Supreme Court to take up issue of gay marriage
The US Supreme Court on Friday decided to take up the sensitive issue of gay marriage, hearing challenges to a federal law denying benefits to same-sex couples and California's ban on such unions.
Kazakhstan oil products export ban to be prolonged into 2013
According to Kazakhstan Oil and Gas Ministry, this ban will be prolonged for one year: KazMunaiGas.
BP banned from US government contracts
British oil giant BP was temporarily banned from winning new US government contracts Wednesday after agreeing to plead guilty to criminal charges in the deadly 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill disaster.
Russia briefly bans YouTube 'by mistake'
Web-surfing Russians endured a brief scare Wednesday that the authorities had blocked YouTube after the video-sharing website appeared on a list of banned addresses, in what officials later called a "technical mistake".
Naked protest as San Francisco bans nudity
San Francisco lawmakers voted Tuesday to outlaw most public nudity, despite protests in the famously free and easy California city -- including a naked demo outside City Hall.
San Francisco to vote on public nudity ban
San Francisco lawmakers vote Tuesday on a proposal to outlaw most public nudity, despite protests in the famously free and easy West Coast city.
SAfrica minister wants ban on insulting president
A South African minister called for a legal ban on insulting a sitting president to counter what he said was a lack of respect from white South Africans.
UN warns Bahrain protest ban could worsen tensions
UN leader Ban Ki-moon said Thursday that Bahrain's move to ban protests could "aggravate" tensions in the Gulf state.
Canada lawmakers pass masks ban
The Canadian Parliament passed a ban Wednesday on masks at riots that punishes violations with up to 10 years behind bars in a bid to crack down on radical groups.
Travel ban sought against S. Korea president's son
A South Korean special prosecutor has asked for President Lee Myung-Bak's son to be banned from leaving the country while he probes alleged irregularities in a project to build Lee's retirement home.
Agriculture Ministry eyes ban on saxaul cutting in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan Ministry of Agriculture is planning to impose a ban on cutting of saxaul throughout the whole Kazakhstan.
S. Korea lifts ban on French erotic novel by de Sade
South Korea has lifted a ban on the erotic novel "The 120 Days of Sodom" by the 18th-century French nobleman and writer the Marquis de Sade, just weeks after barring it for "extreme obscenity".
US appeals court lifts ban on Samsung-Google phone
A US appeals court Thursday lifted a sales ban on Google-branded Samsung smartphones in a patent fight with Apple, saying there was no evidence sales were driven by features copied from the iPhone.
VP pick Ryan bows to Romney line on abortion
US vice presidential hopeful Paul Ryan stood by his pro-life credentials Thursday but said a White House led by Mitt Romney would not try to ban rape victims from seeking abortions.
Costa Rica tightens ban on shark fins
Costa Rica has banned the import of shark fins, closing a legal loophole and targeting a link in a global production chain stretching to Asian markets, where shark fin soup is seen as a delicacy.
Kazakhstan bans anti-Islamic film
A court in Kazakhstan has banned as "extremist" the anti-Islamic film that sparked deadly protests across the world.
Saudi to accept Philippine maid applications from Monday
Saudi Arabia will begin accepting applications for domestic workers from the Philippines on Monday after the two governments resolved a row over minimum pay that had prompted a ban.
Swiss parliamentarians reject burqa ban
Swiss parliamentarians narrowly voted Friday against a ban on wearing the Muslim burqa and other face coverings in public places, including public transport.
Anti-Islam film declared illegal by Russian provincial court
A court in Russia's region of Chechnya has banned the anti-Islamic film that sparked deadly protests across the Muslim world, a ruling that in theory should be observed across Russia.
Czech government to ease ban on liquor sales
The Czech government said Wednesday it would ease a ban on liquor sales in force since September 14 following a wave of methanol poisoning that has claimed at least 25 lives.