Leading up to this week's summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin , President Bush Monday criticized the leader's continuing shift toward authoritarian rule and called for the Russian government to "renew a commitment to democracy and the rule...

In Monday's environmental law news, China's State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) has approved the resumption of 26 of the 30 large construction projects that were halted last month for failing to complete environmental impact statements before beginning....

European Union foreign ministers announced Monday that the EU will renew its sanctions against the Zimbabwean government for another year. However, the ministers indicated the sanctions could be reexamined after the March 31 parliamentary elections....

Syrian officials have indicated that the country will soon begin to withdraw its troops from Lebanon in compliance with the Taif agreement , signed at the end of Lebanon's 1975-90 civil war. Syria's move coincides with President Bush's speech...

Togo's parliament has re-amended the country's constitution so that presidential elections can be held within 60 days, overturning a change made to allow Faure Gnassingbe to fulfill his father's term as president. However,...

The British government announced Monday that same-sex partners will be able to enter into civil unions starting in December. Under the Civil Partnerships Bill , passed last year by Parliament, same-sex couples will have the right to form legally...

The World Council of Churches (WCC) , a global organization for non-Catholic Christians, accused the United States on Monday of violating international law in its treatment of Guantanamo Bay detainees. The detainees "are held without due process and...

Leading Monday's corporations and securities law news, the SEC has started an informal investigation into aluminum producer Alcoa Inc. over the classification of trade accounts payable transactions starting in 2003. Alcoa has said it will...

ChoicePoint announced Monday that residents in all 50 states and D.C. may have been affected by a security breach which resulted in criminals gaining access to its massive database of consumer information. California authorities say as many...

Retired Bosnian Serb general Milan Gvero agreed on Monday to voluntarily surrender to the UN war crimes tribunal at The Hague. The Serbian government said that Belgrade had received an indictment against the general from the International Criminal Tribunal...