Man accused of tossing boy off Mall of America balcony ordered held without bond

A Minnesota judge on Tuesday ordered a man accused of critically injuring a 5-year-old boy by throwing him off a balcony at the Mall of America held in lieu of a $2 million bond until a hearing next month, prosecutors said.

from Reuters: U.S. https://reut.rs/2PhdZRu

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Tornadoes, thunderstorms to pummel U.S. again this week

A second wave of tornadoes and thunderstorms in less than a week is forecast to hit states in the U.S. South and Midwest on Wednesday then move eastward, with Oklahoma expecting hail bigger than golf balls.

from Reuters: U.S. https://reut.rs/2IyfQ2G

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Oregon sued over 'overwhelmed' and 'ineffective' foster care system

Child advocates sued Oregon's governor and other top officials in federal court on Tuesday, claiming children in the state's foster care program were being denied proper care by a system that has long been "overwhelmed, under-resourced and ineffective."

from Reuters: U.S. https://reut.rs/2Gi3oS3

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Notre-Dame's ashes spark renewed push to rebuild torched Louisiana churches

The worldwide resolve to restore France's fire-devastated Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral provided an unexpected boost on Tuesday to a more modest campaign to rebuild three predominantly black churches in Louisiana that were torched in recent weeks.

from Reuters: U.S. https://reut.rs/2DjrQ4I

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Lockheed Martin wins $879 million U.S. defense contract: Pentagon

Lockheed Martin Corp has won a $879 million contract for sustainment and maintenance of parts of the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile, the Pentagon said on Tuesday.

from Reuters: U.S. https://reut.rs/2DhOHNY

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Ohio legislators to hear bill to save nuclear power plants

A House of Representatives subcommittee in Ohio will hear a clean energy bill on Wednesday designed to save the state's two nuclear power plants from retirement and encourage the building of new renewable facilities.

from Reuters: U.S. https://reut.rs/2Ioh7dC

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Hate crime charges lodged against suspect in Louisiana church burnings

Three additional charges were lodged against the son of a sheriff's deputy accused of burning down three predominately black churches in southern Louisiana in the past few weeks.

from Reuters: U.S. https://reut.rs/2GkyNDi

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If it ain't broke? Spain's economy takes rare election back seat

For the first time in a decade, Spain's economy is taking a back seat in an election campaign as the main contenders, switching tack with a growth run entering its sixth year, focus on winning voters' hearts rather than filling their wallets.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2VMe5CN

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Swiss to support Belt and Road push during president's China trip

Switzerland will sign an accord backing China's Belt and Road Initiative when President Ueli Maurer visits China this month, cementing ties with a major trading partner as other Western countries view the gargantuan project with scepticism.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2DfErWP

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Factbox: Rights, national unity, taxes - campaign promises in Spain's election

Parties contesting Spain's national election on April 28 are wooing voters with a range of different campaign promises on human rights, immigration and separatism that could well influence the outcome more than social and economic factors.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2VLAlgg

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Arab Spring comes later in Sudan and Algeria

The armed forces of Algeria and Sudan, which pushed out the long-serving rulers of those countries after mass protests, are following a script that has failed millions of Arabs since the 2011 uprisings.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2v1hZfx

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Paris prosecutor - accident seen as likely cause of Notre Dame fire

The fire at the Notre Dame Cathedral was likely to have been the result of an accident and there was no sign it was caused on purpose, Paris public prosecutor Remy Heitz said on Tuesday.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2ZgcVlm

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Pope praying for all affected by fire at Notre Dame, symbol of unity: Vatican

Pope Francis is praying for all those affected by the fire that devastated the Cathedral of Notre Dame, which will always remain a symbol of French national unity, the Vatican said on Tuesday.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2GpRabq

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