Morning Digest: Al Qaeda grows powerful in Syria as endgame nears

	Click to View in Browser 12/20/2012 Al Qaeda grows powerful in Syria as endgame nears AMMAN (Reuters) - Having seen its star wane in Iraq, al Qaeda has staged a comeback in neighbouring Syria, posing a dilemma for the opposition fighting to remove President Bashar al-Assad and making the West balk at military backing for the revolt.. Russia's Putin backs tough response to U.S. rights law MOSCOW (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin supported a ban on Americans adopting Russian children on Thursday in a feud over a U.S. human rights law which he said was poisoning relations.. Stock index futures point to flat-to-lower start LONDON (Reuters) - Stock index futures pointed to a flat-to-lower open on Wall Street on Thursday.. Miss USA crowned Miss Universe in eighth American win LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - A 20-year-old beauty queen who plays the cello and is a breast cancer advocate was crowned Miss Universe on Wednesday, the eighth time an American has won the pageant where the world's most beautiful women parade in bikinis and ball gowns.. Armstrong case sends shockwaves, Britain rules PARIS (Reuters) - The Lance Armstrong scandal left a huge gap in cycling's record books and further tainted the sport in a year when Britain experienced Olympic bliss in the wake of Bradley Wiggins' Tour de France title.. Sberbank to buy Yandex online payments service: source MOSCOW (Reuters) - Sberbank, Russia's top lender, plans to buy Yandex.Dengi, an online payment service owned by Russian search engine Yandex, a source familiar with the matter said.. Scientists in Hong Kong map initial anti-ageing formula HONG KONG (Reuters) - Scientists in Hong Kong appear to have mapped out a formula that can delay the ageing process in mice, a discovery they hope to replicate in people.. Maya apocalypse and Star Wars collide in Guatemalan temple TIKAL, Guatemala (Reuters) - At the center of the rebel base where Luke Skywalker took off to destroy the Death Star and save his people from the clutches of Darth Vader, Guatemala is preparing for another momentous event: the end of an age for the Maya.. Related Video A legacy of courage under fire Lethal weather in Ukraine Great Debate Examine inequality's causes before prescribing solutions Of states and heath insurance exchanges A daily digest of breaking business news, coverage of the US economy, major corporate news and the financial markets. Register Today   The latest Reuters articles on M&A, IPOs, private equity, hedge funds and regulatory updates delivered to your inbox each day. Register Today   » MORE NEWSLETTERS - 3 Times Square New York, NY 10036 USA © Copyright 2010 Thomson Reuters Ensure delivery of Reuters Newsmails, add mail@nl.reuters.com to your address book. Details Subscribe to other Reuters newsletters. Unsubscribe from this newsletter. Follow us on Twitter Friend us on Facebook Forward to a friend