Europe

Carmen Martinez Ayuso, 85, prays during her eviction from her home in Madrid on Nov. 21. A professional Spanish soccer team, Rayo Vallecano, has come to her aid, promising to pay her housing costs for the rest of her life.

World News

The 85-Year-Old Widow Who's The Symbol Of Spain's Economic Woes

7:29pm December 22, 2014

by Lauren Frayer

Carmen Martinez Ayuso was evicted from her apartment because her son took out a loan he couldn't repay. Now she's been the recipient of unexpected kindness this holiday season.

Megan Walhood loves the unique toasty potato flavor of lefse. "There's something so comforting about soft, starchy things," she says.

World News

For Norwegian-Americans, Christmas Cheer Is Wrapped Up In Lefse

2:24pm December 22, 2014

by Deena Prichep

For many Norwegian-American families, the most anticipated Christmas treat isn't chocolate or sugar-dusted cookies. It's a simple potato-based pancake, spread with butter and sugar or jam.

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Pope Francis delivers his message during a meeting with cardinals and bishops of the Curia at the Vatican on Monday. The pope said the Curia suffered from

Pope Francis, At Christmas Gathering, Blasts Vatican's Bureaucrats

1:14pm December 22, 2014

by Krishnadev Calamur

He accused the Curia, which oversees the world's 1.2 billion Catholics, of "spiritual Alzheimer's" and careerism. Francis has made reforming the Vatican a major part of his agenda.

World News

Stars Shine Bright In Ireland's Dark-Sky Reserve

10:09am December 22, 2014

by Ari Shapiro

The International Dark-Sky Association has named only 3 gold-tier reserves, and only 1 in the Northern Hemisphere. That title belongs to Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve in southwestern Ireland.

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Spain's Princess Cristina To Stand Trial On Tax Fraud Charges

9:46am December 22, 2014

by Krishnadev Calamur

The charges are related to her alleged links to her husband's business affairs. Cristina is sixth in line to the throne and becomes the country's first royal in modern times to face prosecution.

World News

Russia Continues To Cope With Sliding Economy

5:24pm December 21, 2014

As Russia stands on the brink of a financial crisis, NPR's Corey Flintoff joins host Arun Rath to discuss how ordinary Russians are responding to the drop in the value of their rubles.

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World News

A London Tube Dream Ride, In The Driver's Cab

1:01pm December 21, 2014

by Ari Shapiro

NPR's Ari Shapiro has been reporting from London for the last year. As a Christmas gift, his producer arranged a special trip for him: a ride in the driver's cab on a London Underground train.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks in front of the map of the Russian Federation, with Crimea on the left of the map, during his annual news conference in Moscow, Russia, on Thursday. The Kremlin has responded angrily to the latest round of U.S.-EU s

Russia Says It Won't 'Cave In' To New Western Sanctions

3:30pm December 20, 2014

by Scott Neuman

The reaction comes after President Obama signed an executive order on Friday slapping economic sanctions on Crimea, a day after the EU approved similar measures.

World News

Suddenly, Russia's Confidence Stumbles

11:39am December 20, 2014

With the ruble flagging and the price of oil still on the way down, the Russian economy is in trouble. Former U.S. ambassador Michael McFaul tells NPR's Scott Simon what that means for Russia.

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New Romanian President Vows To Crack Down On Corruption

6:58pm December 19, 2014

by Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson

On Sunday, Romania will swear in a new president, the first from one of that country's ethnic minorities. Klaus Iohannis, a little known mayor from Transylvania with German ancestry, scored a surprise victory last month over Romania's prime minister.

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