PRI: Public Radio International

Intelligence officials defend surveillance programs as a necessity in the war on terrorism
In South Africa, death in family puts high schooler at the helm
Entrepreneurs trying to coax climate-friendly food from world's driest places
Iranian President-elect a moderate, with unknown ability to reform

At least two terrorist attacks, including a plot against the New York Stock Exchange, were thwarted thanks to government surveillance programs, U.S. officials said at an Intelligence Committee meeting Tuesday. The government has been trying to reframe the conversation around the programs after their existence was made public by Edward Snowden.

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Brazil looks to education to improve upward social mobility

Australia moves to rein in pervasive gambling messages in sports

U.S. faces hurdles if it chooses to extradite NSA leaker Snowden to face criminal charges

U.S. Supreme Court strikes down Arizona voter citizenship provision

Arts & Entertainment

Turkish protesters turn slur around in protest against government actions

Turkey's been roiled by protests for days, with protesters and government supporters digging in their heels. But as the government has lashed out at protesters, the protesters have taken the criticism in stride, even turning the criticism into songs and motivation to carry on.

Buffy, Firefly creator Joss Whedon takes time to make a more conventional movie

Joss Whedon's dad has been asking him for years when he'd do a grown-up movie. You know, without fanciful creatures. Never, he vowed. Au contraire. Whedon's latest picture, Much Ado About Nothing, in theaters now, is grown up, for sure.

Superman reboot, Hollywood movie on Hollywood make big screen debuts this weekend

Superman is getting a moodier, darker reboot in "Man of Steel" -- the new Hollywood adaptation of the super hero classic out in theaters this weekend. It'll match up against "This is the End," a story about Hollywood actors facing the end of the world

Apple seeks to chart new course with rollout of iOS 7 software

Apple reinvented the mobile space when it launched the iPhone, and then upended it again when it opened up its operating system, iOS, to third party developers. Now it's trying to recapture some of that mojo with its first major overhaul of the software, set to be released in the fall.

West Bank’s only ballet school offers refuge for Palestinian kids

Shyreen Ziadeh runs a dance studio in Ramallah, in the Palestinian Territories. It's not what she dreamed of doing, but it's all she can imagine doing these days. She introduces ballet to youngsters, and gives them a refuge from everyday life.

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