Human Rights Watch (HRW) confirmed for the first time Thursday that Hezbollah used cluster bombs during the recent conflict with Israel. According to HRW: International humanitarian law (the laws of war) obliges warring parties to distinguish between combatants and civilians (the principle of distinction) and, when attacking legitimate military targets, to ensure that the military [...]

A massive demonstration attended by thousands of people protesting the disappearance of Jorge Julio Lopez clogged the streets of Buenos Aires, Argentina on Wednesday. The protest represents the third time such a demonstration has taken place since the 77-year-old witness went missing last month after testifying against a former police official sentenced last month to [...]

Four US Army soldiers have been ordered to face court-martial for allegedly murdering Iraqi detainees in Thar Thar, a town near Samarra, some 60 miles north of Baghdad. Pfc. Corey R. Clagett, Spc. William B. Hunsaker, Staff Sgt. Raymond L. Girouard and Spc. Juston R. Graber allegedly released several detainees after a May 9 raid [...]

Judge Richard Posner of the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit expressed skepticism Wednesday that an Indiana law requiring voters to show ID cards at the polls would prevent some citizens from casting ballots. During oral arguments in a lawsuit challenging the Indiana law as disproportionately burdensome for the poor, elderly, minorities, and [...]

Hussein Rasheed, one of five co-defendants facing charges in the Saddam Hussein genocide trial , on Thursday claimed Iraqi court guards beat him in the presence of US witnesses after Chief Judge Mohammed Oreibi al-Khalifa threw both Hussein and Rasheed out of court last week . A spokesman for the court denied Rasheed's allegations saying [...]

Florida Judge Janet E. Ferris of the Leon County Circuit Court ordered that election supervisors be prohibited from affixing signs at polling places warning that votes for former US Rep. Mark Foley (R-FL) will be counted for replacement candidate Joe Negron. Dawn Roberts of the State Elections Division previously told election supervisors to post warning [...]

Several domestic and foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operating in Russia will be forced to shut down after missing Wednesday's deadline to obtain the necessary permits required by a controversial new law. Foreign-funded NGOs are required to register with the Ministry of Justice and provide detailed financial data and program plans for approval. Up to 500 [...]

Britain's High Court on Thursday overturned a lower court ruling that London Mayor Ken Livingstone brought his office into disrepute by making controversial comments to a Jewish journalist. The court ruled that Livingstone's comments did not breach the Greater London Authority Code of Conduct. The court said Livingstone brought disrepute on himself but not the [...]

Lawmakers in the southern California city of Escondido approved an ordinance Wednesday that will prohibit landlords from renting their properties to illegal immigrants . The measure requires landlords to submit documentation to city authorities to prove their tenants' immigration status. If found in violation, landlords could face suspension of their business licenses and fines. Opponents [...]

Israel's High Court has urged the country's military to reconsider its ban on entry by Palestinians and allow a Palestinian woman to study in Israel . Sawsan Salameh was denied entry to Israel by the military after she was accepted to study chemistry and pursue a doctoral degree at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem . [...]