Spanish judge Baltasar Garzon charged two suspected Somali pirates accused of helping take over the Alakrana, a Spanish ship currently under the control of Somali Pirates. The suspects, Abdou Willy and Raagegeesey, were charged with 36 counts of kidnapping as well as armed assault. Neither suspect has admitted to breaking any laws. The two were [...]

Ingrid Burke, Pitt Law '11; and Rick Grubb, Pitt Law '10; attended a University of Pittsburgh speech by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev speech during the G-20 summit… Russian President Dmitry Medvedev came to the University of Pittsburgh during the G-20 summit to give some remarks of his own on the 50th anniversary of President Nikita [...]

The US Supreme Court heard oral arguments Tuesday in three cases. In South Carolina v. North Carolina , the Court heard arguments on whether additional parties may intervene in a lawsuit between two states, over which the Court has original jurisdiction. A special master recommended that three parties – the city of Charlotte, North Carolina, [...]

The Constitutional Court of the Czech Republic announced Tuesday that it will hold a public hearing on October 27 regarding a challenge to the country's signing of the European Union (EU) reform treaty, known as the Treaty of Lisbon . The court will hear arguments against the treaty from various government representatives, including President Vaclav [...]

The Constitutional Court of Gabon upheld on Monday the presidential election victory of Ali Ben Bongo Ondimba . Bongo, former minister of defence and foreign affairs and of son of long-time Gabonese president Omar Bongo , received over 40 percent of the vote, but was accused of fraud by his challengers. The court rejected the [...]

The Peruvian Catholic Bishops Conference (CEP) on Monday strongly condemned a proposed law that would legalize abortion in cases of rape or fetal deformity. The CEP's statement called the proposed legislation "arbitrary," labeling it "not just a matter of religion but of ethics, dignity, human rights and civilization." According to the CEP: So life can [...]

One of the two Afghans on the UN-backed Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) resigned on Monday, citing "foreign interference." The panel is tasked with investigating the allegations of fraud surrounding the disputed August presidential elections . Maulavi Mustafa Barakzai's resignation has raised doubt about the commission's work and has generated allegations that the resignation was influenced [...]

The US Supreme Court on Tuesday granted certiorari in four cases, including the case of former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling . In Skilling v. United States , the Court will consider whether the federal honest services fraud statute requires the government to prove that the defendant's conduct was intended to achieve "private gain" rather than [...]

California Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald George on Saturday criticized California's voter initiative process, which gives Californians the right to initiate or make new laws via the ballot box. In a speech to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences , George said the process, which effectively allows voters to bypass the legislative process, has [...]

A Pakistani court on Monday dismissed charges against Islamic cleric Hafiz Muhammad Saeed , the founder and leader of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), an Islamic group suspected of playing a key role in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks . A two-judge panel of the Lahore High Court dismissed the charges, which included using language criticizing Pakistan and [...]