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An apparent car bomb explodes outside of a mosque in the Muslim holy city of Najaf, killing at least 75 people, including prominent Shiite cleric Ayatollah Mohammed Baqer al-Hakim. Al-Hakim led a political party that operated in exile for years in Iran during Saddam Hussein's regime, and had cooperated to a degree with occupying U.S. forces. Hear NPR's Ivan Watson.

Joe Kent, head of the National Counterterrorism Center, has resigned over his opposition to the war in Iran. He had backed President Trump because Trump vowed not to get involved in new wars in the Middle East.

Automation has made its way into restaurant kitchens. Planet Money looks at what the effects of automation have been historically — and watches a robot wok in action to see how it may change things.

NPR's Mike Shuster reports on the relatively low profile the United States has kept in Liberia during that country's recent civil strife.

U.S. forces take into custody one of Iraq's top biological weapons experts, nicknamed "Dr. Germ" for her work in the production of biological warfare agents such as anthrax and botulinum toxin. Rihab Taha, a British-educated microbiologist, was not on the U.S. list of 55 most-wanted Iraqis, but U.S. officials say her capture was still a top priority. Hear NPR's Tom Gjelten.

U.S. forces in Iraq capture a senior biological weapons scientist, known as "Mrs. Anthrax" and the only woman on the U.S. military list of 55 most-wanted Iraqis. A U.S.-trained microbiologist, Huda Salih Mahdi Ammash is believed to have played a key role in rebuilding Iraq's biological weapons program after the 1991 Gulf War. Hear NPR's Tom Gjelten.

Baghdad's new police force begins work Monday with new uniforms and new leadership. Zuhar Abdul Razaq, a former police officer chosen by the U.S. Army to temporarily lead the force, says he will focus on reassembling the police force and on controlling the looting and lawlessness that has pervaded the city since U.S. forces invaded more than three weeks ago. Hear NPR's Guy Raz.

This NBA season has featured an epidemic of "tanking" -- teams intentionally losing games to try to secure a higher pick in next year's draft. Planet Money considers possible solutions.

President Trump said on Friday the U.S. military had "totally obliterated every MILITARY target in Iran's crown jewel, Kharg Island." This, as all six crew members on a refueling plane that went down in western Iraq were confirmed dead.

A presidential daily briefing from Aug. 6, 2001, draws much attention as National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice testifies before the Sept. 11 commission. Hear NPR's Robert Siegel and analysts Reuel March Gerecht -- a former CIA Middle East specialist -- and Daniel Benjamin, a former member of the National Security Council staff.