Western governments to discuss military assistance to Syrian rebels: source

ROME (Reuters) - Western and Arab officials will meet representatives of the Syrian opposition in Istanbul next Monday to discuss military and humanitarian support for rebels fighting President Bashar al-Assad, a European diplomatic source said on Thursday. "The meeting aims to work directly with opposition structures to increase the level of support," the source said, adding that both...

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Retired Taiwan general charged with spying for China: media

TAIPEI: A retired Taiwanese lieutenant general has been charged with spying for China in the latest of a string of espionage cases to shock the island, according to media reports on Thursday.Chen Chu-fan, a former vice chief at the Military Police Command allegedly collected intelligence on Taiwan's military and political situation and handed his findings to Beijing, according to the country's...

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Union Budget 2013: No IT exemption for cash donations to political parties by cos

NEW DELHI: The government on Thursday proposed to take away the income tax benefit on donations made in cash by corporates to political parties from April 2014 onwards.Under the existing provisions of section 80GGB of the Income Tax, contribution by an Indian company to any political party or an electoral trust in the previous year, is allowed as deduction in computing the total income of the firm.Currently,...

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Benedict XVI Begins Final Day as Pope

Pope Benedict XVI, the first pontiff to resign in 600 years, will step down today to lead a secluded life of prayer, far from the grueling demands of the papacy and the scandals that have recently plagued the church.Benedict, 85, will spend a quiet final day as pope bidding farewell to his colleagues that have gathered in Vatican City to see him depart. His first order of business...

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World powers and Iran set new talks in nuclear dispute

ALMATY (Reuters) - Six world powers ended two days of talks with Iran on its nuclear program without a breakthrough on Wednesday, but agreed to meet in Istanbul next month and resume negotiations in Kazakhstan on April 5. The six powers - France, Germany, the United States, China Russia and Britain - offered at the talks to lift some sanctions if Iran scaled back nuclear activity that...

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More job opportunities for Singaporeans in aerospace industry

SINGAPORE: Singapore's aerospace industry produced a total output of S$8.7 billion last year - more than double the output a decade ago.The industry accounts for nearly 20,000 jobs and a majority of them are skilled workers in areas like aerospace manufacturing, repair and overhaul, testing, as well as training, research and development.It will also require over 6,300 new direct employees...

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Accountability must for rights violations in Sri Lanka: Govt

NEW DELHI: In the wake of fresh allegations of rights violations against ethnic Tamils in Sri Lanka, India on Wednesday said there should be accountability for such issues but remained evasive on the position it will take at the UN on a resolution against that country.External affairs minister Salman Khurshid made it clear that India would not intervene directly in Sri Lanka's sovereign affairs...

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Advanced breast cancer edges up in younger women

CHICAGO (AP) — Advanced breast cancer has increased slightly among young women, a 34-year analysis suggests. The disease is still uncommon among women younger than 40, and the small change has experts scratching their heads about possible reasons.The results are potentially worrisome because young women's tumors tend to be more aggressive than older women's, and they're much less likely to get routine...

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What's Next for Pope Benedict XVI?

The party for the world's most prominent soon-to-be retiree began today when Pope Benedict XVI hosted his final audience as pontiff in St. Peter's Square.More than 50,000 tickets were requested for the event, according to the Vatican, while the city of Rome planned for 250,000 people to flood the streets.FULL COVERAGE: Pope Benedict XVI ResignationWith his belongings packed...

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Italy faces post-vote stalemate, spooking investors

ROME (Reuters) - The Italian stock market fell and state borrowing costs rose on Tuesday as investors took fright at political deadlock after a stunning election that saw a comedian's protest party lead the poll and no group secure a clear majority in parliament. "The winner is: Ingovernability" ran the headline in Rome newspaper Il Messaggero, reflecting the stalemate the country would...

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