Accessibility links
Europe Europe

Europe

Wednesday

World

Erdbrink Discusses Attacks On British Embassy

Guy Raz speaks with Washington Post Tehran bureau chief Thomas Erdbrink for an update on Britain and Iran. They discuss protests at the British Embassy, rising tensions and moves to close other European embassies in Iran.

Erdbrink Discusses Attacks On British Embassy

Listen · 3:44
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/142961348/142961763" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

In Britain, Public Workers Strike Over Pension Cuts

Public sector workers walked off their jobs Wednesday in Britain to protest pension cuts. They tied up airports, shut down schools and slowed delivery of health services. No one knows for sure how many joined the walkout, though some reports say it was as many as two million people. The strike is an important sign of the growing discontent with Britain's austerity program.

In Britain, Public Workers Strike Over Pension Cuts

Listen · 3:55
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/142961346/142961321" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Scores Of British Workers Protest Austerity Measures

More than 2 million public sector workers in Britain are expected to participate in Wednesday's strike to protest pension cutbacks. Thirty trade unions will join in, hitting public services from health, garbage and tax collection to schools, ports and airports.

Scores Of British Workers Protest Austerity Measures

Listen · 5:06
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/142938577/142938738" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

British Panel Told Phone-Hacking Was Necessary

The wide-ranging inquiry into criminal abuses by the British press has led to testimony about relationships and careers damaged by tabloid excess. Newspapers owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. are at the heart of the scandal. A former features editor for one of those papers stole the show at Tuesday's hearing.

British Panel Told Phone-Hacking Was Necessary

Listen · 3:39
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/142929296/142929436" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

British Public Sector Workers Strike Over Pensions

What's being described as the largest national strike in a generation has begun in Britain. Some two million public sector workers are expected to take part. It's the latest in a wave of protests over austerity measures that have been sweeping through Europe for many months.

British Public Sector Workers Strike Over Pensions

Listen · 5:00
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/142928263/142915278" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Tuesday

Greeks Return To Ancient System Of Barter

In Volos, optician Klita Dimitriadis accepts partial payment in Local Alternative Units, or TEMs. She then spends the TEMs at a monthly farmers market, or exchanges them for other services. Sylvia Poggoli/NPR hide caption

toggle caption
Sylvia Poggoli/NPR

Greeks Return To Ancient System Of Barter

Across debt-ridden Greece, people are turning to a simpler form of commerce, using both formal and informal systems of bartering as a means to make ends meet. In places such as the fishing village of Volos, swapping goods and services is also fostering a new sense of community.

Greeks Return To Ancient System Of Barter

Listen · 4:22
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/142908549/142918776" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Monday

Outside The Eurozone, But Britain Is Still Struggling

Britain opted out of the euro, but it's by no means protected from the eurozone troubles. Declining demand on the continent means fewer British exports. The picture is particularly bleak in places like Hull — a port city with one of the highest rates of youth unemployment in Britain.

Outside The Eurozone, But Britain Is Still Struggling

Listen · 7:47
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/142839192/142839153" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Saturday

Middle East

Turkey Feels Pressure To Act On Syria

Turkish rhetoric has now escalated to the fullest, with Friday's call by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for Syrian President Bashar Assad to leave power. Turkey insists it won't move unilaterally, but pressure is building to protect civilian life in Syria.

Turkey Feels Pressure To Act On Syria

Listen · 3:56
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/142795935/142795908" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Friday

For Greeks, A Sad Shift In Self Image

There was a time when Greeks were proud of being Greek, of being a people known for dancing, being happy without material wealth, enjoying life. Now, Greeks are known for being deeply in debt, accused by some of living the high life on other people's money, of dragging Europe's economy to the brink of disaster.

For Greeks, A Sad Shift In Self Image

Listen · 4:32
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/142780605/142780660" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Germany's Identity Cemented In The Euro

When the euro was rolled out nearly a decade ago, it was touted as a unifying force across European cultures. Uwe Boek, a 48-year-old Berliner, has seen and embraced these changes: "It's us being Europeans in the European Union. Because the euro is money but the European Union is about identity."

Germany's Identity Cemented In The Euro

Listen · 4:23
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/142780603/142780658" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Thursday

Avoiding The Tax Man Could Cost Italians Dearly

Prime Minister Mario Monti has promised to crack down on tax evaders as part of reforms needed to convince markets that Italy can pay its debts. Michel Euler/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Michel Euler/AP

Avoiding The Tax Man Could Cost Italians Dearly

Tax evasion is a long tradition in Italy. But with the country facing a crippling debt crisis, the new prime minister hopes to convince markets that he can get tough on those who refuse to pay up, and perhaps change Italian attitudes about tax avoidance as well.

Avoiding The Tax Man Could Cost Italians Dearly

Listen · 4:07
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/142754713/142754854" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Tough Times Spark Russian Resurgence In Latvia

In September, the pro-Russia Harmony Center party won parliamentary elections in Latvia. But the governing coalition has left the party on the sidelines. Supporters of the Harmony Center party protest in front of the Parliament building during its opening session in Riga on Oct. 17. The banner reads: "No to ethnic discrimination." Raitis Purins/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Raitis Purins/AFP/Getty Images

Tough Times Spark Russian Resurgence In Latvia

In Latvia, a country haunted by its Soviet past, the rise of a Russian political party seemed unthinkable. But the global economic crisis hit the Baltic nation so hard that voters turned to Harmony Center, a party with Russian ties, promises of government help and a socialist economic platform.

Tough Times Spark Russian Resurgence In Latvia

Listen · 4:43
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/141903913/142756212" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Economy

Bond Worries Reveal The Depths Of Europe's Crisis

To gauge the severity of the crisis in Europe, it helps to look at how much it costs the continent's countries to borrow money. Investors are pulling back from buying bonds, one country at a time. Investors have dumped their Spanish and Italian debt; now they're looking warily around the rest of Europe, wondering who's next. And suddenly France isn't looking very strong.

Bond Worries Reveal The Depths Of Europe's Crisis

Listen · 2:43
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/142742701/142742570" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Wednesday

Spain's Next Leader Is Urged To Get An Early Start

In Spain, last weekend's election victory by austerity-minded conservatives hasn't done much to quell volatile markets. It's been a rude awakening for Spain's next prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, who's under pressure to enact reforms quickly — even before he takes office next month.

Spain's Next Leader Is Urged To Get An Early Start

Listen · 3:15
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/142731230/142731253" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Monday

Media

Hugh Grant Accuses Tabloid Of Hacking His Phone

Actor Hugh Grant has told a British judge that he was the victim of hacking by a tabloid not owned by Rupert Murdoch. He, in effect, blamed the entire tabloid industry in Britain for invasions of his privacy.

Hugh Grant Accuses Tabloid Of Hacking His Phone

Listen · 3:04
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/142609018/142608989" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript