| Top Dem on House intel panel hopes Comey ends ‘wild goose chase’ over Trump wiretap claims Posted: 19 Mar 2017 10:14 AM PDT  The leaders of the House Intelligence Committee continue to say they have seen no proof of President Trump's explosive, evidence-free claim that former President Barack Obama ordered the wiretapping of Trump Tower before the 2016 presidential election. "Was there a physical wiretap of Trump Tower?
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| Father Kills Daughter in Apparent Murder-Suicide at Shopping Mall Posted: 20 Mar 2017 09:24 AM PDT  Cops say the shooting occurred in a parked car near the west entrance of a mall in Monterey Bay, Calif.
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| U.S. Suddenly Bans Laptops and Tablets on Some Middle Eastern Flights to America Posted: 20 Mar 2017 02:15 PM PDT  DHS won't talk about the rationale for the drastic change to existing policy.
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| Tillerson ends China trip with warm words from President Xi Posted: 18 Mar 2017 11:14 PM PDT ![Tillerson ends China trip with warm words from President Xi]( "Tillerson ends China trip with warm words from President Xi") By Yeganeh Torbati and Michael Martina BEIJING (Reuters) - With warm words from Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson ended his first trip to Asia since taking office with an agreement to work together with China on North Korea and putting aside trickier issues. China has been irritated at being repeatedly told by Washington to rein in North Korea's nuclear and missile programs and the U.S. decision to base an advanced missile defense system in South Korea. Beijing is also deeply suspicious of U.S. intentions toward self-ruled Taiwan, which China claims as its own, with the Trump administration crafting a big new arms package for the island that is bound to anger China.
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| Export bans hit Brazil's meat industry after scandal Posted: 20 Mar 2017 03:01 PM PDT  Brasília (AFP) - The fallout from Brazil's rotten meat scandal accelerated Monday when China, a huge market, suspended imports and the European Union demanded a partial ban. Another ban on Brazilian meat imposed by Chile sparked fears of a trade spat between the two South American partners. A charm offensive by President Michel Temer, who even invited foreign ambassadors to a traditional meat restaurant in the capital Brasilia late Sunday, failed to calm importers.
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| Afghan soldier killed after shooting, wounding 3 US troops Posted: 19 Mar 2017 07:52 AM PDT ![Afghan soldier killed after shooting, wounding 3 US troops]( "Afghan soldier killed after shooting, wounding 3 US troops") KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AP) — An Afghan soldier opened fire Sunday inside a base in the southern Helmand province, wounding three U.S. soldiers before being shot dead.
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| Peru struggles with devastating El Niño flooding Posted: 20 Mar 2017 06:26 AM PDT ![Peru struggles with devastating El Niño flooding]( "Peru struggles with devastating El Niño flooding") Peruvians struggled on Sunday to cope with avalanches, mudslides and extensive flash flooding caused by torrential downpours, and forecasters predicted still more rain ahead, prolonging the country's woes. The highly unusual rains follow a series of storms that have struck hard along Peru's northern coast, with voracious waters inundating hospitals and leaving some small villages isolated. Peru's government said that 374 people were killed in 1998 during a similar period of massive rains and flooding caused by rains blamed on the El Niño climate pattern.
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| Global energy CO2 emissions could be cut by 70 percent by 2050: IRENA Posted: 20 Mar 2017 01:04 AM PDT ![Global energy CO2 emissions could be cut by 70 percent by 2050: IRENA]( "Global energy CO2 emissions could be cut by 70 percent by 2050: IRENA") Global energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions could be reduced by 70 percent by 2050 and completely phased out by 2060, research by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) showed on Monday. To help achieve this, the share of renewable energy in primary energy supply would need to increase to 65 percent in 2050 from 15 percent in 2015, the report said. An additional $29 trillion of energy investment would be needed to 2050, equivalent to 0.4 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP).
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| The World's Best Heart Health Found in Indigenous Amazon Group Posted: 20 Mar 2017 12:04 AM PDT ![The World's Best Heart Health Found in Indigenous Amazon Group]( "The World's Best Heart Health Found in Indigenous Amazon Group") In an indigenous group of people in South America, researchers are finding the healthiest blood vessels ever studied, thanks in part to a diet that's rich in complex carbs. The Tsimane people — who live in the Bolivian Amazon — were five times less likely to have atherosclerosis compared with people in the United States, according to the study. Atherosclerosis is sometimes referred to as "hardening of the arteries" and is a major risk factor for heart disease.
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| White House tries to shift discussion amid FBI director’s testimony Posted: 20 Mar 2017 03:02 PM PDT  White House press secretary Sean Spicer, reacting to news from the first day of House Intelligence Committee hearings into the 2016 election, tried to steer reporters away from questions about possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian officials — and onto the administration's preferred topic, news media leaks about intercepted conversations involving fired National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. Spicer's customary daily press briefing took place in the afternoon as FBI Director James Comey and National Security Agency head Mike Rogers were still testifying. Earlier in the day, Comey said he had "no information" to support Trump's claim that his predecessor, President Obama, wiretapped his campaign — a widely anticipated statement that did not lead to a retraction by the White House.
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| New Zealand expels US diplomat after police probe stymied Posted: 19 Mar 2017 10:30 PM PDT  A US diplomat has been expelled from New Zealand after Washington refused to waive diplomatic immunity so police investigating a serious crime could question him, officials said Monday. Prime Minister Bill English labelled the US knockback on immunity regrettable and said he expected American authorities to carry out their own investigation. Earlier, Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully said he was "disappointed" at the US refusal and in response had asked for the man at the centre of the police investigation to be withdrawn from New Zealand.
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| Choose the Right Contribution Rate for Your 401(k) Posted: 20 Mar 2017 06:24 AM PDT ![Choose the Right Contribution Rate for Your 401(k)]( "Choose the Right Contribution Rate for Your 401(k)") There's really no getting around it -- choosing the optimal 401(k) contribution rate is serious business -- akin to laying the foundation of a new home, or planning a household budget before raising a family. Your 401(k) contribution rate -- the amount deducted from your check every pay period that is redirected toward your company retirement plan, in percentages -- will set the financial tone for your retirement plan growth. Deduct from it and your retirement could wind up in serious peril.
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| The Latest: Judge rejects request to clarify travel order Posted: 19 Mar 2017 02:05 PM PDT ![The Latest: Judge rejects request to clarify travel order]( "The Latest: Judge rejects request to clarify travel order") HONOLULU (AP) — The Latest on a lawsuit filed in Hawaii over the Trump administration's revised travel ban (all times local):
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| Uber president Jeff Jones quits, deepening turmoil Posted: 20 Mar 2017 12:28 AM PDT ![Uber president Jeff Jones quits, deepening turmoil]( "Uber president Jeff Jones quits, deepening turmoil") By Heather Somerville SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Ride services company Uber Technologies Inc has been thrust deeper into turmoil with the departure of company president Jeff Jones, a marketing expert hired to help soften its often abrasive image. Jones quit less than seven months after joining the San Francisco company, an Uber spokesman said on Sunday. In a statement to Reuters, Jones said he could not continue as president of a business with which he was incompatible.
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| Clashes in Syria capital after surprise rebel assault Posted: 19 Mar 2017 12:23 PM PDT  Heavy clashes rocked eastern districts of the Syrian capital on Sunday as rebels and jihadists tried to fight their way into the city centre in a surprise assault on government forces. The attack comes just days before a fresh round of UN-brokered peace talks in Geneva aiming at ending Syria's six-year war. Rebels and government forces agreed to a nationwide cessation of hostilities in December, but fighting has continued across much of the country, including in the capital.
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| 9 Things Costco Employees Want You To Know Posted: 20 Mar 2017 10:10 AM PDT  No. 5 is the secret to all the free samples.
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| Prom Dates Are Randomly Assigned at this High School Posted: 20 Mar 2017 11:05 AM PDT  Typically finding a prom date can be stressful. At this Illinois High School, students are randomly assigned to another prom date so no one is left out.
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| Price says passing health care bill through House and Senate 'a fine needle' to be thread Posted: 19 Mar 2017 06:41 AM PDT  Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price weighs in on the GOP health care bill.
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| Plane crash-lands in S.Sudan, at least 37 injured Posted: 20 Mar 2017 01:13 PM PDT  At least 37 people were injured when a passenger jet crash-landed in South Sudan's northwestern city of Wau on Monday, government and airport officials said. There were 40 passengers and five crew members on board the South Supreme Airlines plane that had taken off from the capital Juba, said the airline's manager Gabriel Ngang. State Information Minister Bona Gaudensio said an ambulance had brought the passengers from the airport to the hospital, and most of them were released shortly after.
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| Historic restoration of Jesus' burial shrine completed Posted: 20 Mar 2017 10:57 AM PDT  JERUSALEM (AP) — The tomb of Jesus has been resurrected to its former glory.
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| Artist Receives Death Threats After Comparing Trump To Nazis Posted: 20 Mar 2017 06:20 AM PDT  A billboard artist said her work was a form of protest and that she expected the backlash.
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| TSMC says to decide on U.S. chip plant next year Posted: 20 Mar 2017 12:41 AM PDT ![TSMC says to decide on U.S. chip plant next year]( "TSMC says to decide on U.S. chip plant next year") Taiwan's TSMC, the world's largest contract chipmaker and a major Apple Inc supplier, on Monday said it would take a decision next year on whether to build a U.S. chip plant. In January, TSMC Chairman Morris Chang had said the company did not rule out the idea of building a U.S. foundry, joining a slew of global firms from automakers to luggage makers that are considering manufacturing in the United States amid President Donald Trump's push to create more jobs. "We won't make a decision until next year," TSMC spokesperson Michael Kramer said.
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| Principal Pushes 5th Grader With Autism An Entire 5K Race Posted: 19 Mar 2017 01:11 PM PDT  The 5th grader's twin brother also ran alongside him.
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| Tesla Discontinues Base 60 kWh Model S Trim Level Ahead of Model 3 Launch Posted: 20 Mar 2017 10:20 AM PDT  As the Model 3 approaches production, Tesla wants to make sure it separates its lineup accordingly.
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| Meals on Wheels receives massive donations following proposed budget cut. Will it matter? Posted: 19 Mar 2017 10:12 AM PDT ![Meals on Wheels receives massive donations following proposed budget cut. Will it matter?]( "Meals on Wheels receives massive donations following proposed budget cut. Will it matter?") Following Thursday's White House budget proposal release, Meals on Wheels, a nonprofit organization that delivers food to elderly isolated or disabled citizens received more than $100,000 in donations over a two-day period. The surge in contributions came after last week's release of the White House budget proposal which includes a 17.9 percent cut for in federal funding for the Department of Health and Human Services, which according to Meals on Wheels, provides most of the organization's government support, according to Reuters. Some local branches of Meals on Wheels are also reporting increases in both financial donations and interest in volunteering.
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| French election: Top candidates trade barbs in first debate Posted: 20 Mar 2017 02:47 PM PDT  PARIS (AP) — The leading candidates for France's presidential election traded barbs in their first televised debate Monday, with National Front leader Marine Le Pen the target of initial attacks.
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| Survivors recount Ghana tree fall tragedy that killed 20 Posted: 20 Mar 2017 01:06 PM PDT  Frank Adansi-Bonnah sat on his bed Monday in the Kintampo Municipal Hospital in central Ghana, his lips covered in bruises and cuts, and his arm in a sling. Eighteen students died at the picturesque spot in the Brong-Ahafo region, some 450 kilometres (281 miles) by road from the capital, Accra. "What I remember was I was struggling with the tree," said the 21-year-old Adansi-Bonnah, who is a student at University of Energy and Natural Resources in the regional capital, Sunyani.
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| 4 Tips for Choosing Between SAT Math Levels 1, 2 Posted: 20 Mar 2017 06:00 AM PDT ![4 Tips for Choosing Between SAT Math Levels 1, 2]( "4 Tips for Choosing Between SAT Math Levels 1, 2") Math Level 1 or Level 2? Consider your math abilities: The College Board, which administers SAT subject tests, recommends you have a minimum of three years of high school math as preparation for either exam.
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| Prosecutor: Officers who fatally shot boy weren't in danger Posted: 20 Mar 2017 04:47 PM PDT  MARKSVILLE, La. (AP) — Two Louisiana law enforcement officers weren't in any danger when they fired a barrage of bullets at a car, killing a 6-year-old autistic boy and critically wounding his father, a prosecutor said Monday at the start of a murder trial for one of the officers.
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| Stephen Hawking Expresses Concern Over Trump's Environment Policies Posted: 19 Mar 2017 11:21 PM PDT  The famed scientist called for the removal of Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt during a recent interview on "Good Morning Britain."
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| Germany's SPD endorses Schulz as leader and Merkel challenger Posted: 19 Mar 2017 09:10 AM PDT ![Germany's SPD endorses Schulz as leader and Merkel challenger]( "Germany's SPD endorses Schulz as leader and Merkel challenger") By Michelle Martin BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's Social Democrats (SPD) on Sunday formally endorsed former European Parliament President Martin Schulz as their leader and challenger to Chancellor Angela Merkel in what is set to be a tightly contested national election in September. The SPD has undergone a revival since nominating Schulz in late January, gaining around 10 points in opinion polls and signing up thousands of new members as the 61-year-old focuses his campaign on social justice. "The SPD is back! We're back!" Schulz told around 600 delegates at a party meeting in Berlin shortly before he was chosen as SPD leader in a vote in which all 605 of the valid votes gave him a 'yes'.
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| 10 paid iPhone apps on sale for free today Posted: 20 Mar 2017 09:42 AM PDT 
The start of a new week means the start of a fresh new series on the best paid iPhone and iPad apps that go on sale for free each day. We're kicking things off on Monday with a solid list of 10 apps you'll definitely want to check out. Just remember that each of these sales could be over at any point in time, so definitely make sure you check them out as soon as you can. These are paid iPhone and iPad apps that have been made available for free for a limited time by their developers. There is no way to tell how long they will be free. These sales could end an hour from now or a week from now — obviously, the only thing we can guarantee is that they were free at the time this post was written. If you click on a link and see a price listed next to an app instead of the word "get," it is no longer free. The sale has ended. If you download the app, you will be charged. HyperMovieMaker Pro 
Normally $4.99. Pro version is here! No Ads, All Features unlocked.
Get the best video editor out on the store TODAY! Ultra high speed video editor and movie maker.
Easily combine, trim, add music, and edit your videos to share them on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and more. Features:
- Video Clip Combiner
- Slowmo/Speedup
- Borders
- Filters
- Text
- Music
- Blur
- Emojis
- Stickers
- Quick Share to platforms
- Much more! Send us your feedback and we will continue to improve the app!
Download HyperMovieMaker Pro Rock Paper Scissors 
Normally $0.99. Challenge your Girlfriend, Boyfriend or a friend for an expensive coffee @Starbucks with Rock Paper Scissor!!! Rock Paper Scissor iMessage app, lets you to play with contacts in your iMessage. Download the app, open iMessage, select Rock Paper Scissor app, select your opponent, select your moves and send. Now wait for your opponent to respond and check who won to get expensive coffee at Starbucks. Game rules: (if you don't know)
* Paper wraps Rock
* Rock smashes Scissors
* Scissors cut Paper Designed and implemented following iMessage guidelines to give you an easy to use and lightweight accessory that you will love to have. Rock Paper will be continually updated and maintained for enjoyment. Love our app? Write us an App Store review! Have Fun!!
Download Rock Paper Scissors Weight Tracker 
Normally $0.99. Tracking the weight while losing or getting it is a necessary part of the process. Weight Tracker will help you not only lead the history of changing weight, set the goal, know your BMI, but also in a literal sense "see" your changes. In Weight Tracker there is a real cool function - you can take pictures in the style "Before and After", which can motivate you for further working about yourself, also your friends and acquaintances who came across with the same problem. You can take pictures face and profile with the help of built-in function and easily join any two photos in one with dates, weight for each photo and period of the past time. Just choose 2 photos and click "Save to Photos" and a ready picture will appear in your photo album. Weight Tracker has a built-in indicator BMI, so just showing your new weight , you can see your new state in a real time according to scale from "Underweight and Overweight". Key functions:
- Chart of weight changing
- Indicator of movement to the goal
- Making images in the style "Before and After"
- Function of making photos in "Face and Profile"
- Indicator BMI
- Setting goal
- Built-in information
Download Weight Tracker TaskOrganizer 
Normally $0.99. TaskOrganizer - App with a new approach to the management of tasks lists. The possibility of dividing tasks lists into various areas will help you to sort all your tasks and easily get access to them. For each area, you can give a rate of the current situation, set an icon and choose a colour. Making up collections of tasks, you can separately keep and work with the tasks for the day, month, year and even with aims for a whole life. With the help of the project settings, you can set your own collections you need. The most simple function of a random choice of the next task will help you to do more tasks daily. The app allows you to make a choice from all the tasks or from the tasks with pointed priority. Key Features:
- Customizable areas
- Unlimited set of collections tasks
- Multiple projects
- "Accelerator productivity"
- Setting priorities for the task
- Adding tags for task
- Percentage of each area
- Percentage of all the collection on the whole
- Pleasant not boring interface with a coloured circle in the center.
Download TaskOrganizer Dizzy Ninja 
Normally $1.99. Tap screen to jump and pass the hurdles and obstacles. Latest arcade game with cool ninja characters features. Earn points to activate characters and levels. Smooth game play with engaging graphics, more levels and characters will be available soon. Dizzy Ninja Features: Different Ninja Characters
Unlock Ninja levels
Tap ninja to jump
Color switch like ninja jumping This game is definitely one of the most amazing FREE Arcade games unlike the swaggy ninja, this is more tough engaging and challenging. Play it, share this ninja game with your friends and send us your feedback regarding this game, we will listen to our audience and will upgrade the game accordingly, so yes, your voice will be heard.
Download Dizzy Ninja Easy Transit 
Normally $0.99. Are you tired of running to catch your bus, train or streetcar?
Are you tired of waiting in the cold/rain/sun for your ride?
With Easy Transit, you will know when to head out to your stop to be on time. No more stress! Features include:
- Real-time location system: See exactly where your ride is at.
- Proximity alarms: The app will let you know when the next ride is coming.
- Favorite routes: Select the routes you ride the most for easy access.
- Support for 37 transit agencies in USA and Canada. More coming soon! Currently supported transit agencies are: SF MUNI, San Francisco, CA
CTA Bus, Chicago, IL
NYC MTA - Bronx, Bronx, New York, NY
NYC MTA - Brooklyn, Brooklyn, New York, NY
NYC MTA - Staten Island, Staten Island, New York, NY
AC Transit, Alameda, CA
CMRT and Howard Transit, Columbia, MD
Cape Cod Regional Transit, Cape Cod, MA
Chapel Hill Transit, Chapel Hill, NC
Charles River TMA EZRide, Cambridge, MA
Charm City Circulator, Baltimore, MD
City of Oxford, Oxford, MS
NYC Downtown Connection, New York, NY
Dumbarton Express, Palo Alto, CA
Emery-Go-Round, Emeryville, CA
Glendale Beeline, Glendale, CA
Gold Coast Transit, Oxnard, CA
Los Angeles Metro, Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles Rail, Los Angeles, CA
Massachusetts Bay Transit, Cambridge, MA
Moorpark Transit, Moorpark, CA
North County Transit District, San Diego, CA
Omnitrans, San Bernardino, CA
Pensacola Beach (SRIA), Santa Rosa Island, FL
Portland Streetcar, Portland, OR
Prince George's County, Largo, MD
RTC RIDE, Reno, NV
Radford Transit, Radford, VA
Roosevelt Island, Roosevelt Island, NY
Seattle Streetcar, Seattle, WA
SVT, Simi Valley, CA
Thousand Oaks Transit (TOT), Thousand Oaks, CA
Unitrans ASUCD Davis, Davis, CA
Ventura Intercity (VISTA), Ventura County, CA
Societe de transport de Laval, Laval, Quebec
Toronto Transit Commission, Toronto, Ontario
Washington DC Circulator, Washington DC, DC
Download Easy Transit Video Joiner 
Normally $0.99. * OVER 1 MILLION DOWNLOADS! Simply merge two video clips from two separate videos into one video! not only that, add your own music to the background! Vary simple to use and nice to have.
Download Video Joiner Doodle Stick 
Normally $0.99. * OVER 1 MILLION DOWNLOADS ++ Welcome to Doodle Stick Your goal is to knock out all Doodle Sticks as fast as possible to unlock the next levels. Each level you progress new doodle sticks will start appearing for your to knock them out. Amazing Graphics, like Real.
Amazing Sound Effects.
Amazing Game Center to track your score.
Amazing Levels to keep your entertained.
Download Doodle Stick Cleaner Pro 
Normally $3.99. * Over 2,000,000 people love Cleaner Pro :) * Easily Remove Duplicate Contacts! * MAIN FEATURES
○ Find & Merge duplicate contacts!
○ Remove contacts without name or phone number
○ One tap to backup your contacts!
○ Quickly find the contacts you need Your contacts are the most important data in your phone which easily becomes messy if not consistently updated.
Cleaner Pro easily helps you detect and merge duplicate contacts. SIMPLY MERGE DUPLICATE CONTACTS
○ Find & Merge duplicate contacts!
○ Find & merge contacts with similar names.
○ Find & Merge contacts with duplicate phone or email. CLEANUP
○ Remove contacts without name
○ Remove contacts without phone & email BACKUP
○ One tap to backup your contacts!
○ Quickly export your backups to Dropbox, Google Drive, Email
○ Move contacts between accounts (Exchange, iCloud, Local Address Book) SMART FILTERS
○ Quickly find the contacts you need
○ Filter contacts by Company & Job title
○ Filter contacts by upcoming birthday & creation date
Download Cleaner Pro Type 
Normally $1.99. Add a message to your photo, and make it look beautiful with powerful styling options provided by Type. - 75 predefined fonts with different type faces.
- add your own fonts by downloading from the internet, or importing in the app's Document folder through iTunes. The app can open .otf, .ttf fonts and .zip archives.
- 18 blending options.
- add an outer shadow, inner shadow, stroke, background color, fill with gradient, etc.
- undo & redo support.
- Photos extension
Download Type
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| SpaceX cargo ship returns to Earth Posted: 19 Mar 2017 10:08 PM PDT  A SpaceX reusable cargo ship splashed down in the Pacific Ocean safely on Sunday, ending a mission to supply astronauts on the International Space Station, the company said. The Dragon capsule -- the only such vessel capable of returning research samples and other material to Earth -- remained docked with the ISS for nearly a month after delivering more than two tonnes of food, water and scientific equipment for NASA on February 23. Before its departure, the crew loaded the cargo ship with old equipment, waste and almost 4,000 pounds of research samples from experiments carried out in the station's condition of microgravity.
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| This Couple Is Expecting Two Babies — Because They're Both Pregnant At the Same Time Posted: 20 Mar 2017 10:19 AM PDT  They announced it with the *sweetest* Instagram post.
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| Assad sees key Russia role after Syria-Israel strikes Posted: 20 Mar 2017 02:20 PM PDT  Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Monday said Russia can play an important role in the crisis following Syria's firing missiles at Israeli warplanes carrying out strikes in the conflict-torn country. "Russia can play a role so that Israel no longer attacks Syria," Assad told Russian journalists.
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| Chrissy Teigen Takes Us Behind the Scenes of Her Favorite Instagram Shots Posted: 20 Mar 2017 03:00 AM PDT  If there's one thing we know about Chrissy, it's that her social media is always on point. Take a look to find out the stories behind some of her best shots.
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| Another journalist slain in Mexico's violent Veracruz state Posted: 19 Mar 2017 08:07 PM PDT  XALAPA, Mexico (AP) — An attacker shot a journalist to death Sunday in the Mexican state of Veracruz, adding to the toll in a region plagued by drug gang violence and allegations of government corruption.
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| Former dairy farmer leads Trump-Russia investigation Posted: 19 Mar 2017 05:21 PM PDT  WASHINGTON (AP) — Devin Nunes once said all he wanted to do was work on a dairy farm.
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| April The Giraffe Getting Ready To Welcome Calf Posted: 18 Mar 2017 10:30 PM PDT  In an update Saturday, the New York's Animal Adventure Park said the pregnant giraffe was taking all the right steps.
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| Apple’s own website hints new products might launch tomorrow morning Posted: 20 Mar 2017 01:52 PM PDT 
We've been hearing rumors swirling about some kind of Apple product launch this spring, but event invites are still nowhere to be seen. With time running out for a March event to happen, it's increasingly possible that Apple could be planning to quietly release updates to some products with no event and minimal fanfare. And based on hints coming from Apple's own website, it could happen tomorrow morning. As MacRumors spotted, Apple's system status page currently shows that the Apple Store will be down tomorrow morning from 3.00AM to 8.30AM. The Apple Store traditionally goes down before new products are announced; 8.30AM is also a common time for Apple to send out press releases. Combine that with the rumors that have been swirling about product updates, and it's definitely time to be suspicious.
So, what's Tim Cook & Co got cooking? The likeliest new product that wouldn't merit a launch event would be a spec-bumped version of the iPhone SE. We've been hearing that Apple might be updating it to include a 128GB storage option, bringing it in line with other new iPhones. It's also very possible that other minor components get an update, like moving to the second-generation Touch ID sensor or a newer camera module. The iPhone SE was launched this time last year, so an update at this point would make sense, but changing the physical design and form factor wouldn't. Moreover, with the launch of an iPhone 7S and iPhone 8 both expected in September, it wouldn't make sense for Apple to release a splashy new design in spring, which would potentially cannibalize iPhone 8 sales in the fall. But on the other hand, Samsung is launching its latest and greatest on March 29th, and releasing a new handset at the same time would be a classically trolly move from Apple. Other good guesses for spec-bumped products would be updated iPads, which we were all half-expecting to see at an event this spring. It would be uncharacteristic for Apple to launch a brand-new iPad size (as had been rumored) without a launch event, but a spec bump and slimming-down of the current lineup would make sense. There's also the Mac line to consider. Although the MacBook Pro just got a once-in-a-generation overhaul, the iMac is due a minor update, and Intel's recently-released Kaby Lake processors are yet to find their way inside.
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| South Koreans prepare to raise sunken ferry, three years after disaster Posted: 19 Mar 2017 04:42 AM PDT ![South Koreans prepare to raise sunken ferry, three years after disaster]( "South Koreans prepare to raise sunken ferry, three years after disaster") By Suyeong Lee SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea prepared on Sunday to raise the Sewol ferry that sank nearly three years ago, killing more than 300 people, most of them children, testing a system to bring the ship to the surface in the hope of finding the last nine bodies. Mourning families have been calling for the ship to be raised and for a more thorough investigation into the disaster.
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| 'Flip or Flop' Star Tarek El Moussa Posted an Emotional Message About His Battle With Cancer Posted: 20 Mar 2017 10:19 AM PDT  "I look back and still wonder how I survived."
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| France's Le Pen under fire in first presidential debate Posted: 20 Mar 2017 05:21 PM PDT  Marine Le Pen's proposal to pull France out of the euro and her hardline stance on Islam came under attack from her fellow presidential hopefuls Monday, in a combative TV debate a month before the country goes to the polls. France's election is shaping up as the most unpredictable in decades, with far-right National Front (FN) leader Le Pen and centrist Emmanuel Macron tied in polls for the April 23 first round, while the mainstream left and right languish in third and fourth place. With polls showing Macron, 39, would easily beat the anti-immigration Le Pen, 48, in a decisive run-off vote on May 7, he had been expected to take the most heat in Monday's TV battle.
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| Turkey summons German envoy over 'pro-PKK rally scandal' Posted: 19 Mar 2017 04:25 AM PDT  Turkey summoned Germany's ambassador to express its fury over a Frankfurt rally where protesters brandished insignia of outlawed Kurdish militants, the presidential spokesman said Sunday, denouncing it as a "scandal". Some 30,000 pro-Kurdish protesters attended Saturday's rally where demonstrators called for a 'no' vote in an April 16 referendum on expanding President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's powers. Many carried symbols of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) which has been fighting a bitter insurgency against the Turkish state for over three decades.
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| Gorgeous video takes you on a trip above Mars Posted: 20 Mar 2017 11:04 AM PDT  At the moment, NASA and other space agencies are operating satellites in orbit around Mars. The spacecraft are continuing to beam amazing images of the red planet's surface back to Earth, and some of the probes have even solved Martian mysteries in the process. But what would it look like if you were up in space, flying above Mars yourself? A beautiful new video making use of a high-resolution camera orbiting Mars aboard a NASA spacecraft shows you just that. SEE ALSO: We might be able to make Mars habitable "I would love to see images taken by a landscape photographer on Mars, especially from the polar regions. But I'm afraid I won't see that kind of image during my lifetime," Jan Fröjdman, the creator of the video said in a description. The images were taken by a camera onboard NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, a probe that has been exploring the red planet from above for the past 11 years. Fröjdman processed the images by picking reference points in the photos and then spending about three months converting them into 3D images. NASA actually has a pretty huge fan base devoted to processing images beamed back from satellites in far-reaching parts of the solar system. Plenty of folks on the internet spend their time taking raw imaging data sent back from spacecraft all over the solar system and turning it into something beautiful for the world to see. This is possible because NASA releases their images online for free, and the agency even encourages image processors to turn its photos into something beautiful as a way of bringing the agency's unique brand of space science to the masses. A crater on Mars. Image: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona The images in this video could be the kind of thing NASA astronauts see sometime in the not too distant future. At the moment, the space agency is working toward flying people to orbit the red planet in the coming decades for a possible orbital or landing mission on the world's rusty surface. For now, however, we're just going to have to make do with photos sent back from the red planet from the high-powered robots checking out Mars on our behalf. WATCH: NASA designed grippers that can lift celestial rocks in microgravity
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| Cat exhibition in Bishkek Posted: 19 Mar 2017 12:14 PM PDT ![Cat exhibition in Bishkek]( "Cat exhibition in Bishkek") Cats breeders and owners from Kyrgyzstan gathered in Bishkek to present their feline pets. (Getty)
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