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A Sri Lankan court has ordered disputed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and his ministers to refrain from carrying out their duties as it hears an appeal against them

Three astronauts have blasted off to the International Space Station, a successful launch that follows October's aborted mission

(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Kerry Rippy, Colorado State University(THE CONVERSATION) It’s 4 a.m., and I’ve been up for about 20 hours straight. A loud alarm is blaring, accompanied by red strobe lights flashing. A stern voice announces, “Searching station B. Exit immediately.” It feels like an emergency, but it’s not. In fact, the alarm has already gone off 60 or 70 times today. It is a warning, letting

(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Jack Schneider, University of Massachusetts Lowell(THE CONVERSATION) George H.W. Bush fulfilled his desire – articulated late in his 1988 campaign for president – to be “the education president.” It just took three decades.It’s true that Bush passed no education bills during his one term as president.His next three successors, by contrast, all produced signature education

(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Samuel Putnam, Bowdoin College and Masha A. Gartstein, Washington State University(THE CONVERSATION) As early as the fifth century, the Greek philosopher Thucydides contrasted the self-control and stoicism of Spartans with the more indulgent and free-thinking citizens of Athens.Today, unique behaviors and characteristics seem ingrained in certain cultures.Italians wildly gesticulate

(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Jeffrey Kucik, University of Arizona(THE CONVERSATION) Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping have agreed to a ceasefire in their increasingly painful trade war, yet their governments’ differing depictions of the deal show just how far apart they really are. While the Trump administration emphasized trade issues such as a 90-day moratorium on raising tariffs and Xi’s concession to

(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) J. Benjamin Hurlbut, Arizona State University and Jason Scott Robert, Arizona State University(THE CONVERSATION) Uncertainty continues to swirl around scientist He Jiankui’s gene editing experiment in China. Using CRISPR technology, He modified a gene related to immune function in human embryos and transferred the embryos to their mother’s womb, producing twin girls.Many questions

(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Matthew Kahn, University of Southern California – Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences(THE CONVERSATION) Former President George H.W. Bush, who died on Nov. 30, was admirable for many reasons, from his skillful leadership through the end of the Cold War to his personal warmth and courtesy. As an environmental economist, I believe his approach to conservation also deserves

(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Andrew Reinmann, CUNY Graduate Center and Pamela Templer, Boston University(THE CONVERSATION) Climate change often conjures up images of heat, drought and hurricanes. But according to the latest U.S. National Climate Assessment, released on Nov. 23, 2018, winters have warmed three times faster than summers in the Northeast in recent years. These changes are also producing

(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Erika Franklin Fowler, Wesleyan University; Michael Franz, Bowdoin College, and Travis N. Ridout, Washington State University(THE CONVERSATION) The 2018 midterm elections are in the books, the winners have been declared and the 30-second attack ads are – finally – over. As co-directors of the Wesleyan Media Project, which has tracked and analyzed campaign advertising since 2010, we

(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Sandra Brooke, Florida State University(THE CONVERSATION) When people think of coral reefs, they typically picture warm, clear waters with brightly colored corals and fishes. But other corals live in deep, dark, cold waters, often far from shore in remote locations. These varieties are just as ecologically important as their shallow water counterparts. They also are just as

Official figures show that Turkey's inflation rate eased in November in the wake of a firmer currency, which kept a lid on import prices.

Yemeni officials say some 50 rebels wounded in fighting will be flown to neighboring Oman for treatment

Bayern Munich's first win in four Bundesliga matches has done little to ease the turmoil at the club

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, whose controversial war on drugs has cost thousands of lives, has said he uses marijuana to keep awake at long regional meetings, but later disavowed his assertion as a joke

Pakistan: Trump reaches out to PM Khan, sends letter seeking Islamabad's help in bringing the Taliban to peace talks

German police say the body of a missing 17-year-old girl has been found at a shelter for homeless people and others in western Germany and a resident has been detained

A holiday display meant to re-create a scene from "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" looked a little too real and caused a veteran to spring into action

A Dutch court has rejected the request of a self-styled positivity guru to shave 20 years off his age, in a case that drew worldwide attention.

Unilever has agreed to buy GlaxoSmithKline's health food drinks business in India and Bangladesh, including popular Horlicks brand products, for 3.3 billion euros ($3.8 billion).