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NPR's Anne Garrels in Baghdad reports on the Mukhtar, or mayor, of one district of the Iraqi capital, appointed by Saddam Hussein's Baath Party. The Mukhtar denies that he acted as Saddam's spy in the neighborhood, and says he was only responsible for humanitarian issues. But many in the neighborhood dispute that assertion.

The Dutch parliament agrees to send 1,100 soldiers to an Iraqi province. The Green and Socialist parties oppose the deployment, as did a part of the Labor party, which said the war in Iraq is still ongoing and the Netherlands should stay out of it. Gregory Crouch reports.

Two of the nation's oldest and best-known retailers -- Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Kmart -- agree to merge in a deal worth an estimated $11 billion. The proposed merger would create a new entity called Sears Holdings, but will be mainly controlled by Kmart executives. NPR's Jim Zarroli reports.

Ukraine's Parliament votes to declare the country's disputed presidential election null and void. The move boosts supporters of opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko, who claim the government rigged election results to support incumbent Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych. NPR's Emily Harris reports

The Supreme Court considers arguments on the legality of using marijuana for health reasons. The federal government is seeking to prosecute two California women who grow and use marijuana under medical supervision. NPR's Nina Totenberg reports.

Five NBA players and several fans involved in last month's fight at the Detroit Pistons-Indiana Pacers game are charged by the prosecutor in suburban Detroit. Most are charged with misdemeanor assault and battery. One is charged with a felony. Jerome Vaughn of Detroit Public Radio reports.

Ireland's economic boom has made the once-neglected town of Kinvara a target for developers. And even as it grows again, Kinvara has returned to an ancient tradition: music, rendered by fiddles, banjos and songs. Frank Browning reports for the documentary series "Worlds of Difference."

After months of intense negotiations, the House votes 336-75 to pass an anticipated intelligence reform bill. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Peter Hoekstra said in final debate on the bill that it may be one of the most difficult and involved bills in Congressional history. NPR's Andrea Seabrook reports.

A new play about Iraq is drawing strong reviews in New York. Nine Parts of Desire is a solo performance by Iraqi-American actor Heather Raffo, who gives voice to nine different Iraqi women. NPR's Deborah Amos reports.

The Aceh region of Indonesia, at the northern tip of the island of Sumatra, was one of the hardest-hit areas of Sunday's earthquake and tsunami. The city of Bande Aceh is all but destroyed, and in smaller towns along the coast the death toll continues to grow. NPR's Michael Sullivan reports.