http://www.mail.com/subjects/364-government-politics.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/364-government-politics.html http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1763144-nkorea-years-credible-missiles.html SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — They don't call it rocket science for nothing. North Korea's first successful launch of a three-stage, long-range rocket has outraged world leaders who consider it similar to a missile capable of attacking the United States, Europe and other far-away targets. But experts say Pyongyang is years away from even having a shot at deve... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 12:57:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1763144-nkorea-years-credible-missiles.html 2012-12-13T12:57:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1763902-mali-prime-minister-military-ouster.html BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — The troubled nation of Mali has sworn in a new interim prime minister just days after soldiers behind this year's military coup arrested his predecessor and forced his resignation. Diango Cissoko officially took office Thursday afternoon in the Malian capital of Bamako, where he said that the former prime minister would assist him with... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 12:52:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1763902-mali-prime-minister-military-ouster.html 2012-12-13T12:52:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1763368-israeli-troops-clash-with-palestinian-protesters.html HEBRON, West Bank (AP) — Thousands of Palestinians marched through the streets of Hebron on Thursday, chanting anti-Israel slogans and waving green Hamas flags during a funeral procession for a teenager killed by Israeli troops in this volatile West Bank city. Dozens of youths clashed with Israeli soldiers throughout the day, throwing stones and bottles w... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 12:50:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1763368-israeli-troops-clash-with-palestinian-protesters.html 2012-12-13T12:50:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1763340-russia-assad-losing-control-rebels-win.html BEIRUT (AP) — Syria's most powerful ally, Russia, said Thursday that President Bashar Assad is losing control of his country and the rebels might win the civil war, the first time Moscow has acknowledged the regime is cracking under the force of a powerful rebellion. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov also said Moscow is preparing to evacuat... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 12:46:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1763340-russia-assad-losing-control-rebels-win.html 2012-12-13T12:46:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1763538-south-africa-deputy-president-race-to-lead-anc.html JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South Africa's ruling party, the African National Congress, will see President Jacob Zuma compete against his soft-spoken deputy next week at a convention where members will pick who will lead the political party into the future — and who will be in line to be the nation's likely next president. Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe accep... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 12:45:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1763538-south-africa-deputy-president-race-to-lead-anc.html 2012-12-13T12:45:00Z 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 12:44:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1763852-weekly-us-jobless-aid-applications-drop-to-343k.html 2012-12-13T12:44:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1763850-cheaper-gas-drives-us-wholesale-price.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Cheaper gas drove down a measure of wholesale prices in November for the second straight month, a sign inflation remains in check. The producer price index fell 0.8 percent last month, the steepest drop since May, the Labor Department said Thursday. That follows a 0.2 percent decline in October. The index measures the cost of goods befor... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 12:40:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1763850-cheaper-gas-drives-us-wholesale-price.html 2012-12-13T12:40:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1760584-euro-ministers-greece-bailout-payment.html BRUSSELS (AP) — In one whirlwind morning, the European Union nations agreed on the foundation of a fully fledged banking union and Greece's euro partners approved billions of euros in bailout loans that will prevent the nation from going bankrupt. The two measures approved by finance ministers from the 27-country EU ended weeks of haggling over ways to de... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 12:15:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1760584-euro-ministers-greece-bailout-payment.html 2012-12-13T12:15:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/us/1763560-european-court-german-was-victim-us-rendition.html PARIS (AP) — The European Court of Human Rights ruled Thursday in favor of a German man who says the CIA illegally kidnapped him and took him to a secret prison in Afghanistan in 2003. The decision was hailed by critics of the so-called extraordinary renditions programs in the U.S. war on terrorism. It's Khaled El-Masri's first major judicial victory afte... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 12:01:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/us/1763560-european-court-german-was-victim-us-rendition.html 2012-12-13T12:01:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/us/1763684-russias-putin-calls-us-trade-bill-unfriendly.html MOSCOW (AP) — Russia's President Vladimir Putin on Thursday lambasted a U.S. bill imposing sanctions on Russian officials accused of human rights violations, saying that it hurts Russian-American relations. Congress last week passed a bill penalizing Russian officials accused of rights violations. The Russians have bristled at the bill, which they interpr... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 12:01:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/us/1763684-russias-putin-calls-us-trade-bill-unfriendly.html 2012-12-13T12:01:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1763236-crime-osprey-add-to-okinawan-anger-us-bases.html OKINAWA, Japan (AP) — For nearly 70 years, Okinawa has gotten more than its share of America's military — more jets rattling homes, more crimes rattling nerves. It's the only Japanese island invaded by U.S. land forces during World War II. It endured 27 years under U.S. administration, and it continues to host two-thirds of Japan's U.S. bases. The 1995 ra... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 12:00:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1763236-crime-osprey-add-to-okinawan-anger-us-bases.html 2012-12-13T12:00:00Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1763188-un-group-nod-greater-internet-oversight.html DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A U.N. conference weighing possible Internet rules shifted into high-stakes showdowns on Thursday after advancing a proposal for greater government oversight. The proposal was a blow to U.S.-led efforts to keep new regulations from touching the Net. The move frames the ideological divide at the 193-nation gathering in Du... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 11:59:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1763188-un-group-nod-greater-internet-oversight.html 2012-12-13T11:59:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1763564-moroccos-biggest-opposition-leader-dies.html RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Sheikh Abdessalam Yassine, the charismatic religious leader of Morocco's largest opposition movement and longtime opponent of two Moroccan kings, died Thursday. He was 84. Yassine, who founded Adl wal Ihsan (Justice and Spirituality), accused the monarchy of being corrupt and dictatorial and questioned its claim to religious legitima... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 11:52:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1763564-moroccos-biggest-opposition-leader-dies.html 2012-12-13T11:52:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1763660-ukraine-parliament-speaker-elected-amid-brawls.html KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — A violent brawl between supporters of the president and opposition lawmaker broke out in parliament on Thursday, nearly overshadowing the naming of a new pro-government speaker to lead the fractious body. The Party of Regions led by President Viktor Yanukovych secured a slim majority in the Verkhovna Rada on Thursday following an Octo... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 11:51:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1763660-ukraine-parliament-speaker-elected-amid-brawls.html 2012-12-13T11:51:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1763296-fiscal-cliff-talks-vexing-official-washington.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Five weeks after President Barack Obama won re-election and gained more leverage to make GOP conservatives bend on taxes, the new balance of power is proving vexing for both sides. Republicans still aren't budging on Obama's demands for higher tax rates on upper bracket earners, despite the president's convincing election victory and opi... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 11:49:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1763296-fiscal-cliff-talks-vexing-official-washington.html 2012-12-13T11:49:00Z 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/1763286-chicago-vows-to-fight-concealed-carry-ruling.html CHICAGO (AP) — With parts of the city in the grip of gang warfare and spiking homicide rates, Chicago aldermen urged state officials to appeal an appellate court's decision tossing Illinois' ban on concealed weapons, with some suggesting they might launch their own legal battle. Outside a City Council meeting Wednesday, one alderman after another said the... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 11:41:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1763286-chicago-vows-to-fight-concealed-carry-ruling.html 2012-12-13T11:41:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1763234-un-nuke-inspectors-renew-efforts-to-engage-iran.html TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Envoys from the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency opened talks with Iranian officials on Thursday, seeking ways to restart negotiations with world powers and gain access to a site with suspected links to past atomic tests. The mission by the International Atomic Energy Agency underscores the stalemate atmosphere over Tehran's nuclear progra... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 11:37:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1763234-un-nuke-inspectors-renew-efforts-to-engage-iran.html 2012-12-13T11:37:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1763722-egypt-reinstates-judge-probing-violence.html CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's official news agency says the nation's top prosecutor has reinstated the judge investigating last week's deadly violence between supporters and opponents of President Mohammed Morsi. The question of who to blame for the deaths of at least nine people in the clashes has become a sensitive political issue. The violence began Dec. 5 when... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 11:31:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1763722-egypt-reinstates-judge-probing-violence.html 2012-12-13T11:31:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1763554-italy-raises-cash-easily-berlusconi-vacillates.html MILAN (AP) — Silvio Berlusconi's vacillations over whether or not to run for Prime Minister of Italy failed to dent investor demand for the country's debt, leaving borrowing costs steadfastly low in a bond auction on Thursday. Italy easily raised €3.5 billion ($4.5 billion) in the sale of 3-year bonds Thursday that saw interest rates, or yields, drop to t... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 11:31:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1763554-italy-raises-cash-easily-berlusconi-vacillates.html 2012-12-13T11:31:00Z 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/world/1763426-russia-acknowledges-assad-losing-control.html MOSCOW (AP) — Syria's most powerful ally, Russia, said for the first time Thursday that President Bashar Assad is losing control of his country and the rebels might win the civil war, dramatically shifting the diplomatic landscape at a time of enormous momentum for the opposition. While Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov gave no immediate signal tha... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 11:20:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1763426-russia-acknowledges-assad-losing-control.html 2012-12-13T11:20:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1763424-market-enthusiasm-fed-stimulus-fades.html LONDON (AP) — Any enthusiasm over another monetary stimulus from the Federal Reserve faded Thursday as investors monitored the progress of budget discussions in the U.S. As had been widely predicted, the Fed said Wednesday it will spend $85 billion a month on bond purchases to drive down long-term borrowing costs and stimulate economic growth. The total i... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 11:18:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1763424-market-enthusiasm-fed-stimulus-fades.html 2012-12-13T11:18:00Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/music/1763598-pennies-patriotism-stars-move-to-tax-havens.html PARIS (AP) — France's Socialist government is introducing a 75-percent income tax on those earning over €1 million ($1.3 million), leading some of the country's rich and famous to set up residency in less fiscally demanding countries. Here's a look at some big names in France and elsewhere whose changes of address over the years have meant lighter taxes. ... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 11:01:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/music/1763598-pennies-patriotism-stars-move-to-tax-havens.html 2012-12-13T11:01:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1763138-pakistan-extends-refugee-status-afghans.html ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan has extended refugee status for over a million Afghans in the country by an additional six months, the government announced — a move likely to ease fears of Afghans living in Pakistan that they would soon have to return home. Pakistan has been hosting hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees dating back to the Soviet invasion of ... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 10:59:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1763138-pakistan-extends-refugee-status-afghans.html 2012-12-13T10:59:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1763388-rights-group-accuses-pakistani-military-abuse.html ISLAMABAD (AP) — Amnesty International accused the Pakistani military on Thursday of carrying out widespread human rights abuses in the country's northwest tribal region where the army is fighting a domestic Taliban insurgency. The military has regularly held people without charges and tortured or otherwise mistreated them in custody, the London-based rig... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 10:47:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1763388-rights-group-accuses-pakistani-military-abuse.html 2012-12-13T10:47:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1763580-fda-review-tobacco-products-grinds-to-halt.html RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Talk about a smoke break. Tobacco companies have introduced almost no new cigarettes or smokeless tobacco products in the U.S. in more than 18 months because the federal government has prevented them from doing so, an Associated Press review has found. It's an unprecedented pause for an industry that historically h... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 10:30:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1763580-fda-review-tobacco-products-grinds-to-halt.html 2012-12-13T10:30:00Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/health/1763438-dozens-sue-pharmacy-compensation-uncertain.html NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Dennis O'Brien rubs his head as he details ailments triggered by the fungal meningitis he developed after a series of steroid shots in his neck: nausea, vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness, blurred vision, exhaustion and trouble with his speech and attention. He estimates the disease has cost him and his wife thousands of dollars in ou... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 08:53:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/health/1763438-dozens-sue-pharmacy-compensation-uncertain.html 2012-12-13T08:53:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1763298-dispute-raises-doubt-china-stocks-us-market.html BEIJING (AP) — A mounting dispute between Washington and Beijing over access to records of Chinese companies with U.S.-traded shares might force major corporate names such as oil giant PetroChina and search engine Baidu to withdraw from American stock exchanges. The dispute highlights the clash between heightened U.S. anti-fraud efforts and official Chine... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 07:33:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1763298-dispute-raises-doubt-china-stocks-us-market.html 2012-12-13T07:33:00Z