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TOP STORIES
Pakistan's Sindh province braces for floods
SUKKUR, Pakistan - Pakistan's biggest floods in 80 years threaten to inflict widespread suffering in Sindh Province after the unpopular government let down millions of people ravaged in the disaster in other parts of the country. (PAKISTAN-FLOODS/,(UPDATE 1), expect by 0700, pix,tv,graphics, by Waseem Sattar, 500 words)
Obama says 'long battle' in Gulf of Mexico close to end
WASHINGTON - BP Plc sats it is close to subduing its ruptured Gulf of Mexico oil well, and the White House hails the "beginning of the end" of efforts to contain the worst spill in U.S. history OIL-SPILL/ (WRAPUP 8), moved, pix, tv, graphic, by Deborah Zabarenko and Caren Bohan, 1020 words)
+ See also:
- OIL-SPILL/HIGHLIGHTS, moved
- OIL-SPILL/BACKUP, moved
Kenya votes "Yes" to new charter - partial results
NAIROBI - Kenyans vote in favour of new constitution in peaceful referendum that could reshape political landscape of east Africa's largest economy, according to partial results (KENYA-REFERENDUM/ (UPDATE 2), expecty by 1000, pix tv, by James Macharia and Wangui Kanina, 750 words)
Taiwan steps out from China shadow in trade deal bid
TAIPEI - Taiwan and Singapore exploring trade agreement in what would be major breakthrough for Taiwan after decades of emnity with China which considers self-ruled island its own (TAIWAN-SINGAPORE (UPDATE 2), by Ralph Jennings, Pix, 600 words) ASIA
India faces separatist uprising in Kashmir
NEW DELHI - India faces a full-blown separatist uprising in Kashmir that may sink hopes for peace in this strategically-key region, underlining how weak leadership has led the Congress government to lurch from crisis to crisis (INDIA-KASHMIR (ANALYSIS, PIX), moving shortly, 800 words, by Alistair Scrutton)
+ See also:
- INDIA-KASHMIR (Q&A), moving shortly, 600 words
AFGHANISTAN
Time weighs heavy on U.S. Kandahar campaign
KABUL -The United States' top civilian and military commanders are publicly optimistic about their ability to turn the tide of the war in Afghanistan, but achieving that goal may rest largely on one thing they have little of: time (AFGHANISTAN-KANDAHAR/ (ANALYSIS), expect by 0800, by Jonathon Burch, 700 words)
OIL SPILL
Did US Gulf Coast dodge an ecological bullet?
HOUSTON - With most of a once-massive Gulf of Mexico oil slick no longer a threat, environmental experts say the Gulf coast may have dodged the worst nightmare of a massive catastrophe (OIL-SPILL/ENVIRONMENT (ANALYSIS), moved, by Chris Baltimore, 930 words)
UNITED STATES
California gay marriage ban overturned
SAN FRANCISCO - A federal judge strikes down a California ban on same-sex marriages as unconstitutional, handing a key victory to gay rights advocates in a politically charged decision almost certain to reach the U.S. Supreme Court (GAYMARRIAGE/ (UPDATE 3), moved, pix, by Jim Christie, 400 words)
+ See also:
- GAYMARRIAGE/USLAWS (FACTBOX), moved, 400 words
- GAYMARRIAGE/REACTION (FACTBOX), moved, 600 words
U.S. billionaires pledge fortunes to charity
NEW YORK - Dozens of U.S. billionaires pledge to give at least half their fortunes to charity as part of a philanthropic campaign by two of the world's richest men -- Warren Buffett and Bill Gates (WEALTH-PHILANTHROPY/BILLIONAIRES (UPDATE 4), moved, by Michelle Nichols, 700 words)
+ See also:
- WEALTH-PHILANTHROPY/BILLIONAIRES-LIST (FACTBOX),
AMERICAS
Colombia's Santos inherits safer nation, tests remain
BOGOTA - President-elect Juan Manuel Santos must tackle frayed ties with Venezuela, battle a waning insurgency and keep economy on mend when he takes over Colombia's highest office at the weekend.(COLOMBIA-SANTOS/ (PREVIEW), moved, pix, by Jack Kimball, 600 words)
+ See also
- COLOMBIA-SANTOS/BIO (FACTBOX), moved, 500 words
- COLOMBIA-SANTOS/POLICIES (FACTBOX), moved, 500 words
