Solemnly Swear: Progressive Bill de Blasio took the oath as mayor of New York with a vow to fight what he called the “quiet crisis” of inequality. “We are called to put an end to economic and social inequalities that …

New Year’s Day The Gavel: Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor yesterday blocked the provision of Obamacare that requires the healthcare plans of religious organizations to cover birth control. The justice acted on the request of an order of nuns in …

New Year’s Eve   World: Russian security forces are on terror alert after two bombings in Volgograd. It’s a security embarrassment and a danger with the Winter Olympics just weeks away. Volgograd is a train hub for people travelling to …

Trouble in Russia: A bomb on a trolley killed 15 people today in Volgograd, just a day after 17 people were killed in a suicide bombing at the Volgograd train station. As concern spread across the country, Red Square in …

Russian Bombing: A suicide bombing outside the main railroad station is Volgograd, Russia, killed 15 people today and wounded more than 40. Volgograd is about 550 miles southeast of Moscow. The bomb went off as security officers approached a woman …

Nation: A federal judge in New York ruled that the NSA’s surveillance of phone calls is legal and vital to defense against terrorism. Federal Judge William Pauley threw out a petition by the American Civil Liberties Union. He wrote that, …

Pussy Riot: Two members of the Russian punk bank Pussy Riot just released from prison said they still oppose President Vladimir Putin. In a Moscow press conference, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova said, “We still want to do what we said in our …

World: Egypt’s military-backed government yesterday declared the Muslim Brotherhood to be a terrorist organization. It’s been banned twice before in its history. The police claim that a car bombing that killed 15 people Tuesday was carried out by the Brotherhood. …

Christmas City and World: In his first Christmas celebration as Pope, Francis called on atheists to work with believers of all religions toward “a homemade peace” that can spread across the world. He said, “Let us all unite, either with …

Beehive State: Same-sex marriages continued in Utah yesterday after a federal judge refused appeals to stay his own order making it legal. Utah Governor Gary Herbert filed a formal notice of appeal and said in a statement, “I am very …