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PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The Oregon Court of Appeals for a second time has upheld a ruling by the state civil rights division that found that an Oregon bakery illegally discriminated against a same-sex couple by refusing to sell them a wedding cake in 2013. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports, however, the court on Wednesday also found the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries did not exhibit religious neutrality in issuing an $135,000 fine to Sweet Cakes by Melissa for illegal discrimination and returned the case to the civil rights division to reassess its fine. The case began nine years ago, when...

The Ryugyong Hotel has become a symbol of North Korea's economic problems The 105-storey hotel which dominates the skyline of the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, may open next year, 26 years after construction began. The pyramid-shaped building has become known as the "Hotel of Doom". The chief executive of the Kempinski group, which will manage the Ryugyong hotel, said only 150 rooms on the top floors would be used as a hotel. Reto Wittwer said shops, restaurants and offices would eventually open on the lower levels. Construction on the building began in 1987. It is the 47th tallest building in...

Almost every sector of American society greeted yesterday's signing of a historic health care law as a major step toward guaranteeing affordable health insurance for all. Labor unions, health care professionals, small business owners, retirees, students, and ordinary people from throughout the country applauded President Obama and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi for having the tenacity to push through what's being called the most sweeping health care legislation since the establishment of Medicare in the 1960s. We join with those who hail this legislation both as a measure that will save lives now and begin curbing the insurance...

BBC NEWS | World | South Asia | Troops die in India Maoist attack, Apr 13, 2009 ... At least 10 paramilitary troops die in a Maoist attack on a mine in India's eastern Orissa state, police say.

China rattles sabres at Taiwan and U.S. By GEOFFREY YORK Tuesday, March 15, 2005 Updated at 1:23 AM EST From Tuesday's Globe and Mail Tokyo — In the halls of Chinese power, a moment of raw emotion yesterday exposed the escalating tensions that could some day ignite a war between China and the United States over the issue of Taiwan. The surge of emotion came on a historic day when China for the first time approved a law authorizing a military attack on Taiwan if the island takes any "major steps" toward independence. Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao tried to...

Journalist terminated from job, historian facing 3 years of jail and procommunist paper full of hatred to Polish patriots-anticommunists Keep that flame burning for Polish freedom Some portay it as opening Pandora's box but actually it is like rubbing Alladin's lamp. It was a lamp brought by a group of brave Polish historians of the National Institute of Remembrance where there are secretpolice files. Recently one journalist dared to passe the mysteries of the lamp to the Polish people.The National Institute of Remembrance (INR), created according toParliament legislature, is discovering communist's dirty secrets andrewriting Polish history. They are under constant...

This is a very important issue to know about and is a follow up of this post from the ends of 2003: Letter from Chinese Ambassador to all U.S. House of Representatives Members about Taiwan Below are three news articles on the subject, from China Post, Taipei Times and Washington Times. China Post March 14, 2004 HEADLINE: PRC TRIES TO INFLUENCE U.S. CONGRESS' STANCE ON TAIWAN China's embassy in Washington D.C. has sent an e-mail to U.S. Senate aides urging them to dissuade members of Congress from supporting Taiwan's upcoming referendum, according to a report in Friday's Washington Times newspaper....