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Tens of thousands of Muslims begin a three-day march to mourn Ayatollah Mohammed Baqer al-Hakim, a revered Iraqi Shiite cleric killed by a car-bomb attack Friday. Al-Hakim, a long-time opponent of Saddam Hussein, was one of more than 100 people killed in the bombing of the Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf. Hear NPR's Ivan Watson.

An American born in 2024 can expect to live to be 79, on average. But people in other wealthy countries can expect to live longer.

This mercury-containing compound, used as a vaccine preservative, is commonly used in lower-income countries — and deemed safe. The U.S. is now demanding that Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance stop using it.

Tony Nominations for the annual Broadway Tony Awards were announced today. The musical "Rent" sweep the field with 10 mentions, including Best Actor for two of its stars, Best Director, Berst book and Best Score and Best Musical. (1:30) (IN S

Barbara Bodine, the U.S. official assigned to govern central Iraq, will leave her post and return to the United States to take a position at the State Department. The move comes just days after the top civilian administrator in Iraq, retired Gen. Jay Garner, is replaced by L. Paul Bremer, a longtime State Department official. Bodine and Garner have been criticized for being slow to restore services and form an interim government. Hear NPR's Guy Raz.

Congress is expected to approve President Bush's $75-billion request to fund the war in Iraq, but the House and Senate must reconcile differences over the size of a proposed tax cut. The House passed the president's package, worth $726 billion over 10 years. But the war's growing price tag makes the Senate reluctant to sign off on the entire amount. NPR's David Welna reports.

Pentagon officials confirm that Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, the top U.S. military commander in Iraq, will give up his command this summer. But officials deny the move is linked to allegations that Sanchez knew about abuses at the Abu Ghraib prison. Gen. George W. Casey Jr., the Army's second-ranking general, will replace Sanchez. Hear NPR's Steve Inskeep and NPR's Michele Kelemen.

In Baghdad, top U.N. weapons inspectors Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei say they see "the beginning of a change of heart on the part of Iraq." But they also express caution, and warn Iraq to take more steps to facilitate the inspection process. NPR's Anne Garrels reports from Baghdad.

In Baghdad, top U.N. weapons inspectors Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei say Iraq is showing positive signs of closer cooperation in the inspection process. Meanwhile, Belgium says it may block plans to use NATO to defend Turkey in case of a war against Iraq. NPR's Nick Spicer reports.

In Baghdad, top U.N. weapons inspectors Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei say they are encouraged by what they say is a distinct change in Baghdad's posture toward disclosure. NPR's Jacki Lyden talks with NPR's Anne Garrels.

Mohamed ElBaradei, head of the U.N. nuclear agency, and chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix arrive in Baghdad for talks with Iraqi officials. They are expected to warn Iraq that it must cooperate more intensely with arms inspectors. Hear NPR's Kate Seelye and Walter Russell Mead of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix briefs European leaders on the latest findings in Iraq. Blix refuses to term yesterday's discovery in Iraq of nearly a dozen empty warheads a "smoking gun" that would show Iraq to be in noncompliance with U.N. resolutions. NPR's Guy Raz reports.