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An Indian Christian woman holds a placard denouncing pornography at a protest rally in Bangalore in August 2014.

An Indian Christian woman holds a placard denouncing pornography at a protest rally in Bangalore in August 2014. Aijaz Rahi/AP hide caption

itoggle caption Aijaz Rahi/AP

Parallels

Indian Government Blocks, Then Quickly Unblocks Porn Sites

The government move against more than 850 websites, most of them pornographic, sparked a firestorm on social media this week. After just four days, the government on Wednesday reversed course.

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This is one of 12 rain forest landscapes by Abel Rodriguez, part of his ink-and-watercolor series Ciclo anual del bosque de la vega (Seasonal changes in the flooded rain forest).

This is one of 12 rain forest landscapes by Abel Rodriguez, part of his ink-and-watercolor series Ciclo anual del bosque de la vega (Seasonal changes in the flooded rain forest). Abel Rodriguez/Courtesy of Tropenbos International, Colombia hide caption

itoggle caption Abel Rodriguez/Courtesy of Tropenbos International, Colombia

Goats and Soda

A Self-Taught Artist Paints The Rain Forest By Memory

He'd never drawn before. Then he was asked to depict the Colombian rain forest he knew so well. Naturalists cherish the ink-and-watercolor works of Abel Rodriguez. And so do art lovers.

Families play on the beach near the village of Thanos, Lemnos. The island has more than a hundred beaches. Greek tourists like Lemnos because it's affordable and relaxing, and foreign tourists like its unspoiled beauty and traditional charm.

Families play on the beach near the village of Thanos, Lemnos. The island has more than a hundred beaches. Greek tourists like Lemnos because it's affordable and relaxing, and foreign tourists like its unspoiled beauty and traditional charm. Joanna Kakissis for NPR hide caption

itoggle caption Joanna Kakissis for NPR

Parallels

An 'Island Tax' Could Harm One Bright Spot In Greek Economy

The new bailout plan for Greece calls for a steep sales-tax increase on the Aegean Islands, raising fears it could harm tourism, one of the few sectors that's been doing well.

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A stage production or a Korean wedding? It can be hard to tell.

A stage production or a Korean wedding? It can be hard to tell. Elise Hu/NPR hide caption

itoggle caption Elise Hu/NPR

Parallels

Need Fake Friends For Your Wedding? In S. Korea, You Can Hire Them

Baby showers, weddings, even meet-the-parent weekends don't have to include your actual loved ones, at least not in South Korea. A cottage casting industry exists to help fill your life-staging needs.

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Girls plays basketball at a school for nearly 2,000 Syrian refugees in Reyhanli, in southern Turkey. The schools, which depends on private donations, is struggling to remain open. The students attend in five separate shifts throughout the day.

Girls plays basketball at a school for nearly 2,000 Syrian refugees in Reyhanli, in southern Turkey. The schools, which depends on private donations, is struggling to remain open. The students attend in five separate shifts throughout the day. Deborah Amos/NPR hide caption

itoggle caption Deborah Amos/NPR

Parallels

A Syrian Refugee School: Nearly 2,000 Students, 5 Shifts, 3 Languages

Many Syrian refugee children haven't been to school in years. NPR's Deborah Amos visits one school in southern Turkey that serves as a refuge for those lucky enough to attend.

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Joseph Severn's portrait of Percy Bysshe Shelley. The radical 19th century poet practiced the politics of the plate. For Shelley and other liberals of his day, keeping sugar out of tea was a political statement against slavery.

Joseph Severn's portrait of Percy Bysshe Shelley. The radical 19th century poet practiced the politics of the plate. For Shelley and other liberals of his day, keeping sugar out of tea was a political statement against slavery. Joseph Severn/Wikimedia hide caption

itoggle caption Joseph Severn/Wikimedia

The Salt

How Percy Shelley Stirred His Politics Into His Teacup

In 19th century Britain, keeping sugar out of tea became a political statement against slavery. The sugar boycott was no easy choice for the radical poet, who hated slavery but loved tea.