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Sketch of Hamdan at his trial
August 7, 2008

Update
Bin Laden's Driver Receives 5 1/2 Year Prison Sentence
August 7, 2008

Analysis
Years After Anthrax Attacks, Bioterrorism Threat Still Looms
August 6, 2008

Analysis
Government Details How Anthrax Investigation Led to Army Scientist

MOST RECENT STORIES

2008 AUGUST
August 26, 2008
Blog
Sporadic Protests Prompt Hefty Police Response in Denver
Hundreds of protesters descended on downtown Denver for the first day of the Democratic convention, voicing concerns over ranging from human rights to ending the war in Iraq to letting Ralph Nader participate in the presidential debates.


August 20, 2008
Update
Countries Map Arctic Boundaries to Build Cases for Resource Rights
As a scramble builds to establish rights over the valuable natural resources hidden under the Arctic sea floor, U.S. researchers embarked from Barrow, Alaska, in mid-August on a three-week mission to map regions of the vast underwater landscape.


August 19, 2008
Analysis
Educators Spark Dialogue on Underage Drinking
A coalition of college and university presidents recently urged lawmakers to discuss making age 18 the legal limit for drinking as a means to curb alcohol abuse among students. Two university officials take up the controversial initiative that has sparked a national debate.

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August 15, 2008
Update
Musharraf Spokesman Denies Resignation Rumors as Impeachment Bid Looms
A spokesman for embattled Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has denied reports that the leader has already agreed to step down to avoid impending impeachment proceedings.


August 7, 2008
Analysis
Years After Anthrax Attacks, Bioterrorism Threat Still Looms
As the probe into the 2001 anthrax attacks comes to a close, the country still faces challenges preventing and responding to bioterrorism attacks. Experts assess U.S. preparedness.

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August 7, 2008
Update
Bin Laden's Driver Receives 5 1/2 Year Prison Sentence
A military tribunal jury sentenced Salim Hamdan, the former driver of Osama bin Laden, to five and a half years in prison Thursday. A Miami Herald reporter details the courtroom proceedings and what lies ahead for the Yemeni detainee.

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August 7, 2008
Update
Bin Laden's Ex-Driver Sentenced to 5 1/2 Years
A military jury on Thursday sentenced Osama bin Laden's former driver, Samil Hamdan, to 5 1/2 years in prison, making him eligible for parole in six months. Hamdan was convicted Wednesday on charges of providing material support for terrorism.


August 7, 2008
Update
China Tells Bush Not to Meddle in Its Affairs
China responded to President Bush's criticism of Beijing's repression Thursday, saying no one should interfere in other countries' internal affairs.


August 6, 2008
Analysis
Government Details How Anthrax Investigation Led to Army Scientist
The government released documents Wednesday pertaining to the 2001 anthrax attacks, saying that deceased Army scientist Bruce Ivins was solely responsible for the deadly mailings. A reporter details the day's findings.

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August 6, 2008
Analysis
Military Trial Yields Split Verdict for Bin Laden's Driver
A military jury in Guantanamo Bay convicted Osama bin Laden's former driver on charges of providing support for terrorism Wednesday but cleared him of conspiracy charges. Experts weigh the verdict.

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August 6, 2008
Update
Justice Department, Unsealed Papers Outline Anthrax Case Against Dead Scientist
The U.S. Justice Department said Wednesday that Army scientist Bruce Ivins "was the only person responsible" for the mailed anthrax attacks that killed five people and rattled the nation in 2001.


August 6, 2008
Update
Jury Delivers Split Verdict in First Gitmo Trial
A military jury convicted a former driver and alleged bodyguard for terror leader Osama bin Laden on charges of providing material support for terrorism Wednesday, but acquitted him on more serious conspiracy charges.


August 6, 2008
Update
President Bush to Urge More Freedoms in China
President Bush plans to speak in opposition to China's detention of political dissidents and urge expansion of personal freedoms during a speech Thursday in Thailand before heading to Beijing for the Olympics.


August 4, 2008
Update
Details Slowly Emerge in Anthrax Attacks Investigation
A flurry of controversy over the apparent suicide of Bruce Ivins, the chief suspect in the 2001 anthrax attacks, has raised more questions for investigators. A New York Times reporter navigates the latest developments.

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August 1, 2008
Analysis
Suspect's Apparent Suicide Marks New Turn in Anthrax Probe
An Army microbiologist reportedly committed suicide just as Federal prosecutors were preparing to file criminal charges against him in connection with the 2001 anthrax attacks that killed five people. A reporter and a bioterrorism expert examine the case.

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August 1, 2008
Update
FCC Rules Comcast Violated Internet Access Policy
A divided Federal Communications Commission ruled Friday that Comcast Corp. violated federal policy when it blocked Internet traffic for some subscribers. The cable giant has been ordered to change the way it manages its network.


August 1, 2008
Update
Scientist Suspected in Anthrax Attacks Dies of Apparent Suicide
A top U.S. Army biodefense researcher has reportedly committed suicide just as Federal prosecutors were preparing to file criminal charges against him in connection with the 2001 anthrax attacks.

JULY
July 31, 2008
Analysis
Mixed Feelings Unfold After Alaska Senator's Indictment
Following Sen. Ted Stevens' indictment Thursday on charges of concealing more than $250,000 worth of gifts, two reporters measure the reaction in Alaska and Washington, D.C., and the challenges of the upcoming trial.

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July 31, 2008
Update
Karadzic Appears in Court, Refuses to Enter Plea
Thirteen years after war crimes charges were levied against him, former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic appeared for the first time Thursday at the U.N.'s tribunal, but he refused to immediately enter pleas on the 11 charges against him.


July 30, 2008
Update
Turkey's High Court Says Ruling Party Can Stay
After three days of deliberation, Turkey's Constitutional Court decided Wednesday to keep the ruling AK Party in place, despite charges it engaged in Islamist activities.


July 30, 2008
Update
Karadzic Spirited Out of Serbia to Face Tribunal
Under cover of night and amid tight security, former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic was whisked out of Serbia early Wednesday to face genocide and war crimes charges in U.N. war crimes court in The Hague.


July 29, 2008
Update
Longtime Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens Faces Criminal Charges
Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens, the longest-serving GOP member of the Senate, was indicted Tuesday on charges of making false statements about gifts he received. Washington Post reporter Carol Leonnig discusses the investigation that led to Stevens' seven-count indictment.

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July 29, 2008
Update
Alaska Sen. Stevens Indicted in Corruption Probe
Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens, the Senate's longest-serving Republican, has been indicted on seven counts of making false statements about receiving more than $250,000 from an oilfield services company that helped renovate his home.


July 28, 2008
Analysis
Report: DOJ Aides Allowed Politics to Guide Hiring Decisions
A Justice Department report released Monday concludes that former top agency officials broke the law by weighing applicants' political leanings when making hiring decisions. Experts examine the findings.

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July 28, 2008
Update
DOJ Hiring Marred by Politics, New Report Finds
Top aides to former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales violated federal law by allowing politics to influence the hiring of career prosecutors and judges, a new Justice Department investigation concludes.


July 23, 2008
Report
Karadzic Faces Criminal Charges After Capture
Arrested after some 10 years in hiding, former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic is slated to stand trial soon for his war crimes. Independent Television News examines the details of his arrest and the road ahead for a trial.


July 23, 2008
Update
Former Bosnian Serb Leader Mladic Still at Large
Ratko Mladic, a name that has become synonymous with the Serb campaign of ethnic cleansing in Bosnia in the 1990s, continues to evade authorities and avoid facing charges of genocide and crimes against humanity.


July 22, 2008
Analysis
Prosecutors Prepare to Try Former Serb Leader Karadzic
The ex-leader of Bosnian Serbs, responsible for some of the worst atrocities of the region's war, has been transferred to U.N. custody. Former ambassador Richard Holbrooke and author Laura Silber discuss what Radovan Karadzic's arrest means for the region.

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July 22, 2008
Report
Details Emerge on the Capture of Radovan Karadzic
The ex-leader of Bosnian Serbs, allegedly responsible for some of the worst atrocities of the region's war, was arrested this week after spending some 10 years in hiding. Independent Televsion News examines the details of his capture.


July 22, 2008
Report
Ariz. Breaks Ground in Reforming Prison System
The Arizona prison system is attempting to restructure its correction programs, in the aim of reducing repeat offenders. Jeffrey Brown reports on what these measures hope to achieve.

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July 22, 2008
Update
Judge Orders Karadzic into U.N. Tribunal Custody
A judge has ordered ex-Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic to be handed over to the U.N. war crimes court to face charges of genocide and other atrocities against Muslims and Croats in his country, a Serbian prosecutor said Tuesday.


July 21, 2008
Update
War Crimes Suspect Karadzic Arrested in Serbia
Bosnian Serb wartime president Radovan Karadzic, one of the world's most-wanted men for his role in civilian massacres, was arrested Monday evening in a sweep by Serbian security forces, President Boris Tadic's office said.


July 21, 2008
Analysis
Gitmo Trial Begins, but Questions Loom Over Detainee Legal Process
After years of legal delays, the trial for Osama Bin Laden's former driver began Monday at Guantanamo, marking the first full-scale military tribunal at the base since it opened in 2001. Two legal experts examine the future of the detainee program.

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July 21, 2008
Update
Court Tosses Out CBS's Superbowl Indecency Fine
A federal appeals court on Monday overturned a decision to fine against CBS Corp. $550,000 for the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show that ended with Janet Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction."


July 17, 2008
Update
D.C. Begins Gun Registration in Wake of Supreme Court Ruling
Washington, D.C., residents began registering firearms Thursday as part of emergency legislation enacted after a Supreme Court ruling on June 26 overturned the District's handgun ban of 32 years.


July 15, 2008
Forum
A Right to Online Privacy?
How much information should online advertisers and Web site operators know about you? And how should they be able to use this information? Congress is trying to establish rules so that the rights of both online users and advertisers are protected.


July 14, 2008
Insider Forum
Washington Post Reporter Answered Your Questions on Zimbabwe's Political Unrest
In collaboration with Zimbabwean journalists, Washington Post reporter Craig Timberg reported on the turnabout that kept President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe in power after a campaign of violence was enacted against his opponents. Timberg answered your questions.

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FUNDED IN PART BY: The Knight Foundation


July 14, 2008
Update
Sudanese President Charged with Genocide in Darfur
The International Criminal Court prosecutor charged Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir with orchestrating genocide against African tribes in the western region of Darfur and called on the court to order his arrest.


July 11, 2008
Report
Afghan Legal Reforms Run Afoul of Tribal Codes, Corruption
Afghanistan's central government has worked to improve its legal system for years, but tribal justice traditions, especially in rural areas, and corruption from within are proving to be significant hurdles.


July 11, 2008
Update
EPA Sidesteps Regulating Greenhouse Gases
The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday delayed making a decision about whether human health and welfare are being harmed by greenhouse gas pollution. In a federal notice, the agency instead called for more public comment, essentially bumping the decision to the next administration.

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July 11, 2008
Update
International Criminal Court to Seek Arrest of Sudanese President
The International Criminal Court will seek an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir for genocide and crimes against humanity committed in the western Darfur region of his country, ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo said Friday.


July 9, 2008
Analysis
Issue of Online Privacy Grows as Companies Track 'Digital Footprints'
A Senate panel held a hearing Wednesday to investigate the growing issue of online privacy and what rights individuals should have to decide how their Web surfing history can be used by advertisers. Public policy advocates weigh the debate over online privacy.

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July 9, 2008
Report
Senate OKs Wiretapping Measure With Telecom Immunity
The Senate voted Wednesday to keep retroactive immunity for phone companies that help with monitoring in a federal warrantless surveillance program bill. The decision defeated Democrats against it. Ray Suarez reports.

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July 1, 2008
Analysis
International Adoption Becoming Difficult Amid Treaties, Regulation
International adoption has been a popular practice for American couples, with adoptions reaching as high as 20,000 a year. This process is becoming more difficult as barriers increase, with international organizations and foreign countries alike enacting increasingly stringent regulations.

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JUNE
June 27, 2008
Analysis
Shields, Brooks Take Up Campaign News, Court Rulings
Presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama campaigned with former rival Sen. Hillary Clinton at a rally Friday in Unity, N.H. and the Supreme Court issues a week of weighty decisions. Analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks examine the week's political news.

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June 27, 2008
Analysis
Supreme Court Term Left Door Open for Future Disputes
By the close of the Supreme Court's term Thursday, the justices made landmark decisions on cases regarding gun ownership, the death penalty and the legal rights of detainees. Legal experts weigh the rulings and what they indicate about future court battles.

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June 26, 2008
Slide Show
Supreme Court Overturns D.C. Handgun Ban
The Supreme Court overturned the District of Columbia's 32-year ban on handguns, affirming for the first time the Second Amendment right of individuals to keep and bear arms. The Online NewsHour spoke to Washington, D.C., residents about their reactions to the ruling.

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June 26, 2008
Analysis
Attorneys Debate Effects of Gun Ban Override
The Supreme Court's landmark decision overturning the gun ban in the District of Columbia Thursday may have far reaching effects. Peter Nickles, D.C. Attorney General, and Ted Cruz, former Texas Solicitor General, debate the impact of the decision.

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June 26, 2008
Analysis
In Landmark Ruling, Divided High Court Strikes Down Gun Ban
The Supreme Court rejected a District of Columbia handgun ban in a 5-4 vote Thursday, the first time the court has issued a major ruling on gun rights. Marcia Coyle of the National Law Journal discusses the case.

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June 26, 2008
Update
Court Affirms Individual Right to Own Firearms
In the first major pronouncement on gun rights in U.S. history, a divided Supreme Court ruled Thursday that Americans have a right to own guns for self-defense and hunting.

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IN-DEPTH COVERAGE
Politics of Pakistan
Politics of PakistanPolitical disputes persist in this South Asian nation, a key ally in the United States' war on terrorism.
China Prepares for 2008 Olympics
China Prepares for 2008 OlympicsMassive construction, pollution and public image are all factors in China's preparations for the 2008 Olympic Games.
Supreme Court Watch