Brazil abortion stirs controversy
A Sao Paulo court allowed a woman to abort a four-month-old malformed fetus despite Brazil law only granting abortions in cases of rape or when the mother's life is in danger.
03 September 2012
US court rejects graphic cigarette warnings
A US court on Friday shot down orders to slap graphic anti-tobacco messages on cigarette packs, saying the government overstepped its authority by trying to "browbeat" smokers into quitting.
26 August 2012
Arizona governor limits immigrant benefits
On the day undocumented migrants lined up across the US to apply for deportation deferrals, Arizona's governor ordered state agencies to deny them driver's licenses and other benefits.
New Yorkers against super-size soda ban
An overwhelming majority of New Yorkers oppose Mayor Michael Bloomberg's unprecedented proposal for banning super-sized sweet drinks and his support for breastfeeding.
Australia passes law to send boatpeople offshore
Australia's parliament has passed a law allowing it to transfer asylum-seekers arriving by boat to other countries, despite objections that refugees could be held indefinitely in remote camps.
17 August 2012
Australia says no plan for total smoking ban
Australia said Thursday it has no plans to ban smoking after a key court ruling allowing cigarettes to be sold in plain packets, describing the health battle against tobacco as "one step at a time."
Argentina imposes more restrictions on US dollars
Argentina has imposed another restriction on the sale of US dollars, barring travelers from purchasing them unless the dollar is the currency of their destination.
08 August 2012
Romney tax plan would hurt poor: think tank
Republican White House hopeful Mitt Romney's plan to cut taxes and get the economy back on track would hurt the poor, a non-partisan think tank said, sparking a furious political debate.
US police federation chief urges stricter gun laws
A US police federation chief called for tougher checks on gun buyers Thursday, almost a week after a shooter used four weapons, including an assault rifle, to kill 12 people at a cinema in Colorado.
27 July 2012
Mexico dissolves equivalent of FBI
Mexico officially dissolved its Federal Investigation Agency (AFI) on Thursday, and announced the formation of a new national crime-fighting agency with a "new working philosophy."
America resigns itself to gun law stalemate
Despite profound soul-searching over the Colorado shooting rampage, there is no political willingness to end the long stalemate over the toxic gun law issue, particularly in a US election year.
25 July 2012
French lawmakers vote to cut pay of president, PM
French lawmakers voted Thursday to reduce the salaries of President Francois Hollande and Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault by 30 percent as part of a series of budget-cutting moves.