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AFP 0100 GMT News Advisory

Duty Editor: James Hossack Tel: +852 2829 6211 -- TOP STORIES -- + Obama launches counter-attack against Republicans + UN condemns Syria's Assad for 'escalation' of war + Myanmar, Bangladesh brace for approaching cyclone + Google takes on streaming-music rivals on Android US-politics-Obama,WRAP WASHINGTON

White House releases Benghazi emails

The White House released 100 pages of emails Wednesday designed to defuse Republican claims of a cover-up over the attack on the US mission in Benghazi last year that killed four Americans. The documents show the development of the Obama administration's narrative in the frantic and confusing days after the attack on September 11 last year that killed US ambassador Chris Stevens.

Obama fires head of US tax agency over scandal

An angry President Barack Obama sacked the acting head of the US Internal Revenue Service on Wednesday over a fast moving scandal sparked when officials unfairly targeted conservative groups. Obama said Treasury Secretary Jack Lew had asked for and received the resignation of tax agency chief Steven Miller and promised a new system of checks and safeguards to make sure the episode was not repeated. "Given the controversy surrounding this audit, it's important to institute new leadership that can help restore confidence going forward," Obama said.

New Jersey trooper's killer is first woman on FBI most wanted terror list

By David Jones NEWARK, New Jersey (Reuters) - A convicted killer and former Black Liberation Army member who fled to Cuba became the first woman to be put on the FBI's most wanted terrorists list on Thursday, and the reward for her capture was doubled to $2 million. Joanne Chesimard, 65, still lives in Cuba following her escape from a New Jersey prison in 1979, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation said on the 40th anniversary of the crime.

Texas House approves bill that would allow guns on college campuses

By Corrie MacLaggan AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - The Texas House of Representatives on Monday gave final approval to a proposal to allow concealed handgun license holders to carry guns into buildings on college campuses. The proposal, which was approved on a vote of 102-41, would allow public colleges and universities to opt out of allowing guns in buildings after consulting with students, faculty and staff. Private colleges and universities could opt in.

Coast Guard shuts section of upper Mississippi river

(Reuters) - The Coast Guard has closed a couple of miles of the upper Mississippi river near the confluence with the Missouri river after barges broke loose. A filing with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency said loose barges floating adrift in the upper Mississippi river collided with Kirby Inland Marine barges, which were docked at the Marathon Oil Dock. Coast Guard spokesman Colin Fogarty said the incident occurred around midnight and initial reports suggested there was a discharge of around 300 gallons of crude oil.

Coast Guard shuts section of upper Mississippi river

(Reuters) - The U.S. Coast Guard has closed a couple of miles of the upper Mississippi river near the confluence with the Missouri river after barges broke loose. A filing with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency said loose barges floating adrift in the upper Mississippi river collided with Kirby Inland Marine barges, which were docked at the Marathon Oil Dock. Coast Guard spokesman Colin Fogarty said the incident occurred around midnight and initial reports suggested there was a discharge of around 300 gallons of crude oil.

Judge scolds Donald Trump, attorney during heated testimony at Chicago trial

CHICAGO - A federal judge scolded Donald Trump and an attorney questioning the developer-turned-TV personality to stop their verbal sparring during his testimony at a civil trial on Wednesday. Trump is accused of making false promises to an investor in his Trump International Hotel The warning came during Trump's his second day of testimony. Trump and the plaintiff's attorney, Shelly Kulwin, repeatedly talked over each other. A visibly agitated Trump scowled, and Kulwin rolled his eyes at Trump's answers.

US says phone record seizure aimed to save lives

The beleaguered US government claims it was only trying to protect American lives when it took the drastic step of seizing journalists' phone records in a probe of what it calls a major security breach. President Barack Obama's administration, embattled on several fronts, now faces a barrage of criticism that the step undermined freedom of the press. Attorney General Eric Holder hit back on Tuesday, defending the action in which the Justice Department secretly took two months of telephone logs from news operations of the Associated Press.

AFP 0100 GMT News Advisory

Duty Editor: Mike Patterson Tel: +852 2829 6211 -- TOP STORIES -- + Russia orders expulsion of 'CIA agent' + Nigerian president declares emergency + US defends seizing reporters' records Russia-US-politics-spy,WRAP-update MOSCOW Russia orders the expulsion of an alleged American CIA agent working undercover at the US embassy who was discovered with a large stash of money trying to recruit a Russian agent. 800 words moved by Dmitry Zaks and Maria Antonova. Picture. Video
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