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Eleven candidates are trying to replace Hamid Karzai in the April 5 election. Ten are Pashtuns, the dominant ethnic group. Candidates are already holding rallies, debating and wooing the support of tribal leaders. Here's a rundown of the top contenders.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel explained why the Obama administration agreed to swap five top Taliban leaders for the release of an Army enlisted man, who willingly left his post in Afghanistan.

California Rep. Mike Honda and challenger Ro Khanna largely agree on the big issues. Style is where the two Democrats differ.

Sen. Rand Paul went to one of the top historically black colleges in the nation and tried to make a case for his Republican Party as a continuing defender of the civil rights of African-Americans. The Kentucky Republican got credit for the effort, but not always his message.

In music, as in so many industries, the lion's share of the money now goes to a relative handful of top performers, says White House economic adviser Alan Krueger. He says the music business offers valuable lessons about America's "superstar economy."

The Pentagon's top lawyer has talked about how the U.S. would deal with terrorism after al-Qaida's core was defeated. But experts say the talk is premature. The Arab Spring has helped al-Qaida affiliates proliferate over the past year. And while they might not be able to pull off large scale attacks, they are still a very real threat.

Chief U.S. District Judge Fred Biery is known for injecting humor into his opinions. He's also been at the center of controversy. This time, he's been a bit risque in his ruling that exotic dancers in San Antonio, Texas, must obey an ordinance that requires them to wear bikini tops.

Top aide Denis McDonough is moving into the chief of staff's office. Justice Department official Lisa Monaco is taking on the counterterrorism post.

For the first time, the government is using a star system to rate agencies that care for seniors in their homes. Medicare was stingy with top ratings and also the poorest scores.

The house-cleaning of top administrators and guards at the prison where two inmates escaped comes as the FBI begins its own investigation into possible corruption and drug dealing at the facility.