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Thursday

Iceland's Plan To Ban Online Porn Spurs Outrage

Iceland's government is drafting plans to ban pornography online and in print. Supporters say it's an attempt to shield children. Stoyan Nenov/Reuters /Landov hide caption

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Stoyan Nenov/Reuters /Landov

The Two-Way

Iceland's Plan To Ban Online Porn Spurs Outrage

The government is drafting plans to ban pornography both online and in print. It's an attempt, supporters say, to shield children from harm. But critics say the Nordic nation "should not serve as a role model for Internet censorship."

The Papal Succession

As Pope Benedict XVI Exits, Catholic Church Faces An Identity Crisis

After greeting cardinals in the Vatican, Pope Benedict boarded a helicopter and flew to the papal summer residence south of Rome on Thursday. With his resignation official, the Papal Swiss Guard, which has served popes since the 16th century, will prepare for the arrival of his successor, whoever that may be. Audie Cornish talks to Sylvia Poggioli.

As Pope Benedict XVI Exits, Catholic Church Faces An Identity Crisis

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U.S. Boss Offers Blunt Critique; French Workers Give Fiery Response

French workers burn tires outside the Goodyear tire factory in Amiens, France, on Tuesday, after Titan CEO Maurice Taylor criticized French workers in a letter addressed to Industrial Renewal Minister Arnaud Montebourg. Eleanor Beardsley/NPR hide caption

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Eleanor Beardsley/NPR

U.S. Boss Offers Blunt Critique; French Workers Give Fiery Response

The Illinois-based Titan tire company was weighing the purchase of an ailing factory in France. But in a leaked letter, Titan's CEO said the deal was off because the workers were unproductive and the unions "crazy." A war of words has ensued.

U.S. Boss Offers Blunt Critique; French Workers Give Fiery Response

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The Papal Succession

Benedict XVI Leaves The Vatican, Headed To Retirement

The first pope to retire in centuries will stay at the papal retreat at Castel Gandolfo until an apartment for him at the Vatican is renovated. Meantime, preparations for electing a new pope are under way.

Benedict XVI Leaves The Vatican, Headed To Retirement

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Pope Benedict Leaves A Church Mired In Crises

In this photo provided by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Pope Benedict XVI delivers his message during his farewell meeting to cardinals Thursday. Benedict promised his "unconditional reverence and obedience" to his successor. AP hide caption

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The Papal Succession

Pope Benedict Leaves A Church Mired In Crises

In eight years on the throne of St. Peter, Benedict XVI has angered Muslims, offended Jews and made controversial comments about the spread of AIDS. But the scandal that has most haunted him is the abuse of children by pedophile priests.

Pope Benedict Leaves A Church Mired In Crises

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Wednesday

Religion

Pope Benedict XVI Will Have To Give Up Red Shoes, Shoulder Cape

Pope Benedict XVI had his final general audience Wednesday in front of a crowd of thousands. On Thursday, he leaves the papacy and becomes "Pope Emeritus". It's a brand new position and there are a lot of questions. What will he wear? Where will he live? How will he fill his time? Melissa Block speaks to long time pope watcher Rocco Palmo, editor of the website "Whispers in the Loggia."

Pope Benedict XVI Will Have To Give Up Red Shoes, Shoulder Cape

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How Italy's Election Stalemate Is Playing Out On The Streets

Italy's recent elections left the country in political gridlock. Italian columnist Beppe Severgnini breaks down the election results and austerity measures, and shares what Italians are talking about in a country that some are calling "ungovernable."

How Italy's Election Stalemate Is Playing Out On The Streets

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Germans Are Drinking Less Beer These Days, But Why?

A waiter carries beer mugs during the 2012 Oktoberfest in Munich. Johannes Simon/Getty Images hide caption

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Johannes Simon/Getty Images

The Salt

Germans Are Drinking Less Beer These Days, But Why?

Despite Germany's long association with beer, it looks like its citizens are imbibing less of their celebrated beverage now than they did a generation ago. Some cite the economy as a factor; others, the rise of health consciousness.

Germans Are Drinking Less Beer These Days, But Why?

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Tuesday

With Election Results Split, Political Gridlock Looms In Italy

The Five Star Movement's Beppe Grillo is shown on TV Monday at the Democratic Party press center in Rome. The prospect of political paralysis hung over Italy as election results showed the upstart protest campaign making stunning inroads, and mainstream forces of center-left and center-right wrestling for control of Parliament's two houses. Alessandra Tarantino/AP hide caption

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Alessandra Tarantino/AP

With Election Results Split, Political Gridlock Looms In Italy

The Democratic Party came in first by a slim majority, but it can't govern alone. The big surprise was the success of the new anti-establishment, anti-austerity Five Star Movement. Newspaper headlines call the country ungovernable, and the prospect of gridlock has spooked financial markets.

With Election Results Split, Political Gridlock Looms In Italy

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'Time Is Ripe' For U.S. To Support Syrian Opposition

As John Kerry undertakes his first foreign trip as Secretary of State, the challenges before him are great — especially the war in Syria. He holds a town hall meeting Tuesday in Berlin, which will give us a look at his style and public-diplomacy skills — areas where his predecessor Hillary Clinton excelled.

'Time Is Ripe' For U.S. To Support Syrian Opposition

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EU Agriculture Ministers Address Horse Meat Scandal

Horse meat has turned up — unlabeled — in food in 14 EU nations. Linda Wertheimer talks to Joshua Chaffin, of the Financial Times, about the ongoing horse meat scandal in Europe. Agriculture ministers have authorized more testing of meat.

EU Agriculture Ministers Address Horse Meat Scandal

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The Hermit Pope Who Set The Precedent For Benedict XVI

The resignation of Celestine in 1294 provided the spiritual and legal groundwork for Benedict, shown at the Santa Maria di Collemaggio Basilica in 2009. AP/L'Osservsatore Romano hide caption

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AP/L'Osservsatore Romano

The Papal Succession

The Hermit Pope Who Set The Precedent For Benedict XVI

Pope Benedict XVI leaves office this week, the second pope to resign voluntarily. The first was Celestine V, a hermit who quit in 1294, after a brief and disastrous stint. Some scholars say Dante damned Celestine as a coward in his Inferno. Yet his example, legally and spiritually, played a major role in Benedict's departure.

The Hermit Pope Who Set The Precedent For Benedict XVI

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Monday

Italian Elections Produce Murky Result, Financial Jitters

Workers open ballots in a polling station in Rome on Tuesday following Italy's general elections. The initial results showed a close race with no clear-cut winner, a development that made financial markets jumpy. Filippo Monteforte/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Filippo Monteforte/AFP/Getty Images

The Two-Way

Italian Elections Produce Murky Result, Financial Jitters

The center-left was favored, but there was no clear winner as the ballots were counted. Silvio Berlusconi's center-right coalition was not expected to do well, but was leading in the upper house of Parliament.