September 18th, 2011
11:59 PM ET
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Eight killed in Pakistan suicide bombing

Eight people were killed after a suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the home of a senior police official, Karachi police said.

Jamil Khan, a Karachi police official, said the house was badly damaged but the intended target of the attack is safe.

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Ahead of the curve: The next 7 days
September 18th, 2011
08:08 PM ET
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Ahead of the curve: The next 7 days

World leaders will gather in New York to speak at the United Nations General Assembly this week, and one of the more major developments there could be the Palestinian Authority’s expected move to seek some sort of upgraded status. Here is a look at this and other stories that CNN plans on following this week:

Palestinians expected to seek upgraded status at United Nations

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said last week that he would seek full U.N. membership for the Palestinian territories, likely after he speaks to the General Assembly on Friday. That request would go to the U.N. Security Council, where the United States has vowed to veto the move.

But the Palestinian government also could go to the General Assembly, where only a majority vote would be needed, to gain a lesser status. That would be of a permanent observer state, similar to the position that the Vatican holds. A vote in its favor would be all but assured.

The Palestinians currently hold the status of a permanent observer entity. As an observer, the delegation can speak in the General Assembly but not vote.

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Strauss-Kahn acknowledges 'moral weakness,' denies violence against maid
September 18th, 2011
02:29 PM ET
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Strauss-Kahn acknowledges 'moral weakness,' denies violence against maid

What happened regarding a Guinean maid in a luxury New York hotel suite in May was a "moral weakness," French politician Dominique Strauss-Kahn said Sunday in an interview with French television station TF1.

He denied any violence or aggression, but said the incident was "an error, a mistake - a mistake concerning my wife, my children, my friends" as well as the French people "who placed their hope for change in me."

The former International Monetary Fund chief returned to France earlier this month after a long legal battle stemming from allegations made by the  maid.

Based largely on the testimony of his accuser, Nafissatou Diallo, a grand jury indicted Strauss-Kahn on seven counts - two counts of criminal sexual act in the first degree, sexual abuse in the first degree, sexual abuse in the third degree, unlawful imprisonment in the second degree, attempt to commit rape in the first degree and forcible touching.

Questions arose over the credibility of Diallo, prompting prosecutors to back off. In August, a New York judge waived the sexual assault charges against Strauss-Kahn.

Strauss-Kahn  also said that accusations by French writer Tristane Banon that he attempted to rape her in 2003 are "imaginary."

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Police: Parishioners tackle gunman
September 18th, 2011
01:33 PM ET
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Police: Parishioners tackle gunman

Parishioners at a Lakeland, Florida, church tackled a gunman who allegedly shot the pastor and associate pastor on Sunday, holding the suspect until police arrived, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said.

Jeremiah Fogel, 57, was taken into custody following the incident at the Greater Faith Christian Church, the sheriff's office said in a statement. Fogel is also suspected of shooting another person, who died, at a residence before going to the church, police said.

Pastor William Boss and associate pastor Carl Stewart were being treated at Lakeland Regional Medical Center.

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Filed under: Crime • U.S.
September 18th, 2011
05:41 AM ET
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Hikers' release from Iran prison delayed again

The lawyer trying to get two American hikers freed from prison in Iran was not able to get a signature on bail paperwork because a judge is on vacation until Tuesday, he told CNN on Sunday.

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