| White House warns Syria may be readying chemical attack Posted: 26 Jun 2017 07:16 PM PDT  The White House warned strongman Bashar Assad that his regime would pay heavily for the slaughter of civilians.
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| North Carolina man gets life in prison for plotting Islamic State attack Posted: 27 Jun 2017 01:09 PM PDT  Justin Sullivan, 21, of Morganton, was sentenced in federal court in Asheville on one count of attempting to commit an act of terrorism transcending national boundaries, the Justice Department said in a statement. Sullivan had pleaded guilty in November 2016, and the agreement with prosecutors called for the life sentence. Prosecutors said Sullivan conspired with Junaid Hussain, a British hacker who was an online recruiter of people to carry out attacks on behalf of the militant group Islamic State.
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| Al Franken: Democrats ‘gotta stop riding in limousines’ Posted: 26 Jun 2017 09:45 AM PDT  The Minnesota senator admits his party has a public perception problem — but not as big as the GOP's when it comes to health care.
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| Katherine The Great White Shark Has Been Spotted Again Posted: 26 Jun 2017 03:58 PM PDT  Scientists saw the great white shark making its way off the coast of Virginia. The species isn't out to attack humans on purpose — but may take a bite just to see how they rate as food.
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| Two U.S. studies differ over effects of marijuana on drivers Posted: 27 Jun 2017 10:01 AM PDT ![Two U.S. studies differ over effects of marijuana on drivers]( "Two U.S. studies differ over effects of marijuana on drivers") (This June 22 story has been refiled to correct study author's name to "Aydelotte" instead of "Adedoyte" in third paragraph.) By Taylor Harris (Reuters) - Two U.S. studies on the effects of marijuana on drivers in states where it is allowed for recreational use came to different conclusions about whether it increases risks behind the wheel. A study by the American Journal of Public Health published on Thursday looked at motor vehicle fatalities and found no significant increase in Colorado and Washington State, where recreational marijuana use is legal, compared with eight states where it is not legal that have similar populations, vehicle ownership, and traffic laws. "Our study focused on deaths and actually found what we expected going into this," Jason Aydelotte, lead author of the study said in a telephone interview.
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| Plane Diverted After Passenger Tries To Open Emergency Exit Posted: 26 Jun 2017 03:05 AM PDT  According to eye witnesses on the Southwest flight at the time of the incident, the "disruptive" woman was showing unruly behavior even before she got on the plane.
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| China's verdant 'forest city' will fight pollution with a million plants Posted: 27 Jun 2017 01:17 PM PDT  If tree-covered skyscrapers act like enormous air filters, this cluster of buildings will be a clean air oasis. China has broken ground on a "forest city" in the southern city of Liuzhou. The development, which will span two-thirds of a mile along the Liujiang River, involves blanketing offices, apartments, hotels, and schools with more than a million plants and about 40,000 trees. SEE ALSO: How drones are helping to plant trees The verdant towers will help soak up urban air pollution, produce clean oxygen, and boost local biodiversity. The greenery also provides shade on sunny days and acts as an insulating blanket during winter, allowing tenants to use less heating and electricity. Liuzhou Forest City will span 175 hectares, or 0.67 miles, along the Liujiang River.Image: stefano boeri architettiIf the concept sounds familiar, that's because these buildings are the work of Stefano Boeri Architetti, the same architecture firm behind the two "vertical forest" buildings planned for Nanjing in eastern China. Liuzhou city officials commissioned the Italian company to build the development, which will host about 30,000 people and be connected to the main Liuzhou city — population 3.8 million — via a fast-rail line used by electric cars. The forest city, now under construction, is expected to be completed by 2020, the Milan-based architects confirmed by email. 'Vertical forest' buildings in the Liuzhou development.Image: stefano boeri architettiThe development is a flashy but tiny effort to combat the dangerous smog and toxic air pollution that's choking China's industrialized cities. It comes as China is building more wind and solar power than any country in the world to slash emissions from coal plants, factories, and vehicles, and to combat climate change. Stefano Boeri's firm, which recently completed two verdant towers in Milan, is planning to expand into other smoggy cities, including China's Shijiazhuang, Guizhou, Shanghai, and Chongqing. In the Liuzhou Forest City, buildings, parks, and gardens will absorb almost 10,000 tons of carbon dioxide and 57 tons of fine dust pollutants per year, while producing about 900 tons of oxygen, the architects said in a press release. By comparison, the two green towers in Nanjing will absorb 25 tons of carbon dioxide and produce 0.06 tons of oxygen. An electric railway will link the 'forest city' to the main Liuzhou city.Image: stefano boeri architettiBeyond sucking up toxic air, the urban greenery is also expected to stifle noise pollution and support biodiversity by providing a habitat for the local birds, insects, and small animals that inhabit Liuzhou. The project will include residential areas, commercial and recreational spaces, plus two schools and a hospital. Along with plants, the buildings will also feature rooftop solar panels to produce clean electricity and use geothermal energy systems for interior air-conditioning. Stefano Boeri Architetti said the Liuzhou Forest City represents its broader effort to design a "new generation" of architecture and urban environments to address climate change. WATCH: China's big, beautiful, green 'vertical forests' will suck up toxic smog
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| Donald Trump 'insists on meeting with Putin despite team's advice' Posted: 26 Jun 2017 09:43 AM PDT  Donald Trump reportedly wants to hold a bilateral meeting with Vladimir Putin, despite caution from several officials in his administration. Both Mr Trump and Mr Putin are expected to attend a multinational summit next month in Germany. While the US President is eager for a meeting with all the diplomatic trimmings, calling for media access and all the typical protocol associated with such engagements, many officials from the State Department and the National Security Council reportedly believe it would be better for the two to maintain their distance in the midst of probes into Russia's alleged meddling in the 2016 election.
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| Nigeria's Buhari sends first message since taking sick leave on May 7: presidency sources Posted: 26 Jun 2017 05:54 AM PDT  By Felix Onuah ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari has delivered an audio message to mark the Islamic Eid al-Fitr holiday, two senior presidency sources said, his first public statement since he left for Britain on medical leave on May 7. Buhari, a Muslim from the north, made the address, calling for peace and unity, in the Hausa language spoken widely in that part of the country. The presidency did not release video footage or photographs of Buhari making the recording heard by Reuters in which the president's voice sounds weak.
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| Dreaded WWII Zero fighter takes to the skies over Japan Posted: 27 Jun 2017 02:41 AM PDT  Salvaged from the Papua New Guinean jungle, a restored World War II Japanese Zero fighter has taken to the skies over the land that gave birth to the once-feared warplane. The aircraft -- emblazoned with tell-tale rising sun symbols -- is one of just a few airworthy Zero fighters left in the world, nearly eight decades after they struck fear into the hearts of Allied pilots. The plane flew near Tokyo this month, watched by businessman and aviation buff Masahide Ishizuka who bought the plane for 350 million yen ($3.1 million) in 2008.
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| The U.S. Air Force Just Had an Awful Week Posted: 27 Jun 2017 10:57 AM PDT  Crashes, ground accidents, and tornadoes, and crippled aircraft were all on the menu last week.
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| Are Whales Methodically Killing South Africa’s Great White Sharks? Posted: 27 Jun 2017 08:37 AM PDT  The great white sharks were found dead, their livers removed as if by a surgeon. Some were missing testicles and a heart.
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| ‘He colluded or obstructed’: Trump turns Russia suspicions against Obama Posted: 26 Jun 2017 07:30 AM PDT  Continuing a theme he has pushed lately, the president took issue with his predecessor's lack of response to Russian interference in the election.
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| Emmett Till Mississippi civil rights memorial vandalised for second time in two months Posted: 27 Jun 2017 10:47 AM PDT  An sign marking the site where black teenager was accused of whistling at a white woman - something that would subsequently result in him being lynched - has been vandalised for the second time in two months. The marker on the Mississippi Freedom Trail was damaged last month when someone scratched on it. Allan Hammons, whose company manages the Mississippi Freedom Trail, more than a dozen signs established in 2011 to mark seminal moments and locations in the civil rights movements, said the incident was deeply disturbing.
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| Philippines VP visits refugees fleeing fighting, Duterte unseen in days Posted: 26 Jun 2017 12:58 AM PDT  By Kanupriya Kapoor and Manuel Mogato BALO-I, Philippines (Reuters) - The vice president of the Philippines expressed hope on Monday for a swift end to an urban siege by Islamist rebels, and offered support to displaced civilians during a visit normally conducted by a president not seen in public for six days. The trip by Leni Robredo to an evacuation center in Balo-i for residents who escaped a month-long conflict in nearby Marawi City adds to speculation about the health of 72-year-old President Rodrigo Duterte, whose absence this month from the public eye is the longest since he took office a year ago. Known for a packed public schedule and marathon speeches several times a day, Duterte's disappearances during what has been the biggest crisis of his presidency will add to frequent rumors he is in poor health, which his office denies.
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| Reports of side effects with cosmetics increasing Posted: 26 Jun 2017 05:02 PM PDT ![Reports of side effects with cosmetics increasing]( "Reports of side effects with cosmetics increasing") By Lisa Rapaport (Reuters Health) - Reports of adverse events associated with cosmetics and personal care products sold in the U.S. more than doubled last year, due in large part to complaints about WEN by Chaz Dean Cleansing Conditioners, a new study suggests. Researchers examined data on side effects reported to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from 2004 to 2016 for products like makeup, sunscreen, tattoos, hair color, perfume, shaving creams and baby care items. Overall, there were a total of 5,144 adverse events, with an average of 396 a year, researchers report in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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| China hits back at US on human trafficking downgrade Posted: 27 Jun 2017 05:23 AM PDT  BEIJING (AP) — China has pre-emptively hit back at the United States for speaking "irresponsibly" ahead of an expected Trump administration move to name China among the world's worst human trafficking offenders.
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| New flying car concept seeks to revolutionize personal transport Posted: 26 Jun 2017 10:00 AM PDT  While some automakers look towards today's infrastructure of roads for the future of transportation, multiple companies are instead looking towards the sky. One of these is Neva Aerospace which used last week's 2017 Paris auto show to reveal its take on the future of transportation, and it's yet another flying car. Neva Aerospace says its flying car will be capable of flying for up to 20 or 30 minutes, travel at speeds up to 50 mph, and climb 3,000 feet in the air.
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| Rare spate of bear attacks leaves two dead in Alaska Posted: 27 Jun 2017 10:50 AM PDT  A warning sign in Anchorage, Alaska, after a 16-year-old runner was recently killed by a black bear. There have only been six fatal bear attacks in the state in 130 years. Alaska is experiencing a spate of bear attacks, with four people attacked in less than a week, resulting in two fatalities.
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| S. Korea's Moon heads to US as North threat grows Posted: 25 Jun 2017 10:15 PM PDT  South Korea's dovish new President Moon Jae-In -- who backs engagement with the nuclear-armed North -- heads to Washington this week for talks with his hawkish US counterpart Donald Trump, as Pyongyang defies international sanctions to accelerate its missile programme. Centre-left Moon suggested on the campaign trail that as president he would be willing to go to Pyongyang before Washington, but he is making the US his first foreign destination since he was sworn in last month after a landslide election win. Washington is the South's security guarantor and has more than 28,000 troops in the country to defend it from its neighbour, which has been intensifying missile tests -- including five since Moon's inauguration -- as it seeks to develop nuclear-capable ballistic missiles that could reach the continental United States.
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| Signs Of Sadism Include Bitter Tastes, Like Black Coffee Posted: 25 Jun 2017 07:00 PM PDT  Although sadism is often linked with serial killers or other extreme behaviors, this isn't always the case, and these personality types are much more common than we think.
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| Seattle employers cut hours after latest minimum wage rise, study finds Posted: 26 Jun 2017 03:07 PM PDT  Low-wage workers on average now clock 9 percent fewer hours and earn $125 less each month than before the Pacific Northwest city set one of the highest minimum wages in the nation, the University of Washington research paper said. Seattle, which has a booming economy and a strong technology sector, is midway through an initiative to increase its minimum wage for all employers to $15 an hour.
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| U.S.-backed fighters advance in Raqqa, Syria Posted: 26 Jun 2017 05:00 AM PDT ![U.S.-backed fighters advance in Raqqa, Syria]( "U.S.-backed fighters advance in Raqqa, Syria") Islamic State group jihadists wage fierce battles in their Syrian stronghold Raqqa in a bid to repel US-backed fighters advancing towards the walls of the Old City.
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| Man Held Teen Girl Captive For More Than a Year: Cops Posted: 27 Jun 2017 06:07 AM PDT  Michael Wysolovski, 31, was arrested and charged with holding Hailey Burns captive after her parents received a tip from a woman in Romania.
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| Police: Girl's actions caused her to fall from NY park ride Posted: 26 Jun 2017 02:08 PM PDT  QUEENSBURY, N.Y. (AP) — A teenage girl's actions, not mechanical malfunctions, caused her to slip under a restraining bar on an amusement park gondola ride before falling into the arms of bystanders below, police said Monday.
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| Mystery of missing Chinese scholar shakes up Illinois school Posted: 26 Jun 2017 02:08 PM PDT  CHICAGO (AP) — Yingying Zhang, the daughter of a working-class factory driver from China, took the same career path as many other young Chinese academics before her: She travelled to a university in the U.S. with dreams of one day landing a professorship and being able to help her parents financially.
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| The 10 Best National Parks in the USA Posted: 27 Jun 2017 06:00 AM PDT ![The 10 Best National Parks in the USA]( "The 10 Best National Parks in the USA") Explore the great outdoors at one of America's can't-miss national parks. If you're dreaming of an outdoor vacation filled with gushing geysers, animal encounters, towering rock formations and more, odds are you'll enjoy exploring a national park. Considering factors like the uniqueness of sights, historical significance and park accessibility, we determined which of the country's 59 national parks qualify as the Best National Parks in the USA.
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| Pro-Isis hackers break into US government websites leaving chilling messages for Donald Trump Posted: 26 Jun 2017 01:41 AM PDT  Isis supporting hackers broke into US government websites and issued chilling warnings to Donald Trump. It is just the latest pro-Isis attack to be launched on government pages by a group that apparently seek to disrupt organisations and deface their websites. "You will be held accountable Trump, you and all your people for every drop of blood flowing in Muslim countries," read one message, posted on Ohio governor and unsuccessful presidential candidate John Kasich's website.
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| Mosul battle to end in days as troops advance in Old City: Iraqi general Posted: 26 Jun 2017 10:58 AM PDT  By Marius Bosch and Khaled al-Ramahi MOSUL, Iraq (Reuters) - The battle to wrest full control of the Iraqi city of Mosul from Islamic State will be over in a few days, the Iraqi military said on Monday, as elite counter-terrorism units fought militants among the narrow alleyways of the historic Old City. An attempted fight-back by militants failed on Sunday night and Islamic State's grip on the city, once its de facto capital in Iraq, was weakened, a senior commander said.
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| 20 Devilishly Delicious Halloween Appetizers Posted: 26 Jun 2017 10:13 AM PDT |
| Woman Stabbed to Death While Walking Home Through Park Behind School: 'No One Deserves That' Posted: 27 Jun 2017 02:51 PM PDT  Debra Gulliver, 33, was stabbed at least 12 times.
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| Feds looking into Bernie Sanders' wife over real estate deal Posted: 26 Jun 2017 05:03 PM PDT  MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Federal investigators are looking into the finances behind a real estate deal for a now-defunct college put together by the wife of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, and she has hired a lawyer to look after her interests, a family spokesman confirmed on Monday.
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| Samsung Building New Plant In The US? Posted: 26 Jun 2017 03:18 AM PDT  Samsung is reportedly announcing its plan of building a new production facility in the United States later this week.
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| 2 corrections officers among 4 arrested at Kansas City jail Posted: 26 Jun 2017 04:17 PM PDT  KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Two corrections officers were among four people arrested in a contraband smuggling operation at the county jail in Kansas City, Missouri, after roughly 200 law enforcers searched the facility early Monday.
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| Amazon just added 5 new devices to the Prime Exclusive Phones program Posted: 27 Jun 2017 07:33 AM PDT 
Amazon's Prime Exclusive Phones program is pretty awesome. For anyone who doesn't know about it, it pretty much works just like Kindle eReaders. Instead of paying full price for a device, you can buy one at a discount if you're willing to have advertisements and special offers displayed on your phone's lock screen. Nowhere else... just the lock screen. Seriously, why would anyone not want to take advantage?! Amazon announced on Tuesday that it's adding five new phones to its diverse lineup of Prime Exclusive Phones, including the Nokia 6 ($50 off), Moto E4 ($30 off), Alcatel IDOL 5S ($80 off), Alcatel A30 PLUS ($50 off), and Alcatel A50 (50 off). Check out more details and the phones' killer prices below. Nokia 6 - Fast 4G LTE speed, 1.4 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 octa-core processor, 3 GB of RAM, and 32 GB of internal memory with the option to add up to 128 GB of microSD expandable memory
- Brilliant 5.5" 2.5D full HD display and a Smart Amplifier with 7.2W peak output and Dolby Atmos
- Offers and ads, including personalized deals and recommendations, display on the phone's lockscreen
- 16 MP rear-facing and 8 MP front-facing camera with dual-tone flash
- Built-in fingerprint sensor grants you exclusive access to your device
- Enjoy the best of Android 7.1 Nougat with split screen view, Google Play Store, Google Maps, Gmail, and Google Assistant for hands-free voice commands
- Unlocked for freedom to choose your carrier. Compatible with AT&T and T-Mobile networks
- Prime members get unlimited access to Prime movies and TV shows, Prime Music, Prime Photos storage, deals, and more with a pre-installed selection of Amazon apps
Moto E4 - Fast 4G LTE speed, 1.4 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 quad-core processor, 2 GB RAM with 16 GB internal memory and support for up to 128 GB microSD card
- Brilliant 5" HD display with water-repellent screen
- Offers and ads, including personalized deals and recommendations, display on the phone's lockscreen
- 5 MP front-facing camera and 8 MP rear-facing camera with flash
- Fingerprint sensor that unlocks the phone
- Enjoy the best of Android 7.1 Nougat with split screen view, Google Play Store, Google Maps, Gmail, and Google Assistant for hands-free voice commands
- Unlocked for freedom to choose your carrier. Compatible with AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, and Verizon networks
- Prime members get unlimited access to Prime movies and TV shows, Prime Music, Prime Photos storage, deals, and more with a pre-installed selection of Amazon apps
Alcatel IDOL 5S - Fast 4G LTE speed, 2.0 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 octa-core processor, 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB internal memory with the option to add up to 512 GB of microSD expandable memory
- Brilliant 5.2" full HD (1080p) display to enjoy your videos and pictures with metal and 2.5D glass design with dual 3.6-watt front-facing speakers with stereo sound
- Offers and ads, including personalized deals and recommendations, display on the phone's lockscreen
- 12 MP rear-facing camera and 8 MP front-facing camera with video stabilization for high quality photos and videos
- Built-in fingerprint sensor grants you exclusive access to your device
- Enjoy the best of Android 7.1 Nougat with split screen view, Google Play Store, Google Maps, Gmail, and Google Assistant for hands-free voice commands
- Unlocked for freedom to choose your carrier. Compatible with AT&T and T-Mobile networks (Sprint and Verizon coming this summer)
- Prime members get unlimited access to Prime movies and TV shows, Prime Music, Prime Photos storage, deals, and more with a pre-installed selection of Amazon apps
Alcatel A30 PLUS - Fast 4G LTE speed, up to 1.5 GHz quad-core processor, 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB of internal memory with the option to add up to 32 GB of microSD expandable memory
- Brilliant 5.5" HD display with Wide Viewing Angle and a great front-facing speaker with clear sound
- Offers and ads, including personalized deals and recommendations, display on the phone's lockscreen
- 13 MP rear-facing camera with HDR, flash, HD video capture, and videos with image stabilization; 5 MP wide angle front-facing camera with LED flash
- Enjoy the best of Android 7.0 Nougat with split screen view, Google Play Store, Google Maps, Gmail, and Google Now for hands-free voice commands
- Unlocked for freedom to choose your carrier. Compatible with AT&T and T-Mobile networks (Verizon coming this summer)
- Prime members get unlimited access to Prime movies and TV shows, Prime Music, Prime Photos storage, deals, and more with a pre-installed selection of Amazon apps
Alcatel A50 - Fast 4G LTE speed, up to 1.5 GHz quad-core processor, 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB of internal memory with the option to add up to 128 GB of microSD expandable memory
- Brilliant 5.2" HD screen to enjoy your videos and pictures
- Offers and ads, including personalized deals and recommendations, display on the phone's lockscreen
- 13 MP rear-facing camera and 5 MP front-facing camera with LED flash that captures great selfies in any light
- Custom back cover with flashing LED lights sold separately
- Enjoy the best of Android 7.0 Nougat with split screen view, Google Play Store, Google Maps, Gmail, and Google Assistant for hands-free voice commands
- Unlocked for freedom to choose your carrier. Compatible with AT&T and T-Mobile networks
- Prime members get unlimited access to Prime movies and TV shows, Prime Music, Prime Photos storage, deals, and more with a pre-installed selection of Amazon apps
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| Donald Trump Does Away With White House Iftar Tradition Posted: 26 Jun 2017 01:14 AM PDT  The president could have used the annual dinner tradition to bridge the distrust between his administration and the Muslim community, a Muslim cleric told Newsweek.
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| China accuses Indian border guards of crossing into its territory Posted: 26 Jun 2017 09:01 PM PDT ![China accuses Indian border guards of crossing into its territory]( "China accuses Indian border guards of crossing into its territory") China has accused Indian border guards of crossing into its territory from the state of Sikkim on India's northeastern border with Tibet, the Chinese foreign and defence ministries have said, complicating an already difficult relationship. Geng Shuang, a spokesman with China's foreign ministry, said Indian guards "obstructed normal activities" by Chinese forces on the border and called on India to withdraw immediately, according to a ministry statement late on Monday.
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| Two police, family of six killed in latest Mexico violence Posted: 26 Jun 2017 08:38 AM PDT  Two federal police officers were mowed down Saturday in Mexico's Veracruz state, where gunman also killed a family of six, in the latest spasm of violence linked to criminal gangs. In the nearby city of Coatzacoalcos, the dead included two adults and four children who died in a hail of bullets as they ate dinner at an outdoor restaurant. Authorities added that two women were fatally shot in the town of Orizaba, also in Veracruz, one of Mexico's most violent states.
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