As the world embraces the most celebrated Christian holiday, U.S. scholars have presented an unusual theory about the legend of Santa Claus, according to a report on Livescience.com.“Santa is a modern counterpart of a shaman, who consumed mind-altering plants and fungi to commune with the spirit world,” said John Rush, an anthropologist at Sierra College in Rocklin, California. Hundreds of years ago, the shamans in the Siberian and Arctic regions would collect Amanita muscaria -- hallucinogenic

Those who can‘t lose weight despite exercising and cutting back on high-calorie food may be drinking too many calories from beverages, a U.S. dietitian says.Kari Kooi, a registered dietitian at The Methodist Hospital in Houston, said the empty calories from alcohol can add up fast, and alcohol lowers inhibitions, meaning resistance to high-calorie foods becomes futile.“Reduce or cut out alcohol consumption,” Kooi said in a statement. “Increased alcohol consumption will lead to unwanted pounds an

VATICAN CITY (AFP) ― Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday pardoned his former butler Paolo Gabriele, who was sentenced to 18 months in prison for stealing secret papal memos, but banished the once loyal servant from the Vatican forever.“This morning the Holy Father Benedict XVI visited Paolo Gabriele in prison in order to confirm his forgiveness and to inform him personally of his acceptance of Mr Gabriele’s request for pardon,” the Vatican said in a statement.The pardon for Gabriele, who was convicted

LONDON (AFP) ― Britain’s former prime minister Margaret Thatcher was in hospital Saturday recovering from a minor operation to remove a growth in her bladder and may remain there over Christmas, friends said.The 87-year-old “Iron Lady,” Britain’s first and only female premier, was doing “absolutely fine” having been admitted to hospital on Thursday feeling unwell, her spokesman said. But the operation has raised fresh fears for the health of Britain’s conservative prime minister from 1979 to 199

Singer Na-ul of Brown Eyed Soul and actress Han Hye-jin have ended their relationship after nine years. Both celebrities confirmed that they have decided to part ways. The reason for their breakup has yet to be revealed. The two met through a mutal friend in 2004 and were widely considered a “star couple” in the entertainment industry. The R&B group Brown Eyed Soul has already embarked on their nationwide “Soul Play” tour, taking them to seven cities across the country. Han is currently starring

Japanese Emperor Akihito turned 79 years old on Sunday and reassured thousands of well-wishers that he has regained health since his heart bypass surgery in February.The softly-spoken monarch gave his birthday address to the public from a glass-covered balcony at the Imperial Palace overlooking the East Garden, filled with visitors braving the bitter cold and waving small Japanese flags.“In February, I had a heart surgery and worried many people. Please remain assured that I am now living normal

Anyone who wants to take part in the time-honored custom of track Santa‘s progress on Christmas Eve choose from multiple Santa-tracking services this year.Longtime Santa-tracking partners North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, and Google parted ways and each is offering a tracking service, the Los Angeles Times reported Saturday.NORAD, based in Colorado Springs, has paired up with Bing Maps for a 2-D Santa-tracking display, as well as Cesium to show a 3-D version of Santa’s progress

Fresh, all-natural juice in trend amid well-being boom

Theater“Miss Julie”: Swedish playwright August Strindberg’s 1888 naturalistic play “Miss Julie” is being staged as a musical by a Korea’s Street Theater Troupe. The show takes place in the summer of 1874, and tells the story of Miss Julie, a young noble woman, who secretly attends a party hosted by her servants. She is tired of the strict social mores of her noble family and flirts with one of the servants named Jean. Eventually, she is asked to run away with him. The show runs from Dec. 20 to J