Rob Schmitz
Stories
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Sports
He was so fast, he had time to celebrate long before the second-place runner arrived
Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge broke his own world record at the Berlin Marathon. He hugged his trainer, posed for photos and waved his country's flag before the next runner crossed the finish line.
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Arts & Life
Struggling with its past, Germany's 1,000-year-old choir admits girls for the 1st time
Since its founding over 1,000 years ago, this Catholic music school and song group in Regensburg, Germany, has been boys only. Until now.
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Music
A 1,000-year-old German boys choir is now accepting girls
Since its founding in 975 A.D., the Regensburg Cathedral boys choir has only admitted boys. But starting on September 12, it will allow girls.
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Europe
Germany announces a multibillion dollar inflation relief package
The German government has announced a $65 billion dollar relief package to help citizens facing soaring inflation and surging energy costs as Russia cuts off its gas supplies to Europe.
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World
Germany's energy options are dwindling as it tries to break ties with Russia
Millions of Germans are worried about efforts to wean the country off of Russian natural gas and possibly not having heat this winter. But energy experts say German industry should be more concerned.
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Environment
Germany's Rhine is at one of its lowest levels. That's trouble for the top EU economy
A hot, dry summer has meant the water level on the Rhine River, Western Europe's most important waterway, is at a record low, making it too shallow for many ships to pass.
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World
The EU has agreed to cut gas consumption by 15% in order to reduce reliance on Russia
Russia's gas company Gazprom has once again reduced the flow of natural gas to Europe. To counter that move, the EU has agreed to reduce its gas usage by 15%. But that's easier said than done.
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Europe
Germany rushes to decouple itself from Russian gas
Germany is scrambling to build infrastructure to replace its dependence on Russian gas. NPR's Rob Schmitz reports that time is not on its side.
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World
Lithuania has become the 1st European country to stop using Russian gas
As Russia's war in Ukraine enters its fourth month, European countries are scrambling to wean themselves off of Russian gas. The Baltic nation of Lithuania has become the first to do so.
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National
What reproductive rights look like around the world
As the U.S. Supreme Court considers whether to overturn the constitutional right to an abortion, here's a look at abortion rights and access around the world.