WORLD-NEWS-SCHEDULE AT 2300 GMT/6 PM ET

Editor: Eric Beech + 1 202 789 8015 Global Picture Desk: + 65 6870 3775 Global Graphics Desk: + 65 6870 3595 (All times GMT/ET) TOP STORIES U.S. to tackle trade secret theft from China, others WASHINGTON - White House says it will step up diplomatic pressure and study whether tougher laws are needed to stop wave of trade secret theft from China and other countries in strategy that offers few new ideas for dealing with threat. (USA-TRADE/SECRETS (UPDATE 2), moved, by Doug Palmer, 414 words) Spy agencies scrounge for details on North Korean nuclear test WASHINGTON/SEOUL - U.S. and allied spy agencies find no traces of telltale nuclear-related particles from North Korea's Feb. 12 nuclear bomb test, leaving unresolved basic questions about device's design, according to officials in United States, Europe and South Korea. (KOREA-NORTH/NUCLEAR-USA, moved, by Mark Hosenball and Jack Kim, 758 words) Americans seek illegal immigrants' deportation in poll WASHINGTON - Surprisingly high number of Americans in Reuters/Ipsos poll seek deportation for illegal immigrants, as Republican Sen. John McCain gets grief at meeting from Arizona constituents angry at lack of security on border with Mexico (USA-IMMIGRATION/, moving shortly, by Rachelle Younglai, 700 words) Witness heard 'non-stop shouting' before Pistorius shooting PRETORIA - Witness hears "non-stop shouting" in home of South African athletics star Oscar Pistorius shortly before his girlfriend is shot dead, detective leading murder investigation says. (SAFRICA-PISTORIUS/ (UPDATE 6, PIX, TV), moved, by David Dolan and Peroshni Govender, 919 words) Rome will burn, regardless of Italian election result ROME - Regardless of who wins next weekend's parliamentary election, Italy's long economic decline is likely to continue because next government won't be strong enough to pursue tough reforms needed to make its economy competitive again. (ITALY-ELECTION/ (INSIGHT, PIX, GRAPHIC), moved, by Michael Stott, 1,997 words) French special forces in Cameroon helping hostage probe YAOUNDE - French special forces arrive in northern Cameroon to help locate French family who were kidnapped and moved to Nigeria, local governor says. (CAMEROON-KIDNAPPING/FRANCE (UPDATE 2, TV, PIX), moved, by Tansa Musa, 710 words) UNITED STATES Panetta notifies Congress of Pentagon plan to furlough civilians WASHINGTON - U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta formally notifies Congress that Pentagon plans to put civilian defense employees on unpaid leave this year if $46 billion in across-board budget cuts take effect March 1. (USA-FISCAL/DEFENSE (UPDATE 2), moved, by David Alexander, 731 words) Ex-congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. pleads guilty to fund misuse WASHINGTON - One-time Democratic Party rising star Jesse Jackson Jr., weeping and repentant as his famous father looks on, pleads guilty to misusing about $750,000 in campaign funds on luxuries such as fur capes and Rolex watch. (USA-CRIME/JACKSON (UPDATE 4, PIX), moved, by David Ingram, 707 words) U.S. top court bars defendant's retrial after judge errs WASHINGTON - U.S. Supreme Court says Michigan cannot retry defendant whose arson conviction had been thrown out by trial judge who mistakenly required state prosecutors to prove more than they needed. (USA-COURT/DOUBLEJEOPARDY (UPDATE 3), moved, by Jonathan Stempel, 826 words) Obama settles on EPA, Energy Department nominees -source WASHINGTON - President Obama intends to nominate air quality expert Gina McCarthy to lead U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and nuclear physicist Ernest Moniz to head Department of Energy as early as this week, according to source familiar with process. (OBAMA-CABINET/EPA-ENERGY (UPDATE 2), moved, by Jeff Mason and Roberta Rampton, 727 words) Obama urged to take bolder steps on Cuba policy MIAMI - Soon after taking office in 2009 Obama administration announced major shift in policy toward Cuba, loosening restrictions on travel and remittances to communist island. Four years on, in response to reform process under way in Cuba, White House comes under barrage of recommendations for further engagement with Havana to encourage greater economic and political freedoms. (USA-CUBA/POLICY, expect by 0000 GMT/7 PM ET, by David Adams, 740 words) AMERICAS Ecuador's Correa vows to make socialist revolution 'irreversible' QUITO - Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa says his party likely wins three-quarters of seats in Congress in election and vows to "steamroll" through reforms that will make his socialist model irreversible. (ECUADOR-ELECTION/ (PIX, TV), moved, by Eduardo Garcia 690 words) Bolivia's Morales says was unable to see Chavez in Venezuela UNITED NATIONS - Bolivian President Evo Morales says he was unable to see his friend, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, when he stopped in Caracas on his way to United Nations in New York because the socialist leader was still being treated for cancer. (VENEZUELA-BOLIVIA/, moved, by Michelle Nichols, 427 words) ASIA British PM regrets 'deeply shameful' colonial Indian massacre AMRITSAR, India - David Cameron becomes first serving British prime minister to voice regret about one of bloodier episodes in colonial India, massacre of unarmed civilians in Amritsar in 1919. (BRITAIN-INDIA/AMRITSAR (UPDATE 2, PIX, TV), moved, by Andrew Osborn, 803 words) + See also: - INDIA-STRIKE/(UPDATE 1, PIX, TV), moved, by Annie Banerji, 611 words Boeing close to fixing Dreamliner battery -source NEW DELHI - Boeing finds way to fix battery problems on its grounded 787 Dreamliner jets that involves increasing space between lithium ion battery cells, source familiar with U.S. company's plans tells Reuters. (BOEING-DREAMLINER/BATTERY (UPDATE 4), moved, by Anurag Kotoky, 593 words) AFRICA French general urges EU to equip 'impoverished' Mali army BAMAKO, Mali - European Union should complement mission to train Mali's army, routed by rebels last year, by providing equipment from uniforms to vehicles and communications technology, French general says. (MALI-REBELS\EU (TV), moved, by Pascal Fletcher, 692 words) MIDDLE EAST Tunisia seeks new premier to escape political crisis TUNIS - Tunisian leaders begin search for new prime minister to try to lead North African nation out of its gravest political crisis since uprising that inspired wave of Arab revolts two years ago. (TUNISIA-POLITICS/ (UPDATE 2, PIX), moved, by Tarek Amara, 787 words) + See also: - TUNISIA-ECONOMY/POLITICS, moved, by Tarek Amara, 1,005 words Missile blast wounds Syrian rebel commander - activists AMMAN - Missile strikes command centre of main Syrian rebel force near Damascus, wounding its leader, activists say, and soccer player is killed when mortar shell hits stadium in centre of capital. (SYRIA-CRISIS/REBEL (UPDATE 3), moved, 300 words) Tehran's Azadi Tower, witness to history, victim of neglect DUBAI - Tehran's Azadi Tower stood through Iran's explosive revolution in 1979 and eight-year-long war with Iraq in 1980s. But monument falls victim to neglect and shoddy repairs, and suffers from extensive internal water damage. (IRAN-AZADI/ (PIX), moved, by Yeganeh Torbati, 984 words) + See also: - IRAN-AZADI/ (FACTBOX), moved, 300 words EUROPE Pope may change conclave rules before leaving - Vatican VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict may change rules governing conclave that will secretly elect his successor, move that could move up global meeting of cardinals who are already in touch about who could best lead Catholics through period of crisis. (POPE-RESIGNATION/CONCLAVE (UPDATE 2), moved, by Philip Pullella, 979 words) 'Keep your so-called workers,' U.S. boss tells France PARIS - CEO of U.S. tyre maker delivers crushing summary of how some outsiders view France's work ethic in letter saying he would have to be stupid to take over factory whose staff only put in three hours work per day. (FRANCE-WORKERS/ (UPDATE 3), moved, by Emmanuel Jarry and Catherine Bremer, 941 words) SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY Mini planet found far beyond Earth's solar system CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Astronomers find mini planet beyond our solar system that is smallest of more than 800 extra-solar planets discovered, scientists say. (SPACE-PLANETS/ (PIX), moved, by Irene Klotz, 489 words)