A YouGov survey has found that 50% of Brits would be open to the idea of an ethnic minority Santa. There was less support, however, for a female or a gay Santa, with only 27% and 39% finding such a prospect palatable. An advert recently released by the Norwegian postal service showed Father Christmas kissing a man, 50 years after homosexuality was decriminalised in the country.
Longest running Santa school honoured
A US school dedicated to preparing people to portray Santa has been named the world’s longest-running institution of its kind by Guinness World Records. The Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School, founded in October 1937, has been operating continuously for 84 years. Its Clausesque curriculum includes how to properly dress as Santa, how to sing and dance to Christmas music, how to make toys in a workshop and how to ride a sleigh.
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Space agencies ‘should join 62-mile high club’
Nasa has been encouraged to do more to encourage the study of sex in space with its astronauts. A new study has also called on the UK Space Agency to start exploring “space sexology”, which is defined as the scientific study of extraterrestrial intimacy. The Daily Star said boffins want to help saucy space travellers join the “62-mile high club”.
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High Court action over Cape Verde tourist deathsThe Explainer Holidaymakers sue TUI after gastric illness outbreaks linked to six British deaths
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The battle over the Irish language in Northern IrelandUnder the Radar Popularity is soaring across Northern Ireland, but dual-language sign policies agitate division as unionists accuse nationalists of cultural erosion
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Villa Treville Positano: a glamorous sanctuary on the Amalfi CoastThe Week Recommends Franco Zeffirelli’s former private estate is now one of Italy’s most exclusive hotels
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Israel retrieves final hostage’s body from GazaSpeed Read The 24-year-old police officer was killed during the initial Hamas attack
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China’s Xi targets top general in growing purgeSpeed Read Zhang Youxia is being investigated over ‘grave violations’ of the law
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Panama and Canada are negotiating over a crucial copper mineIn the Spotlight Panama is set to make a final decision on the mine this summer
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Why Greenland’s natural resources are nearly impossible to mineThe Explainer The country’s natural landscape makes the task extremely difficult
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Iran cuts internet as protests escalateSpeed Reada Government buildings across the country have been set on fire
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US nabs ‘shadow’ tanker claimed by RussiaSpeed Read The ship was one of two vessels seized by the US military
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What will happen in 2026? Predictions and eventsIn Depth The new year could bring peace in Ukraine or war in Venezuela, as Donald Trump prepares to host a highly politicised World Cup and Nasa returns to the Moon
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How Bulgaria’s government fell amid mass protestsThe Explainer The country’s prime minister resigned as part of the fallout
