Houston Chronicle - Elated, last US troops leave Iraq, ending war, Dec 18, 2011

"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."

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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."

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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."

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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."

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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."

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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."

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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."

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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."

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Travel Agent Central - Top Five Airports With Best Tech Services, Dec 17, 2011

"PCWorld magazine conducted a survey at the 40 busiest airports in the United States to test the viability of the various tech amenities offered, including electrical outlets, USB ports, charging stations, Internet kiosks and work desks. They also tested the airports’ Wi-Fi speed and cellular services in order to come up with a list of 20 airports that provide the most and best tech services for customers. Below is a list of the top five airports based on PCWorld’s rankings."

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Chicago Tribune - Best Christmas markets in the world, Dec 17, 2011

"The mingled aromas of mulled wine and gingerbread, thousands of starry lights and stalls heaving with crafts and gifts. There's nothing like a Christmas market to put you in the holiday spirit. That's why Cheapflights.com came up with this list of top Christmas markets. Enjoy them while they last.

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Bleacher Report - Top 10 International Teams of the Year, Dec 17, 2011

Top 10 International Teams of the Year

By Jo-Ryan Salazar (Featured Columnist) on December 16, 2011 4,139 reads 36
Use your ← → (arrow) keys to browse more storiesPrevious 1 of 12 Next
Spain is one of ten international teams that have delivered this year.
Jasper Juinen/Getty Images
2011 has come to a close, and it has been another solid year of world football. We've seen great goals, great skill, and sound, fluid execution by the world's best players.
Internationally, we have seen national teams deliver in the clutch. There are a number of countries that deserve to be on a top 10 list. This list isn't just about the current FIFA World Rankings; but also about countries that have won some serious hardware."

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MANOLITH - Kobe Bryant Getting Divorced, Dec 17, 2011

"Oh, God, this season of the LA Lakers is going to prove to be quite the interesting how-do-you-do. Vanessa Bryant has filed for divorce from her husband of ten years.
That husband of ten years happens to be the current best player in the NBA, the insatiable Kobe Bryant. Vanessa moved to end their marriage, citing ‘irrencocilable differences’, the typical divorce-code for rampant adultery. She’s also asking for joint custody of their daughters Natalia and Gianna. What does this mean? Kobe’s been playing off the court as well. Bryant famously caught flack for being charged with raping a 19-year-old hotel employee at a resort in Colorado. While that case was settled, it did nothing to stop overzealous NBA fans from using the ‘rapist’ moniker to taunt Kobe, but he kept right on trucking, becoming the NBA’s most unstoppable player, winning a handful of championships with the Lakers."

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IOL News - Five killed in crash - Gauteng, Dec 17, 2011

"Five people were killed when their car crashed into a truck near Heidelberg on Saturday, Gauteng police said.
Constable Sonopo Tikoane said a Mercedes Benz lost control and veered from its lane on the R23 road between Balfour and Heidelberg at around 4.30am.
“The truck driver tried to avoid it but it was too late. It crashed into the left side of the truck. Two men and three women were dead at the scene,” he said. - Sapa"

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The Washington Post - Iraq war draws to a quiet close, Dec 16, 2011

"BAGHDAD — The American war in Iraq came to an unspectacular end Thursday at a simple ceremony held on the edge of Baghdad’s international airport, not far from the highway along which U.S. troops first fought their way into the capital more than eight years ago.

There were speeches paying tribute to the fallen, promises that the United States would not abandon Iraq, vague declarations of “success” and warnings of challenges ahead. A brass band played, and the flag that had flown over the headquarters of the U.S. mission here was lowered for the last time and folded away."

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MIRROR UK - Playboy playmate elected to Russian parliament, Dec 16, 2011

"A Playboy model has been elected to Russian parliament.
Maria Kozhevnikova, who posed nude for the Russian edition of the magazine in 2009, will take up her seat for Vladimir Putin's United Russia party.
The 27-year-old defended Mr Putin earlier this month over a disputed parliamentary election.
She said: "I've seen Putin close up several times and I want to say that this man has very strong vibes.
"I've watched how people have changed when they got close to Putin, not because they are afraid, but because they feel a calm and strong confidence. Because of this, the West is afraid of him, and that is understandable.""

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THE GUARDIAN - Russia seizes radioactive material in luggage bound for Tehran, Dec 16, 2011

"Russia's customs agency says it has seized radioactive metal from the luggage of an Iranian passenger bound for Tehran.
A spokeswoman, Kseniya Grebenkina, said the luggage had been seized some time ago, but could not specify when. The Iranian had not been detained, she said"

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MIRROR UK - Strictly finalists do their last rehearsal, Dec 16, 2011

"The three Strictly finalists have been busy rehearsing at the Tower Ballroom in Blackpool today. And we're not being funny, but they didn't really dress up for it. We thought you couldn't go to somewhere like a 'tower ballroom' without wearing a tux/ ballgown?
Harry Judd was in jogging bottoms and t-shirt, rehearsing with his dance partner Aliona Vilani. Chelsee Healey was practising her Shrek-themed dance, posing with a donkey. This is definitely not glamorous enough for us. "

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The Washington Post - Russell Hoban, author of ‘Riddley Walker,’ dies at 86, Dec 16, 2011

"Russell Hoban, an inventive American author who penned tender picture books about a badger named Frances before writing “Riddley Walker,” an acclaimed novel about a post-apocalyptic world, died Dec. 13 in his adopted home town of London. He was 86.
He was admitted to a hospital for congestive heart failure, but the exact cause of death has not been determined, his daughter Phoebe Hoban said Thursday.

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Metrolyrics - RIHANNA MOST 'LIKED' ARTIST ON FACEBOOK IN 2011, Dec 15, 2011

"Pop star Rihanna has topped a list of the most popular music artists on Facebook during 2011. The 23-year-old singer beat musical artists including Bob Marley and Avril Lavigne, who came second and third respectively, in the list of the fastest-growing pages and most shared media of the year. Rihanna has 47,788,147 fans on Facebook, over two million more than Lady Gaga, and 10 million more likes than Justin Bieber. The star also had the most listened to song with We Found Love, her hit single featuring Calvin Harris.

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This Beat Goes - Exec John C. Atterberry Dies from Gunshot Wounds, Dec 15, 2011

"Former Death Row Records VP John C. Atterberry died on December 12th after he was fatally wounded on Friday, December 9th when a gunman opened fire on motorists in Hollywood. Atterberry was running an errand to the bank when his Mercedes-Benz coupe came under fire.
Police identified the shooter as 26-year-old Tyler Brehm who reportedly opened fire on motorists with a .40-caliber handgun near the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Vine Street. He was approached by plain clothes detectives and an off-duty officer who appeared first on the scene, but refused to surrender and turned his weapon on the police while screaming that he wanted to die. The officers shot and killed Brehm when he refused to drop his weapon. Police have not yet ascertained the motive behind the rampage, although Brehm had recently broken up with his girlfriend and began taking a pharmaceutical drug."

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