http://www.mail.com/subjects/1374-national-governments.html Mail.com - the best personalized free web-based Email en en http://sec-s.uicdn.com/mail.com/2.28/img/mailcom_logo_rss.png http://www.mail.com/subjects/1374-national-governments.html http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2108862-judge-ariz-sheriffs-office-profiles-latinos.html PHOENIX (AP) — A federal judge has ruled that the office of America's self-proclaimed toughest sheriff systematically singled out Latinos in its trademark immigration patrols, marking the first finding by a court that the agency racially profiles people. The decision by U.S. District Judge Murray Snow in Phoenix backs up years of allegations from Maricopa... Sat, 25 May 2013 08:25:59 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2108862-judge-ariz-sheriffs-office-profiles-latinos.html 2013-05-25T08:25:59Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/2108624-furlough-friday-unpaid-day-govt.html WASHINGTON (AP) — No one answered the tax-help hotline at the IRS on Friday. And you could forget about getting advice on avoiding foreclosures at the 80 Housing and Urban Development field offices nationwide. It was "furlough Friday." Roughly 5 percent of the federal workforce — 115,000 people at six major agencies — were told not to show up as the gover... Fri, 24 May 2013 21:20:31 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/2108624-furlough-friday-unpaid-day-govt.html 2013-05-24T21:20:31Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2107442-obama-sexual-assault-threatens-trust-military.html ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — With a growing sexual assault epidemic staining the military, President Barack Obama urged U.S. Naval Academy graduates Friday to remember their honor depends on what they do when nobody is looking and said the crime has "no place in the greatest military on earth." The commander in chief congratulated the 1,047 midshipmen graduating... Fri, 24 May 2013 19:55:56 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2107442-obama-sexual-assault-threatens-trust-military.html 2013-05-24T19:55:56Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/2107462-syrian-regime-oks-peace-talks-amid-skepticism.html BEIRUT (AP) — Syria's government has agreed to attend a U.S.-Russian-brokered peace conference, according to Moscow. While this development might seem at first glance to be a step toward ending the civil war, strong skepticism persists on both sides. Doubting that Damascus is serious and may be stalling while government forces make battlefield gains, the ... Fri, 24 May 2013 19:37:54 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/2107462-syrian-regime-oks-peace-talks-amid-skepticism.html 2013-05-24T19:37:54Z http://www.mail.com/business/finance/2107782-slovenia-adopts-debt-cap-to-stave-crisis.html LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (AP) — Slovenia's parliament on Friday adopted a cap on public spending to try to convince foreign investors that the small eurozone country will not need an international bailout. The 78-8 vote in the assembly means Slovenia's constitution will be changed to require that the government budget be balanced — that is, it will not be allo... Fri, 24 May 2013 14:36:06 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/finance/2107782-slovenia-adopts-debt-cap-to-stave-crisis.html 2013-05-24T14:36:06Z http://www.mail.com/business/finance/2107666-top-swiss-negotiator-tax-disputes-steps.html GENEVA (AP) — Switzerland's top negotiator in talks to resolve disputes over tax evasion with Europe and the U.S. is stepping down. The Finance Ministry said Friday that Michael Ambuehl will leave his post at the end of August and go into academia. The move comes at a crucial time for Switzerland, which is trying to reach a deal with the U.S. to save Swis... Fri, 24 May 2013 11:46:22 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/finance/2107666-top-swiss-negotiator-tax-disputes-steps.html 2013-05-24T11:46:22Z http://www.mail.com/business/finance/2104680-irs-replaces-official-tea-party-controversy.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Moving quickly to stem a raging controversy, the new acting head of the Internal Revenue Service started cleaning house Thursday by replacing the supervisor who oversaw agents involved in targeting tea party groups. A day after she refused to answer questions at a congressional hearing, Lois Lerner was placed on administrative leave, acc... Thu, 23 May 2013 23:18:46 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/finance/2104680-irs-replaces-official-tea-party-controversy.html 2013-05-23T23:18:46Z http://www.mail.com/business/finance/2104670-house-backs-variable-rate-student-loans.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Dismissing a veto threat from President Barack Obama, lawmakers in the House passed legislation that links student loan rates to the ups and downs of the financial markets in a vote largely along party lines. The Republican-backed bill would allow students to dodge a scheduled rate hike for students with new subsidized Stafford loans nex... Thu, 23 May 2013 21:53:33 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/finance/2104670-house-backs-variable-rate-student-loans.html 2013-05-23T21:53:33Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/2106132-nasa-head-views-progress-asteroid-lasso-mission.html PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — Surrounded by engineers, NASA chief Charles Bolden inspected a prototype spacecraft engine that could power an audacious mission to lasso an asteroid and tow it closer to Earth for astronauts to explore. Bolden checked on the progress Thursday a month after the Obama administration unveiled its 2014 budget that proposes $105 millio... Thu, 23 May 2013 21:39:30 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/2106132-nasa-head-views-progress-asteroid-lasso-mission.html 2013-05-23T21:39:30Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2106196-senate-confirms-obama-nominee-to-key-appeals-court.html WASHINGTON (AP) — After five years of trying, President Barack Obama has placed his first nominee on a key appeals court in Washington. The Senate voted unanimously on Thursday, 97-0, to confirm Sri Srinivasan to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. The court is considered the most important in the country after the Supreme Cour... Thu, 23 May 2013 21:05:21 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2106196-senate-confirms-obama-nominee-to-key-appeals-court.html 2013-05-23T21:05:21Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/music/2106454-mary-j-blige-faces-34m-federal-tax-lien-nj.html HACKENSACK, N.J. (AP) — Mary J. Blige and her husband have been hit with a $3.4 million tax lien in New Jersey. Court documents show the Internal Revenue Service filed a notice of a lien on the nine-time Grammy Award winner Feb. 7. That was two days before the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul was honored at a pre-Grammy party in Los Angeles. Blig... Thu, 23 May 2013 20:54:10 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/music/2106454-mary-j-blige-faces-34m-federal-tax-lien-nj.html 2013-05-23T20:54:10Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2104736-suspect-wash-ricin-case.html SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — A 37-year-old janitor who has been charged with threatening to kill a federal judge in a case that involves letters containing the deadly poison ricin is a registered sex offender who lived in a rundown apartment building near downtown Spokane. Matthew Ryan Buquet remained jailed Thursday after appearing in federal court a day earlie... Thu, 23 May 2013 19:13:37 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2104736-suspect-wash-ricin-case.html 2013-05-23T19:13:37Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/2105230-socialists-try-to-form-govt-bulgaria.html SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — The Socialists, who finished second in Bulgaria's election this month, were asked to form a new government Thursday, after the front-running party was unable to. The Socialists have pledged to create a Cabinet of technocrats led by a former nonpartisan finance minister, Plamen Oresharski, and to quickly improve the economy of the co... Thu, 23 May 2013 14:00:54 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/2105230-socialists-try-to-form-govt-bulgaria.html 2013-05-23T14:00:54Z http://www.mail.com/business/finance/2104574-japan-gyrations-underline-economys-vulnerability.html TOKYO (AP) — Japan's financial markets gyrated wildly Thursday, underscoring the vulnerability of its economy to a loss of investor confidence as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attempts shock monetary easing to end two decades of stagnation. Interest rates, or yields, on 10-year Japanese government bonds briefly topped 1 percent for the first time in a year on... Thu, 23 May 2013 11:27:23 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/finance/2104574-japan-gyrations-underline-economys-vulnerability.html 2013-05-23T11:27:23Z http://www.mail.com/news/us/2104174-37-year-old-man-charged-wash-ricin-scare.html SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — A man was arrested Wednesday in a case involving last week's discovery of a pair of letters containing the deadly poison ricin. A grand jury indictment accuses Matthew Ryan Buquet, 37, of mailing a death threat to U.S. District Judge Fred Van Sickle in Spokane on May 14. A search of federal court records turned up no indication that ... Thu, 23 May 2013 03:14:03 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/us/2104174-37-year-old-man-charged-wash-ricin-scare.html 2013-05-23T03:14:03Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/2102266-broke-laws-irs-official-then-takes-5th.html WASHINGTON (AP) — At the center of a political storm, an Internal Revenue Service supervisor whose agents targeted conservative groups swore Wednesday she did nothing wrong, broke no laws and never lied to Congress. Then she refused to answer lawmakers' further questions, citing her Fifth Amendment right not to incriminate herself. In one of the most elec... Wed, 22 May 2013 23:25:52 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/2102266-broke-laws-irs-official-then-takes-5th.html 2013-05-22T23:25:52Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2103732-mexico-cartel-dominates-torches-western.html LA RUANA, Mexico (AP) — The farm state of Michoacan is burning. A drug cartel that takes its name from an ancient monastic order has set fire to lumber yards, packing plants and passenger buses in a medieval-like reign of terror. The Knights Templar cartel is extorting protection payments from cattlemen, lime growers and businesses such as butchers, promp... Wed, 22 May 2013 23:07:06 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2103732-mexico-cartel-dominates-torches-western.html 2013-05-22T23:07:06Z http://www.mail.com/business/finance/2103672-obama-threatens-veto-house-student-loan-plan.html WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama on Wednesday threatened to veto legislation by House Republicans that would avert a doubling of student loan interest rates on July 1 but allow them to vary with the markets going forward. The White House issued the warning a day before the full House was scheduled to vote on the bill. Leaders from both parties exp... Wed, 22 May 2013 21:27:02 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/finance/2103672-obama-threatens-veto-house-student-loan-plan.html 2013-05-22T21:27:02Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/2103668-judge-apologizes-lag-unsealing-documents.html WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge apologized Wednesday for an 18-month delay in unsealing documents in a case involving an alleged leak of classified information to a reporter. The documents include two warrants and related materials for the email accounts of Stephen Kim, a State Department adviser who faces charges of leaking secret information about Nor... Wed, 22 May 2013 20:42:59 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/2103668-judge-apologizes-lag-unsealing-documents.html 2013-05-22T20:42:59Z http://www.mail.com/business/finance/2103578-fiat-industrial-aims-to-shift-tax-to-britain.html MILAN (AP) — Fiat Industrial disputed as "absolutely false" reports Wednesday that Italy would lose 500 million euros ($646 million) in tax revenues if it moves its tax base to Britain after it completes a merger with its U.S.-based subsidiary CNH Global NV. But the maker of heavy trucks, farm and construction vehicles said in a statement that it believed... Wed, 22 May 2013 18:59:57 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/finance/2103578-fiat-industrial-aims-to-shift-tax-to-britain.html 2013-05-22T18:59:57Z http://www.mail.com/business/finance/2102406-eu-steps-up-fight-tax-evasion-2013.html BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union's leaders took a major step in tackling tax-dodgers Wednesday by pushing to end bank secrecy across the bloc's 27 members by the end of the year. German Chancellor Angela Merkel hailed the agreement to set up an automatic exchange of bank information among the EU's tax authorities — which has been long resisted by Austri... Wed, 22 May 2013 18:48:51 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/finance/2102406-eu-steps-up-fight-tax-evasion-2013.html 2013-05-22T18:48:51Z http://www.mail.com/business/finance/2103206-house-preserves-budget-face-cuts.html WASHINGTON (AP) — House lawmakers are moving to protect Capitol Hill's budget even as they're working to slash other programs like education, health research, water projects and housing aid for the poor. The effort by the House Appropriations Committee promises a small budget increase for legislative branch operations even as funding for labor, health and... Wed, 22 May 2013 18:08:25 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/finance/2103206-house-preserves-budget-face-cuts.html 2013-05-22T18:08:25Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2102168-gop-questions-irs-scrutiny-anti-abortion-groups.html IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — When a small anti-abortion group in Iowa sought nonprofit status, the Internal Revenue Service asked its board to promise not to organize protests outside Planned Parenthood and demanded to know how its prayer meetings and protest signs were educational. Although the Coalition for Life of Iowa's application was ultimately approved i... Wed, 22 May 2013 16:13:38 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2102168-gop-questions-irs-scrutiny-anti-abortion-groups.html 2013-05-22T16:13:38Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/2102276-republican-divisions-hinder-partys-momentum.html WASHINGTON (AP) — A string of unrelated events is highlighting divisions among Republicans just when they'd like to show a united front and take full advantage of President Barack Obama's latest political problems. Tensions between libertarian-leaning and more mainstream Republicans were on vivid display Tuesday as Sens. Rand Paul and John McCain clashed ... Wed, 22 May 2013 11:23:14 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/2102276-republican-divisions-hinder-partys-momentum.html 2013-05-22T11:23:14Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2102292-600-police-photos-tucson-rampage-scene-released.html PHOENIX (AP) — In the chaotic moments after a gunman wounded Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, investigators quickly turned a patrol car into a makeshift whiteboard, using markers to scrawl relevant information about the investigation. By the end of the day, the car was covered with details on the man who carried out the rampage, the hospitals where victims were b... Wed, 22 May 2013 08:16:22 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2102292-600-police-photos-tucson-rampage-scene-released.html 2013-05-22T08:16:22Z http://www.mail.com/business/finance/2099768-apple-case-spur-to-tax-action.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Now that tech darling Apple Inc. has been dragged front and center into the debate over the U.S. tax code, lawmakers are hoping that the spotlight on such a high-profile company could be the catalyst for Congress to take action to close loopholes or reform the law. At a hearing Tuesday, members of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Inv... Wed, 22 May 2013 04:04:57 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/finance/2099768-apple-case-spur-to-tax-action.html 2013-05-22T04:04:57Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/health/2100678-court-strikes-arizona-20-week-abortion-ban.html SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A federal court Tuesday struck down Arizona's ban on abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy absent a medical emergency. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the law violated a woman's constitutionally protected right to terminate a pregnancy before a fetus is able to survive outside the womb. "Viability" of a fetus is generally c... Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:35 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/health/2100678-court-strikes-arizona-20-week-abortion-ban.html 2013-05-22T00:00:35Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2100778-photos-tucson-shooting-scene-gun-knife.html PHOENIX (AP) — Photos taken in the aftermath of the attack that killed six people and wounded former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords show the handgun, high-capacity pistol magazines and knife that Jared Lee Loughner carried with him as he carried out the January 2011 attack. The 600 photos, released Tuesday, also show images of a credit card record showing e... Tue, 21 May 2013 22:09:59 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2100778-photos-tucson-shooting-scene-gun-knife.html 2013-05-21T22:09:59Z http://www.mail.com/business/finance/2100384-egypt-tax-law-cuts-poor-business-hikes.html CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's president signed a new tax law Tuesday that cuts the amount paid by poorer Egyptians in the latest move aimed at reforming the country's economy. The changes, which are more favorable than the previous tax law for the country's most vulnerable, could boost Islamists in parliamentary elections slated for later this year. The interim pa... Tue, 21 May 2013 21:00:28 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/finance/2100384-egypt-tax-law-cuts-poor-business-hikes.html 2013-05-21T21:00:28Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/2099706-syria-opposition-signals-tough-peace-talks.html BEIRUT (AP) — Despite recent rebel setbacks in Syria's civil war, the main opposition bloc signaled a tough line Tuesday on attending possible peace talks with President Bashar Assad's regime. Two senior members of the Syrian National Coalition said the group first wants ironclad guarantees of Assad's departure as part of any transition deal and more weap... Tue, 21 May 2013 18:25:40 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/2099706-syria-opposition-signals-tough-peace-talks.html 2013-05-21T18:25:40Z