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  In Iceland, 13 'Yule Lads' come to town to herald Christmas

  December 12, 2018 19:00 IST

  Instead of a friendly Santa Claus, children in Iceland enjoy favors from 13 mischievous troll brothers that arrive from the mountains thirteen days before Christmas

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  2 French league matches postponed at request of authorities

  December 12, 2018 18:15 IST

  Two French league soccer matches have been postponed at the request of authorities

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  Kosovo's plan to build an army revives old Balkan tensions

  December 12, 2018 18:15 IST

  Kosovo is moving to build itself a regular army, angering neighboring Serbia enough to talk of military intervention _ a seemingly empty threat

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  Diamonds are forever – whether made in a lab or mined from the earth

  December 12, 2018 18:00 IST

  (The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Joshua Wilhide, University of Maryland, Baltimore County and William LaCourse, University of Maryland, Baltimore County(THE CONVERSATION) It’s diamond season. Almost 40 percent of American engagements happen between Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day, with Christmas the most popular day to pop the question – and hand over a sparkly piece of ice. Jewelry stores do at least double their

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  Where's my package? Common carrier freight lockers can ease city traffic and prevent failed deliveries

  December 12, 2018 18:00 IST

  (The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Barbara Ivanov, University of Washington and Anne Goodchild, University of Washington(THE CONVERSATION) Online shopping is a big convenience for many Americans, but porch piracy can ruin the experience. For example, Mikaela Gilbert lived in a row house in West Philadelphia while she studied systems engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. By her junior year, Gilbert had lost

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  Don't worry about screen time – focus on how you use technology

  December 12, 2018 18:00 IST

  (The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Margaret E. Morris, University of Washington(THE CONVERSATION) Many Americans find themselves bombarded by expert advice to limit their screen time and break their addictions to digital devices – including enforcing and modeling this restraint for the children in their lives. However, over 15 years of closely observing people and talking with them about how they use technological

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  Wisconsin GOP's power grab is a danger to democracy

  December 12, 2018 18:00 IST

  (The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Christopher Beem, Pennsylvania State University(THE CONVERSATION) In Wisconsin, Democratic candidates won the 2018 elections for governor and attorney general.But the Republican-controlled legislature quickly introduced and passed lame-duck legislation that takes power away from these incoming officeholders and hands it to the state legislature, which will remain in GOP control.

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  How stereo was first sold to a skeptical public

  December 12, 2018 18:00 IST

  (The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Jonathan Schroeder, Rochester Institute of Technology and Janet Borgerson, DePaul University(THE CONVERSATION) When we hear the word “stereo” today, we might simply think of a sound system, as in “turn on the stereo.” But stereo actually is a specific technology, like video streaming or the latest expresso maker. Sixty years ago, it was introduced for the first time. Whenever a new

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  Cannabis use in teens not a gateway to conduct problems, study suggests – but risks still exist

  December 12, 2018 18:00 IST

  (The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Dan Romer, University of Pennsylvania(THE CONVERSATION) With the legalization of cannabis for adults becoming increasingly widespread, more adolescents will be trying the drug. And parents will be wondering what the consequences will be for their teens should they try and continue to use marijuana. A few decades ago, there was considerable concern that cannabis use was a gateway to

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  Cheap oil is blocking progress on climate change

  December 12, 2018 18:00 IST

  (The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Scott L. Montgomery, University of Washington(THE CONVERSATION) The relationship between supply and demand, a fundamental economic concept, holds that when the price of something rises, people use less of it. Similarly, when prices fall, they use more. And it may seem logical that low oil prices benefit consumers, countries, even the world. When consumers save money on gas, they can

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  Sri Lanka's sacked prime minister wins confidence vote

  December 12, 2018 17:30 IST

  The former Sri Lankan prime minister whose October sacking by the president precipitated a political crisis has won a confidence vote in Parliament

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  Polish PM seeks confidence vote in parliament

  December 12, 2018 17:15 IST

  Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has asked in parliament for a confidence vote on his own government, saying he wants to be sure that his government has "a mandate" ahead of a European Union summit

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  10 Things to Know for Today

  December 12, 2018 17:00 IST

  Among 10 Things to Know: British Prime Minister May to face no-confidence vote by lawmakers; France: Suspected gunman named, had long police record; Former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen faces possible jail sentence

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  Turkey says it will launch new Syria offensive within days

  December 12, 2018 16:45 IST

  Turkey's president says it will begin a new military operation against U.S-backed Kurdish fighters in Syria "within a few days."

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  France: Suspected gunman named, had long police record

  December 12, 2018 16:45 IST

  France authorities detained five people as they hunted Wednesday for a suspected extremist who sprayed gunfire at one of Europe's most famous Christmas markets

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  Turkish president says his country will launch a new military operation in Syria within days

  December 12, 2018 16:30 IST

  Turkish president says his country will launch a new military operation in Syria within days

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  Germany arrests 4 over bid to revive banned far-right group

  December 12, 2018 16:30 IST

  Authorities in Germany have arrested four people and carried out raids at 15 sites in an investigation of suspected efforts to revive a far-right group that was banned 18 years ago

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  Philippine Congress votes to extend martial law in south

  December 12, 2018 16:15 IST

  The Philippine Congress has approved a request by the president to extend martial law in the country's volatile south by a year due to continuing threats by Islamic State group-linked militants and communist insurgents

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  Hungary: Opposition parties try to block labor law changes

  December 12, 2018 16:00 IST

  Hungarian opposition parties are blocking access to the parliamentary speaker's pulpit, trying to prevent the legislature from adopting amendments loosening the labor code

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  Team Sky's future in doubt after broadcaster pulls backing

  December 12, 2018 16:00 IST

  Sky is set to withdraw from cycling following the European pay TV broadcaster's takeover by American company Comcast despite a rider from the team winning the Tour de France for a sixth time in seven years

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  Russian official threatens to block Google

  December 12, 2018 15:45 IST

  A Russian communications official has threatened to block Google in Russia unless it complies with a law banning certain websites

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  Italy police identify IS cell suspected in 2013 kidnapping

  December 12, 2018 15:15 IST

  Italy police say they've IDed Islamic State members suspected of aid worker's 2013 kidnapping

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  The Latest: UN Secretary-General returns to climate talks

  December 12, 2018 15:15 IST

  U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres has flown back to Poland in an effort to support struggling talks on ways of fighting climate change

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  Chinese welcome Huawei executive's release in Canada

  December 12, 2018 15:15 IST

  Chinese cheer Canadian court's decision to release top Huawei Technologies executive on bail

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  Egypt releases prominent activist blogger

  December 12, 2018 15:00 IST

  Egyptian authorities have released a prominent activist and blogger who had criticized the government after more than seven months of detention

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  Farmers protest blocks traffic on major artery into Warsaw

  December 12, 2018 15:00 IST

  Protesting farmers in Poland have blocked a major highway into Warsaw, vowing to remain until the prime minister agrees to listen to their problems

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  Germany wants more EU funds to help phase out coal industry

  December 12, 2018 14:45 IST

  Germany's environment minister wants more European Union funds to support regions affected by the closure of coal mines

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  The Latest: May vows to contest leadership challenge

  December 12, 2018 14:45 IST

  U.K. leader Theresa May is vowing to fight a no-confidence vote "with everything I've got," appealing to party colleagues to support her leadership