Zero Point By Javed Chaudhry

US strike kills 16 Afghan policemen in Helmand province

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<div class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)--sm Mt(0.8em)--sm" content="A US airstrike has killed 16 policemen in Afghanistan, officials said Saturday, the latest setback to Washington's efforts to bring peace to the war-torn country." data-reactid="22" style="background-color: white; color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 1em;" type="text">
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<div class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)--sm Mt(0.8em)--sm" content="A US airstrike has killed 16 policemen in Afghanistan, officials said Saturday, the latest setback to Washington's efforts to bring peace to the war-torn country." data-reactid="22" style="background-color: white; color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 1em;" type="text">
A US airstrike has killed 16 policemen in Afghanistan, officials said Saturday, the latest setback to Washington's efforts to bring peace to the war-torn country.</div>
<div class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)--sm Mt(0.8em)--sm" content="The incident took place in Helmand province on Friday as Afghan security forces attempted to clear a village of Taliban militants, Salam Afghan, a police spokesman, told AFP." data-reactid="23" style="background-color: white; color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 1em;" type="text">
The incident took place in Helmand province on Friday as Afghan security forces attempted to clear a village of Taliban militants, Salam Afghan, a police spokesman, told AFP.</div>
<div class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)--sm Mt(0.8em)--sm" content=""In the strike, 16 Afghan policemen were killed including two commanders. Two other policemen were wounded," he said." data-reactid="24" style="background-color: white; color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 1em;" type="text">
"In the strike, 16 Afghan policemen were killed including two commanders. Two other policemen were wounded," he said.</div>
<div class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)--sm Mt(0.8em)--sm" content="The strike hit a compound in Gereshk district in Helmand, large parts of which are under Taliban control." data-reactid="25" style="background-color: white; color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 1em;" type="text">
The strike hit a compound in Gereshk district in Helmand, large parts of which are under Taliban control.</div>
<div class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)--sm Mt(0.8em)--sm" content=""A US-supported (Afghan security) operation...resulted in the deaths of... friendly Afghan forces who were gathered in a compound," NATO's mission in Afghanistan said in a statement." data-reactid="26" style="background-color: white; color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 1em;" type="text">
"A US-supported (Afghan security) operation...resulted in the deaths of... friendly Afghan forces who were gathered in a compound," NATO's mission in Afghanistan said in a statement.</div>
<div class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)--sm Mt(0.8em)--sm" content=""We would like to express our deepest condolences to the families affected by this unfortunate incident," the statement said, adding there would be a probe into what happened." data-reactid="27" style="background-color: white; color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 1em;" type="text">
"We would like to express our deepest condolences to the families affected by this unfortunate incident," the statement said, adding there would be a probe into what happened.</div>
<div class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)--sm Mt(0.8em)--sm" content="An interior ministry spokesman, Najeeb Danish, said a ministry delegation had been sent to the area to investigate and help families of the victims." data-reactid="28" style="background-color: white; color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 1em;" type="text">
An interior ministry spokesman, Najeeb Danish, said a ministry delegation had been sent to the area to investigate and help families of the victims.</div>
<div class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)--sm Mt(0.8em)--sm" content="Helmand for years was the centrepiece of the US and British military intervention in Afghanistan." data-reactid="29" style="background-color: white; color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 1em;" type="text">
Helmand for years was the centrepiece of the US and British military intervention in Afghanistan.</div>
<div class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)--sm Mt(0.8em)--sm" content="But the Taliban now effectively controls or contests 10 of Helmand's 14 districts, blighted by a huge opium harvest that helps fund the insurgency." data-reactid="30" style="background-color: white; color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 1em;" type="text">
But the Taliban now effectively controls or contests 10 of Helmand's 14 districts, blighted by a huge opium harvest that helps fund the insurgency.</div>
<div class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)--sm Mt(0.8em)--sm" content="In April, some 300 US Marines returned to the province as embattled Afghan security forces struggle to beat back the resurgent Taliban." data-reactid="31" style="background-color: white; color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 1em;" type="text">
In April, some 300 US Marines returned to the province as embattled Afghan security forces struggle to beat back the resurgent Taliban.</div>
<div class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)--sm Mt(0.8em)--sm" content="The surge helped Afghan security forces, backed by US air strikes, recapture Nawa district in Helmand six months ago." data-reactid="32" style="background-color: white; color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 1em;" type="text">
The surge helped Afghan security forces, backed by US air strikes, recapture Nawa district in Helmand six months ago.</div>
<div class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)--sm Mt(0.8em)--sm" content="The operation came as Pentagon chief Jim Mattis finalised plans to present a new Afghanistan strategy to President Donald Trump in a bid to reverse what US generals call a "stalemate" at best." data-reactid="33" style="background-color: white; color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 1em;" type="text">
The operation came as Pentagon chief Jim Mattis finalised plans to present a new Afghanistan strategy to President Donald Trump in a bid to reverse what US generals call a "stalemate" at best.</div>
<div class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)--sm Mt(0.8em)--sm" content="In February, a US airstrike in Sangin killed at least 18 civilians, mostly women and children." data-reactid="34" style="background-color: white; color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 1em;" type="text">
In February, a US airstrike in Sangin killed at least 18 civilians, mostly women and children.</div>
<div class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)--sm Mt(0.8em)--sm" content="Last November 32 Afghan civilians were killed in a US airstrike in the northeastern province of Kunduz." data-reactid="35" style="background-color: white; color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 1em;" type="text">
Last November 32 Afghan civilians were killed in a US airstrike in the northeastern province of Kunduz.</div>
<div class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)--sm Mt(0.8em)--sm" content="In October 2015, a US air strike hit a hospital run by Medecins Sans Frontieres, killing 42 people and sparking international outrage." data-reactid="36" style="background-color: white; color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 1em;" type="text">
In October 2015, a US air strike hit a hospital run by Medecins Sans Frontieres, killing 42 people and sparking international outrage.</div>

US strike kills 16 Afghan policemen in Helmand province

A US airstrike has killed 16 policemen in Afghanistan, officials said Saturday, the latest setback to Washington's efforts to bring...

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Justin Bieber banned from China because of his 'bad behaviour

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LOS ANGELES: China has banned pop idol Justin Bieber from performing on the mainland because of his "bad behaviour" on and off the stage.</div>
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The Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture said the ban was necessary to "purify" the country's entertainment industry but suggested it was not permanent, expressing the hope that Bieber might improve his behavior and earn back the love of his fans.</div>
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The 23-year-old singer-songwriter has had run-ins with the law over alleged drunk driving and drag racing.</div>
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Compared to British alternative rock band Placebo, Bieber was the lucky one. The group has had to cancel its gig at the Summer Sonic Festival in Shanghai in September and faces a lifetime ban from performing in China after posting a picture of the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet, on the band's official Instagram page. China considers the Nobel Peace Prize-winning monk a dangerous separatist.</div>
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The temporary Bieber ban emerged after someone posted a question on the Beijing culture bureau's website on Jul 16 asking why the Canadian singer was not allowed to perform in mainland China as part of his Asia tour in September. The tour, to promote his latest album, "Purpose," takes in Tokyo, Hong Kong, the Philippines and Singapore.</div>
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"Please give a detailed explanation of why Justin Bieber is not allowed to come to China! [He] has won many major awards, which demonstrates his extraordinary talents. Why aren't mainland fans given the right to enjoy his performance?" the questioner wrote.</div>
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The Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture replied Tuesday (Jul 18) that Bieber's "bad behaviour" was the reason.</div>
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"We sympathise with your feelings. Justin Bieber is a talented singer but is also a controversial young foreign idol," said the statement. "We understand that there are records of his bad behaviour, whether it is in his private life abroad or on stage.</div>
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"His inappropriate manner has caused public discontent. In order to regulate the market order of show business in China and purify the market environment, it was decided that performers of inappropriate behaviour will not be welcomed."</div>
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Bieber had been to China previously. While touring the country in 2013, he was captured on camera being carried up to the Great Wall of China by Chinese bodyguards. The incident was seen by many Chinese as offensive.</div>
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It's not uncommon for China to ban foreign artists and performers for political reasons. In 2008, Icelandic pop queen Bjork was banned after calling for Tibetan independence during a gig in Shanghai. Maroon 5 and Oasis also faced similar fates after showing support for Tibet.</div>
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Justin Bieber banned from China because of his 'bad behaviour

LOS ANGELES: China has banned pop idol Justin Bieber from performing on the mainland because of his "bad behaviour" on and of...

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Ivanka Trump takes Donald Trump seat at G20 leaders' table

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In an unusual move, Ivanka Trump briefly took her father Donald's seat at a summit of world leaders on Saturday.</h2>
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The US president had stepped away for a meeting with the Indonesian leader during the G20 meeting.</div>
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Ms Trump is an adviser to her father, but a leader's absence is usually covered by high-ranking officials.</div>
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A BBC correspondent at the summit said he could recall no similar precedent. There has been widespread criticism on social media.</div>
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Mr Trump returned a short while later to retake his seat between the British prime minister and the Chinese president.</div>
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Ms Trump did not seem to make any major contribution to the session on African migration and health during her father's absence.</div>
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<li class="story-body__list-item" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; list-style: square outside; margin: 18px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 4px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="story-body__link" href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39712732" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(17, 103, 168, 0.3); border-bottom-color: rgb(220, 220, 220); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ivanka Trump: America's first daughter</a></li>
<li class="story-body__list-item" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; list-style: square outside; margin: 18px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 4px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="story-body__link" href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-40542783" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(17, 103, 168, 0.3); border-bottom-color: rgb(220, 220, 220); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Memorable moments from the G20</a></li>
<li class="story-body__list-item" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; list-style: square outside; margin: 18px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 4px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="story-body__link" href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-40252782" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(17, 103, 168, 0.3); border-bottom-color: rgb(220, 220, 220); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ivanka Trump condemns 'vicious' critics</a></li>
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A photograph of her presence was tweeted by a Russian attendee but later deleted.</div>
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<figure class="media-landscape no-caption full-width" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 24px -24.6406px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="image-and-copyright-container" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; display: block; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Tweet from @LanaLukash with a photo of the table: " and="" as="" at="" bilateral="" class="responsive-image__img js-image-replace" data-highest-encountered-width="624" datasrc="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/6A1D/production/_96856172_d803093e-2e2b-49bb-af15-20c6cd0bbb7b.png" for="" g20="" he="" height="653" leaves="" meetings="" pres="" replaces="" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/6A1D/production/_96856172_d803093e-2e2b-49bb-af15-20c6cd0bbb7b.png" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; display: block; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; transition: opacity 0.2s ease-in; user-select: none; vertical-align: baseline; width: 616.203px;" table="" the="" trump="" width="877" /><span class="off-screen" style="border: 0px; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 1px; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1px;">Image copyright</span><span class="story-image-copyright" style="background: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.6); border: 0px; bottom: 0px; color: #ececec; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.75rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.25px; line-height: 1.33333; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 8px 1px; position: absolute; right: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">TWITTER/@LANALUKASH</span></span></figure><br />
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Some users highlighted that Ms Trump is unelected, or questioned her credentials - as a fashion brand owner - to sit at such a senior diplomatic meeting.</div>
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Others lampooned her appearance among the world's most powerful leaders after her claim in an interview two weeks ago that she tries to "stay out of politics".</div>
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But her brother appeared to suggest there was nothing wrong and asked <a class="story-body__link-external" href="https://twitter.com/DonaldJTrumpJr/status/883724621006204928" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(17, 103, 168, 0.3); border-bottom-color: rgb(220, 220, 220); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">the "outraged left" if they would rather he sat in instead</a>.</div>
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Ms Trump had joined her father for an earlier G20 event on Saturday on women's entrepreneurship and finance, along with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Christine Lagarde, director of the International Monetary Fund.</div>
<ul class="story-body__unordered-list" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 18px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li class="story-body__list-item" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; list-style: square outside; margin: 18px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 4px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="story-body__link" href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39642391" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(17, 103, 168, 0.3); border-bottom-color: rgb(220, 220, 220); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Jared Kushner: Who is the Trump whisperer?</a></li>
<li class="story-body__list-item" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; list-style: square outside; margin: 18px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 4px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="story-body__link" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-us-canada-39500169/ivanka-where-i-disagree-with-my-father-he-knows-it?intlink_from_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fnews%2Ftopics%2F7734c205-db65-4c95-8543-be0653af0702%2Fivanka-trump&link_location=live-reporting-map" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(17, 103, 168, 0.3); border-bottom-color: rgb(220, 220, 220); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ivanka: 'Where I disagree with my father, he knows it'</a></li>
</ul>
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All three women had previously appeared together on a panel during the G20 women's summit in Berlin in April.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a class="story-body__link" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-39704840" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(17, 103, 168, 0.3); border-bottom-color: rgb(220, 220, 220); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">At that appearance</a>, she defended her father as a "tremendous champion of supporting families and enabling them to thrive".</div>
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<figcaption class="media-with-caption__caption" style="border: 0px; color: #ececec; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.8125rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.23077; margin: 0px; padding: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; visibility: visible;"><span class="off-screen" style="border: 0px; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 1px; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1px;">Media caption</span>Ivanka Trump explains her praise for her father</figcaption></figure><br />
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Earlier on Saturday, Donald Trump said having him for a father was the only "bad thing" in Ms Trump's life.</div>
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"I'm very proud of my daughter, Ivanka - always have been, from day one," he told world leaders at the panel on female entrepreneurs.</div>
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"If she weren't my daughter, it would be so much easier for her. Might be the only bad thing she has going, if you want to know the truth."</div>
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While her siblings, Donald Jr and Eric, took over the family business, Ms Trump put her own fashion brand assets in a trust in order to take an unpaid White House position, a move criticised as nepotism.</div>
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After a brief modelling career as a teenager, Ms Trump was given a job in her father's company.</div>
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There, she expanded the Trump hotel brand and became an executive vice-president of development, alongside her siblings.</div>
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Ms Trump is married to Jared Kushner, who also plays an influential role in Donald Trump's White House.</div>

Ivanka Trump takes Donald Trump seat at G20 leaders' table

In an unusual move, Ivanka Trump briefly took her father Donald's seat at a summit of world leaders on Saturday. The US preside...

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World’s first ATM machine turns to gold on 50th birthday

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzstkuVwzi14dSx5VHQH1CJ8eootWMt2N-hYuaqLVRwRBeqYGAuF4CXEPzjl6H_b4JrdX6p7AKsWSYYJKsZz7JI7427L9lXsyJEQuyfBrXGxFdEbcCAOIJvYw6neCLuFM3wisBxCMFTDyz/s1600/World%25E2%2580%2599s+first+ATM+machine+turns+to+gold+on+50th+birthday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Gold ATM Machine" border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1500" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzstkuVwzi14dSx5VHQH1CJ8eootWMt2N-hYuaqLVRwRBeqYGAuF4CXEPzjl6H_b4JrdX6p7AKsWSYYJKsZz7JI7427L9lXsyJEQuyfBrXGxFdEbcCAOIJvYw6neCLuFM3wisBxCMFTDyz/s640/World%25E2%2580%2599s+first+ATM+machine+turns+to+gold+on+50th+birthday.jpg" title="World’s first ATM machine turns to gold on 50th birthday" width="640" /></a></div>
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<strong style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Five decades since it heralded a transformation in the way people obtained and used cash, the world’s first ATM was turned into gold for celebrations of its fiftieth anniversary.</strong></h2>
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<strong style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="border: 0px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 24.8px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The brainchild of Scottish inventor Shepherd-Barron, the first ATM (automated teller machine) was opened on June 27, 1967, at a branch of Barclays Bank in Enfield, north London, the first of six cash dispensers commissioned by the bank.</div>
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English actor Reg Varney, who starred in the British TV comedy show “On The Buses”, was the first person to withdraw cash from the new machine.</div>
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Now there are an estimated three million cash machines across the globe with some 70,000 cash machines in the UK alone which dispensed 175 billion pounds in 2016.</div>
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The world’s most northerly machine is at Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway and the most southerly located at the McMurdo station at the South Pole.</div>
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To commemorate the anniversary, Barclays transformed the ATM at its Enfield branch into gold, added a commemorative plaque and placed a red carpet in front of its users.</div>
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“Even though recent years have seen a huge uptake of digital banking and card payments, cash remains a crucial part of most people’s day-to-day lives,” said Raheel Ahmed, Head of Customer Experience and Channels at Barclays.</div>
</strong></div>

World’s first ATM machine turns to gold on 50th birthday

Five decades since it heralded a transformation in the way people obtained and used cash, the world’s first ATM was turned into gold fo...

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Trump blasts 'phony' obstruction of justice media report

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiltLaebHK4UDv8CCRWsi3i0fhGXrZ6906fyl-12iCqQUCHGeKH1Xx4an51g0G-QHytr2rIPuw48Y2x1Cstp3UrzGJRqsrra2vrGv_6nb0W83-3BPHhX2PIwxG-DPe61Z5BjcsAbnovnGc/s1600/donald+trump.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="trump png" border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1200" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiltLaebHK4UDv8CCRWsi3i0fhGXrZ6906fyl-12iCqQUCHGeKH1Xx4an51g0G-QHytr2rIPuw48Y2x1Cstp3UrzGJRqsrra2vrGv_6nb0W83-3BPHhX2PIwxG-DPe61Z5BjcsAbnovnGc/s640/donald+trump.png" title="trump-blasts-phony-obstruction-of-justice-media-report" width="640" /></a></div>
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WASHINGTON: Donald Trump derided claims of collusion between Moscow and his associates as "phony" Thursday (Jun 15) after reports of the head of a probe into Russia's alleged election meddling is investigating him for obstructing justice.</div>
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"They made up a phony collusion with the Russians story, found zero proof, so now they go for obstruction of justice on the phony story. Nice," Trump wrote.</div>
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They made up a phony collusion with the Russians story, found zero proof, so now they go for obstruction of justice on the phony story. Nice</div>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/875305788708974592">June 15, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Senior US intelligence officials have agreed to be interviewed by investigators working for Robert Mueller, a respected former FBI chief, according to reports in both The Washington Post and New York Times.</div>
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Mueller's office has also asked the National Security Agency (NSA) for documents related to its interactions with the administration as part of the probe into Russian meddling and possible collusion with Trump campaign officials, The New York Times reported.</div>
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Mueller has the authority to investigate whether Trump tried to obstruct justice which is a potentially impeachable offense.</div>
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Former FBI director James Comey told Congress last week that Trump pressured him to drop an investigation into his former national security advisor, Mike Flynn, who was forced to quit for lying about his links to Moscow.</div>
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Comey was later sacked, with Trump acknowledging that the Russian investigation was on his mind when he decided to dismiss him.</div>
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"You are witnessing the single greatest WITCH HUNT in American political history - led by some very bad and conflicted people! #MAGA," Trump tweeted later Thursday morning. The acronym is a reference to his campaign slogan, Make America Great Again.</div>
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Trump was forced to fire Flynn in February after he misled the White House about his contacts with Russian officials last year as a member of Trump's transition team.</div>
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The president vehemently denies any collusion between himself or any of his associates and Russia.</div>
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The Post quoted five people briefed on the requests, saying those who agreed to be interviewed include national intelligence director Daniel Coats, Admiral Mike Rogers who heads the NSA, and his recently departed deputy, Richard Ledgett.</div>
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The shift toward investigating the president began days after Trump fired James Comey as FBI director on May 9, the Post said.</div>
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Comey, who had been overseeing the bureau's Russia investigation, says he had previously assured Trump he was not personally under investigation.</div>
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Recent reports have said Trump also requested help from Coats and Rogers to pressure Comey to end the investigation into Flynn's activities.</div>
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Trump blasts 'phony' obstruction of justice media report

WASHINGTON: Donald Trump derided claims of collusion between Moscow and his associates as "phony" Thursday (Jun 15) after rep...

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Pilots of missing Malaysian air force plane found dead

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQ8XbiGe6hL3gQlX66o5NFm8jTbOO1it_4XEbj-d-cwNsAYrskcC4S6F5acSV36lNys0W8gGPiRr_xSVvN3-oBrQZFnxF9BKzru7gidbcoykdvRl-ti0c9OhHMNzJtv4jVmxXJesVW0oO/s1600/malaysia+-air-force.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="malaysian air force png" border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQ8XbiGe6hL3gQlX66o5NFm8jTbOO1it_4XEbj-d-cwNsAYrskcC4S6F5acSV36lNys0W8gGPiRr_xSVvN3-oBrQZFnxF9BKzru7gidbcoykdvRl-ti0c9OhHMNzJtv4jVmxXJesVW0oO/s640/malaysia+-air-force.jpg" title="Pilots-of-missing-Malaysian-air-force-plane-found-dead" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="c-picture--article-header" data-css="c-picture" style="border: 0px; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">
<figure class="picture__wrapper" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><figcaption class="picture__caption" style="background-color: #f2f2f2; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(161, 37, 40); border-left-style: solid; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 5px; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5); font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.875rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.42857; margin: 0px; padding: 13px 64px 11px 17px; vertical-align: baseline;">File photo of the Hawk fighter jet. (Photo: RMAF)</figcaption></figure></div>
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<br />KUALA LUMPUR: The pilots of a Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) jet that went missing north of Kuantan near the Pahang-Terengganu border have been found dead, Malaysian state media reported on Thursday (Jun 15).</div>
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The two pilots of the Hawk 108 fighter jet were found in a swamp near Chukai in Terengganu at 2.30pm on Thursday, according to the Bernama news agency.</div>
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The victims were identified as Major Hasri Zahari, 31, and Major Yazmin Mohamed Yusof, 39. Both airmen were found with their parachutes strapped on but the wreckage of the jet had yet to be found.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBSzxxFHHT9fkCwic_0VNoXBtlVgqTK9ksAJNUuouTlVYr5WvuTTSoC0GRE7R4wC3Px8ZgUyjFcclPTu_HcmgAbDvuQkWEvv1CNpM3_o7yPIjuW4GsIiX9cF75DU9YnXC1i7gF8i3IK2d2/s1600/air+force+pilot.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="sacrifice his life to protect others" border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBSzxxFHHT9fkCwic_0VNoXBtlVgqTK9ksAJNUuouTlVYr5WvuTTSoC0GRE7R4wC3Px8ZgUyjFcclPTu_HcmgAbDvuQkWEvv1CNpM3_o7yPIjuW4GsIiX9cF75DU9YnXC1i7gF8i3IK2d2/s640/air+force+pilot.png" title="Pilots-of-missing-Malaysian-air-force-plane-found-dead" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="c-picture--article is-original" data-css="c-picture" style="border: 0px; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 32px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">
<figure class="picture__wrapper" style="background-color: #f2f2f2; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><figcaption class="picture__caption" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(161, 37, 40); border-left-style: solid; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 5px; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5); font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.875rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.42857; margin: 0px; padding: 13px 64px 11px 17px; vertical-align: baseline;">Major Hasri Zahari, 31, and Major Yazmi Mohamed Yusof, 39, both lost their lives after a Royal Malaysia Air Force plane crashed on Thursday (Jun 15). (Photo: Bernama)</figcaption></figure></div>
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Contact with the fighter jet was lost at 11.30am after the aircraft took off from the Kuantan airbase, according to the RMAF. A search and rescue operation was then launched.<span style="font-size: 1rem; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;">Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, in a Twitter message, expressed his condolences and called for an investigation into the cause of the crash.</span></div>
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Pilots of missing Malaysian air force plane found dead

File photo of the Hawk fighter jet. (Photo: RMAF) KUALA LUMPUR: The pilots of a Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) jet that went missin...

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US blames North Korea for hacking spree, says more attacks likely

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoZ0RTm5dKQQd3WRrRoS2qwTBc2N93mTrXXNe7y2qL36EHVncL3THQCaa5JrpIxji6JBn8TGgG-F17xM2Jrj7l7aIwXBj7uON4lwGV_A6pUuZM5lh-Hjdsymr1K4gYLNSKYCEMlfLEWXql/s1600/cyber.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="US blames North Korea for hacking" border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoZ0RTm5dKQQd3WRrRoS2qwTBc2N93mTrXXNe7y2qL36EHVncL3THQCaa5JrpIxji6JBn8TGgG-F17xM2Jrj7l7aIwXBj7uON4lwGV_A6pUuZM5lh-Hjdsymr1K4gYLNSKYCEMlfLEWXql/s640/cyber.jpg" title="US-blames-North-Korea-for-hacking-spree,-says-more-attacks-likely" width="640" /></a></div>
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WASHINGTON/TORONTO: The U.S. government on Tuesday issued a rare alert squarely blaming the North Korean government for a raft of cyber attacks stretching back to 2009 and warning that more were likely.</h2>
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The joint warning from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation said that "cyber actors of the North Korean government," referred to in the report as "Hidden Cobra," had targeted the media, aerospace and financial sectors, as well as critical infrastructure, in the United States and globally.</div>
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The new level of detail about the U.S. government's analysis of suspected North Korean hacking activity coincides with increasing tensions between Washington and Pyongyang because of North Korea's missile tests. The alert warned that North Korea would continue to rely on cyber operations to advance its military and strategic objectives.</div>
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North Korea has routinely denied involvement in cyber attacks against other countries.</div>
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The North Korean mission to the United Nations was not immediately available for comment.</div>
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Tuesday's alert said Hidden Cobra has been previously referred to by private sector experts as Lazarus Group and Guardians of the Peace, which have been linked to attacks such as the 2014 intrusion into Sony Corp's Sony Pictures Entertainment.</div>
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Symantec Corp and Kaspersky Lab both said last month it was "highly likely" that Lazarus was behind the WannaCry ransomware attack that infected more than 300,000 computers worldwide, disrupting operations at hospitals, banks and schools.</div>
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The alert did not identify specific Hidden Cobra victims. It said the group had compromised a range of victims and that some intrusions had resulted in thefts of data while others were disruptive. The group's capabilities include denial of service attacks, which send reams of junk traffic to a server to knock it offline, keystroke logging, remote access tools and several variants of malware, the alert said.</div>
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John Hultquist, a cyber intelligence analyst with FireEye Inc , said that his firm was concerned about increasingly aggressive cyber attacks from North Korea.</div>
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The hacks include cyber espionage at South Korean finance, energy and transportation firms that appears to be reconnaissance ahead of other attacks that would be disruptive or destructive, he said.</div>
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"It suggests they are preparing for something fairly significant," he added.</div>
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Hidden Cobra commonly targets systems that run older versions of Microsoft Corp operating systems that are no longer patched, the alert said, and also used vulnerabilities in Adobe Systems Inc's Flash software to gain access into targeted computers.</div>
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The report urged organizations to upgrade to current versions of Adobe Flash and Microsoft Silverlight or, when possible, uninstall those applications altogether.</div>
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Microsoft said it an emailed statement that it had "addressed" the Silverlight issue in a January 2016 software update. Adobe said via email that it patched the vulnerabilities in June 2016.</div>
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North Korean hacking activity has grown increasingly hostile in recent years, according to Western officials and cyber security experts.</div>
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The alert arrived on the same day that North Korea released an American university student who had been held captive by Pyongyang for 17 months.</div>
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Otto Warmbier, 22, was on his way back to the United States on Tuesday but in a coma and in urgent need of medical care, according to Bill Richardson, a veteran former diplomat and politician who has played a role in past negotiations with North Korea.</div>
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"The U.S. government seeks to arm network defenders with the tools they need to identify, detect and disrupt North Korean government malicious cyber activity that is targeting our country's and our allies’ networks," a DHS official said about the alert. The official was not authorized to speak publicly.</div>

US blames North Korea for hacking spree, says more attacks likely

WASHINGTON/TORONTO: The U.S. government on Tuesday issued a rare alert squarely blaming the North Korean government for a raft of cyber...

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US Europe seek measures to avert expanded airline laptop ban

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<span style="font-family: "lato" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">The U.S. Department of Homeland Security will meet European officials this week to discuss new security measures that could prevent the U.S. government expanding a ban on laptops beyond flights from ten airports primarily in the Middle East.</span><span style="border: 0px; font-family: "lato" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidtB_oRe0fjAlC-DcRXY5VkQZCY0HcV2i31VrID8RMi-gCqWzCwOwaW7g0VDCrl-A-Mh_aW4nafVYBVYK9zP7VwPVs02ECPmuPGnUCRJjDBNgndQONN52z5jgECVZjDtLNlHapmcyfTNi_/s1600/US%252C+Europe+seek+measures+to+avert+expanded+airline+laptop+ban.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="US" border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidtB_oRe0fjAlC-DcRXY5VkQZCY0HcV2i31VrID8RMi-gCqWzCwOwaW7g0VDCrl-A-Mh_aW4nafVYBVYK9zP7VwPVs02ECPmuPGnUCRJjDBNgndQONN52z5jgECVZjDtLNlHapmcyfTNi_/s640/US%252C+Europe+seek+measures+to+avert+expanded+airline+laptop+ban.png" title="US-Europe-seek-measures-to-avert-expanded-airline-laptop-ban" width="640" /></a></span></h2>
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WASHINGTON: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security will meet European officials this week to discuss new security measures that could prevent the U.S. government expanding a ban on laptops beyond flights from ten airports primarily in the Middle East.</h2>
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<span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">David Lapan, a DHS spokesman, said in a briefing Tuesday that he would not disclose specific security enhancements but said they were "in the way of information sharing, passenger information, detection types of steps."</span></div>
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Homeland Security chief John Kelly told a congressional panel last week he was looking at an additional 71 airports in Europe, Africa and the Middle East for a possible expansion of the ban.</div>
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A European airline industry official told Reuters the United States had suggested possible enhancements including explosive trace detection screening, increased vetting of airports' staff and additional detection dogs.</div>
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U.S. restrictions on laptops announced in March, including on flights originating from airports in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey, came amid fears a concealed bomb could be installed in electronic devices taken aboard aircraft. Britain followed suit with restrictions.</div>
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Any expansion of the ban could impact U.S. carriers such as United Airlines, Delta Air Lines Inc and American Airlines Group.</div>
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Lapan said the United States would not present a definitive list to Europeans to avoid a ban but rather options under consideration. He added that it "remains to be seen" if enhanced security measure could allow reversal of existing airports under the ban.</div>
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DHS officials are attending the meeting in Malta "to present what we think are the minimum increased security standards ... and present those to people to say if you meet these standards we will not ban large electronics," Kelly said.</div>
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Reuters and other media outlets reported in early May that an expansion was likely, but more than a month later, the U.S. government has offered no timetable for making a decision. Lapan said no decision was expected this week.</div>
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US Europe seek measures to avert expanded airline laptop ban

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security will meet European officials this week to discuss new security measures that could prevent the U.S...

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Terror attacks dent visitor numbers at London sights

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnFghllBsSNaASo8Rz_n9SNpT38vicBp5XB9U4SpHq81YBqUwVVtnpFfZRA2VSPq7RvyAiEcAXWlnzqdgqQnNSEl9xbDSYlj0fboDKrKa-0SJH_3t8fO9kYKxmxLendD-QaIOcJWW4kVk0/s1600/london.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="London Attack " border="0" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="700" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnFghllBsSNaASo8Rz_n9SNpT38vicBp5XB9U4SpHq81YBqUwVVtnpFfZRA2VSPq7RvyAiEcAXWlnzqdgqQnNSEl9xbDSYlj0fboDKrKa-0SJH_3t8fO9kYKxmxLendD-QaIOcJWW4kVk0/s640/london.jpg" title="Terror-attacks-dent-visitor-numbers-at-London-sights" width="640" /></a></div>
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LONDON: Terror attacks in Britain have lowered visitor numbers at London attractions and theme parks run by Merlin Entertainments, the company said on Tuesday.</h2>
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Merlin, which runs the London Eye and Madame Tussauds and a string of theme parks, said the Westminster attack on March 22 in which five people were killed initially led to "a softer domestic, day-trip market".</div>
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Two subsequent attacks in Manchester and London which killed 30 people and injured dozens more "resulted in a further deterioration in domestic demand," the company said in a stock market trading update.</div>
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"Given the typical lag between holiday bookings and visitation, we are also cautious on trends in foreign visitation over the coming months," the company said.</div>
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Theme parks including Legoland had also been "adversely affected in recent weeks by the terror attacks and subsequent heightened security measures".</div>
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Merlin chief executive officer Nick Varney said the impact of the attacks was "unclear at this stage".</div>
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"What is clear however is that London has bounced back before, and will do again," he said, adding: "I have every confidence in the longer term resilience and growth trajectory of the market".</div>
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The company statement also said it had benefited from the plunge in the value of the pound following last year's Brexit referendum, which has increased the number of foreign tourists coming to London.</div>
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Shares in Merlin were down 2.54 percent on the London Stock Exchange after the announcement.</div>
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Terror attacks dent visitor numbers at London sights

LONDON: Terror attacks in Britain have lowered visitor numbers at London attractions and theme parks run by Merlin Entertainments, the...

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Ukrainians Celebrate Visa-Free Travel To EU

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BRUSSELS -- Ukrainians are celebrating the first day of visa-free travel to most EU countries, which President Petro Poroshenko welcomed as a "a final exit of our country from the Russian Empire."</h2>
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The liberalized regime entered into force on June 11, allowing Ukrainian citizens who have biometric passports to enter all EU member states other than Ireland and the United Kingdom without a visa for up to 90 days during any 180-day period. It also applies to four Schengen Area countries that are not in the EU: Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland.</h3>
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Poroshenko met with Slovak his counterpart, Andrej Kiska, on the Slovak-Ukrainian border, opening a symbolic "door to the EU."</div>
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<a aria-label="The Bankova (zobrazované jméno: TheBankova)" class="TweetAuthor-link Identity u-linkBlend" data-scribe="element:user_link" href="https://twitter.com/TheBankova" style="background-color: transparent; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2; outline: 0px; text-decoration: inherit;"><span class="TweetAuthor-verifiedBadge" data-scribe="element:verified_badge" style="position: absolute; top: 0px;"><span class="u-hiddenVisually" style="border: 0px !important; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px) !important; height: 1px !important; overflow: hidden !important; padding: 0px !important; position: absolute !important; width: 1px !important;">✔</span></span><span class="TweetAuthor-screenName Identity-screenName" data-scribe="element:screen_name" dir="ltr" style="color: #697882; font-size: 14px;" title="@TheBankova">@TheBankova</span></a></div>
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<a class="PrettyLink hashtag customisable" data-query-source="hashtag_click" data-scribe="element:hashtag" dir="ltr" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Visafree?src=hash" rel="tag" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2b7bb9; outline: 0px;"><span class="PrettyLink-prefix">#</span><span class="PrettyLink-value">Visafree</span></a> with <img alt="🇪🇺" aria-label="Emoji: Flag of European Union" class="Emoji Emoji--forText" draggable="false" src="https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/72x72/1f1ea-1f1fa.png" style="border: 0px; height: 1.25em; padding: 0px 0.05em 0px 0.1em; vertical-align: -0.2em; width: 1.25em;" title="Flag of European Union" /> illustrates progress of reforms. We changed the country together & our European partners kept their word – <a class="PrettyLink profile customisable h-card" data-mentioned-user-id="2423747006" data-scribe="element:mention" dir="ltr" href="https://twitter.com/poroshenko" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2b7bb9; outline: 0px;"><span class="PrettyLink-prefix">@</span><span class="PrettyLink-value">Poroshenko</span></a></div>
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<a class="u-linkBlend u-url customisable-highlight long-permalink" data-datetime="2017-06-11T10:21:26+0000" data-scribe="element:full_timestamp" href="https://twitter.com/TheBankova/status/873847636092223489" style="background-color: transparent; font-weight: inherit; outline: 0px; text-decoration: inherit;">14:21, 11. Jun. 2017</a></div>
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  <span aria-hidden="true" class="TweetAction-stat" data-scribe="element:retweet_count" style="display: inline-block; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: text-bottom;">50</span><span class="u-hiddenVisually" style="border: 0px !important; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px) !important; height: 1px !important; overflow: hidden !important; padding: 0px !important; position: absolute !important; width: 1px !important;">50 retweetů</span></a></li>
   
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  <span aria-hidden="true" class="TweetAction-stat" data-scribe="element:heart_count" style="display: inline-block; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: text-bottom;">45</span><span class="u-hiddenVisually" style="border: 0px !important; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px) !important; height: 1px !important; overflow: hidden !important; padding: 0px !important; position: absolute !important; width: 1px !important;">45lajků</span></a></li>
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"We have waited so long for this," the Ukrainian president said at the Uzhhorod border crossing in the Zakarpattia region. "I am sure that this day, June 11, will go down in the history of Ukraine as a final exit of our country from the Russian empire and its return to the family of European nations. "Welcome to Europe," Kiska told the crowd attending the event. "I want to call on you to continue carrying out reforms."</div>
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"The visa-free regime for Ukraine has started! Glory to Europe! Glory to Ukraine!" Poroshenko earlier wrote on Twitter after hundreds of Ukrainians crossed the EU border.</div>
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"Flights to Warsaw, Budapest, Frankfurt, and Munich have successfully landed and passed passport control;) #Bezviz -- just the beginning!" Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin cheered on Twitter.</div>
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Thousands of people had crossed the border into EU countries by midday, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry's consular department wrote on Twitter.</div>
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Ukrainian travelers arriving in Brussels on June 11 said they were pleased about the ease with which they could now travel to Europe and the greater integration with the EU that it represented.<br />
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"It feels very good when you can travel without any restrictions, when you just need to have a passport and that's all. That feels very good," Ukrainian student Inna Teryokhina told RFE/RL at Brussels Airport.</div>
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Ukrainian border officials said they are expecting a 30 percent rise in passenger traffic at control sites along the frontier with the new regulations.</div>
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Mykola Tochytskyi, the head of Ukraine's mission to the EU, told RFE/RL outside the European Parliament in Brussels on June 11 that "for Ukraine, today is a big day."<br />
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"It is not only about celebration; it is also a confirmation of our stand[ing]. To be with Europe. Not only outside of the region, but to be with Europe, to be a partner [who had] implemented all the benchmarks when it was decided to go for the visa-free regime," Tochytskyi said.</div>
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In a message on Twitter posted on June 11, European Council President Donald Tusk wrote, "A day to remember. Visa free travel for Ukrainians now a reality. Bringing us closer together."</div>
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In a video address, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Johannes Hahn said that visa-free travel was achieved after "a long process but finally the reform efforts paid off."<br />
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"This is a real milestone proving that the European Union delivers on its promises," he said. "Ukraine's commitment to the reform process will always result in tangible benefits for the citizens. This should be a motivation to stay on the reform course."</div>
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"Today, we bring down a barrier between the people of Ukraine and the people of the European Union," EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said in a video address released late on June 10.</div>
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"Today we bring down barrier between people of Ukraine and people of EU. No more visa for short trips between our countries" <a class="PrettyLink profile customisable h-card" data-mentioned-user-id="460163041" data-scribe="element:mention" dir="ltr" href="https://twitter.com/FedericaMog" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2b7bb9; outline: 0px;"><span class="PrettyLink-prefix">@</span><span class="PrettyLink-value">FedericaMog</span></a></div>
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  <span aria-hidden="true" class="TweetAction-stat" data-scribe="element:retweet_count" style="display: inline-block; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: text-bottom;">265</span><span class="u-hiddenVisually" style="border: 0px !important; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px) !important; height: 1px !important; overflow: hidden !important; padding: 0px !important; position: absolute !important; width: 1px !important;">265 Retweets</span></a></li>
   
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"It will create new opportunities for all of us, strengthening our economies, or security, and our friendship," she also said. "And this is what our partnership is all about: making a difference to our citizens’ everyday life."</div>
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Hugues Mingarelli, head of the EU delegation to Ukraine, said at the ceremony that Ukrainians will be able "to travel to 33 countries of West Europe without any visa requirements."</div>
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Mingarelli said the visa-free regime was "just the first step" toward "intensifying relations" between the EU and Ukraine.</div>
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Poroshenko said on June 10 as he counted down the final 12 hours before the start of the travel regime that he believes Ukraine will become a member of both NATO and the EU, and that "nothing, nobody will ever stop us."</div>
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"The words 'back in the U.S.S.R.' will be heard only listening to The Beatles," Poroshenko said. "We will never return to the Soviet Union because we, a proud and free democratic nation, return to the family of European nations."</div>
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He said the "last sound of the countdown" will mark "the fall of not the concrete Berlin Wall but the paper curtain that has been separating Ukrainians from the European family for years."<br />
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"We must return Ukrainians their history. That is why today’s decision of the EU is so important. A long process has been completed. First of all, it goes about the return of Ukraine to its historic place among the European countries, not only about the visa-free border crossing," Poroshenko told the 1+1 television channel.</div>
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Poroshenko's predecessor, Viktor Yanukovych, was pushed from power in 2014 by massive pro-European protests after he scrapped plans for a deal to tighten ties with the EU. Russia then seized control of Ukraine's Crimea region and fomented separatism in eastern Ukraine, where a war between Russia-backed forces and the government has killed more than 9,900 people.</div>
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Much of present-day Ukraine was part of the Russian Empire beginning in the 17th century, and Ukraine was under Moscow's thumb as a Soviet republic for most of the 20th century. It gained independence in the Soviet collapse of 1991.</div>

Ukrainians Celebrate Visa-Free Travel To EU

BRUSSELS -- Ukrainians are celebrating the first day of visa-free travel to most EU countries, which President Petro Poroshenko welcomed a...

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