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The crew of the Space Shuttle Discovery was "very surprised" to learn that foam debris had come off the shuttle's external fuel tank during liftoff Tuesday, Commander Eileen Collins says. She and Mission Specialist Andrew Thomas speak with NPR's Michele Norris from space.

Israeli troops and police complete the evacuation of 21 settlements in the Gaza Strip and four in the West Bank. Troops have already begun demolishing settlers' homes in Gaza prior to handing the territory over to the Palestinian Authority in a few weeks.

Saudi Arabia's King Fahd died Monday after a long period of ill health. His half brother -- Crown Prince Abdullah -- was named the new ruler. Abdullah has been the Middle East oil giant's de facto ruler since Fahd suffered a disabling stroke in 1995.

At least 26 people die in a suicide bombing in the northern Iraqi town of Rabia, west of Mosul. Officials say the victims were members of the Iraqi security services. Officials said the attack occurred in the midst of recruits who were training in a security-controlled area, and that some of the guards may have knowingly allowed the attacker to enter.

In Iraq, another deadline has come and gone without agreement on a draft constitution. Thursday, the speaker of Iraq's National Assembly, Hashim al Hassani, announced shortly before midnight that negotiators need more time.

Since the war has mainly shifted to the east of Ukraine, residents and business owners have been returning to parts of the Kyiv region, including hard-hit Bucha.

Stephen Beard of Marketplace tells Alex Chadwick about a deal between the European Union and China to unblock about 75 million Chinese textile imports held up at European ports.

The situation in New Orleans continues to deteriorate, with widespread flooding and looting. The evacuation of thousands of people from the Superdome in the city was halted early Thursday when shots were fired at military helicopters. There are also reports of armed carjackings.

Days after Hurricane Katrina made landfall east of New Orleans, thousands are still stranded in the city. And the city's mayor has issued what he called an "Urgent SOS" for help. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff is overseeing the biggest recovery operation in U.S. history.

Hurricane Rita is gaining strength as it crosses the Gulf of Mexico, with current sustained wind speeds topping 135 miles per hour. Forecasters expect the Category Four storm to hit the Gulf coast of Texas or western Louisiana by early Saturday.