Musharraf could be charged with treason: Pakistani minister

ISLAMABAD - Former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf could be charged with treason for tampering with the constitution as adequate laws exist for this, a senior minister said Thursday.

4 groups file legal briefs in Supreme Court in support of ex-Qwest CEO Nacchio’s appeal

DENVER — Four groups have filed friend-of-the-court briefs supporting former Qwest CEO Joseph Nacchio’s appeal to the Supreme Court of his insider trading conviction.

NJ regulators authorize bankruptcy sale for Atlantic City’s Tropicana

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — The Tropicana Casino and Resort in Atlantic City, N.J., will be auctioned off to the highest bidder in U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

Democrats near first filibuster-resistant majority in 3 decades

WASHINGTON — Sen. Arlen Specter’s party switch puts the Democrats within grasp of a 60-seat majority and the first filibuster-resistant margin since the Carter administration three decades ago.

Supreme Court hears arguments over states’ right to investigate national banks

WASHINGTON — New York officials on Tuesday asked the Supreme Court to let states enforce their anti-discrimination laws against national banks, despite arguments from the federal government that it is the only entity that can regulate those financial institutions.

Kerala cabinet to decide on Vizhinjam port contract

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The Kerala cabinet will Wednesday decide whom to award the contract to execute the proposed Rs.53.48-billion port at Vizhinjam - the bidding process for which had been challenged in court.

To target Modi ahead of polls is a convention: Jaitley

NEW DELHI - The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Monday termed the apex court order to probe the role of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in the 2002 riots as a ‘convention’ that cropped up ahead of elections and said it would not be able to find anything against the BJP leader.

Modi must step down: Congress after court order on 2002 riots

NEW DELHI - The Congress party Monday said that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi must step down for ‘justice to prevail’ after the Supreme Court ordered a probe into Modi’s role in the 2002 communal riots in his state.

The roots of Mexican city’s violence: collapsing drug cartel, government on the war path

TIJUANA, Mexico — In Mexico’s drug war, Tijuana tells the story of a government that says it’s winning, even as the battle gets bloodier.

I am confident of defeating my bhanja Varun: V.M. Singh

PILIBHIT - He is pitted against his own ‘bhanja’ (nephew) Varun Gandhi for the Pilibhit seat, but Congress candidate V.M. Singh, who has emerged as India’s richest candidate so far, is confident he will defeat Varun’s ‘rabid communal gameplan’.

Obama administration asks Supreme Court to overturn ruling favorable to criminal defendants

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is asking the Supreme Court to overrule a 23 year-old decision that stopped police from initiating questions unless a defendant’s lawyer is present, the latest stance that has disappointed civil rights and civil liberties groups.

5 Democrats seek to replace storied Philly DA as city struggles with crime, corruption

PHILADELPHIA — For nearly 20 years, District Attorney Lynne Abraham has led an office whose alumni include Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, Sen. Arlen Specter and the chief justice of the state Supreme Court.

Key events in US Marine rape case in Philippines

Key events leading to Thursday’s court decision overturning the 2006 rape conviction of a U.S. Marine in the Philippines.

Supreme Court appears divided on claims of reverse discrimination in firefighters’ lawsuit

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court appeared divided Wednesday over whether a Connecticut city’s decision to scrap a promotion exam for firefighters because too few minorities passed violates the civil rights of top-scoring white applicants.

Supreme Court makes it easier to fight deportation seeking to remain in US

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court made it easier Wednesday for immigrants seeking to avoid deportation to get another chance at a court hearing.

Varun files nomination, alleges mental torture in jail

PILIBHIT - Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Varun Gandhi, who is out of jail on parole and filed his nomination from here Wednesday, has alleged he was mentally tortured during his stay in prison.

Congress openly misusing CBI: BSP’s Satish Misra

LUCKNOW - The Congress-led central government is ‘openly misusing’ the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against political opponents, particularly Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) alleged Wednesday.

Supreme Court weighs claims of reverse discrimination in firefighters’ lawsuit

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court is weighing whether a Connecticut city’s decision to scrap a promotion exam for firefighters because too few minorities passed violates the civil rights of top-scoring white applicants.

Residency cases ordered reopened in lawsuit over spouses who died during immigration process

LOS ANGELES — A federal judge tentatively ordered the Department of Homeland Security to reopen the cases of 22 people who were denied green cards because their American spouses died during the application process.

Group of colleges urges Congress to offer tuition aid, citizenship to many illegal immigrants

WASHINGTON — Wading into the politically charged immigration debate, a group of colleges and universities is urging Congress to give illegal immigrants tuition aid and a path to citizenship in light of efforts in several states to block them.

Cleric’s remarks on judges, Sharia not worrisome: Gilani

ISLAMABAD - The Pakistani government is taking in its stride the remarks of a Taliban-linked radical cleric on the country’s judiciary and Sharia laws following their imposition in Swat and other parts of the restive northeast, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani indicated Monday.

China to clamp down on inmate abuse at state prisons following 15 questionable deaths

BEIJING — China plans to clamp down on inmate abuse at its prisons following more than a dozen suspicious deaths this year, according to a report by the country’s highest investigative body.

PM counters Lalu’s Babri demolition charge

GUWAHATI - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday countered Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav’s allegation that the Congress was responsible in part for the demolition of the Babri mosque in Ayodhya in December 1992.

Varun Gandhi writes to poll panel, requests neutral observers

NEW DELHI - Two days after he was released from jail on parole, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Varun Gandhi Saturday accused the Uttar Pradesh government of political vendetta and requested the Election Commission to transfer two top officials in his Pilibhit constituency.

Varun Gandhi meets Advani, urged to respect SC order

NEW DELHI - Bharatiya Janata Party leader Varun Gandhi met senior BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani on Saturday for the first time since his release from the Etah District Jail on Thursday.

I have never advocated violence: Varun Gandhi

NEW DELHI - One day after being released from jail on parole, Bharatiya Janata Party’s Lok Sabha candidate from Pilibhit Varun Gandhi said Friday that he had never advocated violence in politics but would continue to raise voice against ‘anti-national forces’.

Maharashtra challenges indictment for shielding loan shark

NEW DELHI - The Maharashtra government Wednesday moved the Supreme Court challenging a Bombay High Court ruling which indicted it for former chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh’s alleged move to shield a money lender.

Himachal medical college teacher suspended for sexual harassment

SHIMLA - The Rajendra Prasad Medical College in Himachal Pradesh’s Tanda town was once again in the news Monday after one of its senior faculty members was suspended on charges of sexual harassment of a girl student, an official said.

Apex court orders fire safety measures in country’s schools

NEW DELHI - In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court Monday ordered installation of fire-extinguishing equipment and adoption of other safety measures in all government and private schools across the country within six months to avoid recurrence of incidents like the July 2004 school fire in Tamil Nadu that killed 93 children.

Custody of four ragging death accused extended

DHARAMSALA - A Himachal Pradesh court Friday extended by 14 days the judicial custody of four students who have been accused of allegedly ragging a first-year medical student leading to his death last month.