House Democrats and Republicans joined forces Friday in voting overwhelmingly to end Soviet-era trade restrictions while approving a measure that punishes Russian officials involved in human rights violations.

The vote to establish permanent normal trade relations with Russia has been a top priority of American businesses and farmers concerned that they are being left behind as Europe and China move into Russia's market of 140 million consumers.

Putin, Merkel Spar over Pussy Riot in Russia Talks

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday clashed with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the jailing of feminist rock band Pussy Riot in a meeting aimed at soothing tensions over human rights.

The U.N.'s top human rights official has denounced three days of fierce clashes between Israeli forces and Gaza militants, urging them both to pull back.

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay says she is appalled that civilians are being killed, including three Israelis in their apartment and several Palestinian children, including a baby, and a pregnant woman.

Thousands are protesting across Egypt against Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip.

The demonstrations come on the day that Egypt's prime minister, Hesham Kandil, traveled to Gaza in a symbolic show of support for the territory's Hamas rulers.

It can scan zombies, replace a TV remote, open a window into virtual worlds and shoot ninja stars across a living room. It's the Wii U GamePad, the 10-by-5-inch touchscreen controller for the successor to the Wii out Sunday, and if you ask the brains behind the "Super Mario Bros." about it, they say it's going to change the way video games are made and played.

"You can't manufacture buzz," said Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime. "You can't manufacture word of mouth. All we can do is to provide the product and the games to foster some sparks that hopefully enable that to happen. We think we have that with Wii U."

Iran's official news agency says authorities have arrested suspects on charges of planting bombs and sabotaging energy facilities. It says they were tied to Arab and Western intelligence agencies.

The IRNA news agency said Friday they were "terrorists connected to foreign intelligence services" who planted bombs in Iran's southwestern Khuzestan Province, the heart of Iran's oil industry.

The leaders of Poland and France say they want the new European Union budget to allow for development and further integration despite the need for cuts and austerity measures.

French President Francois Hollande visited Warsaw on Friday and met with his Polish counterpart, Bronislaw Komorowski. They said EU leaders need to make targeted decisions as they discuss the upcoming EU budget, in order to help the 27-nation bloc and its 17-nation eurozone overcome the current debt crisis.

In czarist times, Geda Zimanenko watched her mother offer the local police officer a shot of vodka on a plate and five rubles every Sunday to overlook the fact that their family lived outside the area where Jews were allowed to live.

Then came the Bolshevik Revolution and Zimanenko became a good Communist, raising her own son to believe in ideals that strove to stamp out distinctions of race and religion. Her grandson, born after the death of dictator Josef Stalin, was more cynical of Communism and felt the heat of growing Soviet anti-Semitism.

Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo said captain John Terry could be back in action in three weeks.

The ligament damage in the defender's right knee was not as bad as first feared after Liverpool's Luis Suarez landed awkwardly on him during a 1-1 draw in the English Premier League on Sunday.

Markets remained under pressure Friday ahead of the start of budget discussions between President Barack Obama and congressional leaders and as investors fretted over a military escalation in Gaza.

Japanese stocks, however, enjoyed solid gains on hopes that elections next month may lead to more stimulus measures being enacted, in the latest attempt to get the stuttering economy moving.