Search results for

Captain Phillips, starring Tom Hanks, is based on a real-life case of a freighter overtaken by Somali pirates in 2009. You might know the story, but critic Kenneth Turan says this film will exceed your expectations. Plus, Morning Edition investigates what it takes to have a convincing Boston accent.

The Vatican minted thousands of medallions in gold, silver and bronze. A portrait of the pope was on one side and on the other, the Latin phrase that inspired Pope Francis to join the Jesuit order. The medals were promptly recalled after the Vatican discovered Jesus was misspelled as Lesus.

With the partial government shutdown in its 11th day, there's much speculation about a possible break in negotiations between the White House and Republicans. But despite the noise, very little seems firm.

Also: Authors celebrate Alice Munro's Nobel win; McDonald's will give out books instead of toys in new Happy Meals; the new Bridget Jones book comes with a Bridget Jones-style error.

Also: Syria's rebels accused of killing civilians; and Utah finds a way to reopen its national parks.

President Obama and House Republicans get their fiscal discussions rolling... A devastating new poll concentrates Republican minds... Senate Republicans work with their Democratic colleagues on a potential solution.

Most Americans say they aren't directly affected by the shutdown. But some pockets of society are being severely hit. Here are individual stories from across the country.

Country used to serve as the cornerstones of identity, but what does "home" mean to someone who comes from many places? Writer Pico Iyer talks about a new meaning of home.

Novelist Elif Shafak describes how fiction has allowed her to explore many different lives, to jump over cultural walls, and how it may have the power to overcome identity politics.