EU states have said they plan to write a joint letter to the US government seeking clarification about whether the US has been running illegal covert prisons in the EU as part of its war on terror. The UK, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU, agreed to compose the letter after the [...]

The Proposed New Constitution of Kenya, Drafted and Published by the Attorney-General Pursuant to Section 27 of the Constitution of Kenya Review Act, August 22, 2005 . Read the full text of the draft constitution . Reported in JURIST's Paper Chase here.

The Israeli Knesset voted 84-0 Monday in favor of a preliminary motion to dissolve itself shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon defected from the right-wing Likud political party he helped create. Once the bill is finally approved, a parliamentary election must take place within 90 days, well before the originally-scheduled November 2006 date. Knesset [...]

Lobbyist Michael Scanlon pleaded guilty in federal district court Monday to one count of bribery, a charge anticipated after a DOJ criminal information disclosed Friday accused him of defrauding Indian clients and "providing things of value" to US Representative Bob Ney (R-NY) . Scanlon agreed to pay $19 million in restitution to the Indian tribes [...]

Former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson said in an interview with Reuters reported Monday that the US has lost international influence due to its position on the Iraq war and the its record on the rights of Guantanamo detainees , among other issues. "The Iraq war has weakened the moral authority of [...]

Anonymous officials revealed Monday that a US-European coalition has backed down from earlier threats to refer Iran to the UN Security Council to account for its allegedly unsafe nuclear program. The officials say the decision not to have the 35 member-countries of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) refer Iran at a meeting this Thursday [...]

Following up on a report earlier today in JURIST's Paper Chase, Kenyans voted Monday in a divisive referendum that officials said proceeded relatively smoothly, despite minor incidents in Nairobi's largest slum and various allegations of bribery. Voters came out to support or oppose a proposed new constitution that critics claim fails to limit presidential powers [...]

The Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs revealed Monday that it is investigating reports that a plane allegedly used by the CIA to transport terror detainees landed at a Canadian airport last week. Montreal newspaper La Presse said the plane departed from Iceland heading towards Canada, landed in St. John's in Newfoundland on Friday, then returned [...]

Russian authorities said Monday that two Chechens accused of murdering the editor of the Russian version of Forbes, American Paul Klebnikov, in July 2004 will soon face trial, in a statement published on the website of the Prosecutor General . "In the course of the criminal investigation it was established that the murder was carried [...]

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair's proposed terrorism law faced stiff opposition when it reached the House of Lords Monday. Conservative leader Lord Strathclyde has vowed peers will look at the controversial legislation on "a line by line basis" and some lords indicated that they will move to include a 90-day detention period for terror suspects. [...]