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Voters in Afghanistan went to the polls 20 August for the nation's second presidential election since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. The election has been held in the midst of a war that involves more than 100,000 U.S. and foreign troops battling a Taliban insurgency that controls vast parts of the country. Follow the news about the election, including blogging from Kabul, from our special report, Afghan Elections: Challenges of Voting During Wartime.

US Senator Edward Kennedy, Heir of Powerful Family, Dies Democratic senator had been suffering from incurable form of brain cancer for just over a year Tributes Pour in for Late US Senator Edward Kennedy President Obama says US lost a 'great leader' in Senator Kennedy, who died Tuesday night at his Massachusetts home at age of 77 Envoys from Two Koreas Meet to Discuss Family Reunions Thousands of families remain separated by political division of Korean peninsula Karzai Widens Lead in Afghan Presidential Vote Partial results are based on 17 percent of all votes cast Israeli PM, US Envoy to Discuss Settlement Dispute Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel working to reach compromise with US that will allow Israelis to continue building controversial settlements while restarting peace talks French Hostage Escapes from Somali Captors Spokesman for French Foreign Ministry says escape happened without violence, and France did not pay ransom Indian Prime Minister Calls for Crackdown on Corruption Speaking at national conference of anti-corruption officials, Manmohan Singh says corruption is impediment to India's growing economy Australian Government Approves Massive Offshore Natural Gas Deal $42 billion development will supply gas to China, India but environmentalists condemn it as irresponsible OAS Mission to Honduras Fails to Break Deadlock Statement says delegation failed to persuade caretaker government to accept Costa Rica-brokered plan that would bring back deposed president Michael Jackson Death Viewed as Homicide Investigators say pop-singer's personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, administered lethal combination of drugs to Jackson in attempt to overcome chronic insomnia