Political News from Yahoo

Rome meeting to condemn supply of weapons to Assad government: source

ROME (Reuters) - A meeting in Rome between Western and Arab governments and the Syrian opposition will condemn countries providing weapons to the Bashar al-Assad government in its final declaration, a source at the meeting said on Thursday. The source told Reuters the meeting of the "Friends of Syria" diplomatic group with the main civilian opposition organization in Syria would also condemn the use of Scud missiles by Assad. The Syrian government denies it is using the ballistic missiles. ...

Congo rebels sack political chief, splits undermine peace efforts

KINSHASA (Reuters) - Rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have sacked their political leader, the group's military commander said, a sign of in-fighting likely to undermine regional efforts to end two decades of conflict. The M23 rebellion is the latest uprising in Congo's mineral rich eastern borderlands. Last year the group inflicted a series of defeats on government forces, culminating in the brief seizure of the major town of Goma. There has been little progress in Ugandan-hosted peace talks launched since the rebels withdrew from the town under international pressure. ...


Argentina's Congress approves pact with Iran to probe bombing

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Argentina's Congress approved early on Thursday a agreement with Iran to investigate the 1994 bombing of a Buenos Aires Jewish community center that Argentine courts have long accused Tehran of sponsoring. Jewish leaders say the pact to set up a "truth commission" risks undermining the ongoing judicial investigation into the attack, which killed 85 people, but President Cristina Fernandez says it could shed new light on the case after years of deadlock. ...


Cancer risks higher in worst hit Fukushima area: WHO

GENEVA (Reuters) - People in the area worst contaminated by radioactive material released by the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident two years ago have a higher risk of developing certain cancers over their lifetime, the World Health Organisation said on Thursday. "This health risk assessment concludes that no discernible increase in health risks from the Fukushima event is expected outside Japan. ...


The Note's Must-Reads for Thursday, February 28, 2013

The Note’s Must-Reads are a round-up of today’s political headlines and stories from ABC News and the top U.S. newspapers. Posted Monday through Friday right here at www.abcnews.com Compiled by ABC News’ Carrie Halperin, Jayce Henderson and Amanda VanAllen  SYRIA ABC News’ Dana Hughes: “Obama Administration Expected...

Slovenia can avoid bailout, new PM says

LJUBLJANA (Reuters) - Slovenia's prime minister-designate promised on Thursday she would be able to heal its banks and avoid an international bailout after a banking crisis that dethroned her conservative predecessor just a year into office. Legislators dismissed Janez Jansa's cabinet on Wednesday night and handed the baton to Alenka Bratusek, a centre-left finance expert tasked with preventing the fourth financial rescue of a euro zone member country since 2008. ...


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 civilian and military representatives of the Syrian opposition would attend. ...


U.S. firms in China set for greater competition ahead: survey

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Profitability and sales are harder to come by in China as U.S. firms face increasing competition from domestic and foreign players, said a U.S. business group survey on Thursday. An annual survey by the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai showed a majority of firms believed that competition had intensified, while the number who said they were profitable in 2012 dropped to 73 percent from 78 percent in 2011. ...

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