A Palestinian doctor detained in Libya for eight years after being accused of deliberately infected hundreds of children with the HIV virus Wednesday filed a lawsuit against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi , alleging that he was tortured during his detention. Ashraf Jima Hajuj, who threatened legal action against Libya in August, told AFP that his [...]
The New Jersey Assembly voted 44-36 Thursday to pass a bill replacing the state current death penalty with life imprisonment. The bill now goes to New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine , who is expected to sign it. The New Jersey Senate Monday voted 21-16 to pass a similar bill . If signed, the bill [...]
A coalition of civil rights groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) , filed a new federal lawsuit Wednesday challenging an Arizona law aimed at preventing employers from knowingly hiring illegal immigrants . US District Court Judge Neil V. Wake Friday dismissed an earlier [...]
Five prominent members of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) were arrested by Malaysian authorities Thursday and will be detained for at least two years under Malaysia's controversial Internal Security Act (ISA) , Malaysian Deputy Internal Security Minister Johari Baharom told the Associated Press. The five activists were apparently involved in orchestrating a November street [...]
Leaders from the 27 countries that make up the European Union on Thursday signed the Treaty of Lisbon , a reform treaty designed to speed up the decision-making process within EU institutions and allow EU members to take a more active role in global issues. Under the terms of the treaty, the current EU presidency [...]
The US Senate Judiciary Committee voted 12-7 Thursday to report contempt of Congress resolutions to the full Senate for White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten and former Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove over their refusal to testify before the committee as part of its investigation into the US Attorneys firing scandal . Late [...]
Interim Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said Thursday that he will not withdraw a proposed Internal Security Bill that would grant the military power to override government operations and suspend rights even after general elections of a civilian-run government scheduled for December 23. The proposal would transform the army chief into the head of the [...]
The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) said Thursday that former Cambodian Foreign Minister Ieng Sary and his wife Ieng Thirith, who served as minister for social affairs, have filed appeals with the ECCC challenging their detention. The two were arrested last month and are both charged with crimes against humanity committed during [...]
The US House Judiciary Committee approved a draft bill Wednesday that would increase the annual salary of federal judges in an attempt to close the pay gap between the federal judiciary and their colleagues in private practice. Under the legislation, judicial pay would not automatically be set at the same level as members of Congress, [...]
The US Defense Department said Wednesday that 15 detainees have been transferred from Guantanamo Bay , bringing the total number of detainees released from the US detention facility to approximately 485. Thirteen detainees were transferred to Afghanistan, and the other two were transferred to Sudan. The total number of Guantanamo detainees eligible for transfer is [...]
