Canada leading indicator edges up 0.1 percent in November

OTTAWA (Reuters) - The composite leading indicator for Canada rose 0.1 percent in November, slowing down from October on a housing market downturn and weak manufacturing as the economy hits a soft patch.The index rose 0.2 percent in October and was up every month in 2012 except July, said a report on Monday by the Macdonald-Laurier Institute. The think tank developed the modified indicator last year...

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France says US is providing communications and transport help to Mali military intervention

BAMAKO, Mali - France claimed new successes in its campaign to oust Islamist extremists from northern Mali on Sunday, bombarding the major city of Gao with airstrikes targeting the airport and training camps used by the al-Qaida-linked rebel group controlling the city.France's foreign minister also said the 3-day-old intervention is gaining international support, with communications and transport...

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UN Security Council to meet Monday at France's request to discuss situation in Mali

A spokesman for the French U.N. Mission says the Security Council will meet Monday at France's request to discuss Mali.Spokesman Brieuc Pont said in a tweet posted Sunday that the council will meet Monday afternoon "to examine the situation in Mali." French troops have intervened to oust al-Qaida-linked Islamist extremists who control northern Mali.The 3-day-old, French-led effort to take back Mali's...

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FACTBOX-Soccer-African Nations Cup finalists Ivory Coast

Jan 12 (Reuters) - Factbox on African Nations Cup finalists Ivory Coast ahead of this year's tournament in South Africa from Jan. 19 to Feb. 10:Previous appearances in African Nations Cup finals: 19Best performances: Winners in 1992; Runners-up in 2006 and 2012FIFA world ranking Dec 2012: 14Coach:Sabri Lamouchi had no previous coaching experience when the Ivorians surprisingly installed him last...

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FACTBOX-Soccer-African Nations Cup finalists Algeria

Jan 12 (Reuters) - Factbox on African Nations Cup finalists Algeria ahead of this year's tournament in South Africa from Jan. 19 to Feb. 10:Previous appearances in African Nations Cup finals: 14Best performances: Winners in 1990; Runners-up in 1980FIFA world ranking Dec 2012: 19Coach:Vahid Halilhodzic is a former Yugoslavia international who moved to France during his playing days and stayed for...

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FACTBOX-Soccer-African Nations Cup finalists Togo

Jan 12 (Reuters) - Factbox on African Nations Cup finalists Togo ahead of this year's tournament in South Africa from Jan. 19 to Feb. 10:Previous appearances African Nations Cup finals: 7Best performance: Never got past the first roundFIFA world ranking Dec 2012: 71Coach:Didier Six has had a tempestuous tenure in charge of Togo, having to deal with player strikes and his own battle to get wages paid...

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Jimmy Dushku: The 25-year-old who is North Korea's one true Twitter friend

Mother Jones takes a look at a globetrotting young investor who's the only American — and the only human being — Pyongyang followsGoogle Chairman Eric Schmidt capped a controversial four-day visit to North Korea on Thursday with a call for the country's censorship-happy communist government to give its people access to the internet, or face further economic decline due to the country's global isolation....

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What would your signature look like if Jack Lew wrote it? (Interactive)

White House chief of staff Jack Lew's signature has been ridiculed as nothing more than a series of childish loops—a nontrivial point, given that President Barack Obama is expected to nominate Lew as the new Treasury secretary, meaning his signature will adorn new U.S. currency.Now, Yahoo News exclusively brings you the Jack Lew Signature Generator. Just type in your name, hit the button, and see...

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Gasoline prices predicted to fall in 2013

NEW YORK (AP) — At least gasoline should cost you less in 2013.Hamburger, health care and taxes are all set to take a bigger bite out of the family budget this year. But drivers' annual gas bills are expected to drop for the first time in four years.Forecasters say ample oil supplies and weak U.S. demand will keep a lid on prices. The lows will be lower and the highs won't be so high compared with...

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New York City should hike taxes on big business-comptroller

(Reuters) - New York City's top financial officer and possible contender for mayor in 2013, John Liu, proposed on Thursday tax hikes for big businesses and an end to Madison Square Garden's $15 million annual property tax exemption.The proposals by New York City Comptroller John Liu include tax hikes on private equity firms, which would help offset his plan for $500 million in tax breaks and lowered...

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