India asks US embassy to stop 'commercial' activitiesIndia has asked the US embassy to close down commercial activities at its sports and leisure centre in New Delhi in the latest development in a diplomatic row.
Indonesia sharia stronghold bans New Year's festivitiesIslamic police in Indonesia's sharia stronghold seized thousands of firecrackers and cardboard trumpets after the city administration banned New Year's Eve celebrations for the first time, an official said Tuesday.
31 December 2013
Coloured tattoos escape ban in FranceTattoo artists in France, who were up in arms about a government ban on certain dyes, say the health ministry has reassured them they will be able to keep using coloured ink, attributing the uproar to a misunderstanding of thousands of pages of regulations.
Uganda adopts tough anti-gay billUganda's parliament on Friday adopted an anti-homosexuality bill that will see repeat offenders jailed for life, sparking an international outcry as lawmakers hailed it as a victory against "evil".
Elton John challenges Russian gay ban from stageBritish pop icon Elton John escaped serious criticism in Russia on Saturday after using a sold-out Moscow concert to challenge a highly contentious law banning the "propaganda of homosexuality" to minors.
New York City raises legal age for cigarettes to 21A New York City law banning cigarette sales to people under 21 was signed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Tuesday, the latest move in the Big Apple's war on smoking.
20 November 2013
Nearly 17,000 punished in China over 'frugality' rules: XinhuaNearly 17,000 people have been punished for flouting the Chinese Communist Party's "frugality" guidelines, state media said Monday, in the latest sign of efforts to clamp down on corruption.
Australia fumes at UK ban on historic kangaroo, dingo artThe National Gallery of Australia on Thursday blasted Britain's decision to block the export of two historic paintings of a kangaroo and a dingo as depriving the nation of its heritage.
McDonald's Japan 'sorry' over homeless banMcDonald's Japan issued an apology Friday after it was revealed one of its outlets had posted a notice banning homeless people for more than a year.