28 killed in hotel fire in Iraq’s Kurdish region (AP)

AP - A fierce blaze at a hotel without fire escapes sent some desperate guests plunging to their deaths in a northern Iraqi oil boomtown, killing 28 people.

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28 killed in hotel fire in Iraq’s Kurdish region
(AP)

36 arrested in Medicare scams totaling $251M (AP)

AP - Federal authorities said Friday they are conducting the largest Medicare fraud bust ever in five different states and arrested dozens of suspects accused in scams totaling $251 million.

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36 arrested in Medicare scams totaling $251M
(AP)

Family pleas for captive US soldier’s release (AP)

AP - The Taliban released a video Friday of an American soldier captured in Afghanistan, showing him apparently healthy but spouting criticism about the U.S. military operation.

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Family pleas for captive US soldier’s release
(AP)

Family plea after Taliban video of captive soldier (AP)

AP - In a Christmas Day move, the Taliban on Friday released a video of an American soldier captured in Afghanistan, showing him apparently healthy but spouting criticism about the U.S.

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Family plea after Taliban video of captive soldier
(AP)

Iran willing to swap nuclear material in Turkey (AP)

AP - Iran would be willing to swap nuclear material with the West in Turkey, the foreign minister said in the country’s latest counteroffer to a U.N.-drafted deal aimed at thwarting Tehran’s ability to produce atomic weapons.

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Iran willing to swap nuclear material in Turkey
(AP)

Senate bill could hurt insurers at least initially (AP)

AP - Health insurers get some big presents in the Senate’s health overhaul bill — about 20 million new customers and no competition from a new government plan.

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Senate bill could hurt insurers at least initially
(AP)

Vatican to review security after papal attack (AP)

AP - The Vatican will review its security procedures after a woman jumped a barrier and rushed at Pope Benedict XVI for the second time in two years, managing to knock him down before being pulled away by security, the Vatican spokesman said Friday.

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Vatican to review security after papal attack
(AP)

Reformists resist Iranian government pressure (AP)

AP - The son of an Iranian revolutionary icon called on parliament to dismiss president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad from his post, as the country’s conservative political establishment upped pressure Sunday on the reformists.

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Reformists resist Iranian government pressure
(AP)