http://www.mail.com/people/2754-barack-obama.html Mail.com - the best personalized free web-based Email en en http://sec-s.uicdn.com/mail.com/2.20/img/mailcom_logo_rss.png http://www.mail.com/people/2754-barack-obama.html http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1764774-durbin-white-house-wont-increase-medicare-age.html WASHINGTON (AP) — One of President Barack Obama's top Senate allies says he's been assured by the White House that the president won't yield to GOP demands to increase the eligibility age for Medicare. Fellow Illinois Democrat Dick Durbin made the revelation to reporters after a Capitol Hill news conference. Increasing the eligibility age is a key demand ... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:35:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1764774-durbin-white-house-wont-increase-medicare-age.html 2012-12-13T17:35:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1764746-reset-cliff-talks-waiting-game.html It's an anxiety-filled waiting game for most in Congress, one likely to stretch well into the holidays. President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner clearly hold most cards in the "fiscal-cliff" negotiations and they're playing them extremely close to the vest. So far, little can be gleaned on progress of the talks ahead of a Dec. 31 deadline. ... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:25:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1764746-reset-cliff-talks-waiting-game.html 2012-12-13T17:25:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1764126-stocks-lower-investors-watch-washington.html NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks slipped Thursday on Wall Street after more signs of tension emerged from federal budget talks in Washington. The Dow Jones industrial average was down 70 points at 13,174 just after 1 p.m. EST. The Standard & Poor's 500 index was down 10 points at 1,418. The Nasdaq composite index was down 24 points at 2,989. In ... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:23:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1764126-stocks-lower-investors-watch-washington.html 2012-12-13T17:23:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1764736-pentagon-warns-higher-bomb-threat-drawdown.html WASHINGTON (AP) — A senior Pentagon official says U.S. and coalition forces will be more vulnerable to improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, as the military draws down the number of American troops in Afghanistan next year. Lt. Gen. Michael Barbero told a Senate panel on Thursday that fewer troops means travel on Afghan roads becomes more predictable and... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:17:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1764736-pentagon-warns-higher-bomb-threat-drawdown.html 2012-12-13T17:17:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1764696-obama-fiscal-cliff-deal-work-progress.html WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama says a fiscal cliff deal is "still a work in progress" as an end of the year deadline rapidly approaches. Obama made his assessment in a response to questions from reporters as he walked from the White House to a staff holiday party being held across the street. Asked about House Speaker John Boehner's assertion th... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:02:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1764696-obama-fiscal-cliff-deal-work-progress.html 2012-12-13T17:02:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1764182-oil-wavers-stimulus-optimism-cliff-concerns.html NEW YORK (AP) — The price of oil wavered between small gains and losses Thursday afternoon as traders balanced concerns over an apparent impasse in Washington's critical budget negotiations with enthusiasm over steps taken to boost the slow-growing economy. President Barack Obama and Republican leaders don't appear to be close a deal to avert the so-calle... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 16:28:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1764182-oil-wavers-stimulus-optimism-cliff-concerns.html 2012-12-13T16:28:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1763296-speaker-obama-resists-curbing-federal-spending.html WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker John Boehner accused President Barack Obama of being so resistant to curbing federal spending that he risks an agreement to avoid the "fiscal cliff" of wide-ranging tax increases and spending cuts that will be automatically triggered in less than three weeks. "Unfortunately, the White House is so unserious about cutting spe... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 16:27:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1763296-speaker-obama-resists-curbing-federal-spending.html 2012-12-13T16:27:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1764408-panetta-karzai-to-meet-obama-washington.html KABUL (AP) — Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Thursday that President Hamid Karzai has accepted an invitation from President Barack Obama to meet in Washington next month for critical talks on the future of Afghanistan. Panetta said at a joint news conference with Karzai that the meeting is to be held during the week of Jan. 7. The two leaders will use... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 16:25:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1764408-panetta-karzai-to-meet-obama-washington.html 2012-12-13T16:25:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1763852-weekly-us-jobless-aid-applications-drop-to-343k.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell sharply for a fourth straight week, a sign that the job market may be improving. The Labor Department said Thursday that weekly applications for unemployment benefits fell 29,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 343,000, the lowest in two months. It is the second-lowest total t... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 16:16:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1763852-weekly-us-jobless-aid-applications-drop-to-343k.html 2012-12-13T16:16:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/us/1763560-european-court-condemns-cia-landmark-ruling.html PARIS (AP) — A European court issued a landmark ruling Thursday that condemned the CIA's so-called extraordinary renditions programs and bolstered those who say they were illegally kidnapped and tortured as part of an overzealous war on terrorism. The European Court of Human Rights ruled that a German car salesman was a victim of torture and abuse, in a l... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 16:14:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/us/1763560-european-court-condemns-cia-landmark-ruling.html 2012-12-13T16:14:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1764388-boehner-white-house-risks-fiscal-cliff-stalemate.html WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker John Boehner says the White House is so resistant to cutting spending that it is risking pushing the country off the "fiscal cliff." In remarks he prepared to deliver to reporters on Thursday, the Ohio Republican says President Barack Obama has not been serious about controlling spending, which Republicans say is the source... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 15:36:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1764388-boehner-white-house-risks-fiscal-cliff-stalemate.html 2012-12-13T15:36:00Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1764218-globes-dwell-cable-jilt-broadcast-fare.html NEW YORK (AP) — The Golden Globes have an ear for musical drama, handing two nominations to ABC's new "Nashville" and a nod to NBC's freshman series "Smash." But the broadcast networks were largely overlooked, as usual. They were snubbed entirely in categories such as best actor in a drama series and best actress in a TV film, while the Globes mostly reco... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 15:27:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1764218-globes-dwell-cable-jilt-broadcast-fare.html 2012-12-13T15:27:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1763886-us-retail-sales-rose-03-percent-november.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans spent more online in November to start the holiday season and began to replace cars and rebuild in the Northeast after Superstorm Sandy. U.S. retail sales rose 0.3 percent in November from October, the Commerce Department said Thursday. That offset a 0.3 percent decline in October from September. The figures were much stronger ... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 13:43:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1763886-us-retail-sales-rose-03-percent-november.html 2012-12-13T13:43:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1763428-oil-slips-us-talks-impasse-weak-demand-outlook.html The price of oil fell to near $86 a barrel on Thursday after critical budget negotiations in Washington reached an apparent impasse. By early afternoon in Europe, benchmark oil for January delivery was down 60 cents to $86.17 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract finished 98 cents higher at $86.77 a barrel in New... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 11:44:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1763428-oil-slips-us-talks-impasse-weak-demand-outlook.html 2012-12-13T11:44:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1763698-leading-conservative-obama-will-win-tax-fight.html WASHINGTON (AP) — A leading conservative who's resigning from the Senate is predicting that President Barack Obama will win the battle over raising taxes. South Carolina Republican Jim DeMint calls it "a political trophy" within Obama's grasp. Appearing Thursday on "CBS This Morning," DeMint says, quote, "The president's proposal is not a plan, it's not a... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 11:21:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1763698-leading-conservative-obama-will-win-tax-fight.html 2012-12-13T11:21:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1763312-election-over-administration-unleashes-rules.html WASHINGTON (AP) — While the "fiscal cliff" of looming tax increases and spending cuts dominates political conversation in Washington, some Republicans and business groups see signs of a "regulatory cliff" that they say could be just as damaging to the economy. For months, federal agencies and the White House have sidetracked dozens of major regulations th... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 07:23:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1763312-election-over-administration-unleashes-rules.html 2012-12-13T07:23:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1763102-nkorea-policy-seoul-to-soften-despite-rocket.html SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — It is not too early to predict one sure winner of South Korea's presidential election next week: North Korea. President Lee Myung-bak's hardline approach to Pyongyang is going away, no matter who replaces him. The question is: Just how soft will Seoul go? Not even Pyongyang's successful launch of a long-range rocket Wednesday has... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 04:54:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1763102-nkorea-policy-seoul-to-soften-despite-rocket.html 2012-12-13T04:54:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1760478-asia-stocks-up-japan-boost-weaker-yen.html BANGKOK (AP) — Asian stock markets rose Thursday as a weakening yen propelled Japan's benchmark higher. A new bond-buying program by the U.S. Federal Reserve and commitment to keep interest rates low also soothed investor nerves about the state of the world's biggest economy. Following a two-day policy meeting, the Fed said Wednesday it will keep spending... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 04:20:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1760478-asia-stocks-up-japan-boost-weaker-yen.html 2012-12-13T04:20:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/us/1759254-feds-to-probe-why-alarms-failed-wva-explosion.html SISSONVILLE, W.Va. (AP) — Federal investigators are looking into why no alarms sounded as a massive natural gas explosion sent flames as high as hilltops, engulfing homes and a large section of an interstate for more than an hour. Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board will visit Columbia Gas Transmission's Charleston control room thi... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 02:22:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/us/1759254-feds-to-probe-why-alarms-failed-wva-explosion.html 2012-12-13T02:22:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1760408-budging-fiscal-cliff-talks-appear-stalled.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans aren't budging on tax rates, and Democrats are resisting steps like raising the eligibility age for Medicare. Negotiations on averting a year-end fiscal train wreck combining big automatic tax hikes and sweeping spending cuts again appear stalled. There are less than three weeks before the government could careen off this "fi... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 00:18:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1760408-budging-fiscal-cliff-talks-appear-stalled.html 2012-12-13T00:18:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1761584-fed-links-interest-rates-to-65-pct-unemployment.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve said Wednesday that it plans to keep interest rates ultra-low even after unemployment falls close to a normal level — which it thinks could take three more years. For the first time, the Fed made clear to investors and consumers that it will link its actions to specific economic markers. As long as inflation remains t... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 23:50:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1761584-fed-links-interest-rates-to-65-pct-unemployment.html 2012-12-12T23:50:00Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1762418-senate-dems-offer-sandy-disaster-aid-package.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats on Wednesday finished cobbling together a $60.4 billion disaster aid package for New York, New Jersey and other states hit by Superstorm Sandy in late October. Working from the emergency spending request President Barack Obama made five days ago, the Senate Appropriations Committee released its draft of the legislation. ... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 22:10:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1762418-senate-dems-offer-sandy-disaster-aid-package.html 2012-12-12T22:10:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1762490-why-its-hard-to-step-fiscal-cliff.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The "fiscal cliff" crisis bundles together some of Washington's toughest decisions — the ones lawmakers have dodged for years — and says settle them all right now. Or else. Yet bedrock differences between Democrats and Republicans stand in the way. No wonder it's hard to shake hands on a deal by New Year's. Failure is a lousy option, non... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 22:01:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1762490-why-its-hard-to-step-fiscal-cliff.html 2012-12-12T22:01:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1761144-census-whites-longer-majority-us-2043.html WASHINGTON (AP) — White people will no longer make up a majority of Americans by 2043, according to new census projections. That's part of a historic shift that already is reshaping the nation's schools, workforce and electorate, and is redefining long-held notions of race. The official projection, released Wednesday by the Census Bureau, now places the t... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 21:43:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1761144-census-whites-longer-majority-us-2043.html 2012-12-12T21:43:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1761854-senate-intern-sex-offender-faces-deportation.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Robert Menendez employed as an unpaid intern in his Senate office an illegal immigrant who was a registered sex offender, now under arrest by immigration authorities, The Associated Press has learned. The Homeland Security Department instructed federal agents not to arrest him until after Election Day, a U.S. official involved in the case told the AP. ... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 21:01:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1761854-senate-intern-sex-offender-faces-deportation.html 2012-12-12T21:01:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1761858-fed-projects-high-unemployment-3-years.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve projects the unemployment rate will stay elevated until late 2015, suggesting it will keep short-term interest rates low for the next three years. The latest economic forecasts released Wednesday after the Fed's final meeting of the year were little changed from September. But they coincided with a new communication s... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 20:51:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1761858-fed-projects-high-unemployment-3-years.html 2012-12-12T20:51:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1761070-stocks-changed-fed-rally-fizzles.html NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks ended the day little changed Wednesday after a rally prompted by the Federal Reserve's latest economic stimulus program fizzled out. The Dow Jones industrial average closed down 2.99 points at 13,245.45. It had risen as much as 81 points after the Fed said earlier in the day that it would extend a bond-buying plan and keep interest ... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 20:32:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1761070-stocks-changed-fed-rally-fizzles.html 2012-12-12T20:32:00Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1760950-googled-2012-whitney-psy-sandy.html LOS ANGELES (AP) — The world's attention wavered between the tragic and the silly in 2012, and along the way, millions of people searched the Web to find out about a royal princess, the latest iPad, and a record-breaking skydiver. Whitney Houston was the "top trending" search of the year, according to Google Inc.'s year-end "zeitgeist" report. Google's 12... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 20:03:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1760950-googled-2012-whitney-psy-sandy.html 2012-12-12T20:03:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1761994-lieberman-urges-compromise-final-senate-speech.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Retiring Sen. Joe Lieberman on Wednesday used his final Senate floor speech to urge Congress to put partisan rancor aside to break Washington's gridlock. "It requires reaching across the aisle and finding partners from the opposite party," said Lieberman. "That is what is desperately needed in Washington now." The Democrat-turned-indepen... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 19:19:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1761994-lieberman-urges-compromise-final-senate-speech.html 2012-12-12T19:19:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1761852-us-budget-deficit-reaches-172b-november.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. federal government's budget deficit widened in November compared to October, a sign that the nation is on a path to its fifth straight $1 trillion-plus deficit. The budget gap rose to $172 billion in November, up from $120 billion in October, the Treasury Department said Wednesday. The November deficit was also 25 percent higher... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 18:12:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1761852-us-budget-deficit-reaches-172b-november.html 2012-12-12T18:12:00Z