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Kris Kringles congregate at World Santa Congress in Denmark

AALBORG, Denmark — While Europe's still in the throes of summer heat, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in the Danish city of Aalborg. Dozens of Santas, Mrs. Clauses and elves from around the world have descended on Denmark's fourth-largest city for the Nordic nation's annual ...

Bayeux Tapestry makes first visit to England in a millennium

LONDON — After almost 1,000 years, the Bayeux Tapestry is back on English soil. In scenes like a heist movie in reverse, the priceless medieval artwork was spirited into the British Museum on Friday in the dead of night, after a high-tech, tight-security operation where any slip-up could ...

Renowned cook writes about Lebanese cuisine

BALLOUNEH, Lebanon — Before becoming one of the Middle East's most acclaimed cooks and food writers, Anissa Helou had no intention of either path. She entered the world of cooking and writing almost by accident when she was in her late 30s. Now 74, Helou has a wide following in the region ...

Inspired by Americans, Ukrainian climbers build outdoors culture

DENYSHI, Ukraine — Atop a steep granite cliff overlooking a river about two hours' drive west of Ukraine's capital, hundreds of people pitched tents on a festival camping ground. By day, they climbed the rock face, swam in a reservoir or enjoyed stand-up paddling. As evening fell, live bands ...

Robotic elephants draw crowds, controversy in India

CHALAKUDY, India — The life-size robotic elephants in Prasanth Prakashan's backyard workshop have ears that flap, tails that swish and trunks that squirt water. But that's about all they have in common with their real-life counterparts revered across India as manifestations of the divine. ...