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A group led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi claims responsibility for killing 49 soldiers from the new Iraqi Army. The men, unarmed as they traveled home after training, were shot in a mass execution near the Iranian border. Hear NPR's Jennifer Ludden and NPR's Emily Harris.

At Friday night's presidential debate in St. Louis, President Bush and Sen. John Kerry took questions from voters in a town-hall format. It was the second of three presidential debates. Topics included Iraq, education, health care and the economy. NPR's Mara Liasson reports.

President Bush meets with British Prime Minister Tony Blair Thursday. But the first international visitor the president hosted was the head of NATO. The Bush administration appears to be signaling a desire to repair relations with Europe. But few analysts expect any quick fixes or major foreign policy changes. NPR's Michele Kelemen reports.

In the wake of a U.S.-led invasion of Fallujah, other cities see a major upsurge in fighting elsewhere in Iraq. Insurgents seized control of major parts of the northern city of Mosul, prompting an influx of U.S. troops to restore order. NPR's Philip Reeves reports.

The U.S. military says it controls about 80 percent of Fallujah after six days of fighting. Marines are conducting a house-by-house search for insurgents still hiding in the Iraqi city. Hear NPR's Scott Simon and NPR's Anne Garrels.

As the presidential race nears an end, President Bush and Sen. John Kerry put extra focus on health care -- and the small percentage of undecided voters who say the issue could affect how they cast their ballot. Some experts believe neither candidate's plan will bring down medical costs. NPR's Julie Rovner reports.

Utah's surprise decision to legalize same-sex marriage caps a landmark year for gay rights. The last 12 months saw a huge string of victories, from state legislatures, to Congress, to the Supreme Court.

In Venezuela, the arrest of opposition politicians overnight mark a shift towards dictatorship.

Microsoft has made a $44.6 billion bid for Yahoo, an aggressive move by the software giant to gain market share on the Internet and compete with Google. Microsoft and Yahoo have talked about merging for years. This time, a hostile but very rich offer could seal the deal.

Thousands of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip flooded into Egypt to buy food and fuel on Wednesday after militants blew up part of a border wall. Supplies have been scarce in Gaza because of an Israeli blockade aimed at stopping rocket attacks. Palestinian supporters are putting pressure on Egypt to keep the passage open.