U.S. Top News Early Edition: BP shares rally on hopes for final leak plug

If you are having trouble viewing this email or would like to view it in your web browser, CLICK HERE

Good Morning Aron, THU 05 Aug 2010    BP shares rally on hopes for final leak plug Judge overturns California gay marriage ban Surprise rise in jobless claims casts pall on economy Petraeus clarifies rules on Afghan air strikes Google Android gains pace, social Web a focus: CEO Afghanistan says 39 civilians died in disputed NATO attack Mexico drug cartels use gory videos to spread fear Tired of war, thousands of Iraqis want to go to U.S. Naomi Campbell tells war crimes court was given diamonds Republican senator sets conditions for backing START Tourists survive 150m cliff plunge China school rampage leaves 3 dead Calif gay marriage ban overturned BP shares rally on hopes for final leak plug August 05, 2010 08:57 AM ET LONDON/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Shares in BP hit two-month highs on Thursday on hopes the group would soon permanently seal its Gulf of Mexico oil well and after President Obama said the battle to contain the leak was nearly over. Full Article Judge overturns California gay marriage ban August 05, 2010 03:21 AM ET SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A federal judge on Wednesday struck down a California ban on same-sex marriages as unconstitutional, handing a key victory to gay rights advocates in a politically charged decision almost certain to reach the U.S. Supreme Court. Full Article Surprise rise in jobless claims casts pall on economy August 05, 2010 08:56 AM ET WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New claims for unemployment benefits unexpectedly rose last week, government data showed on Thursday, underscoring a weak labor market and the fragile economic recovery. Full Article Petraeus clarifies rules on Afghan air strikes August 05, 2010 09:09 AM ET WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The new commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan issued a directive on Wednesday that could facilitate use of air strikes but also called on troops to do everything possible to avoid putting civilians at risk. Full Article Google Android gains pace, social Web a focus: CEO August 05, 2010 12:21 AM ET LAKE TAHOE, California (Reuters) - About 200,000 smartphones and other devices based on Google's Android operating system are sold every day, CEO Eric Schmidt said on Wednesday, underscoring the strong challenge to rivals like Apple's iPhone. Full Article Afghanistan says 39 civilians died in disputed NATO attack August 05, 2010 05:47 AM ET KABUL (Reuters) - Afghanistan's government says a new investigation shows 39 civilians, all women or children, were killed in a NATO rocket attack last month, fewer than first reported but dozens more than foreign forces have conceded. Full Article Mexico drug cartels use gory videos to spread fear August 04, 2010 02:41 PM ET MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Powerful drug cartels are increasingly using gruesome videos of executions and interrogations to intimidate their rivals, police and an already terrified public in Mexico's vicious drug war. Full Article Tired of war, thousands of Iraqis want to go to U.S. August 05, 2010 08:46 AM ET BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Ahmed is desperate to get out of Baghdad, after Islamists threatened to kill him or his children because he worked for Western media after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. Full Article Naomi Campbell tells war crimes court was given diamonds August 05, 2010 07:46 AM ET THE HAGUE (Reuters) - British supermodel Naomi Campbell, testifying at the war crimes trial of former Liberian President Charles Taylor, said on Thursday she had been given a pouch containing small, rough diamonds while in South Africa but did not know who they were from. Full Article Republican senator sets conditions for backing START August 04, 2010 07:50 PM ET WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama must show greater commitment to modernizing the U.S. nuclear arsenal to gain Republican support for an arms control treaty with Russia, the Senate's No. 2 Republican said on Wednesday. Full Article

REUTERS www.reuters.com Ensure delivery of Reuters Newsmails, add mail@nl.reuters.com to your address book.Details Subscribe to other Reuters newsletters Unsubscribe from this newsletter. Send this mailing to a friend or colleague Reuters.com: Help and Contact Us | Advertise With Us | Mobile | Newsletters | RSS | Interactive TV | Labs | Reuters in Second Life | Archive | Site Index | Video Index Thomson Reuters Corporate: Copyright | Disclaimer | Privacy | Professional Products | Professional Products Support | About Thomson Reuters | Careers