The UN Human Rights Committee joined Thailand's National Human Rights Commission in opposing new security powers given to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra . A cabinet decree now allows the government to impose curfews, censor news, ban public gatherings, tap phones, and hold suspects without bringing charges. Christine Chanet, chair of the UN Human Rights Committee, [...]

The US Department of Justice launched a national online registry of sex offenders on Wednesday, compiling individual state databases into one location. The registry, which provides photographs and information such as how close offenders are to schools, enables the public to track the locations of thousands of sex offenders across the country over the internet. [...]

Prime Minister Tony Blair gave a statement Thursday at 10 Downing Street after a series of four incidents saying "We have to react calmly and continue with our business. We know why these things are done – they are done to scare people and make them feel worried." Sir Ian Blair , London Metropolitan Police [...]

Lawyers for a man with both British and Iraqi citizenship argued before the London High Court Wednesday that his nine-month detention without charge is a rights violation . Hilal Abdul-Razzaq Ali al-Jedda was detained by US forces and handed over the British troops in October on suspicion of belonging to a terrorist group that smuggles [...]

The Oregon House of Representatives voted 55-4 on Wednesday to require a prescription for cold medications that contain pseudoephdrine, a nasal decongestant that is used by drug dealers to make meth. The measure is expected to pass the Senate and is supported by Gov. Ted Kulongoski . Although Oregon joins other states in limiting quantities, [...]

The US House of Representatives will debate its version of a bill Thursday to extend the Patriot Act , which after months of debate has seen 20 amendments adopted and 47 proposed . The final version of the bill to be voted on does not, however, contain proposed amendments that would end the government's investigative [...]

Swiss ambassador to the United Nations, Peter Maurer told the UN Security Council's counter-terrorism committee on Wednesday that Switzerland believed that although targeted economic and travel sanctions against individuals were useful in countering terrorism, the scope of such sanctions must be more carefully defined. Maurer outlined ways for the sanctions to be both effective and [...]

During a press briefing on Wednesday, US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said Iraq would be making a "terrible mistake" if it severely limited women's rights, as hinted by a leaked draft of their new constitution . In the document, Iraqi women would be severely restricted in personal matters such as marriage, divorce, and inheritances. [...]

Prosecutors at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia want to reopen their case against former Yugloslav President Slobodan Milosevic to present new evidence, including a video of the Srebrenica killings that has resulted in several arrests . The defense has denied allegations about Srebrenica , and while the video was shown on cross-examination, [...]

Britain began negotiations with Jordan on Wednesday regarding the deportation of anyone who condones or incites terrorism, a new policy recommended after the London bombings . Prime Minister Tony Blair spoke of a need to keep such individuals out , and expel ones currently living in the UK. Previously, human rights laws prevented such deportations [...]