| The Latest: Booker says he would reverse transgender ban Posted: 17 Mar 2019 08:56 PM PDT  DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — The Latest on the Democratic race for president (all times local):
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| I got into 39 colleges without cheating: What applying to schools looks like in 2019 Posted: 19 Mar 2019 08:49 AM PDT  Jordan Nixon got into 39 colleges without any celebrity parents or $500,000 bribes. But that doesn't mean it wasn't "stressful to say the least."
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| Stop Politicizing the Christchurch Killings Posted: 18 Mar 2019 09:42 AM PDT  As the families of the 50 Muslims gunned down at two New Zealand Mosques on Friday mourned, Senator Fraser Anning of Queensland put out a widely condemned statement that effectively blamed the victims:> I don't think I have ever seen a statement like this from an elected official after a terrorist attack: pic.twitter.com/83RCLcM7Mg> > -- Seema (@LATSeema) March 15, 2019Later, as Anning was being interviewed by media, a teenage boy smashed an egg on his head. Anning responded by throwing punches at the young man.All this was caught on camera, of course, much as the massacre itself had been livestreamed on Facebook. Media and social media have undoubtedly exacerbated this tragedy. National Review's Theodore Kupfer has noted the fascistic murderer's "sh**posting" (online trolling which blurs the line between jokes about violence and actual violence) and his sadistic sense of irony, suggesting that he "wanted to deepen existing conflicts in a way that will prompt a cycle of overreach and radicalization."If that was his wish, some people seem to be granting it.Whatever one thinks about the political "lessons to be learned" from this incident — guns, immigration, technology — the first response should surely be to console the grieving and to bury the dead. Instead, politicians and journalists have been scrambling to win another battle in the culture wars.Senator Anning tried to score points for his radical agenda with a heartless, knee-jerk response. In the U.K., Guardian journalist Nesrine Malik got to work on Twitter, juxtaposing commentators' past moderate criticisms of Islam with their statements of sympathy for the Christchurch victims, arguing that they were in some way to blame for what happened. In the U.S., Chelsea Clinton was confronted by a protester who shouted that her criticisms of Representative Ilhan Omar's anti-Semitic comments were to blame for the attacks. Everywhere, the politically active seemed to be losing their minds.It was hardly surprising, then, when a teenager soon joined in. You could not make this up: Eggboy was the top trending topic on Twitter on Saturday. His smashing an egg against Anning's head while filming it for the purposes of social media was an expression of adolescent rage — inappropriate, yes but more excusable than Anning's response. It was all a perfect microcosm of the wider cultural response to the shooting.Readers may recall Heath Ledger's terrifying Joker in The Dark Knight. As well as a sadistic sense of humor and bloodlust, he had a disturbingly accurate understanding of human psychology. He knew how to bring out the absolute worst in people, to create chaos and sow hatred. In doing so he would rob people not only of their lives, but of their humanity.To be clear, it would be a grave mistake to attribute either cunning or sophistication to the bigoted thug behind the New Zealand attacks. But if it took neither cunning nor sophistication to produce such a shabby response from our politicians and pundits, what does that say about them?Before it became unfashionable, people used to offer prayers in times of tragedy. Whether or not they meant the gesture literally, it signaled a somber thoughtfulness and a hope for the future that are both sorely needed now. Of course, prayer won't bring back the dead, it is no substitute for policy, and when used as a type of virtue signaling it can be irritating. But in the immediate aftermath of violence, it can — if nothing else — serve to remind us of a civilizing force.That is especially true in this case, where the slaughtered themselves were murdered while at prayer, cut down in the middle of a sacred communal ritual by an alienated, nihilistic, savage gunman. In the immediate aftermath of such horror, the least we can do is honor their memory.
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| Paris police chief fired over Champs-Elysées riots as French government to ban protests in trouble spots Posted: 18 Mar 2019 10:38 AM PDT  The Paris police chief has been fired for failing to contain violent riots that saw a string of flagship restaurants and shops torched along the French capital's famed Champs-Elysées. The government announcement came after top security officials acknowledged that attempts by 5,000 police to stop several hundred black-clad rioters running amok along "the world's most beautiful avenue" for seven hours on Saturday had been an abject "failure". Nominally part of the "yellow vest" movement, masked rioters burned down the famous Fouquet's restaurant as well as several newspaper stands, a string of luxury shops and vehicles. The shocking weekend scenes, in which a mother and child narrowly escaped death in a burning building, pose a fresh security headache to Emmanuel Macron, the French president, after four months of "gilet jaunes" protests and amid opposition claims he is a soft touch on hooligans. Caught napping, Mr Macron had rushed back from a ski break to pledge "strong measures" amid calls on social media for fresh violence next Saturday. The Right-wing opposition accused the president of being a soft touch, while police unions said they had not been given sufficiently robust orders to engage with rioters. Paris' police chief is to be replaced for failing to quell riots in the French capital on Saturday Credit: ZAKARIA ABDELKAFI/AFP After crisis security talks on Monday, Edouard Philippe, the French prime minister, said: "The strategy for maintaining order was not correctly executed." As a result, he said Paris police chief Michel Delpuech would be replaced by the current state prefect of the Nouvelle Aquitaine region, Didier Lallement. Mr Philippe pledged to ban "yellow vest" demonstrations in the worst-hit areas - including the Champs-Elysées but also squares in the cities of Bordeaux and Toulouse - if police deem they have been infiltrated by ultra-violent trouble makers. In these three areas, police will have "greater autonomy" to disband any groups with the use of"drones" and "marker products" to identity individuals. Fines for those who participate in illegal gatherings will be "significantly increased". Mr Philippe also promised to beef up Paris' police's security doctrine to engage in more "contact" with rioters at the behest of police unions, despite the risk of greater injury. "You have to take responsibility and engage, with the possibility that people will get hurt," said Frederic Lagache of the Alliance police union. France has for decades preferred to tackle mass protests with tear gas and rubber bullets but avoid physical clashes against large groups. French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe announced the government decision to replace the Paris police chief and ban "yellow vest" protests in trouble spots Credit: BERTRAND GUAY/AFP In another potentially controversial move, Mr Philippe effectively backed greater use of "defensive ball launchers", or LBD, which a top French rights ombudsman and the UN have criticised as too dangerous. Dozens of protesters have been injured by these, including some who claim to have lost an eye after being hit by such rubber projectiles. One police union said LBDs had been replaced with "marshmallows" to placate such groups, leaving officers exposed against protesters hurling paving stones and other weapons. Mr Philippe said he regretted that "inappropriate orders had been given (on Saturday) to reduce their use". The new surge in violence came as the four-month-old yellow vest movement demanding economic justice was dying down and a nationwide "great debate" on those demands came to a close. Mr Macron's participation in a string of discussions had seen his popularity rise after plummeting early on in the protests but commentators said the latest violence risks seeing those gains falter. Some 91 businesses were damaged in last Saturday's riots Last month the French parliament passed an "anti-troublemakers" bill, which will only take effect once the Constitutional Council rubber stamps it. If enacted, it will grant regional prefects powers to prevent people seen as a serious threat to public order from protesting, and would force protesters involved in violence to pay for damage. It would also make it a crime for protesters to conceal their faces, punishable by up to one year in prison and a €15,000 (£13,000) fine. The bill has been criticised by rights groups, opposition members and even members of Mr Macron's centrist party as going too far in restricting freedoms. The Right-wing opposition says it doesn't go far enough. The Paris region's Chamber of Commerce said 91 businesses suffered damage in the Champs-Elysées riots. It called for an "emergency plan" to support the those shopkeepers and employees. The French insurance federation put the figure for claims linked to yellow vest violence over the past four months at €170 million, not counting last Saturday's damage.
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| US weather: Thousands flee midwest as three die amid flooding triggered by 'bomb cyclone' Posted: 18 Mar 2019 10:23 AM PDT  Thousands of people are being forced to leave their homes after a so-called bomb cyclone brought flooding to huge swathes of the American midwest. From Nebraska to Kansas, and Missouri to Illinois, residents have been evacuated amid flooding that has killed at least three people. The governors of Nebraska, Iowa and Wisconsin have declared states of emergency.
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| China Considers Excluding Boeing 737 Max From Trade Deal Posted: 19 Mar 2019 02:00 PM PDT  Boeing jets were featured on a draft list of American products China would buy to reduce its trade surplus with the U.S., the people said, asking not to be identified discussing private deliberations. Now, safety concerns are pushing China to examine whether to cut the 737 Max from the list altogether or replace it with other Boeing models after the crash of a plane operated by Ethiopian Airlines led to the aircraft being grounded worldwide, they said.
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| Navy vs. Nukes: U.S. Navy Plans to Test Missile Defenses Against ICBM Posted: 18 Mar 2019 02:01 AM PDT  The Pentagon plans a "first-of-its-kind" test of an unprecedented weapons capability to intercept and destroy an enemy Intercontinental Ballistic Missile "ICBM" -- from a Navy ship at sea using a Standard Missile-3 Block IIA.
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| Last prosecutor on Michael Flynn case departs Mueller's office Posted: 18 Mar 2019 03:25 PM PDT  Her departure comes on the heels of reports that another Mueller prosecutor would leave the office in coming days and is sure to be seen as a new indication that the special counsel's investigation is winding down.
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| Here is what happens when you try to open a plane door mid-flight Posted: 19 Mar 2019 10:05 AM PDT ![Here is what happens when you try to open a plane door mid-flight]( "Here is what happens when you try to open a plane door mid-flight") The possibility of opening a plane door depends on the air pressure as the plane's elevation changes.
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| Turkey's Erdogan calls on New Zealand to restore death penalty over shooting Posted: 19 Mar 2019 06:28 AM PDT  President Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday called on New Zealand to restore the death penalty for the gunman who killed 50 people at two Christchurch mosques, warning that Turkey would make the attacker pay for his act if New Zealand did not. Australian Brenton Tarrant, 28, a suspected white supremacist, was charged with murder on Saturday after a lone gunman opened fire at the two mosques during Muslim Friday prayers. If New Zealand doesn't make you, we know how to make you pay one way or another," Erdogan told an election rally of thousands in northern Turkey.
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| Processing migrant families puts added pressure on Border Patrol agents Posted: 19 Mar 2019 08:56 AM PDT  Tens of thousands of migrant families from Central America seek asylum in the U.S.; William La Jeunesse reports from Southern California.
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| NZ premier Ardern vows mosque gunman will face 'full force of law' Posted: 18 Mar 2019 07:10 PM PDT  New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern promised on Tuesday that the man responsible for last week's deadly mosque massacres would face "the full force of the law", as she vowed never to utter his name. "He sought many things from his act of terror, but one was notoriety -- that is why you will never hear me mention his name," Ardern said in an emotional address to a special meeting of parliament, which she opened with the Arabic greeting "as salaam aleikum" -- 'peace be upon you'. Australian Brenton Tarrant, 28, was captured by police and has been charged with one count of murder, but Ardern assured parliament other charges would follow.
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| The Porsche Taycan EV Is Coming into Clearer Focus Posted: 18 Mar 2019 10:10 AM PDT |
| Man suspected of killing Gambino crime boss appears in court with 'MAGA forever' and 'QAnon' on his hand Posted: 19 Mar 2019 02:33 AM PDT  The man charged with killing the reputed boss of the Gambino crime family wrote pro-Donald Trump slogans on his hand and flashed them to journalists before a court hearing Monday. Anthony Comello, 24, was arrested Saturday in New Jersey in connection with the death of Francesco "Franky Boy" Cali last week in front of his Staten Island home. While waiting for a court hearing to begin in Toms River, New Jersey, in which he agreed to be extradited to New York, Comello held up his left hand. On it were scrawled pro-Trump slogans including "MAGA Forever," an abbreviation of Trump's campaign slogan "Make America Great Again." It also read "United We Stand MAGA" and "Patriots In Charge." In the center of his palm he had drawn a large circle. It was not immediately clear why he had done so. Comello's lawyer, Brian Neary, would not discuss the writing on his client's hand, nor would he say whether Comello maintains his innocence. Asked by reporters after the hearing what was on Comello's hand, Neary replied, "Handcuffs." Anthony Comello displays 'MAGA forever' and 'QAnon', a Trump-related conspiracy theory Credit: Seth Wenig/ AP He referred all other questions to Comello's Manhattan lawyer, Robert Gottlieb, who said in an emailed statement his client has been placed in protective custody due to "serious threats" that had been made against him, but gave no details of them. Ocean County officials could not immediately be reached after hours on Monday. "Mr Comello's family and friends simply cannot believe what they have been told," Gottlieb said. "There is something very wrong here and we will get to the truth about what happened as quickly as possible." The statement did not address the writing on Comello's hand, and a lawyer from Gottlieb's firm declined to comment further Monday evening. Comello sat with a slight smile in the jury box of the courtroom Monday afternoon as dozens of reporters and photographers filed into the room. When they were in place, Comello held up his left hand to display the writings as the click and whirr of camera lenses filled the room with sound. During the hearing, Comello did not speak other than to say, "Yes, sir" to the judge to respond to several procedural questions. Frank Cali in February 7, 2008, after his arrest in Italy Credit: AFP Cali, 53, was shot to death last Wednesday by a gunman who may have crashed his truck into Cali's car to lure him outside. Police said Cali was shot 10 times. Federal prosecutors referred to Cali in court filings in 2014 as the underboss of the Mafia's Gambino family, once one of the country's most powerful crime organisations. News accounts since 2015 said Cali had ascended to the top spot, though he was never charged with leading the gang. His only mob-related conviction came a decade ago, when he was sentenced to 16 months in prison in an extortion scheme involving a failed attempt to build a NASCAR track on Staten Island. He was released in 2009 and hasn't been in legal trouble since then. Police have not yet said whether they believe Cali's murder was a mob hit or whether he was killed for some other motive. The last Mafia boss to be rubbed out in New York City was Gambino don "Big Paul" Castellano, who was assassinated in 1985.
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| Beto O'Rourke makes early impression in Pennsylvania visit Posted: 19 Mar 2019 01:24 PM PDT  STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Former U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke is making an early impression in Pennsylvania, a late-voting state that may yet play a role in the crowded 2020 Democratic presidential primary contest.
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| Trump's likely pick for Pentagon job makes 'trains run on time.' Can he do much more? Posted: 18 Mar 2019 12:49 PM PDT  Some observers credit Shanahan's business experience as an asset in the Pentagon.
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| Thousands flee record Midwest flooding triggered by 'bomb cyclone' – and more rain is coming Posted: 18 Mar 2019 09:23 AM PDT  Heavy rain combined with spring snowmelt pushed some Midwest rivers to record levels Sunday and forced evacuations.
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| March Madness revenue is insane. So is soaring student debt. Time for March sanity? Posted: 19 Mar 2019 05:50 AM PDT  Our cultural and economic priorities are misaligned. Enjoy the games, but remember that colleges have a mission higher and broader than basketball.
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| Israeli rabbi, wounded in Palestinian attack, dies: hospital Posted: 18 Mar 2019 03:12 AM PDT  An Israeli rabbi died on Monday of wounds from a Palestinian attack a day earlier in the occupied West Bank in which a soldier was killed - an incident that played into Israeli politics three weeks before a national election. The rabbi, Achiad Ettinger, 47, was a father of 12 and a resident of a Jewish settlement in the West Bank. A spokeswoman at Beilinson hospital near Tel Aviv announced Ettinger's death.
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| Utrecht gunman left letter in getaway car signalling possible terrorism motive Posted: 19 Mar 2019 04:03 AM PDT  Dutch authorities said Tuesday they were "seriously" investigating a possible terrorist motive for the Utrecht tram attack because of evidence including a letter found in the gunman's getaway car. Police were questioning Turkish-born main suspect Gokmen Tanis, 37, and two other men over Monday's rampage in which three people were killed and seven injured, three seriously. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte had earlier said they "cannot exclude" other motives including a family dispute, but police and prosecutors said on Tuesday that the probe was leaning towards terrorism. "So far, a terrorist motive is seriously being taken into account. This is based on a letter found in the getaway car among other things and the nature of the facts," police and prosecutors said in a joint statement. "Our investigation has established no link between the main suspect and the victims." Flowers have been set up in tribute to victims at the site of the shooting in a tram Credit: JOHN THYS/ AFP The three people who died in the shooting were a 19-year-old woman from Vianen, south of Utrecht, and two men aged 28 and 49 from Utrecht itself, the statement said. Armed police captured Tanis after an eight-hour manhunt that virtually shut down the Netherlands' fourth largest city and triggered a nationwide increase in security at airports and key sites. Police said they had found a red Renault Clio used as a getaway car after the attack. They had also found a firearm after his arrest, they added. Tanis and two other men aged 23 and 27 are still being interrogated, police said. A stream of mourners laid flowers on Tuesday at the site of the attack near the 24 Oktoberplein square. "One of the victims was my friend's girlfriend. So coming here today was the least I could do," Marco van Rooijen, 43, told AFP. "I am here to pay homage to the victims and to support their families," added local resident Yvette Koetjeloozekoot, 29. Flags were flying half-mast on many buildings around the Netherlands. Public transport was running again after forensic police finished their investigations at the scene and removed the tram on which the shooting erupted. Rutte was chairing a cabinet meeting on the attack, which has raised security fears a day before provincial elections in the Netherlands. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country's intelligence agency was "looking into" the attack. "Some say it is a family matter, some say it is a terror attack ... Our intelligence agency is looking into the matter", Erdogan told Ulke TV late Monday. Dutch media have reported that the suspect had a long rap sheet and was only released from jail two weeks ago on a number of charges. Broadcaster NOS reported that some people close to him had links to fundamentalist Islamic groups, but also that he had divorced his wife two years ago. Police and witnesses said gunfire broke out on the tram on Monday morning, sending people fleeing and triggering a huge police response. Mosques and schools were closed across Utrecht following the bloodshed, before heavily armed officers surrounded a building and arrested Tanis. Support for the Netherlands poured in from around the world including the United States, the EU and Russia. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said: "America stands with you. We will continue to do all we can to help you in this terrible time of tragedy."
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| US, Russia to hold talks on Venezuela in Rome Posted: 18 Mar 2019 09:51 AM PDT  ROME (AP) — U.S. and Russian officials are meeting in Rome this week to discuss the crisis in Venezuela.
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| Mailed pipe bomb suspect Cesar Sayoc expected to plead guilty in New York Posted: 18 Mar 2019 04:09 AM PDT  A Florida man charged with sending pipe bombs to prominent critics of President Donald Trump is expected to plead guilty next week.
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| Biggest obstacle to passage of Green New Deal? Democratic lawmakers Posted: 18 Mar 2019 09:26 AM PDT  Democrats agree that climate change needs to be addressed. Pronto. But they're divided on if Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez' Green New Deal is the answer.
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| Meet the Smith & Wesson Model 39/59: The Navy SEALs Old Gun Posted: 18 Mar 2019 01:00 AM PDT  The Smith & Wesson Model 39 semi-automatic handgun served U.S. Navy SEALs during the Vietnam War and then went on to become one of the American nine-millimeter high capacity pistols, the Model 59.
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| New Zealand shooting is warning for US: Get serious about white supremacist terror threat Posted: 18 Mar 2019 12:15 AM PDT  Why is there controversy over whether right-wing, racially motivated violent extremism is a growing danger? It is and we need to treat it that way.
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| Every New Compact Crossover and SUV Ranked from Worst to Best Posted: 18 Mar 2019 11:44 AM PDT |
| Boeing says finalizing software upgrade, revising pilot training for 737 Max Posted: 17 Mar 2019 09:02 PM PDT  The updates are intended to address how the aircraft's flight control system - MCAS (Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System) - responds to erroneous sensor inputs, the planemaker said https://boeing.mediaroom.com/2019-03-17-Boeing-CEO-Muilenburg-Issues-Statement-on-Ethiopian-Airlines-Flight-302-Accident-Investigation in a statement. A 737 MAX 8 operated by Ethiopian Airlines crashed shortly after take-off on March 10, killing all 157 on board. Boeing has been working on a software upgrade for an anti-stall system and pilot displays on the 737 MAX, its fastest-selling jetliner, following the deadly Lion Air crash, and has said it was updating pilot training as well.
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| NY self-help guru pleads not guilty to child porn charges Posted: 18 Mar 2019 11:36 AM PDT  NEW YORK (AP) — The spiritual leader of an upstate New York self-help group pleaded not guilty on Monday to newly filed child pornography charges at a hearing where it became clear that his co-defendants are trying to avoid going to trial with him next month.
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| US sanctions Venezuela state gold mining company: Treasury Posted: 19 Mar 2019 08:58 AM PDT  The United States slapped sanctions Tuesday on a Venezuelan state mining company, charging that its illicit gold operations were being used to prop up President Nicolas Maduro and his inner circle. The action was taken against CVG Compania General de Mineria de Venezuela CA, or Minerven, and its president Adrian Antonio Perdomo Mata, the US Treasury Department said.
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| This $20 iPhone XR battery case has more capacity than Apple’s $129 case Posted: 18 Mar 2019 09:53 AM PDT  The Apple Smart Battery Case for iPhone XR is pretty sleek, and the iOS integration is definitely nifty. It has less than 1400 mAh of capacity though, which is pretty disappointing. It also costs a whopping $129, which is even more disappointing. If you want a little more bang for your buck you should definitely check out the Elebase iPhone XR Battery Case. It packs 5000 mAh of juice and it only costs $19.99 thanks to a discount on Amazon. There are also versions available for the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max, and they're both on sale for $19.99 right now, too.Here are the bullet points from the product page: * EXTEND BATTERY LIFE \--- The 5000mAh rechargeable battery case provides up to 120% extra battery capacity whenever you need it, giving you the power to do more. With a series of four LEDs on the rear side, you can easily keep tabs on battery power of the case. Never worry about power again! * USER-FRIENDLY DESIGN \--- The product is easy to attach with a slide-and-lock design and you don't even need to remove the case to plug in your Lightning headphones or sync up your phone with a computer. Furthermore, you can also use this case with any magnetic mount as built-in magnets will hold your phone in place. * ULTIMATE PROTECTION \--- By utilizing a more rugged design than other battery cases on the market, this battery case features a rigid plastic shell and raised bezel, to provide your iPhone with added protection against drops and hard falls. * CHARGE WITH CONFIDENCE \--- Built-in fail-safe circuitry and temperature protection prevents over-charging and overheating. Besides, The first-class lithium-ion polymer cells also guarantee the most efficient charge for your device. * WARRANTY \--- We back this iPhone battery case with one year warranty and friendly after-sale customer service. Please don't hesitated to reach out if there is any problem for your order :)
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| Joe Biden comes close to announcing presidential candidacy, denounces Trump Posted: 18 Mar 2019 03:19 AM PDT  The speech came at a time when speculation over whether the 76-year-old politician will run for president has intensified.
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| New British Airways business class seat features door and lie-flat beds Posted: 19 Mar 2019 04:31 AM PDT  British Airways has pulled back the curtain on its new business class seat which features a sliding door for privacy, flat-bed seats, vanity and increased storage space.
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| Outrage over Pope's decision to reject resignation of archbishop convicted of protecting predator priest Posted: 19 Mar 2019 11:16 AM PDT  Catholic campaigners condemned as "shocking" a decision by Pope Francis not to accept the resignation of a French archbishop who was given a suspended prison sentence this month for failing to report the sexual abuse of boy scouts by a known predatory priest. Tuesday's surprise decision came just a month after the Vatican convened an unprecedented conference of cardinals in which it pledged to get tough on priests who abuse children and the bishops who cover up for them. French cardinal Philippe Barbarin travelled to Rome on Monday and offered his resignation to Pope Francis. But on Tuesday the Vatican announced that the Argentinian pontiff had decided to reject the resignation. While the Vatican offered no explanation, it seems likely that the Pope wants to wait to see the outcome of an appeal that the 68-year-old archbishop intends to launch against his six-month sentence. But the decision was condemned by groups representing survivors of clerical sex abuse from around the world. Pope Francis receives Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, Archbishop of Lyon, at the Vatican Credit: Reuters "I'm stunned by this decision. It is shocking and depressing," Anne Barrett Doyle, the head of the US-based organisation Bishop Accountability, told The Telegraph. "It reveals the Pope's very narrow concept of accountability. It is a reminder to bishops that they have nothing to fear from this Pope. It is a profound and disastrous misreading of what is required to address this crisis." Just last month, during a four-day conference at the Vatican attended by bishops and archbishops from around the world, the Pope said that "no abuse must ever be covered up, as has happened in the past". In a statement, Barbarin, the most senior French Catholic to have been swept up in the Church's sex abuse scandal, said: "On Monday I handed over my mission to the Holy Father. He spoke of the presumption of innocence and did not accept this resignation." Barbarin said that he would step back from his role as archbishop of Lyon "for a little while", allowing his deputy to stand in for him. Even the Bishops' Conference of France – the country's most senior Catholic body - said it was surprised by the decision, which it described as "unheard of". Barbarin was convicted earlier this month of failing to act against Bernard Preynat, a priest who has confessed to abusing boy scouts in the 1980s and 1990s. Preynat is expected to be put on trial later this year. Barbarin became archbishop of Lyon in 2002 and learned of Preynat's abuse of boys but let him remain in ministry until 2015, said Bishop Accountability. French victims of clerical abuse also reacted with outrage to the papal decision. "I think that man (the Pope) is going to manage to kill off the church. It's a mistake too many," said Francois Devaux, a co-founder of a victims' organisation. Faith in the Catholic Church has plunged as a result of its failure over two decades to address sex abuse perpetrated by clergy. Last week George Pell, the Australian cardinal who was once the third most powerful figure in the Vatican, was sentenced to six years in prison after being convicted of abusing two altar boys in Melbourne's St Patrick's Cathedral in the 1990s. He also intends to appeal and remains a cardinal, despite being behind bars. Campaign groups were profoundly disappointed when last month's Vatican conference on combating sexual abuse failed to come up with any new, concrete initiatives to address the crisis.
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| Former white supremacist explains what leads people to the extreme right Posted: 18 Mar 2019 11:30 AM PDT  A former neo-Nazi skinhead has attempted to pinpoint exactly how white supremacists are radicalised to commit violent attacks against minorities similar to the mosque shootings in Christchurch, New Zealand that killed at least 51 people last week. The co-founder of Life After Hate, a nonprofit organisation aimed at helping people leave white supremacist groups, was asked on CNN if stationing armed guards at houses of worships could effectively prevent white supremacists from committing a heinous attack like Christchurch. While Mr Picciolini agreed 'vulnerable places need to be protected,' he said more priority should be placed on the forums and sources where men and women are often radicalised by white supremacist ideology.
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| Massive fire at Houston petrochemical storage terminal may last two more days Posted: 18 Mar 2019 10:27 AM PDT  A massive fire at a fuels storage company along the Houston Ship Channel may burn for two more days, an official said on Monday as the blaze spread a plume of black smoke across the city, shutting schools in two nearby communities. The fire began Sunday morning in a giant storage tank containing naphtha, a volatile substance used to create octane-boosting components of gasoline. No injuries were reported from the fire but nearby residents were encouraged to remain indoors.
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| Woman pleads guilty to sneaking aboard international flight Posted: 19 Mar 2019 12:15 PM PDT  CHICAGO (AP) — A woman who's been dubbed a serial stowaway was sentenced Tuesday to 18 months of probation after pleading guilty to sneaking past Chicago airport security last year, boarding a plane and flying to London without a ticket.
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| Syria army vows to retake control of Kurdish areas Posted: 18 Mar 2019 07:33 AM PDT  Syrian government forces will reclaim control of northeastern areas controlled by the US-backed Kurds, whether by force or through reconciliation, the defence minister warned Monday. Marginalised for decades, Syria's minority Kurds have carved out a de-facto autonomous region across some 30 percent of the nation's territory since the devastating war broke out in 2011. Backed by a US-led coalition, Kurdish forces have spearheaded an offensive in Syria against the Islamic State group.
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| Tyler Perry steps in to help 4 children of single mom allegedly killed by boyfriend Posted: 19 Mar 2019 01:43 PM PDT  Tyler Perry reportedly offered to take care of the family's rent to stave off eviction, arrange for 45-year-old Tynesha Evans' body to be flown to Wisconsin for burial and cover her 18-year-old daughter's tuition at Spelman College so she doesn't have to drop out.
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| Never-Trumpers assess his mental health: 'His condition is getting worse' Posted: 18 Mar 2019 01:04 PM PDT  The president's 29-tweet Sunday raises eyebrows.
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| USC to deny students connected to cheating scheme class registration, transcripts as their status is frozen Posted: 19 Mar 2019 01:46 PM PDT  USC says it won't let students currently at the school who may be connected to the nation's college admissions bribery scandal to register for class.
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| Boeing: 737 MAX certification followed US rules Posted: 18 Mar 2019 08:17 AM PDT  Boeing said Monday that the flight stabilization system under scrutiny following two deadly 737 MAX plane crashes, met all US regulations. "The 737 MAX was certified in accordance with the identical Federal Aviation Administration requirements and processes that have governed certification of all previous new airplanes and derivatives," Boeing said Monday. Boeing and regulators face increased examination over the stall prevention system, the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System or MCAS, which authorities have said was likely a factor in deadly crashes in Indonesia in October, while the crash in Ethiopia earlier this month showed similarities.
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