bubmag

Palestine

In Bethlehem, a Christmas story with a modern message—and Jingle Bells in Arabic

At the newly-renovated Church of the Nativity where, the story goes, Jesus, the Prince of Peace was born, pilgrims from around the world are gathering for midnight mass. But for some, the real celebration of peace happened last week, a 10-minute drive away f…

bubmagDecember 24, 2019

Unwelcome Refugees

Turkey warns refugee crisis could return with a vengeance in 2020 as Greece struggles with overcrowded camps

Under a 6 billion deal struck between Ankara and the EU in 2016, migrants with no right to asylum were supposed to be deported back to Turkey while those accepted as refugees were to be settled in the EU. But the accord is not working, with transfers away fr…

bubmagDecember 24, 2019

Belt and Road

What to make of Trump’s outburst over World Bank loans to China

In recent years, many in the West, especially right-wing populists such as US President Donald Trump, have accused China of trying to have its cake and eat it too. And there is some truth to these charges of opportunism. Portraying itself as a "developing co…

bubmagDecember 24, 2019

Belt and Road

Sports on the Silk Road

Advertisement One of the pillars of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that remains continually overlooked is people-to-people ties. P2P, to use the shorthand, is about building social, cultural, and digital entanglements. Social scientists have long unde…

bubmagDecember 24, 2019

NATO

Violence flares in north Afghanistan as forces ready for deadly winter

At least seven Afghan soldiers were killed when the Taliban attacked their base Tuesday, the latest brazen assault in Afghanistan's north, where local and international forces are bracing for violent months ahead. Winter once marked a slowdown in the so-call…

bubmagDecember 24, 2019

Food Industry

Uber founder Travis Kalanick is leaving the company’s Board of Directors

Uber founder and former CEO Travis Kalanick is leaving the company's Board of Directors, the ride hailing company announced today. Kalanick will officially resign from the Board as of December 31, to "focus on his new business and philanthropic endeavors," ac…

bubmagDecember 24, 2019

The Queen

Queen Elizabeth II to acknowledge year ‘full of pitfalls’ in annual Christmas Day speech

Queen Elizabeth II records her annual Christmas broadcast in Windsor Castle, Berkshire, England. (Photo: Steve Parsons/WPA Pool, Getty Images) Queen Elizabeth II is slated to acknowledge a rough year for both her country and family in her annual Christmas …

bubmagDecember 24, 2019

Recycling

Why I Decided to Skip Buying Wrapping Paper This Year

I love the holidays. I love the coquito, the lights, and Christmas music. In fact, Im listening to Kacey Musgraves Christmas album as I write this. The holidays also bring out one of my biggest vices: gift wrap. Every year, I look forward to picking out som…

bubmagDecember 24, 2019

Plastic Pollution

455K petitioners ask Target to abandon plastic bags – Fox Business

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A frequent Target customer is asking the Minneapolis-based retail giant to stop using plastic bags. Protest organizer Theresa Carter and other Target shoppers plan to deliver pages containing more than 455,000 signatures to the corporation…

bubmagDecember 24, 2019

Scotland

David Haines: Daughter vows to recover body of Scots IS hostage

Image copyrightBethany HainesImage caption Bethany Haines spoke to officers from the YPG who showed her places her father had been The daughter of a Scottish aid worker who was beheaded by the Islamic State group in Syria has vowed to return there to recov…

bubmagDecember 24, 2019

In Bethlehem, a Christmas story with a modern message—and Jingle Bells in Arabic

Turkey warns refugee crisis could return with a vengeance in 2020 as Greece struggles with overcrowded camps

What to make of Trump’s outburst over World Bank loans to China

Sports on the Silk Road

Violence flares in north Afghanistan as forces ready for deadly winter

Uber founder Travis Kalanick is leaving the company’s Board of Directors

Queen Elizabeth II to acknowledge year ‘full of pitfalls’ in annual Christmas Day speech

Why I Decided to Skip Buying Wrapping Paper This Year

455K petitioners ask Target to abandon plastic bags – Fox Business

David Haines: Daughter vows to recover body of Scots IS hostage

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