of his Gaza peace plan.

But the unexpected move comes at a moment when Trump is trying to nudge the Saudis toward normalizing relations with Israel.

The president in his first term had helped forge commercial and diplomatic ties between Israel and Bahrain, Morocco and the United Arab Emirates through an effort dubbed the Abraham Accords.

Trump sees expansion of the accords as essential to his broader efforts to build stability in the Middle East after the two-year Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

And getting Saudi Arabia — the largest Arab economy and the birthplace of Islam — to sign on would create an enormous domino effect, he argues. The president in recent weeks has even predicted that once Saudi Arabia signs on to the accords, “everybody” in the Arab world “goes in.”

But the Saudis have maintained that a clear path toward Palestinian statehood must first be established before normalizing relations with Israel can be considered. The Israelis, meanwhile, remain steadfastly opposed to the creation of a Palestinian state.

The U.N. Security Council on Monday approved a U.S. plan for Gaza that authorizes an international stabilization force to provide security in the devastated territory and envisions a possible future path to an independent Palestinian state.

Assurances on U.S. military support

The leaders certainly will have plenty to talk about including maintaining the fragile ceasefire in Gaza, mutual concerns about Iran’s malign behavior, and a brutal civil war in Sudan.

And the Saudis are looking to receive formal assurances from Trump defining the scope of U.S. military protection for the kingdom, even though anything not ratified by Congress can be undone by the next president.

Prince Mohammed, 40, who has stayed away from the West after the Khashoggi killing, is also looking to reestablish his position as a global player and a leader determined to diversify the Saudi economy away from oil by investing in sectors like mining, technology and tourism.

To that end, Saudi Arabia is expected to announce a multi-billion dollar investment in U.S. artificial intelligence infrastructure, and the two countries will lay out details about new cooperation in the civil nuclear energy sector, according to a senior Trump administration official who was not authorized to comment publicly ahead of the formal announcement.

A coalition of 11 human rights groups ahead of the crown prince’s visit called on the Trump administration to use its leverage to press Saudi authorities, who badly want to broaden its business and defense connections with the U.S., to make concrete commitments on human rights and press freedom during the visit.

The activists say Saudi authorities continue to harshly repress dissent, including by arresting human rights defenders, journalists, and political dissidents for criticism against the kingdom. Human rights organizations have also documented a surge in executions in Saudi Arabia that they connect to an effort to suppress internal dissent.

“Saudi Arabia’s crown prince is trying to rebrand himself as a global statesman, but the reality at home is mass repression, record numbers of executions, and zero tolerance for dissent,” Sarah Yager, Washington director at the group Human Rights Watch, said in a statement. “U.S. officials should be pressing for change, not posing for photos.”

Madhani writes for the Associated Press. AP writers Josh Boak and Darlene Superville contributed to this report.

As the UK is hit by cold and wet weather, many Brits are looking to escape the winter blues by booking a last-minute holiday abroad – and one travel expert has shared his top recommendations

The dreary, grey November conditions are prompting Britons to snap up last-minute breaks overseas, as sun-seekers desperately hunt for an escape from the winter gloom. For those yearning for warmth, there are loads of options for a scorching getaway that won’t empty your wallet.

Holiday-makers hunting for ideas might want to check out four suggestions from Rob Brooks, a travel guru and social media star with holiday firm On The Beach. Well-known online for dishing out money-saving travel tips, accommodation reviews, and getaway guidance, Rob has built up a massive fanbase on TikTok under the handle @Robonthebeach.

One of Rob’s latest clips was called ‘Where I’d go for a hot, cheap holiday.’

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Offering guidance to his 34k followers, he explained: “Here are the four places that I can recommend for this November if you’re after a last-minute migration to escape the freezing cold here. I’ve seen loads of people asking recently, ‘Where’s hot in November?'”.

“But I think the real question is, ‘Where’s hot and cheap this November?’ Because sure, Dubai is lovely, and Thailand’s boiling, but can any of us actually afford that on short notice? So I’ve gone through the booking trends, weather forecasts and our live pricing to find four places I’d actually recommend this November for a warm, good value escape.”

Discussing his fourth choice, Rob revealed: “Costa Blanca. It’s not blazing hot, but it’s that lovely kind of jumper in the evening, t-shirt all day kind of weather. This November is looking like highs of 23 degrees, no rain, and loads of sunshine. Benidorm, Alicante, Calpe. They’re all ticking over lovely in November, but way quieter and way cheaper than summer. You can still swim in the sea and sit outside for dinner, there’s just less crowds there.”

He went on: “Antalya in Turkey. Still properly hot there, around 25 degrees most days, and it’s even warmer inland. While you’re soaking in the sun, your mates will be back home scraping ice off the windscreen.”

For his following suggestion, Rob remarked: “Tenerife, still hitting 27 degrees most days on the south coast. There’s loads of sunshine and the sea’s definitely warm enough to swim in. For me as well, November is actually one of the best times to go. Quieter beaches, lower prices, but still that proper Canaries heat.”

Wrapping up his recommendations, Rob concluded: “The number one place I’d recommend, Sharm El-Sheikh. If you want actual summer in November, this is it. It’s still 30 degrees every day. The Red Sea is like bathwater, and it’s one of the few places you can get an all-inclusive, proper luxury place for under £500 per person.”

The clip proved a hit with viewers, amassing thousands of likes. One person responded: “Malaga is always perfect in November.” Another user posted: “Just got back from Madeira last night. Can’t believe this wasn’t on your list.”