Al-Jazeera buys Current TV from Al Gore

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Al-Jazeera, the Pan-Arab news channel that struggled to win space on American cable television, has acquired Current TV, boosting its reach in the U.S. nearly ninefold to about 40 million homes. With a focus on U.S. news, it plans to rebrand the left-leaning news network that cofounder Al Gore couldn't make relevant.The former vice president confirmed the sale Wednesday, saying...

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Chiefs fire Crennel, make no move on GM Pioli

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs fired coach Romeo Crennel on Monday, but made no move on embattled general manager Scott Pioli despite a 2-14 season marked by blowout losses, fan rebellion and a murder-suicide involving one of their players.Crennel was fired after one full season as coach, and one day after Kansas City matched the fewest wins in franchise history with an embarrassing...

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Reid among 5 NFL coaches sacked in firing frenzy

By lunchtime Monday, five NFL coaches were looking for work.With the regular season ending the day before, the firings came at a furious clip and within a span of 90 minutes the following were sacked: Andy Reid in Philadelphia, Lovie Smith in Chicago, Pat Shurmur in Cleveland, Romeo Crennel in Kansas City and Chan Gailey in Buffalo,Though he also had a losing record, New York Jets coach Rex Ryan held...

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Jaguars fire GM Gene Smith after 4 seasons

 After four years of futility, the Jacksonville Jaguars are heading in a different direction.Coach Mike Mularkey might not be around for the move.The Jaguars fired general manager Gene Smith on Monday after four disappointing seasons, including the worst year in franchise history.Mularkey could be next.Owner Shad Khan is waiting to decide Mularkey's fate until he hires a new general manager,...

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Reid among 6 NFL coaches sacked in firing frenzy

With the regular season ending the day before, the firings came at a furious clip and within a two-hour span the following were sacked: Andy Reid in Philadelphia, Lovie Smith in Chicago, Norv Turner in San Diego, Pat Shurmur in Cleveland, Romeo Crennel in Kansas City and Chan Gailey in Buffalo,Though he also had a losing record, New York Jets coach Rex Ryan held onto his job while general manager...

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UPDATE 2-NFL-Heads roll on Black Monday as seven coaches fired

* Eagles' Reid pays for disappointing season* Bears surprisingly drop Smith after 10-6 record (Adds Cardinals, Chargers, Chiefs, Bears firings)Dec 31 (Reuters) - Heads continued to roll for under-achieving head coaches across the National Football League as the Philadelphia Eagles' Andy Reid, Buffalo Bills' Chan Gailey and Cleveland Browns' Pat Shurmur were all fired on what has become known as Black...

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Putin says he will sign anti-US adoptions bill

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday he will sign a controversial bill barring Americans from adopting Russian children, while the Kremlin's children's rights advocate recommended extending the ban to the rest of the world. The bill is part of the country's increasingly confrontational stance with the West and has angered some Russians who argue it victimizes children to make a political...

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In 2013, possibilities for stability from Somalia to South China Sea

The international news of any year is a disparate affair, a global chronicle of courage, calamity, and close calls. The interconnectedness of events is not always clear. But looking ahead to 2013, whether in Syria, South America, or the South China Sea, policymakers have a common New Year's wish: for unity to usher in and consolidate political and economic stability. EUROPE TURNS TOWARD INTEGRATION After...

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Cabinet resignations deal setback for Egypt's Mursi

An Islamist minister quit Egypt's government on Thursday, the second cabinet resignation this week, as President Mohamed Mursi tries to shore up his authority and gather support for unpopular austerity measures. An economic crisis and a battle over a new constitution have underlined bitter divisions between Islamist-backed Mursi and his liberal opponents and delayed a return to stability almost two...

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Syria envoy calls for political change to end conflict

The international envoy seeking a negotiated solution to Syria's 21-month-old conflict said on Thursday political change was needed to end the violence which has killed 44,000 people. Speaking in Damascus at the end of a five-day trip during which he met President Bashar al-Assad, Lakhdar Brahimi called for a transitional government to rule until elections and said only substantial change would meet...

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