A Connecticut Superior Court judge ruled Wednesday that civil unions do not harm same-sex couples, saying that they "share the same benefits, protections and responsibilities" as married couples. Judge Patty Jenkins Pittman further wrote that because civil unions enjoy the same benefits and protections as traditional marriages, same-sex couples receive equal protection and due process [...]

The European Court of First Instance , the European Union's second-highest court, on Thursday rejected a proposed merger between Sony and Bertelsmann AG (BMG) that earned unconditional approval in July 2004 from European Commission (EC) regulators. The decision marks the first time that EU judges have turned back a Commission merger approval. Independent music trade [...]

The Thailand Constitutional Court agreed Thursday to hear arguments in a case against five political parties, including the ruling Thai Rak Thai party, the main opposition Democrats , and three smaller parties, for allegedly "acting against democratic rule" during April's annulled parliamentary elections . Last month Thailand's Election Commission unanimously recommended that the five parties [...]

France's far-right National Front leader Jean-Marie Le Pen , who surprised observers with his strong performance in the 2002 French presidential election , will be put on trial in Paris for allegedly denying how brutal the Nazi occupation of France was during World War II, according to French judicial officials Wednesday. The charges stem from [...]

House Majority Leader Jim Boehner (R-OH) on Wednesday scheduled seven more House hearings through the end of July on comprehensive immigration reform , and characterized the first round of hearings as a success for House Republicans who support strict enforcement-focused legislation. The new hearings, save one, will all be held in Washington DC, and will [...]

Lord Michael Levy , chief fundraiser for British Prime Minister Tony Blair , returned to a police station for questioning Thursday after he was arrested by Scotland Yard Wednesday in connection with a growing "cash for honors" scandal . The police official leading the investigation, Deputy Assistant Commissioner John Yates, described Levy's arrest as "integral" [...]

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Thursday that the US Department of Defense (DOD) decision to apply the Geneva Conventions to detainees in US military custody "strengthens the international rule of law, and is true to the U.S.'s strong tradition of respect for civil liberties." A statement released by Annan's spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, reads, in full: [...]

Massachusetts lawmakers on Wednesday decided to postpone a vote on a proposed state constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage until after the November election, just days after the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that the same-sex marriage ban can be placed on the ballot for voter approval , if the legislature approves the amendment. Massachusetts [...]

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday signed a law that shortens the conscription term and wipes out five accepted reasons for military draft deferments. The law, passed by both houses of parliament in June, reduces required military service from two years to one and a half starting in 2007, and then to one year in [...]

Indian authorities have detained approximately 350 people for questioning in connection with Tuesday's Mumbai train bombings , which killed over 200 people and wounded 700. Police Inspector S. Goshal said Thursday that none of the detainees have been formally arrested or charged, but that authorities brought the detainees in to help investigate the Tuesday bombing. [...]