U.S. health spending recovers after two slow years: CMS
(This Dec. 5 story corrects first paragraph to say growth was slower not declined in previous years, removes reference to projected spending in eighth paragraph)

Mexico says 'good progress' on trade deal although work remains
Negotiators working to close a new North American trade deal have made "good progress" but many elements are not yet resolved, Mexico's deputy foreign minister said on Friday.

Mexico official lauds progress on trade deal but says work remains
Mexico's deputy foreign minister for North America, Jesus Seade, said on Friday that negotiators made "good progress" to close the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) trade deal, but many elements remained to be resolved.

Indian rape victim dies in hospital after being set ablaze
A 23-year-old rape victim set on fire by a gang of men, which included her alleged rapists, has died in a New Delhi hospital, prompting protests from opposition leaders who blamed the ruling party for failing to check incidents of violence against women.

Bankrupt PG&E reaches $13.5 billion settlement with California wildfire victims
California's bankrupt power producer PG&E Corp said on Friday it had reached a $13.5 billion settlement with victims of some of most devastating wildfires in the state's modern history.

Exclusive: U.S. says drone shot down by Russian air defenses near Libyan capital
The U.S. military believes that an unarmed American drone reported lost near Libya's capital last month was in fact shot down by Russian air defenses and it is demanding the return of the aircraft's wreckage, U.S. Africa Command says.

Trump, South Korea's Moon discuss trying to maintain talks with North Korea
U.S. President Donald Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-in held a half-hour phone discussion on ways to maintain diplomacy with North Korea, Seoul said on Saturday, as Pyongyang warns of waning patience with stalled nuclear talks.

Trump calls for World Bank to stop loaning to China
U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday called for the World Bank to stop loaning money to China, one day after the institution adopted a lending plan to Beijing over Washington's objections.

Tesla boss Elon Musk wins defamation trial over his 'pedo guy' tweet
Tesla Inc boss Elon Musk emerged victorious on Friday from a closely watched defamation trial as a federal court jury swiftly rejected the $190 million claim brought against him by a British cave explorer who Musk had branded a "pedo guy" on Twitter.

Iraq protest death toll mounts as cleric warns against meddling
Iraq's top Shi'ite Muslim cleric said a new prime minister must be chosen without foreign interference in an apparent nod to Iranian influence, as armed men killed at least 19 people, including three police, near a Baghdad protest site on Friday.