While it's not celebrated nationwide, St. Nicholas Day holds a special place for German and Dutch communities across the U.S. Festivities and traditions are held in various cities, including in Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Milwaukee. (Ogwude & Robledo, USA Today)
Read MoreOver nearly 14 years of civil war, Aleppo’s Christian population has fallen from 300,000 to just 25,000, as many have left the country for better opportunities and a life free from the threat of violence. In 2013, two of the city’s archbishops were kidnapped; their whereabouts remain unknown. (Chamaa & Snell, The Washington Post)
Read MoreAn array of popular apps are offering AI companions to millions of predominantly female users who are spinning up AI girlfriends, AI husbands, AI therapists — even AI parents — despite long-standing warnings from researchers about the potential emotional toll of interacting with humanlike chatbots. (Tiku, The Washington Post)
Read MoreEach day across the world, 140 women and girls were killed by an intimate partner or family member on average last year, according to a report by two United Nations agencies. “The home is the most dangerous place for women and girls,” the report added. (Lederer, Los Angeles Times)
Read MoreThe 2016 animated movie was a modest hit when it was first released, finishing 12th at the global box office, but since it was first launched on Disney+ in 2020, it has become the most popular films on all streaming platform, according to figures released by Nielsen (via The Wall Street Journal). (Jones, NME)
Read MoreAssessing the court’s ultimate direction was complicated by the silence of one justice in the conservative majority, Neil M. Gorsuch, the author of a key case on employment discrimination. The court’s decision is expected by June. (The New York Times)
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