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AP - A coalition led by Iraq’s prime minister held a comfortable lead Saturday in the crucial contest for the nation’s capital, bolstering his chances in an election deciding who will lead the country as U.S. forces go home.

Continued here:
Iraq’s PM leads in early Baghdad vote count
(AP)

AP - House Democratic leaders abandoned a long struggle to strike a compromise on abortion in their ranks, gambling Thursday that they can secure the support for President Barack Obama’s sweeping health care legislation with showdown votes looming as early as next week.

Originally posted here:
Dems look to health vote without abortion foes
(AP)

AP - The earth shook and shook Thursday as dignitaries walked in for the swearing-in of Sebastian Pinera as Chile’s president. It shook some more as they waited for him to join them.

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More quakes hit Chile as new president takes over
(AP)

AP - Hundreds of earthquake survivors huddled in aid tents and around bonfires Monday in eastern Turkey, seeking relief from the winter cold after a strong temblor knocked down stone and mud-brick houses in five villages, killing 51 people.

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Survivors shiver in Turkey after quake kills 51
(AP)

AP - Among the 1.5 million condolence letters sent to President John F. Kennedy’s widow after his assassination in 1963 were more than two dozen from Jane Dryden, a dogged and dramatic 11-year-old who churned out a letter a week for six months straight.

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JFK condolence letters published for 1st time
(AP)

AP - Early estimates from a range of Iraqi parties predict a coalition led by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki will take the lead in the parliamentary race.

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Iraqi PM’s coalition seen leading vote
(AP)

AP - The man who opened fire in front of the Pentagon had a history of mental illness and had become so erratic that his parents reached out to local authorities weeks ago with a warning that he was unstable and might have a gun, authorities said Friday.

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Pentagon shooter had a history of mental illness
(AP)

Reuters - Afghanistan on Monday announced a ban on news coverage showing Taliban attacks, saying such images embolden the Islamist militants, who have launched strikes around the country as NATO forces seize their southern strongholds.

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Afghanistan bans coverage of Taliban attacks
(Reuters)

AP - The 40 retirees enjoying summer vacation at a seaside campground nestled under pine trees knew they had to move fast after Chile’s powerful earthquake struck.

Excerpt from:
Tsunami swept away fleeing bus full of retirees
(AP)

AP - Heroism and banditry mingled on Chile’s shattered streets Sunday as rescuers braved aftershocks digging for survivors and the government sent soldiers and ordered a nighttime curfew to quell looting. The death toll climbed to 708 in one of the biggest earthquakes in centuries.

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Chile quake death toll hits 708 as rescue ramps up
(AP)