Europe

World News

Are The Protests In Turkey Really About A Park?

4:40pm June 15, 2013

Weekend Edition Saturday Host Scott Simon talks to award winning Turkish novelist Elif Shafak about the nature and deeper causes of the protests in Turkey, which erupted two weeks ago.

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Residents of the Estonian capital of Tallinn can use public transportation for free after purchasing a special card for 2 euros.

World News

Tallinn: The Former Soviet City That Gave Birth To Skype

6:20pm June 12, 2013

by Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson

The Estonian capital is dotted with medieval towers and Soviet architecture that belie its status as one of the world's most technologically advanced cities. Residents use a smart card to ride the bus, and mail packages and pay for parking with their phones.

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Maria Smolnitcaia, 52, is a singer living on a TB ward in Balti, Moldova. Smolnitcaia says "When we take the pills, we feel worse. I'm losing my hearing a little. I feel pain in my bones, in my whole body."

Faces Of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis

11:25am June 12, 2013

by Jason Beaubien

New types of tuberculosis are emerging around the world that take years and thousands of dollars to cure. Patients fighting this disease are often isolated from their communities and suffer devastating drug side effects, such as permanent hearing loss and dizziness.

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Holiday Inn In North London Hopes To Horrify Guests

7:32am June 11, 2013

To promote the horror film Mama, the hotel has received a gory makeover. Rooms have blood soaked sheets and scary graffitti.

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Swedish Commuter Rail Engineers Get Around Dress Code

7:34am June 10, 2013

The drivers were told no more shorts, even though the heat in the cabs can top 95 degrees. They are permitted to wear just long pants or skirts. So many of the male engineers are now wearing skirts.

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World News

Britain Apologizes For Colonial-Era Torture Of Kenyan Rebels

6:36pm June 09, 2013

by Gregory Warner

The historic apology — and the unprecedented settlement — has been years in the making. A Harvard graduate student helped bring about the settlement for the surviving Mau Mau victims of torture and abuse at the hands of the British.

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Diners drinking raki, a traditional Turkish alcoholic drink flavored with anise, at a restaurant in Istanbul.

Not Everyone Cheers Turkey's Move To Tighten Alcohol Rules

4:46am June 07, 2013

by Peter Kenyon

Among the many reasons for ongoing riots in Turkey: A recent law restricting the advertising and sale of alcohol. Secular Turks see the new rules as the latest effort by the ruling AK Party to impose religious values on the population.

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Spain's King Juan Carlos, his daughter Infanta Cristina and her husband, Inaki Urdangarin, are seen together on May 22, 2006. A corruption scandal involving Urdangarin, as well as the royal family's lifestyle is contributing to the public's diminishing re

World News

With Safaris And Yachts, Spanish King Comes Under Fire

8:16pm June 05, 2013

by Lauren Frayer

King Juan Carlos is suffering his lowest ever approval ratings. Some Spaniards roll their eyes at his high-flying lifestyle and now question the future of the monarchy.

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The Spanish city of Santander is using a network of sensors to help improve services and save money. Incidents reported to Santander's command-and-control center, where the city manages data from sensors and smartphone reports made by citizens, are plotte

High-Tech Sensors Help Old Port City Leap Into Smart Future

1:53pm June 04, 2013

by Lauren Frayer

On Spain's Atlantic coast, the city of Santander has installed 12,000 sensors that measure everything from when streetlights need to be dimmed to when trash dumpsters are full — saving millions for cash-strapped public coffers. It's becoming a model for cities worldwide.

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Longest Word In German Has Been Retired

8:10am June 04, 2013

German spelling bees are about to get easier: The longest word in German has been retired. It has 63 letters.

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