Every year, the State Department issues reports on individual rights in other countries, monitoring the passage of restrictive laws and regulations around the world. Iran, for example, has been criticized for denying fair public trials and limiting privacy, while Russia has been taken to task for undermining due process. Other countries have been condemned for the use of secret evidence and torture. Read full article > >

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10 reasons the U.S. is no longer the land of the free

For 90 carefully dressed and reasonably solemn fifth-graders in Rockville, the passage from elementary school began Monday evening at 5:30 when they marched into an auditorium overflowing with parents, balloons and the strains of “Pomp and Circumstance.” For nearly an hour and a half, they sat — skinny necks leaning from buttoned collars and little hands wringing satin skirts — through two adult speakers, a slide show of their elementary years and remarks by four classmates. They walked up one by one to accept signed certificates, pausing for a grip-and-grin shot with their teacher in front of a professional photographer. Read full article > >

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Pomp as students finish elementary school. But is it a real graduation?

For 90 carefully dressed and reasonably solemn fifth-graders in Rockville, the passage from elementary school began Monday evening at 5:30 when they marched into an auditorium overflowing with parents, balloons and the strains of “Pomp and Circumstance.” For nearly an hour and a half, they sat — skinny necks leaning from buttoned collars and little hands wringing satin skirts — through two adult speakers, a slide show of their elementary years and remarks by four classmates. They walked up one by one to accept signed certificates, pausing for a grip-and-grin shot with their teacher in front of a professional photographer. Read full article > >

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Pomp as students finish elementary school. But is it a real graduation?

An annual bill authorizing the nation’s intelligence activities could be headed for approval for the first time in six years following a last-minute agreement to restore funding for an increase in the number of CIA counterterrorism analysts. Partisan wrangling has prevented the passage of an intelligence authorization bill since 2005. As a result, the House and Senate appropriations committees have reached a tentative deal on legislation that sets spending priorities for the 17 agencies in the intelligence community. Read full article > >

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Last-minute agreement boosts chances for passage of Intelligence Authorization Bill

Illinois has suddenly found itself the refuge of choice for outnumbered Democrats fleeing their states to block the passage of bills.

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Life on the Run For Democrats In Union Fights

Footfalls echo in the memory Down the passage which we did not take —T. S. Eliot, Four Quartets read more

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Black Reality-Check Month

In a weekend of last-minute voting ahead of the holidays, the Senate is expected to vote Saturday to end debate on the historic “don’t ask, don’t tell” repeal, another step toward the passage of the contentious legislation.

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Senate weighs 2 key issues

Liverpool secure their passage to the last 32 of the Europa League, despite a blunder from goalkeeper Pepe Reina in a draw at Steaua Bucharest.

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Steaua Bucharest 1-1 Liverpool