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TOP STORIES

U.S. trade data points to Q1 economic contraction

WASHINGTON - Surge in imports lifts U.S. trade deficit to its highest level in nearly 6-1/2 years, suggesting economy contracts. (USA-ECONOMY/ (WRAPUP 2, PIX), moved, by Lucia Mutikani, 717 words)

Greece blows hot and cold in race to avert cash crunch

ATHENS/BRUSSELS - Greece blows hot and cold with its euro zone partners as it struggles to avert potentially catastrophic funding crunch this month, when it must make big debt repayment to IMF as cash reserves dry up. (EUROZONE-GREECE/ (WRAPUP 4, PIX, TV), moved, by Lefteris Papadimas and Jan Strupczewski, 856 words)

U.S. probing Islamic State claims it was behind Texas cartoon attack

WASHINGTON - U.S. investigators look into claims by Islamic State that it is behind failed attack on Texas exhibit of cartoons of Prophet Mohammad in which two gunmen were killed, but officials say they doubt militant group's direct involvement. (USA-SHOOTING/TEXAS (UPDATE 3, PIX, TV), moved, by Mark Hosenball and Ian Simpson, 600 words)

+ See also:

- USA-ISLAM/NEW YORK (UPDATE 1), moved, by Ellen Wulfhorst, 399 words

Last chance for Cameron and Miliband to break UK election deadlock

LONDON - Campaigning in Britain's most unpredictable election in generation enters its final day Wednesday with two main parties level in most polls and neither on track to command majority in parliament of the world's fifth largest economy. (BRITAIN-ELECTION/ (PIX), expect by 2330 GMT/7.30 PM ET, by Andrew Osborn, 590 words)

UNITED STATES

Republican Mike Huckabee launches 2016 US presidential bid with fiery speech

HOPE - Republican Mike Huckabee announces run for his party's 2016 presidential nomination with fiery, populist speech aimed at energizing support from Christian right and blue-collar Americans struggling to make ends meet. (USA-ELECTION/HUCKABEE (UPDATE 3, PIX, TV), moving shortly, by Steve Barnes, 500 words)

EXCLUSIVE-U.S. boosts bird flu emergency funds as Hormel cuts jobs

CHICAGO - U.S. government approves use of additional $330 million in emergency funds to help contain worst avian influenza outbreak in U.S. history, as infected bird cases soar and hundreds of Minnesota poultry workers learn they will lose their jobs. (HEALTH-BIRDFLU/FUNDS (EXCLUSIVE, UPDATE 2), moving shortly, by P.J. Huffstutter and Tom Polansek, 400 words)

Citadel's Griffin ranks as 2014's best paid U.S. hedge fund manager

BOSTON - Three best-paid U.S. hedge fund managers in 2014 each take home more than $1 billion, eye-popping compensation that only looks lean when compared to previous years, according to industry survey. (HEDGEFUNDS-EARNINGS/ (UPDATE 1), moved, by Svea Herbst-Bayliss, 323 words)

In Baltimore, U.S. attorney general pledges to help police reform

BALTIMORE - New U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch meets with Baltimore officials and family of 25-year-old black man who died of injuries suffered in police custody and vows to help city pursue police reform. (USA-POLICE/BALTIMORE (UPDATE 2, PIX, TV), moved, 362 words)

SEC lawsuit alleges Ponzi scheme over North Dakota 'man camps'

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission sues three defendants it accuses of running fraud and Ponzi scheme in which they raise more than $62 million from investors eager to benefit from growth in North Dakota oil industry. (SEC-NORTHDAKOTADEVELOPMENTS/MANCAMPS, moved, by Jonathan Stempel, 301 words)

AMERICAS

Cubans plan mass symbolic gay, transgender wedding

HAVANA - Cuban gay-rights activists led by daughter of President Raul Castro plan mass symbolic wedding Saturday to promote acceptance of gay and transgender Cubans in country once notoriously hostile toward them. (CUBA-GAY/ (PIX, TV), moved, by Daniel Trotta, 392 words)

ASIA

Bad weather disrupts links with avalanche-hit Nepal village

KATMANDU - Bad weather cuts links with remote village in Nepal where dozens of villagers and trekkers are believed to be buried under avalanche set off by devastating earthquake, officials say. (QUAKE-NEPAL/ (WRAPUP 2, PIX, TV, GRAPHICS), moved, by Gopal Sharma, 583 words)

India to sign port deal with Iran, ignoring US warning against haste

NEW DELHI - India will push ahead this week with plans to build port in southeast Iran, two sources say, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi keen to develop trade ties with Central Asia and prepared to fend off U.S. pressure not to rush into any deals with Iran. (INDIA-IRAN/PORT (UPDATE 1), moved, by Nidhi Verma and Manoj Kumar, 644 words)

Lead poisoning lawsuit tests China's resolve over pollution

SHANGHAI - Lawsuit filed by residents of Chinese town against chemical plant that they say is responsible for high levels of lead in the blood of local children shapes up as test of government's resolve to tackle pollution. (CHINA-ENVIRONMENT/ (PIX), moved, by Alexandra Harney, 671 words)

SPORT

Pacquiao sued in U.S. for allegedly concealing injury

Boxer Manny Pacquiao is sued in U.S. court by two people who say they paid to watch him fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. in "Fight of "Century" but feel defrauded by Pacquiao's alleged failure to disclose pre-bout shoulder injury. (BOXING-WORLD/LAWSUIT (UPDATE 1), expect by 2215 GMT/6.15 PM ET, by David Ingram, 250 words)