Santa's helper — in blackface
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The Dutch version of St. Nicholas arrived Saturday in the Netherlands in an annual children’s party that has become the backdrop for increasingly acrimonious confrontations between supporters and opponents of his sidekick, “Black Pete.” White people often don blackface makeup to play the character in parades across the country. Opponents say such…
Dangerous conditions in Bosnian migrant camp, rights group says
BIHAC, Bosnia-Herzegovina — A prominent humanitarian group is warning that migrants trying to reach Western Europe are living in “dangerously cold and harsh conditions” in Bosnia, where hundreds have rallied amid tensions over the influx of people fleeing war and poverty. The protesters in the northwestern city of Bihac on Friday demanded the closure of…
U.N. commissioner warns that violence in Bolivia could 'spin out of control'
MEXICO CITY — Postelection violence causing turmoil in the South American nation of Bolivia could “spin out of control” if officials resort to the use of disproportionate force, the United Nations human rights chief said Saturday. Michelle Bachelet, the former president of Chile, issued her statement after the deadliest postelection incident to date — the killings…
U.S. and South Korea postpone joint military exercise criticized by North Korea
BANGKOK, Thailand — U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Sunday the United States and South Korea have indefinitely postponed a joint military exercise in an “act of goodwill” toward North Korea. The move comes even as Japan’s defense minister, whose country feels threatened by repeated North Korean missile launches, told Esper “no one could be optimistic…
WTO: Dumping Responsibility on Third World Farmers Yet Again
On the eve of their Nairobi ministerial, WTO members should remember it is not food procurement policies in developing countries like India but unfair US agricultural subsidies which threaten free trade and farmer livelihoods across the world On December 15, the world’s trade ministers will gather in Nairobi, Kenya, for the tenth attempt to craft a…
Alonso ‘reserve’ role at McLaren still being mulled
McLaren is still mulling the possibility of calling upon Fernando Alonso as its reserve driver should circumstances warrant it. While the Spaniard has departed Formula 1, he still retains a formal link with McLaren through the team’s Indy 500 endeavour. The Woking-based outfit added Sergio Sette Camara to its junior programme for 2019 but the…
Because the 'Time for Climate Action Is Now,' Oslo Makes Landmark Move to Ban Cars
As part of a plan to rein in carbon emissions, Oslo’s new city council announced this week that the city’s center would be car-free by 2019. Ars Technica reports that the move, which aims to help the city halve greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990 levels, “will make Oslo the first European capital where cars…
Scott Eastwood Goes Totally Shirtless to Take on the 22 Push-Up Challenge
Here’s a weekday morning pick-me-up you won’t forget. On Monday, 30-year-old actor Scott Eastwood took to Instagram to participate in one of social media’s most recent viral campaigns for a good cause: the #22PushUpChallenge. As its name implies, this no-frills athletic feat is similar to the #IceBucketChallange in which friends, and A-listers in particular, rush…
Renault making ‘strong progress’ with 2019 car
Renault Sport F1 chassis boss Nick Chester says the French team is making “strong progress” at Enstone with the development and assembly of its first 2019 chassis. Renault is set to conclude its third year as a works team in F1 as ‘best of the rest’ next week at Abu Dhabi, thanks to a comfortable…
Vettel on Schumacher Jnr: ‘We must let Mick do his thing’
Sebastian Vettel says no one should put pressure on Mick Schumacher, urging the motorsport world to let the young Ferrari-supported driver “do his own thing”. Click Here: liverpool mens jersey Vettel was paired with the 19-year-old charger in Saturday’s Race of Champions Nations Cup in Mexico City, the Team Germany duo winning the trophy for…