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TOP STORIE
Gathering momentum, Islamic State takes control of ancient Palmyra
BAGHDAD - Islamic State seizes full control of both ancient and modern Palmyra in central Syria, just days after it captured a provincial capital in neighbouring Iraq, suggesting momentum is building for the group. (MIDEAST-CRISIS/ (WRAPUP 1, PICTURE, GRAPHIC), expect by 1230 GMT/8.30 AM ET, 780 words)
Saudi shells hit Yemen aid office, killing 5 - local official
CAIRO - Saudi shells hit an international humanitarian aid office in northern Yemen, killing five Ethiopian refugees and wounding ten, a local official says. (YEMEN-SECURITY/ (UPDATE 1), moved, by Mohammed Ghobari, 395 words)
Street clashes, gunfire erupt again in Burundi capital
BUJUMBURA - Street battles and gunfire erupt again in the Burundi capital as protesters against President Pierre Nkurunziza reject his calls for calm in the east African nation, an ethnic tinderbox with a long history of civil war and genocide. (BURUNDI-POLITICS/ (UPDATE 1), moved, by Edmund Blair and Goran Tomasevic, 510 words)
Weak euro zone, Asia growth pins hopes on U.S. for global bounce
LONDON/SYDNEY - Euro zone business growth was weaker than thought this month and factory activity in Asia's top two economic powerhouses remains stuck in low gear, putting the burden of supporting global growth squarely on the United States. (GLOBAL-ECONOMY/ (WRAPUP 2), moving shortly, by Jonathan Cable and Ian Chua, 680 words)
EUROPE
Ukraine crisis makes EU eastern partnership more important - Merkel
BERLIN - The crisis in Ukraine makes the European Union's partnership with the bloc's eastern neighbours more important than ever, German Chancellor Angela Merkel says, insisting that the initiative is not directed against Russia. (UKRAINE-CRISIS/EU-MERKEL (PICTURE), moved, 310 words)
UK's Cameron to unveil immigration curbs on eve of EU meeting
LONDON - Prime Minister David Cameron will outline measures to stem near-record immigration levels on the eve of a European Union summit he wants to use to tentatively start renegotiating Britain's ties with the bloc. (BRITAIN-POLITICS/EU (UPDATE 1), moved, by Andrew Osborn, 425 words)
+ See also:
- BRITAIN-IMMIGRATION/, moved, 225 words
German train strike suspended as two sides agree arbitration
BERLIN - A German train strike causing massive disruption for millions of commuters and starting to weigh on economic growth has been suspended after two sides agree to arbitration (GERMANY-TRAIN/STRIKE (PICTURE, TV), expect by 1230 GMT/8.30 AM ET, by Erik Kirschbaum, 400 words)
Eight British men due in court over multi-million pound gem heist
LONDON - Eight British men will appear in court on Thursday accused of carrying out a daring raid in London's jewellery business district last month that involved abseiling down an elevator shaft and drilling through a two-metre thick wall. (BRITAIN-HEIST/, moved, 300 words)
NORTH AFRICA
Gaddafi's home town falls to Islamic State in anarchic Libya
SIRTE - Standing guard at his frontline post, Libyan soldier Mohammed Abu Shager can see where Islamic State militants are holed up with their heavy weaponry less than a kilometre away. (LIBYA-SECURITY/ (INSIGHT, PICTURE), moved, by Ulf Laessing, 1,160 words)
ASIA
Malaysia orders rescue of migrant boats, Thailand says no to shelters
KUALA LUMPUR/BANGKOK - Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak orders the navy to conduct search and rescue missions for thousands of migrants adrift at sea as Thailand's prime minister says his country will not provide shelter. (ASIA-MIGRANTS/ (PICTURE, TV), moved, by Praveen Menon and Amy Sawitta Lefevre, 400 words)
+ See also:
-ASIA-MIGRANTS/THAILAND, moved, by Amy Sawitta Lefevre, 390 words
China navy warns U.S. spy plane in disputed South China Sea
The Chinese navy warns a U.S. surveillance plane flying over artificial islands that Beijing is creating in the disputed South China Sea to leave the area eight times, CNN says. (SOUTHCHINASEA-USA/CHINA (UPDATE 1), moved, 522 words)
AMERICAS
U.S., Cuba to focus on reopening embassies in Washington talks
WASHINGTON - The United States and Cuba resume talks on Thursday aiming to overcome obstacles to opening embassies in each other's capitals and re-establishing diplomatic ties, the crucial next step in their historic detente. (CUBA-USA/TALKS, moved, 420 words)
SPORT
Van Praag withdraws from FIFA presidential bid
AMSTERDAM - FIFA presidential candidate Michael van Praag has withdrawn from next week's election and thrown his weight behind Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, he says. (SOCCER-FIFA/PRAAG (UPDATE 1), moved, 200 words)
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