WORLD BRIEFING / AFGHANISTAN

The Taliban urged Afghans to stay away from Aug. 20 elections, which it dismissed as an “American process.”

A statement said roads would be blocked to government vehicles and civilian traffic a day before the vote.

Meanwhile, a U.S. service member was fatally injured in southern Afghanistan, the U.S. command said.

The death brought to 41 the number of U.S. service members killed in the Afghan war this month.