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Malawi Officially Confirms President's Death

The Malawi government confirmed the death of President Bingu wa Mutharika on Saturday, two days after the leader of the impoverished southern African country died.

A brief statement from the Cabinet confirmed what doctors had reported on condition of anonymity earlier, that Mutharika died Thursday following a heart attack. The Cabinet declared 10 days of mourning.

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Chinese Teen Sells Kidney to Buy IPhone, IPad

Authorities have indicted five people in central China for involvement in illegal organ trading after a teenager sold one of his kidneys to buy an iPhone and an iPad.

The case has prompted an outpouring of concern that not enough is being done to guard against the negative impact of increasing consumerism in Chinese society, particularly among young people who have grown up with more creature comforts than the generations before them.

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U.S. Airline Employee Resigns Amid Celeb Tip-Off Claims

A Virgin Atlantic employee has resigned following allegations she routinely fed information about the airline's celebrity clientele — from Madonna to Sienna Miller — to a paparazzi agency.

The employee was a junior member of the team that looks after high-profile clients, Virgin said Friday. She quit Thursday before reports published in the Guardian and the Press Gazette alleged that she had passed the booking information of more than 60 celebrities on to the Big Pictures photo agency.

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Study: Midwest Quakes Possibly Linked to Oil and Gas Production

Oil and gas production may explain a sharp increase in small earthquakes in the nation's midsection, a new study from the U.S. Geological Survey suggests.

The rate has jumped six-fold from the late 20th century through last year, the team reports, and the changes are "almost certainly man-made."

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Chrysler Recalls Small Jeeps to Fix Faulty Gas Valves

Chrysler is recalling about 1,700 small Jeeps because faulty gas tank valves can cause fires.

The recall affects some 2012 all-wheel-drive Jeep Compass and Patriot SUVs.

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Avalanche Buries 130 Pakistan Soldiers

An avalanche smashed into a Pakistani army base on a Himalayan glacier close to India on Saturday, burying around 130 soldiers, a security official said.

Rescue efforts are under way on the remote and frigid Siachen Glacier, where thousands of Pakistani and Indian troops are based, the security official said.

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Artist Thomas Kinkade Dies at Age 54

Artist Thomas Kinkade, whose brushwork paintings of idyllic landscapes, cottages and churches have been big sellers for dealers across the United States, died Friday, a family spokesman said.

Kinkade, 54, died at his home in Los Gatos in the San Francisco Bay Area of what appeared to be natural causes, David Satterfield said.

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Saudi Petrochemicals Giant Expands in China

Saudi Basic Industries Corp. began work on a $100 million technology center in Shanghai, focusing on alternative energy and new materials for the construction and auto sectors.

SABIC's CEO Mohammed Al-Mady said Friday the center would focus on helping design and create next generation alternative energy vehicles.

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Man City's Balotelli Escapes Unhurt from Car Crash

Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli escaped unhurt after being involved in a car crash on Thursday.

Police said officers responded to reports of a collision between two cars shortly after 3:15 p.m. in Manchester city center.

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Formula One Becomes Part of Bahrain Power Struggle

A year after an anti-government revolt forced Bahrain's rulers to cancel the kingdom's coveted Formula One race, the grand prix is again smack in the middle of a power struggle.

Protesters aiming to break the Sunni regime's grip on power have stepped up their campaign against the event — holding rallies across the island, plastering anti-Formula One posters on walls and criticizing the F1 chief and race drivers on social media websites.

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