Tunisian police battle militants before political talks

1 of 6. Protesters shout slogans during a demonstration calling for the departure of the Islamist-led ruling coalition in at Kasbah Square where the government headquarters are located, to call for the departure of the Islamist-led ruling coalition, in Tunis October 23, 2013.

Credit: Reuters/Anis Mili

By Tarek Amara and Patrick Markey

TUNIS | Wed Oct 23, 2013 4:50pm EDT

TUNIS (Reuters) - Six Tunisian policemen were killed in armed clashes with militants in a central town on Wednesday, as the government cracked down on Islamist fighters using the chaos in neighboring Libya's to get weapons and training.

The violence, some of the worst since Tunisia's 2011 uprising, unsettled the start of negotiations between the Islamist-led government and opposition to end a crisis over the country's transition to democracy.

Authorities did not identify the militants involved in fighting south of the capital, but two months ago Tunisia banned Ansar al-Sharia, a hardline Islamist movement officials blamed for killing two opposition leaders this year.

The interior ministry said a gun battle broke out after police raided a house where suspected militants were hiding in Sidi Bouzid, 260 km (160 miles) south of the capital. Police found arms, explosives and a car bomb being prepared.

"They were carrying out a raid, and the terrorists opened fire on them. We have six security forces dead and four wounded and one gunman dead," Mohammed Ali Aroui, spokesman for the interior ministry, told state television.

Militant violence is less common in Tunisia than in some other North African countries, where al Qaeda-linked groups have a stronger presence. But hardline Islamists have grown in influence since the 2011 Arab uprisings.

Security forces at the weekend killed 10 militants blamed for attacking Tunisian police patrols in a remote area near the Algerian border and killing two officers.

The assassination of two opposition figures this year by suspected Ansar al-Sharia gunmen outraged the secularist opposition, which has accused ruling Ennahda, a moderate Islamist party, of failing to stamp out religious extremists.

THREE WEEKS TO GO

Under pressure from mass protests, and mindful of the army's ouster of the Islamist president in Egypt, Ennahda has agreed to step down, and talks with the opposition on a political transition were due to begin on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Ali Larayedh on Wednesday confirmed Ennahda was ready to resign, but insisted on the completion of the country's new constitution, the establishment of an electoral commission and a clear election date before handing over power.

The three weeks of talks are meant to choose members of the transition government, decide on a new electoral commission and set a timetable for presidential and parliamentary elections.

But opposition activists doubt Ennahda's intentions. Thousands of opposition supporters packed the capital's central Avenue Habib-Bourguiba earlier on Wednesday to demand the government live up to the agreement to step aside.

"There is no trust that this government will go," said Saloua Faza, a teacher carrying a large Tunisian flag marching in Tunis. "They have never shown us any good faith."

Ennahda won 40 percent support in Tunisia's first post-revolt election for an assembly to draft a new constitution, and it formed an interim coalition government with two secular parties.

Its popularity has fallen during its period in power, but Ennahda remains the best organized movement in Tunisia. It faces several leftist and secular groups, as well as Nida Tounes, a party that includes figures from the previous regime.

Ansar al-Sharia is just one of the hardline Islamist groups based in North Africa. Its leader is a former al Qaeda fighter in Afghanistan who is accused of inciting his followers to attack the U.S. embassy compound in Tunis a year ago.

(Reporting By Tarek Amara; Writing by Patrick Markey; Editing by Robin Pomeroy and Mike Collett-White)

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11 Changes You Must Know Before Filing Your Tax Return for 2012

With so many changes looming for 2013, it's easy to forget that there were some significant tweaks to the Tax Code for 2012. Here's a list of eleven changes to keep in mind before you file your 2012 tax return, due April 15, 2013:

1. Payroll tax credit will still affect self-employed taxpayers. The expiration of the payroll tax credit for 2013 was big news - but don’t forget that the credit was still in place for 2012. While that means nothing for employees subject to withholding (no additional breaks on your federal income tax return since you’ve already received the benefit of the payroll tax credit in your withholding), if you were self-employed you will receive an adjustment on your self-employment (SE) taxes when you file your federal income tax return. Your SE tax will be reduced by 2%; the SE tax rate of 12.4% is reduced to 10.4%.

[More from Forbes: 10 Ways To Become A Victim Of Tax Identity Theft]

2. Forms W-2 have more information this year. Under the Affordable Health Care Act, most employers are required to report the value of health care benefits received by an employee on a 2012 federal form W-2 (a few small businesses are still exempt from reporting under the transitional relief offered by IRS). The amount will be reported in box 12 with Code DD and should include both the portion paid by the employer as well as any amount paid in by an employee. Even though it appears on a W-2, this amount remains federal income tax free for 2012.

3. Roth Conversions May Be Taxable. Taxpayers who converted or rolled over amounts to a Roth IRA in 2010 and did not elect to include the entire amount in income in 2010 may need to report half of that taxable income on their 2012 returns. Favorable tax treatment made conversions in 2010 more appealing than normal: specifically, taxpayers had a three year window to pay the taxes due. That window expires with tax year 2012.

4. Relief For Underwater Taxpayers. With record numbers of taxpayers in foreclosure, Congress enacted the Mortgage Forgiveness and Debt Relief Act of 2007 to provide limited tax relief for taxpayers facing financial difficulties. Under the Act, qualified homeowners who were forced into foreclosure or mortgage restructuring on a principal residence could exclude income of up to $2 million ($1 million for married taxpayers filing separately) on the mortgage forgiveness (the difference between the lower amount received and the higher amount owed to the mortgage company). The fiscal cliff tax deal extended that tax relief through 2013 making it possible for taxpayers to avoid a huge tax bill on 2012 short sales.

[More from Forbes: 15 Ways To Invite An IRS Audit]

5. Increased Standard Deduction.The amount of the standard deduction increased for all taxpayers in 2012. The rates for 2012 were:

Single: $5,950, up $150 from 2011Married Filing Separately: $5,950, up $150 from 2011Head of Household: $8,700, up $200 from 2011Married Taxpayers Filing Jointly and Qualifying Widow(er): $11,900, up $300 from 2011

This is good news for most taxpayers since two out of every three taxpayers will claim the standard deduction in 2012.

6. Increased Personal Exemption. Similarly, the value of the personal exemptions for 2012 also increased. While exemptions were worth $3,700 in 2011, they rose to $3,800 for 2012.

7. Sales Tax Deduction Still An Option. Taxpayers who itemize may deduct state income taxes paid on their federal return putting those taxpayers who live in a state without an income tax arguably at a disadvantage. A federal law which allowed taxpayers the option of choosing to deduct state income taxes paid or sales taxes paid offered temporary relief for those folks - and those who made high dollar purchases but lived in low tax states. That tax break - which debuted in 2005 - expired at the end of 2011. However, the tax deal extended that option through 2013, making it still a viable option for taxpayers in 2012.

8. Tax Breaks for Charitable Donations from IRAs Extended. The new tax deal extended the qualified charitable distribution provisions which were set to expire through 2012 and 2013. Generally, distributions from an IRA are taxable when withdrawn whether payable to an individual or a charity. However, under the special rules, a withdrawal from an IRA (other than an ongoing SIMPLE or SEP) owned by an individual who is age 70½ or over that is paid directly to a qualified charity can be excluded from gross income. Up to $100,000 of distributions be distributed - and that amount can be used to satisfy a taxpayer’s required minimum distributions (RMDs) for the year. Even better? Special rules allow taxpayers to treat donations made before February 1, 2013, as qualifying distributions for 2012.

9. Education Tax Breaks Strengthened. The American Opportunity Credit (the super-charged version of the Hope Credit) was extended through 2012 for expenses paid for tuition, certain fees and course materials for higher education. The maximum credit available is $2,500 in 2012 which includes 100% of qualifying tuition and related expenses not in excess of $2,000, plus 25% of those expenses that do not exceed $4,000. Additionally, the Lifetime Learning Credit sticks around for 2012, capped at $2,000, which applies to 20% of the first $10,000 of qualifying out-of-pocket expenses (but no double-dipping: you can't claim both credits in the same tax year for the same student). Also getting a boost? The above-the-line Tuition and Fees Deduction was extended so that taxpayers who don't itemize can continue to benefit.

[More from Forbes: Taxes From A To Z]

10. Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) Relief. The tax deal passed in January 2013 provided significant AMT relief for middle class taxpayers in 2012 - and beyond. The AMT exemption for 2012 was increased to $50,600 for single taxpayers (an increase of nearly $20,000) and $78,750 for married taxpayers filing jointly (an increase of more than $30,000). Even better? Beginning with 2012, AMT relief will be adjusted for inflation each year - no more patches!

11. Adoption Credit Survives - But Is Limited. Under the new tax deal, the adoption credit was saved. Originally, the adoption credit was scheduled to sunset at the end of 2010 but was temporarily extended as part of the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010; it was also made refundable (a nonrefundable credit can reduce the amount of tax you owe to zero while a refundable credit can reduce your tax liability to zero and any remaining credit will be refunded to you). The new tax deal did extend the adoption credit permanently with one significant hit: the credit is no longer refundable. The credit was only refundable in 2010 and 2011. Taxpayers in 2012 can claim the adoption credit but it is not refundable.

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Impact of Town's Urban Renewal On Minorities Is Before Top Court

Home > Impact of Town's Urban Renewal On Minorities Is Before Top Court

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By Charles ToutantAll Articles

New Jersey Law Journal

June 19, 2013

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case testing whether a town redevelopment plan's alleged disparate impact on minorities forms a prima facie claim under the federal Fair Housing Act.

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Breaking: Lamborghini Veneno makes full appearance before Geneva debut

This is it: The Lamborghini Veneno supercar that will debut later today in Geneva and, along with the the McLaren P1 and Ferrari Enzo successor, give this motor show in Switzerland no less than three world supercar premieres. A number of images of the Veneno have leaked early, which we've assembled in the attached gallery for your slack-jawed, drool-stained perusal.

The Veneno is reported to mark Lamborghini's 50th anniversary, and will be built in a production run of just three, each with a price tag of around $4.6 million and each one bearing a color of the Italian flag (green, white or red). And no, Richie Rich, you can't have one, because all three are already sold.

As for its mechanicals, the Veneno is supposedly based on the Aventador, which makes sense, though it wears a completely different carbon fiber body that's even more extreme than other recent hypercars from Lamborghini, including the Sesto Elemento and Reventon. It will almost certainly be powered by Lamborghini's 6.5-liter V12 producing 750 horsepower, while a seven-speed single-clutch transmission will carve up that output on the way to the Veneno's reported top speed of 220 miles per hour.

Stay tuned later today for the Veneno's official debut when we can talk details and bring you live images of this show-stopper from Geneva.

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