AFP 1900 GMT news advisory

News Editor: Susan Stumme

Tel: +1 202 414 0541

-- TOP STORIES --

+ Qaeda source confirms Islamist leader dead in Mali

+ Dozens of Syria soldiers killed in Iraq

+ Vote counting under way in Kenya

+ Netanyahu says Iran 'closer' to nuclear red line

Mali-conflict,2ndlead-WRAP

PARIS

An Al-Qaeda source confirms the death of one of the leaders of the organisation's north African wing, in the most significant success yet for the French-led operation against Islamist fighters in Mali.

700 words 2130 GMT by Angus MacKinnon. Picture. Video. Graphic

Syria-conflict-Iraq-soldiers,4thlead

FALLUJAH, Iraq

Armed men kill 48 Syrians and nine Iraqis as they ambush a convoy carrying Syrian soldiers to the border, the prime minister's spokesman says, vowing to resist attempts to spread Syria's conflict to its neighbour.

550 words moved by Azhar Shallal.

Kenya-vote,4thlead-WRAP

NAIROBI

Partial results are trickling in from crucial polls in Kenya, where the turnout topped 70 percent, the conduct of this key ballot tarnished only by a deadly police ambush at the coast and isolated blasts in the northeast.

800 words 2000 GMT by Peter Martell. Graphic. Picture. Video.

Also moved: Kenya-vote,SCENE

Iran-nuclear-politics-Israel-US,3rdlead

WASHINGTON

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says diplomacy has so far failed to deter Iran from pursuing its nuclear program, warning the Islamic republic was getting closer to crossing a crucial "red line."

750 words 2100 GMT by Michael Mathes. Picture. Video

-- AMERICAS --

US-politics-Obama

WASHINGTON

US President Barack Obama tries to ensure his ambitious second-term agenda is not consumed in the poisoned political aftermath of $85 billion budget cuts that threaten to prune economic growth.

700 words 2200 GMT by Stephen Collinson. Picture

US-world-people-wealth-Forbes,2ndlead

NEW YORK

Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim, Bill Gates and Zara fashion house boss Amancio Ortega top the Forbes billionaires list, but missing Mexican druglord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman is dropped and Saudi Prince Alwaleed complains over his ranking.

650 words 2130 GMT. File picture

-- MIDDLE EAST --

US-diplomacy-Palestinian-Israel-Syria-Iran,2ndlead-WRAP

ABU DHABI

US Secretary of State John Kerry says in Riyadh that Washington will work to "empower" Syria's opposition, while warning arch-foe Iran that time for talks on Tehran's nuclear ambitions could run out.

650 words 1930 GMT by Nicolas Revise. Picture. Video

Egypt-politics-protest-PortSaid,7thlead

PORT SAID, Egypt

The main security building in Egypt's Port Said is set ablaze as fighting which cost six lives erupts anew between police and protesters in the restive Suez Canal city, an AFP correspondent said.

650 words moved. Picture

Syria-conflict,2ndlead-WRAP

DAMASCUS

Syrian rebels overrun the northern city of Raqa, scoring their biggest victory since the outbreak of a revolt against President Bashar al-Assad almost two years ago.

750 words 2000 GMT. Graphic. Picture

-- EUROPE --

Britain-royals-Queen-health,lead

LONDON

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II smiles after leaving a London hospital following a 24-hour stay, having been assessed for gastroenteritis symptoms.

550 words moved by Robin Millard. Picture. Video

Lifestyle-France-fashion

PARIS

All eyes are on designer Hedi Slimane's keenly anticipated second women's collection for Saint Laurent after a debut that ruffled feathers, divided the fashion world and apparently exposed a debate about who was first to show the skinny suit.

550 words 2200 GMT by Helen Rowe

 

Health-AIDS-research,FOCUS

PARIS

AIDS experts caution against hype of a cure after doctors in the United States suppress HIV in a child born with the virus by administering a potent drug cocktail shortly after birth.

600 words moved by Mariette le Roux 

 

Vatican-religion-pope,3rdlead

VATICAN CITY

Catholic cardinals press for more information about the "Vatileaks" scandal at the start of a series of Vatican meetings to prepare for a conclave to elect a new pope after Benedict XVI's sudden resignation.

700 words moved by Ella Ide. Graphic. Picture. Video

-- ASIA --

Pakistan-unrest-Karachi,3rdlead-WRAP

KARACHI

Thousands of Pakistanis attend funerals for victims of a bombing that killed 48 people in a Shiite Muslim area of Karachi, the latest in a series of devastating attacks ahead of elections.

650 words moved by Hasan Mansoor. Picture

Bangladesh-warcrimes-unrest,2ndlead

DHAKA

A petrol bomb explodes outside the hotel where India's president is staying in Bangladesh as four more protesters die in a wave of violence sparked by the prosecution of local Islamist leaders.

600 words moved by Shafiq Alam. Picture. Video

afp

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