Leak suggests NSA was interested in…

National Security Agency (NSA) files leaked by a hacker or hackers known as the Shadow Brokers appear to show that the agency hacked a bank transactions network as a conduit to hack a slew of Middle Eastern banks. The Shadow Brokers released their latest and most substantial trove of documents early Friday morning. The group has been leaking apparently authentic NSA cyber weaponry since August. The files include substantial documentation of a project to hack a Middle Eastern banking service providing access to the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) network, which banks use to request transfers.Hacking that provider would give the NSA the ability to trace money flowing to and from around 30 banks using the service. But maps of network…
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NBA playoff bracket 2017: One factor…

While the Western Conference playoff order has been set for a while, the Eastern Conference went down to the final day of the regular season. The Pacers and Bulls punched their tickets to the postseason with wins against the Hawks and Nets respectively, and the Celtics held on to the No. 1 seed with a victory over the Bucks. That matched the Bulls up with the Celtics, the Pacers up with the Cavaliers and the Hawks with the Wizards, leaving the Raptors facing the Bucks in perhaps the most interesting first-round matchup. The top four teams dominated the conference for most of the season, but there’s more parity in the East when compared to the West. From whether the Pacers can…
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NBA playoff bracket 2017: Picks, predictions…

The NBA playoffs are finally here. Will the top four seeds in the East bracket advance (Celtics, Cavs, Raptors, Wizards), or could we see a huge first-round upset? No need to wait until the series start. Sporting News’ Sean Deveney is here to give his ironclad NBA playoff predictions — but don’t blame him if he’s wrong. Let’s dive in. NBA PLAYOFFS: Team-by-team game, TV schedule | Vegas championship odds NBA playoffs 2017: Eastern Conference predictions (1) Celtics vs. (8) Bulls The backstory Much intrigue here. The Celtics backed into the No. 1 overall seed, losing a big matchup with the Cavaliers last week but taking advantage of the Cavs’ subsequent fold-job to close out the year. Boston comes into the playoffs a deep and well-rounded team, but…
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2017 NBA Playoff Preview – Eastern…

By Rahul Lal We had to wait until the last day of the NBA season to be able to determine which teams would fill out the Eastern Conference Playoffs but we seem to have a pretty competitive field in front of us. The Cleveland Cavaliers represented the conference in the finals last year and were crowned the champs but, this season, they’ll have to start off from the second seed in the playoffs. The Boston Celtics have surged all the way to the top and will have to prove they’re not an underdog not only against the Cavs but against other teams who have deep rosters and talented young players. Below is a preview of each team heading into the…
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Boston Celtics clinch No. 1 seed…

BOSTON — The Celtics have secured the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.Boston overcame a sluggish start to top the Milwaukee Bucks 112-94 on Wednesday night at TD Garden. With a record of 53-29, the Celtics finished two games ahead of a Cleveland Cavaliers team that prioritized rest in the final days of the regular season.Even before Boston finished off a dominant fourth quarter against the Bucks, the Cavaliers lost to the Toronto Raptors 98-83 to ensure the Celtics’ top spot.The Celtics will host the eighth-seeded Chicago Bulls in the opening round of the playoffs, beginning Sunday (6:30 p.m. ET). The teams split their regular-season series 2-2.– Teams split season series 2-2– Celtics: 73 percent chance to win…
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NHL Playoffs 2017 LIVE SCORE UPDATES:…

The 2017 NHL Playoffs begin Wednesday, April 12, 2017 (4/12/17) as the Columbus Blue Jackets meet the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 1 of a best-of-seven, first-round Eastern Conference series at PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, Pa. We’ll have up-to-the-minute scoring and stats here throughout the game. Check the scoreboard above and click on the stats link. App users: For the best mobile experience, use the mobile web version. Here’s what you need to know: Who: Blue Jackets (50-24-8) vs. Penguins (50-21-11) What: NHL Playoffs, Game 1, Eastern Conference Format: Best-of-seven games When: Wednesday, April 12, 2017 Where: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, Pa. Time: 7:30 p.m. Eastern TV: USA, SN 360, TVA Sports Projecting Devils’ 2017-18 lineup What to watch: — The playoffs start in Ottawa and Montreal on Wednesday…
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Boston Celtics hop into driver’s seat…

BOSTON — The Celtics control their own destiny in their quest for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.Boston’s win over the Brooklyn Nets on Monday, combined with the Cleveland Cavaliers’ overtime loss to the Miami Heat, leaves the Celtics one game up in the East with one game to play.With a win over the visiting Milwaukee Bucks in Wednesday’s regular-season finale, the Celtics will secure the No. 1 seed and guarantee home-court advantage through the Eastern Conference finals.The Cavaliers host the Raptors on Friday night. If Boston stumbles against Milwaukee, the Cavaliers can claim the top spot with a win.”The No. 1 seed, that means a lot to me, personally,” said Celtics All-Star point guard Isaiah Thomas….
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Eastern Conference Preview

The 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs will begin with five games on Wednesday night.  Three of those contests will feature Eastern Conference matchups.  Washington captured the Presidents’ Trophy for a second straight year after posting a 55-19-8 record. The Capitals were knocked out in the second round of the 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs after they placed first overall and they were eliminated in Round 1 of the 2010 postseason after finishing with the best record in the league. The Capitals have not advanced past the second round since making the Stanley Cup Final in 1998. The team has made the playoffs 11 years during that span, which includes six exits in the opening round.Nicklas Backstrom surpassed the 80-point mark for the…
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Friday Morning Read: Stand your ground…

The Gazette: Eastern Iowa Breaking News and HeadlinesFriday Morning Read: Stand your ground bill, Aetna leaves exchange, bigger planesThe Gazette: Eastern Iowa Breaking News and HeadlinesA trader points up at a display on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange August 20, 2012. (REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo). By The Gazette. Apr 7, 2017 at 6:56 am | Print View. Stand your ground – Legislation making significant changes to …IA: Cedar Rapids Airport Adjusts to Larger Planes, More PassengersAviationPros.comAetna pulls out of another Obamacare market for 2018CNNMoneyAetna to stop selling Iowans individual health insurance plansDesMoinesRegister.comOmaha World-Herald -Forbes -Nasdaq -Voxall 49 news articles »
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Bucks: Milwaukee’s loss to Indiana gives…

INDIANAPOLIS — The Milwaukee Bucks’ playoff surge seems like, well, so last week.With a chance to tighten their grip on an Eastern Conference postseason berth, the Bucks instead dropped their third straight game following a 7-1 run.The 104-89 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Thursday night turned what once appeared a somewhat comfortable trip into a potential five-team scramble to wrap up the regular season. Paul George had 23 points and 10 rebounds and the Pacers, who had lost all three previous games against the Bucks this season, were in control throughout.With just three games remaining, the Bucks (40-39) are sixth in the East.“We have what it takes, we still have confidence in each other. It’s just a matter of…
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