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Middle East peace talks begin

WASHINGTON -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas are to begin direct peace talks in Washington on Thursday. The talks are the first such negotiations in 20 months.

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Labour leadership race hots up

LONDON -- The Labour leadership contest risked turning into an acrimonious public row over the future of the party as voting began Wednesday. The new leader will be named the day before the Labour Party Conference on September 25.

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Apple revamps iPod line

SAN FRANCISCO -- Apple has launched Ping -- a music-centered social network at iTunes -- and unveiled slick new iPod and Apple TV gizmos. The new iPod Touch allows for "FaceTime" video chats using front- and rear-facing cameras.

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Water purifiers on way to Pakistan

LONDON -- Thousands of straws that will enable families in Pakistan drink clean, safe water are due to arrive this week. The $2-water purifiers can prevent the spread of diseases like diarrhoea, dysentery, typhoid, and cholera.

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Amateur space rocket launch

COPENHAGEN -- A group of Danish rocketeers are to launch a volunteer-built one-man rocket -- with a crash test dummy -- 30km into the sky, Copenhagen Suborbitals, is scheduled to test-launch its nine-metre-high rocket on Saturday.

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Space shuttle's final countdown

CAPE CANAVERAL -- NASA’s space shuttle fleet is set to retire after two final shuttle missions. Before Endeavour’s final flight in February 2011, Discovery is scheduled to launch on November 1 for the International Space Station.

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Exorcism movie tops box office

LOS ANGELES -- Horror flick The Last Exorcism and the heist thriller Takers are in a photo finish for the top spot at the weekend box office in U.S. and Canadian cinemas, earning an easy $42 million for Lionsgate and Sony.

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Graphics that are still timely

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Italian Grand Prix	Opening Euro 2012 qualifiers

Iraq’s unknown casualties	Israeli-Palestinian peace talks
Mexico captures drug lord "Barbie"	67th Venice Film Festival
Tony Blair's memoirs published	South Korea awaits Kompasu
U.S. deadliest Afghan year	U.S. braces for Hurricane Earl

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Pictures: Associated Press, Getty Images