Leaders from the 27 countries that make up the European Union on Thursday signed the Treaty of Lisbon , a reform treaty designed to speed up the decision-making process within EU institutions and allow EU members to take a more active role in global issues. Under the terms of the treaty, the current EU presidency [...]

The US Senate Judiciary Committee voted 12-7 Thursday to report contempt of Congress resolutions to the full Senate for White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten and former Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove over their refusal to testify before the committee as part of its investigation into the US Attorneys firing scandal . Late [...]

Interim Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said Thursday that he will not withdraw a proposed Internal Security Bill that would grant the military power to override government operations and suspend rights even after general elections of a civilian-run government scheduled for December 23. The proposal would transform the army chief into the head of the [...]

The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) said Thursday that former Cambodian Foreign Minister Ieng Sary and his wife Ieng Thirith, who served as minister for social affairs, have filed appeals with the ECCC challenging their detention. The two were arrested last month and are both charged with crimes against humanity committed during [...]

The US House Judiciary Committee approved a draft bill Wednesday that would increase the annual salary of federal judges in an attempt to close the pay gap between the federal judiciary and their colleagues in private practice. Under the legislation, judicial pay would not automatically be set at the same level as members of Congress, [...]

The US Defense Department said Wednesday that 15 detainees have been transferred from Guantanamo Bay , bringing the total number of detainees released from the US detention facility to approximately 485. Thirteen detainees were transferred to Afghanistan, and the other two were transferred to Sudan. The total number of Guantanamo detainees eligible for transfer is [...]

Central Valley Chrysler-Jeep, Inc. et al. v. James Goldstone, United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, December 12, 2007 . Read the full text of the order . Reported in JURIST's Paper Chase here.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was pressured by the White House to lower disclosure requirements for companies storing or emitting 500 or more pounds of toxins, the Government Accountability Office said in a report released Wednesday. The White House Office of Management and Budget pushed for the lighter reporting requirements to reduce the paperwork [...]

A US District Court judge Wednesday rejected a lawsuit filed by automobile manufacturers challenging California's authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles. Auto manufacturers, represented by the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers , argued that by regulating the emissions standards of automobiles, California would in effect be regulating fuel economy standards, which can only be [...]

CIA Director Michael Hayden appeared before a closed door session of the US House Intelligence Committee Wednesday to testify about the CIA's destruction of videotapes allegedly showing the harsh interrogation of "high value" terror suspects. Committee members complained that Congress had not been fully informed of the tapes' existence or of the decision to destroy [...]