Gaza's exports have dropped by 97 percent since 2007, limiting the chances that Gazans can wean themselves off of international aid.
Would a US 'drone court' to authorize drone strikes be a good idea? (+video)
6:35 pm ET - President Obama this week tentatively opened the door to the establishment of a drone court, to provide greater accountability for drone strikes on Al Qaeda affiliates abroad. The idea is drawing mixed reviews.
Obama’s struggle: How free should the press be? (+video)
6:42 pm ET - President Obama says he's trying to strike a balance between national security and essential freedoms. Now, after his own Justice Department accessed reporters' phone records, he wants to protect against 'overreach.' Some say he's trying to have it both ways.
Can Senate candidate Gabriel Gomez help GOP repair its image among Latinos?
6:25 pm ET - Massachusetts' Gabriel Gomez says he wants to make the Senate’s 'Gang of Eight,' which has been working on immigration reform, a 'gang of nine.' Many Latinos were turned off by Republicans' anti-immigrant rhetoric in the 2012 elections.
In soggy North Dakota, hopes rise that floodwaters won't
4:52 pm ET - Threats of flooding began to abate Thursday, as emergency steps to protect towns along the Tongue River in northeastern North Dakota appeared to take effect. The Midwest has had its challenges with spring floods this year.
Are Woolwich suspects' beliefs about 'war on Islam' widely held?
3:16 pm ET - The suspected killers of a British soldier in London this week claimed to have acted in response to the West's 'war on Islam' – raising concerns that their view is shared by more European Muslims.
A tussle in China over the Communist Party bowing to the Constitution
8:42 am ET - A movement in China to make the Communist Party subordinate to the national constitution has conservatives fighting back.
Mormon makes bid to lead Muslim-majority Mali out of post-war chaos
3:12 pm ET - The convert, who discovered Mormonism while working with a Utah-based charity, developed a solid reputation after turning around his Muslim-majority town as mayor.
Decoder Wire Obama vows again to close Guantánamo: What are the sticking points? (+video)
3:01 pm ET - Questions remain about how President Obama will handle a controversial and complex closure at Guantánamo. One issue: ensuring that detainees transferred overseas do not return to the US to engage in terrorist activities.
Rand Paul's beef with immigration reform bill: the E-Verify system
2:52 pm ET - A photo-based E-Verify system for checking workers' legal status – a key part of the Senate immigration reform bill – does not mesh well with the libertarian leanings of Sen. Rand Paul (R). His worry: a 'national ID.'
Double bombing in Niger may have links to Algeria attack
2:42 pm ET - A note purporting to be from former Al Qaeda operative Mokhtar Belmokhtar claimed responsibility for bombings at military camp and uranium mine in Niger. Belmokhtar plotted deadly attacks on Western firms in Algeria, and was thought to be killed in early March.
USA Update Collapse of I-5 bridge in Washington State: no fatalities, many questions (+video)
2:02 pm ET - The collapse of a 'functionally obsolete' bridge on I-5 in Washington State plunged three, later rescued, into icy water. It's also reviving a debate on how to fund billions in infrastructure repair.
Memorial Day weekend: (almost) no sticker shock on gas prices
10:52 am ET - Some 31 million Americans set to hit the roads over Memorial Day weekend won't have to worry about a run-up in gas prices. Energy analysts say that – except for the upper Midwest – the gas spike is over.
Editors' picks:
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Difference Maker Dave Valle plays on a new field: microloans that help to end poverty
As a pro baseball player in the Dominican Republic Dave Valle saw poverty up close. Now his microloans are helping to end it.
- How cockroaches evolved so as to bypass 'roach motels'
- Global News Blog Frustration and mirth as the EU almost bans olive oil bottles from its restaurants
- Decoder Wire Chris Christie to stroll Jersey Shore with Obama (again!): What's he thinking?
- Russia evacuates 'drifting' Arctic research station as ice floe melts
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