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Turnout Seen as Uneven in Afghanistan as Polls Close
By CARLOTTA GALL and STEPHEN FARRELL
KABUL — Voters defied threats from the Taliban and rocket attacks on Thursday in an election that has become a critical benchmark of the nation’s progress.
At War
Latest Updates on Afghanistan’s Election
By ROBERT MACKEY
With donkeys carrying some ballot boxes back to Kabul, results could take weeks to count, Reuters reported.
Tyler Hicks/The New York Times
Voters defied threats from the Taliban and rocket attacks on Thursday in an election that has become a critical benchmark of the nation’s progress.
Graphics: Key Candidates | Threats and Violence
Photographs | 
Video
Video: Kabul at a Crossroads
Afghanistan's President Karzai faces two strong challengers in the presidential elections: Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani.
- Graphics: Key Candidates | Threats and Violence
Switzerland Selling Its Stake in UBS
By MATTHEW SALTMARSH
PARIS — The government says it expects to turn a profit of over $900 million after helping to rescue the troubled bank.
C.I.A. Sought Blackwater’s Help in Plan to Kill Jihadists
By MARK MAZZETTI
WASHINGTON — The Central Intelligence Agency hired contractors from Blackwater USA as part of a secret program to locate and assassinate top operatives of Al Qaeda, according to officials.
Scotland Lets Lockerbie Convict Return to Libya
By JOHN F. BURNS and ALAN COWELL
LONDON — The decision to release the former Libyan intelligence agent on compassionate grounds was made after his lawyers said he was dying of prostate cancer.
Lead Sickens 1,300 Children in China
By MICHAEL WINES
BEIJING — The lead pollution from an unlicensed manganese smelter is the second incident of mass lead poisoning in the past month.
U.S. Counterinsurgency Unit to Stay in Philippines
By THOM SHANKER
WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates faced pressure to reassign members of the 600-soldier operation elsewhere.
U.S. Officials Get a Taste of Pakistanis’ Anger at America
By HELENE COOPER
KARACHI, Pakistan — President Obama’s representatives must defend American foreign policy initiatives in Pakistan in the face of rising anti-American sentiments.
Latest News From Asia
A Good-News Photo Op Embarrasses 2 French Ministers
By STEVEN ERLANGER
PARIS — The ministers’ supermarket visit was met by supportive “shoppers.” The supermarket later admitted to staging the reception.
Latest News From Europe
2 Blasts Expose Security Flaws in Heart of Iraq
By SAM DAGHER
BAGHDAD — Insurgents struck at the heart of Iraq’s government, killing at least 95 people in the worst attacks since U.S. forces handed over security responsibilities in June.
Latest News From the Middle East
Scotland Appears Poised to Return Pan Am Bomber
By JOHN F. BURNS
LONDON — There were strong signs that the Scottish government had decided to release the Libyan prisoner convicted in the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 in 1988.
Latest News From Africa
5 Are Convicted in 2004 Blaze in Argentina
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
BUENOS AIRES — The decision to allow those convicted to remain free pending appeal — and to absolve the band playing at the club that night — prompted an uproar.
Latest News From the Americas
Drilling Ordeals Said to Delay Geothermal Project
By JAMES GLANZ
Already under review over its potential earthquake risk, a major test of geothermal energy faces further setbacks.
Latest U.S. News
Magazine | Saving the World’s Women
A School Bus for Shamsia
By DEXTER FILKINS
A writer returned to Afghanistan to buy a bus for Afghan girls who were attacked on their walk to school. But giving isn’t always easy.
More in This Issue
Readers’ Comments »
C.I.A. Hired Blackwater to Kill Top Al Qaeda
“One of the many things wrong with this approach is that the C.I.A. needs to accept whatever lawful oversight is required and then take responsibility ... for carrying out such lethal actions,” writes MC in Seattle.
At War: Your Questions
John Burns, the Times’s chief foreign correspondent, answers readers’ questions about the value of Afghan elections taking place today.
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Style »
Right Round, Baby
The ’80s are back, with shoulders, neon and Hammer pants. Is this fashion’s idea of a stimulus?
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Opinion »
Bloggingheads: Taliban, A-O.K.?
Should the U.S. just let the Taliban run the country again?
N.Y./ Region »
New York Works to Keep Garment District
Officials fear that if the factories leave, so will designers, hurting the city’s image.
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Opinion »
Happy Days: Self, Meditating
When meditation, finally, worked for Robert Wright, the benefits went beyond a newfound empathy for lizards and a reassessment of his views on weeds.
Arts »
Brazilian, but With a Different Beat
Otto, a singer, occupies a place as unusual and unlikely as his name.
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Opinion »
A Health Care Mistake?
Did the president make a blunder by not having a specific reform plan?
Europe »
Can Spain Build Its Way to Recovery?
Spain is putting construction workers back to work on public infrastructure.
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On the Blogs
Green Inc. »Carbon Traders Arrested for Tax FraudBritish officials said the people arrested could be part of an organized group. |
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