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The final seconds of a 747 civilian cargo jet's disastrous takeoff from an airfield in Afghanistan Monday — resulting in a crash that killed all seven aboard — were apparently captured by a dashboard camera. In the video, the aircraft is seen in a steep climb, until it fails to gain altitude and plummets into the earth.

The use of chemical weapons has been taboo since World War I, when poison gas inflicted a million casualties. Despite the destruction of large stockpiles, controlling or destroying remaining weapons remains tricky.

With the drama of the 17-day government shutdown over, the spotlight this week turned to the troubled rollout of the federal health insurance exchanges. Host Scott Simon talks to NPR's Ron Elving about the frustrations from both parties over the crippled HealthCare.gov website.

Older people who are active every day appear to lower their risk of heart disease and death by almost a third, even if they're not doing the kind of exercise that breaks a sweat. Gardening and puttering around the house qualify. And don't overlook berry-picking, a popular pastime in Sweden, where the study was done.

Also, a story on teenage pregnancies in the Dominican Republic, a report on a deadly balloon crash in New Zealand and a story from Pakistan that's fit for Halloween.

A hairdresser in Alaska is one of the first people to get health insurance through HealthCare.gov. The 37-year-old woman has a chronic thyroid problem, so she's thrilled to find affordable coverage. Insurers are bracing for sick people like her to be among the first entering the market.

A bystander was killed and at least 20 people were injured during a march in Phnom Penh. Workers have been protesting for months, demanding better pay and working conditions. The clashes in Cambodia come amid increased scrutiny of garment factories in Asia.

Members of the European Parliament will be in Washington on Monday to discuss reports that the NSA used U.S. officials' Rolodexes to create lists of phone numbers to monitor. Intelligence officials will make a separate visit from Germany, whose Chancellor Angela Merkel was reportedly a surveillance target.

The Democratic senators were targeted by gun rights activists after sweeping gun control laws were passed. The elections have attracted donations from major players across the country.

The Obama administration's decision not to challenge pot legalization in Washington and Colorado is reverberating in states where regulation of medical marijuana has been scant.