How 2013 Became The 'Gayest Year Ever'
Utah's surprise decision to legalize same-sex marriage caps a landmark year for gay rights. The last 12 months saw a huge string of victories, from state legislatures, to Congress, to the Supreme Court.
View ArticleLondon's Cheeky Skyscrapers
I arrived in London a few days ago for my new NPR assignment. As an unofficial part of my orientation, I decided to take a guided walking tour of the old city.Yes, the history was fascinating. Yes, the...
View ArticleSome Brits Not Ready To Say 'Ta-Ra' To Iconic Telephone Box
People in the United Kingdom are racing to save a beloved icon, in a mission that in some ways resembles efforts to save the giant panda in China, or the polar bear in the Arctic.But this icon isn't...
View ArticleThe 'Downton Abbey Law' Would Let British Women Inherit Titles
Centuries before the U.S. was colonized, the British were handing down estates and titles from father to son. Never from mother to daughter.Then came the royal pregnancy last year. The Duke and Duchess...
View Articleln A Global Economy, Why's It So Expensive To Transfer My Money?
When relocating to a new country, it's important to establish routines and traditions. My ritual here in London is spending an hour on the phone with the bank every day.It's a strange thing about 2014...
View ArticleFrom The Trenches To The Web: British WWI Diaries Digitized
On the outskirts of London, in a basement room of the British National Archives, a historian delicately turns pages that have the brittle feel of dead leaves. Each is covered in text — some...
View ArticleBritish Satire: Still Current After 170 Years
After three weeks in London, I'm finally starting to understand some local customs and mores. Yet I confess that political cartoons remain a challenge. They often reference obscure government ministers...
View ArticleThe Games Are A Great Party, But Not A Great Investment
NPR correspondents Ari Shapiro, in London, and Joanna Kakissis, in Athens, teamed up for this joint look at Olympics economics.The Winter Olympics in Sochi are just a few days away. Russia has spent...
View ArticleDid London Get An Economic Boost From The 2012 Olympics?
Ronald Reagan once joked that the game Trivial Pursuit had a special economists' edition: it came with 100 questions and 3000 answers. Economists are notorious for being unable to agree on anything.
View ArticleFrom Projects To Parliament, Britain's 'Rev. Rose' Breaks Barriers
Parliament in London is an old-fashioned place. When members gather in the House of Commons, the sea of faces is generally wrinkled, white and male.The chaplain who leads them each day in prayer is...
View ArticleIn Britain, Deluge Shows No Signs Of Slowing
The winter weather in Britain is even worse than people expected this year. For more than a month now, the British Isles have been battered with storms that have destroyed train tracks, blocked roads...
View ArticleFor Elephants And Rhinos, Poaching Trends Point In Wrong Direction
South Africa has a stable government that makes wildlife protection a high priority. But even in that country, there's been a dramatic surge in poaching, particularly for rhinos.A decade ago, fewer...
View ArticleIn A Damp Country, Record-Breaking Rains Flood Britain
Parts of England have been underwater for more than six weeks now, since storms began pummeling the west of Great Britain around Christmas. While many of those areas are still submerged, the situation...
View ArticleClassical Music Piece Enhances Roald Dahl's 'Dirty Beasts'
Transcript DAVID GREENE, HOST: The children's author Roald Dahl died almost 25 years ago, and yet, today you can find more musical adaptations of his work than ever.RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST: "Matilda" is a...
View ArticleFor U.S. Ambassador, Ties To Prague That Transcend Diplomacy
The drive into Prague is like a journey into the past. As you approach, grand castles and cathedrals appear on the horizon and pull you into an old-world city that could be the setting for a fairy...
View ArticleWhy More Americans Are Renouncing U.S. Citizenship
A few times a year, the Treasury Department publishes a long list of names announcing all of the Americans who have lately abandoned their U.S. citizenship.According to the legal website International...
View ArticleWill Scotland Go Independent? A Primer On The Secession Vote
An intense campaign is underway for the future of the United Kingdom. On Sept. 18, the people of Scotland will vote on whether to become an independent country. Here are answers to a few key questions...
View ArticleBritain's 'Tea Party' Pushes For Cutting Ties With European Union
Torquay is a beach resort in the part of southwest Britain known as the English Riviera for its abundant sun (relative to the rest of the country, anyway). Agatha Christie was born here in 1890. By the...
View ArticleWith Russian Minister, Kerry Kicks A Soccer Ball And Talks Ukraine
Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov meet in London Friday for talks about the crisis in Ukraine.
View ArticleEurope Pulls Punches With Limited Sanctions, Wary Of Backfire
Transcript AUDIE CORNISH, HOST: The United States and Europe both condemn the vote in Crimea. President Obama announced measures he says will increase the cost on Russia. They include the freezing of...
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