• Christmas Seen as 'Religious Feast' Doubles People's Happiness, Says Survey

  People who consider Christmas a "religious feast" rather than just a "cultural feast" are more likely to feel happier than usual during the festive season, indicated a MaltaToday recent survey.

  

• Samaritan's Purse, Graham Ministries Named Among Top 10 Charities Changing World

  The ministries of Samaritan's Purse and Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) recently were listed in the top 10 charities changing the world. "That is an incredible privilege. All of our work is done in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and He is the One able to change hearts and lives - and able to change the world," stated Franklin Graham, president and CEO of both relief groups.

• Trump Thanks Evangelicals, Franklin Graham at Alabama Rally

  President-elect Donald Trump closed out what he called "thank you" tours Saturday afternoon with a rally in Mobile, Ala. Trump drew an estimated crowd of 20,000 supporters to the Ladd-Peebles Stadium during the 2016 presidential campaign. "There's no better place to celebrate then right here," he told Saturday's rally attendees. "I want to thank so many great people, but having Franklin Graham, who was so instrumental, we won so big, with evangelical Christians, we won so big."

  

• ‘Religion and Ethics NewsWeekly’ PBS Show to End After 20-Year Series

  The award-winning weekly public television series (PBS), "Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly," is slated to end after 20 years of broadcasting, announced representatives of WNET, the parent company of Thirteen Productions. The show's last episode will be Feb. 24, 2017. The group's website will remain available, providing an extensive archive, including transcripts of individual shows and streaming videos. Des Moines Register staffers called this show "a blueprint for how to accurately report on religi

  

• Aleppo Ruin Will Be Linked With Barack Obama’s Legacy Says Conservative Krauthammer

  Conservative author and commentator Charles Krauthammer said on Fox News Thursday the destruction in Aleppo, Syria, will be an often remembered part of U.S. President Barack Obama's legacy, rather than his foreign policy for the Iran deal or the death of Usama bin Laden. The chaos in Aleppo is the result of a years-long civil war between Syrian dictator Bashar Assad and rebel forces trying to overtake the government. Obama, during his final press conference on Friday, said he feels "responsible"