KABUL (Reuters) - A suicide car bomber killed at least seven people in an attack on a Western military convoy in the Afghan capital on Tuesday and a Taliban rocket hit the presidential palace grounds two days before tense elections.

MIAMI (Reuters) - Hurricane Bill, the first hurricane of the 2009 Atlantic season, revved up quickly on Monday as it headed toward Bermuda, while the remnants of Tropical Storm Ana dissipated without threatening the U.S. Gulf oil patch.

Aug. 18 - Two British women accused of making false robbery claims in order to receive an insurance settlement face trial in Rio de Janeiro.

Aug. 18 - As voters in Afghanistan prepare to cast ballots, foreign forces are hoping to secure the vote in what one General describes as “not an ideal situation to conduct an election.”

Aug 18 - Zambia’s former president was cleared of corruption charges on Monday (Aug 17) in what has been considered to be a landmark case.

Aug. 17 - Reverend Jesse Jackson follows footsteps of Michael Jackson — and is crowned a prince in Ivory Coast.

Aug. 17 - Speaking before U.S. war veterans, President Barack Obama called for American patience in the war in Afghanistan.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Reader’s Digest Association Inc, whose namesake magazine has been a staple of dentists’ offices for generations, said on Monday it planned to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy for its U.S. businesses as part of a prearranged plan with lenders to cut debt by 75 percent.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - More signs the U.S. economy was exiting its worst recession in 70 years emerged on Monday with reports showing confidence rising among homebuilders, factory activity perking up in New York state and credit card defaults slowing.

SHIBERGHAN, Afghanistan (Reuters) - One of Afghanistan’s most notorious militia leaders threw his support behind President Hamid Karzai at a chaotic rally Monday, the final day of campaigning for this week’s election.