Syrians Embrace Festive Spirit at Winter Market in Damascus

In the midst of holiday chaos and exhaustion, a long-standing tradition of telling scary stories during Christmas is explored, dating back to Victorian England and beyond. This tradition of intertwining frightful tales with winter celebrations has deep roots, with recent events like a Victorian ghost story performance at a Chicago museum tapping into the appetite for eerie Christmas narratives. The idea of horror and fear during the holidays is not a modern concept, but rather...

One in five South Koreans are now aged 65 or older, marking the country as a "super-aged society" like Japan. The plummeting birth rate and economic impact have prompted Seoul to implement new regulations and establish a ministry to address the demographic crisis. With projections showing a potential 37.3 percent elderly population by 2045, South Korea may rely on its high-tech and manufacturing sectors to offset workforce losses. Full Article

Jamie Geller shares an easy sufganiyot recipe for Hanukkah, coinciding with a rare "Chrismukkah" celebration this year. Culinary director Erica Holland-Toll blends Christmas and Hanukkah traditions with her family, reflecting on past memories and embracing new culinary adventures. She plans to serve her grandmother's latkes alongside Italian classics on Christmas Day, creating a unique holiday feast. Full Article

Defense lawyers for former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Michael Jeffries are seeking a competency hearing, citing a neuropsychologist's conclusion that Jeffries may have dementia. Experts are set to testify in June to determine if Jeffries, facing sex charges, is capable of assisting his attorneys. Jeffries, 80, is out on a $10 million bond after pleading not guilty to federal sex trafficking and interstate prostitution charges in October. Full Article

A passenger plane carrying 67 people crashed in Kazakhstan after colliding with birds while en route from Azerbaijan to Russia, resulting in 25 survivors with 22 hospitalized. The flight had passengers from Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, and was diverted due to fog before making an emergency landing near Aktau. The investigation is ongoing, with the cause believed to be a bird strike, and a fire at the crash site has been extinguished by rescue...

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wished Christians worldwide a merry Christmas in a video message, expressing gratitude for their support amid ongoing conflicts with terror groups. Netanyahu highlighted the Christian community's resilience and steadfastness as Israel defends against barbarism, emphasizing the nation's commitment to peace while defending its heritage. With a growing Christian population in Israel, Netanyahu assured that with support and divine help, Israel will prevail in its fight for peace and wished a...