| Kim Jong Un expands his war on Christmas with new ban on singing and drinking Posted: 19 Dec 2017 06:57 PM PST  North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has upped the ante in his war on Christmas with a new rule that prohibits any "gatherings that involve alcohol and singing."
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| Jeff Sessions Reportedly Revives Probe Of Uranium One Deal Posted: 21 Dec 2017 05:02 AM PST  The Justice Department is reviving an inquiry into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the government's controversial approval of the Uranium One deal, NBC News reported on Thursday.
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| Ivanka Trump surprise visit to Connecticut school prompts some parents to pull children from class Posted: 20 Dec 2017 07:05 AM PST  Ivanka Trump's surprise unannounced visit to a school in Connecticut has prompted some parents to pull their children from class. The US president's daughter addressed secondary school students at the Norwalk Early College Academy about the importance of education in the sciences, technology, mathematics, and engineering. Ms Trump, who serves as an unpaid advisor to her father, said: "To see the passion and enthusiasm for bringing real-life skills into a classroom environment, but then coupling it with real-life experience through internship, creates this really beautiful virtuous angle".
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| House Narrowly Passes Bill to Avoid Government Shutdown Before Christmas Posted: 21 Dec 2017 03:10 PM PST  The Republican-led House narrowly passed a temporary spending bill to avert a government shutdown Thursday, doing the bare minimum in a sprint toward the holidays and punting disputes on immigration, health care and national security to next year.
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| Last piece of Amtrak train wreckage removed from Washington state highway Posted: 20 Dec 2017 02:08 PM PST ![Last piece of Amtrak train wreckage removed from Washington state highway]( "Last piece of Amtrak train wreckage removed from Washington state highway") The affected southbound stretch of Interstate 5, which runs from the Canadian border to Mexico, will remain closed indefinitely, the Washington State Department of Transportation has said. Federal investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are seeking answers about the crash's cause in interviews with the train's engineer and a trainee conductor who were in the locomotive's cab. NTSB members say they are focused on whether the engineer was distracted, but are timing their interviews with the crew this week around their recuperation from injuries.
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| Video shows car dragging office up to 60 mph Posted: 20 Dec 2017 08:05 AM PST  When Florida police officer Jon Cusak approached a man and woman sitting in a car, they quickly took off, and with Cusak clinging to the driver-side door. The whole incident was caught on his body camera.
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| Scotland Bans Traveling Circuses From Using Wild Animals In Performances Posted: 20 Dec 2017 12:10 PM PST  Scotland has banned the use of wild animals in traveling circuses, handing an important victory to animal welfare advocates.
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| The Latest: South Africa's new party leader: Graft must end Posted: 20 Dec 2017 02:52 PM PST  JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The Latest on the new leader of South Africa's ruling party (all times local):
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| YouTube prankster pleads guilty to fatally shooting boyfriend Posted: 20 Dec 2017 02:03 PM PST  A YouTube prankster from the US state of Minnesota has admitted fatally shooting her boyfriend in a botched video stunt she hoped would go viral. Monalisa Perez, a 20-year-old mother-of-two, believed her husband Pedro Ruiz would be shielded by a thick book as she took aim from close range in front of onlookers. Perez and Ruiz, 22, were recording the stunt in June for their YouTube channel, where they published videos of their daily lives and pranks they performed.
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| US aims to keep steep duties on Bombardier jets after Boeing complaint Posted: 20 Dec 2017 04:51 PM PST  The U.S. Commerce Department on Wednesday finalised steep anti-subsidy duties on Bombardier Inc's CSeries jets, setting up the next round of a fierce international trade dispute between the United States and Canada. The move announced by the department to impose duties of nearly 300 percent stems from a complaint by rival Boeing Co. The company claimed Bombardier had been unfairly and illegally subsidised by the Canadian government, allowing the planemaker to dump its newest jetliner in the U.S. market below cost. "Today's decision validates Boeing's complaints regarding Bombardier's pricing in the United States, pricing that has harmed our workforce and U.S. industry," Boeing said in a statement after the department decision. Delta Air Lines, the second largest U.S. carrier by passenger traffic, has an order for 75 of the 100-to-150 seat CSeries jets. The aircraft starts at $79.5 million, according to list prices, or some $5.9 billion for the total order, but carriers typically receive steep discounts. Bombardier C300 Series Poster Credit: Bombardier If imposed, the duties would more than triple the cost of a CSeries aircraft sold in the United States, based on Boeing's assertion that Delta received the planes for $20 million each, well below an estimated cost of $33 million and what Bombardier charges in Canada. The Commerce Department's penalty against Bombardier will only take effect if the lesser-known US International Trade Commission (ITC) rules in Boeing's favour, as it so far has, in its final decision expected in early 2018. In its two-part complaint, Boeing called for countervailing duties of 79.41 percent to offset what it described as harmful Canadian subsidies to Bombardier. It also identified a "dumping margin" of 80.5 percent, based on the unpublished prices at which it claims Bombardier sold the CSeries planes to Delta. The department decision follows Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross' pledge to aggressively police unfairly traded imports to help shrink U.S. trade deficits. The move comes as the United States, Canada and Mexico are involved in a three-way negotiation to modernize the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The rift between the two plane makers could, however, move to a larger stage as Canada weighs a complaint to the World Trade Organization or through NAFTA regarding the dispute. At a contentious Monday hearing of the ITC, Canada warned that a positive finding of material harm to Boeing by the group could represent a possible violation of international trade agreements and prompt a formal objection. Canada earlier this month scrapped plans to buy 18 Boeing Super Hornet fighter jets, underlining Ottawa's anger over the trade challenge. Boeing has said it considered all potential risks before deciding to launch its trade case. US-Canadian trade relations have also chilled recently over disputes over Canadian softwood lumber and U.S. milk protein products.
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| UN Jerusalem vote - as it happened: UN General Assembly rejects Trump's Israel declaration Posted: 21 Dec 2017 06:07 AM PST  The UN General Assembly voted 128-9 to declare US President Donald Trump's declaration of Jerusalem as Israel's capital "null and void". The vote, while a victory for the Palestinians, was significantly lower than its supporters had hoped for, with many forecasting at least 150 "yes" votes. There were a total of 35, while 21 nations did not turn up for the vote.
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| U.S. cancels student loan debts for 12,900 college fraud victims Posted: 20 Dec 2017 03:56 PM PST ![U.S. cancels student loan debts for 12,900 college fraud victims]( "U.S. cancels student loan debts for 12,900 college fraud victims") The U.S. Education Department on Wednesday canceled the student-loan debts of 12,900 people defrauded by defunct Corinthian Colleges, but its announcement that it will give varying amounts of debt relief in the future set off fierce criticism. For-profit higher education provider Corinthian collapsed in 2015 amid government investigations into how many of its graduates found gainful employment. An internal review released this month showed the Education Department had stopped discharging loans of former attendees of Corinthian and other failed for-profit schools once President Donald Trump took office.
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| Mexico Tour Bus Crash Kills At Least 12 Posted: 20 Dec 2017 07:43 AM PST  A bus carrying cruise ship passengers on a tour of ancient Mayan ruins flipped on a highway in southeast Mexico early Tuesday, killing at least 12 people and injuring 18.
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| Official: Train brake automatically activated in fatal wreck Posted: 19 Dec 2017 08:26 PM PST  DUPONT, Wash. (AP) — Investigators are looking into whether the Amtrak engineer whose speeding train plunged off an overpass, killing at least three people, was distracted by the presence of an employee-in-training next to him in the locomotive, a federal official said Tuesday.
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| Chicago police say Facebook 'secret groups' used to sell guns, drugs Posted: 21 Dec 2017 02:45 PM PST ![Chicago police say Facebook 'secret groups' used to sell guns, drugs]( "Chicago police say Facebook 'secret groups' used to sell guns, drugs") Chicago Police arrested 50 people for using "secret groups" on Facebook to sell guns and drugs, the police said on Thursday, and they criticized the world's biggest social media network as being unhelpful during the 10-month investigation. Police did not detail the charges filed against the 50 men and women arrested through Thursday, but said there were "dozens and dozens" of the secret groups. Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson, at a news conference to announce the arrests, criticized Facebook for not helping police.
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| Thomas Fire Close To Becoming The Biggest Wildfire In California History Posted: 20 Dec 2017 04:21 PM PST  The Thomas Fire burning in Southern California is on the verge of becoming the largest blaze on state record, accomplishing a shocking feat for this time of year.
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| A Virginia House Election Ended in a Tie. So Officials Are Going to Pick a Winner Randomly Posted: 21 Dec 2017 08:06 AM PST  Elections officials are expected to draw names at random on Dec. 27 to settle a declared tie in the 94th District in Newport News
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| Trump tax bill will have devastating effect on LGBT community, campaigners say Posted: 20 Dec 2017 04:36 AM PST  LGBT and human rights groups groups have slammed Donald Trump's tax bill, the biggest overhaul to America's tax system in decades, claiming it will detrimentally affect programmes and provisions in place to help marginalised communities, from access to healthcare to support for people on low incomes. The sweeping legislation, which is expected to make around $1.5tn (£1.1tn) in tax cuts, will be voted on later on Wednesday. Republicans argue it will deliver benefits to ordinary Americans, while Democrats say it will hit the middle classes while the rich get even richer.
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| Why I Stayed At A Job Where I Was Sexually Harassed Posted: 20 Dec 2017 12:05 PM PST  With the #MeToo movement gaining in the world in which I am bringing up my teen and preteen daughters, they want answers I don't always have.
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| Student Finishes College Final Exam While In Labor Posted: 20 Dec 2017 09:07 AM PST  Nayzia' Thomas' Twitter was still blowing up with interview requests and well wishes on Wednesday, because this young woman knows how to multitask.
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| 18 Cakes Perfect For Your Kids Posted: 21 Dec 2017 04:14 PM PST |
| China's Didi raises $4 bn to fund global turf war with Uber Posted: 20 Dec 2017 11:10 PM PST  Chinese ride-sharing firm Didi Chuxing said Thursday it had raised $4 billion from investors, months after a funding round that made it Asia's most valuable startup, as it presses on with a global battle with US giant Uber. Local and foreign groups contributed to the huge pot, which will be used to fuel Didi's global expansion and support new developments in artificial intelligence and new energy vehicles, the company said in a statement. Didi, which bought Uber's China operations last year, has nearly half a billion users around the world and handles up to 25 million rides per day.
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| Mistrial in Nevada standoff is latest defeat for prosecutors Posted: 20 Dec 2017 03:47 PM PST  LAS VEGAS (AP) — A U.S. judge in Nevada dealt another defeat Wednesday to federal prosecutors trying to punish leaders of armed standoffs meant to oppose federal authority over vast swaths of land in the American West.
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| Uber Now Classified as a Transport Service in the EU: Here's Why It Matters Posted: 20 Dec 2017 08:56 AM PST  Is it more than just an app?
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| 18 Realistic Ways To Become A Happier, More Chill Person In 2018 Posted: 20 Dec 2017 02:46 AM PST  Say goodbye to 2017 ― and some of the negative emotions that came with it ― by adopting a few of these expert- and research-backed habits in the new year. Research shows that negative news can poorly affect your mental health. Experts recommend this to their patients, and do it themselves to keep their own stress under control.
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| U.S. sanctions Chechen leader, four others under Magnitsky Act Posted: 20 Dec 2017 03:07 PM PST ![U.S. sanctions Chechen leader, four others under Magnitsky Act]( "U.S. sanctions Chechen leader, four others under Magnitsky Act") By Joel Schectman WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury Department on Wednesday imposed new sanctions on five Russians and Chechens, including the head of the Russian republic of Chechnya, for alleged human rights abuses. The new sanctions blacklisted Ramzan Kadyrov, the Chechen leader and a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Treasury Department said in a statement. U.S. authorities accused Kadyrov of overseeing "an administration involved in disappearances and extrajudicial killings".
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| President Trump Threatens to Cut Funding to Countries Voting Against His Position on Jerusalem Posted: 20 Dec 2017 06:22 PM PST  "We'll save a lot. We don't care," the U.S. president said
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| If You Want A Better Relationship In 2018, Do This Posted: 21 Dec 2017 01:19 PM PST  It's easy to get off track with your New Year's resolutions when you're the only one holding yourself accountable.
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| Sea turtle found trapped in cocaine bundles worth $53m Posted: 20 Dec 2017 03:37 AM PST  A sea turtle trapped among floating cocaine bales worth $53m (£40m) has been rescued by the US Coast Guard. The boat crew discovered the large loggerhead turtle entangled in blue rope connecting bales containing 800 kilos (1,800lb) of the Class A drug in the Pacific Ocean on November 19. The US Coast Guard helps rescue a sea turtle trapped among bundles of cocaine Credit: US Coast Guard/Facebook Coast Guard Ens. Mark Krebs and his team noticed the injured sea turtle after launching a small boat to investigate a debris field. "They saw significant chaffing from the lines on his neck and flippers," said the US Coast Guard. "They briefed the commanding officer and went to work, carefully cutting the lines wrapped around the sea turtle and then eventually freeing him. "The boat crew recovered over 75-feet of line to prevent further entanglement of sea life and returned to the law enforcement mission recovering over 1,800 pounds of cocaine valued at over $53 million dollars from international waters." The struggling marine reptile was rescued during a 68-day counter drug patrol by the US Armed Forces branch in the Eastern Pacific along the Central American coast. By the end of the operation, the crew had seized a total of 6,755 kilos (14,800lb) of cocaine, 14 pounds of marijuana and arrested 24 suspected smugglers. The large sea turtle was entangled in $53m worth of cocaine Credit: US Coast Guard/Facebook The seizure was part of Operation Martillo, an international operation involving 18 countries targeting criminal organisations moving illicit cargo. In November, hundreds of dead sea turtles were found by environmental officials floating off the coast of El Salvador. The BBC series Blue Planet II recently highlighted the devastating effect plastic and human rubbish is having on the ocean.
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| Elon Musk might be the only person who still loves Twitter Posted: 21 Dec 2017 11:59 AM PST  Congratulations to Elon Musk, who apparently is having a much better time online than the rest of us plebeians. The Tesla CEO took to—you guessed it—Twitter Thursday to share his love of, drumroll please, Twitter. SEE ALSO: Elon Musk confirms Tesla will use its own self-driving AI chips How did he do so? By stating his personal truth in less than 280 characters. "I love Twitter," was all he had to say. I love Twitter — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 21, 2017 What about Facebook, Instagram, or Tumblr? What about WhatsApp and Peach and Snapchat? The people need to know your thoughts, Musk! Regardless of how he feels about all those other social media networks, the Musk-Twitter love story, which maybe isn't as good as Twilight, gets better. "You should buy it then," a journalist tweeted at Musk, who replied in the most Musk-way possible. How much is it? — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 21, 2017 His simple tweet hinting at interest in buying Twitter immediately got people's minds whirring. Elon should buy twitter and send all the verified users to Mars — Taylor Lorenz (@TaylorLorenz) December 21, 2017 i hope elon musk buys twitter and finally deletes it — Sly-Level Blizzard IV (@Slyvally) December 21, 2017 If Elon Musk buys twitter, we can possibly send a tweet to outer space or something yay! — Yarri Torres (@peculYarriT) December 21, 2017 We'll leave the answer to how much it is up to @jack but regardless of the price point, we're pretty sure it'll be in his budget. Same — jack (@jack) December 21, 2017 WATCH: You can now control your Christmas tree lights with your phone
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| Boeing, Embraer confirm merger talks ongoing; deal not guaranteed Posted: 21 Dec 2017 02:37 PM PST  US aerospace giant Boeing and Brazil's Embraer said Thursday they were in talks on a "potential combination" but cautioned there was no guarantee of a deal. The talks ignited shares of the Brazilian company, which makes commercial, military and executive jets, despite immediate signs of opposition to the transaction in Brazil. Any deal would need to be approved by the Brazilian government.
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| Pope denounces 'cancer' of cliques, ambition in Vatican Posted: 21 Dec 2017 04:30 AM PST  VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis once again used a Christmas greeting to dress down Vatican officials Thursday, denouncing the "cancer" of cliques and how bureaucrats can become "corrupted" by ambition and vanity.
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| Thanks to Net Neutrality, Comcast Gives Employees $1,000 Bonuses Posted: 21 Dec 2017 08:35 AM PST ![Thanks to Net Neutrality, Comcast Gives Employees $1,000 Bonuses]( "Thanks to Net Neutrality, Comcast Gives Employees $1,000 Bonuses") Comcast is celebrating the death of net neutrality.
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| Democrat Franken to leave Senate on January 2 Posted: 20 Dec 2017 05:55 PM PST ![Democrat Franken to leave Senate on January 2]( "Democrat Franken to leave Senate on January 2") U.S. Democratic Senator Al Franken, who earlier this month announced his plan to resign following sexual misconduct allegations against him, will step down on Jan. 2, a representative for the lawmaker said on Wednesday. The 66-year-old former comedian from Minnesota had been seen as a rising star in the Democratic Party, but faced growing calls from fellow Senate Democrats to step down as allegations against him mounted. Franken is one of several influential men who have lost their jobs after being accused of sexual misconduct, assault or harassment, including Hollywood executive Harvey Weinstein and journalists Matt Lauer, Charlie Rose and Tavis Smiley.
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| Donald Trump claims Republicans 'essentially repealed Obamacare' with tax bill Posted: 20 Dec 2017 09:07 AM PST  US President Donald Trump has claimed his party "essentially repealed Obamacare" by passing a tax bill that rescinds a key component of his predecessor's health care legislation. The Republican tax bill repeals the health insurance mandate that forms the core of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. Mr Trump claimed the repeal would cripple Obamacare – something he and his party have long promised to do.
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| 21 Ways To Add Black Beans To Everything Posted: 21 Dec 2017 05:14 PM PST |
| China outcry as Taiwan arrests pro-Beijing party members accused of spying Posted: 20 Dec 2017 04:45 AM PST  China has accused Taiwanese authorities of "persecution" after four members of a pro-Beijing political party were detained in connection with a spying case. Police in Taiwan arrested Wang Ping-chung, a prominent media personality, along with three colleagues from the pro-unification New Party on Tuesday. The Taipei District Prosecutors' Office released a statement saying that Mr Wang and other people of interest were being investigated on suspicion of violating the National Security Act. Taipei prosecutor Lin Chun-ting, who is leading the investigation, is also in charge of the probe into Zhou Hongxu, a Chinese student convicted in September for trying to obtain classified information and recruiting people to a spy network. According to the Taipei Times, Mr Wang was allegedly friends with Mr Zhou and played a key role in introducing him to Taiwanese government officials. Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen speaks on the phone with Donald Trump Credit: Reuters Another detained member of the New Party, Lin Ming-cheng, told reporters after his release that he was questioned about the spying case and his relationship with Mr Zhou, but he denied the allegations. "It is absurd for them to make a link between Zhou and us all because they found a mention of us on Zhou's computer," Mr Lin said, according to Hong Kong's South China Morning Post. China's Taiwan Affairs Office praised the New Party for upholding the "one China" principle in a short statement released late on Tuesday. "Recently, the Taiwan authorities have shielded and connived with Taiwan independent splittists, and taken various moves to wantonly crack down on and persecute forces and people who uphold peaceful reunification," it said. "We strongly condemn this and are paying close attention to developments." The investigation is the second in recent months into a minority party supporting unification with the Chinese mainland, and comes amid heightened tensions between the government of self-ruled Taiwan and Beijing. Relations across the Taiwan Strait have deteriorated since the election of President Tsai Ing-wen in 2016, whose ruling DPP rejects Chinese claims of sovereignty over the island of 23 million. While parties which are strongly pro-Beijing have little traction with the electorate, the majority of whom identify as Taiwanese, there are growing fears among Taipei's elite that China is seeking to undermine their country's democracy from within. In September, government agencies launched a probe into the Chinese Unification Promotion Party (CUPP), run by Chang An-lo, a former triad leader known as White Wolf, over concerns that Beijing was funding its activities. Mr Chang has denied the accusations.
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| Candy Canes Are Everywhere During Christmas. Here’s Why Posted: 20 Dec 2017 11:06 AM PST  They weren't always the most popular Christmas candy
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| Man Arrested After 5-Year-Old Son Fatally Shoots Himself With Gun Left In Glove Box Posted: 20 Dec 2017 01:21 PM PST  A Florida man is facing negligence charges after his 5-year-old son fatally shot himself in the head with a gun he found in the glove box of the man's car.
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| Saudis Say They Have Intercepted Another Rebel Missile Targeting 'Top Leadership' Posted: 19 Dec 2017 05:48 PM PST  The Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen's Shiite rebels said it intercepted a missile fired over southern Riyadh on Tuesday, which the rebels said was targeting a "top leadership" meeting at the royal palace in the kingdom's capital.
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| The Latest: Girl convicted in Slender Man stabbing sentenced Posted: 21 Dec 2017 12:57 PM PST  WAUKESHA, Wis. (AP) — The Latest on sentencing of Slender Man defendant (all times local):
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| BlackBerry profit beats estimates, shares jump 12 percent Posted: 20 Dec 2017 07:45 AM PST ![BlackBerry profit beats estimates, shares jump 12 percent]( "BlackBerry profit beats estimates, shares jump 12 percent") Canada's BlackBerry Ltd beat third-quarter earnings forecasts on Wednesday amid strong enterprise software sales and licensing revenue, sending its Toronto-listed shares surging 12 percent to a four-year high. The company, which has sought to reinvent itself after the collapse of its smartphone handset business, secured 36 deals with U.S. federal government agencies in the quarter, seven of which were each worth more than $1 million, Chief Executive John Chen said during an analyst call. "We have very good momentum," he said, singling out government sales to the United States, Canada and Germany.
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| Donald Trump threatens to cut 'billions of dollars' in aid to countries over UN Jerusalem vote Posted: 20 Dec 2017 10:53 AM PST  Donald Trump has threatened to withhold billions of dollars in aid from those nations which criticise his controversial decision to unilaterally recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. In a raising of the stakes over the US's move to recognise Jerusalem and shift its embassy there - something long requested by Israel and their conservative supporters in the US - Mr Trump said he could penalise those countries that voted against the move at the UN. Previously, the US's UN Ambassador Niki Haley had warned the US would would be "taking names" of any countries who supported a resolution criticising Washington's actions.
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