| Trump administration loses bid to lift bar on funds for border wall Posted: 03 Jul 2019 06:00 PM PDT  The ruling was another setback in President Donald Trump's effort to construct a border wall, one of his top promises in the 2016 presidential campaign. "Congress did not appropriate money to build the border barriers defendants seek to build here," a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said in a 2-1 ruling. "Congress presumably decided such construction at this time was not in the public interest.
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| Authorities Begin Arrests in Hong Kong as Beijing Ramps Up the Rhetoric Posted: 04 Jul 2019 12:07 AM PDT  Tensions over the protests are also simmering between China and the U.K.
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| Hundreds of aftershocks follow Ridgecrest earthquake, California's strongest in 20 years Posted: 05 Jul 2019 02:27 PM PDT  The Fourth of July California earthquake was followed by hundreds of aftershocks rumbling near Ridgecrest, the epicenter for the magnitude 6.4 quake
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| Manslaughter charges for woman who lost baby after being shot in stomach dismissed by prosecutors following outcry Posted: 03 Jul 2019 11:56 PM PDT  A woman indicted for manslaughter after losing her unborn baby when she was shot has had the charge dropped.Marshae Jones, of Birmingham, Alabama, lost the foetus after being blasted in the stomach following a fight in December.The 28-year-old was arrested last week after a grand jury decided she had caused the death by initiating the brawl while knowing she was five months pregnant.But, following a global outcry, a Jefferson County district attorney announced the charges were being discontinued on Wednesday.Lynneice Washington said: "After reviewing the facts of this case and the applicable state law, I have determined that it is not in the best interest of justice to pursue prosecution of Ms Jones. There are no winners, only losers, in this sad ordeal."No further explanation was offered for the sudden change or any rationale given for how grand jurors returned the indictment in the first place.Ms Jones' lawyers said she was pleased with the decision and urged her supporters to now direct their energy to "ensuring that what happened to Marshae won't ever happen again".They had previously called the charge "flawed and twisted", saying it "defies the most basic logic and analysis".The case came shortly after Alabama passed America's most hard-line anti-abortion legislation.The new laws, passed earlier this year, make performing an abortion at any stage of pregnancy a crime punishable by life in prison for the provider. It makes no exception for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest.Officials denied Jones' indictment had anything to do with the legislation but her case sparked outrage across the US and wider world among pro-choice campaigners and advocates for women's rights.Many pointed out the charge was another clear example of the state attempting to punish women for so-called crimes related to their pregnancies.Legal scholars said the arrest raised questions about what other scenarios – such as driving a car or swimming in a pool – could constitute putting a foetus in danger.Jeffery Robinson, deputy legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union, welcomed the charges being dropped, saying the decision "represents precisely what we want to see in these critical moments: a prosecutor who is not afraid to use prosecutorial discretion and power to refuse to prosecute when the law and justice demands that charges should be dropped."Lynn Paltrow, executive director of National Advocates for Pregnant Women, said she was pleased to see the case dismissed but noted it would be a mistake to see it as an outlier.She said: "We hope there are no more cases like this in the future, but our experience in 40 years of cases suggests that we will see many more such misuses of the law in the name of foetal personhood in the future."Ms Jones' attacker, 23-year-old Ebony Jemison, had manslaughter charges against her dismissed earlier this year. She herself had said she felt the indictment of her rival was unjust.
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| The Latest: Police cite protesters blocking July 4th parade Posted: 05 Jul 2019 12:02 AM PDT  Several dozen members of a group protesting treatment of migrants and asylum seekers have been cited after briefly interrupting a Fourth of July parade in Philadelphia. Police say about 300 people had marched to the Independence Mall area Thursday, within sight of Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, after demonstrating outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency headquarters.
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| Trump asks Americans to 'stay true to our cause' at Salute to America Fourth of July celebration in Washington Posted: 04 Jul 2019 08:28 PM PDT  Supporters welcomed his tribute to the military while protesters assailed him for putting himself center stage on a holiday devoted to unity.
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| Buttigieg hits back at ‘black people’ question: ‘Racism is not going to help’ Posted: 04 Jul 2019 02:09 PM PDT  "Sir, I think racism is not going to help us get out of this drama," Buttigieg said.
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| Iran Will Only Negotiate With U.S. If Supreme Leader Gives Nod Posted: 04 Jul 2019 06:42 AM PDT ![Iran Will Only Negotiate With U.S. If Supreme Leader Gives Nod]( "Iran Will Only Negotiate With U.S. If Supreme Leader Gives Nod") (Bloomberg) -- Iran will only negotiate with the U.S. if the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei agrees to it, a minister said."Negotiation between Iran and America will take place if the supreme leader gives the permission," Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi was cited as saying by state-run IRNA news agency on Thursday. "The U.S. president thought that sanctions would bring Iran to its knees but the Islamic Republic will not succumb to negotiations under the pressure of global arrogance."Major state-run news agencies, including IRNA, later simultaneously ran a statement from the intelligence ministry denying that there was any mention of negotiations by the minister.Iran's leaders, including Khamenei, have repeatedly refused to negotiate with the U.S. while under crippling sanctions.(Updates with denial in 3rd paragraph.)To contact the reporter on this story: Arsalan Shahla in Dubai at ashahla@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Shaji Mathew at shajimathew@bloomberg.net, Lin NoueihedFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
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| UN calls for Libya ceasefire as death toll climbs to 1,000 Posted: 05 Jul 2019 05:02 PM PDT  The UN Security Council called Friday for a ceasefire in Libya as the death toll from a three-month offensive on Tripoli reached 1,000 including scores killed in an air strike that hit a detention center for migrants. Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar, whose forces hold eastern Libya and much of the country's south, launched an offensive in early April to wrestle the capital from forces loyal to the UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA). Air strikes and ground fighting have since left nearly 1,000 people dead and some 5,000 wounded, the UN's World Health Organization said.
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| Alaska heat wave: Coldest state could see all-time record today Posted: 04 Jul 2019 12:35 PM PDT  Anchorage, Alaska's biggest city, is struggling with dry conditions, wildfires and what could become the hottest day on record.
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| Border patrol agents mock migrants with racist messages in Facebook group Posted: 05 Jul 2019 11:14 AM PDT  A second secret Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Facebook group has been exposed for its derogatory depiction of migrants in a series of vulgar and inappropriate posts. The group, called "Real CBP Nation", was discovered after two individuals familiar with the page sent screenshots to journalists at CNN. The page contained posts mocking the separation of migrant families, racist and racially divisive comments about Asian and African American people, and memes mocking congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.The group had around 1,000 members. In one post, a meme posted of a border patrol agent apprehending someone was captioned: "Felt kinda cute, might separate some families today idk."The immigration authority said: "CBP received screenshots of social media posts allegedly by CBP employees and has shared those posts with the office of professional responsibility, the office charged with investigating potential employee misconduct". It added it planned to launch an investigation. The spokesperson continued: "If the investigation verifies that employees posted content in violation of CBP's code of conduct, the findings will inform management decisions regarding appropriate disciplinary action." The news of this CBP Facebook group comes after another page, called "I'm 10-15", was exposed by ProPublica for mocking dead migrants, posting sexist and sexually suggestive imagery of Ms Ocasio-Cortez, and using offensive and dehumanising language concerning asylum seekers.These posts included accusations that the picture of drowned migrants Óscar Alberto Martínez Ramírez and his daughter Valeria, who died while trying to cross the Rio Grande in June, was faked by "dems and liberal parties" because the migrants were "so clean". The picture of the father and daughter was taken by a Mexican journalist, Julia Le Duc.One member posted doctored images of Donald Trump pushing Ms Ocasio-Cortez's head towards his genitals, captioned: "That's right b*tches. The masses have spoken and today democracy won."The "I'm 10-15" group had over 9,000 members, and several posters had been reported to CBP higher-ups. The two groups are now undergoing internal investigations.
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| He was abducted and forced into a deadly scheme to extort marijuana from his father Posted: 05 Jul 2019 06:32 AM PDT  Young entrepreneur Curtis Jenkins III from Camden was kidnapped and killed after being lured to Fairview address, authorities say.
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| Chris Cline, America's 'King of Coal' killed in helicopter crash Posted: 05 Jul 2019 09:47 AM PDT  Chris Cline, America's "King of Coal", has been killed in a helicopter accident near the Bahamas. Mr Cline, 61, the founder of Foresight Energy, one of America's largest coal companies, was among seven people who died when the helicopter crashed en-route from the Bahamas to Fort Lauderdale in Florida. A billionaire philanthropist and major Republican donor, in the 2016 election, Mr Cline gave $1 million to Jeb Bush's political action committee. He later donated $1 million to Donald Trump's inauguration. Mr Cline's death was confirmed by Jim Justice, West Virginia's governor on Twitter. "Today we lost a WV superstar and I lost a very close friend. Our families go back to the beginning of the Cline empire - Pioneer Fuel. Chris Cline built an empire and on every occasion was always there to give. What a wonderful, loving, and giving man," he wrote. Known as "the King of Coal", Mr Cline started working as a miner in 1980, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather who worked underground. Ten years later he founded an energy development company, the Cline Group. Today we lost a WV superstar and I lost a very close friend. Our families go back to the beginning of the Cline empire - Pioneer Fuel. Chris Cline built an empire and on every occasion was always there to give. What a wonderful, loving, and giving man.— Governor Jim Justice (@WVGovernor) July 5, 2019 Then in 2006, he founded the St Louis, Missouri-based Foresight Energy which at its peak was worth $2.6 billion (£2.1 billion). In West Virginia, Mr Cline was known for his philanthropy, including donating several million dollars to his alma mater, Marshall University, where an athletics complex was named after him. According to the Royal Bahamas Police Force, Mr Cline's helicopter took off from Big Grand Cay around 2am on Thursday and was reported missing 50 minutes later when it failed to arrive at its destination. The overturned helicopter was later discovered in Walker's Bay in the Abaco Islands, about two miles from its departure point. Police in the Bahamas, who said four women and three men, died in the crash, did not name the victims. However, quoting family members, the Palm Beach Post, named two of the other fatalities as Mr Kline's youngest daughter, Kameron and her friend, Brittney Searson.
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| Jury to consider death penalty in Chinese scholar killing Posted: 05 Jul 2019 07:23 AM PDT  A federal jury that convicted a former University of Illinois doctoral student of kidnapping, torturing and killing a young scholar from China now must decide if Brendt Christensen should be put to death. While the state of Illinois, where she was killed, does not have the death penalty, the case was brought under federal law, which does allow capital punishment. The jury returned a guilty verdict on June 24 after deliberating for less than 90 minutes, in part, because the 30-year-old Christensen's own lawyers told jurors from the outset that he did kill 26-year-old Yingying Zhang, saying their sole objective was to persuade jurors to spare his life.
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| Iran's Most Powerful Weapon Against America: Meet the IRGC Posted: 04 Jul 2019 01:48 AM PDT  No other branch of the Iranian military can claim the notoriety that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has earned for itself over the last several decades.Earlier this year, the White House took the unprecedented step of designating the IRGC as an organization that "actively participates in, finances, and promotes terrorism as a tool of statecraft." It was an IRGC fast attack craft that almost sparked open military conflict between the U.S. and Iran in June by staging an unprovoked attack against two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman.The IRGC continues to comprise a substantial part of the Iranian armed forces, but their influence—both within Iran and across the Middle-East region—extends far beyond raw combat capabilities. To understand the full extent of IRGC's current role within the Iranian military, we must go back to back to the birth of the Iranian Islamic Republic.The IRGC was founded in the aftermath of the 1979 Iranian revolution. Skeptical of the intentions of the inherited government and wary of a counter-coup, Supreme Leader Ruhollah Khomeini founded the IRGC as a counterweight to the existing Iranian security apparatus.
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| Pakistan’s Leader Imran Khan Has $684,000 in Assets. And Four Goats Posted: 04 Jul 2019 05:03 AM PDT  (Bloomberg) -- Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has assets worth 108 million rupees ($684,000), operates four foreign currency accounts and owns four goats.The cricketer turned politician, who takes a chopper to work, doesn't own a car and the first lady doesn't possess any jewelry, The Express Tribune reported, citing assets disclosed by the Election Commission of Pakistan.The South Asian nation leader's wealth dwarfs many of the 340 politicians that are part of the lower house of parliament. Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari owns assets worth 1.5 billion rupees, more than double his father and former president Asif Ali Zardari, who owns arms worth 16.6 million rupees and horses worth 10 million."These number may give an idea but are not the actual worth," said Samiullah Tariq, director research at Karachi-based Arif Habib Ltd. "They can sometimes be misleading since assets are valued at the time they were bought, not at current value."Khan has been leading a cost-cutting drive from the front. He has moved out of the official residence and sold unnecessary government assets including luxury cars.To contact the reporter on this story: Faseeh Mangi in Karachi at fmangi@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Arijit Ghosh at aghosh@bloomberg.net, Ravil ShirodkarFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
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| REFILE-U.S. dream pulls African migrants in record numbers across Latin America Posted: 05 Jul 2019 05:00 AM PDT ![REFILE-U.S. dream pulls African migrants in record numbers across Latin America]( "REFILE-U.S. dream pulls African migrants in record numbers across Latin America") Marilyne Tatang, 23, crossed nine borders in two months to reach Mexico from the West African nation of Cameroon, fleeing political violence after police torched her house, she said. Tatang, who is eight months pregnant, took a raft across a river into Mexico on June 8, a day after Mexico struck a deal with U.S. President Donald Trump to do more to control the biggest flows of migrants heading north to the U.S. border in more than a decade.
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| Who’s in and who's out of the next Dem debates? Posted: 05 Jul 2019 02:07 AM PDT ![Who's in and who's out of the next Dem debates?]( "Who's in and who's out of the next Dem debates?") A tight race is on for the 20th and final July debate slot, while a more exclusive group of Democrats is closing in on September's debate.
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| Stocks fall as strong US jobs data cloud hopes for rate cut Posted: 05 Jul 2019 08:52 AM PDT  Stock markets slid Friday as better-than-expected non-farm payrolls data in the United States clouded investors' hopes for steep cuts in interest rates in the world's biggest economy. Among Europe's leading blue-chip indices, Frankfurt's DAX, Paris's CAC 40 and London's FTSE all ended the day over half a percent lower. On the other side of the Atlantic, Wall Street similarly lost around 0.5 percent in midday trading.
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| 'Wah, Wah, Wah.' Megan Rapinoe Responds to Critics of Alex Morgan's Tea Sipping Goal Celebration Posted: 04 Jul 2019 08:18 AM PDT  "I mean, it's like, we're at the World Cup, what do you want us to do?"
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| Human remains belong to mother and child missing since June 2018, police say Posted: 05 Jul 2019 10:05 AM PDT  Police identified the human remains found in the backyard of a Lansing, Michigan, home as those of mother and son missing since June 2018.
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| UPDATE 1-Ethiopian crash families criticise Boeing over donation plan Posted: 04 Jul 2019 10:46 AM PDT ![UPDATE 1-Ethiopian crash families criticise Boeing over donation plan]( "UPDATE 1-Ethiopian crash families criticise Boeing over donation plan") The families of victims of an Ethiopian air disaster on Thursday criticised Boeing's plan to donate $100 million to unspecified charities and communities affected by two crashes, saying it was too vague and that families should have been consulted first. Some of the families said Wednesday's announcement from the U.S. planemaker also triggered an avalanche of unwelcome phone calls from relatives and acquaintances who believed they had just received compensation. The crash of the Boeing 737 MAX jet came only five months after the same model of plane plunged into the sea off Indonesia.
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| Mexican officials blame federal police strike on opposition Posted: 04 Jul 2019 06:36 PM PDT  Government officials blamed the political opposition, corrupt federal police and outside players Thursday for a revolt by officers who are opposed to being absorbed into Mexico's new National Guard. Federal police maintained control of a command center in the Mexico City borough of Iztapalapa for a second day and snarled traffic by blocking highways outside the capital. Meanwhile, in the southern border state of Chiapas, officers hung signs expressing support for their colleagues.
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| Explained: F-22 Raptors Are Headed to the 'Salute to America' Celebration Posted: 04 Jul 2019 03:53 AM PDT  The aircraft was first introduced in December of 2005; the F-22 Raptor fighter jet delivered some of the first strikes in the U.S.-led attacks on the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, when aerial bombing began in 2014, service officials told Warrior.The Air Force and Lockheed Martin have now "validated" several new weapons on the F-22 Raptor to equip the stealth fighter with more long-range precision attack technology, a wider targeting envelope or "field of regard" and new networking technology enabling improved, real-time "collaborative targeting" between aircraft.(This first appeared several months ago and is being reposted due to breaking events.)The two new weapons, which have been under testing and development for several years now, are advanced variants of existing weapons - the AIM-9X air-to-air missile and the AIM 120-D. Upgraded variants of each are slated to be operational by as soon as next year.The new AIM-9X will shoot farther and reach a much larger targeting envelope for pilots. Working with a variety of helmets and display systems, Lockheed developers have added "off-boresight" targeting ability enabling pilots to attack enemies from a wide range of new angles."It is a much more agile missile with an improved seeker and a better field of regard. You can shoot over your shoulder. If enemies get behind me in a close-in fight, I have the right targeting on the plane to shoot them," Ken Merchant, Vice President, F-22, Lockheed, told Warrior Maven in an interview.
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| Fed Should ‘Take Back’ Rate Hike, White House’s Kudlow Says Posted: 05 Jul 2019 07:26 AM PDT ![Fed Should 'Take Back' Rate Hike, White House's Kudlow Says]( "Fed Should 'Take Back' Rate Hike, White House's Kudlow Says") (Bloomberg) -- The Federal Reserve should reduce interest rates even though the economy is strong and the latest payrolls report was positive, said Larry Kudlow, President Donald Trump's top economic adviser."They should take back the interest rate hike," Kudlow said in an interview on Bloomberg Television Friday. "With a weak global economy, taking out an insurance policy is not a bad thing."U.S. payrolls increased by 224,000 in June, topping all economist estimates. That led traders to scale back their more aggressive bets on Fed rate cuts this month, though a reduction is still expected by the market.The Fed raised interest rates four times last year, with the last increase in December drawing especially heavy criticism from the Trump administration. Fed officials have shifted their outlook since then, and in June they opened the door to a rate cut."I'm not encroaching on Fed independence," said Kudlow. "I'm reading the market tea leaves."To contact the reporter on this story: Ryan Haar in New York at rhaar3@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Margaret Collins at mcollins45@bloomberg.net, Ben HollandFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
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| Biden urges caution about policies of 'way left' Democrats, Ocasio-Cortez Posted: 05 Jul 2019 03:18 PM PDT ![Biden urges caution about policies of 'way left' Democrats, Ocasio-Cortez]( "Biden urges caution about policies of 'way left' Democrats, Ocasio-Cortez") The former vice president has continued to tout his more moderate proposals as some other 2020 Democrats are supporting more left-leaning ideas.
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| Photos of the 2020 Mercedes-AMG CLA45 Posted: 04 Jul 2019 04:00 AM PDT |
| Jussie Smollett news: 'Empire' actor's attorneys argue for Chicago lawsuit to be moved to federal court Posted: 04 Jul 2019 04:36 AM PDT  Jussie Smollett wants the lawsuit that the city of Chicago filed against him moved from state court to federal court.
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| Police break up huge 'modern day slavery' ring in UK Posted: 05 Jul 2019 07:53 AM PDT  Details about what prosecutors have called one of Britain's largest-ever modern day slavery rings have emerged with the conviction of eight people originally from Poland. Prosecutors say more than 400 victims were forced to work for minuscule wages while their masters earned some 2 million pounds ($2.5 million) and lived a luxurious lifestyle. Reporting restrictions were lifted Friday, allowing details to be published.
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| China denies U.S. accusations of South China Sea missile tests Posted: 05 Jul 2019 08:10 AM PDT ![China denies U.S. accusations of South China Sea missile tests]( "China denies U.S. accusations of South China Sea missile tests") China's Defence Ministry on Friday denied U.S. accusations that the Chinese military had recently carried out missile tests in the disputed South China Sea, saying instead that they had held routine drills that involved the firing of live ammunition. The Pentagon said on Tuesday the missile launches were "disturbing" and contrary to Chinese pledges that it would not militarise the strategic waterway. A U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said China tested multiple anti-ship ballistic missiles over the weekend.
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| MagicLights are just as good as $50 Philips Hue bulbs, but they’re down to $13 right now Posted: 04 Jul 2019 05:40 AM PDT  At $50 a pop, Philips Hue smart bulbs really do toe the line. They're awesome, but a decent setup will inevitably cost hundreds and hundreds of dollars since they're so darn expensive. If you want bulbs that are just as good but you don't want to go broke buying them, then there's a sale happening right now on Amazon for July 4th that you definitely have to check out. MagicLight WiFi Smart Light Bulbs are among our favorite LED smart bulbs out there, and they do everything Philips Hue bulbs can do, but without the need for a hub. They even work with Alexa and Google Assistant. $21 per bulb is a perfectly fair price, but Amazon is selling them right now for just $13 a pop. Hurry!Here are the highlights from the product page: * ✔ Compatible with Alexa & Google Assistant: Voice Control your MagicLight WiFi light bulb with your Amazon Echo or Echo Dot and Google Home Assistant * ✔ Works with IFTTT: DIY Your WiFi Light Bulb Depending on Various Events by Connecting it to IFTTT * ✔ Works with iOS/Android: Personalize Your WiFI Smart Lights to Match Your Mood, Control Your Smart WiFi Lights Bulb Remotely When You are not at Home * ✔ Various Scene Modes: Color Palette, Group Control, Sunlight, Music Mode, Timer, Sunrise, Sunset, Dimmable, MIC Function, DIY Mode, Scene Mode, Energy Saving...... * ✔ Application: This is a WiFi enabled light bulb, no hub required. Multiple lighting patterns, suitable for a showcase, residential, office, hotel, shop, exhibition room, landscaping, indoor, home etc.
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| Look Closely: Is This Picture the Future of the U.S. Navy? Posted: 04 Jul 2019 01:36 AM PDT  Boeing is also looking to convince the Navy that the CMV-22 could fulfill all sorts of secondary roles that S-3 Vikings or helicopters used to fulfill, such as anti-submarine patrols, search-and-rescue of downed airmen, special ops insertion, and electronic warfare.Only time will tell whether the pricy CMV-22B brings about the revolution in logistics the Navy is hoping for.For over fifty years, the Navy has operated C-2A Greyhound cargo haulers with twin turboprop engines to ferry personnel, supplies, mail and spare parts to its massive aircraft carriers at sea—a mission known as Carrier Onboard Delivery (COD). The Greyhound, which is derived from the Navy's E-2 Hawkeye radar planes, can haul up to five tons of cargo or 26 passengers while still managing to land and takeoff from the three-hundred-meter-long carrier flight deck—and then fold its wings to fit in the hangar deck below.(This first appeared last year.)In the late 2000s, however, the Navy began looking to replace the aging Greyhound. Candidates to take up the COD mission included modernized C-2s and the Navy's recently retired S-3 Viking anti-submarine jets. In the end, though, the Navy gave in to urging from the Marines and decided to pursue the most expensive option—the V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft.
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| Migrant Children Were Asked to Draw Their Experiences in U.S. Custody. Here's What They Drew Posted: 03 Jul 2019 07:34 PM PDT  In one drawing, five people lie in a cage covered by blankets while guards man the exits
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| Melania Trump: ‘Disgraceful’ wooden statue of first lady prompts complaints in Slovenia Posted: 05 Jul 2019 11:35 AM PDT  A wooden statue of Melania Trump has reportedly been erected in the first lady's home country of Slovenia, despite criticism from locals. The conceptual statue — which depicts Ms Trump standing in the blue outfit she wore to her husband's inauguration in 2016 — was commissioned by US artist Brade Downey and created by artist Ales Zupevc, known as Maxi, according to ITV.The life-sized statue is planted atop a wooden plank with shrubbery in a field near her hometown of Sevnica, according to photographs released this week.Locals complained about the statue, not due to the first lady's affiliation with Donald Trump, but rather because they say the wooden sculpture does not look like Ms Trump at all. "It doesn't look anything like Melania," one local told the outlet. "It's a smurfette. It's a disgrace."Another local reportedly echoed those comments, telling the reporter, "It's not okay. It's a disgrace. That's what I have to say."Mr Downey reportedly did not include any instructions with his request for the artist to build the conceptual design of the first lady — except that it must feature the same dress she wore to the inauguration. The first lady has become one of her home country's most famous exports ever since her husband became the US president.Businesses and storefronts in Slovenia began selling Melania slippers, cake and even honey, branding their products with the first lady's image.Ms Trump reportedly hired a local law firm in 2017 to prevent shops from using her likeness to sell products. The White House did not respond to requests for comment.
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| Carnival crew member overboard 30 miles northwest of Cuba; Coast Guard search underway Posted: 05 Jul 2019 09:53 AM PDT ![Carnival crew member overboard 30 miles northwest of Cuba; Coast Guard search underway]( "Carnival crew member overboard 30 miles northwest of Cuba; Coast Guard search underway") The Coast Guard is searching for a 37-year-old crew member who fell overboard from the cruise ship Carnival Victory northwest of Cuba.
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| Putin bestows top state honors on sailors killed in submarine fire Posted: 05 Jul 2019 03:51 AM PDT  Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday bestowed top state honors on 14 sailors killed in a fire on a secret nuclear submarine in recognition of what the Russian military has called their outstanding bravery. The sailors were killed on Monday when a fire broke out while their deep-water research submarine was carrying out a survey of the sea floor near the Arctic, the Russian defense ministry has said. Putin, in a decree published on the Kremlin's website on Friday, gave four of the dead submariners Russia's highest state award - the title of Hero of Russia.
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| Florida man contracts flesh-eating bacteria infection despite not entering water Posted: 05 Jul 2019 07:23 AM PDT  Florida man said he contracting flesh-eating bacteria infection despite not entering water.
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| Sony WH1000XM3 noise cancelling headphone refurbs are back down the lowest price of 2019 Posted: 04 Jul 2019 10:39 AM PDT  Look, at this point pretty much everyone knows that the Sony WH1000XM3 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones are the best noise cancelling headphones on the planet. In fact, Bose just released a brand new pair of wireless noise cancelling headphones, but Sony's are still better. The noise cancellation tech Sony uses is pretty much wizardry, and it comes at a price: $350 if you buy them new. Head over to Amazon right now though, and you'll find refurbs available at the lowest price of 2019!Just scroll down to the "other sellers" section and you'll find Sony WH1000XM3 headphones in black for only $252.97, or you can get them in silver for $2 more. That's an insane price for these incredible headphones, and they're definitely going to sell out!Here's what you need to know from the product page: * Renewed products work and look like new. These pre-owned products have been inspected and tested by Amazon-qualified suppliers. Box and accessories may be generic. All Renewed products come with the 90-day Amazon Renewed Guarantee. * HD Noise-Canceling Processor QN1 * Smart Listening by Adaptive Sound Control / SENSE ENGINE for virtual surround sound * Hi-Res audio / 1.57″ LCP drivers for up to 40kHz frequency * Bluetooth 4.1 LDAC connection / Connect to the Sony Headphones Connect App
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| Trump donor killed in helicopter crash in Bahamas Posted: 05 Jul 2019 07:26 AM PDT  A billionaire coal baron who donated $1m (£798,505) to Donald Trump's inaugural committee was among seven Americans killed in a helicopter crash on Thursday, officials said.Chris Cline, who reportedly would have turned 62 on Friday, and six others died as the helicopter was returning to Florida from the Bahamas.West Virginia Governor Jim Justice confirmed Mr Cline was among those killed in the crash on Twitter, writing in a statement: "Today we lost a WV superstar and I lost a very close friend.""Chris Cline built an empire and on every occasion was always there to give," the governor added. "What a wonderful, loving, and giving man."Among those killed was one of Mr Cline's daughters, West Virginia's Register-Herald newspaper said, citing unnamed friends of Mr Cline.The helicopter reportedly went down shortly after takeoff in the Atlantic Ocean early Thursday near Walker's Cay, the northernmost island in the Bahamas.The group was travelling back to Ft Lauderdale, Florida, from the Bahamas for the Fourth of July holiday.Forbes listed Mr Cline at number 1,281 on its billionaires list with an estimated net worth of $1.8bn (£1.4bn), listing him as self-made.Before donating to Mr Trump's inaugural committee, he contributed to Jeb Bush's 2016 presidential campaign.He started working in the coal mines aged 15 and later dropped out of Marshall University, Forbes said.A major business breakthrough came in the early 2000s when he reportedly bought up high-sulphur coal reserves in Illinois, gambling that improved technology would make it more economical to burn dirty fuel.Mr Cline took coal mining firm Foresight Energy public in 2014, and sold a controlling stake in 2015 for $1.4bn (£1.1bn) cash.Additional reporting by Reuters
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| #ArrestAntiPakjournalists tops Twitter trends in Pakistan Posted: 04 Jul 2019 07:56 AM PDT  A hashtag calling for the arrest of journalists briefly became the top Twitter trend in Pakistan Thursday, deepening concern over a shrinking space for dissent in the country. Many users accompanied it with a composite photograph of prominent journalists and TV anchors, some of whom regularly criticise the governing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party of Prime Minister Imran Khan and the powerful military establishment. Last year, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said in a report that the military has "quietly, but effectively, set restrictions on reporting", although it denies doing so.
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| 'Real Housewives' star Meghan King Edmonds reveals son has 'irreversible brain damage' Posted: 05 Jul 2019 11:19 AM PDT  "Real Housewives" star and mother of three Meghan King Edmonds started off by writing that she always knew something was wrong with 1-year-old son Hart.
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| View Photos of the Lexus LC Convertible Posted: 05 Jul 2019 03:41 AM PDT |
| Former Guard commander says Iran should seize a UK tanker Posted: 05 Jul 2019 10:56 AM PDT  Iran should consider seizing a British oil tanker in response to authorities detaining an Iranian oil tanker off the coast of Gibraltar, a former leader of the Islamic Republic's powerful Revolutionary Guard said Friday. The striking comment by Mohsen Rezaei came amid heightened tensions over Iran's unraveling 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, an accord that the U.S. withdrew from last year. In recent days, Iran has broken through the limit the nuclear deal imposed on its stockpile of low-enriched uranium and plans on Sunday to boost its enrichment.
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