An Afghan government official said Monday that Afghan security forces have arrested three young Pakistani men on charges of planning to assassinate US ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad . The men were arrested Saturday in the province of Laghman, a day before a scheduled trip by Khalilzad to the area. A spokesman for the US Embassy in [...]

The US Supreme Court Monday declined to consider whether hundreds of criminals sentenced prior to US v. Booker – a landmark ruling on federal sentencing guidelines – should receive reduced prison sentences, despite Justice Department urging that the dispute be heard. AP has more. The Court also took no action to resolve a dispute over [...]

WHO Resource Book on Mental Health, Human Rights and Legislation, World Health Organization , June 20, 2005 . Excerpt: There are many ways to improve the lives of people with mental disorders. One important way is through policies, plans and programmes that lead to better services. To implement such policies and plans, one needs good [...]

Seeking Asylum is Not a Crime: Detention of people who have sought asylum, Amnesty International, June 20, 2005 . Excerpt: Amnesty International's report highlights the denial of justice suffered by many people as a result of the fact that their detention is in many cases inappropriate, unnecessary, disproportionate and, therefore, unlawful. Whether at the beginning [...]

Rompilla v. Beard, Supreme Court of the United States, June 20, 2005 . Excerpt from the Opinion by Justice Souter: We hold that even when a capital defendant's family members and the defendant himself have suggested that no mitigating evidence is available, his lawyer is bound to make reasonable efforts to obtain and review material [...]

In two related cases, the US Supreme Court ruled Monday that states are permitted to impose registration fees on trucks and other commercial vehicles that travel at least part of the time on a state's roadways. Read the Court's opinion in American Trucking v. Michigan Public Service Commission and the opinion in Mid-Con Freight Systems [...]

In an article published Monday in GQ magazine, young US soldiers given the job of guarding former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein say they found him to be friendly, talkative, and a "clean freak." Three soldiers from the Pennsylvania National Guard provided details such as what snacks and breakfast cereals the incarcerated former Iraqi leader prefers [...]

A partial recount of votes in last Friday's Iran presidential election was ordered by Iranian electoral authorities Monday after reformist candidates accused military organizations of rigging the first round of voting . The close first election resulted in a run-off election planned for June 24 between former president, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani , and his surprise [...]

A spokesman for South Africa's National Prosecution Authority announced Monday that former South African deputy president Jacob Zuma will be charged with two counts of corruption. After one of Zuma's advisors, South African businessman Schabir Shaik was found guilty on charges of corruption and fraud, President Thabo Mbeki fired Zuma from his post last week [...]

Human rights watchdog group Amnesty International released a new report Monday detailing and assailing the UK's detention of asylum seekers, which it said is "inappropriate, unnecessary, disproportionate and, therefore, unlawful" and has led to mental illness and even suicide attempts. The report concludes that in 2003 the UK detained 27,000 potential refugees in jail-like conditions. [...]