World

Great Britain’s Matt Weston kicked off his skeleton World Cup campaign in perfect fashion by winning Friday’s opening race of the season in Cortina.

The 28-year-old finished 0.15 seconds ahead of Austria’s Samuel Maier in Italy after the two runs to earn his 10th World Cup gold medal.

Later on Friday, British pair Tabby Stoecker and Marcus Wyatt triumphed in the team race with a combined time of two minutes 1.23 seconds.

That left them five hundredths of a second clear of Germany’s Jacqueline Pfeifer and Axel Jungk and two tenths ahead of Austria’s Janine Flock and Maier at the venue which will host February’s Olympic Winter Games.

Stoecker, who was fifth in the women’s event just prior to the team competition, was the fastest woman in the race in a time of one minute 1.31 seconds, while Wyatt was just ninth hundredths from the fastest men’s time of the night in 59.92 seconds.

Earlier, Weston’s start times of 4.78 and 4.76 seconds were only 24th and 18th quickest in the pack, leaving him with a struggle to make the podium.

But two-time world champion Weston made up the deficit through the 16-corner track, to win with a time of one minute 53.84 seconds and claim his 21st podium finish in his past 25 races.

“I’m delighted with that win. It’s been a tricky pre-season with the injury so to come here and do that is a massive boost,” said Weston.

Nov. 21 (UPI) — Students and teachers were injured during a grizzly bear attack in Canada, and authorities are warning locals to stay indoors until they can find the bear.

The attack happened Thursday in the Bella Coola Valley of the Nuxalk Nation in British Columbia. The CBC reported that two people were critically injured, two were seriously hurt and others were treated at the scene.

The group were from the Acwsalcta School, about 435 miles northwest of Vancouver.

A male teacher “got the whole brunt of it” and some children got sprayed with bear spray as the adults tried to scare the bear away, parent Veronica Schooner told the Canadian Press, Canada’s state news agency.

Schooner’s 10-year-old son was part of the group, but wasn’t attacked.

“He said that bear ran so close to him, but it was going after somebody else,” she said, noting that “he even felt its fur.”

“Officers are armed” the Nation said on Facebook. “Remain indoors and off the highway.” The Facebook page also told people not to walk anywhere and take the bus, which is free to ride.

The Nation’s officials have temporarily shut the school and are offering counselling services.

Nov. 21 (UPI) — The Dominican Republic’s Constitutional Court struck down legal provisions that criminalized same-sex relationships within the National Police and the Armed Forces.

The ruling invalidates two articles in the justice codes of both institutions that imposed criminal penalties, including prison time, on service members who engaged in same-sex relationships.

The regulations, in place since the mid-20th century, imposed penalties of up to one year in prison for officers and six months for enlisted personnel under the stated aim of “maintaining discipline and institutional morality.”

However, the high court found that the provisions violated fundamental rights, including privacy, equality before the law and the free development of one’s personality.

The decision responds to a direct constitutional challenge filed by Dominican attorneys Anderson Dirocie de León and Patricia Santana. According to the attorneys, the disciplinary codes of the National Police and the Armed Forces violated fundamental rights recognized in the Dominican Constitution and in human rights treaties the country has ratified.

The measure adopted by the Constitutional Court has prompted mixed reactions in the country.

Cristian Gonzales Cabrera, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch, said “for decades, these provisions forced LGBT officers to live in fear of punishment simply for who they are.”

“This ruling is a resounding affirmation that a more inclusive future is both possible and required under Dominican law,” Gonzales said.

Conservative groups in the country, especially those linked to evangelical churches, described the measure as an affront to moral values.

“This ruling is a direct blow to the moral, ethical and spiritual principles that have sustained our nation since its founding. This decision by the Constitutional Court is unconstitutional because it disregards the spirit, value framework and guiding principles established in the Constitution.”

The Dominican Bar Association called the ruling “unfortunate and unnecessary.”

In comments reported by Diario Libre, the association’s president, Trajano Potentini, said the Constitutional Court applied a constitutional test that does not apply to an area that, by its nature, relies on a work ethic, discipline and special subordination inherent to military and police institutions.

In the Dominican Republic, same-sex marriage remains illegal and high levels of stigma toward LGBTQ+ people persist.

With this ruling, the country joins Peru, Ecuador and Venezuela in eliminating similar discriminatory laws and policies that criminalized same-sex conduct among military personnel.

However, activists warn that although the ruling is historic, it does not by itself guarantee a cultural shift within the armed forces.

The judgment, which still must be implemented, marks a milestone in Dominican jurisprudence and could set a precedent for future reforms in other areas of public service.

South Korean stocks closed sharply lower Friday, as renewed concerns over an artificial intelligence (AI) bubble weighed heavily on big-cap tech shares. The local currency fell to the lowest level in seven months against the U.S. dollar on massive foreign stock selling.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) tumbled 151.59 points, or 3.79 percent, to close at 3,853.26.

Trade volume was moderate at 307.95 million shares worth 14.02 trillion won (US$9.5 billion), with decliners outnumbering gainers 718 to 177.

Foreigners sold a net 2.83 trillion won worth of shares, while retail and institutional investors bought a net 2.29 trillion won and 495.46 billion won worth of shares, respectively.

According to the Korea Exchange, offshore investors’ net selling reached its largest level since Feb. 26, 2021, when they offloaded 2.83 trillion won worth of shares.

The index opened lower, tracking overnight losses on Wall Street, and further extended its decline as investors were wary of the valuation of AI-related shares and their aggressive investment plans.

Also affecting the sentiment was the Federal Reserve‘s monetary policy, as expectations for further rate cuts continued to wane.

“The market surrendered its gains from yesterday’s Nvidia earnings surprise. Following recent sharp gains, volatility appears to have persisted,” Han Ji-young, a researcher at Kiwoom Securities, said.

“But there remains ample potential for sentiment to reverse depending on upcoming key economic data and additional AI-related developments,” the analyst added.

Tech shares dipped following a rally in the previous session.

Market bellwether Samsung Electronics fell 5.77 percent to 94,800 won, and chip giant SK hynix plunged 8.76 percent to 521,000 won.

Major battery maker LG Energy Solution lost 3.51 percent to 425,500 won, and LG Chem dipped 5.53 percent to 367,000 won.

Nuclear power plant builder Doosan Enerbility sank 5.92 percent to 73,100 won, and defense giant Hanwha Aerospace shed 5.13 percent to 869,000 won.

Leading shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy skidded 4.8 percent to 555,000 won, and its rival Hanwha Ocean lost 4.16 percent to 119,800 won. No. 1 steelmaker POSCO declined 3.42 percent to 310,500 won.

Carmakers finished mixed. Top automaker Hyundai Motor retreated 0.95 percent to 259,500 won, while its sister affiliate Kia rose 0.53 percent to 114,000 won.

Leading financial group KB Financial decreased 0.58 percent to 120,500 won, while internet portal operator Naver surged 2.14 percent to 262,500 won.

The local currency was quoted at 1,475.6 won against the greenback at 3:30 p.m., down 7.7 won from the previous session.

It marked the weakest level since April 9, when it finished at 1,484.1 won. The April 9 figure was the lowest since March 12, 2009, when the won closed at 1,496.5 amid the global financial crisis.

Bond prices, which move inversely to yields, ended higher. The yield on three-year Treasurys fell 3.6 basis points to 2.872 percent, and the return on the benchmark five-year government bonds lost 3.9 basis points to 3.076 percent.

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The 28-year-old Benavidez, an American of Mexican heritage, has stopped 24 of his 30 opponents and is a former two-time super-middleweight champion.

Nicknamed the “Mexican Monster”, he promised a “war”.

“I’ve had my eye on Anthony Yarde for a long time. He has power and heart. No matter who he faces, it’s a good fight,” added the Phoenix-born Benavidez.

“I want to give people action-packed fights. This one is going to live up to the moment.”

Earlier, heated words between the camps of WBO welterweight world champion Brian Norman Jr and fellow American challenger Devin Haney – who meet on the undercard – led to security stepping in as Haney’s father, Bill, moved toward Norman’s father, Brian Sr.

In contrast, the headliners showed mutual respect, with Yarde and Benavidez sharing smiles and a warm embrace during their face-off.

SEOUL, Nov. 20 (UPI) — Kenneth Bae, the Korean-American missionary who endured 735 days as a political prisoner in North Korea, is now leading a renewed international effort to realize a unified Korean Peninsula.

Bae, 57, a naturalized U.S. citizen, was the longest-held American citizen in North Korea since the Korean War — an experience he now views as a mission to become a “voice for the voiceless” North Korean people.

Bae’s ordeal began in 2012 when he was arrested while leading his 18th “Love DPRK Tour” group. He was charged with “conspiracy to overthrow the state” and sentenced to 15 years of hard labor. He became the first U.S. citizen to be confined to a North Korean kyohwaso, or re-education camp.

“The ultimate charge was that I had tried to overthrow the North Korean regime through prayer and worship,” Bae said in an interview. His unintentional mistake was bringing an external hard drive containing a documentary that showed the suffering of ordinary North Koreans, which became evidence for the regime’s accusations.

Before his arrest, the “Love DPRK Tour” was focused less on proselytizing and more on cultural exchange and prayer for the land. Bae took some 300 people from 17 countries over two years to engage in activities like making kimchi, learning traditional dance and simply “walking the land” while praying for the North Korean people.

He was released in 2014 after a high-level diplomatic intervention led by then-Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, an event that highlighted his strong, enduring ties to Washington policymakers.

New focus: from defector aid to unification

After his release, Bae initially established the Nehemiah Global Initiative in South Korea, primarily focusing on aiding North Korean defectors with settlement, education and even the financial support needed to rescue family members from third countries. Over eight years, NGI provided English education to about 800 young defectors.

In 2022, he rebranded the organization as the New Korea Foundation International, signaling a critical shift in focus. While support for defectors continues, the core mission is now actively preparing for reunification and the reconstruction of North Korea.

“Reunification is not an option; it is a necessity and a mission for our people,” Bae said, emphasizing the stark difference between his two years of captivity and the seven decades the North Korean populace has lived without freedom.

He insists on a South Korea-led unification that is welcomed by North Korean citizens and supported by the international community. He stresses that the true “target of unification” is the North Korean populace, not the Pyongyang regime.

Mobilizing global support: the “One Korea” campaign

The foundation launched the New Korea Unification Campaign under the slogan, “One State, One Nation, One Future, One Korea.” The campaign is a comprehensive, multi-faceted effort to build global consensus for a free and democratic unified Korea.

The campaign offers three primary ways to participate: sign, give and serve.

• It urges global citizens to join the Signature Campaign (Petition movement) to showcase worldwide support and to join the Nehemiah Prayer Pledge.

This prayer movement, originally launched by Bae’s founding organization, the Nehemiah Global Initiative, already has garnered 6,500 signatures from 75 countries to pray for the people of North Korea and for unification.

• The New Korea Gospel Broadcast is a cornerstone project, a planned U.S.-based AM Christian broadcast intended to reach North Koreans with information about the outside world and the Christian Gospel.

Recognizing the challenges and interruptions faced by official broadcasts like the Voice of America and Radio Free Asia, this private-sector effort aims to maintain a vital source of outside information.

The broadcast will share “letters of hope,” directly inspired by the hundreds of letters Bae received while imprisoned. To fund this critical initiative, the foundation is seeking 1,000 people to contribute $20 per month.

• Other core campaign projects include Raising the Reunification Reconstruction Fund to support relief for refugees, the Human Rights Advocacy Movement and the Nehemiah Scholarship for defectors.

Urgency of the three-year window

Bae views the current geopolitical climate as critical, warning against the danger of the peninsula’s division becoming permanent through the “Two States” theory. He believes that if the two-state narrative is allowed to solidify, it would be a moral “betrayal” of the North Korean people.

He strongly urges the younger generation in South Korea to reject the notion that unification is a financial burden, arguing instead that North Korea is a “land of opportunity.”

“With its natural resources and a combined population exceeding 80 million, a unified Korea would become a powerful and prosperous nation,” he asserted.

He sees the next three years as a crucial window to prevent the permanent entrenchment of the division. Bae is actively appealing to U.S. leaders and policymakers for their support of the Unification Campaign, emphasizing his strong personal connections to American officials and his belief that global consensus is paramount.

Bae believes that by focusing on creating interest, knowing the situation and action, the Korean people and the international community can ensure the path to a single, free Korea remains open.

For more information on the New Korea Unification Campaign, visit the New Korea Foundation International website: newkoreafi.org.

Vatican City is the world’s cheapest destination, where visitors can explore this tiny European country for an average of just £11 per person

If you’re looking to immerse yourself in a place steeped in history and culture, you might assume you’d need to set aside several days and a hefty budget. However, that’s not always the case.

While some destinations do demand more time, there’s one tiny city that can be fully explored in just a day. Even better, it’s the cheapest place to visit globally.

According to research by Safari company Go2Africa, Vatican City is one of the least expensive places to explore worldwide.

They analysed different countries’ total tourism receipts for the year and compared this figure with the total number of international visitors to find out where it was cheapest.

They discovered that visitors to the Vatican have an average spend of just £11 per visitor – the lowest in the world.

This is likely because Vatican City is so small that most of its sites can be seen within a few short hours, eliminating the need for overnight accommodation, reports the Express.

Vatican City is not only Europe’s smallest country but also holds the title for being the smallest in the world by size and population.

Just 501 people call this country home, yet it attracts millions of visitors every year.

If you fancy being one of them, there are some must-see sights during your visit.

One of the most famous is St Peter’s Basilica. Construction began in 1506 and was completed in 1615, making it one of the most renowned works of Renaissance architecture.

The basilica is a significant pilgrimage site, attracting tens of thousands of visitors. It’s also home to stunning works of art and intriguing religious relics.

Art enthusiasts will be thrilled to know that Vatican City houses Michelangelo’s renowned La Pietà sculpture, widely regarded as one of the most emotionally stirring sculptures ever crafted.

This marble masterpiece portrays the Virgin Mary holding the body of Christ after his crucifixion. Positioned at the entrance of the basilica, it’s one of the world’s most celebrated pieces of art.

Since “Stranger Things” last released new episodes in 2022, a lot has happened. The writers’ and actors’ guilds went on a historic strike, delaying production on the final season. The Duffer Brothers, as the show’s creators Matt and Ross are known, developed a stage play set in the “Stranger Things” world that premiered on London’s West End and transferred to Broadway earlier this year. The star, Millie Bobby Brown, who was 12 when the show premiered, became a wife and mother.

The time between the fourth and fifth seasons is long enough that many fans — save the ones who have been faithfully rewatching and carefully taking notes in preparation — may not remember what happened last. And key context and developments from earlier seasons may be even fuzzier in our memories, like Eleven trying to recall what happened in the rainbow room.

The only guide you need for holiday entertainment.

Let’s refresh our memories together.

“Stranger Things,” set in fictional Hawkins, Ind., (primarily) in the 1980s, follows a ragtag bunch of kids and a handful of trusted adults as they battle evil and supernatural forces in their small town. High school students Will (Noah Schnapp), Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin), Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) and Max (Sadie Sink), along with older teens Nancy (Natalia Dyer), Jonathan (Charlie Heaton), Steve (Joe Keery) and Robin (Maya Hawke), work alongside Eleven (Brown), a girl with special psychokinetic abilities, to protect the town from a parallel dimension called the Upside Down with monsters, electrical storms and a Lovecraftian, other-worldly force. Joining them in the fight is Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder), Will and Jonathan’s mom, police chief Jim Hopper (David Harbour) and a handful of other instrumental characters.

Here’s a recap of the important storylines to remember, a refresher on where the series left off and everything else you need to know to prepare for the fifth and final season that will be released in three installments, beginning with Vol. 1 on Nov. 26, Vol. 2 on Christmas Day and the finale on New Year’s Eve.

Where we left off

The crew gathers as they see dark clouds move over Hawkins at the end of Season 4, indicating that the Upside Down is infiltrating the real world.

(Netflix)

Season 4 of “Stranger Things” concludes in a dark place, literally.

Vecna, the main antagonist from Season 4, had been seeking out four victims whose deaths would open four gates to the Upside Down. Although his final victim, Max, was only dead for a minute (more on that later), he succeeded. The gates converge at the center of Hawkins, culminating in a large boom at the Hawkins Public Library. Although it’s dismissed by officials as an earthquake, our gang knows better — the Upside Down is merging with the real world.

The final moments of the season show dark clouds billowing through the sky as the familiar, dandruff-like particles from the Upside Down float through the air. Earlier in the season, Vecna possessed Nancy, showing her a terrifying vision of mass death and destruction in Hawkins and the four gates to the Upside Down ripping through the town. These are just a few steps in his mission to destroy humanity.

At the end of the season, we also see the long-anticipated return of Hopper, who was trapped in a Russian prison until Joyce and Murray Bauman (Brett Gelman), their mutual friend and a private investigator, help break him out and bring him back home. Eleven and Hopper, who have a father-daughter-like bond, reunite in one of the bright spots of an otherwise dark season.

And although he achieved his goal, Vecna is weak. Nancy, Robin and Steve set his body on fire while he was attacking Max, who was in a trance. Fearless Nancy then shoots him repeatedly until he falls out of the second story of his lair. Although it seems at first that they have killed him, his body is gone by the time the crew rushes to the ground floor, and Will senses that he is still alive.

Characters who died in Season 4

Vecna’s attack briefly killed Max, but Eleven was able to revive her. She’s in a coma at the end of Season 4.

(Netflix)

Max Mayfield (sort of)

Vecna preyed on Max for much of Season 4, and in the final episode, playing Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” on repeat from her Walkman is not enough to save her. Vecna kills Max, but Eleven is able to revive her by using her powers to restart her heart. The last shot we see of Max is of her hospitalized in a coma, with broken bones and her concerned friends by her side.

She’s alive, but her temporary death was enough for Vecna to accomplish his goal. Theories about whether Max’s consciousness is trapped in Vecna’s visions, or if she will recover with powers that enable her to spy on Vecna, have been circulating on social media since the release of Season 4, but fans of the character shouldn’t fret. Sink is listed in the credits for Season 5 and she is seen briefly in the Season 5 trailer, with Lucas carrying her body as a Demogorgon, one of the monsters in the show, runs toward them.

Although he died in the Season 3 finale, Billy Hargrove, Max’s stepbrother, is noteworthy since his death took a big emotional toll on Max, filling her with guilt and grief, which primed her to be one of Vecna’s targets.

Eddie Munson

This fan-favorite character played by Joseph Quinn died in the final episode of Season 4, but he went out with a blaze. Eddie and Dustin were in the Upside Down carrying out their part in the plan to attack Vecna, and Eddie shredded out Metallica’s “Master of Puppets” on his guitar in order to distract the Demobats protecting Vecna’s lair. Dustin says the musical ruse is the “most metal ever,” but it’s not enough to keep them safe from the terrifying creatures.

After Dustin makes it through the gate back into the real world, Eddie stays behind to drive the bats away and buy the group more time. He is eventually attacked by the creatures, and dies in Dustin’s arms after protecting his friends.

Eddie initially befriended Mike, Lucas and Dustin because of their shared love of Dungeons & Dragons, forming the Hellfire Club to play the game together. Eddie’s death is likely to reverberate with Dustin in the upcoming season, who is seen in the trailer wearing his Hellfire Club T-shirt.

Dr. Martin Brenner

Dr. Brenner, or Eleven’s “papa” as his test subjects called him, was killed by military gunfire when officers invaded his research facility in search of Eleven. They believed she was behind the strange happenings and murders taking place in Hawkins.

Brenner (Matthew Modine) played a significant role in the controversial MKUltra program, a real-life covert CIA mind-control and chemical interrogation research program. He took a young Henry Creel (who ultimately became 001/Vecna) into his custody after discovering he possessed psychokinetic abilities and tried to replicate those abilities in other children, including Eleven.

In his final moments, Brenner tells Eleven he is proud of her and that all he ever wanted was to help her and protect her, despite the psychological and physical abuse he inflicted on her.

Other important things to remember

Although Hopper and Joyce were able to rescue Will from the Upside Down, he is still closely tied to the dimension and its monsters.

(Netflix )

Will’s connection to the Upside Down

Since he was trapped in the Upside Down during Season 1, Will hasn’t been able to sever his tie to the dimension. In Season 2, he is possessed by the Mind Flayer and feels pain when the vines in the Upside Down are damaged or Demogorgons are hurt. He is tapped into the dimension’s “hive mind” and can sense Vecna’s presence, usually through a strange feeling on the back of his neck.

Eleven’s ‘sister’

Although all of the test subjects who were raised alongside Eleven were killed by Henry/001 in the massacre at Hawkins Labs (Season 4, Episode 7), one of her “siblings” managed to escape the lab before that fateful day. Kali, or 008, made a brief appearance in a Season 2 storyline — Eleven temporarily joined her gang of misfits to help in Kali’s mission of getting revenge on people who worked in the lab.

Kali did not appear in Seasons 3 or 4, but aside from Eleven and Henry/Vecna, she is the only other person known to have powerful psychokinetic abilities.

‘The First Shadow’

The stage play “Stranger Things: The First Shadow” is a prequel diving into Henry’s origins and how he eventually became 001, and Vecna. Although it is considered a standalone work, the Duffer Brothers collaborated with “Stranger Things” writer Kate Trefry to create the play’s story and they have confirmed it is canon in the “Stranger Things” universe.

Some fans who have compared the details from the play and the series say that the play suggests Vecna might not be in control of the Mind Flayer, as he has suggested. Rather, the Mind Flayer is in control of him, or that it had at least corrupted his human self.

Fans who have traced back through the series to see if this theory holds water point out that Dustin, whose theories about the Upside Down tend to be correct, suggested the same thing in Season 4. Speaking about the Mind Flayer, he says, “If the Demogorgon was just his foot soldier, Vecna’s his five-star general.”

What we know is coming next

In the first look at Season 5, Will and Vecna come face to face.

(Netflix)

Netflix released the first five minutes of the new season in early November, in which we see a flashback to Will’s time trapped in the Upside Down. A Demogorgon drags an unconscious Will to Vecna’s lair, and Vecna ominously says they can begin their work “at long last.” “You and I, we are going to do such beautiful things together, William,” he continues.

It looks like we can expect a showdown between our heroes and Vecna, but it’s possible we might also get further explanation about why Will was specifically targeted from the beginning.

Is this the end of ‘Stranger Things’?

In a word, yes. But new stories taking place in the world of “Stranger Things” will be coming. Netflix recently unveiled the first look at an animated spinoff series, “Stranger Things: Tales From ’85.” The series is set between the events of Seasons 2 and 3, and it will feature the main characters fans know and love. The Duffer Brothers collaborated with showrunner Eric Robles to create the series, which does not have a premiere date yet.

The Duffer Brothers are also developing a spinoff series with new characters and a “clean slate,” which they teased in a recent interview with Variety.

SEOUL, Nov. 20 (UPI) — A U.N. committee adopted a resolution condemning North Korea’s human rights violations, Seoul’s Foreign Ministry said Thursday, with 61 co-sponsors including South Korea and the United States.

The draft resolution, introduced earlier this month to the Third Committee of the U.N. General Assembly, “condemns in the strongest terms the long-standing and ongoing systematic, widespread and gross violations of human rights in and by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, including those that may amount to crimes against humanity.”

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is the official name of North Korea.

The resolution calls on Pyongyang to “respect, protect and fulfill all human rights and fundamental freedoms” and to “immediately close the political prison camps and release all political prisoners unconditionally.”

It was approved by consensus during a plenary meeting of the Third Committee on Wednesday.

South Korea was among the initial 41 member states to co-sponsor the resolution, despite speculation that the liberal administration of President Lee Jae Myung might withhold support in an effort to improve relations with Pyongyang.

However, South Korea maintained the position of former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s conservative government, with the Foreign Ministry noting that Seoul’s approach to North Korean human rights would remain a matter of principle.

In a statement on Thursday, the Foreign Ministry said the resolution “urges the DPRK to establish an operating environment conducive to the return of international and humanitarian staff and encourages all Member States and U.N. entities to provide more support for the work of civil society organizations.”

“The ROK government will continue its close cooperation with the international community for the substantive enhancement of human rights of DPRK people,” the ministry added, using the official acronym for South Korea.

North Korea has long rejected such resolutions as hostile acts, accusing the United Nations and Western powers of using human rights as a pretext to undermine its government.

During Wednesday’s plenary meeting, North Korean Ambassador to the United Nations Kim Song said Pyongyang “strongly condemns and totally rejects” the resolution, calling it “a document of political plots motivated by the impure intention of defaming the dignity of our republic and undermining its sovereign political system.”

Representatives of China and Russia also dissociated themselves from the consensus, with Beijing rejecting what it called a “politicized approach to human rights issues.”

A September report by the U.N. Human Rights Office found that North Korea’s human rights situation “has not improved over the past decade and, in many instances, has degraded,” citing worsening food shortages, widespread forced labor and tight restrictions on movement and expression.

This week, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un praised his regime’s state security forces, which run the political prison system and have been widely accused of employing brutal methods of repression and torture. The security apparatus has long been central to maintaining the Kim family’s grip on power through pervasive surveillance and the suppression of dissent.

The United States, which was not initially among the co-sponsoring nations, later joined the group that also includes Australia, Britain, France, Germany and Japan.

The resolution will be reviewed at the upcoming General Assembly plenary next month for final adoption.

One soldier was injured Thursday morning after an explosion occurred inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas, officials said.

The explosion took place at 9:20 a.m. on the western front of the DMZ in Paju, just northwest of Seoul, for unknown reasons, according to officials.

A 24-year-old Army staff sergeant, who was on a mission to detect land mines on the southern side of the inter-Korean border at the time, sustained what is presumed to be an ankle fracture due to the blast.

He was wearing anti-mine protective gear and sustained non-life-threatening injuries, officials said.

Military authorities are investigating the exact cause of the accident.

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One month before he opened this year’s United Nations climate summit, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva helped open a new mega-factory at the site of a former Ford car manufacturing plant.

The new plant, in Brazil’s Camacari, Bahia, is one of many being built around the world by China’s BYD, the world’s largest manufacturer of electric cars.

BYD’s presence is also being felt at the ongoing COP30 climate summit in Brazil’s Belem, where it is a cosponsor alongside GWM, another Chinese electric carmaker.

The sponsorship is just one of many ways that China’s investments in green technology are being felt at the UN’s top climate meeting, where the Chinese official delegation of 789 people is second only to Brazil’s 3,805.

It is a stark contrast to the United States, whose federal government has not sent an official delegation. California’s Governor Gavin Newsom has accused US President Donald Trump of “handing the future to China” and leaving states like California to pick up the slack, in a speech at the summit.

“ China is here. Only one country’s not here: United States of America,” Newsom said. Trump has called concerns over climate change a “hoax” and a “con job”.

But the UN Climate Change Conference COP30 is not the only event where the diverging paths that China and the US are taking on addressing the climate crisis are being felt.

Back in the US, and in neighbouring Canada, trade barriers aimed at punishing Chinese electric vehicles have made them far costlier than what the manufacturers want to sell them for.

These tariffs are a legacy of former US President Joe Biden’s administration, and place North America as an outlier at a time when Chinese EVs otherwise dominate the global market.

How dominant is China in EVs?

Joel Jaeger, a senior research associate with the World Resources Institute, told Al Jazeera that Chinese EVs have “really upended the car market” in recent years.

China has gone “from basically not a major player five years ago” to becoming “the number one exporter of cars globally in terms of the units”, says Jaeger.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), China manufactured 12.4 million electric cars in 2024, more than 70 percent of the 17.3 million electric cars manufactured globally last year.

Of these, China exported about 1.25 million cars, representing 40 percent of global exports, while the remaining Chinese-made cars — the vast majority — were sold domestically.

This dominance has been built on the back of “subsidies that China’s put in place to develop its industry, which I think is a very strategic thing that China has done, both for its own economic growth as well as decarbonisation”, Jaeger said.

But on the streets of the US or Canada, Chinese EVs are still relatively rare.

Why are Chinese EVs less affordable in the US and Canada?

According to Jaeger, “prohibitive” tariffs mean that Chinese EVs are almost impossible to buy in the US and Canada.

“In the last year, the US and Canada both put on basically completely prohibitive tariffs on EVs [of] over 100 percent in both places,” he added.

Notably, the steep import taxes on Chinese EVs in the US were introduced under Biden, a Democrat, who championed renewable energy, in contrast to Trump, who has pledged to fight it and “drill, baby, drill” for oil.

A month after the US introduced 100 percent tariffs on Chinese EVs in September 2024, Canada brought in identical tariffs of its own.

It means that a car that a Chinese EV manufacturer might be selling at $30,000 actually costs at least $60,000 in the US or Canada. This makes it hard for even cheaper Chinese models to compete with the higher-end US electric models, which on average retail for approximately $55,000.

These tariffs, along with other US policies, have meant that Chinese manufacturers have yet to set up shop in the US.

In Canada, Addisu Lashitew, an associate professor of business at McMaster University, told Al Jazeera that the steep tariffs conflict with targets set to transition fully to electric cars by 2035, but are also complicated due to Canada’s close trading ties with the US.

“The problem is that one, we are going through a very complex trade talk with the US now,” said Lashitew. “And two, our supply chain has also [been] very much integrated. Many of the American manufacturers are here, and Canadian firms are mainly suppliers.”

But while it is almost impossible to buy a cheap Chinese electric car in the US, Jaeger says this does not mean that North America is completely missing out on importing new Chinese technology.

“The US, for example, imports a lot of batteries from China. It’s actually the second-biggest importer of lithium-ion batteries behind Germany in the world, from China. So, they’re using them in US-made EVs,” he said.

Where can you buy cheap Chinese electric cars?

In contrast with the US and Canada, said Jaeger, many other countries have been more open to China’s EV market.

“You see different reactions from different countries, depending on their relationship with China, but mostly depending upon their domestic auto manufacturing presence,” he said.

Lashitew told Al Jazeera that Chinese exporters, including BYD as well as some smaller firms, are “targeting many emerging and developing countries”.

“Ironically, we’re in a situation where in the transportation sector, the energy transition is happening much faster in the Global South than in North America, at least.”

Chinese electric cars have also continued to sell well in many European countries, says Jaeger, despite those countries also imposing some tariffs, though lower than the US and Canada, “for what they see as unfair competitive practices in China”.

Still, while BYD has built factories in Japan, Hungary and India, as well as Brazil, its biggest presence remains in China, where the company was founded in Shenzhen in 1995. A majority of the 4.27 million electric cars that BYD sold in 2024 were bought by Chinese consumers. BYD also has a manufacturing presence in Lancaster, California, where it builds electric buses and batteries, but not cars.

In China, the local market has grown in part due to incentives from the government, which also saw electric cars as part of its strategy to bring down air pollution in big cities like Beijing and Shanghai.

Customers in China have benefitted from the government’s approach, including through access to new technology. For example, a new battery, which BYD announced in March with the promise of charging for 400km (about 250 miles) of travel in just five minutes, is first being made available for preorder to customers in China only.

How expensive are EVs?

They used to be costlier than cars that run on petrol or diesel. But according to the IEA, the cost of owning an electric car over the vehicle’s entire lifetime is now less than fossil fuel-powered cars, due to the reduced costs of fuel and maintenance.

Buying an electric car is still often more expensive, though.

That is where China’s subsidies to manufacturers help. The IEA has found that prices for electric cars in China are similar to petrol and diesel cars, with half of all electric cars being sold for less than $30,000 and a wide range of lower-priced models available.

By contrast, in the US and Europe, “the range [of available EVs] was skewed towards higher-end models with higher prices”, according to the IEA.

Under Biden, the US tried to boost its domestic electric vehicle industry, while also trying to get the sector to reduce dependence on China.

Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) introduced incentives for US manufacturers that did not use any Chinese parts. The IRA also introduced subsidies for consumers who bought EVs, though these have largely been overturned by Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill, which became law in July.

Nevertheless, even with the Biden-era incentives, only one in 10 cars sold in the US in 2024 was electric, while more than half of all new cars sold last year in China were electric.

Not just cars

While electric cars grab most headlines on sustainable transport, people are also increasingly turning to electric bicycles, scooters, motorcycles, buses and even trains in many parts of the world.

Even in the US, says Jaeger, there has been a significant growth in the number of electric scooters and two-wheelers imported from China.

According to data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC), the US imported $1.5bn worth of electric two-wheelers from China in the 12 months up to September 2025, an increase of $275m — or more than 20 percent — from the previous year. Experts say that is because scooters are cheaper than cars, and because US tariffs on Chinese electric scooters are also lower than on electric cars.

Meanwhile, in Vietnam, the government has said it will ban petrol-powered motorbikes in the centre of its capital, Hanoi, from July next year, as part of a plan to tackle local air pollution.

According to the IEA, some 40 percent of bus sales are now electric in European countries, including Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands and Norway.

There have also been increases in electric bus sales in Central and South America. In Mexico, for example, “close to 18 percent of all bus sales were electric in 2024, up from just above 1 percent in 2023”, according to the IEA.

Still, the US continues to struggle here, too. Electric bus sales declined in 2024, according to the IEA, after the leading electric bus manufacturer went bankrupt and a second company stopped manufacturing in the US market after suffering sustained financial losses.

All 267 passengers and crew were safely rescued hours after their ferry ran aground off South Korea’s southwestern coast this week, the Coast Guard said Thursday, with investigators giving weight to errors in navigation as a potential cause of the accident.

The 26,546-ton Queen Jenuvia II carrying 246 passengers and 21 crew members was reported to have run aground at the uninhabited islet of Jok near Jangsan Island off the coast of Sinan County, 366 kilometers south of Seoul, at around 8:17 p.m. Wednesday, according to the Coast Guard. It was en route to the port city of Mokpo after departing from the southern island of Jeju.

Half of the vessel’s hull was said to have moved onto Jok Islet. No serious injuries were reported, with 27 people reporting pain due to the shock that they experienced when the vessel ran aground.

All people aboard the ferry were safely moved to a nearby port aboard Coast Guard and other vessels.

For the rescue operations, the Coast Guard deployed 17 patrol ships, four coastal rescue vessels, a plane and special rescue personnel.

Maritime authorities presumed that the ferry ran aground due to human error.

“We confirmed that the vessel veered belatedly, deviating from the regular course,” an official from the Mokpo Coast Guard said during a press briefing in the southwestern city of Mokpo.

In an earlier briefing, Korea Coast Guard Commissioner Kim Yong-jin also attributed the cause to errors by a captain or navigator.

Neither the captain nor navigator were found to be under the influence.

At the time of the accident, the waves were measured at around 0.5 meters and calm.

The Coast Guard said it received the first distress call at 8:16 p.m., a minute before the ship ran aground, from a person tentatively identified as a navigator.

An investigation team has been set up to determine the cause, including through data recorders and surveillance cameras on the vessel, and by questioning crew members.

Some passengers described the incident in real time on social media. “There was a loud bang, and then the ship tilted,” one passenger wrote. “An announcement told everyone to put on life jackets, so we’re wearing them and waiting on the top deck.”

Children, pregnant women and older adults were reportedly taken off first, while other passengers and crew waited their turn on deck wearing life jackets.

President Lee Jae Myung ordered swift rescue efforts immediately after being briefed on the accident during his visit to the United Arab Emirates.

“Lee immediately ordered the relevant authorities to act swiftly to prevent any loss of life and to provide real-time updates on the rescue operations to reassure the public,” the presidential office said.

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Nov. 19 (UPI) — Indonesia’s Mount Semeru sent volcanic ash columns 6,500 feet high after erupting Wednesday afternoon, posing a danger to regional air traffic and forcing more than 300 to evacuate.

The eruption occurred at 4 p.m. local time on East Java’s tallest peak at 12,060 feet and triggered a red aviation alert by Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology’s Volcanic Ash Advisory Center in Darwin.

The alert indicates a threat to aviation, and officials at Qantas and Jetstar Airways said they are monitoring the situation but so far have not changed any flights.

The airlines will contact any customers who might be affected if the situation changes.

Virgin Australia also has not cancelled any scheduled flights.

Officials in Indonesia increased Mount Semeru to a Level 4 for volcanic activity, which is the highest warning level and indicates an eruption that is in progress, Fox Weather reported.

The volcano is capable of ejecting pyroclastic rocks as far as 5 miles from its peak, and local officials are prohibiting people from coming within 12 miles of the volcano due to the dangers posed by potential lava flows and clouds of hot ash.

Indonesia has 101 volcanoes and frequently experiences eruptions, according to the Smithsonian Institution Museum of Natural History Global Volcanism Program.

SQUEALING on camera last week, TikTok star Yasmin Hadfield couldn’t wait to tell her followers she had a coveted invitation to the opening of the Sephora store in Wales.

After months of controversies followed by a devastating miscarriage, what should have been a happy moment for the influencer mum, 32, quickly turned sour as former fans accused her of faking her involvement with the brand. Here we take a look at what went wrong for Yaz – plus the truth behind THAT controversial invite.

Our insider said: “It’s been an incredibly difficult few months for Yaz – she has battled addiction and had a tragic miscarriage, which she has really struggled to come to terms with.

“That all happened only months after she had overcome not just one but two cheating scandals, which really saw a lot of the internet turn on her.”

The invitation to Sephora opening was a real turning point for her, she felt she was finally being accepted back into the fold of TikTok fame.

But things quickly turned sour, and she was mercilessly mocked when people claimed she had pretended to be invited to the event in Wales. We can reveal she was invited to the opening – but just not by Sephora. 

It’s certainly not been trouble free and at times things have become very murky for the girls.

Insider

Yaz was taken to the event by the marketing team Capsule, who work with a variety of brands, including luxury skincare line Mario Badesco.

She attended alongside her best friend Chloe Birdsall, who has told us what really happened that day.

Chloe explained: “It was so lovely, we got a little lesson about the brand and all the products from their rep, who invited us to the spa in New York which apparently Martha Stewart loves.”

She says the backlash towards Yaz “broke her heart”, adding: “ I think people online got confused by a “collab” and a PR invite? They’re not the same thing. 

“Loads of lovely people got photos with Yaz and it was so lovely after the horrid few years she’s had, seeing her in her element.”

Chloe added: “She would do anything for anyone; she has a heart of gold. We all make mistakes and life tests us but she’s held to a different standard online. It’s horrid to see.”

Yaz lives in Wales and is married to Lee Hadfield – they have a son called Wolf. Eden is married to Lloyd, and they share a son called Sonny. On screen, they had the picture-perfect families. 

Drink and drug addiction

Behind closed doors, something much darker was going on – Yaz was secretly battling drug and alcohol addiction.

Today, she is nine months sober, but at one point, there were fears that addiction could take over her life. Her dad, from Tunbridge Wells, stepped in last Christmas and told her it was time to take action.

Recalling that moment, she explained: “I was just like, right, Yasmin, you literally have one more chance at this beautiful life you and Lee have built. You either take it or you just continue on the path you were on.

“My dad was the only person who could get through to me on Christmas night and he spoke to Lee.”

She credits Lee as helping to ‘put her back together’, and admits she considered wiping her online history – riddled with embarrassment and shame about her dishonesty for all those years.

She said: “I could have so easily removed all the content from the last few years and started from scratch. And not allow people to go back through fishing and trying to look where they can see me a bit bug-eyed or where they can see me looking a bit worse for wear. But I don’t want that. I want to be real.”

She suffered heartache a few months ago when she discovered she had miscarried – leaving her in a state of disbelief and although she shared what was going on with her followers online, Yaz took a real step back.

Yaz and her sisters Eden, 27, and sister Freya are not new to the internet – they’ve been making content for years and have over three million followers between them, but it’s been far from easy.

Shocking claim rocks the family

Our insider said: “Almost straight away, Eden was subjected to backlash and trolling. She was rapidly gaining followers, and while she had millions of fans, there were, of course, some people who picked fault with everything she said or did.

“It’s not been much better for her sisters, and all three of them have come offline at various points to reevaluate their careers.

“Yaz has been painted as a homewrecker, while Eden has dealt with allegations of being a predator. It’s certainly not been trouble-free, and at times things have become very murky for the girls.”

The online barrage was nothing new to Yaz – having been through it all before with her sisters.

Yaz can’t escape Eden’s comments and often feels like she spends a lot of time and energy defending her.

Insider

The first major controversy came when Eden made an off-the-cuff remark about ‘fancying’ a young boy in a play. 

In a video, she said: “The lead was 10 and I fancied him. I’m not ashamed.”

She said she was 18 at the time, and her comment went viral, sparking the first attempt to cancel her for being a ‘predator’. 

Eden later backtracked and apologised, insisting she hadn’t meant what she said. In one of her many apology videos, she said: “To have to say those words is absolutely disgusting. But this is the bed I laid for myself.”

Soon, people picked up on every wrong move she made – and there were a number of instances when she left viewers gobsmacked when she made risky comments in front of kids, which many felt were inappropriate.

Our insider said: “The whole thing caused such a drama and keeps coming back to haunt them both. Yaz can’t escape Eden’s comments and often feels like she spends a lot of time and energy defending her.”

VERY close with her brother-in-law

More recently, wild rumours spread that Yaz was in love with Eden’s husband Lloyd.

Our insider said: “Lots of people think the relationship Yaz has with Lloyd is weird, and they can’t understand how they could be so close.”

She has fueled the speculation, admitting she is indeed obsessed with him.

Yaz told Eden in one video: “I was obsessed with Lloyd. I was honestly obsessed with Lloyd from the second I met him, wasn’t I? 

“I have always loved him. Always will love him. Not having an affair with him, but do have an abnormal obsession with Lloyd.”

Eden became so enraged by the constant comments, she hit out in a fiery video online, but insiders have told us the constant speculation is, in fact welcomed by the girls.

They said: “There is the idea that Eden and Yaz say things they know could get them cancelled because it leads to lots of engagement.  TikTok is their job, so they do need to make money and stay relevant, and this is a great way to get people talking.”

Yaz was caught up in another scandal when an Instagram user accused her of sleeping with her husband while she slept upstairs with their baby.

She fiercely denied the ‘vile’ claims and said she was most upset about being branded a bad mum amid all the drama. 

If anything, Yaz and Eden are hyper-aware when it comes to their children, and despite sharing their lives on camera, Eden will not reveal her little boy’s face.

They are aware of the damage their jobs could cause to their little boys, Yaz previously said: “I think the internet’s got enough damage towards my little boy that he’s going to see one day. It’s all my fault.”

She added: “I’ll be hiding an iPhone from him until he’s 60.”

It’s easy to forget amid all the mess, the good the pair have done – Eden’s videos during the pandemic, where she sat and ate food while chatting to the camera, were lauded, and now Yaz’s sobriety journey has inspired others.

But can they avoid any more drama? Only time will tell – and as they’ve learnt only too well, the internet never forgets. 

Nov. 19 (UPI) — A British man awaiting trial on charges of attempting to murder 10 people on board a high-speed train was due in court again on Wednesday after being charged with two further attempted murder counts.

Anthony Williams, 32, will appear before Peterborough magistrates to face charges he attempted to murder a man and a 14-year-old boy and attempted to seriously wound a third man in separate incidents in the city on Oct. 31.

West Midlands Chief Crown Prosecutor Siobhan Blake said she had also authorized a theft charge against Williams in relation to knives taken from a supermarket in Hertfordshire, a charge of carrying a knife and a charge of affray following an incident at a Peterborough barber shop on Oct. 31.

Williams would also be charged with assault following an alleged attack on a train en route to Peterborough from Herfordshire on Nov. 1, she said.

Blake said the decision to file the charges followed an extensive investigation by British Transport Police into incidents leading up to a stamping rampage aboard a London and North Eastern Railway train as it sped toward London on the evening of Nov. 1 in which 10 people were injured.

“Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring this case to court and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings,” she added.

BTP Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Cundy said the train stabbings incident “had also focused on other offenses previously reported to police, or identified by our investigation.”

“We have worked closely with our colleagues in Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Police, alongside the Crown Prosecution Service, to bring these charges,” said Cundy.

Williams was arrested at Huntingdon station Nov. 1 after the train switched off the high-speed line onto a local district line to divert to the town, a move authorities believe prevented the attack from being much worse.

He is being held on remand pending his next court appearance in relation to the LNER train attack at Cambridge Crown Court on Dec. 1, where in addition to the 10 attempted murder counts he also faces an eleventh charge of attempting to murder a man at a Docklands Light Rail station in London and possessing a knife.

The Crown Prosecution Service said it would seek to tie all the cases together on a single docket at the hearing in Cambridge.

Nov. 19 (UPI) — At least 20 people were killed and more than 100 injured after Russian forces unleashed more than 500 drones and missiles against targets across Ukraine overnight.

The deadliest strike was in the western city of Ternopil, 70 miles southeast of Lviv, where 20 people died and 66 were injured, including 16 children, when a nine-story apartment building was almost completely destroyed, according to Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko.

Images and footage from the scene show the residential building reduced to smoldering rubble above the third floor.

Emergency rescue teams were continuing to search the wreckage for victims Wednesday morning and local authorities ordered residents to stay in their homes and keep windows closed due to the presence of harmful gases and particulates in the air at six times the normal levels.

The neighboring Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk and Khmelnytskyi provinces were also hit in attacks targeting energy, transport and other civilian infrastructure. Three people were injured in Ivano-Frankivsk while in Khmelnytskyi, damage to power-generating and distribution facilities left as many as 2,000 people without electricity in sub-zero temperatures.

At the other end of the country, at least 30 people were injured after drones attacked three districts of Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, setting buildings and cars on fire.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a post on X that the Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Cherkasy, Chernihiv and Dnipro regions were also struck in the attack, which he said involved more than 470 attack drones and 48 missiles, mostly cruise missiles.

In a social media update, the Ukrainian military said that while 442 of the drones and 41 cruise missiles were intercepted, seven missiles and 34 drones were able to penerate air defenses, successfully targeting 14 locations. A further six locations were impacted by falling debris from downed drones and missiles.

The attacks came as Zelensky headed to Turkey from Spain on Wednesday to meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, saying he was seeking to “reinvigorate” peace talks with Moscow which have been stalled for months.

Reports have emerged that U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff has been engaging behind the scenes with his Russian counterpart, Kirill Dmitriev, to work toward a peace plan.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov would not confirm the U.S.-Russia negotiations and said Moscow would not be sending any representative to Wednesday’s talks in Ankara.

The move was linked to a meeting between Zelensky and U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and U.S. Army Chief of Staff General Randy George in Kyiv on Thursday. Driscoll and George are the most senior U.S. officials to visit Ukraine in nine months.

CJ Olive Young Corp., the distribution unit of South Korea’s food-to-cosmetics conglomerate CJ Group, said Wednesday it will open its first U.S. outlet in California in May next year.

The store will be located in Pasadena, a city about 18 kilometers northeast of Los Angeles, with several additional locations set to open in California by the end of next year, the company said in a press release.

“The location is expected to attract Younger consumers interested in K-beauty products, as well as high-income customers in an area near the California Institute of Technology and other research organizations,” the company said.

In February, CJ Olive Young established CJ Olive Young USA in Los Angeles to bolster its presence in the world’s largest beauty market.
The company views Japan and the United States as key strategic markets for its global expansion amid rising global interest in K-beauty.

Last year, it opened an office in Japan to supply its cosmetic products to local distribution channels.

CJ Olive Young currently sells products in global markets only through online platforms, without operating any offline stores overseas.

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THERE is nothing better than realising you are cool before it was actually cool, after my old road was named one of the world’s trendiest.

My learning I was a trendsetter comes from the latest revealing of the World’s Coolest Streets by Time Out.

The new Time Out list named the top 31 streets that they deem the coolest in the world.

Taking the top spot was much further afield, with Rio’s Rua do Senado in no.1.

But just squeezing into the top 31 (at no.31) was Northdown Road in Margate.

Calling it the “one-time fashionable hotel quarter,” its credited with making a comeback that is “not unlike a street you’d find in East London“.

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I left the big city of London during the pandemic to move to the seaside, choosing the town of Margate.

It has since been named one of the UK’s trendiest seaside towns, having seen a surge in popularity with ex-Londoners.

And one of the areas where this was most noticeable was said Northdown Road – a road I lived on.

Part of the Cliftonville area (named a cool neighbourhood back in 2022) the main high street is forever seeing new shops and bars crop up.

While the road is slightly out of the main Old Town which attracts most of the tourists, I rarely ventured into the centre – because I didn’t need to.

One of my favourite stops for coffee was Cliffs, a coffee-co-working-hair-dress-vinyl shop.

I would often grab a flat white in the morning to go, or spend a few hours in the quieter upstairs with a book or my laptop.

New coffee shops are always cropping up too – there is Lowlife, which feels like a grown up teenage boy decorated it with graffiti art, skateboards and oversized tees for sale.

Or there is High Tide, more popular with families thanks to their kid-friendly menu and small play area, and the fun Doubloons for more unusual tasting lattes.

If you want the best pastries, you must go to Batchelor’s Pattisserie – open since 1967, its here you’ll find the best traditional sweet treats

It’s so easy to spend the entire day on Northdown – for dinner there is the Japanese Mori Mori; Picnic Deli, a wine bar that has live music and small menu options, or some casual pizza at Casa.

Even for shopping, you can grab a vinyl at Ghost Papa, or some handmade earrings at Reo Jewels, as well as some amazing vintage interiors at Lost Property and plants at The Potting Shed.

And then into the night, the award-winning wine bar Sete is cosy but friendly, along with the newly opened The Last Light pub.

You’ll always spot a fun crowd outside LGBTQ+ bar CAMP which is a great night out too.

See what I mean? For such a small road that is barely a mile long, it ticks all the boxes.

Of course it isn’t without its problems – while Margate is often named an up-and-coming area, there are still issues with fly tipping and antisocialism.

And with the current climate, many of my favourite spots have already been forced to close in recent years, meaning many businesses struggle to stay open (I’ll forever miss the huge bagels of The Skinny Dip).

It’s also missing any good hotels, despite its claim to once be a hotel quarter.

There are a few good B&B options, including Doghouse Margate and Cliftonville Townhouse.

Instead, a short walk away are some of the more popular in town such as Fort Road Hotel and No.42 Guesthouse (or the Premier Inn by the station if you’re on a budget).

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But even the road itself is right by the pretty Old Town as well as Walpole Bay, home to Europe‘s biggest lido.

I can finally say – I knew it all before it was cool.

Nov. 18 (UPI) — Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Tuesday rebuffed the idea of the U.S. military intervening within her country’s borders to combat drug trafficking despite recent remarks from President Donald Trump.

Sheinbaum made the comments during a press conference Tuesday as the Trump administration pursues its increasingly militarized approach to drug trafficking.

Sheinbaum said Trump had offered during multiple phone conversations to send troops to Mexico to help authorities combat criminal groups. While Sheinbaum said she was willing to share information and work with the United States, she would not accept a foreign government intervening in her country.

“We don’t want intervention from any foreign government,” said Sheinbaum in Spanish. She noted that Mexico lost half its territory the last time the United States had a military presence in her country, a reference to the U.S.-Mexico war of the 19th century.

She added she was open to “collaboration and coordination without subordination” to the United States and had communicated the same message to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The Trump administration has launched a series of strikes targeting boats allegedly carrying drugs across the Pacific to the United States. Military officials have justified the strikes as legally permissible after the U.S. government designated drug traffickers as “terrorist organizations.”

Speaking to reporters Monday, Trump said the strikes had significantly reduced drug trafficking across waterways and prevented U.S. citizens from fatal overdoses. When asked if he was open to military strikes against Mexico, Trump indicated he was open to the idea, citing “big problems” in Mexico City.

“So let me just put it this way, I am not happy with Mexico,” he said.

Spain finish unbeaten at the top of Group E despite being given genuine scare by Turkiye, who will compete in playoffs.

Spain have booked their ticket to the 2026 World Cup with a 2-2 draw against Turkiye in their final qualifier to top Group E.

Turkiye finished second on Tuesday and will compete in the playoffs after they became the first team to force Luis de la Fuente’s Euro 2024 champions to drop points.

Dani Olmo fired Spain ahead, but Deniz Gul and Salih Ozcan struck for Turkiye as the hosts conceded their first goals in the qualification process.

Mikel Oyarzabal hit back to equalise in Seville for a Spanish team looking to win football’s biggest prize for the second time.

Spain scored 21 goals in qualifying while conceding just twice and have not tasted defeat in a national record 31 consecutive games.

However, that run includes a 2-2 Nations League final draw with Portugal after extra time in June with Spain losing on penalties.

Turkiye showed de la Fuente’s side are not flawless although Spain were missing several key players, including Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams and Rodri.

They knew to qualify all they had to do was avoid defeat by a seven-goal margin, which was never on the cards, and might have triumphed if not for some inspired goalkeeping by Manchester United stopper Altay Bayindir.

Marc Cucurella’s cross found Olmo in the box, and he controlled it well to bypass a defender before finishing lethally in the fourth minute.

The Barcelona playmaker twice came close to scoring a second from long range, but Bayindir tipped over both efforts.

Turkiye became the first team to score against Spain in qualifying just before the break when Gul levelled, reacting quickly to flick home a knock-down from a corner.

The visitors came out strongly in the second half and forced Spain’s goalkeeper Unai Simon into a pair of smart saves before taking the lead.

Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ozcan rifled home from the edge of the box after Orkun Kokcu had set the ball up nicely for him.

Spain bit back, and Oyarzabal finished from close range after Merih Demiral did brilliantly to block Yeremy Pino’s shot on the line, but it rebounded off another defender nicely for the Real Sociedad forward.

It was Oyarzabal’s sixth goal in a qualifying campaign in which he has staked his claim to being Spain’s starting striker at the World Cup.

Substitute Samu Aghehowa came close as Spain sought a winner, but Bayindir kept out his header and then denied Alex Baena to secure Turkiye an impressive point.

Barcelona’s Fermin Lopez found the net in stoppage time, but his goal was disallowed for offside.

Elsewhere, Scotland scored two dramatic stoppage-time goals to beat 10-man Denmark 4-2 on Tuesday and reach the World Cup for the first time since 1998.

A 1-1 home draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina was enough for Austria in Group H while Belgium routed Liechtenstein 7-0. Switzerland qualified after a 1-1 draw at Kosovo.

The 12 group winners qualified directly while the runners-up will participate in playoffs along with the four best-ranked group winners of the 2024-2025 Nations League that did not finish first or second in their groups.

The playoffs will be played on March 26 and March 31.

The World Cup will be played in the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19.