"KHABARI CROSSING, Kuwait (AP) — The last U.S. soldiers rolled out of Iraq across the border into neighboring Kuwait at daybreak Sunday, whooping, fist bumping and hugging each other in a burst of joy and relief. Their convoy's exit marked the end of a bitterly divisive war that raged for nearly nine years and left Iraq shattered and struggling to recover."
VALENTINE'S Gifts
Sunday 18 December 2011
Asian Correspondent - Death toll in Philippine floods rises to 436, Dec 18, 2011
"MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Pounding rain from a tropical storm swelled rivers and sent walls of water crushing into two southern Philippine cities in the thick of night, killing at least 436 people, many caught in their beds, officials said Saturday.
Philippine Red Cross Secretary General Gwen Pang told The Associated Press that the latest toll was based on a body count in funeral parlors. She said that 215 died in Cagayan de Oro and 144 in nearby Iligan, and the rest in several other southern and central provinces.
Most of the dead were asleep Friday night when raging floodwaters tore through their homes from swollen rivers and cascaded from mountain slopes following 12 hours of pounding rain in the southern Mindanao region. The region is unaccustomed to the typhoons that are common elsewhere in the archipelago nation."
Philippine Red Cross Secretary General Gwen Pang told The Associated Press that the latest toll was based on a body count in funeral parlors. She said that 215 died in Cagayan de Oro and 144 in nearby Iligan, and the rest in several other southern and central provinces.
Most of the dead were asleep Friday night when raging floodwaters tore through their homes from swollen rivers and cascaded from mountain slopes following 12 hours of pounding rain in the southern Mindanao region. The region is unaccustomed to the typhoons that are common elsewhere in the archipelago nation."
NY Times - Egyptian Soldiers Chase and Beat Unarmed Civilians in Cairo, Dec 18, 2011
"CAIRO — Egypt’s military rulers escalated a bloody crackdown on street protesters on Saturday, chasing down and beating unarmed civilians, even while the prime minister was denying in a televised news conference that security forces were using any force.
Egyptian protesters were chased by soldiers over the Asr el-Nile bridge leading out of Tahrir Square, in Cairo on Saturday. More
In one of the most incendiary developments, video cameras captured soldiers stripping the clothes off women they were beating on the pavement of Tahrir Square."
Egyptian protesters were chased by soldiers over the Asr el-Nile bridge leading out of Tahrir Square, in Cairo on Saturday. More
In one of the most incendiary developments, video cameras captured soldiers stripping the clothes off women they were beating on the pavement of Tahrir Square."
WATODAY - Two dead, 51 missing from Russian oil rig, Dec 18, 2011
"At least two people died and 51 were missing in freezing water after an oil rig in Russia's Far Eastern Okhotsk Sea overturned in the country's second major water accident since July.
The Kolskoye oil rig platform with 67 on board was 200 kilometres from the shore Sunday when the accident occurred at 1245 pm AEDT amid high winds and temperatures of minus 17 degrees Celsius (1.4 Fahrenheit).
"We could rescue 14 people out of 67," regional ministry spokesman Taimuraz Kasayev said. "Two more bodies without signs of life were found, but we were unable to lift them out of the water yet."
The Kolskoye oil rig platform with 67 on board was 200 kilometres from the shore Sunday when the accident occurred at 1245 pm AEDT amid high winds and temperatures of minus 17 degrees Celsius (1.4 Fahrenheit).
"We could rescue 14 people out of 67," regional ministry spokesman Taimuraz Kasayev said. "Two more bodies without signs of life were found, but we were unable to lift them out of the water yet."
CHICAGO Tribune - Barcelona blasts Santos to win Club World Cup, Dec 18, 2011
"YOKOHAMA, Japan — Lionel Messi scored two goals as Barcelona overwhelmed Brazilian side Santos 4-0 to win its second Club World Cup title in three years on Sunday.
Messi, Xavi and Cesc Fabregas scored first-half goals as the European champion won its 13th trophy under coach Pep Guardiola and added to its stature as the best club team in the world.
"We played a complete game," Barcelona captain Carles Puyol said. "It was a good game, an intense game and we're very happy with the result."
"We played a complete game," Barcelona captain Carles Puyol said. "It was a good game, an intense game and we're very happy with the result."
BBC News - Cape Verde mourns singer Cesaria Evora, Dec 18, 2011
"Two days of mourning have been declared in Cape Verde for singer Cesaria Evora, who has died on her native isle at the age of 70.
The musican, forced to retire earlier this year due to ill health, began her career singing in the bars of Midelo.
President Jorge Carlos Fonseca called her "one of the major cultural references of Cape Verde".
The BBC's Janey Mitchell reports."
The musican, forced to retire earlier this year due to ill health, began her career singing in the bars of Midelo.
President Jorge Carlos Fonseca called her "one of the major cultural references of Cape Verde".
The BBC's Janey Mitchell reports."
LAS VEGAS SUN- Kobe Bryant's wife files for divorce, Dec 18, 2011
"ORANGE, Calif. — Kobe Bryant's wife, who stood by her husband when he was charged with sexual assault in 2003, filed for divorce on Friday from the Los Angeles Lakers star, citing irreconcilable differences after a decade of marriage.
Vanessa Bryant signed the papers on Dec. 1. Kobe Bryant signed his response on Dec. 7 and it was filed Friday, according to the documents.
"The Bryants have resolved all issues incident to their divorce privately with the assistance of counsel and a judgment dissolving their marital status will be entered in 2012," according to a statement from a representative for the couple.
In the filing, Vanessa Bryant asked for joint legal and physical custody of the couple's two daughters, Natalia, 8, and Gianna, 5. Kobe Bryant asked for the same in his response. Vanessa Bryant also requested spousal support.
The Bryants "ask that in the interest of our young children and in light of the upcoming holiday season the public respect our privacy during this difficult time," according to the statement."
Vanessa Bryant signed the papers on Dec. 1. Kobe Bryant signed his response on Dec. 7 and it was filed Friday, according to the documents.
"The Bryants have resolved all issues incident to their divorce privately with the assistance of counsel and a judgment dissolving their marital status will be entered in 2012," according to a statement from a representative for the couple.
In the filing, Vanessa Bryant asked for joint legal and physical custody of the couple's two daughters, Natalia, 8, and Gianna, 5. Kobe Bryant asked for the same in his response. Vanessa Bryant also requested spousal support.
The Bryants "ask that in the interest of our young children and in light of the upcoming holiday season the public respect our privacy during this difficult time," according to the statement."
ABC News, Australia - Former Czech president Vaclav Havel dies, Dec 18, 2011
"Former Czech president and hero of the Velvet Revolution Vaclav Havel, who steered his country to independence from Soviet rule in 1989, died on Sunday at the age of 75, his office said.
Havel died in his sleep at dawn after a lengthy illness, his secretary Sabina Tancevova said.
"In his last moment, his wife Dagmar was with him, together with one of the nuns who have been taking care of him in recent months," Ms Tancevova said."
Havel died in his sleep at dawn after a lengthy illness, his secretary Sabina Tancevova said.
"In his last moment, his wife Dagmar was with him, together with one of the nuns who have been taking care of him in recent months," Ms Tancevova said."
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