| Plane With 4 Americans Goes Missing Near Bahamas; Debris Found Posted: 16 May 2017 08:51 AM PDT  The plane was en route from Puerto Rico to Florida when U.S. air traffic control lost all contact with the plane Monday, the US Coast Guard said.
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| Odds slashed on Trump to leave office in 2017 Posted: 17 May 2017 05:31 AM PDT  Odds on Donald Trump leaving office in 2017 have been slashed after claims the President pressured FBI director James Comey to drop his investigation into ex-national security adviser Mike Flynn. It comes after a tumultuous week in which Mr Trump admitted he fired Mr Comey at least partially because of the investigation into his team's links to Russia, and after the President passed apparently classified secrets to senior Russian officials. This has led to heavy criticism by both Democrats and members of his own Republican Party.
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| The Latest: US Supreme Court denies stay of execution Posted: 16 May 2017 10:34 PM PDT  ATLANTA (AP) — The Latest on the scheduled execution of a Georgia death row inmate (all times local):
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| Iraq says battle for Mosul nearly won as forces close in on Old City Posted: 16 May 2017 03:33 AM PDT  By Ahmed Rasheed BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi forces have dislodged Islamic State from all but 12 square km of Mosul, a military spokesman said on Tuesday, after planes dropped leaflets into the city telling civilians the battle was nearly won. Seven months into the U.S.-backed campaign, the militants now control only a few districts in the western half of Mosul including the Old City, where Islamic State is expected to make its last stand. The Iraqi government is pushing to declare victory by the holy month of Ramadan, expected to begin on May 27, even if pockets of resistance remain in the Old City, according to military commanders.
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| Teenager dies in classroom of caffeine overdose after downing latte, energy drink and Mountain Dew Posted: 16 May 2017 01:33 AM PDT  A 16-year-old boy who died in his classroom at a South Carolina school suffered heart failure after drinking too much caffeine, a coroner has ruled. Davis Cripe had drunk a large Mountain Dew, a McDonald's latte and an energy drink two hours before he collapsed. Ingesting such a large amount of caffeine over such a short period of time caused a condition known as cardiac arrhythmia, where the heart stops beating properly.
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| New Orleans begins takedown of 3rd Confederate-era monument Posted: 17 May 2017 12:05 AM PDT  NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Piece by piece, New Orleans' landscape is changing as city workers take down massive works of bronze and stone that once seemed immoveable in a region where some still cling to a Confederate legacy.
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| Russian quarterly growth points to ongoing recovery Posted: 17 May 2017 07:11 AM PDT  Russia's GDP grew 0.5 percent in the first quarter of 2017, the state statistics agency said Wednesday, as the country's economy slowly recovers from a crippling crisis. The growth reported by the Rosstat agency is slightly superior to the government's prediction of 0.4 percent growth over the same period. Russia's GDP last experienced growth in the fourth quarter of 2014, when it expanded by 0.2 percent.
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| Woman Dies in Everglades Boat Crash, One Day After Graduating College Posted: 16 May 2017 11:42 AM PDT  Elizabeth Goldenberg had graduated from the University of Miami the day before she was killed in a boating accident.
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| Who Gets Aaron Hernandez's Money? Posted: 15 May 2017 11:14 PM PDT  The ex-NFL star's fiancée Shayanna Jenkins appeared for an interview with Dr. Phil McGraw where she talked about Hernandez's money.
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| Nationwide Greek worker’s union strike fuels fiery clashes Posted: 17 May 2017 09:28 AM PDT ![Nationwide Greek worker's union strike fuels fiery clashes]( "Nationwide Greek worker's union strike fuels fiery clashes") Workers' unions called the strike to protest new belt-tightening measures that to be imposed beyond the end of Greece's third bailout next year. The left-led coalition government agreed to the reforms as part of a deal with the country's international creditors to release funds from its next bailout installment. Air traffic controllers were holding a four-hour work stoppage in the middle of the day, leading to the rescheduling or cancellation of more than 150 flights.
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| Bermuda triangle: Plane carrying New York family goes missing near Bahamas Posted: 16 May 2017 09:05 AM PDT  A private passenger plane carrying two adults and two children has gone missing in the Bahamas. Authorities lost contact with the aircraft as it was flying from Puerto Rico to Titusville on Florida's east coast on Monday. Efforts to find the four people on board, identified as Jennifer Blumin, Nathan Ulrich and Ms Blumin's four-year-old and 10-year-old sons, are being concentrated close to where the plane last made contact - in the Bermuda Triangle.
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| Trump revealed intelligence secrets to Russians in Oval Office: officials Posted: 16 May 2017 02:50 AM PDT  By Jeff Mason and Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump disclosed highly classified information to Russia's foreign minister about a planned Islamic State operation, two U.S. officials said on Monday, plunging the White House into another controversy just months into Trump's short tenure in office. The intelligence, shared at a meeting last week with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak, was supplied by a U.S. ally in the fight against the militant group, both officials with knowledge of the situation said. The White House declared the allegations, first reported by the Washington Post, incorrect.
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| Syrian rivals weigh UN plan for new constitution Posted: 17 May 2017 07:07 AM PDT  Rival Syrian delegations on Wednesday weighed a UN proposal on developing a new constitution for the war-ravaged country, as a new round of peace talks entered a second day. The sixth round of UN-backed negotiations in Geneva is the latest drive to bring a political solution to the conflict which has claimed more than 320,000 lives since 2011. The talks opened with tensions high over a US charge that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government was using a prison crematorium to hide evidence of thousands of murdered detainees.
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| NC senator says 'I'm fine' after race collapse Posted: 17 May 2017 01:43 PM PDT  WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina said Wednesday he's "fine" after collapsing during a Washington, D.C., race and being taken away by ambulance.
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| At least one killed as tornado tears though dozens of Oklahoma homes-media Posted: 16 May 2017 10:00 PM PDT ![At least one killed as tornado tears though dozens of Oklahoma homes-media]( "At least one killed as tornado tears though dozens of Oklahoma homes-media") (Reuters) - A tornado tore through western Oklahoma on Tuesday evening, destroying or damaging dozens of homes and killing at least one person, media reported. As many as 70 homes in Elk City, a town of about 12,000 people around 110 miles (180 km) west of Oklahoma City, were damaged or destroyed by the storm, CBS affiliate KWTV reported, citing officials. It was unclear how many people were injured, KWTV said.
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| Maxine Waters talks impeachment of Trump Posted: 17 May 2017 11:19 AM PDT  Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., spoke to Yahoo News Chief Investigative Correspondent Michael Isikoff and Yahoo News Deputy Editor Dan Klaidman about the latest revelation that President Trump asked FBI Director James Comey to end the investigation into Michael Flynn. Waters said, "I've been on the road to impeachment ahead of everybody."
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| Family Says Their Dog Willingly Spends His Time on Roof: 'We Know He's Up There' Posted: 16 May 2017 02:28 PM PDT  Passing motorists often pass by to let Huck's owners know he's up there, but he does it all the time.
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| Who is Seth Rich – and was his death really connected to Hillary Clinton? Posted: 16 May 2017 02:30 PM PDT  The death of 27-year-old DNC staffer Seth Rich has been the source of a myriad of conspiracy theories from people who claim he was killed in July because of his connection to Wikileaks — which the police have denied.
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| 5 Facts About The Antikythera Mechanism Posted: 17 May 2017 12:00 AM PDT  The mechanism, discovered by Greek scientists, is now kept at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens.
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| US stocks fall sharply on Trump woes; Dow -1.8% Posted: 17 May 2017 01:23 PM PDT  Wall Street stocks fell sharply Wednesday on deepening worries about President Donald Trump's economic agenda following a series of scandals and stumbles. The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 373 points to 20,606.93 for a drop of 1.8 percent -- its biggest one-day decline since Trump was elected. The broad-based S&P 500 fell 1.8 percent to 2,357.03, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index tumbled 2.6 percent to 6,011.24, retreating from a record.
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| Barack Obama branded 'Donald Trump a bullsh***er after their election night phone call' Posted: 17 May 2017 06:32 AM PDT  Barack Obama reportedly branded Donald Trump a "bullsh***r" after the pair's election night phone call. Mr Obama congratulated President Trump on his win after he won the election in November and it has now emerged the billionaire property tycoon professed his newfound veneration for former President Obama during the phone call. "He's nothing but a bullsh****r," Mr Obama reportedly told two friends early last November while describing the election night call.
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| Colorado inmate freed early, jailed again wins release Posted: 16 May 2017 03:12 PM PDT  CENTENNIAL, Colo. (AP) — A suburban Denver robbery-kidnapping convict was ordered released from prison Tuesday after being mistakenly freed decades early, then re-incarcerated.
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| Cosby says he will not testify at his sexual assault trial Posted: 16 May 2017 12:29 PM PDT  By Joseph Ax NEW YORK (Reuters) - Comedian Bill Cosby does not plan to testify in his defense at his sexual assault trial in June, he said on Tuesday in his first extended public comments in two years. The 79-year-old told Sirius-XM radio host Michael Smerconish that the dozens of women who have come forward to accuse him of sexual misconduct were "piling on" and suggested that racism has played a role in his treatment because he is black. Jury selection is scheduled to begin Monday in a Pennsylvania courtroom ahead of Cosby's June 5 trial on charges that he drugged and sexually assaulted Andrea Constand, a former basketball coach at his alma mater Temple University, in 2004.
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| Here's how to get a free castle in Italy (seriously) Posted: 16 May 2017 09:08 AM PDT  Want a free castle in Italy? Sure, take one, your highness. But, as with everything good, there's a catch. As part of an initiative called the Strategic Tourist Plan, Italy is giving away 103 historic buildings — villas, inns, houses, towers, etc. to entrepreneurs willing to take them. (Yes, that means it could be you.) SEE ALSO: While the United fiasco unfolded, a travel writer made $11,000 off overbooked flights All the recipient must do is pledge to renovate the buildings, which are mainly in more remote areas of the country, in a way that will diversify Italy's tourism industry. This means transforming them into hotels, restaurants, visitor centers, spas, shops — anything that will attract tourist traffic. This will ideally help ease crowding in popular Italian tourist hubs like Venice and Milan, instead drawing crowds to chill, lesser-known spots along cycling paths, hiking trails, or religious walking routes. Does the work seem worth it? You'll need to submit a proposal to the State Property Agency by June 26. So, if you've dreamed for years of turning a beautiful castle into a go-kart track, now's your chance! We always knew you were royalty. :') WATCH: This bike helmet folds flat and can fit inside your backpack
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| Watch 17 years of car safety tech save one driver’s life, and kill another Posted: 16 May 2017 08:58 PM PDT 
Everyone knows that cars have gotten safer over time, or at least we know that the number of safety features which modern cars have has gone from a handful to dozens upon dozens. Despite that, it's sometimes hard to see real concrete evidence of that fact unless you've been in a serious accident yourself — or, even better, an accident in both the 1990s and another one today. Thankfully, this fantastic video showcasing a crash between a 1998 Toyota Corolla and a 2015 Corolla makes the safety advances in car technology abundantly clear, without you needing to risk your own neck.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxDHuthGIS4 The test, which was organized and conducted by ANCAP (Autraliasian New Car Assessment Program), sought to point out just how devastating an accident in an outdated vehicle can be for the occupants. Judging by the utter destruction wrought upon the 1998 Corolla, it's safe to assume the test achieved its goal. The video sprinkles a few car accident statistics along the way, including the fact that more than 50% of deaths that occur on New Zealand roads, happen in vehicles built before the year 2000. The crash test, in which the 1998 Corolla is flattened by the 2015 model, makes it easy to see how that could be the case. In the Toyota crash, the 2015 model performs admirably, with front and side airbags that absorb the brunt of the impact, and crumple zones which strategically collapse to take as much of the force out of the crash as possible. The 1998 model, with no airbags of any kind and a front end that flattens like a sponge, causes a tremendous amount of trauma to the driver, who is likely to have died in the accident.
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| Reaction to Trump's meeting with Turkish President Erdogan Posted: 16 May 2017 11:26 AM PDT  ABC News' Molly Hunter and Amna Nawaz recap the president's meeting with the Turkish president.
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| Guam residents cast wary eye at North Korea after launch Posted: 16 May 2017 01:28 PM PDT  HAGATNA, Guam (AP) — While most of the United States is still out of reach of a missile launched by North Korea, the U.S. territory of Guam, a key military hub in the Pacific, could be within range.
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| Another large-scale cyberattack underway: experts Posted: 17 May 2017 09:49 AM PDT  The new attack targets the same vulnerabilities the WannaCry ransomware worm exploited but, rather than freeze files, uses the hundreds of thousands of computers believed to have been infected to mine virtual currency. Following the detection of the WannaCry attack on Friday, researchers at Proofpoint discovered a new attack linked to WannaCry called Adylkuzz, said Nicolas Godier, a researcher at the computer security firm. Instead of completely disabling an infected computer by encrypting data and seeking a ransom payment, Adylkuzz uses the machines it infects to "mine" in a background task a virtual currency, Monero, and transfer the money created to the authors of the virus.
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| Nat Geo marks Endangered Species Day displaying stunning Photo Ark images Posted: 17 May 2017 01:34 PM PDT ![Nat Geo marks Endangered Species Day displaying stunning Photo Ark images]( "Nat Geo marks Endangered Species Day displaying stunning Photo Ark images") Stunning images from the National Geographic Photo Ark, #SaveTogether campaign, sounding the alarm for the conservation of wildlife and their habitats.
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| Paul Ryan says 'we need the facts' on explosive Comey memo that accuses Trump of trying to shut down investigation Posted: 17 May 2017 07:18 AM PDT  The most powerful Republican on Capitol Hill has called for further investigation into shocking allegations against President Donald Trump, as scandals continue to mount around the White House. "We need the facts," Speaker of the House Paul Ryan declared at a press conference. The Republican majority leader spoke amid reports that Mr Trump had asked his then-FBI director, James Comey to drop an investigation into former National Security Adviser Mike Flynn.
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| Hundreds of asylum seekers in Sweden evacuated after suspected arson attacks Posted: 17 May 2017 06:58 AM PDT ![Hundreds of asylum seekers in Sweden evacuated after suspected arson attacks]( "Hundreds of asylum seekers in Sweden evacuated after suspected arson attacks") More than 300 asylum seekers in Sweden were evacuated from their housing in southern Sweden in the early hours of Wednesday, after suspected arson attacks, police said. City of Vaxjo police said 200 asylum seekers were evacuated after fire destroyed a municipal building next to their accommodation. In the towns of Malilla and Borrby, police said suspected arson forced more than 100 asylum seekers to abandon their living quarters, six of them suffered minor injuries.
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| Apple's New Campus Has Cutting-Edge Features That Will Amaze You Posted: 17 May 2017 09:08 AM PDT  Steve Jobs's final vision has been realized, and it's in the form of a bold 175-acre, Foster + Partners–designed campus
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| Most Notorious Serial Killers In The World Posted: 16 May 2017 03:57 AM PDT  As Ian Brady, the most notorious Britain's serial killer dies in prison at 79, we take a look at some of the other serial killers in the world's history.
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| New Miss USA Clarifies Controversial Position on Health Care, Feminism Following Uproar Posted: 16 May 2017 09:33 AM PDT  She also got support from a former Miss USA contestant who has also met her share of controversy.
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| Why the Future Air Force One Will Be a Boeing 747-8 Posted: 17 May 2017 11:33 AM PDT  Popular Mechanics sat down to talk with Air Mobility Command about the new jets that will become the primary presidential aircraft of the future.
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| Starbucks is giving out free coffee because an update wrecked its computer system Posted: 16 May 2017 09:58 AM PDT 
Some Starbucks locations across the US are temporarily giving out free coffee to customers, as an update has put the point of sale systems out of order at some locations. According to dozens of users on Twitter, affected locations are either closing doors, or "taking care of customers" in a very excellent way: free coffee for all.
The story was spotted by thirsty TechCrunch writers in New York, who discovered that their local Starbucks was affected and giving away free drinks. A quick search of Twitter confirmed what was happening: an overnight update bricked some of the chain's point of sale systems, making it impossible for stores to accept credit cards. Some stores apparently shut down, but others stayed open to give away drinks. Starbucks confirmed in a statement that "As part of our normal course of business, overnight we worked to install a technology update to our store registers in the U.S. and Canada. A limited number of locations remain offline, and we are working swiftly to resume full operations in each of these stores. The stores will remain open during this time and, as always, our partners are prepared to take care of our customers to ensure they have the best experience possible." "Our partners are prepared to take care of our customers," in this case, means free drinks. The move is obviously meant to keep caffeine-craved patrons happy and awake, so it would be a decidedly jerk move to make a special trip to Starbucks, just to see if the drinks are free. This story is also your daily reminder of the number one rule in technology: always backup before an update.
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| Azerbaijan destroys Armenia air defence system in disputed region Posted: 16 May 2017 03:32 AM PDT  Azerbaijan has destroyed an Armenian air defence system in the breakaway Nagorny Karabakh region, officials in Baku said Tuesday, as separatist authorities vowed retaliation, raising tensions in the festering conflict. Ex-Soviet Azerbaijan and Armenia are locked in a protracted conflict over the disputed region, and frequent exchanges of fire nearly spiralled into all-out war last year. "Azerbaijani forces destroyed on Monday an Armenian Osa air defence system and its crew in the Fisuli-Khojavend sector of Karabakh's frontline in order to avert the threat it posed to Azerbaijan's aircraft," an official from the press service of Azerbaijan's defence ministry told AFP.
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| Tesla teams up with utility company to offer super-cheap Powerwalls to back up its power grid Posted: 16 May 2017 09:36 AM PDT  Tesla is pairing up with a Vermont utility provider to offer subsidized Powerwall battery packs to bolster its power grid and give customers a chance to harness its energy when other lights go out. Vermont's Green Mountain Power (GMP), a utility company with a decidedly environmental focus, will be the first power provider in the world to integrate Tesla's system as a major part of its grid. GMP will install Tesla's industrial Powerpacks on its own utility land and offer 2,000 of its customers 7 kW Powerwall 2 units for an extra $15 per month charge on their power bill or a one-time, $1,500 fee. The batteries store energy during off-peak hours, like nighttime, for later use, and typically cost up to $3,000. GMP says it will harness the energy stored in the Powerpacks and customer-installed Powerwalls to provide its grid with an extra boost during peak usage times in an effort to lower costs for all of its customers. This network won't just give the company an extra source of reliable energy — it'll help to cut down dependence on costly, "dirty" backup generators. SEE ALSO: Groom credits Tesla Model X for saving his life the night before his own wedding The Tesla batteries already proved successful for GMP on a small scale, when three customers with their own Powerwalls were able to keep their lights on during a storm that knocked the power out for 15,000 other GMP-powered homes. The new partnership will look to leverage that reliable source of stored energy to a larger group of its customers. "There hasn't been any really successful large-scale trial, so that's why this is so exciting," J.B. Straubel, Tesla's chief technology officer, told local station WCAX-TV of the deal. "It's been a potential, and on people's minds for a lot of years, and it's been in development at Tesla for quite some time, but this is our first real deployment." GMP was selected by Tesla especially for the project — in no small part because of its green track record in a state that has embraced solar power. The Tesla Powerwall 2.Image: tesla"Vermont is, surprising to some people, but it's one of the states with the highest penetration of solar power per capita in the country," Straubel said to WCAX-TV. The state indeed ranks eighth in the nation's ranks of solar capacity per capita at 270 watts per person, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). "Green Mountain Power is unique in their excitement to adopt this sooner than others, but the same technology and the same exact model is relevant, frankly, all over the world," Straubel said. "So, you know, we're already having some early discussions with other utilities and grid operators and our feeling is that this is possible a way that most storage will end up getting networked together in the future and I think it has a really exciting, you know, road map." Telsa also opened up preorders for its Solar Roof tiles last week, offering potential customers a means to generate their own energy at costs the company claims will be comparable or even lower than roofs made from traditional tiles. The Solar Roof system can use a Powerwall unit to store the energy it produces, but the two systems can work on their own. GMP's Powerwall initiative doesn't require its customers to have access to solar energy production but admits in the program's FAQs that customers with some sort of system in place "will get the most benefit from your home battery." WATCH: Elon Musk's $2.6 billion bet on a clean energy empire
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| Fractious House panel at center of latest Trump probes Posted: 17 May 2017 04:17 PM PDT  WASHINGTON (AP) — The oversight committee chosen by House Speaker Paul Ryan to investigate whether President Donald Trump obstructed an FBI probe has been the most publicly aggressive group involved in the cautious, GOP-led investigations.
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| U.S. sues UnitedHealth again for mischarging Medicare Advantage Posted: 16 May 2017 06:37 PM PDT ![U.S. sues UnitedHealth again for mischarging Medicare Advantage]( "U.S. sues UnitedHealth again for mischarging Medicare Advantage") The complaint, filed in federal court in Los Angeles, came after the Justice Department brought a separate but similar case against UnitedHealth. In both cases, the government intervened in whistleblower lawsuits against UnitedHealth. The latest complaint came after the Justice Department intervened in a lawsuit brought by former UnitedHealth executive Benjamin Poehling, whose whistleblower case was filed under seal in 2011.
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| The new BMW M5 won't leave you in a spin Posted: 17 May 2017 03:06 AM PDT ![The new BMW M5 won't leave you in a spin]( "The new BMW M5 won't leave you in a spin") When the sixth generation of BMW's Ferrari-baiting super sedan officially arrives in early 2018, it will do so with four-wheel drive. Every M car ever built has followed the same formula -- a superb engine up front, sending 100% of its power exclusively to the rear wheels. The new drivetrain technology -- making its debut on the new BMW M5 -- therefore combines all of the agility and precision of standard rear-wheel drive with the supreme poise and traction of the all-wheel-drive system," explains Frank van Meel, BMW M GmbH Chairman.
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| The Latest: Police: Human head belonged to mother of suspect Posted: 15 May 2017 06:38 PM PDT  PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The Latest on the stabbing at Oregon grocery store by a man apparently carrying a human head (all times local):
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| 'Wolf of Wall Street' Jordan Belfort Still Living Life of Luxury While Owing His Victims Millions Posted: 16 May 2017 01:37 PM PDT  Jordan Belfort told Inside Edition three years ago that he would pay his victims back that year.
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| Update Now: Apple Releases Security Updates for iPhones, iPads, Macs Posted: 16 May 2017 06:12 AM PDT  It's a new day in the land of Apple gadgets, with users receiving security updates that were pushed out yesterday (May 15). Not only do iPhones and iPads need to be updated to protect against remote hijackings, but Apple has patches for Macs, Apple TVs, Apple Watches and even its Windows software.
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| In first interview, Sally Yates says Russians had ‘real leverage’ over Flynn Posted: 16 May 2017 11:33 AM PDT  Former acting Attorney General Sally Yates said in a CNN interview that aired Tuesday morning that Russians had "serious leverage" over former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and that her office had expected the administration to act quickly after she alerted White House counsel Don McGahn on Jan. 26.
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| New book celebrates the very best in drone photography Posted: 17 May 2017 08:21 AM PDT ![New book celebrates the very best in drone photography]( "New book celebrates the very best in drone photography") "Dronescapes" showcases topflight drone photography; its 250 images include photos of famous landmarks, breathtaking landscapes and unique scenes.
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