A year after being literally wiped out, a Russian hockey team flourishes

Wooden hockey sticks smack into rubber pucks as the metal blades of skates slice through the ice. The sounds echo through an empty arena in the Czech capital Prague in late November as a visiting hockey team prepares for another game in the Kontinental Hockey League.But this is no ordinary squad. This is Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, a Russian team that was literally wiped out last year in an air tragedy that...

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Iraq Sunnis block trade routes in protest against PM Maliki

Tens of thousands of Sunni Muslims blocked Iraq's main trade route to neighboring Syria and Jordan in a fourth day of demonstrations on Wednesday against Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.The massive show of force marks an escalation in protests that erupted last week after troops detained the bodyguards of Sunni Finance Minister Rafaie Esawi, threatening to plunge Iraq deeper into political turmoil."The...

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Syrian moderates fear being edged out of uprising

Abdul Rahman, a quiet, even-tempered man, leads a collection of moderate Free Syrian Army battalions in Aleppo. He says groups like his are becoming harder to find as the 21-month uprising drags on and more groups lean either secular or Islamist extremist.At a time when opposition fighters live and die by their ability to get equipment, Mr. Rahman says it’s become more difficult for those in the middle...

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Berlusconi allies fire barbs at Monti, ending Christmas truce

 Italian politicians resumed their bickering on Wednesday, with supporters of former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi taking aim at his successor Mario Monti despite a Christmas call from the Pope for political peace.Just before midnight at the end of Christmas Day, Monti tweeted: "Together, we saved Italy from disaster. Now we have to renew politics. Complaining won't help anything. Rolling...

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Mental illness, poverty haunted Afghan policewoman who killed American

The Afghan policewoman suspected of killing a U.S. contractor at police headquarters in Kabul suffered from mental illness and was driven to suicidal despair by poverty, her children told Reuters on Wednesday.The woman was identified by authorities as Narges Rezaeimomenabad, a 40-year-old grandmother and mother of three who moved here from Iran 10 years ago and married an Afghan man.On Monday morning,...

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UPDATE 2-Soccer-Turkish championship results and standings

Dec 23 (Infostrada Sports) - Results and standings from the Turkish championship matches on SundaySunday, December 23Antalyaspor 2 Eskisehirspor 1Bursaspor 0 Genclerbirligi 0Gaziantepspor 2 Mersin Idmanyurdu 1Sivasspor 3 Elazigspor 1Trabzonspor 0 Galatasaray 0Saturday, December 22Fenerbahce 1 Karabukspor 3Kasimpasa 0 Buyuksehir Bld. Spor 2Friday, December 21Akhisar Belediyespor 0 Orduspor 0Besiktas...

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Hillsborough disaster tribute tops UK Christmas chart

A tribute song to the victims of the 1989 Hillsborough football stadium disaster has taken the number one spot on Britain's Christmas pop chart."He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother", a version of the ballad that was a worldwide hit for The Hollies, went to the top of the chart in its first week of release.Money raised by the single will go to the families of the 96 Liverpool soccer fans killed in Britain's...

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Soccer-Dutch striker Huntelaar extends Schalke contract to 2015

BERLIN, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Schalke 04's prolific Netherlands striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has extended his contract by two years until 2015, the Bundesliga club said on Sunday."I've thought about this decision long and hard and I'm very grateful that the club officials allowed me the time to do so. But now I've made the choice I'm most comfortable with," Huntelaar, 29, said on the club website (www.schalke04.com)."I've...

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UPDATE 3-Soccer-Chelsea hit Villa for eight, leaders United held

* Chelsea beat Aston Villa 8-0 at Stamford Bridge* Manchester United held to 1-1 draw at Swansea (Adds quotes)LONDON, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Chelsea, playing with a swagger missing for much of the season, routed Aston Villa 8-0 on Sunday as Premier League leaders Manchester United wasted the chance to move six points clear after a 1-1 draw at Swansea City.Chelsea striker Fernando Torres began the goal...

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UPDATE 1-Soccer-Belgian championship results and standings

Dec 23 (Infostrada Sports) - Results and standings from the Belgian championship matches on SundaySunday, December 23Racing Genk 2 Anderlecht 4Standard Liege 1 Club Bruges 3Saturday, December 22Ghent 1 Charleroi 2Beerschot 0 Mechelen 2Cercle Bruges 2 Waasland-Beveren 2Mons-Bergen 1 Zulte Waregem 1OH Leuven 2 Lierse 2Friday, December 21Kortrijk 2 Lokeren 3Standings P W D L F A Pts1 Anderlecht 21 15...

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