British Cyclist Chris Froome Leads As Tour De France Enters Final Days
NPR's Melissa Block speaks with Andrew Hood, the European correspondent for VeloNews, for an update on the Tour de France.
Europe
Greece Approves Reforms, Clearing Hurdle For Bailout Deal
The measures involve an overhaul to the banking and judicial systems — demands made by Greece's creditors in exchange for the 86 billion euro rescue package.
Quran Fragments Found In U.K. Library Are Among Oldest In The World
NPR's Robert Siegel speaks with Susan Worrall, the special collections director of the University of Birmingham's Cadbury Research Library, where the fragments were discovered.
University In U.K. Finds Muhammad-Era Quran Pages Among Its Possessions
The manuscript is one of the earliest versions of Islam's holy book to survive. Radiocarbon analysis dates the parchment on which the text is written to between the years 568 and 645.
New Zealander Wins French Scrabble Title, But Doesn't Speak French
NPR's Robert Siegel speaks with Stefan Fatsis, author of Word Freak: Heartbreak, Triumph, Genius, and Obsession in the World of Competitive Scrabble Players, about Nigel Richards' win.
A 3-D Food Lab And Restaurant Wants To Turn Yuck Into Yum
A group of top chefs, food scientists and tech geeks have set up a lab in Belgium to master 3-D food printing. Their goal: to create nutritionally enhanced foods that appeal to the pickiest palates.
Winner Of French Scrabble Title Does Not Speak French
It took about two months for Nigel Richards to memorize a French Scrabble dictionary. The New Zealand native has won many English-language Scrabble tournaments.
Can Greece Get A Handle On Its Notorious Tax System?
A big problem for Greece as it attempts to climb out of its fiscal hole is its corrupt and inefficient tax system. The tax code is maddeningly complex and evasion is high.
The Greek Banks Are Open Again, But The Sales Tax Just Went Up
The good news for Greeks is that banks are open again. The bad news is a sales tax hike that's made most things more expensive. It's an attempt to raise more tax revenue and balance the budget.
Female Genital Mutilation Is A U.S. Problem, Too
A new report says an estimated half a million American girls are at risk. The U.S. and other developed countries can learn from efforts in Africa to eliminate the practice.