| * Kerry in plea against Iran sanctions * Looting as police strike in Argentina * Jeering for Zuma clouds Mandela tribute * Foreign start-ups trek to Santiago * Thailand builds strong regional role * Success on a plate in Turkey * Feuding tycoons agree Indian telecoms deal * Asian equities stage modest retreat * Markets: down! Kerry in plea against Iran sanctions
Secretary of state urges lawmakers to give the Obama administration time to try to reach a final deal with Tehran
http://on.ft.com/1iUYJGo Looting as police strike in Argentina
Police protests have spread to 17 of 23 provinces, leaving at least nine dead and hundreds injured as chaos grips regional centres
http://on.ft.com/1iUYKtR Jeering for Zuma clouds Mandela tribute
The death of South Africa's first black president has put a critical spotlight on comparisons between his legacy and the current ANC leadership
http://on.ft.com/INiWNC Foreign start-ups trek to Santiago
Chile offers a government programme and a supportive community for new ventures from abroad, but venture capital money remains relatively small
http://on.ft.com/1iUYJGt Thailand builds strong regional role
A vast new crossing on the Mekong river is part of Bangkok's broader regional ambition to become the dominant link for trade between China and Asean
http://on.ft.com/1iUYJGy Success on a plate in Turkey
Nevzat Aydin and Melih Odemis built Yemek Sepeti, an internet business, against the odds, by predicting Turkish appetite for ordering meals online
http://on.ft.com/1iUYKtY Feuding tycoons agree Indian telecoms deal
Two of India's most prominent tycoons, Mukesh Ambani of Reliance Industries and Sunil Mittal of Bharti, have signed an unexpected telecoms infrastructure partnership, in a deal that could signal an end to a history of bitter disagreements between their business empires.
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/52b84426-61a3-11e3-916e-00144feabdc0.html# Asian equities stage modest retreat
Riskier assets lost favour as the holiday season approaches and investors locked in gains. Equity markets were soft across Asia. Japan's Nikkei 225 average was down 0.5 per cent, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index was off 0.6 per cent and the Shanghai Composite fell 1 per cent.
http://on.ft.com/J43r4f Emerging Markets
MSCI Emerging Market Index down -0.50% at 1,007 Americas
DJIA down -0.33% at 15,973
S&P 500 down -0.32% at 1,803
Bovespa down -0.34% at 50,993 Asia
Nikkei 225 down -1.21% at 15,422
Topix down -0.62% at 1,249
Hang Seng down -1.26% at 23,444
Shanghai Composite down -1.14% at 2,212
MSCI Asia ex-Japan down -0.76% at 551.90
CNX Nifty down -0.54% at 6,299 Currencies
€/$ 1.38 (1.38)
$/¥ 102.61 (102.82) Commodities
Brent Crude (ICE) down -0.04 at 109.34
Light Crude (Nymex) down -0.02 at 98.49
100 Oz Gold (Comex) down -2.50 at 1,260 | 
