Morocco Islamists under fire over women abuse bill
A long-awaited law to combat violence against women is currently under study in Morocco, but the Islamist-led government has had to revise its proposals after sharp criticism from rights groups.
White House steps up bid to thwart new Iran sanctions
The White House warned Congress Tuesday that passing new sanctions on Iran -- even with a delayed launch date -- would give Tehran an excuse to undermine an interim nuclear deal.
North Korea's powerbroker: ousted or just out of sight?
South Korea's spy agency believes North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has just carried out the most significant leadership purge since taking power two years ago, but confirmation may be a long time coming.
04 December 2013
India rejects WTO proposals in Bali
India said Wednesday it could not accept a WTO proposal on food security, casting a gloom over a high-stakes conference tasked with salvaging the body's faltering efforts to liberalise world trade.
04 December 2013
France to allow armed guards on ships to ward off pirates: PM
France will authorise the deployment of armed guards on ships as part of anti-piracy measures, a move long sought by shipping companies, Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said in an interview published Tuesday.
04 December 2013
Thousands of Ukraine protesters mass outside parliament
Thousands of Ukrainian protesters massed outside parliament in Kiev on Tuesday as lawmakers were set to debate a vote of no confidence in the government over the scrapping of a deal with the European Union.
French MPs vote to penalise sex workers' clients
French lawmakers on Saturday adopted a highly controversial provision in a bill that punishes clients of prostitutes amid fierce argument that the new measure will be counterproductive.
30 November 2013
Is EU's eastern Europe policy in tatters after Russia row?
Though the European Union appears to have lost to Russia in the first round of an East-West tussle over winning friends and influence in eastern Europe, some analysts would disagree.
30 November 2013
Canada let NSA spy on G20, G8 summits: report
Canada allowed America's National Security Agency to spy on G20 talks in Toronto in 2010 and at the G8 summit days earlier, according to documents cited by public broadcaster CBC.
China media urges countermeasures against Japan planes
China's state media called Friday for "timely countermeasures without hesitation" if Japan violates the country's newly declared air zone, after Beijing sent fighter jets to patrol the area following defiant military overflights by Tokyo.
29 November 2013
Belgium close to agreeing euthanasia for children
Eleven years after making euthanasia legal for adults, Belgium came a step closer to extending mercy-killing to terminally-ill children Wednesday after an intense public debate on the ethical issues at stake.
Japan's Abe appoints first ever female PM aide
Japan's Shinzo Abe on Friday named the country's first ever female aide to the prime minister, just weeks after Caroline Kennedy arrived as the first woman US ambassador to Tokyo.