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Monday

Green Grapes And Red Underwear: A Spanish New Year's Eve

Ringing in the New Year in Spain requires eating a dozen grapes and wearing a very specific kind of undergarment. Jeff Koehler hide caption

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Jeff Koehler

The Salt

Green Grapes And Red Underwear: A Spanish New Year's Eve

As a clock tower rings out 12 chimes, people all over the country will scoff a dozen grapes, hoping for good luck. With several seeds per grape and only a couple of seconds to swallow each one, the task is harder than it sounds. And then there's the bit about wearing a gift of red undergarments.

Economy

Europe Fails To Stimulate Growth In 2012

Europe spent much of this year trying to hold its common currency pact together. Greece, Spain, Italy and other countries flirted with disaster as interest rates spiked, forcing the debtor nations to accept austerity programs. The turmoil was bad enough to push much of the eurozone into recession.

Europe Fails To Stimulate Growth In 2012

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Sunday

The Mysterious Disappearance Of The Russian Crown Jewels

After the 1917 revolution, Russia's new rulers debated what to do with the crown jewels. This 1925 photo shows the collection. However, a 1922 album at the U.S. Geological Survey includes photos of four items that are not described in the official 1925 inventory. www.usgs.gov hide caption

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www.usgs.gov

The Mysterious Disappearance Of The Russian Crown Jewels

After the 1917 Russian Revolution, there was a debate over what to do with the spectacular jewels that had symbolized the power and wealth of the czars. Most have remained in the Kremlin, but some can't be traced.

The Mysterious Disappearance Of The Russian Crown Jewels

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Saturday

U.S. 'Deeply Regrets' Russia's Adoption Ban

The State Department says it "deeply regrets" the passage of a law in Russia ending adoptions of Russian children by American families and restricting Russian civil society groups that work with American partners. Russian President Vladimir Putin, who signed the law Friday, described it as an "appropriate response" to U.S. legislation that imposes visa bans on Russians accused of gross human rights violations. The Russians seem to be upping the ante, however, and orphans are caught in the middle.

U.S. 'Deeply Regrets' Russia's Adoption Ban

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Spain Might Trade Residency For Property To Combat Housing Bust

Spain is considering a plan to give full residency to foreigners who buy property worth more than $200,000. The offer is aimed at Russians, Chinese or Americans, who are normally limited to a three-month tourist visa.

Spain Might Trade Residency For Property To Combat Housing Bust

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Same-Sex Marriage And Adoption: Unresolved Issues In France

A man wears a costume reading "Dad" and "Mom" during a demonstration against gay marriage and adoption by same-sex couples in Nice, France, in October. Valery Hache/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Valery Hache/AFP/Getty Images

Same-Sex Marriage And Adoption: Unresolved Issues In France

Opposition to a bill allowing gay couples to adopt has been unexpectedly fierce in the country, which legalized civil unions more than a decade ago. In a rare move, and to the surprise of many, even the French Catholic Church has become involved in the debate.

Same-Sex Marriage And Adoption: Unresolved Issues In France

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Friday

This Milk Production Was Brought To You By A Robot

Photographer Freya Najade journeys into the weird sci-fi world of Europe's agricultural production. In one cow-milking facility she visited, "two people are needed to milk twice a day 300 cows," she writes. Freya Najade hide caption

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Freya Najade

The Picture Show

This Milk Production Was Brought To You By A Robot

This looks and sounds more like sci-fi, but this is nonfiction farming. Photographer Freya Najade journeys into the evolving state of Europe's agricultural system, observing fewer humans, more robots and, oddly, less and less time outside.

Present Thief Nabbed In France

A thief stole brightly wrapped presents, which a French family had left in an unlocked car. But the thief left his cell phone behind. When the family went to the police station to report the theft, the alleged thief was there too, reporting his lost phone.

Present Thief Nabbed In France

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Russia's Putin Signs Controversial Adoption Bill

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday signed a measure that would ban Americans from adopting Russian children. The ban is designed as retaliation for a new U.S. law that sanctions Russian officials accused of human rights violations.

Russia's Putin Signs Controversial Adoption Bill

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Thursday

Orphans In Middle Of Russian Political Dispute With U.S.

U.S. adoption advocacy groups are appealing to Russian President Vladimir Putin not to sign a law that would bar adoptions by Americans. More than 60,000 Russians have been adopted by Americans over the last two decades, and more than a thousand are now in the process of being adopted. Russian lawmakers proposed the ban to retaliate over a measure by the U.S. Congress to impose visa bans on Russians accused of human rights violations.

Orphans In Middle Of Russian Political Dispute With U.S.

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Gerard Depardieu's Tax Flight Stirs Fierce Debate In France

French actor Gerard Depardieu speaks outside Paris in March. He recently said he was moving to neighboring Belgium to avoid France's new top tax rate of 75 percent. The news ignited a debate in France over taxes and patriotism. Lionel Bonaventure/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Lionel Bonaventure/AFP/Getty Images

World

Gerard Depardieu's Tax Flight Stirs Fierce Debate In France

The film actor is moving to neighboring Belgium to avoid a new 75 percent tax on the superwealthy. This has touched off a war of words with the prime minister, and the public seems deeply divided.

Gerard Depardieu's Tax Flight Stirs Fierce Debate In France

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Wednesday

Russian Lawmakers Pass Bill To Bar U.S. Adoptions

In a tit-for-tat measure, Russia's parliament has approved a bill to ban adoptions of Russian children by American citizens. President Putin has not said whether he will sign the bill, though he has voiced support for the measure. The move is in retaliation for a U.S. law that sanctions Russians accused of human rights abuses. Robert Siegel talks with NPR's Corey Flintoff about the ban.

Russian Lawmakers Pass Bill To Bar U.S. Adoptions

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Tuesday