http://www.mail.com/subjects/1098666-referendums.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/subjects/1098666-referendums.html http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1763722-carter-center-wont-monitor-egypts-vote.html CAIRO (AP) — Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter's center said Thursday it will not deploy monitors for Egypt's contentious constitutional referendum because of the government's late release of regulations for witnesses. The decision reflects concerns that the rushed process leading to Saturday's vote has undermined the legitimacy of the disputed charter b... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 15:27:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1763722-carter-center-wont-monitor-egypts-vote.html 2012-12-13T15:27:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1762776-egypts-opposition-urges-no-vote-referendum.html CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's opposition called on its followers Wednesday to vote "no" in a crucial referendum on a disputed constitution drafted by Islamist supporters of President Mohammed Morsi. The decision came as Morsi's government forged ahead with its own plan, starting overseas voting in diplomatic missions for expatriates. The moves reinforced the atmos... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 23:44:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1762776-egypts-opposition-urges-no-vote-referendum.html 2012-12-12T23:44:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1760446-egypt-opposition-urges-no-vote-constitution.html CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's main opposition alliance called for a "No" vote in the referendum on a disputed constitution rather than a boycott, hours after Islamist President Mohammed Morsi's government forged ahead by starting overseas voting in diplomatic missions for expatriates. The opposition's decision did not dispel the atmosphere of a nation in crisis, d... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 16:23:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1760446-egypt-opposition-urges-no-vote-constitution.html 2012-12-12T16:23:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1757742-egypt-judges-will-boycott-referendum.html CAIRO (AP) — Most Egyptian judges rejected any role Tuesday in overseeing the country's constitutional referendum, a move likely to cast further doubt on the legitimacy of the disputed charter. The nation's worst crisis since Hosni Mubarak's ouster nearly two years ago also forced the government to put off a crucial deal with the International Monetary Fu... Tue, 11 Dec 2012 22:38:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1757742-egypt-judges-will-boycott-referendum.html 2012-12-11T22:38:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1755518-egypts-military-takes-security-ahead-vote.html CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's military assumed responsibility Monday for protecting state institutions and maintaining security ahead of a Dec. 15 constitutional referendum, as the country braced for another round of mass demonstrations by the supporters of the country's Islamist president and the liberal opposition over the disputed charter. The referendum on a c... Mon, 10 Dec 2012 20:34:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1755518-egypts-military-takes-security-ahead-vote.html 2012-12-10T20:34:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1755316-gay-couples-wash-start-taking-wedding-vows.html SEATTLE (AP) — Keith Bacon and Corianton Hale wore dress shirts as they recited their vows at Seattle City Hall, as the city hosted more than 100 weddings on the first day same-sex couples could marry in Washington state. A few hours later Sunday, the happy couple had changed into matching t-shirts that read "Looks Like We Made It." "It's tremendously mea... Mon, 10 Dec 2012 08:16:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1755316-gay-couples-wash-start-taking-wedding-vows.html 2012-12-10T08:16:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/us/1753906-same-sex-couples-wash-start-wedding-vows.html SEATTLE (AP) — Scores of same-sex couples crowded Seattle City Hall for a day of wedding ceremonies on Sunday, the first day they could marry after the state's voter-approved gay marriage law took effect. While numerous weddings were taking place across the state, both private and public, the city hall weddings were the largest public event, with more tha... Mon, 10 Dec 2012 02:45:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/us/1753906-same-sex-couples-wash-start-wedding-vows.html 2012-12-10T02:45:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1754662-islamist-leaning-draft-constitution-divides-egypt.html CAIRO (AP) — President Mohammed Morsi is unlikely to worry if Egypt's Islamist-leaning draft constitution passes by only a small margin in a Dec. 15 referendum, since he and his backers tout his 51 percent election victory in June as a "popular mandate" that is beyond any challenge. Still, an idea taking root among many secular Egyptians is that a constit... Sun, 09 Dec 2012 20:07:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1754662-islamist-leaning-draft-constitution-divides-egypt.html 2012-12-09T20:07:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1750536-egypt-delays-early-voting-constitution.html CAIRO (AP) — Egypt postponed early voting on a contentious draft constitution, and aides to President Mohammed Morsi floated the possibility of canceling the whole referendum in the first signs Friday that the Islamic leader is finally yielding to days of protests and deadly street clashes. Tens of thousands marched on the presidential palace after pushin... Fri, 07 Dec 2012 22:37:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1750536-egypt-delays-early-voting-constitution.html 2012-12-07T22:37:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1749474-egypt-crisis-tests-opposition-ahead-key-votes.html CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's latest political crisis over a disputed constitution is posing a difficult test for the mostly secular opposition: Can it maintain its new-found unity and achieve anything beyond bringing large crowds out into the streets to protest? Faced with a series of ever larger and more violent protests, Islamist President Mohammed Morsi has su... Thu, 06 Dec 2012 20:49:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1749474-egypt-crisis-tests-opposition-ahead-key-votes.html 2012-12-06T20:49:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1746688-islamists-battle-opponents-egypt-crisis-grows.html CAIRO (AP) — Egypt descended into political turmoil on Wednesday over the constitution drafted by Islamist allies of President Mohammed Morsi, and at least 211 people were wounded as supporters and opponents battled each other with firebombs, rocks and sticks outside the presidential palace. Four more presidential aides resigned in protest over Morsi's ha... Thu, 06 Dec 2012 00:52:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1746688-islamists-battle-opponents-egypt-crisis-grows.html 2012-12-06T00:52:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/other/1745608-barcelona-soccer-club-defends-use-catalan.html MADRID (AP) — Long a symbol of Catalan identity, Barcelona soccer club added its voice Wednesday to a simmering political dispute between the region of Catalonia and Spain's central government. Weeks after Spain's education minister said he was drafting a proposal to make the teaching of Castilian Spanish obligatory in schools throughout the country, Barc... Wed, 05 Dec 2012 20:58:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/other/1745608-barcelona-soccer-club-defends-use-catalan.html 2012-12-05T20:58:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1745110-egypt-descends-political-turmoil.html CAIRO (AP) — Supporters and opponents of Egyptian leader Mohammed Morsi fought with rocks, firebombs and sticks outside the presidential palace in Cairo on Wednesday in large-scale clashes that marked the worst violence of a deepening crisis over the disputed constitution. Egypt's Health Ministry said 126 people were wounded in the clashes that were still... Wed, 05 Dec 2012 19:12:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1745110-egypt-descends-political-turmoil.html 2012-12-05T19:12:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1739174-egypts-crisis-widens-with-planned-march-strikes.html CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's political crisis is widening, with plans for a huge march and a general strike Tuesday to protest the hurried drafting of a new constitution and decrees by President Mohammed Morsi that gave him nearly unrestricted powers. Morsi also faces the prospect of wider civil disobedience as media, the tourism industry and law professors ponde... Mon, 03 Dec 2012 19:16:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1739174-egypts-crisis-widens-with-planned-march-strikes.html 2012-12-03T19:16:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1737726-egypts-highest-court-joins-judicial-strike.html CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's highest court has joined a judicial rebellion against President Mohammed Morsi by declaring an open-ended strike on the day it was supposed to rule on the legitimacy of two key assemblies controlled by allies of the Islamist leader. The strike announced Sunday by the Supreme Constitutional Court and opposition plans to march on the pr... Mon, 03 Dec 2012 07:45:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1737726-egypts-highest-court-joins-judicial-strike.html 2012-12-03T07:45:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1736176-egypts-president-sets-constitution-vote.html CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's President Mohammed Morsi called Saturday for a referendum in two weeks on a contentious draft constitution, setting a date for another milestone in the country's transition to democracy. Widespread disputes over the charter and Morsi's recent seizure of near absolute power have marred the process and thrown the country into turmoil. A... Sun, 02 Dec 2012 03:22:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1736176-egypts-president-sets-constitution-vote.html 2012-12-02T03:22:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1733994-egypt-draft-constitution-sparks-mass-protest.html CAIRO (AP) — Protesters flooded Cairo's Tahrir Square on Friday in the second giant rally this week, angrily vowing to bring down a draft constitution approved by allies of President Mohammed Morsi, as Egypt appeared headed toward a volatile confrontation between the opposition and ruling Islamists. The protests have highlighted an increasingly cohesive o... Fri, 30 Nov 2012 21:27:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1733994-egypt-draft-constitution-sparks-mass-protest.html 2012-11-30T21:27:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1723534-independence-drive-falters-spains-catalonia.html MADRID (AP) — Voters in Spain's Catalonia region favored the right to decide on possible independence but split their ballots between fractious parties, making the prospect of secession less likely than ever. Artur Mas, leader of the northeastern region's ruling center-right coalition, had sought an absolute majority in Sunday's vote to get a mandate for ... Mon, 26 Nov 2012 18:54:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1723534-independence-drive-falters-spains-catalonia.html 2012-11-26T18:54:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1722258-spains-catalonia-punishes-pro-referendum-leader.html BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Voters in the economically powerful region of Catalonia on Sunday punished the leader who made a referendum over breaking away from Spain a central plank of his campaign, seeing his party's majority reduced by a dozen seats. Regional president Artur Mas called the early election as part of a power struggle with Prime Minister Maria... Sun, 25 Nov 2012 21:57:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1722258-spains-catalonia-punishes-pro-referendum-leader.html 2012-11-25T21:57:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1718066-catalan-independence-debate-hits-cold-realities.html GIRONA, Spain (AP) — As in towns across this wealthy northwestern region, the maze-like cobblestone streets of Girona's medieval quarter are fluttering with flags in favor of Catalonia's independence. Here, however, there is also a smattering of flags bearing the slogan: "Catalonia, A New European State." It goes to the heart of a Catalan conundrum. While... Thu, 22 Nov 2012 11:20:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1718066-catalan-independence-debate-hits-cold-realities.html 2012-11-22T11:20:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1713352-europe-plots-closer-ties-britain-mulls-split.html BRUSSELS (AP) — Goodbye Britain? For the European Union, a once-unthinkable question is looking more like a real possibility with each new grinding week of economic crisis. The reason is that bad times are forcing the 17 EU nations that use the euro currency to move ever closer toward some kind of United States of Europe — one that could make decisions ab... Tue, 20 Nov 2012 18:10:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1713352-europe-plots-closer-ties-britain-mulls-split.html 2012-11-20T18:10:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1688166-washington-voters-approve-gay-marriage.html OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Washington state has approved gay marriage, joining Maine and Maryland as the first states to pass same-sex marriage by popular vote. With about three-quarters of the expected ballots counted Thursday, Referendum 74 was maintaining its lead of 52 percent. Opponents conceded the race Thursday, while supporters declared victory a day e... Fri, 09 Nov 2012 01:09:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1688166-washington-voters-approve-gay-marriage.html 2012-11-09T01:09:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1684278-puerto-rico-vote-endorses-statehood-with-asterisk.html SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Puerto Ricans have supported U.S. statehood in a vote that jubilant members of the pro-statehood party say is the strongest sign yet that the Caribbean island territory is on the road to losing its second-class status. But Tuesday's vote comes with an asterisk and an imposing political reality: The island remains bitterly divi... Wed, 07 Nov 2012 22:26:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1684278-puerto-rico-vote-endorses-statehood-with-asterisk.html 2012-11-07T22:26:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1683890-gay-marriage-marijuana-backed-historic-votes.html Altering the course of U.S social policy, Maine and Maryland became the first states to approve same-sex marriage by popular vote, while Washington state and Colorado set up a showdown with federal authorities by legalizing recreational use of marijuana. The outcomes for those ballot measures Tuesday were a milestone for persistent but often thwarted advo... Wed, 07 Nov 2012 16:05:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1683890-gay-marriage-marijuana-backed-historic-votes.html 2012-11-07T16:05:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1683614-maine-maryland-vote-to-legalize-gay-marriage.html Voters a continent apart made history Tuesday on two divisive social issues, with Maine and Maryland becoming the first states to approve same-sex marriage by popular vote while Washington state and Colorado legalized recreational use of marijuana. The outcomes in Maine and Maryland broke a 32-state streak, dating back to 1998, in which gay marriage had b... Wed, 07 Nov 2012 06:12:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1683614-maine-maryland-vote-to-legalize-gay-marriage.html 2012-11-07T06:12:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1681768-puerto-rico-votes-us-ties-chooses-governor.html SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Puerto Ricans faced a fundamental question on Election Day: Should they change their ties with the United States? Citizens in the U.S. island territory cannot vote in the U.S. presidential election, but many were excited to participate in a referendum on whether to push the territory toward statehood, greater autonomy or indep... Wed, 07 Nov 2012 02:29:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1681768-puerto-rico-votes-us-ties-chooses-governor.html 2012-11-07T02:29:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1677044-puerto-rico-seeks-to-define-relationship-to-us.html SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Puerto Rican voters will once again ponder the decades-old question over the island's political future when they go to the polls Tuesday: What kind of relationship do they really want with the United States? Do they support the status quo? Or would they prefer statehood, independence or "sovereign free association," a designat... Sun, 04 Nov 2012 13:34:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1677044-puerto-rico-seeks-to-define-relationship-to-us.html 2012-11-04T13:34:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/other/1663064-than-ever-barca-than-club-catalans.html BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Nearly 20 minutes into the latest clash between Spain's most popular football teams, Barcelona's 98,000-seat Camp Nou stadium erupted into a deafening roar. Tens of thousands of Catalans in the city at the heart of their separatist movement chanted in unison: "Independence!" More than ever, FC Barcelona, known affectionately as Bar... Mon, 29 Oct 2012 08:51:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/other/1663064-than-ever-barca-than-club-catalans.html 2012-10-29T08:51:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1657136-obama-backs-gay-marriage-measures-3.html President Barack Obama on Thursday threw his support behind ballot measures in Maine, Maryland and Washington state that would legalize same-sex marriage. Though the president first voiced his general approval for gay marriage in May, he had not previously offered specific endorsements of the three measures. In each case, the endorsements were issued thro... Thu, 25 Oct 2012 21:57:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1657136-obama-backs-gay-marriage-measures-3.html 2012-10-25T21:57:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1653164-latin-america-incumbents-increasingly-dominate.html CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — After four election wins, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is on track to completing at least 20 years in power, and supporters such as street bookseller Cristina Tovar say they're glad to have him in charge. Tovar has signed up to receive new public housing, and the government has installed brightly painted kiosks for her and ot... Wed, 24 Oct 2012 21:08:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1653164-latin-america-incumbents-increasingly-dominate.html 2012-10-24T21:08:00Z