New Zealand lawmaker calls for Muslim flight ban
A New Zealand politician has labelled young Muslim men a terrorist threat who should be banned from Western airlines, sparking condemnation from Prime Minister John Key on Tuesday.
Horsemeat scandal spreads as French retailers pull foods
The Europe-wide scandal over horsemeat sold as beef spread Sunday as leading French retailers pulled products from their shelves and threats of legal action flew.
China bans ads on gift-giving to officials: media
China has banned ads that encourage giving luxury gifts to authorities, state media said Thursday, the latest push against official extravagance since new leaders took charge vowing better governance.
Kazakhstan to forego baning import of Russian oil products
There will be no ban, we are interested in supplies of Russian oil products: Minister.
After tobacco, Turkey bans hookah in public places
After banning smoking in public places, the Turkish government has gone one step further by clamping down on an ancient tradition -- the hookah, or water pipe.
Philippine leader keeps gun despite outcry
Philippine President Benigno Aquino may continue to carry a gun despite an impending ban on bearing firearms in the run-up to polls.
NY governor : stop the gun 'madness'
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday proposed the "toughest assault weapons ban in America" in response to a rash of shooting massacres, including the tragedy last month at a Connecticut school.
Kazakhstan prolongs oil products export ban into 2013
To prevent critical deficit and prices growth at the domestic market of oil products, Kazakhstan government decided to introduce a 6-month ban on export of oil products.
Samsung hits back at Ericsson in patent battle
South Korea's Samsung Electronics said Wednesday it had filed a complaint to seek a US import ban on some Ericsson products in an escalating patent battle with the Swedish mobile giant.
Russia set to advance ban on US adoptions
Russia's upper house of parliament was due Wednesday to vote for a bill barring Americans from adopting the country's children, in retaliation for a new piece of human rights legislation in the US.
US adoption groups voice concern over Russia ban
US adoption agencies expressed deep concern Thursday after President Vladimir Putin backed legislation making it illegal for Russian children to be adopted by Americans.
Group defiant over US ban on tackling Japan whalers
US conservation group Sea Shepherd vowed Tuesday to fight a US court order to stay at least 500 yards away from Japanese whaling ships, and to keep protecting whales "with our ships and our lives."
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.
