The Islamist group Hamas is known to use tunnels on the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip to smuggle weapons and other goods into the territory. Christian Science Monitor reporter Dan Murphy, who has spent time with workers who dig the tunnels, says the stretch of the border between Gaza and Egypt is dotted with these "rudimentary" tunnels.

A U.N. aid agency working to provide aid to Gaza has suspended operations after one of its truck drivers was killed by Israeli fire. Earlier, Israel declared another brief lull to allow in humanitarian supplies. Meanwhile, three rockets launched from Lebanon landed in Israel.

This week marks the 50th anniversary of Fidel Castro's ascent to power in Cuba. Now, the country faces tough economic times. Many are frustrated by the communist system, but others still feel a sense of pride in and loyalty to the "revolution."

"Africa Now" is a new art exhibit at The World Bank showcasing contemporary African creations. Host Michel Martin visits the display and talks to curator Marina Galvani and Petros Ghebrehiwot, an Eritrean artist, whose work is featured in the exhibit.

Ghana's former opposition leader John Evans Atta Mills, a 64-year-old law professor, was sworn in yesterday as the country's new president. The Ghana elections were praised as a model of peaceful democratic transition in Africa, particularly after violent political processes in Zimbabwe and Kenya. NPR's West Africa correspondent Ofeibea Quist-Arcton for an update on Ghana.

The drug cartel violence in Mexico is impacting the relationships between Mexican and American border towns. Beto O'Rourke, a city representative of El Paso, Texas explains how the city is struggling with the after effects of the violence.

The conflict in Gaza is one of the worst clashes between Palestinians and Israelis in decades. But for people who live in the region, outbursts of violence have been part of everyday life. Two mental health professional — Dr. Nancy DuBrow, of the Center for International Studies and Danny Brahm, of the Israel Center for the Treatment of Psycho trauma in Jerusalem — discuss the affect of violence on mental health.

The price of gold has risen 235 percent in the past eight years, but as journalist Brook Larmer and photographer Randy Olson report in this month's National Geographic, the environmental and human costs related to the mineral have never been higher.

Intrepid traveler Rick Steves has taken his audience around the world through his TV specials and radio show. Well-known for his trips to hidden corners of Europe, he went outside the continent for his latest show, Rick Steves' Iran.

The resolution followed talks involving key Arab nations and Western powers. The U.N. is calling for an immediate and unconditional cease-fire between Hamas militants and Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip.

Palestinian philosopher Sari Nusseibeh comments on the fighting in Gaza, and what it means for the prospects of an independent Palestinian state. Nusseibeh, who is president of Al-Quds University in Jerusalem, comes from a family that traces its roots in Jerusalem back 13 centuries.

Morning Edition visits an ephemeral pond in the Australian desert, where a sudden downpour has flushed out 11 species of frogs. In their chorus, they signal to mates and mark territory. The segment is part of "Sounds Wild," a series of short, sound-rich stories from remote parts of the planet that are home to rare animals.

The chairman of one of India's largest technology outsourcing companies has resigned after admitting the company's profits had been inflated for several years. The scandal at Satyam Computer Services Ltd. threatens future foreign investments in India and tarnishes the once-booming outsourcing sector.

Communities in northern Israel are on high alert after several rockets were fired from southern Lebanon into Israel Thursday. The Israeli military quickly responded with artillery fire into Lebanon. At the same time, there were more rockets fired at southern Israel from the Gaza Strip — as the Israeli military's offensive continues with air strikes and new ground fighting reported.

Israel is preventing reporters from entering the Gaza Strip to cover the offensive against Hamas. Ayman Mohyeldin, a television reporter for Al-Jazeera English, has been in Gaza since the Israeli air strikes began. He says that the Israeli offensive has been punishing and that "there is no safe zone in Gaza."