From German Magazine "Der Spiegel" onlne edition HOLLAND'S POLITICALLY INCORRECT CHRISTMAS Santa's Little (Slave) Helper By Daryl Lindsey 12/05/2008 Myths about Santa's sinister helpers are as widespread in Europe as Grimm's Fairy Tales. But in no country is the tale of Santa's diabolical sidekick as bizarre as in the Netherlands, home to Zwarte Piet ("Black Pete"). The arrival of Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet is an event covered live on national television and the festivities are celebrated across the country. For several weeks, dozens of Zwarte Pieten and Sinterklaases can be seen crisscrossing the lowlands country, culminating on Dec. 5 with the exchange of gifts.  More...

(ajz) Spain's ruling Socialist party has claimed victory in the country's general elections. The conservative opposition conceded defeat on Sunday, saying the Socialist Workers party appeared to have won. But while the party led by Jose Luis Zapatero, the prime minister, picked up seats in the lower house, it fell short of a majority and will have to form some sort of an alliance with smaller regional parties in order to govern. With 97 per cent of the vote counted, Zapatero's Socialist party had 43. 7 per cent, versus 40.  More...

(skynews) The body of former catwalk star Katoucha Niane has been found under a bridge in the river Seine in Paris, police have confirmed. Katoucha disappeared in JanuaryDetectives said the woman - known as the Black Princess - died from drowning and there was no indication she had been attacked. According to a source close to the investigation, police believe her death was an accident. "She fell into the water and went straight to the bottom," the source said. The 47-year-old, who was originally from Guinea, went missing on January 31 after being dropped off from a party in Paris.  More...

(nyt) Cork-born and proud of it, George-Jordan Dimbo is top to toe the Irish lad. He studies Gaelic, eats rashers, plays hurling, prays to the saints, papers his walls with parochial school awards, and spends Saturdays at the telly watching Dustin the Turkey, a wisecracking puppet, mock the powerful. If the Irish government has its way, he may soon be living in Africa. George, 11, is an Irish citizen and has been since his birth when Ireland, alone in Europe, still gave citizenship to anyone born on its soil. His mother and father, Ifedinma and Ethelbert Dimbo, are illegal immigrants from Nigeria, who brought him back to Ireland three years ago, judging it the best place to raise him.  More...

(eveningstandard) Twins separated at birth married each other without realising they were brother and sister. The British couple have now been granted an annulment after a special High Court hearing. Judges ruled the marriage had never validly existed. Full details of how the brother and sister fell in love and married have been kept secret, along with their identities. But the Evening Standard has learned that they were separated soon after birth.  More...