China criticizes legislative opposition to Unocal bid News
China criticizes legislative opposition to Unocal bid

[JURIST] The Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement Monday that the US Congress should "correct its mistaken ways" and "stop interfering in the normal commercial exchanges" between the two nations in response to House objections [BBC report] to a $18.5 billion bid [JURIST report] by the China National Offshore Oil Company Ltd. (CNOOC) [official website] to purchase US oil giant Unocal [corporate website]. The CEO of CNOOC defended the bid [UPI report], and said China has no plans to hoard oil and natural gas. Others simply see the move as part of a larger plan for increased US investment [Reuters report] by China, similar to Japanese investments [Chicago Tribune report] in the 70s and 80s. The Washington Post has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Balfour Declaration issued

On November 2, 1917, British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour issued the United Kingdom's formal statement regarding Jewish people in Palestine. The Balfour Declaration was later endorsed by the World War I Allied Powers. It stated the British intention to support a national homeland for Jewish people and became a cornerstone of the Zionist movement.

Read the full Balfour Declaration as well as other documents regarding Israeli-Palestinian relations from the BBC.