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Wednesday

Holder Visits Afghanistan Amid Corruption-Fight Flap

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder holds a news conference Wednesday in Kabul. Holder was in the Afghan capital to talk to officials about improving the justice system and fighting corruption. Ahmad Massoud/AP hide caption

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Ahmad Massoud/AP

Holder Visits Afghanistan Amid Corruption-Fight Flap

The U.S. attorney general praised the U.S.-Afghanistan partnership, despite allegations that the Afghan attorney general attempted to cover up corruption. The Afghan official, Mohammad Ishaq Alako, has denied the claims and accused the U.S. envoy in Kabul of threatening him.

Holder Visits Afghanistan Amid Corruption-Fight Flap

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Turkish Paper Helms Attack Against Alleged Plotters

In Turkey, hundreds of serving and retired military personnel -- along with civilians -- have been languishing in jail for months, charged with plotting to overthrow the ruling Islamic AK Party. As yet, no one has been found guilty. Spearheading the attack against alleged military coup plotters is a small newspaper with just 50,000 readers, called Taraf. In January, it published classified military documents describing an alleged plot to bomb Turkish mosques; 80 people were arrested, among them a former deputy military chief of staff. Who's behind this small newspaper that punches above its weight?

Turkish Paper Helms Attack Against Alleged Plotters

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America's Gamble In Kandahar

In Kandahar, Looking To Petraeus On Rules Of Fire

Soldiers in Afghanistan complain that cautious rules of engagement sometimes put them at risk by preventing them from firing on the Taliban. Officers say the practice is saving the lives of innocent civilians and helping win the support of locals. Still, troops are looking to their new commander, Gen. David Petraeus, to see if the rules will change.

In Kandahar, Looking To Petraeus On Rules Of Fire

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Sports

Halfway Through, Which Is Your World Cup Team?

After weeks of up to four World Cup matches a day, the players and fans are catching their breath before the quarterfinals begin on Friday. Mark Starr, a columnist for GlobalPost, brings us up to date on who's still standing and what the big upsets have been so far.

Halfway Through, Which Is Your World Cup Team?

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Iraq's TV Screens Reflect Sectarian Divide

Iraqis follow a June 14 parliamentary session on local TV at a barbershop in Baghdad. Sabah Arar/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Sabah Arar/AFP/Getty Images

Iraq's TV Screens Reflect Sectarian Divide

Iraqis look to television for political information more than any other medum, but at the same time don't trust what they see, new studies show. There are no neutral outlets. Broadcasts are funded by ethnic political parties, Islamists, business interests and the government.

Mexican Election To Proceed Despite Assassination

Relatives and friends of Rodolfo Torre, candidate for governor in the northern Mexican state of Tamaulipas, attend his funeral in Ciudad Victoria, Mexico, Tuesday, June 29, 2010. Eduardo Verdugo/AP hide caption

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Eduardo Verdugo/AP

The Americas

Mexican Election To Proceed Despite Assassination

Mexican officials have declared that they won't let the high-profile assassination of Rodolfo Torre Cantu, 46, derail Sunday's balloting. Torre, of the Institutional Revolutionary Party, was remembered at a huge memorial service in Ciudad Victoria.

Mexican Election To Proceed Despite Assassination

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Europe

Vote On President Is A Test For Germany's Merkel

Germany's federal assembly votes on a new president Wednesday. The position is a largely ceremonial post but it is turning into a serious political test for Chancellor Angela Merkel and her political coalition.

Vote On President Is A Test For Germany's Merkel

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Africa

Impoverished Congo Marks 50 Years Of Independence

Up to 20 African countries mark 50 years of independence from Europe this year. That includes the Democratic Republic of Congo which marks its anniversary Wednesday. Since 1960, Congo, which is potentially one of the wealthiest countries on the continent, has lurched from rebellions and military coups to dictatorship and back-to-back civil wars.

Impoverished Congo Marks 50 Years Of Independence

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Asia

Google Tries To Save Internet License In China

Faced with the prospect of losing its Internet license in China, Google has announced it will no longer automatically redirect Chinese users to its unfiltered site in Hong Kong. Instead, Chinese users will have to click a tab on the Google site if they want access to the Hong Kong site. Will this plan be enough to satisfy China and win renewal of Google's license?

Google Tries To Save Internet License In China

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Middle East

Obama, Abdullah Pledge Ties On Middle East

Iran and the faltering Middle East peace process were on the agenda when President Obama hosted Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah Tuesday. According to the White House, the Saudi monarch repeated his commitment to the Arab peace initiative. Obama vowed to work on that issue in a bold way.

Obama, Abdullah Pledge Ties On Middle East

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Senate Likely To Confirm Petraeus Quickly

The Senate Armed Services Committee has voted in favor of Gen. David Petraeus to become the next commander of the Afghanistan war. The full Senate is likely to confirm Patreaus quickly. He's replacing Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who was fired for negative remarks he made about administration officials in an interview.

Senate Likely To Confirm Petraeus Quickly

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