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TOP STORIES
Fed officials see June rate hike as unlikely - minutes
WASHINGTON - Federal Reserve officials believe it would be premature to hike interest rates in June though most feel U.S. economy is set to rebound from dismal start to year, according to minutes from their April policy meeting. (USA-FED/MINUTES (UPDATE 2), moved, by Michael Flaherty and Howard Schneider, 596 words)
Bin Laden fixated on attacking U.S. interests -documents
WASHINGTON - Osama bin Laden was fixated on attacking U.S. targets and pressured al Qaeda groups to heal local rivalries and focus on that cause, according to documents United States says were seized in his hideout in Pakistan. (USA-SECURITY/BINLADEN (UPDATE 3), moved, by Mark Hosenball, 715 words)
Global banks admit guilt in forex probe, fined nearly $6 bln
NEW YORK/LONDON - Four major banks plead guilty to trying to manipulate foreign exchange rates and, with two others, are fined nearly $6 billion in another settlement in global probe of $5 trillion-a-day market. (BANKS-FOREX/SETTLEMENT (WRAPUP 7, PIX), moving shortly, by Karen Freifeld, David Henry and Steve Slater, 1,100 words)
Takata to boost production of replacement air bag inflators
DETROIT - Takata says it plans to boost production of parts needed to replace potentially deadly air bag inflators that could spray vehicle occupants with metal shards. (AUTOS-TAKATA/RECALL (UPDATE 3, PIX), moved, by Ben Klayman, 711 words)
Greece says it will default in June without aid from lenders
ATHENS - Greece will not be able to make payment to International Monetary Fund due June 5 unless foreign lenders provide more aid, senior ruling party lawmaker says, latest warning from Athens that it is on verge of default. (EUROZONE-GREECE/ (WRAPUP 2), moved, by Renee Maltezou and Lefteris Papadimas, 894 words)
Islamic State seizes ancient Palmyra city from Syrian forces
BEIRUT - Islamic State insurgents storm historic Syrian city of Palmyra, fighting off pro-government forces who withdraw after evacuating most of civilian population, state television says. (MIDEAST-CRISIS/SYRIA-NORTHEAST (UPDATE 6), moved, by Sylvia Westall and Tom Perry, 554 words)
SPECIAL REPORT
Defense auditor approved flawed Marine Corps books
WASHINGTON - Review of service's accounts was historic success, until it wasn't. Story behind that reversal casts doubt on Pentagon's ability to produce clean ledgers by a 2017 deadline - and about independence of its federal watchdog. (USA-MARINES/AUDITOR (SPECIAL REPORT, PIX), moved, By Scot J. Paltrow, 2,026 words)
UNITED STATES
Senators bid to block extension of bulk data collection
WASHINGTON - Republican U.S. Sen. Rand Paul interrupts debate on trade bill to give speech opposing any vote on legislation that would extend U.S. spy agencies' collection of Americans' telephone data. (USA-SECURITY/NSA (UPDATE 3, PIX), expect by 0200 GMT/10 PM ET, by Patricia Zengerle and Mark Hosenball, 400 words)
Techies lift aged Midtown South to NYC real estate heights
NEW YORK - Dutch, it is said, bought Manhattan Island in 1626 from its native American inhabitants for about $24 in trade goods. Half millennium later, that sum wouldn't buy one square foot of office space in New York City's trendiest real estate market, area below 34th Street known as Midtown South. (USA-PROPERTY/NEW YORK (ANALYSIS, GRAPHIC, PIX), moved, by Herbert Lash, 781 words)
AMERICAS
U.S.-Cuba talks resume on re-establishing diplomatic relations
WASHINGTON - Fourth round of talks led by U.S. Assistant Secretary Roberta Jacobson and director-general of U.S. division of the Cuban foreign ministry, to focus on details of re-opening embassies in Havana and Washington. No resolution, but progress is expected. (CUBA-USA/, expect by 0500 GMT/1 AM ET, by Lesley Wroughton and Daniel Trotta, 400 words)
Canada arrests 10 suspected of heading to join militants in Mideast
MONTREAL - Canadian police arrest 10 young people suspected of wanting to leave country to join militant groups in the Middle East, officials say. (MIDEAST-CRISIS/CANADA (UPDATE 3), moving shortly, By Allison Lampert, 400 words)
Venezuelan officials accused by U.S. sue opposition leader
CARACAS - Venezuelan officials targeted by United States sanctions sue opposition leader Henrique Capriles for labeling them corrupt in latest knock-on effect of Washington's moves against OPEC member's rulers, minister says. (VENEZUELA-USA/CAPRILES, moved, by Andrew Cawthorne, 406 words)
MIDDLE EAST
Iran's Khamenei rules out interviews with nuclear scientists
ANKARA - Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says Tehran will not accept "unreasonable demands" by world powers over its disputed nuclear program and rules out letting inspectors interview its atomic scientists. (IRAN-NUCLEAR/KHAMENEI (UPDATE 4), moved, by Parisa Hafezi, 580 words)
U.N. announces Yemen talks, Iran to allow ship inspection
UNITED NATIONS/DUBAI - U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon announces talks in Geneva on May 28 between warring Yemeni parties to end more than seven weeks of war, as Iran agrees for international inspections of aid ship sailing to Yemen. (YEMEN-SECURITY/ (UPDATE 3, PIX, TV), moved, by Louis Charbonneau and Sam Wilkin, 758 words)
SCIENCE
Human ancestors made stone tools earlier than previously known
WASHINGTON - Our ancient ancestors made stone tools, milestone achievement along path of human progress, much earlier than previously thought and far before appearance of first known member of our genus Homo. (SCIENCE-TOOLS/ (PIX), moved, by Will Dunham, 400 words)
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Talk show host David Letterman bids farewell on 'Late Show'
NEW YORK - Comedian David Letterman will sign off for last time on CBS's "Late Show," concluding 33-year career on late-night television with show that promises to be full of surprises, run across stage and his final Top Ten List. (TELEVISION-DAVIDLETTERMAN/ (UPDATE 1, TV, PIX), expect by 0345 GMT/11.45 p.m. ET, by Patricia Reaney, 400 words)
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