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TOP STORIES

China cuts interest rates as economy sputters

BEIJING - China's central bank cuts its benchmark lending rate by 25 basis points to 5.1 percent, its third reduction since November, as economic growth cools to levels not seen since the global financial crisis. (CHINA-ECONOMY/RATES (UPDATE 3), by Michael Martina, expect by 1100, 500 words)

Houthis accept 5-day truce in Yemen proposed by Saudi Arabia

CAIRO/ADEN - Iranian-allied Houthi fighters in Yemen accept a five-day humanitarian ceasefire proposed by their adversary Saudi Arabia but say they will respond to any violations. (YEMEN-SECURITY/ (WRAPUP 2, PIX, TV), by Mohammed Ghobari and Mohammed Mukhashaf, expect by 1300, 600 words)

Super typhoon nears Philippines, residents evacuate area

MANILA - A powerful storm strengthened to a "super typhoon" hours before it was set to slap the northeastern tip of the Philippines, prompting officials to warn of landslides and call on residents along the coast to evacuate to safer ground.(PHILIPPINES-TYPHOON/ (UPDATE 2), moving shortly, by Manuel Mogato, 350 words)

SPECIAL REPORT-Russian soldiers quit over Ukraine

MOSCOW/DONETSK - Moscow says it has not sent troops to Ukraine. But some soldiers say they have quit rather than be sent there. (UKRAINE-CRISIS/SOLDIERS (SPECIAL REPORT, PICTURES, GRAPHIC), moved, by Maria Tsevtkova, 1,800 words)

EUROPE

Britain's Cameron won big by selling stability over fear

LONDON - Prime Minister David Cameron sealed a surprise election win by persuading Britons to choose the security of modestly rising living standards over an implausible pretender many feared could become the puppet of Scottish nationalists. (BRITAIN-ELECTION/CAMERON (UPDATE 1, PIX), moved, by Andrew Osborn, 1,000 words)

+ See also:

- BRITAIN-ELECTION/SCOTLAND (PIX), moved, by Alistair Smout and Paul Sandle, 658 words

- BRITAIN-ELECTION/PROTEST (PIX, TV), moved, 165 words

'Winner takes all' vote system exaggerates Britain's divisions

LONDON - David Cameron can thank Britain's winner-takes-all voting system for handing him an outright majority in parliament on just 37 percent of the vote. But by boosting the power of Scottish nationalists, it has also intensified one of his biggest headaches. (BRITAIN-ELECTION/REFORM (GRAPHIC), moved, by Mark Trevelyan, 700 words)

Raul Castro meets pope ahead of pontiff's Cuba trip

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis, who helped broker a historic thaw between the United States and Cuba, meets Cuban President Raul Castro ahead of the pontiff's trip to both countries in September. (POPE-CUBA/CASTRO (UPDATE 2, PICTURES, TV), expect by 1200, by Philip Pullella, 400 words)

Polish president front-runner in election

WARSAW - Poland voted in the first round of a presidential election that opinion polls show will send front-runner and incumbent Bronislaw Komorowski into a runoff against a conservative opposition challenger. (POLAND-ELECTION/PRESIDENT), moved, by Marcin Goclowski and Pawel Florkiewicz, 400 words)

Several dead in shooting in Switzerland

ZURICH - Several people were killed in a shooting in a residential area of a town in the Swiss canton of Aargau, police said. (SWISS-SHOOTING/ (UPDATE 4, PICTURES, TV), expect by 1200, by Alice Baghdjian, 400 words)

UNITED STATES

Transformer fire causes shut-down of nuclear plant unit north of New York City

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON - A nuclear power reactor 40 miles to the north of New York City is shut down after a transformer fire, but officials say the plant is stable and see no threat to area residents. (USA-NUCLEARPLANT/INCIDENT (UPDATE 5), moved, By Scott DiSavino and Lisa Lambert, 800 words)

Tropical Storm Ana brings rough surf, rain to the Carolinas

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Emergency officials warn of dangerous rip currents and surf shops enjoy brisk sales as Tropical Storm Ana continues its slow trek toward the Carolinas, getting the Atlantic hurricane season off to an earlier-than-usual start. (WEATHER-STORM/ANA (UPDATE 1), moved, by Harriet McLeod, 399 words)

AFRICA

East African leaders seek to break political deadlock in Burundi

DAR ES SALAAM - East African leaders will hold a summit in Tanzania on May 13 aimed at breaking the political deadlock in Burundi and ensuring the country holds peaceful elections, Tanzania's presidency says. (BURUNDI-POLITICS/), moving shortly, by Fumbuka Ng'wanakilala and Patrick Nduwimana, 400 words)