A selection of dueling images from the 2012 presidential campaign trail. [48 photos total]

Summer is gone and that means the NFL has started up again, Champion leagues matches have been played, baseball is nearing the postseason and cycling has it’s world championship races. [51 photos total]

In the month of September 2012, the United States completed its withdrawal of the 33,000 troops deployed to Afghanistan in the "surge" of 2009. However, the U.S. still has 86,000 troops engaged in Operation Enduring Freedom, even as some coalition members are now finishing up their deployments. Also this month, coalition troops have curtailed joint operations with Afghan Army and police forces, due to increased attacks on foreign soldiers by members of the Afghan forces -- and heightened tensions resulting from widespread anger over an anti-Islam movie produced in the U.S. Gathered here are images of those involved in this conflict over the past month, as part of the ongoing series here on Afghanistan. [42 photos total]

On Saturday, the 179th Oktoberfest opened in Munich, Germany, with the traditional tapping of the first keg of beer by Munich's mayor, Christian Ude, as he shouted, "O'zapft is!" ("It's tapped!"). The Bavarian festival is open until October 7, and 6 million people are expected to attend. Last year, visitors drank nearly 8 million one-liter mugs of beer. Attendance is free, but the beer will cost you: This year, the price of a mug at any of the 14 tents comes to €9.50 ($12.30 U.S.). Gathered here are some scenes from Oktoberfest 2012's first few days. [34 photos total]

North Korea remains a mystery to most of the West, but through small glimpses into the daily life of North Koreans, more and more is revealed about this mysterious country. Associated Press photographers David Guttenfelder and Vincent Yu have been fortunate to have unprecedented access to some areas in Pyongyang, the country's largest city by both land area and population. Through their images, we learn just a little bit more about what it's like to live in one of the world's most militarized and isolated countries. [50 photos total]

BERLIN (AP) -- The world's largest beer festival opened Saturday in Germany as Munich's mayor tapped the first keg to kick off the 16-day Oktoberfest, known for its oompah music and traditional costumes. With only two blows of his hammer and a cry of "O'zapft is" -- "It's Tapped" -- Mayor Christian Ude inserted the tap into the first keg, opening the 179th Oktoberfest to the cheering of thousands who were waiting to be served their first beer. More than 6 million guests from around the world are expected to descend on the beer tents of Munich to celebrate the 16-day Oktoberfest extravaganza. The Oktoberfest started with a wedding party: Just over 200 years ago, Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig celebrated his royal nuptials with a big public bash that was such a hit it became an annual event. Nowadays, it is now known worldwide for its towering mugs of beer, oompah music, men wearing traditional Bavarian Lederhosen leather shorts and women in bright costumes. [26 photos total]

Reuters photographer Ilya Naymushin is based in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, the the third largest city in Siberia. He frequently takes photographs of daily life in and around Krasnoyarsk, capturing expansive landscapes, colorful festivals, and intimate moments with equal skill. Below, I've gathered some of my favorite images taken by Ilya over this past Siberian summer. [44 photos total]

Next Monday China celebrates National Day as the country prepares for a political transition, one that will see the new leaders taking the helm of perhaps the world's most dynamic society. It seems an opportune time to look at life in 中国, the Middle Kingdom. Change and progress have come at a dizzying pace in the last couple of decades, making the People's Republic of China politically, culturally, economically, and militarily a power player on the world stage. Many issues challenge the incoming government. A territorial dispute with Japan over some islands off Taiwan is opening old wounds from WWII. A corruption and murder scandal involving a high ranking official comes at an embarrassing time. And the country's juggernaut economy finds itself in the 11th straight month of stagnation. But at the same time, an increasingly colorful society celebrates the continued vibrant awakening transforming the largest population in the world. Gathered here are images providing a glimpse of life from many parts of the country, including Hong Kong - which has now been under mainland control for 15 years. [44 photos total]

The Singapore Grand prix always gives us amazing images. Racing cars driving at high speeds through a streetcircuit in the dark. Wow. Shame the race was rather boring for large parts. It only became interesting after Lewis Hamilton had to retire from a comfortable first place due to a gearbox failure and the safety car had to come out because of crashes by Karthikeyan and Schumacher. In the end Vettel won only his second race this year and he was joined on the podium by Button and Alonso. [58 photos total]

I was gone for a week and loads has happened. We have an international dispute between Japan and China over a group of little islands. William and Kate are putting on a brave face with regards to the topless photos published of her in French, Italian, Danish and Irish magazines, The space shuttle Endeavour made her last trip as a passenger to L.A.. And the Occupy movemnt celebrated it’s first anniversary by being arrested by NYC’s finest. I was at the OWS protest site the day before, just walking around and trying to figure it out, to be honest, most people there were anarchists, idealists and jobless. If they would put the same effort into starting their own companies as they do in these protests they can change the system from the inside instead of shouting from the outside. Just my 2 cents. [78 photos total]