LONDON (Reuters) – Concerns about the deadlock in crucial U.S. budget talks capped gains in world equity markets on Friday, while falling yields on Spanish and Italian bonds kept the euro near a one-month high. Markets are on edge over the lack of progress by political leaders in Washi ngton as a failure to resolve their differences by year-end would trigger automatic spending cuts and tax rises that will tip the U.S. economy into recession. Many investors also expect that once the so called 'fiscal cliff' is resolved, the brighter economic outlook for China and the U.S. … Sudden trial of blind China activist's nephew puts spotlight on human rights
BEIJING (Reuters) – The nephew of blind Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng unexpectedly went on trial on Friday for intentional infliction of injury in a case likely to refocus international attention on China's human rights and legal system. Chen Kegui has been held incommunicado by police for over six months and has been denied access to his choice of lawyers. His case is widely seen as illegitimate by Chen's family and human rights advocates. … German Parliament to vote on deal to trim Greece's debt load, keep country afloat
BERLIN – Germany’s finance minister is urging lawmakers to support a deal to trim Greece’s debt load and keep the struggling country afloat financially.
China bans TV show after leaked clip shows shouting match over nudity and the next Lady Gaga
BEIJING, China – Chinese regulators suspended a broadcaster Friday after an unaired segment of a TV game show was leaked online showing a raucous shouting match about nudity between spectators and a woman who calls her daughter the next Lady Gaga.
Fighting cuts access to Damascus airport, flights suspended
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian rebels battled forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad just outside Damascus on Thursday, cutting access to its international airport, and Dubai-based Emirates a irline and EgyptAir stopped flights to the Syrian capital. The Internet and some telephone lines went down across Syria. Rebels and the government traded blame for the blackout, the worst communications outage in 20 months of conflict. Rebels fighting to topple Assad have been making gains around Syria by overrunning military bases and have been ramping up attacks on Damascus, his seat of power. … Egypt's Islamists approve draft of new constitution in rush vote, stoking crisis
CAIRO – Islamists approved a draft constitution for Egypt early Friday without the participation of liberal and Christian members, seeking to pre-empt a court ruling that could dissolve their panel with a rushed, marathon vote that further inflames the conflict between the opposition and President Mohammed Morsi.
German lawmakers to approve Greek bailout despite unease
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany's lower house of parliament will approve a fresh bailout for Greece on Friday in a vote seen as a test of Chancellor Angela Merkel's authority over he r centre-right coalition less than a year before federal elections. The outcome of Friday's vote in the Bundestag is not in doubt but unease over the costs of the euro zone debt crisis and over talk of another write-down of Greek debt means the number of coalition lawmakers voting against will be keenly watched. … Secret Santa from Missouri showers $100 bills on survivors of storm-hit NJ, NY
NEW YORK, N.Y. – A Missouri man posing as “Secret Santa” is giving away $100,000 this holiday season and spent a day in New Jersey and New York giving money to people robbed of their belongings or homes by Superstorm Sandy.
Aussie bowlers put South Africa on the ropes
PERTH (Reuters) – Australia's ove rhauled pace attack mauled South Africa with five wickets in the hour around the lunch break to leave the tourists floundering at 141 for seven at tea on the opening day of the third and final test of the series on Friday. Seamers Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Johnson and debutant John Hastings as well as all rounder Shane Watson all got amongst the wickets to leave South Africa perhaps ruing the decision to bat first on a bouncy WACA track. … Old party returns to govern changed Mexico
The political party that ruled Mexico for seven straight decades is back, assuring Mexicans there's no chance of a return to what some called "the perfect dictatorship" that was marked by a mixture of populist handouts, rigged votes and occasional bloodshed. 
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