Religious authorities responded after Saudis used Twitter to show images of human rights activists on trial. The BBC reports the kingdom's most senior cleric called Twitter users "fools." The head of the religious police says any social media user will lose the afterlife.

The House Agriculture Committee on Wednesday approved a sweeping farm bill that would trim the $80 billion-a-year food stamp program. The panel rebuffed Democratic efforts to keep the program whole, as debate on the farm bill turned into a theological discourse on helping the poor.

Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand is introducing legislation with other lawmakers Thursday that would change the way the military prosecutes sexual assault cases. It's the latest high-publicity move for a senator who was almost unknown four years ago when she was appointed to fill Hillary Clinton's seat.

NASA has announced that the three astronauts on the International Space Station were first to watch Star Trek Into Darkness. It opens in theaters on earth Thursday.

Steve Inskeep and David Greene report on a documentary film exploring the New York accent. If These Knishes Could Talk: The Story of the New York Accent premieres Thursday night at the Art of Brooklyn Film Festival.

In New York's Grand Central Terminal Wednesday, wrestlers from Iran, Russia and the United States faced off in what was dubbed "Rumble on the Rails." This meet was more than just a show of diplomacy and sportsmanship. The athletes want to rally support for their sport which could be excluded from upcoming Olympic games.

Japan has embarked on a massive effort to stimulate its economy. Both the government and the central bank are collaborating to end a long period of stagnation and deflation. But the effects are also being felt outside Japan.

Federal officials met with South Dakota's nine Sioux tribes on Wednesday for a historic summit in Rapid City. A year in the making, it was an effort to address long standing concerns over the high number of Native American children the state places in white foster homes. State officials, however, didn't show up for the meeting.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan meets President Obama at the White House on Thursday. Their talks will focus on the Syrian conflict. Erdogan has been pushing the U.S. to do more to resolve a conflict.

The broadcast networks are in New York this week pitching their fall TV shows to advertisers. David Greene talks with reporter Kim Masters, of The Hollywood Reporter, about the new shows and indications the industry is in decline. Masters also hosts The Business on member station KCRW.

The Atlantic Hurricane season starts in just a few weeks. With sequestration, the National Weather Service has ordered furloughs and a hiring freeze that have left vacancies throughout the agency, including the National Hurricane Center. Florida's governor and others are wondering if that will affect the state's ability to prepare and respond to a storm.

Syrian government troops are besieging the western town of Qusayr, a stronghold of rebel forces. For civilians and rebel fighters injured in the fierce clashes and intense aerial bombing campaigns in and around that Syrian border town, the nearest hospital is in another country: Lebanon.

The White House on Wednesday tried to turn the fire hose on two big flare-ups. The administration released 100 pages of emails related to the Benghazi terrorist attacks in Libya, and President Obama announced that the acting IRS commissioner is stepping down.

Wrestlers from the U.S., Iran and Russia joined forces Wednesday to support their sport's Olympic chances.

Japan has embarked on a massive effort to stimulate its economy. Both the government and the central bank are collaborating to end a long period of stagnation and deflation. But the effects are also being felt outside Japan.

Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York will be introducing legislation with other lawmakers Thursday that would change the way the military prosecutes sexual assault cases. It's the latest high-publicity move for a senator who was almost unknown four years ago when she was appointed to fill Hillary Clinton's Senate seat. NPR's Ailsa Chang profiles the junior senator, who's now appearing on some lists for possible candidates for vice president — even president.

A dozen universities are collaborating on a sort of extreme winemaking project: How cold a climate can a grape survive and still make good wine? The Northern Grapes Project is inventing wines the world has never seen before, winning wine awards and creating a new crop for struggling rural economies.

Turkish Prime Miniser Recip Tayyip Erdogan meets President Obama at the White House Thursday. Their talks will focus on the Syrian conflict.

David Greene talks with reporter Kim Masters about the new shows coming to a TV or screen near you. The networks are gathered in New York this week to present their fall lineups to advertisers.

Scientists in Oregon have achieved something that has eluded researchers for years. They have created stem cells that are tailored to individual patients, made from cloned embryos. That would open the door to treating many diseases, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, diabetes, spinal cord injuries and many others. But researchers face ethical dilemmas.