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Concerns in Europe over a slowdown in economic growth have been rattling global financial markets. NPR's Scott Simon talks with correspondent John Ydstie about the volatile week on Wall Street.

It will be hard to make sure that concrete needed to rebuild the Palestinian territory's demolished buildings isn't diverted to Hamas, the militant group that had been tunneling into Israeli towns.

Many sandwiches lack structural integrity due to "the sliced cucumber conundrum," says Dan Pashman, author of Eat More Better. He has fixes for it and other kitchen woes — like sad-looking leftovers.

All around the country, drivers are seeing signs that gas prices are depressed. Those drops helped hold down the latest consumer price index. But economists worry about too much of a good thing.

The fight over abortion rights has heated up in Texas. A dramatic late night filibuster session derailed the passage of new abortion restrictions on Tuesday night. The next day, Gov. Rick Perry, an abortion rights opponent, called for a special legislative session to start July, 1, to reintroduce the legislation.

The scam plays off cultural superstitions among older Chinese residents. In San Francisco alone, more than 50 victims have come forward since 2012, with losses that total more than $1.5 million.

Disruptions in government services will slow growth, at least in the short term. But economists say they can't refine their predictions because they have no idea how long the shutdown might last or how many federal workers may be furloughed.

Gun sellers in the state say they couldn't keep their shelves stocked in the days leading up to the implementation of the law, which takes effect Tuesday. The legislation requires gun buyers to be fingerprinted, limits bullet purchases and bans the sale of many assault weapons.

With the city's parking meter lease making voters leery of new privatization deals, Mayor Rahm Emanuel called for too many public interest protections in the Midway Airport lease, and too few investors saw it as worth the risk. Increasingly, though, governments turn to private investors to run public assets like roads and prisons.

It smells like vinegar and tastes like spoiled cider. But fans of the fermented tea say that kombucha helps fight off diseases and aging. Sounds fantastical? Well, it probably is. At this point, scientists still know little about kombucha's health effects.