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Four U.S. soldiers killed in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- Roadside-bomb and insurgent attacks killed four U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan, the military said Monday.

The deaths were reported Sunday and Monday, the Web site of NATO's International Security Assistance Force said.

Three U.S. soldiers died Sunday in southern Afghanistan, two of them in a roadside bomb attack and the third "was killed by insurgents' small arms fire in a separate incident," the ISAF said.

A fourth U.S. service member was killed Monday in a roadside bomb attack in eastern Afghanistan.

Three Afghan soldiers also died in a separate roadside bomb attack Sunday in Helmand province.

No other details were available.

The past three months have been the deadliest for U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

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Gunmen take, kill hostages in Philippines

MANILA, Philippines, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- Gunmen took dozens of hostages Monday in the Philippine province of Maguindanao province, killing many them, officials said.

Accounts of the number of people seized and killed varied. CNN reported 30 people were taken hostage and at least 21 killed. The Philippines New Agency reported about 50 people were taken hostage and 29 killed.

Jesus Dureza, presidential adviser on Mindanao affairs, asked the government to put Maguindanao province under state of emergency, PNA said.

"This is a gruesome massacre of civilians unequaled in recent history. Even women and media men were not spared. There must be a total stop to this senseless violence," Dureza said.

The Philippine armed forces said 29 people associated with Buluan, Maguindanao, Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu -- a candidate in the province's gubernatorial race in 2010 -- were abducted, then beheaded or shot dead by gunmen allegedly led by followers of incumbent Andal Ampatuan.

Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr., a military spokesman, said the victims were traveling to the provincial election office so Mangudadatu's wife, Genalyn, could file her husband's candidacy papers. The couple's lawyers and local journalists were in the convoy.

Mangudadatu also blamed the abductions and killings on Ampatuan, the person he is challenging for the governorship of Maguindanao, CNN reported. Ampatuan, has controlled the autonomous Muslim region for the last decade.

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Flood-ravaged parts of Britain reopening

COCKERMOUTH, England, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- Floodwaters in northwestern England's devastated Cumbria receded enough to allow residents back into the area Monday, officials said.

Police said they have reopened 900 properties in the town of Cockermouth as local officials estimated damages from the flooding to reach into the tens of millions of dollars, the BBC reported.

The broadcaster said British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has pledged $1.7 million to help the region, which has seen 16 bridges washed out and at least 25 roads closed, raising fears residents might be cut off from needed healthcare by the floods, which began with record rainfall Friday.

"We have been reaching people over the weekend," Cumbria County Council chief executive Jill Stannard told the BBC. "People get very frightened -- totally understandably because this is very traumatic. It is important that people listen to advice through the media and don't listen to rumor and gossip."

Military engineers have been dispatched to Cumbria to inspect 1,800 bridges, and Maj. Phillip Curtis of the 42nd Army Brigade told the broadcaster soldiers were deployed in Cockermouth Sunday night to secure the streets.

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Obama, Big Bird to discuss science, math

WASHINGTON, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- U.S. President Obama's push to improve math and science education for children has some heavy hitters for the younger set: Elmo and Big Bird.

Besides two of the best-known denizens of Sesame Street, joining Obama Monday as he discusses initiatives designed to boost science, technology, engineering and math will be video game programmers and thousands of scientists, The New York Times said.

After Obama's remarks, Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Office of Science and Technology Policy Director John Holdren will conduct a live online chat to discuss the initiatives on www.WhiteHouse.gov/live, the White House said.

Obama's campaign, Educate to Innovate, seeks to enlist companies and non-profit groups to spend money, time and volunteer effort to encourage students to pursue science, technology, engineering and math outside of the classroom, officials said. The campaign is geared primarily to middle- and high-school students.

The White House also recruited Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, and corporate executives such as Craig Barrett, a former Intel chairman, and Ursula Burns, chief executive officer of Xerox.

In April, Obama pledged a "renewed commitment" to the United States "from the middle to the top of the pack in science and math over the next decade," the Times said.

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Swift, MJ win big at American Music Awards

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- Taylor Swift won five awards including Artist of the Year and the late Michael Jackson won four awards Sunday at the American Music Awards in Los Angeles.

Swift -- who was named entertainer of the year and won three other Country Music Association awards Nov. 11 -- added to her collection Sunday with AMA honors for favorite female rock-pop artist, female country artist, adult contemporary artist and country album for "Fearless."

Jackson, who died June 25 at 50, won for favorite male pop-rock artist and male soul-R&B artist. His "Number Ones" won for favorite pop-rock album and soul-R&B album.

The Black Eyed Peas won two AMA honors, for favorite pop-rock and favorite soul-R&B band, duo or group. Jay-Z also won twice -- his "Blueprint 3" was named favorite rap or hip-hop album and he won for favorite male rap or hip-hop artist.

Beyonce won for favorite female soul-R&B artist. Keith Urban was named favorite male country artist and Rascal Flatts won for favorite country band, duo or group.

The "Twilight Soundtrack" won for favorite soundtrack album and Green Day was named favorite alternative rock artist. Aventura won for favorite Latin artist, Mary Mary took the honor for favorite contemporary inspirational artist and Gloriana was named breakthrough artist of 2009.

The awards were presented Sunday at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles in ceremonies televised by ABC.