Insurgents appear to have launched a coordinated attack in the heart of Afghanistan's capital city. Rocket propelled grenades and assault weapons could be heard across Kabul — targeting the U.S. Embassy and NATO headquarters.

The Taliban is claiming responsibility for gunfire and explosions heard around the Afghan capital Kabul. Insurgents have been firing in the direction of the U.S. Embassy as well as other landmarks.

Good morning.

The news we've already posted about this morning:

-- American Hikers Held By Iran To Be Freed 'In Two Days,' Ahmadinejad Says.

-- RPGs, Gunfire 'Raining Down' On Diplomatic District In Kabul.

"Sparks flew right away" Monday night at the latest Republican presidential debate, NPR's Don Gonyea reported earlier on Morning Edition.

The National Park Service says if you're hiking, it's good to carry an approved bear pepper spray. Just don't sit on it. At Grand Teton National Park, a ranger was speaking at the visitors center when a guest sat on a can of bear spray. The blog, "National Parks Traveler," says the building was evacuated.

Alicia Proulx married Jared Fiori in Maine over the weekend. According to the Sun Journal of Lewiston, Maine, she wants to be a novelist. He wants to become a comic book artist. They decided to get married in the Auburn Public Library, a century-old building that, from the outside, does look a little like a church.

According to The Economist magazine, Ikea is changing the design of its popular Billy Bookcases to make the shelves deeper. The magazine asserts that's because Ikea thinks its customers will use the shelves for ornaments and tchotchkees – not books. But an Ikea spokesman insists "Billy is best for books."

In 2009, Serena Williams threatened to shove a racket down a referee's throat during a semifinal. Two years later, she's calmer, but still shouting at umpires, most recently at the U.S. Open on Sept. 11. With higher salaries and more on the line, it's not surprising that more and more athletes are making headlines for unsportsmanlike conduct.

After losing the final game 6-2, 6-3 to Australian Samantha Stosur on Sunday, Williams told reporters that she didn't remember what she said.

Attackers set off at least three explosions in the center of Kabul's diplomatic district today and were "raining down rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons fire across both the U.S. embassy compound" and the headquarters of the international security force, NPR's Quil Lawrence reports from the Afghan capital.

The BBC says "gunmen are holed up in a partly-built high-rise building nearby, exchanging sporadic gunfire with police."

A few years ago, I had a work assignment in central Malaysia. When I returned home, I lamented to a friend that I was constantly lost, never knew if I had enough ringgits for a meal, and was unable to communicate with anyone. I felt like a confused child.

My friend laughed. "Now you know how your father felt when he arrived in this country," she said.