The New York State Court of Appeals refused to recognize same-sex marriage in a ruling issued Thursday, saying the issue was a question for the Legislature to decide.The New York case involved 48 gay and lesbian couples who filed four separate cases seeking to overturn a 97-year-old state law that defines marriage as between a man and woman.The couples claimed the law violated their constitutional rights because it defended sex discrimination. The cases were heard together by the court in Albany."We hold that the New York Constitution does not compel recognition of marriages between members of the same sex," the appeals court said in its 70-page ruling. "Whether such marriages should be recognized is a question to be addressed by the Legislature."...
http://www.cnn.com
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Editor - 09:26:00 07-06-06
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 Four US marines in Manila rape trial |
A Filipina allegedly raped by four American marines identified one of the defendants as being the person who asked her to dance in a club and then sexually assaulted her, while giving evidence during their trial today.The 22-year-old management accounting graduate, identified by the pseudonym Nicole, however admitted her memory of the alleged attack near the former American naval base in Subic Bay last November was extremely hazy because she was drunk at the time. She broke down in tears three times during the hearing in a court in the capital Manila, and the judge adjourned the trial until tomorrow after she had given only an outline of the events.The marines, Lance Corporals Dominic Duplantis, Daniel Smith and Keith Silkwood, and Staff Sergeant Chad Carpentier, have refused to formally answer the charges, which carry a maximum penalty of 40 years' imprisonment. They have claimed only one of them had sex with Nicole and that it was consensual....
http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1814251,00.html?gusrc=rss
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Editor - 09:24:00 07-06-06
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| Microsoft EU fines 'inevitable' |
European Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes has said she expects heavy fines against Microsoft for breaching competition rules to come into force. Ms Kroes said she "could not imagine" any other outcome in the legal wrangle between the EU and the software giant. Microsoft faces daily fines of up to 2m euros ($2.4m; £1.4m), following an EU anti-competition ruling in 2004. The US firm insists it has met EU demands to make its software work better with that of its rivals. Ms Kroes said EU member states broadly supported the European Commission's threat to impose fines against Microsoft. Earlier in the week, an EU committee ruled that Microsoft had failed to comply fully with the Commission's original anti-competition ruling in 2004. ...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/5153570.stm
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Editor - 09:08:00 07-06-06
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| Florida Top Court Rules Out $145 Bln Tobacco Verdict |
Philip Morris USA and other cigarette makers don't have to pay $145 billion to Florida smokers, the state's top court ruled, refusing to reinstate a punitive-damage award the companies said would bankrupt them. Altria shares rose $3.82, or 5.2 percent, to $77.15 at 11 a.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. A Miami jury handed down the record award against Philip Morris, a unit of Altria Group Inc.; Reynolds American Inc.'s R.J. Reynolds Tobacco; and other U.S. cigarette companies in July 2000. A state appeals court threw out the verdict in May 2003, calling it ``grossly excessive'' and ``proof of a runaway jury.'' The Florida Supreme Court affirmed that decision today. If you want to know who makes all the money on cigarettes just remember the Tobacco Companies make about 2 cents on each pack of cigs, selling a pack for about 10 cents. Therefore, the 10-cent pack ends up over $4.00 after Government adds their bite. Now whom is making all the money on Cigarettes?...
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=atdh_rFGxWPM&refer=top_world_news
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Editor - 09:05:00 07-06-06
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| UK mulls troop hike in Afghanistan |
Britain has said it is urgently considering a request to send more troops to fight the Taliban insurgency. "I can now confirm that today I have received advice on additional deployment, and I am considering it, as a matter of urgency, with the chiefs of staff," Defense Minister Des Browne told parliament on Thursday.There are about 4,000 British troops deployed Afghanistan, with 3,200 of them in Helmand province in the south. Browne said he would tell the House of Commons about his decision as soon as possible."This House will be the first to know, but will also understand that there is a proper process to these decisions, and it would be entirely inappropriate and unhelpful, particularly to those who are in theatre, to discuss further detail until that process is complete," Browne is quoted as saying....
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/07/06/afghan.attack/index.html?section=cnn_world
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Editor - 08:53:00 07-06-06
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| Disputed L.A. Garden Is Plowed Under |
A bulldozer plowed down the greenery of a 14-acre urban garden despite the efforts of protesters who tried to save the inner-city plots that had been farmed for years. "This project took 14 years to build," 20-year-old Alberto Tlatoa lamented Wednesday as he clutched the perimeter fence of the garden, where his family grew fruit and vegetables for eight of those years. Demolition came three weeks after authorities evicted growers and celebrity supporters who defied the efforts of landowner Ralph Horowitz to reclaim the property. The effort attracted the support of activists and celebrities including Daryl Hannah, Joan Baez and tree-sitter Julia Butterfly Hill. A small group of protesters rushed the bulldozer as it entered the garden and several climbed aboard, but were forced down by security guards. ...
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/07/06/national/main1780041.shtml?source=RSS&attr=U.S._1780041
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Editor - 08:51:00 07-06-06
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