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In Afghanistan, governors are not elected, they are selected — and more often than not due to family or political connections. But in an attempt to curb graft, the country has just sworn in a batch of governors — including the first female district governor — selected through a new merit-based program.

Or: Why Justin Bieber didn't really sell 40,000 tickets in 30 seconds.

The former House speaker says the troubled mortgage giant paid him the consultant fee in 2006 for his "advice as a historian" — and that he was not a lobbyist. Strictly speaking, that's right. But one expert says what Freddie really wanted was "political protection and cover."

Across debt-ridden Greece, people are turning to a simpler form of commerce, using both formal and informal systems of bartering as a means to make ends meet. In places such as the fishing village of Volos, swapping goods and services is also fostering a new sense of community.

Through the early '70s, Australia forced unwed mothers to give up their babies for adoption.

Senegal awaits the results of the first round of Sunday's contentious presidential election. Unofficial tallies indicate a possible runoff between the sitting president and a former political ally. The vote was preceded by deadly violence — sparked by opposition to a third term bid by the West African nation's octogenarian leader.

County Sheriff Lee Baca faces what may be the toughest fight of his 14-year political career. A scathing report issued Friday includes accusations of misconduct in his jails, such as deputies beating inmates, cover-ups and a persistent culture of violence.

Apple announced Monday that for the first time since the mid-1990s the company will start paying a dividend. At the end of 2011, Apple had almost $100 billion in cash burning a hole it its pocket, and investors have been clamoring for the company to start sharing the wealth.

The leader of the notorious Zeta drug organization was apprehended Monday in an operation involving the Mexican military. The capture of Miguel Angel Trevino Morales, 40, took place on a country road less than 20 miles south of the Texas border.

Unlike airlines, hospitals don't offer perks or first class upgrades to people who frequently visit the emergency room. In fact, patients like these often get worse customer service, like the apocryphal boy who cried, "Wolf!"