Judge Resigns in Protest of Eavesdropping

December 21, 2005 --

Spy Court Judge Quits In Protest
Jurist resigns amid worry that Bush-authorized domestic surveillance program would taint Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court's work. (Washington Post)

Spying Program Snared U.S. Calls
A program approved by President Bush to conduct eavesdropping has captured what are purely domestic communications. (NY Times)

Rumsfeld Doubts Bin Ladin in Charge
Donald Rumsfeld, the US Secretary of Defense, has said he doubts Osama bin Ladin is in a position to assert full command over the global operations of the al-Qaida network. (Al Jazeera)

Iran and EU Resume Nuclear Talks
EU and Iranian diplomats meet in Vienna to discuss resuming talks about Tehran's nuclear ambitions. (BBC)

Chinese Police Bring Villagers to Heel After Latest Uprising
Two weeks after a protest that culminated in gunfire and bloodshed, rebellious farmers and fishermen of Dongzhou are forced to submit. (Washington Post)

Indonesian Activist's Widow Seeks Probe
The widow of a murdered Indonesian rights activist called Wednesday for a stepped-up probe into allegations that the man convicted in his poisoning death had links to the state intelligence agency. (AP)

Terror Suspect Allegedly Met Bin Laden
A Melbourne police officer testified Tuesday that a suspected Australian terrorist met Osama Bin Laden and swore allegiance to him. (UPI)

Chemistry Student in Bomb Alert
An "over-enthusiastic" chemistry student is thought to be behind a bomb alert sparked in Lancashire. (BBC)

Bangladesh Plans Anti-Terror Law
Bangladesh plans to introduce a new anti-terrorism law, following a wave of suicide bombs, a minister says. (BBC)

Court Rejects Government Appeal Over Iraqi Death
The government must allow an independent inquiry into the death of an Iraqi civilian allegedly killed by British troops, court rules. (The Guardian)

Al Qaeda Suspect Jailed By Belfast Court
An al-Qaeda suspect who learnt how to blow up an aircraft on the internet at a Belfast library was today jailed for six years at Belfast Crown Court. (The Times)

Al Qaeda Militant Resurfaces In Internet Statement
One of four prisoners who escaped from Bagram airbase, north of the Afghan capital Kabul, in July, warned that militants would "sully the United State's pride in the sand", in a statement posted on the internet. (Asharq al Awsat)