China needs smog-free air in a can

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Major explosion near Gao, northern Mali

GAO, Mali: A massive explosion near Gao in northern Mali late Saturday raised fears of an Islamist attack, hours after villagers near the city detained two youths preparing suicide bombings.The blast late Saturday was audible from the northern Malian city of Gao, which French-led forces only recaptured from the Islamists late last month.It went off at around 11:00pm (2300 GMT), an AFP...

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Almost famous: See celebs' early roles

By Henry Hanks, CNNupdated 5:05 PM EST, Thu February 7, 2013Stars who started out like GoDaddy's geekJesse HeimanSylvester StalloneJohn TravoltaKeanu ReevesCourtney CoxMatt LeBlancTina FeyRainn WilsonMegan FoxDean Wint...

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Pastor: Slain teen the face of violence epidemic

CHICAGO A prominent Chicago pastor remembered a slain 15-year-old girl Saturday as the face of an "epidemic of violence causing funeral processions around the country." Father Michael Pfleger spoke at Hadiya Pendleton's funeral, telling a packed South Side church that "we must become the interrupters of funeral processions." Pendleton was a band majorette and honor student who was shot and killed...

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Northeast Digs Out After Blizzard

A fierce winter storm brought blizzard conditions and hurricane force winds as the anticipated snowstorm descended across much of the Northeast overnight.By early Saturday morning, 650,000 homes and businesses were without power and at least five deaths were being blamed on the storm, three in Canada, one in New York and one in Connecticut, The Associated Press reported.The...

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How Obama can end Congo conflict

Conflict in CongoConflict in CongoConflict in CongoConflict in CongoConflict in CongoSTORY HIGHLIGHTSPresident Obama can help end the Congo conflict for good, says Vava TampaObama has asked Rwanda to end all support to armed groups in the CongoFDLR militia gang is a threat to stability and must leave CongoObama must push for change in Congolese government, argues TampaEditor's note: Vava Tampa is...

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Clashes in Egypt as anti-Morsi camp demands change

CAIRO: Thousands of protesters clashed with police in several provinces in rallies calling on Islamist President Mohamed Morsi to fulfil the goals of the revolt that brought him to power.More than 120 people were injured in the unrest across the country on Friday, the health ministry said.In Cairo, protesters lobbed petrol bombs and set off fireworks, as security vans charged towards demonstrators...

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The making of a No. 1 song

Singer/songwriter Benny Blanco has produced some major hits by stars like Maroon 5, Rihanna and Ke$sha.STORY HIGHLIGHTSA hit song could be a catchy earworm or a heartfelt balladTop producer Benny Blanco says every song needs a hookBillboard expert says while albums aren't selling big, music is everywhere(CNN) -- Don't ask music super-producer Benny Blanco to whip up a No. 1 song for an artist because...

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Ohio Amish beard-cutting ringleader gets 15 years

Samuel Mullet Sr./WKBN/U.S. Attorney (AP) CLEVELAND - Samuel Mullet Sr., the ringleader in hair- and beard-cutting attacks on fellow Amish in Ohio, was sentenced Friday to 15 years in prison.Pictures:  Amish members convicted in beard-cutting attacks Before his sentencing, Mullet told Judge Dan Aaron Polster in Cleveland that he had been blamed for running a cult and was ready to take the punishment....

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Rescued Ethan Spends Birthday With SWAT Heroes

As a beaming 6-year-old Ethan said "cheese" for photos and played with toy cars at his birthday party, there were no immediate signs of the turmoil the young boy had endured just days earlier.The boy, identified only as Ethan, was held hostage in a nearly week-long standoff in Alabama. He was physically unharmed after Jimmy Lee Dykes kidnapped him from a school bus and held...

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Facts? Shmacts. It's only a movie

STORY HIGHLIGHTSGene Seymour: "Lincoln" error on emancipation vote shines light on how films tell historyHe says Oscar chances for "Argo," "Zero Dark Thirty" may be hurt after facts questionedHe says films have long gotten history wrong but are useful in showing society's perceptionsSeymour: It's art, not history, sometimes a vision, something we wish had been or could be Editor's note: Gene Seymour...

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Near impact: asteroid to narrowly miss Earth

WASHINGTON: Hold on to your hats: an asteroid will zoom within spitting distance of Earth next week, in what NASA said is the closest flyby ever predicted for an object this large.The 2012 DA 14, discovered by chance by astronomers after passing nearby last February, will be just around 17,200 miles (27,700 kilometres) above Earth's surface when it speeds by, the US Space Agency said.That's...

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'This is a necessary evil,' suspected cop killer writes

STORY HIGHLIGHTSNEW: LAPD board found Dorner was facing a bad reviewChris Dorner filed a complaint against his training officer in 2007The LAPD cleared the officer and recommended that Dorner be dismissed "The attacks will stop when the department states the truth about my innocence," he wrote(CNN) -- What authorities are calling Chris Dorner's campaign of guerrilla warfare against his former comrades...

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Blizzard warning for NYC as Northeast braces

Updated 4:30 p.m. EasternBOSTON Halfway through a merciful winter across the Northeast, a blizzard threatened to strike with a vengeance starting Friday, with up to 2 feet of snow forecast for much of New England. The National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning for New York City, southern Westchester County and coastal portions of northeast New Jersey. From New Jersey to Maine, people stocked...

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Suspect Tried to Flee Country Before Cop Shooting

The fired ex-California cop who set off a region-wide manhunt after allegedly shooting three police officers this morning -- one fatally -- had initially gone to a yacht club near San Diego where police say he attempted to steal a boat and flee to Mexico.Police say that former police officer Christopher Jordan Dorner, 33, who officials believe posted an online manifesto outlining...

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Bring drones out of the shadows

STORY HIGHLIGHTSJohn Brennan's confirmation hearing is a chance to ask about drone program, author saysSarah Holewinski: Brennan is one of a few officials who knows full story on dronesShe says senators need to ask about damage drone program does to civilians, U.S. reputationHolewinski: CIA should hand over drone program to Defense DepartmentEditor's note: Sarah Holewinski is executive director of...

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