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For Hungarian Borrowers, A Mortgage Nightmare

A woman passes by a real estate agency in Budapest, Hungary, in January. As the Hungarian currency plunges to new lows, ordinary citizens are struggling to repay foreign-denominated loans. Laszlo Balogh/Reuters/Landov hide caption

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Laszlo Balogh/Reuters/Landov

For Hungarian Borrowers, A Mortgage Nightmare

January 31, 2012 • In better times, ordinary Hungarians flocked to low-interest mortgages denominated in Swiss francs. Then, the Hungarian currency crashed and the franc soared, and now 1 million Hungarians face exorbitant payments on properties that have lost value.

Most EU Nations To Sign Pact To Stop Overspending

January 31, 2012 • European Union nations — except Britain and the Czech Republic — have agreed to sign a treaty to enforce budget discipline in the eurozone. European leaders meeting in Brussels Monday also promised to stimulate growth and create jobs.

In Italy, Art As A Window Into Modern Banking

Oil painting by Marinus van Reymerswaele. Courtesy of Palazzo Strozzi hide caption

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Courtesy of Palazzo Strozzi

In Italy, Art As A Window Into Modern Banking

January 31, 2012 • With a nod to the current financial crisis in Europe, an Italian art exhibition looks at the often controversial role that banking played in expanding trade and helping usher in the Renaissance.

Tables Are Turned On Crusading Spanish Judge

Spanish judge Baltasar Garzon (center) arrives at the Supreme Court in Madrid, Spain, on Jan. 24. The crusading human-rights judge is on trial for his attempt to investigate the more than 100,000 disappearances during Spain's civil war in the 1930s and the subsequent dictatorship of Francisco Franco. Juan Medina/Reuters/Landov hide caption

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Juan Medina/Reuters/Landov

Tables Are Turned On Crusading Spanish Judge

January 30, 2012 • Baltasar Garzon, the Spanish judge who indicted former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet in 1998, is now on trial in Madrid. His alleged crime? Investigating his own country's fascist past, and charging the late dictator Francisco Franco with murder.

EU Struggles To Solve Greek Debt Crisis

January 30, 2012 • Greek officials have been working with private lenders to try to reduce their debt-load. Meanwhile European Union officials are in Brussels to deal with the financial crisis. Renee Montagne talks to Zanny Minton Beddoes, an editor at The Economist, for an update on the crisis.

Crippled Ship To Remain Off Italy's Coast For Months

January 30, 2012 • Rough seas over the weekend again forced the suspension of recovery operations at the cruise ship that capsized off the coast of Italy. Officials estimate it will take 10 months to remove the ship. In addition to the loss of human life, there is fear there will be an environmental disaster.

French Town Says Non To "Mademoiselle"

January 29, 2012 • In Cesson-Sevigne, France, women no longer have to choose between "mademoiselle," the French equivalent of "miss," and "madame," thereby identifying as single or married. The town's mayor explains the reason for the decision, and why the town now uses just "madame" for women.

Off The Record: A Quest For De-Baptism In France

Though marginal, the de-baptism movement is growing, observers say. iStockphoto.com hide caption

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iStockphoto.com

Religion

Off The Record: A Quest For De-Baptism In France

January 29, 2012 • A 71-year-old man is fighting to make a formal break with the Catholic Church. He's taken the church to court over its refusal to let him nullify his baptism, and the case could have far-reaching effects.

To Stay Afloat, Spanish Winemakers Export Abroad

Imported Spanish wine is displayed at a store in Seoul, South Korea. Ahn Young-joon/AP hide caption

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Ahn Young-joon/AP

Food

To Stay Afloat, Spanish Winemakers Export Abroad

January 29, 2012 • The European debt crisis has made it more difficult for Spaniards to buy wine. So, vintners in Spain's Rioja region are looking to sell their wine in more international markets. Winemakers are shipping their goods to Germany, the U.S. — and even China, which has a rapidly expanding wine market.

In Iran's Oil Gambit, EU Nations Have Much To Lose

January 29, 2012 • In response to new sanctions, Iran is threatening to cut off oil exports to Europe immediately. That in turn could deal a blow to vulnerable European economies like Greece, Italy and Spain.

World

What's Behind Russia's Attachment To Syria?

January 27, 2012 • Russia has vowed to veto any United Nations resolution authorizing the use of force against Syrian leader Bashar Assad. The Russians fear "colored revolutions" and uprisings like the Arab Spring. And Syria is a longtime ally and valued customer for Russian weapons contracts. A Russian aircraft carrier recently docked at the Syrian port of Tartus, Russia's last overseas base outside the former Soviet Union.

From Health Food To Health Risk: Sprouts Slip Off The Menu

Fresh and green, yes. Clean, maybe not. Jowita Stachowiak/iStockPhoto.com hide caption

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Jowita Stachowiak/iStockPhoto.com

The Salt

From Health Food To Health Risk: Sprouts Slip Off The Menu

January 27, 2012 • Sprouts have caused a spate of outbreaks in the past few years, and public health officials are scrambling to find a way to prevent them. But there's no foolproof solution at hand. So some restaurants are saying no to fresh sprouts.

Politician 'Borrows' From Aaron Sorkin Movie

January 27, 2012 • The transport minister in Australia denounced a political opponent. He said the opponent wasn't interested in fixing a problem, only in making people "afraid of it" and telling them "who's to blame for it." Critics note Michael Douglas used that line in Aaron Sorkin's movie The American President.

Irish Struggle Under Weight Of Austerity Measures

January 26, 2012 • Ireland was one of the worst hit by the eurozone crisis, but now it's being seen as a star pupil, leading the class of stricken nations in their efforts to turn their economies around. International Monetary Fund and European Union officials are much impressed by its austerity measures, imposed after last year's massive bail out. Yet, for the average Irish person, the gain is hard to see. Public services have been slashed. House prices have fallen by some 60 percent. About a thousand young Irish people emigrate every week, and there's widespread cynicism over whether economic medicine being taken by the wounded Celtic Tiger actually works.

No, Hedge Funds Can't Foreclose On The Acropolis

DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP/Getty Images

Planet Money

No, Hedge Funds Can't Foreclose On The Acropolis

January 26, 2012 • There's no blueprint for a country to declare bankruptcy, so Greece's creditors are sort of making things up as they go along.

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