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Tuesday

Berlin's Frenzied Fireworks Have Locals Leaving, Hiding On New Year's

For about eight hours on New Year's Eve, Berlin sounds like a war zone with thousands of people taking to the streets to shoot off fireworks — and not just into the air. Subways, passing cars and even pedestrians are also targets. Many residents choose to leave the city because of the noise and danger. Those who remain tend to stay indoors because it isn't safe outside. The launching of most of these fireworks is illegal and hundreds of people are injured and maimed. Half of them are innocent bystanders. Yet Berlin police rarely intervene on this night. Officials say there is little they can do to stop what's become a dangerous tradition in the German capital.

Berlin's Frenzied Fireworks Have Locals Leaving, Hiding On New Year's

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In Russia, A Soviet-Era Movie To Ring In The New Year

Zhenya drinks heavily with his friends at a Russian bathhouse in The Irony of Fate, a Soviet-era film that Russians still watch on New Year's Day. Via Mosfilm hide caption

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Via Mosfilm

Parallels

In Russia, A Soviet-Era Movie To Ring In The New Year

The Irony of Fate is the country's favorite holiday movie. Like classic American films such as It's A Wonderful Life, it captures the magic of the holidays, but in a way that is quintessentially Russian.

In Russia, A Soviet-Era Movie To Ring In The New Year

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Monday

Suicide Bombings In Russia Raise Concerns About Olympics Security

Investigators in southern Russia say two deadly bombings in the city of Volgograd appear to follow the pattern of attacks by Islamist separatists from the nearby North Caucasus region. It's a dire concern for the Russian authorities, who worry that this could be the lead-up to attacks during the Olympic Games in Sochi in February. Security analysts say the bombings could even be a diversionary tactic to distract the security forces before an even bigger attack. It also raises concerns about security for New Year's crowds in major Russian cities.

Suicide Bombings In Russia Raise Concerns About Olympics Security

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'Blood On The Snow' After Second Suicide Blast In Russia

A woman wiped away tears Monday in Volgograd, Russia, after the second suicide bombing in that city in the past two days. Denis Tyrin/AP hide caption

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Denis Tyrin/AP

The Two-Way

'Blood On The Snow' After Second Suicide Blast In Russia

An explosion Monday tore apart a bus, killing more than a dozen people and injuring many others. It followed Sunday's bombing at a train station in the same city, Volgograd. Suspicion is falling on Chechen extremists who want to create a separate Islamist state.

From the NPR Newscast: Second attack in Volgograd

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2 Bombings In Russia Raise Olympic Security Questions

One of southern Russia's largest cities is reeling from two deadly bombings in the last 24 hours. The violence took place in Volgograd which is hundreds of miles from Sochi, where the Winter Olympics will be held. This has raised questions about whether these acts of terrorism are related to the staging of the Olympics.

2 Bombings In Russia Raise Olympic Security Questions

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Friday

As The Lead Cools, Some See Their New Year Take Shape

Is that a cross? A ship with a figurehead? What future do you see in these lead shapes? In one New Year's tradition, fortune-seekers drop molten lead into cold water and guess what the shapes portend. Deena Prichep for NPR hide caption

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Deena Prichep for NPR

Culture

As The Lead Cools, Some See Their New Year Take Shape

Is that a cross? A ship with a figurehead? It's only human to wonder what the future will hold, especially on the threshold of a new year. In one German tradition, fortune-seekers drop molten lead into cold water — then it's anyone's guess what the strange shapes portend.

As The Lead Cools, Some See Their New Year Take Shape

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Wednesday

When Is Cinnamon Spice Not So Nice? The Great Danish Debate

Ah, the cinnamon swirl: They're beloved by the Danish, but the traditional recipe for these pastries may be too spice-laden for European Union law. iStockphoto.com hide caption

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iStockphoto.com

The Salt

When Is Cinnamon Spice Not So Nice? The Great Danish Debate

Cinnamon swirls are beloved in Denmark, but recent testing by the Danish government found many of these rolls had more of the spice than allowed by European health guidelines. Now bakers may have to change their time-tested recipes. Too much cinnamon? Yes, there is such a thing.

Nativity Scenes Liven Centuries-Old French Village

The small French village of Flavigny was dark and quiet around Christmas time until a resident organized a Nativity wonderland. There are 85 Nativity scenes in the windows of village houses and a treasure map to help visitors find them.

Nativity Scenes Liven Centuries-Old French Village

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Tuesday

A Portuguese Tradition Of 'Healing' Dolls For Christmas

At a hospital tucked away off one of Lisbon's main cobblestone squares, Manuela Cutileira does triage on incoming patients. Lauren Frayer/NPR hide caption

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Lauren Frayer/NPR

Parallels

A Portuguese Tradition Of 'Healing' Dolls For Christmas

The Hospital de Bonecas in downtown Lisbon has been fixing dolls since the early 19th century. At a time of unemployment and rising poverty, repairing an old doll offers a frugal alternative to new toys for Christmas.

A Portuguese Tradition Of 'Healing' Dolls For Christmas

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Top German Chocolate Maker Fights For Its 'Natural' Reputation

Ritter Sport says the chemical responsible for the vanilla-like aroma in its top-selling Voll-Nuss chocolate nut bar is all natural. But Stiftung Warentest — basically Germany's version of Consumer Reports — disagrees. Ariel Awesome/Flickr hide caption

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Ariel Awesome/Flickr

The Salt

Top German Chocolate Maker Fights For Its 'Natural' Reputation

A well-respected consumer advocacy organization in Germany claims that Ritter Sport's popular chocolate product contains synthetic aroma. It has ignited a fierce court battle. But Ritter Sport says the aroma is natural, extracted from plants like dill or vanilla.

Obituaries

Alan Turing, Who Cracked War Code, Receives Posthumous Pardon

British mathematician Alan Turing, who cracked the Nazi code during World War II, has been pardoned posthumously. He committed suicide in 1954 after being convicted of "gross indecency" with another man. David Greene talks to British MP Iain Stewart, who led the push to get Turing pardoned.

Alan Turing, Who Cracked War Code, Receives Posthumous Pardon

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Sports

Berlin Cheers On Former East German Soccer Team

FC Union has faced decades of tough times during political and economic upheaval. In the late 1960s when it was an East German team, it developed a bitter rivalry with Stasi-sponsored Dynamo Berlin. Even after reunification, the team faced financial ruin repeatedly, but its fans refuse to give up.

Berlin Cheers On Former East German Soccer Team

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Monday

Alan Turing, Who Cracked Nazi Code, Gets Posthumous Pardon

Detail of a Turing Bombe machine in Bletchley Park Museum in Bletchley, central England. The device, the brainchild of Alan Turning, was instrumental in cracking the German code during World War II. Alessia Pierdomenico/Reuters /Landov hide caption

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Alessia Pierdomenico/Reuters /Landov

The Two-Way

Alan Turing, Who Cracked Nazi Code, Gets Posthumous Pardon

The British mathematician, also considered the father of modern computing, committed suicide in 1954 after being convicted of "gross indecency" with another man.

With Its Economy Hobbled, Greece's Well-Educated Drain Away

Laura and Thanos Ntoumanis recently moved from Greece to Germany, where Thanos, a psychiatrist, got a job. Joanna Kakissis/NPR hide caption

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Joanna Kakissis/NPR

Parallels

With Its Economy Hobbled, Greece's Well-Educated Drain Away

Since the start of its financial crisis, Greece has been exporting some of its most highly trained professionals. Thanos Ntoumanis is just one of thousands of medical professionals who have left their struggling homeland for jobs in Western Europe.

With Its Economy Hobbled, Greece's Well-Educated Drain Away

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