Law | GlobalPost

Switzerland's top tax negotiator steps down as showdown with US looms

The Canadian PressMay 24, 2013 09:00

GENEVA - 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 Swiss banks and their employees from prosecution for aiding U.S. tax cheats.

Lawyers in Colorado shooting case to challenge insanity defense law

Thomson ReutersMay 24, 2013 07:05

By Keith Coffman DENVER (Reuters) - Public defenders representing James Holmes, accused of killing 12 moviegoers in Colorado last summer, will return to court on Thursday to challenge the state's insanity defense law in a bid to try to avoid the death penalty for their client.

Senate approves Obama nominee to key appeals court

Thomson ReutersMay 24, 2013 04:44

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Thursday confirmed a White House nominee to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. In a break from partisan battles over judicial appointments, the Senate gave bipartisan support to Sri Srinivasan, 46, a political appointee in the Justice Department. The court is one level down from the Supreme Court and Srinivasan is viewed by some as a potential justice on the nation's highest court. (Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; Editing by Kevin Drawbaugh and Doina Chiacu)

Searchers find body of second child killed in Minnesota mudslide

Thomson ReutersMay 24, 2013 04:44

MINNEAPOLIS (Reuters) - Searchers on Thursday found the body of a second fourth-grader killed when a landslide swept students, who were on a fossil-hunting field trip, into a pit full of water and mud at a park in St. Paul, Minnesota, authorities said. The body of one student had been pulled from the pit after the landslide Wednesday afternoon, which injured two other students, but rescuers were unable to find the missing student before calling off the search late on Wednesday.

Jobs, housing data show economy has some muscle

Thomson ReutersMay 24, 2013 03:18

By Lucia Mutikani WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell last week, pointing to resilience in the labor market despite belt-tightening by Washington. The improving employment picture is helping to prop up housing, with rising home prices keeping domestic consumption supported, limiting the drag from tighter fiscal policy that is dampening factory activity.

Orix to get 16% stake in Mongolian financial group

Kyodo News InternationalMay 24, 2013 03:17

Orix Corp. said Friday it will acquire a 16 percent stake in TenGer Financial Group., a major Mongolian financial holding company, for 2.5 billion yen. Orix envisions offering leasing, card loan and Internet banking services in the fast-growing country by pushing cooperation with the TenGer, which has a commercial bank as well as leasing and nonlife insurance firms under its wing, it said.

Shareholder adviser firm paying $300,000 to settle charges of failing to protect client data

The Canadian PressMay 24, 2013 03:00

WASHINGTON - A prominent firm in the business of advising big shareholders on how to vote in elections for company directors is paying a $300,000 fine to settle federal civil charges of failing to protect clients' confidential voting information. Institutional Shareholder Services agreed to the penalty in a settlement announced Thursday with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Its clients are institutional investors such as large mutual funds and pension funds. The firm, based in Rockville, Md., didn't admit or deny the SEC's allegations.

Federal Court upholds 2011 election results in 'robocall' ridings

The Canadian PressMay 23, 2013 22:17

OTTAWA - The Federal Court has rejected a bid to overturn the results in six federal ridings from the 2011 election — but both sides are claiming victory in the so-called robocalls affair. The Conservatives proclaimed the ruling a vindication, insisting it proves there was no wrongdoing by the party or any of the Tory candidates or campaign teams involved. But the Council of Canadians, which bankrolled the court challenge that was brought by a group of eight voters who fielded the fraudulent calls, says the court concluded fraud did occur.

Jury fails to decide on US murderer death sentence

Agence France-PresseMay 23, 2013 21:02

A US jury failed Thursday to agree on whether to sentence Jodi Arias to death for the grisly killing of her boyfriend in 2008, after a trial which has gripped America. Judge Sherry Stephens declared a mistrial in the sentencing phase of the trial in Phoenix, Arizona, after the eight-man, four-woman jury said it could not reach a unanimous verdict. The jurors, who convicted the 32-year-old two weeks ago, had deliberated since Wednesday. Their options were to sentence Arias to death, or to life behind bars, with or without parole.

Hands-off investor? Experts suggest making periodic adjustments to 401(k); avoid market timing

The Canadian PressMay 23, 2013 20:45

The run-up in stock prices this year could tempt even the most hands-off investor to wade into their 401(k) and make some changes. The Dow Jones industrial average, Nasdaq and Standard "It's a retirement account. You are investing for not months or even years, but decades into the future," says Eric Tyson, author of "Personal Finance for Dummies." He adds: "Most people, including most professional investors, are not very good at market timing."