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India's top court upholds law criminalising gay sex
India's Supreme Court Wednesday upheld a colonial-era law criminalising homosexuality in a landmark judgment that crushes activists' hopes for guarantees on sexual freedom in the world's biggest democracy.
11 December 2013
Uruguay becomes world's first country to legalize marijuana trade
Uruguay's Senate has approved ground-breaking legislation legalizing marijuana, becoming the first nation in the world to oversee the production and sale of the drug.
11 December 2013
Star wine dealer goes on trial for fraud in NYC
Star Indonesian-born wine dealer Rudy Kurniawan went on trial in New York Monday, accused of blending ordinary wines into fake vintages in his California kitchen to sell to wealthy collectors.
10 December 2013
Elton John challenges Russian gay ban from stage
British 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.
09 December 2013
Japanese parliament passes controversial secrets law
Japan's parliament on Friday adopted a law on protecting state secrets despite a public outcry, with strong opposition from the media and academics who fear it will infringe on the right to information and free expression.
07 December 2013
Chinese filmmaker faces billion-yuan lawsuit over children
Top Chinese film director Zhang Yimou is facing a billion-yuan lawsuit after violating the country's controversial one-child policy, state media reported Friday.
06 December 2013
Nazarbayev signs bill raising taxes
Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Kazakhstan, has signed the bill raising taxes.
06 December 2013
China anti-corruption activist beaten by police: lawyers
A Chinese anti-corruption activist put on trial in what campaign groups say is a crackdown on dissent was beaten by police while in detention, lawyers said Thursday.
05 December 2013
Almaty Toyota spare parts traders asking to permit parallel imports
Owners of dozens of Toyota spare parts shops that were closed down in the end of November have applied to the Kazakhstan Government asking to permit parallel imports of the original spare parts.
05 December 2013
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.
05 December 2013
Kazakhstan poised to put ceiling on salaries
Kazakhstan is planning to set salary ceilings industry-wise.
04 December 2013
In first, US woman denies Google Glass driving charge
A US woman thought to be the first person to get a traffic ticket for wearing Google Glass pleaded not guilty in court Tuesday, her lawyer said.
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
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
Victims fear release of Spain rapists, killers under rights law
Spanish courts are releasing serial rapists and killers under a European human rights ruling, terrifying their victims as authorities warn the convicts risk reoffending.
30 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.
29 November 2013
Women driver ban guards against evil: Saudi top cleric
The grand mufti of Saudi Arabia said a ban on women driving in the conservative Gulf state protects society from "evil".
29 November 2013
Cutting or damaging conifer trees punishable by law in Kazakhstan
Cutting of 7 or more conifer trees in Kazakhstan is a criminal offense in Kazakhstan.
28 November 2013
Croatia gays say marriage referendum major setback
After six years together, Hana and Iva both decided they had met "the one" -- but the Croatian couple's dream of getting married and having children risks being derailed by a referendum to outlaw same-sex marriage.
28 November 2013
Kazakhstan introduces Labor Day
Kazakhstan is introducing a new holiday -- the Labor Day.
27 November 2013