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The former Soviet Union once spanned an area nearly the size of North America, and the flavors of that empire remain rooted in regional cuisines. But it's not all stick-to-your-ribs fare like borscht and potatoes and dumplings. There's also a strong tradition of light meals that make the most of summer.

The crunchy five-spice mix of India, the searing hot harissa from Tunisia, the aromatic herbes de Provence of southern France and the earthy berbere of Ethiopia are simple ways to bring global flavors into the kitchen with little effort.

Tens of thousands of protesters marched into Jerusalem and hundreds of thousands took to the streets in Tel Aviv and other cities.

Bearing no relation to the stringy, bland canned version, fresh bamboo shoots invoke a spirit of gratitude in these savory recipes with Japanese roots. The young tips of the hardwood stalks — tender and aromatic, with a taste like artichoke, corn and hearts of palm — are a fleeting springtime crop.

Tending her family's garden as a youngster seemed like one big summertime chore to Janet Zimmerman. But one thing made all the toil worth it, she says: corn so fresh it was growing in the afternoon, and on her plate by dinnertime. She's since discovered that on the cob isn't the only way to enjoy it.

In a stew, oysters keep the fresh mineral flavors of a raw bar — but with the plump texture of a cooked bivalve. It's a warming way to have the best of both worlds, in a simple and satisfying oyster stew. Here are four interpretations of a classic, with flavors from Japan, Mexico and New Orleans.

President Obama tried a new way Monday to jump-start his stalled health care overhaul: He unveiled his own detailed health proposal and put it on the Internet. It's intended as a starting point for a bipartisan health care summit set for Thursday.

President Obama announced Wednesday a plan to open vast expanses of water along the Atlantic coastline, the eastern Gulf of Mexico and the north coast of Alaska to oil and natural gas drilling. The move reverses a ban on drilling off most U.S. shores.

From endless book signings to heated arguments with booksellers, author M.J. Rose knows the value of self-promotion. NPR's Lynn Neary joins Rose on the road for a taste of what it means to be a writer in today's new world of publishing.

President Obama and the Democrats scored another major legislative victory Thursday. The Senate passed a broad bill to overhaul financial regulations. The measure rewrites the rules for Wall Street to try to avoid crises like the 2008 economic meltdown. This time the Democrats got a little help from Republicans.