Tokyo (AFP) – At the Sanrio Puroland theme park outside Tokyo this week, fans are marking the 50th anniversary of the iconic Japanese character, Hello Kitty. The park in Tama City offers attractions, live shows, shopping outlets and restaurants featuring the beloved character.
Mexico City (AFP) – Miss Universe contestants arrive at a gala wearing ‘Catrina’ make-up as Mexico celebrates the Day of the Dead, days before the ceremony of the annual international beauty pageant. ‘La Catrina’ is a symbol of Mexico’s Day of the Dead festivities.
Paiporta (Spain) (AFP) – Spanish police wade through garages in shoulder-high water as the search goes on for people who could have been trapped in the flooding that has left more than 200 people dead.
London (AFP) – The UK’s battle-scarred Conservatives elect “anti-woke” candidate Kemi Badenoch as its new leader, replacing Rishi Sunak, who quit after the party’s disastrous showing in the July general election.
Oostduinkerke (Belgium) (AFP) – Clad head to toe in yellow oilskins, atop a horse near the North Sea, Gunther Vanbleu is helping to keep traditional horseback shrimp fishing alive in Belgium. On UNESCO’s intangible heritage list, it was once practiced around Europe. Now Oostduinkerke “is the only place in the world where shrimp fishing is still practiced with horses,” says Gunther.
Kharkiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – As the US election approaches, residents of Kharkiv, a Ukrainian city often the target of Russian bombing, worry about the possibility of a Trump presidency.
Mastung (Pakistan) (AFP) – A bombing near a girls’ school in western Pakistan killed seven people, including five children, in an attack targeting police guarding polio vaccinators according to officials.
Valencia (Spain) (AFP) – “We are ready to help,” says Lisbeth Alvarez, a nurse in Valencia who is volunteering in the aftermath of severe flooding that killed at least 205 people in southern and eastern Spain. The floods, that have tossed vehicles, collapsed bridges and covered towns with mud since October 29 are Spain’s deadliest such disaster in decades.
Las Vegas (AFP) – Kamala Harris slams Donald Trump for recent remarks about women as she presses her case to supporters just days ahead of a nail-biter election. She is joined at the rally in Las Vegas by pop superstar Jennifer Lopez.
Sedaví (Spain) (AFP) – Residents in Spain’s Valencia are in shock after deadly floods that hit the region, killing at least 95 people. Authorities warn the emergency is still not over, asking people in flood-stricken regions to stay at home as rescuers race to find survivors in the rare disaster.
