US lawmakers trying to block a Chinese takeover bid for US oil firm Unocal prior to an crucial shareholders' vote next month have added an amendment to an energy bill that would push back by more than four months the start of a US government review of the bid by China National Offshore Oil Corp. [...]

A new draft of the Iraqi constitution published Tuesday in Baghdad's Al-Sabah newspaper declares "Islam is the official religion of the state and is the main source of legislation," raising the concern of US authorities , especially regarding the future of women's rights . The draft, which follows earlier unpublished drafts circulating in media reports [...]

US Senators approved a provision Tuesday which permits US military bases to continue holding Boy Scouts events. The 98-0 vote was a tag-on to a larger bill outlining the Defense Department's policy for 2005. The provision was sponsored by former Boy Scout Senator Bill Frist who said its support was necessary in order to diffuse [...]

A Senate floor debate began Tuesday to discuss a proposed Gun Liability Law that would prevent lawsuits against gun manufacturers, dealers and trade associations when crimes or accidents involving firearms occur. Republican Senator Jeff Sessions said the legislation would stop "unjust lawsuits" intended to "drive gun manufacturers out of business." Democrats have voiced their opposition [...]

US Supreme Court nominee John Roberts wrote an opinion Tuesday, dismissing a class-action suit brought by firefighters and federal law enforcement officers who sought increased disability benefits upon retirement. The retirees were hoping to gain higher benefits before meeting the threshold requirements of reaching the retirement age of 50 and serving for over 20 years. [...]

A Mexican court Tuesday refused to issue a warrant for the arrest of former Mexican president Luis Echeverria for his alleged involvement in the 1971 "Corpus Christi massacre," leading to the deaths of nearly a dozen student protesters. The current president of Mexico, Vicente Fox , had called for an investigation into the massacre and [...]

A US immigration judge has denied a request to set bail and free former CIA operative Luis Posada Carriles , who is wanted in Venezuela for his involvement in the 1976 bombing of a Cuban plane. Posada is currently being held for illegally entering the US and his attorney asked for his release during Posada's [...]

Republican senators Tuesday urged Democrats to commit to a timeframe for US Supreme Court nominee John Roberts' confirmation vote, voicing their preference to have him sworn in as a justice prior to the court reconvening on October 3. Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Arlen Specter (R-PA) said if he does not receive agreement on a vote [...]

Leading Tuesday's corporations and securities law news, President Bush's nominee to head the SEC, Rep. Christopher Cox , told the Senate Banking Committee Tuesday that he would vigorously enforce securities laws. Cox also pledged to enforce the controversial Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) rule requiring companies to count stock options given to employees as a [...]

Leading Tuesday's states brief, the ACLU filed a lawsuit today against North Carolina asking the court to rule that a "holy scripture" suitable for oath administration includes the religious texts of Islam, Judaism, Hinduism and other non-Christian faiths as well as the Christian Bible. Last month, two state judges in Guilford County ruled that an [...]