Next key dates in Iraq’s transition to democracy: Mid-February — Target for National Assembly to convene. Will name presidential council, which picks prime minister and Cabinet, subject to assembly’s approval. Aug. 15 — Deadline for assembly to draft permanent constitution. Oct. 15 — National referendum on draft constitution. Dec. 15 …
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TEHRAN, Iran – A fire raged through a crowded mosque in Tehran (search) during evening prayers Monday after a female worshipper’s veil caught the flames of a kerosene heater, killing at least 59 people and injuring more than 250, Iran’s official news agency reported. The Arg Mosque (search) was filled …
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A new vaccine that uses gene therapy to boost the body’s defenses against tuberculosis (search) may help completely eliminate the bacteria from the body and prevent the disease from coming back. Researchers say current medications cannot completely rid the body of the bacteria that cause tuberculosis. The remaining bacteria can …
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VATICAN CITY – Pope John Paul II (search) munched on cookies Friday and jotted messages to an aide about his condition as he recovered from surgery to ease another breathing crisis. The Vatican took pains to emphasize the positive: the 84-year-old pope was breathing on his own, showed no signs …
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XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. (XMSR) reported a wider net loss for the fourth quarter of 2004 on Thursday as the company bulked up on new subscribers, adding more than 700,000 in the latest quarter to top 3.2 million users. XM, which is based in Washington, D.C., reported a net …
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SALT LAKE CITY – Karl Malone (search) is retiring, ending a career in which he became one of the NBA’s greatest power forwards and was No. 2 on the league’s all-time scoring list. Malone, who teamed with guard John Stockton (search) for 18 seasons with Utah to form one of …
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New clues about Alzheimer’s disease (search) have emerged from a Spanish study of marijuana. The drug’s active ingredients — cannabinoids (search) — help prevent brain problems seen in Alzheimer’s, say the scientists. There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, which progressively damages brain areas involved in memory, judgment, language and …
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SAN ANTONIO – Clear Channel Communications Inc. (CCU) on Friday reported a loss of $4.7 billion in the fourth quarter of 2004, all of it due to an accounting change to comply with federal regulations. Excluding the charge, Clear Channel’s earnings were $214.3 million, or 37 cents per share, in …
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – An Ohio State University (search) student has put school president Karen Holbrook (search) on the online auction site eBay, saying in the ad that she will ruin the undergraduate experience. Bidding started at a penny on Saturday and the seven-day auction had 64 bids from 19 bidders …
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SAGINAW, Mich. – A pair of pit bulls (search) burrowed under a fence at a children’s zoo and killed two goats and a rooster, officials said. Nine other animals were injured at the Children’s Zoo at Celebration Square (search) after the dogs got into the zoo sometime early Monday. “It …
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