Over 1,000 protestors gathered in Tokyo Wednesday to rally against a proposed change to the 1947 Imperial Household Law , which would allow women and their children to ascend to Japan's Chrysanthemum throne , one of the world's oldest monarchies. Last year, in response to a succession crisis created because no male heirs having been [...]

A Chilean appeals court ruled Wednesday that former dictator Augusto Pinochet is healthy enough to stand trial for alleged human rights abuses stemming from the 1975 Operation Colombo massacre. The ruling, one of several concerning whether Pinochet will stand trial for abuses committed during his regime, clears the way for prosecutors to bring Pinochet to [...]

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Spokane has offered a $45.7 million settlement to 75 clergy sex abuse complainants. Some observers wonder how the diocese can afford the settlement since filing for bankruptcy from previous sex abuse lawsuits. The settlement offer must be approved by the US Bankruptcy Court and each of the individual victims within [...]

A former US official with the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq has agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy charges that he stole over $2 million in rebuilding funds and awarded contracts to an American businessman in exchange for more than $1 million in cash and goods. Robert Stein, Jr. admitted his role in the conspiracy [...]

In the first attempt of its kind in Portugal , two women on Wednesday tried to register their same-sex marriage and are waiting to receive a formal response, expected Thursday. A lawyer representing the women said that they do not expect approval of their registration and have already filed an appeal with the courts based [...]

Three human rights groups Wednesday criticized the global aid campaign created to assist those affected by the 2004 tsunami disaster , saying it has "trampled" on the human rights of many survivors. The Habitat International Coalition, the People's Movement for Human Rights Learning, and ActionAid International said the relief effort has been successful in some [...]

Three Massachusetts women on Wednesday filed suit against Wal-Mart , alleging that the retail chain is in violation of the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act because their pharmacies do not stock emergency contraception. The law states that all pharmacies in the state must provide all "commonly prescribed" medications. Last year, the Massachusetts legislature passed a law [...]

France's Constitutional Council , the country's highest court, has struck down a clause in a 2005 French law that requires teachers to stress the positive aspects of French colonialism. The court reasoned it was "outside the competence of the legislature" to make such a determination. Earlier this year, French President Jacques Chirac said the law [...]

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) on Tuesday ruled that immigration lists barring non-Europeans from EU countries must comply with the principle of freedom of movement and that EU members states must investigate whether the presence in the EU of persons on the list poses a true threat. The case before the court involved two [...]

During testimony before the US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on Tuesday, Richard Sticker, George Bush's nominee to head the Mine Safety and Health Agency , told senators that current mine safety laws were adequate, and that problems arise because of insufficient enforcement. President Bush first announced Stickler's nomination to the post [...]