It’s possible that I shall make an ass of myself. But in that case one can always get out of it with a little dialectic. I have, of course, so worded my proposition as to be right either way (K.Marx, Letter to F.Engels on the Indian Mutiny)
1 of 8 Zozibini Tunzi, the first black South African to win the beauty pageant wore her hair natural. She is an advocate of natural beauty.Image Credit: Instagram : @zozitunzi 2 of 8 Post winning the Miss Universe title, Zozibini Tunzi has been giving a number of media interviews. In one of the interviews she did, Tunzi admitted to saying her friends wanted her to wear a wig or buy a weave. But she refused and instead wore her natural afro-textured hairImage Credit: Instagram : @zozitunzi 3 of 8 Zozibini Tunzi pictured here with her family. Continuing the interview, she said : "It was so strange because even a lot of people I knew, people that were my friends, were like, 'Sis, we love you, but we're just saying, maybe you should put on a wig or buy a weave,'" Tunzi said. "I was like, 'No, you know what, I'm going to do it the way I am, because I've been with my natural hair for the past three years,"' she continued. "I don't see why I should change it just because I'm stepping into another platform."Image Credit: Instagram : @zozitunzi 4 of 8 Take this : On December 8, 2019, Zozibini Tunzi became the first woman with natural afro-textured hair to win the Miss Universe title. She was the first black woman to win the pageant since 2011 and also the first black Miss South Africa to wear the Miss Universe crown.Image Credit: Facebook : Zozibini Tunzi 5 of 8 Zozibin Tunzi said in a media interview that beauty has been stereotyped to look a certain way. "When you open a magazine, that's what you see. When you open television, that's what you see. And it becomes embedded within society and ourselves." But Tunzi has challenged this stereotyping and worn her hair natural for sometime now.Image Credit: Instagram: @zozitunzi 6 of 8 Zozibini Tunzi is not only the first black woman from South Africa to take home the crown, but she is also the fourth woman of color to win a major pageant title in 2019. Cheslie Kryst is Miss USA 2019, Nia Franklin is Miss America 2019, and Kaliegh Garris is Miss Teen USA 2019. Tunzi, Kryst, and Garris have made history by wearing their natural hairstyles while being crowned.Image Credit: Instagram : @zozitunzi 7 of 8 For the record, Zozibini Tunzi had been wearing her hair natural for years. She knew she didn't want to change herself just for the pageant.Image Credit: Facebook : Zozibini Tunzi 8 of 8Meanwhile, following her win, Miss Universe 2019, Zozibini Tunzi has been touring the city of New York wearing showstopping outfits. A few days back she wore a pantsuit covered in gold glitter while walking around the city. She also wore shiny black pumps, and a black-and-white animal-print top underneath her blazer. According to media reports, the suit was designed by Ramy Brook and is said to be priced around $990 (the jacket costs $595, and the pants cost $395.) On Instagram, Tunzi shared another look with the outfit wearing a fuzzy black jacket. It is said to have been designed by Istanbul-based brand N'Onat, and is said to be priced around $400.Image Credit: Instagram : @zozitunzi
In pictures: Five top beauty pageants in the world won by black women this year
With Toni-Ann Singh of Jamaica Miss World 2019 win, five black women take the crown
With Toni-Ann Singh from Jamaica taking the Miss World 2019 crown, the year marks the success of five black women reigning world's top beauty pageants.Image Credit: Facebook : Toni-Ann Singh
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Who is Toni Ann Singh? She is a young 23-year-old graduate from Florida State University to win the coveted Miss World beauty pageant this year. Singh was born in Morant, St Thomas, Jamaica, in 1996. She migrated to the US with her parents Jahrine and Bradshaw when she was nine and has since lived in Florinda since. Her father, Bradshaw Singh, is an Indo-Caribbean, which explains her family name. Music has always been a big part of her life, she says, and her rendition of Whitney Houston’s ‘I have nothing’ during the competition won her the segment and lot of fans. She has considered singing professionally, but chose to study medicine instead. She aspires to be a doctor but has not closed the door on music.Image Credit: Facebook : Toni-Ann Singh
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Toni-Ann Singh (left). For the record, Singh is all about women’s empowerment. Singh is a psychology and women studies graduate of the Florida State University. “I think I represent something special, a generation of women that are pushing forward to change the world,” she told Morgan during the pageant. Even during the Miss Jamaica pageant, she vowed to be an ambassador for women everywhere. “With or without the Miss Jamaica World Crown, I would continue to advocate for women. I believe women are the lifeblood of our community,” she said then, according to heavy.com. “I will continue inspiring them and working with them so they understand just how great their potential is. I will also use my compassion to be an excellent ambassador.”Image Credit: Facebook : Toni-Ann Singh
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Zozibini Tunzi won the Miss Universe 2019 on December 9. Zozibini Tunzi, the first black South African to win the beauty pageant wore her hair natural. She is an advocate of natural beauty.Image Credit: Facebook - Zozibini Tunzi
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Miss Universe 2019 Zozibini Tunzi, of South Africa, appears at a press conference following the 2019 Miss Universe Pageant. She has been winning the hearts of people for taking part in the pageant and winning the title with her natural afro-textured hair. She refused to wear a wig and this shows her confidence and how comfortable she is under her skinImage Credit: AFP
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Zozibini Tunzi said in a media interview that beauty has been stereotyped to look a certain way. "When you open a magazine, that's what you see. When you open television, that's what you see. And it becomes embedded within society and ourselves." But Tunzi has challenged this stereotyping and worn her hair natural for sometime now.Image Credit: Facebook : Zozibini Tunzi
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Cheslie Corrinne Kryst crowned Miss USA 2019 earlier this year. She is an American television presenter. As Miss USA, she represented the United States at the Miss Universe 2019 competition and finished 10th. Previously, she had been crowned Miss North Carolina USA 2019, becoming the third woman from North Carolina to win Miss USA.Image Credit: Facebook : Cheslie Kryst
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Outside of pageantry, Kryst is a licensed attorney and has served as a correspondent for Extra since October 2019. Kryst was born on April 28, 1991, in Charlotte, North Carolina, to a Polish American father and an African American mother. She has four brothers, Asa, Chandler, Jet and Brooklyn, and a sister, Page. Her mother, April Simpkins, competed in pageantry and was crowned Mrs. North Carolina US when Kryst was a child. Kryst grew up in Rock Hill, South Carolina and attended Northwestern High School.Image Credit: Facebook : Cheslie Kryst
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Who is Kaliegh-Garris? Kaliegh Garris is an American model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Teen USA 2019. Garris had previously been crowned Miss Connecticut Teen USA 2019; she is the second entrant from Connecticut to have been crowned Miss Teen USA, following Logan West who was crowned Miss Teen USA 2012.Image Credit: Facebook : Kaliegh-Garris
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As the number of black winners of beauty pageants rose throughout the year, peaking with five total after Saturday’s Miss World event, other powerful black women took notice. Oprah Winfrey tweeted about Tunzi’s speech, and Sen. Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.) praised Kryst, Garris and Franklin, who won Miss America. “You are trailblazers,” Harris said.Image Credit: Facebook : Kaliegh Garris
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Who is Nia Franklin? Nia Imani Franklin (born July 27, 1993) is an American composer and beauty pageant titleholder. In June 2018, she was crowned Miss New York 2018.[1] On September 9, 2018, she was crowned Miss America 2019 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, by the outgoing Miss America 2018, Cara Mund.[2] With her win, 2019 became the first year that all four major United States-based pageants were won by black women; other titleholders were Zozibini Tunzi of South Africa (as Miss Universe 2019), Kaliegh Garris (as Miss Teen USA 2019) and Cheslie Kryst (as Miss USA 2019)Image Credit: Facebook : Miss America Organization
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Nia Franklin in picture. All five title-holding women represent a range of professional backgrounds and experiences. Kryst is an attorney with a law degree and an MBA from Wake Forest University who is working to reshape the criminal justice system. Tunzi has raised awareness of climate change and gender-based violence. Garris started the We Are People 1st organization, which aims to educate others about people, like her sister, who live with disabilities. Franklin has advocated for the preservation of arts education in school. And Singh, the most recent winner, wants to be a doctor.Image Credit: Facebook : Miss America Organization
Bollywood’s deafening silence on protests in India
Shah Rukh Khan, a Jamia Millia University alum, remains silent but other stars respond
The biggest of Bollywood stars such as Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aamir Khan are eerily silent on the controversial Citizenship Amendment Bill and the violent student clashes that erupted in New Delhi on December 15 involving Jamia Millia University students as they protested against the bill. But other significant stars have collectively condemned the violence. Shah Rukh Khan’s (an alumnus of Jamia Milia Islamia University) studious silence has been noted and there are calls by his admirers to condemn the attack and speak up.Image Credit: Supplied picture 2 of 9
But another celebrity alumnus from Jamia Millia didn’t have any reservations about condemning the attack. “I studied at Jamia. It is where I trained to be a filmmaker, where I met my best friends for life. It is the place that gave me hope and encouragement when I was a confused young girl trying to navigate my way through life. I have such fond memories. Today my heart is bleeding for the students of Jamia who have been mercilessly attacked on campus. This is wrong and cruel at every level. I stand in solidarity with the bravehearts of Jamia. I am praying for the students who are injured and fighting for their lives,” tweeted ‘Made in Heaven’ director Alankrita Shrivasta.Image Credit: Twitter 3 of 9
Actress Sayani Gupta, who was last seen in ‘Article 15’, implored actors to voice their opinions. “On behalf of the students of Jamia & AMU (Aligarh Muslim University) request at least one of you to tweet or message Mr.Modi condemning this act of police brutality and violence against students. The time has come to speak up guys. Yes? No? May be?,” tweeted Gupta, directly tagging actors and producers like Ranveer Singh, Ayushmann Khurrana, Rajkummar Rao and producer-director Karan Johar.Image Credit: IANS 4 of 9
But not all talents needed prompting to express their anguish. Actors including Konkona Sen Sharma, Swara Bhasker, Richa Chadha, Vikrant Massey and Soni Razdan took to their social media accounts and have voiced their concern after several students were injured in a police encounter. Here’s how they responded: Swara Bhasker: “Shocking messages of violence, tear gassing from #Jamia in #Delhi ! Why are students being treated like criminals? Why are hostels being tear gassed.. ???"Image Credit: IANS 5 of 9
Actress Taapsee Pannu said: “Wonder if this is a start or the end. Whatever it is, this is surely writing new rules of the land and those who don’t fit in can very well see the consequences. This video breaks heart n hopes all together. Irreversible damage, and I’m not talking about just the life n property.”Image Credit: Instagram/ taapsee 6 of 9Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap returned to Twitter after a brief hiatus to tweet: “This has gone too far.. can’t stay silent any longer." He added: "... it makes me angry to see voices that can actually make a difference stay quiet ..”Image Credit: IANS 7 of 9
Actress Richa Chadha tweeted: “JNU, FTII, AMU, Nalanda, BHU, Cotton University, Jamia Milia ... scared of students much? This is not a coincidence … Kerala, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Jadavpur Kolkata, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram, Aligarh, Delhi, Mumbai. Kashmiris are not allowed to protest... People, students all over are protesting against the #CAA2019. Don’t be in denial.”Image Credit: IANS 8 of 9
'Chhapaak' actor Vikrant Massey posted a picture, tweeting: “This is a picture of students from #JamiaMilia holding photos of #Ambedkar & #Gandhi opposing the #CAA2019.. We haven’t forgotten our roots. And we will fight to regain the lost sanity of this proud country. #StandWithJamia #Delhiviolence.”Image Credit: IANS 9 of 9
Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt wrote: “We the people of India, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC. At Ambedkar’s abode. After reading the Preamble of our Constitution.”
Protests across India over new citizenship law which excludes Muslims
PHOTO SLIDESHOW
Critics fear the new law could further marginalize the country's minority Muslim community
A man runs past a burning bus that was set on fire by demonstrators during a protest against a new citizenship law, in New DelhiImage Credit: Reuters
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Demonstrators shout slogans during a protest against a new citizenship law, in New DelhiImage Credit: REUTERS
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Firetenders douse fire set on a bus by by anti-Citizenship Act protestors at Mathura Road, in New DelhiImage Credit: PTI
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Protesters shout slogans during a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Bill, that seeks to give citizenship to religious minorities persecuted in neighbouring Muslim countries, inside the Jamia Millia Islamia University in New DelhiImage Credit: Reuters
Military police remove climate protesters from Schiphol airport
Hundreds of demonstrators call for international hub in Amsterdam to curb emissions Georgina Hayes Sat 14 Dec 2019 15.41 GMT
Royal military police remove a protester from the main hall of Schiphol airport.
Photograph: Robin Utrecht/EPA
Dutch military police have begun forcibly removing a group of climate protesters at Schiphol airport, in Amsterdam, after they refused to leave during a demonstration organised by Greenpeace.
Hundreds of protesters attended the demonstration on Saturday calling on the international air hub to adopt a plan to curb greenhouse emissions. The group had been allowed to protest outside the building only, but they broke that restriction, arguing that citizens’ rights to peaceful protest should not be restricted.
Protesters waved banners saying “Tax the plane, take the train” and chanted slogans of “climate justice”, while Greenpeace activists told the crowd: “Schiphol is one the biggest airports in Europe and yet they still want to expand it. That’s not normal!”
Greenpeace(@Greenpeace) In a peaceful protest, hundreds of activists came to the airport to demand a climate action plan for Schiphol. https://t.co/6PDbgszvkrDecember 14, 2019
One protester reportedly chained himself to a pillar during the demonstration, which took place in the hall that leads to the arrivals and departures section of the airport
FacebookTwitterPinterest The protesters inside the airport. Photograph: Piroschka van de Wouw/Reuters
Dozens of police from the Marechausse, the force that guards Dutch borders, began removing the protesters one at a time, dragging or carrying those who resisted
“After multiple warnings to leave Schiphol Plaza peacefully, the Marechausse has now begun arresting Greenpeace protesters,” the force said in a statement.
A Schiphol spokesman, Hans van Kastel, said no flights had been disrupted by the demonstration.
In its call for people to attend the protest, Greenpeace said on its website: “We’re in the middle of a climate crisis, but the big polluter Schiphol is being allowed to keep growing and polluting even more.”
Schiphol, which is owned by the Dutch state, says it does have a climate plan, which includes cutting emissions on the ground by using electric vehicles.
Antifa protests in London following Conservative landslide win
“Tory scum off our streets, Nazi scum off our streets!” shouted left-wing protesters in central London.
Around a thousand demonstrators, many masked and holding antifa symbols, poured onto the streets of the British capital to protest the U.K.’s election results. The Conservatives won in a landslide election the day before, likely guaranteeing Britain’s withdrawal from the EU at the end of next month.
Antifa are rioting in London in response to the election results giving Conservatives a huge electoral win. It’s like what I saw in Portland in November 2016. pic.twitter.com/xeRfkPCGnA
The British capital descended into chaos as the Met Police struggled to contain protesters connected to antifa, socialist and communist groups. They had shut down the streets in and around Westminster. They demanded a “revolution” and the ousting of the Conservatives.
Protesters disobeyed police orders and shoved officers who attempted to block them from certain routes. At one point, officers brandished batons at the crowd to get them to comply.
The protesters held anti-Boris Johnson signs distributed by the Socialist Workers Party. Others, wearing masks, brandished antifa flags.
The on-going chaotic protest echoes left-wing demonstrations-turned-riots in the U.S. after Donald Trump’s electoral win in November 2016. 'Not my prime minister', protesters march in London against Johnson
LONDON (Reuters) - Several hundred noisy protesters marched through central London on Friday to protest against Britain’s election result, chanting “Boris Johnson: Not My Prime Minister” and “Boris, Boris, Boris: Out, Out, Out”.
The protesters, brandishing signs that read “Defy Tory (Conservative) Rule” and “Refugees Welcome”, walked at speed from outside Johnson’s Downing Street residence to Trafalgar Square and on to the theater district, blocking traffic and drawing a heavy police presence.
Johnson’s Conservatives won Thursday’s election by a large margin. On Friday he called for “closure” over the Brexit divisions that have riven the United Kingdom for the past three and a half years.
Reporting by Johnny Cotton; writing by Kate Holton; Editing by Gareth Jones
THE GUARDIAN 'Not my prime minister': protesters clash with police after Boris Johnson elected – video Hundreds of protesters clashed with police when they marched through central London and in front of Downing Street in a demonstration against the election of Boris Johnson.
Separate marches were organised on the day by Stand up to Racism, Love Music Hate Racism and Antifascist Action (Antifa), and demonstrators were confronted by a pro-government group. The police contained people in Victoria and the protest was dispersed
Thousands join biggest protest in Bangkok since 2014 coup
Thai anti-government rally held in response to ban on Future Forward opposition party
Reuters Sat 14 Dec 2019 13.26 GMT
Future Forward party leader, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, arrives
at a rally in Bangkok, Thailand. Photograph: Narong Sangnak/EPA Thousands of people joined the biggest protest in Bangkok since a 2014 coup on Saturday, after Thai authorities moved to ban a party that has rallied opposition to the government of the former military ruler Prayuth Chan-ocha.
The demonstration, called a day earlier by the Future Forward party leader, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, a 41-year-old billionaire, was reminiscent of the street protests that have roiled Bangkok over the past two decades of turbulent politics.
There was no sign of a major police presence or attempts to block the biggest demonstration since Prayuth seized power in 2014 in the name of ending street violence.
“This is just the beginning,” Thanathorn told the cheering crowds, which spilled across walkways and stairways close to the MBK Centre, in the heart of Bangkok’s shopping and business district.
“Today is a show of strength so that in the future others may join us. We’re just here today as a test run. Prayuth, don’t be afraid yet. The real thing is next month.”
Thanathorn has emerged as the most outspoken opponent of the government headed by Prayuth, 65, since an election in March that the opposition said was manipulated to favour the army.
Thailand’s election panel has asked the constitutional court to dissolve the Future Forward party, accusing it of infringing laws governing political parties by accepting multi-million dollar loans from Thanathorn.
Last month the constitutional court found Thanathorn guilty of holding shares in a media company on the date his candidacy was registered for the election, disqualifying him as a member of parliament. Thanathorn is disputing the ruling.
At the protest, demonstrators chanted: “Long live democracy, dictatorship get out.”
Thanathorn has signed an agreement with six parties in an opposition alliance to push for changes to the constitution, which was drawn up by the junta before the election. He also won the parties’ support for the protest.
Among those parties was Pheu Thai, which won the most seats in the 500-seat house of representatives lower house but has taken a lower profile in challenging the government than Future Forward, which came third in the election.
Palang Pracharat, the pro-military party formed last year by members of the junta’s cabinet, came second. Prayuth told reporters on Friday it was inappropriate to organise a demonstration towards the end of the year.
A photo roundup of some of last week's events, including a royal procession in Thailand and demonstrations in Algeria.
Demonstrators hold placards depicting eyes - in reference to police pellets striking demonstrators' eyes - during a protest against President Sebastian Pinera's government in Santiago, Chile. Pinera has promised support for victims of human rights violations by security forces during protests in Chile, and a firm commitment to achieve truth and justice. MARTIN BERNETTI/AFP
Hong Kong protests flare before Xi meeting with city leader
Protesters took over malls and blocked roads triggering confrontations with police after two weeks of relative calm. Protesters and police clashed again in Hong Kong over the weekend as the country's leader travelled to Beijing for talks [Danish Siddiqui/Reuters]
Hong Kong police fired tear gas in late night street clashes with anti-government protesters, in the run-up to a potentially pivotal meeting between Hong Kong's leader and China's president in Beijing on Monday.
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam is in the Chinese capital for a regular duty visit and first met China's premier Li Keqiang who said the city faced an unprecedented and challenging situation.
"The SAR (special administrative region) government must continue its efforts, end violence and stop the chaos in accordance with the law and restore order," Li said in his meeting with Lam, the opening remarks of which were broadcast by Cable TV.
Lam is set to meet President Xi Jinping amid speculation the visit could yield fresh directives on the city's political crisis, including a possible cabinet reshuffle. More:
The two previously met in Shanghai in early November when Xi expressed "high trust" in Lam despite the turmoil.
Lam, however, appeared to play down the prospects of a cabinet reshuffle before she left, saying the first task was to curb violence and restore order, while seeking to engage in more dialogue with the public.
Some protesters targeted shopping malls while others blocked roads triggering clashes with police [Danish Siddiqui/Reuters]
Hong Kong has been embroiled in its worst political crisis in decades since June with anti-government protests posing a populist challenge to China's Xi. The unrest has also complicated ties between China and the United States at a time of heightened tensions, including over trade.
Late on Sunday, groups of masked youths - angered by what they see as Chinese meddling in freedoms promised to Hong Kong when the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997 - blocked roads around Mong Kok district, prompting police to fire multiple rounds of tear gas and baton-charge crowds.
It was the first time in nearly two weeks that tear gas had been deployed by police.
Fires were lit and traffic lights smashed, while one student reporter for Baptist University was hit in the face by a police projectile and was sent to hospital, local television footage showed.
Small bands of protesters marched through several malls, blocking entrances, smashing glass, and chanting slogans including "fight for freedom". Many shops in affected malls closed early after battalions of riot police stormed in, pepper-spraying crowds and making multiple arrests.
In the evening, several hundred protesters held a vigil for a protester who fell to his death outside a luxury mall six months ago. They laid white flowers and sang songs to commemorate Leung Ling-kit, known as "raincoat man" for what he wore at the time.
Despite the protesters' demands and anti-China rhetoric, China maintains it is committed to the "one country, two systems" formula that was agreed at the time of the handover and affords Hong Kong autonomy and freedoms that are absent on the mainland.
Meanwhile, following her win, Miss Universe 2019, Zozibini Tunzi has been touring the city of New York wearing showstopping outfits. A few days back she wore a pantsuit covered in gold glitter while walking around the city. She also wore shiny black pumps, and a black-and-white animal-print top underneath her blazer. According to media reports, the suit was designed by Ramy Brook and is said to be priced around $990 (the jacket costs $595, and the pants cost $395.) On Instagram, Tunzi shared another look with the outfit wearing a fuzzy black jacket. It is said to have been designed by Istanbul-based brand N'Onat, and is said to be priced around $400.Image Credit: Instagram : @zozitunzi
Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap returned to Twitter after a brief hiatus to tweet: “This has gone too far.. can’t stay silent any longer." He added: "... it makes me angry to see voices that can actually make a difference stay quiet ..”Image Credit: IANS
A man runs past a burning bus that was set on fire by demonstrators during a protest against a new citizenship law, in New DelhiImage Credit: Reuters
Demonstrators shout slogans during a protest against a new citizenship law, in New DelhiImage Credit: REUTERS
Firetenders douse fire set on a bus by by anti-Citizenship Act protestors at Mathura Road, in New DelhiImage Credit: PTI
Protesters shout slogans during a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Bill, that seeks to give citizenship to religious minorities persecuted in neighbouring Muslim countries, inside the Jamia Millia Islamia University in New DelhiImage Credit: Reuters
Andy Ngo, 3 days ago 1 min read 
![Demonstrators hold placards depicting eyes - in reference to police pellets striking demonstrators' eyes - during a protest against President Sebastian Pinera's government in Santiago, Chile. Pinera has promised support for victims of human rights violations by security forces during protests in Chile, and a firm commitment to achieve truth and justice. [Martin Bernetti/AFP]](https://www.aljazeera.com/mritems/Images/2019/12/15/7289854d6f3c4078a861e2a62f747af2_8.jpg)
