Tens of thousands of Russians returned to the streets Saturday to demand the return of the Soviet system of state benefits. Protesters oppose a January 1 law that replaced the medical, housing and transportation benefits traditionally received by millions of Russian pensioners with cash payments. Opponents of the new law, including many Communists , say [...]

The US Department of Labor announced Saturday that retail giant Wal-Mart will pay $135,540 to settle 24 federal child labor law violations. The charges involve teenage workers who used hazardous equipment while working at Wal-Mart stores in Arkansas, Connecticut and New Hampshire. With few exceptions, current federal law prohibits any person under the age of [...]

One day after the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court announced it would hear arguments challenging its decision to legalize same-sex marriage, Massachusetts Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly told reporters Friday that he now supports the ruling. He had previously opposed the unions, and initially spoke out against the court's November 2003 ruling . Reilly, who is [...]

At least two people were killed Saturday in Lome, the capital of Togo as thousands protesting the unconstitutional succession of Faure Gnassingbe to the country's presidency clashed with the Togolese riot police. The Togo government said no one could gain by the violence . Meanwhile a government delegation arrived in Niger, where it had been [...]

Fast-food giant McDonald's has agreed to pay $8.5 million to settle a lawsuit over unhealthy trans fats in its cooking oils used to make french fries and other foods. The settlement is the result of litigation brought by the non-profit advocacy group BanTransFats.com which alleged that McDonald's did not adequately inform the public of delays [...]

Four priests of the Roman Catholic Boston Archdiocese accused of sexually abusing minors have been defrocked by the Vatican. Robert D. Fay, Kelvin Iguabita, Bernard Lane, and Robert Ward are no longer permitted to perform as priests and will be denied diocesan benefits and financial support. The Boston Archdiocese has issued this statement. Several other [...]

Spanish police arrested two men Saturday thought to be linked to the terrorist group ETA according to Spain's Interior Ministry. The number of people associated with the Basque separatist group arrested in the past week is now approaching 20. ETA claimed responsibility for a car bomb Wednesday in Madrid that injured 43 during a visit [...]

Does v. Bush, et al., Petition for writ of habeas corpus, United States District Court for the District of Columbia, February 11, 2005 . Excerpt: Petitioners are being held under color and authority of the Executive, in violation of the Constitution, laws and treaties of the United States as well as customary international law. This [...]

Gideon's Broken Promise: America's Continuing Quest for Equal Justice, American Bar Association Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defendants, February 11, 2005 . Excerpt: Overall, our hearings support the disturbing conclusion that thousands of persons are processed through America's courts every year either with no lawyer at all or with a lawyer who does [...]

British Army Corporal Daniel Kenyon denied all allegations of his involvement in the abuse and sexual humiliation of Iraqi prisoners during testimony at a court martial at a British military base in Germany Friday. Overwhelmed with emotion, Kenyon told the panel, "I'm telling you that there's just no way, no way that I would have [...]