The narrative began over a decade ago when the graduate, whose identity had been shrouded in mystery during her absence, mysteriously disappeared without a trace. Left behind were her grieving family members, who tirelessly searched for her and the two children she had taken with her. Despite their efforts, the trio remained elusive, leaving a void in the hearts of those who longed for their return.At the same time, South Koreans have welcomed Chinese visitors with open arms, eager to showcase their country's beauty and hospitality. Many Chinese tourists have been amazed by the warm and friendly welcome they have received in South Korea, with locals going out of their way to help them navigate the city, try local delicacies, and experience traditional customs.Oil prices edge up ahead of imminent OPEC+ decision; geopolitical turmoil in focus
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Strictly Come Dancing fans had the same reaction to Craig Revel Horwood as the show commenced on Saturday. The competition is heating up as the stars and their professional partners are set to elevate their performances following the thrill of Blackpool Week. In a new challenge, they faced a Dance-A-Thon, with all pairs hitting the floor to showcase their finest Samba steps in hopes of impressing the judges. Yet, before the much-anticipated dance-off could begin, viewers' attention was captured by judge Craig Revel Horwood who joined his fellow judges in a dance as the live show opened. Craig, alongside Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas, and Anton Du Beke, danced to MC Hammer's "You Can't Touch This," with Craig's antics stealing the spotlight. His hip thrusts and the classic MC Hammer shuffle had the other judges laughing out loud. It wasn't long before fans flocked to X, previously known as Twitter, to express their amusement. One viewer exclaimed: "Why is Craig moving like he should be dressed up as a crab", while another bewildered fan wrote: "WHAT IS CRAIG DOING HELP.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ". A third chimed in: "Whatever s*** Craig is on, I need some." Not everyone was as critical with a fellow fan writing: "Craig ate and left no crumbs" and someone else stating: "Craig getting it on". Aside from Craig's dancing, the beginning of the show also saw a variety of opinions on some of the evening's wardrobe choices. Someone gushed about Tess Daly's attire, "Oh, Tess's suit! *Chef's kiss*", while another fan quipped regarding Claudia Winkleman's garment choice, "Claudia is back in black for a change." Another viewer commented on judge Shirley Ballas's ensemble, dubbing it "far too fussy" due to the prominent black bow. Last weekend witnessed a Strictly Come Dancing landmark as the contestants performed at the legendary Blackpool Tower Ballroom. The evening was filled with memorable moments, not least reality TV personality Pete Wicks strutting his stuff in a vibrant Cha Cha to the tune of "I'm Too Sexy," and Miranda's Sarah Hadland impressing both judges and spectators with a Madonna-infused Couple's Choice performance. As tension mounted, Wynne Evans, known for his Go Compare ads, and Gladiators star Montell Douglas found themselves in a nerve-wracking dance-off, resulting in Evans bidding farewell to the glitterball trophy chase. With the competition tightening, seven stars remain, each vying for a spot in the much-coveted grand final set to take place in just over a month, making predicting the finalists an increasingly challenging affair as the performances soar. Strictly Come Dancing continues every Saturday on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Garrett Marchbanks’ 2024 season was a disjointed affair that featured a change in class and, ultimately, a change of teams, but when the dust settled, he nearly cracked the top 10 in SuperMotocross World Championship points. Marchbanks began the season strong. Racing for ClubMX in the 250 West division, he flirted with the top five in the season opener at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, before finishing seventh. While others struggled in Round 2 in San Francisco, Marchbanks earned his first podium in two years, having hit that mark most recently in the second race of the Orlando residency during the COVID-19-impacted season of 2021. Dan Beaver , Dan Beaver , Marchbanks is one of the larger racers in the 250 division, standing 6', 2" tall and weighing in at a little under 190 pounds, and that contributed to his control in the muddy conditions that marked the early rounds of the Monster Energy Supercross seasons. One week after finishing third in San Francisco, he took the lead of the San Diego feature from RJ Hampshire on a heavy track on Lap 8 and held it for four laps. A small mistake in traffic when he got stalled behind Robbie Wageman as he attempted to lap him allowed Nate Thrasher, another solidly built dirt bike rider, to close the distance and steal the victory. Undeterred, Marchbanks rinsed the mud off his bike and swept the top 10 in seven rounds. He rode well until injury kept him from making the final three races of the stadium season. Missing those rounds denied him the opportunity to finish in the top five in points 250 West, but his average finish of 5.14 marked him as one of the top performers. Dan Beaver , Dan Beaver , One season earlier, when it appeared he would have a difficult time qualifying for the 250 SuperMotocross playoffs, Marchbanks and ClubMX team manager Mike Bonacci decided to pivot and score Pro Motocross points on a 450 . The gamble paid off; Marchbanks qualified for the playoffs on the big bike and finished seventh in the standings. Since it worked once, Marchbanks and ClubMX were prepared to replicate the performance. Fate had different plans, and a hard crash on Press Day for the season opener at Fox Raceway in Pala, California, kept Marchbanks off the circuit for the first four rounds in the 4540 division. Marchbanks returned to action at Southwick, but he was unable to replicate his success from a year early and scored only one top-10 in three rounds. It was time to pivot again, but this time, Marchbanks had a bigger change in mind. Dan Beaver , Dan Beaver , Marchbanks renewed his contract with ClubMX at the start of the end of the 2023 season and was in the middle of a two-year extension . But dirt bike racing is a fraternity and ClubMX was not going to stand in the way of Marchbanks’ success. Pro Circuit Kawasaki was dealing with a rash of injuries and had an open seat in the 250 division — one that Marchbanks was more than happy to fill . He joined them for the Unadilla Nationals and added to his Supercross points. Marchbanks ended the Supercross season 11th in the combined 250 West and East standings, but after missing so many races in Motocross, he was not guaranteed to finish in the top 20 and get an automatic invitation to the features. A pair of fifth-place finishes in Unadilla’s motos helped, and he ended the season 19th in the 250 SuperMotocross standings once Supercross and Motocross were added together. Finishing 10th at zMax Dragway in Concord, North Carolina, 12th at Texas Motor Speedway, and 10th in the season finale at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway allowed Marchbanks to move up seven spots and finish 12th in the standings. The 2025 season promises much more. He will return to action with Pro Circuit and spend the entire SuperMotocross season on a 250. That organization has a history of excellence, and Marchbanks should easily contend for a top-10 points finish this year. 2024 Statistics Feature starts: 13 Average feature finish: 9.54 Podiums: 2 Top-fives: 5 Top-10s: 10 Best finish: Second (San Diego SX) SMX Standings/payout: 12th/$13,000 2024 News Garrett Marchbanks joins Pro Circuit beginning at Unadilla Marchbanks, ClubMX part ways Marchbanks crashes on Press Day at Fox Raceway Marchbanks sizzles in the mud, starts 2024 with two podiums 450 Countdown 11. Malcolm Stewart 12. Dylan Ferrandis 13. Christian Craig 14. Shane McElrath 15. Dean Wilson 250 Countdown 12. Max Anstie 13. Julien Beaumer 14. Coty Schock 15. Ryder DiFrancesco More SuperMotocross News 2025 SX schedule | MX schedule | MXGP Schedule 2025 Supercross tickets on sale | Pro Motocross tickets 2025 TV Schedule | Track Maps Jorge Prado confirmed for Monster Energy Kawasaki Ken Roczen renews with H.E.P. Suzuki Malcolm Stewart was strong in the middle of the season Cooper Webb crowned King of Paris | Wins Paris Supercross Night 1 Max Vohland opens up about injury, potential for addiction Max Anstie is a big fish in a small pond Dylan Ferrandis and unanswered questions Dylan Walsh, Max Sanford return to Host Grindstone WSX announces wild card entrants for Australian GP Julien Beaumer ended 2025 season with SMX top-10 sweep
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota: In Hong Kong, the topic of subdivided flats - or “ shoebox homes ” - always raises heated discussion. In his latest policy address , Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee announced new regulations aimed at phasing out subdivided flats from the city. Subdivided flats are a major source of housing for low-income households. The flats are usually rented out to unrelated individuals , who may be crammed into spaces that barely fit one bed . Many subdivided flats are in core residential areas in Hong Kong, featuring convenient access to wet markets, train stations, schools and business areas. According to a survey by Hong Kong’s Census Department in 2021, there are around 108,000 subdivided units accommodating over 200,000 persons. The median floor area of each unit is 11 sq m , while the median per capita floor area is 6 sq m . For the first time, the government will impose minimum living standards on subdivided units, including the provision of windows, an individual toilet, and a floor area of no less than 8 sq m - the size of two king-sized beds. Landlords will be given a grace period to comply with new rules, and subdivided units will henceforth be redesignated as Basic Housing Units. Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong Wai-lun said that 70 per cent of existing subdivided units already meet the requirements, while the rest would require minor fixes. In Mr Wong’s estimation, subdivided units will gradually phase out with the provision of public rental housing. LONG WAITING LIST FOR PUBLIC RENTAL HOUSING In his policy address, Mr Lee said that 30,000 new public housing units will be completed by 2028. Hong Kong’s public rental housing system has an income ceiling for applicants, depending on their household size and type. The waiting list for public rental housing is still long. There are a total of 123,100 applications from families and the elderly, and 91,500 applications from non-elderly singles. For family applications, the current waiting time is 5.5 years. Mr Lee said that this would be shortened to 4.5 years by 2027 when more public housing units are available. Not all those who live in subdivided units are eligible for public rental housing. Michael Wong estimates that 60 per cent of tenants are eligible, but he did not comment on the remaining 40 per cent. Without the affordable option of renting public housing or subdivided flats, these tenants must seek more expensive accommodation in the private home rental market. Moreover, the Census Department’s 2021 survey indicates that 21.2 per cent of households have at least one member residing in Hong Kong for less than seven years, which disqualifies them from most of Hong Kong’s social benefits. Such households who fall in the low-income category may find themselves in a precarious situation when tighter regulations for subdivided units kick in. AFFORDABLE HOUSING REMAINS AN ISSUE Tenants living in non-compliant subdivided units may have to pay more to continue living in a Basic Housing Unit. Landlords would have to reduce the number of subdivided units within a property, which will drive rental prices up . It is unclear whether the government can provide transitional and affordable housing for those who are forced to leave. Those who are neither eligible for public housing nor able to find an affordable home might have to resort to the illegal rental market. Advocacy groups expressed concern over finding new accommodation for tenants. ComHome Social Realty is a social real estate agency aimed at matching low-income households with affordable housing. Since the group’s founding in 2023, among some 300 participants, only 17 managed to find their match. This low success rate is a result of the sheer discrepancy between participants’ financial ability and home rental prices. In July, the median rent for subdivided units in Hong Kong Island was HK$7,000 (US$900) per month, while that in Kowloon reached HK$5,300 per month. Statistics in 2021 indicate that the median monthly household income of tenants of subdivided units is HK$15,310. Assuming their incomes rose alongside average wage growth from 2021 to 2024, this figure is currently HK$16,160. That means that a sizeable one-third to half of their income goes into the rent for a subdivided unit. The 2024 policy address shows the government’s resolution to solve Hong Kong’s housing issues. The introduction of the Basic Housing Units is a fresh start, and Hong Kong is on its way to build more houses. But with the extreme imbalance between the demand for housing in central areas and the chronic shortage of affordable options , housing for Hong Kong’s most vulnerable individuals will continue to be an issue in the foreseeable future. John Hanzhang Ye is a PhD candidate in the History of Science, Technology and Medicine programme at the University of Minnesota.