US Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) announced Tuesday that the Senate Appropriations Committee he chairs has agreed to adopt new standards governing so-called earmarks inserted by legislators into bills to fund special spending projects. The proposed ethics and earmark reform legislation will define the term "earmark" and will require that all earmarks be clearly identified in [...]
Ugandan police fired on a Kampala press briefing held by political activists and opposition leaders on Tuesday, five days after violent protests caused the deaths of three people . Leaders of the Forum for Democratic Change , the Democratic Party , the Conservative Party and the Justice Forum held the briefing to call for the [...]
The Polish National Remembrance Institute ruled Tuesday that former Polish President Wojciech Jaruzelski and eight former officials can be charged with "Communist crimes" for imposing martial law in Poland in 1981. Jaruzelski, now 83, already faces charges of organizing crimes of a military nature and depriving individuals of freedom in connection with the 1981 decree. [...]
Charges have been dropped against a US Marine in exchange for his testimony in hearings regarding the November 2005 killing of 24 Iraqi civilians in Haditha , the Marine Corps announced Tuesday. Sgt. Sanick Dela Cruz, originally charged with unpremeditated murder and making a false official statement, will receive immunity for testifying against seven other [...]
Egypt police have arrested an Egyptian engineer on charges of spying on an atomic research program for Israel, AP reported Tuesday. According to Egyptian High State Security Prosecutor Hisham Badawi, Muhammad Sayed Saber allegedly gave files from his work at the Egyptian Atomic Energy Agency to the Israel Secret Intelligence Service (Mossad) service for $17,000. [...]
Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler said Tuesday that Maryland will not challenge a decision by the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit holding that the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) preempts the Maryland Fair Share Health Care Fund Act . The act was part of a state attempt to force [...]
The US House Judiciary Committee will consider a resolution granting immunity to Monica M. Goodling , former special counsel to the US Attorney General, in exchange for her testimony concerning last year's firing of eight US Attorneys , according to a prepared statement read by committee chairman Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) Tuesday. If two-thirds of [...]
UN Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs Nicholas Michel promised Tuesday that a tribunal to try suspects in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri would be established, despite disagreement among Lebanese leaders. In February, the UN and Lebanon reached an agreement to establish an international tribunal, but its implementation has been delayed in Lebanon's [...]
The Constitutional Court of Ukraine held hearings Tuesday on a controversial April 2 decree by Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko ordering the dissolution of parliament and new elections on May 27. By a vote of 11 to 7, the court decided to study and review the decree until April 27 or until a final ruling is [...]
The trial of US Army Spc. Mario Lozano for the murder of Italian intelligence agent Nicola Calipari and attempted murders of agent Andrea Carpani and Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena began in Italy Tuesday. The court immediately adjourned proceedings for technical reasons until May 14. Lozano is being tried in absentia , but has denied all [...]
