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TOP STORIES
Egypt's Mursi scraps decree but fails to appease opponents
CAIRO - Egypt's president has scrapped a decree that gave
him extra powers and ignited violent protests, but irate
opponents say he has deepened the crisis by pressing on with a
vote on a constitution shaped by Islamists (EGYPT-POLITICS
(UPDATE 4, PIX, TV), expect by 1700/1200 ET, by Edmund Blair,
900 words)
+ See also:
- EGYPT POLITICS/COST (PIX), moved, by Tom Perry and Edmund
Blair, 1,200 words
Jihadist-backed rebels take Syria army command post
BEIRUT - Syrian rebels backed by radical Islamists capture a
northern command centre of President Bashar al-Assad's army,
activists say, as Russia dismisses speculation it is preparing
for its ally's possible exit from power. (SYRIA-CRISIS (WRAPUP
1, PIX, TV), expect by 1600 GMT/1100 ET, by Erika Solomon, 900
words)
- SYRIA-CRISIS/RUSSIA (UPDATE 1), moved, 250 words
- LEBANON-TRIPOLI/ (PIX, TV), moved, by Oliver Holmes and
Nazih Siddiq, 930 words
Chavez suffers cancer recurrence, names potential successor
CARACAS - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez returns to Cuba
for more surgery after a recurrence of cancer leads him to name
a successor for the first time, a sign the disease may force an
end to his 14-year rule (VENEZUELA-CHAVEZ/ (UPDATE 2, PIX, TV),
moved, by Brian Ellsworth and Daniel Wallis, 800 words)
+ See also:
- VENEZUELA-CHAVEZ/CANCER (FACTBOX), moved, 350 words
- VENEZUELA-CHAVEZ/MADURO (FACTBOX), moved, 400 words
Italy prepares for election as Monti set to quit
ROME - Italy's political parties begin manoeuvring ahead of
elections as backers of outgoing technocrat Prime Minister Mario
Monti try to cajole the ex-European Commissioner to stay in
politics and seek a new term to ease a political and financial
crisis. Former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi plans to run on
a platform attacking Monti's economic policies. (ITALY-VOTE
(UPDATE 2, PIX, TV), expect by 1600/1100 ET, by Steve Scherer,
600 words)
+ See also:
- ITALY-BERLUSCONI/NEWSMAKER, moved, by Gavin Jones, 700
words
AFRICA
Ghana opposition cries foul in presidential election
ACCRA - Ghana's main opposition party urges electoral
officials to delay publication of results from a presidential
poll it says has been marred by fraud. The statement risks
triggering unrest in a country eager to burnish its reputation
as a rare pillar of African democracy. (GHANA-ELECTION/ (TV,
PIX, UPDATE 2), expect by 1600/1100 ET, by Kwasi Kpodo and
Richard Valdmanis, 800 words)
EUROPE
Making France work again
ECUEILLE, France - Shirt manufacturer Marc Roudeillac was
delighted when 48 of the 49 staff in his factory in central
France voted to adapt their strict 35-hour week contracts to
meet the up-and-down demand of the fashion trade. Then the
labour inspector stepped in and ruled the contracts must not be
changed. It is a telling insight into a France struggling with
itself: the France whose appetite for work sits uneasily with
the France whose priority is to sustain one of highest standards
of living in the world. (FRANCE-WORK (INSIGHT, GRAPHICS), moved,
by Mark John, 1,900 words)
Romanians vote in poll that may reopen political spat
BUCHAREST - Romania's prime minister is headed for victory
in parliamentary elections that could set off another round of a
power struggle with the rightist president and complicate talks
for a new IMF deal. Polls will close at 1900 GMT, with first
results due early on Monday. (ROMANIA-POLITICS (UPDATE 2, PIX,
TV, GRAPHICS), expect by 1700 GMT/1200 ET, by Sam Cage and Radu
Marinas)
+ See also:
ROMANIA-POLITICS/FACTBOX, moved, 300 words
Ukraine PM Azarov named for new term, faces IMF
KIEV - Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich names Mykola
Azarov for new term as prime minister, opting for a tried and
tested lieutenant rather than take a risk on a newcomer as
economic problems mount. (UKRAINE-YANUKOVICH/AZAROV (UPDATE 2),
movd, by Richard Balmforth, 550 words)
German Social Democrats crown Merkel challenger Steinbrueck
HANOVER, Germany - Germany's opposition Social Democrats
(SPD), eager to return to power after next September's election,
nominate ex-finance minister Peer Steinbrueck at special party
congress as chancellor candidate to run against Angela Merkel
(GERMANY-POLITICS/SPD, PIX, TV), expect by 1600/1100 ET, by Erik
Kirschbaum, 700 words)
MIDDLE EAST
Netanyahu: Hamas's Gaza jubilation proves Israel is at risk
JERUSALEM - Hamas's pledge to vanquish Israel after claiming
"victory" in last month's Gaza conflict vindicates Israel's
reluctance to relinquish more land to the Palestinians, Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says. (PALESTINIANS-HAMAS/NETANYAHU,
moved, by Dan Williams, 680 words)
+ See also:
- PALESTINIANS-HAMAS/UNITY, moved, by Nidal al-Mughrabi and
Noah Browning, 600 words
- PALESTINIANS-MESHAAL/GAZA (NEWSMAKER, UPDATE 1, PIX, TV),
moved, by Samia Nakhoul, 1,600 words
ASIA
China's Xi hits nationalist note with talk of 'revival'
SHANGHAI - In his first three weeks as China's Communist
Party boss, Xi Jinping has shown himself to be more confident,
direct and relaxed than his predecessor - but also quick to
invoke nationalist themes to win public support and legitimacy.
(CHINA-XI, PIX), moved, by John Ruwitch, 825 words)
Weakened typhoon set to make second landfall in Philippines
NEW BATAAN, Philippines - A much-weakened storm is set to
make landfall in the Philippines' northwest, five days after the
year's strongest typhoon killed 540 people and caused crop
damage worth about 8 billion pesos ($195.38 million) in the
south. (PHILIPPINES-STORM/ (PIX, TV), moved, by Erik de Castro,
550 words)
N.Korea looks set to delay controversial rocket launch
SEOUL - North Korea will likely postpone the launch of a
long-range rocket, state news agency KCNA says, but gives no
reasons for delaying the plan which has been widely condemned by
countries including Russia and the United States. (KOREA-NORTH/
(UPDATE 1), moved, 260 words)
UNITED STATES
On the edge of the "cliff", U.S. cities like Charleston
CHARLESTON, S.C., - On a recent afternoon, Joseph P. Riley
Jr, mayor for 37 years, reached for a draft copy of next year's
spending plan and wondered aloud about what might get cut should
politicians in Washington fail to find an agreement this month,
unleashing $600 billion worth of spending reductions and tax
hikes next year. (USA-FISCAL/CHARLESTON, moved, by Samuel P.
Jacobs, 1,140 words)
Same-sex couples say "I do" in U.S. states for first time
SEATTLE - As midnight chimed in Washington state, a lesbian
couple exchanged vows in the first of hundreds of mass weddings
on Sunday - the first day that same-sex couples can legally tie
the knot there. Washington, Maine and Maryland became the first
U.S. states to extend marriage rights to same-sex couples by a
popular vote in November, in a leap forward for gay rights.
(USA-GAYMARRIAGE, PIX, TV), moved, by Laura L. Myers, 600 words)
CLIMATE
Poor to seek UN climate change compensation scheme in 2013
DOHA - Developing nations will push next year for a radical
U.N. mechanism to compensate them for the impact of climate
change, such as droughts or rising sea levels, despite
reluctance among wealthy states which would have to foot the
bill. (CLIMATE-TALKS/INSURANCE), moved, by Alister Doyle, 600
words)
U.S., China turned EU powers against airline pollution law
BRUSSELS/WASHINGTON - The European Union's landmark effort
to charge foreign airlines for carbon emitted on flights in and
out of Europe was already failing by the time French President
Francois Hollande shared his deep concerns with the European
Commission chief in October. (EU-AIRLINES/CLIMATE (INSIGHT),
moved, by Barbara Lewis and Valerie Volcovici, 1,550 words)