5 things you need to know this weekend
Cuba says final goodbye to Castro
After a three-day cross-country trip, Fidel Castro’s funeral procession carrying the former president’s ashes will arrive in Santiago de Cuba Saturday and a private funeral will be held Sunday. Castro, who died Nov. 25 at age 90, walked the route of the procession in 1959 from Santiago to Havana during his successful rebellion, known as the Caravana de la Libertad, or Freedom Caravan. As some Cubans rejoice and others mourn, Ladies in White, one of Cuba’s leading dissident groups, said it will not conduct its usual march Sunday, not out of respect for Castro, but due to fear of a state crackdown.
First black Santa is coming to town
For the first time ever, the nation's largest mall will feature an African-American Santa Claus. Larry Jefferson will pose for photos with children and adults alike from Thursday to Sunday as part of the Santa Experience at the Mall of America in suburban Minneapolis. Jefferson is a retired U.S. Army veteran from Texas. After Minneapolis, he will return to Texas to finish the holiday circuit. “We want Santa to be for everyone, period,” Santa Experience co-owner Landon Luther said.
U.S. veterans give Standing Rock protesters a break
After months of clashing with police and camping out in North Dakota, the protesters at the Standing Rock Sioux reservation seeking to halt construction of an oil pipeline will receive the support of 2,000 veterans this weekend. Veterans Stand for Standing Rock plans to join the tribe and its allies Sunday in the protest and bring attention to the violence waged by law enforcement against the protesters. In the past few months, the demonstrators and police have clashed multiple times with hundreds of arrests. The proposed $3.8 billion, 1,172-mile pipeline would stretch underneath a lake on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, which the tribe says will threaten water resources and sacred sites.
Will Championship Weekend offer any surprises?
One College Football Playoff domino fell Friday night with No. 4 Washington’s dominant victory in the Pac-12 championship game, which figures to be enough for the Huskies to hold on to their spot. Now it’s time for the rest, with Championship Weekend continuing Saturday to help determine who will be among the four Playoff teams. No. 1 Alabama, which seems to be a lock regardless of their outcome, faces No. 16 Florida in the SEC title game (4 p.m. ET, CBS). No. 3 Clemson takes on No. 19 Virginia Tech in the ACC title game (8 p.m. ET, ABC), and a loss from the Tigers could open the door for a Big Ten team besides No. 2 Ohio State. It could be the winner of the Wisconsin-Penn State conference title game (8 p.m. ET, FOX) or Michigan, who is idle at No. 5 in the Playoff rankings.
Austria, Italy hold first post-Trump votes in Europe
As a global populist movement continues to sweep around the world, Austria and Italy will be the latest European countries to test the strength of its growth after the election of Donald Trump in the U.S. Austria will hold a presidential election Sunday, and Italy faces a referendum vote on constitutional reform. Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has said he will resign if the reform does not pass. Earlier this week, French President François Hollande said that he would not seek re-election next year in order give his party a chance against conservatism. Sunday’s votes could result in more wins for the global right-wing movement that has addressed anxieties over immigration, security and the economy across nations.
And the essentials:
TV Tonight: Wondering what to watch this weekend? Robert Bianco looks at Westworld, Secrets and Lies and Mariah's World.
Be inspired: This lunch lady feeds low-income children year round.
Most popular: See our top stories in one nightly digest on Facebook Messenger.
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