Europe
Gandhi Artifacts Could Fetch Steep Prices At Auction
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
A pair of sandals, a shawl and a drinking cup that were used by the Indian independence leader are among the objects going under the hammer in the U.K.
Far-Right Historian Commits Suicide In Notre Dame Cathedral
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Dominique Venner, a well-known French historian who embraced and wrote about ultra-conservative causes for decades, committed suicide today in front of the alter at Notre Dame Cathedral. He had left a post on his blog decrying the legalization of same sex marriage in France. "An infamous law ... can always be repealed," he wrote. "It will require new, spectacular and symbolic actions to rouse people from their complacency."
Young People Cast Out Of Italy's Welfare System
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
In Italy, the youth jobless rate is nudging 40 percent, a record high in post-war history. Demographer Stefano Rosina says the Italian welfare system has always been skewed toward the middle-aged and elderly, leaving Italian youths with no political or trade union representation.
British Aircraft Carrier HMS Ark Royal Heads For Scrap Yard
Monday, May 20, 2013
The former Royal Navy flagship fell victim to a 2010 defense review that recommended scrapping the vessel and selling its Harrier jump jets.
An Ancient Religious Pilgrimage That Now Draws The Secular
Monday, May 20, 2013
The 1,200-year-old European pilgrimage route known as the Way of St. James is undergoing a revival. Tens of thousands of people are walking across France to the Spanish coastal city of Santiago de Compostela, and the relics of St. James. Once a religious affair, it's now a cultural and social phenomenon as well.
Pope Francis Puts The Poor Front And Center
Monday, May 20, 2013
Shunning the formalities of his office and focusing on poverty, Pope Francis is drawing a sharp contrast between his 2-month-old papacy and those of his predecessors.
Russian Lawmakers: Don't Criticize Soviet Actions In WWII
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Don't mess with Soviet history, especially when it comes to World War II. That's the message coming from some hard-line Russian legislators who are angry with an opposition lawmaker who criticized Josef Stalin's World War II counterintelligence agency, SMERSH, and likened it to Adolf Hitler's Gestapo.
Spaniard's Song Brings YouTube Fame ... And Maybe A Job
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Enzo Vizcaíno looks like a busker, strumming away on his ukulele as he roams a Barcelona metro car. But he sings of his bachelor's degree and postgrad diploma. "I'm the King of Microsoft," he croons. He's not looking for a handout. He just wants a job. And his creative approach may be paying off.
French President Signs Same-Sex Marriage Into Law
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Parliament had passed the legislation in April, but the main opposition party challenged its constitutionality. A ruling by the Constitutional Council on Friday paved the way for President Francois Hollande's official blessing.
Need A Tattoo Translated? Forget The British Foreign Office
Friday, May 17, 2013
British consular officials say they've gotten odd requests over the past year, ranging from help in getting Olympic tickets to checking the credentials of an online date.
Gerard Depardieu To Star In Two Chechnya-Based Films
Thursday, May 16, 2013
The actor accepted Russian citizenship in January after he denounced a proposed new tax on the rich in his native France. The Chechen connection is likely to rile human rights groups that have accused the president of the Russian republic of gross human rights violations. Depardieu will appear opposite Elizabeth Hurley in the first of the films.
No More Smuggling: Many Cured Italian Meats Coming To America
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Culatello. Capocollo. Sopressata. It will soon be legal to import a whole new world of Italian cured pork products, thanks to the USDA's decision to end a decades-long ban. Every Italian region and province, and even many towns have their own distinctive salumi.
Russia Orders Alleged U.S. Spy To Leave Country
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Russia's Federal Security Service says it apprehended a U.S. Embassy officer and accuses him of trying to entice a Russian official to provide classified information to the CIA. Russian authorities provided a photo, allegedly of third secretary Ryan Christopher Fogle, wearing a wig, and a photo of cash he was carrying along with a compass and a Moscow street map. Vogel was handed over to the U.S. Embassy after being questioned.
France Proposes Technology Tax To Pay For Culture Content
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
The French government is weighing a proposal to tax Google, Apple and possibly other large technology firms to raise revenue for the arts and cultural programs. The government contends the new tax would be similar to taxes already imposed on TV users, broadcasters and Internet providers.
Prosecution Seeks Lifetime Political Ban On Berlusconi
Monday, May 13, 2013
The former Italian prime minister is accused of having sex with an underage prostitute in a trial that opened in April 2011. Meanwhile, Berlusconi is appealing his sentence in a separate case for tax fraud.
Cameron: We Have To 'Step Up Our Help' To Syrian Opposition
Monday, May 13, 2013
British Prime Minister David Cameron meets at the White House with President Obama on Monday. Steve Inskeep talks to Cameron about the options for dealing with the Syrian conflict.
Banksy Mural May Be Coming To U.S. After All
Sunday, May 12, 2013
The stencil of a young boy sewing the Union Jack is the centerpiece of an exhibition in London, after which it will head to the U.S. where it is to be part of a private collection. Organizers say Slave Labour is not being put up for sale, but residents of the London neighborhood from which it disappeared want it back.
Tiny Mites Spark Big Battle Over Imports Of French Cheese
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Microscopic bugs called cheese mites are responsible for the distinctive rind and flavor of the bright orange French cheese Mimolette. But now, the FDA has blocked more than a ton of Mimolette from entering the country, because the agency says the mites left on it make it unfit for consumption.
How Swedish Malort Became Chicago's Mascot Bitter Drink
Friday, May 10, 2013
After Swedish immigrants moved out of the city, the traditional Swedish spirit was adopted by different ethnic groups. Bartenders eventually rediscovered the bitter spirit, too, and have helped to fuel its revival in Chicago.
Scientist Stephen Hawking To Boycott Israeli Conference
Wednesday, May 08, 2013
The physicist said his decision as based on the advice of his Palestinian contacts. Hawking is one of the most prominent figures to join the academic boycott of the Jewish state. His decision has been criticized and labeled hypocritical.