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McDonald's Adds Apple Slices in Every Happy Meal

An apple a day may keep the doctor away. But when you put it in a Happy Meal, it might help keep regulators at bay too. McDonald's on Tuesday said that it would add apple slices and reduce the portion of French fries in its children's meal boxes beginning this fall, effectively taking away consumers' current choice between either having apples with caramel dip or fries as a Happy Meal side.

The move by McDonald's, which has become a leader in moving from just burgers and fries to more nutritious fare like oatmeal and salads, comes as fast food chains face intense scrutiny from health officials and others who blame the industry for childhood obesity and other health-related problems. Some municipalities, including San Francisco, have even banned fast food restaurants from selling kids' meals with toys.

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Buttery Space Shuttle featured in Ohio State Fair

Cows aren't jumping over the moon in this year's Ohio State Fair butter sculptures, but the refrigerated exhibit does have a space travel theme.

Fair officials said Tuesday the usual cow and calf made of butter are accompanied this year by a butter space shuttle and astronaut.

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Black Teen's Unusual Talent: Singing Chinese Opera

Tyler Thompson is an unlikely star in the world of Chinese opera.

The black teenager from Oakland has captivated audiences in the U.S. and China with his ability to sing pitch-perfect Mandarin and perform the ancient Chinese art form.

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Internet Privacy Controls Challenge Tech Industry

The federal government has put Google, Microsoft, Apple and other technology companies on notice: Give consumers a way prevent advertisers from tracking their movements across the Web — or face regulation.

Yet for all its innovative know-how and entrepreneurial spirit, the technology industry has yet to agree on a simple, meaningful solution to protect consumer privacy on the Internet.

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For Some, Hypnosis Eases Pain, Recovery of Surgery

As the surgeons cut into her neck, Marianne Marquis was thinking of the beach.

As she heard the doctors' voices, she was imagining her toes in the sand, the water lapping.

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Winehouse Family, Friends Attend Singer's Funeral

Wearing dark suits, black dresses and the occasional beehive hairdo, friends and family said goodbye to Amy Winehouse with prayers, tears, laughter and song at an emotional funeral ceremony.

"Amy was the greatest daughter, family member and friend you could ever have," said her father, Mitch Winehouse, in a section of the eulogy released by a family spokesman.

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32 Killed in South Korea Landslides

A blast of heavy rain sent landslides barreling through South Korea's capital and a northern town Wednesday, killing at least 32 people, including 10 college students doing volunteer work.

The students died as mud and debris engulfed them as they slept in a resort cabin in Chuncheon, about 68 miles (110 kilometers) northeast of the capital Seoul, said Byun In-soo of the town's fire station. A married couple and a convenience store owner also died.

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U.S. Freestyle Olympic Skier Commits Suicide

Olympic silver medalist Jeret "Speedy" Peterson was found dead in a remote canyon in Utah in what police are calling a suicide.

One of the world's most risk-taking and innovative freestyle skiers, the creator of the one-of-a-kind "Hurricane" called 911 before shooting himself, police said. The 29-year-old Peterson had been cited for drunken driving Friday in Hailey, Idaho, and had pleaded not guilty.

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Oil Rises to Near $100 as U.S. Debt Talks Drag On

Oil prices rose to near $100 a barrel Tuesday in Asia, boosted by a weaker dollar as talks among U.S. leaders made little progress ahead of next week's deadline to raise the government debt limit.

Benchmark oil for September delivery was up 42 cents to $99.62 a barrel at late afternoon Singapore time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Crude lost 67 cents to settle at $99.20 on Monday.

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Jackson Tribute Concert Planned in Wales in October

Michael Jackson's mom and four of his siblings announced plans Monday for a tribute concert later this year in Wales, but two of the late singer's brothers say they oppose the timing of the show.

The pop singer's mother, Katherine Jackson, and siblings La Toya Jackson, Marlon Jackson, Jackie Jackson and Tito Jackson said the show is scheduled for Oct. 8 at Millennium Stadium but did not reveal any performers.

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