Confirmation hearings for US Supreme Court nominee Judge Samuel Alito began Monday with Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Arlen Specter (R-PA) promising a "full, fair and dignified hearing," and Senate Democrats vowing to ask tough questions about Alito's stance on abortion, the right of privacy, constitutional powers, and equal rights. The hearings started with opening statements [...]

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on Monday denied requests by US Rep. Tom DeLay (R-TX) that the money laundering charges against him either be dismissed or sent back to a lower court for an immediate trial. The state's highest criminal court denied the requests two days after DeLay stepped down from his post as [...]

The lower house of Jordan's parliament on Sunday approved an agreement with the US which will prohibit the country from handing over Americans accused of violating international criminal law to the International Criminal Court (ICC) . The decision was met with intense opposition by the Islamic Action Front , Jordan's largest political party, and human [...]

The lower house of Jordan's parliament on Sunday approved an agreement with the US which will prohibit the country from handing over Americans accused of violating international criminal law to the International Criminal Court (ICC) . The decision was met with intense opposition by the Islamic Action Front , Jordan's largest political party, and human [...]

A top official at the US Department of Justice's Regime Crimes Liaison Office in Baghdad has suggested that the current trial of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein could end as early as June, with further trial proceedings to commence thereafter. Kevin P. Dooley told reporters that if all goes smoothly, further indictments should be served [...]

Israeli police said Monday that Palestinians who plan to run in the January 25 parliamentary elections will be permitted to campaign in Jerusalem, reversing a previous ban against Palestinian campaigning in the capital city. Senior Palestinian politician Hatem Abdel Khader said he viewed the lifted ban as an indication that Israel would also permit residents [...]

Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik has promised new efforts to revive the stalled EU Constitution during the Austrian Presidency of the EU in the first half of 2006. The draft constitution was rejected by both France and the Netherlands last year, halting further national referendums as the proposal must be approved by all 25 member [...]

Iran confirmed Monday that it will restart its nuclear fuel research program, a decision which may lead European Union and US officials to refer Iran to the UN Security Council for sanctions. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said Iran would resume its program when the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was ready to [...]

Speaker of the US House of Representatives Dennis Hastert (R-IL) outlined a plan Sunday to implement more stringent restrictions on the "perks" members of Congress may accept from private parties. Reconsideration of the restrictions was sparked by the recent Congressional ethics scandal involving former Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff , and Texas Congressman Tom Delay . [...]

The man who shot Pope John Paul II in 1981 will be released on parole from prison Thursday after a Turkish court ruled that he has completed his sentences for shooting the pope and other crimes. The Vatican expressed surprise at the news, saying it only learned of the release of Mehmet Ali Agca through [...]