Sherlock Holmes is free, US judge rulesThe beloved British detective Sherlock Holmes is now free to be reimagined in the United States after a federal judge ruled that licensing fees are no longer required.
28 December 2013
China formally abolishes labour camps: state mediaChina's top legislative committee on Saturday formally abolished the country's "re-education through labour" camps and approved a loosening of its one-child policy, state media reported.
28 December 2013
Obama signs defense, budget bills into lawPresident Barack Obama signed into law Thursday the compromise US budget bill recently negotiated by feuding lawmakers and a massive defense measure that takes a step toward ultimate closure of Guantanamo.
27 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.
26 December 2013
US 'concern' over Uganda anti-gay billThe United States voiced concern on Tuesday over a draconian anti-homosexuality bill passed by Uganda's parliament.
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".
US to cut funding on Turkish Chinese-missile purchaseThe US Congress is set to adopt a law next week forbidding Turkey from using American funds to acquire a $4 billion missile system from a Chinese company blacklisted by Washington.
14 December 2013
Wine dealer 'lied over fake vintages': US trialRenowned wine collector Rudy Kurniawan forged some of the finest vintages in the world, a series of French experts told his New York fraud trial Thursday.
Mexico's Congress approves historic oil reformMexico's Congress approved historic energy reform Thursday aimed at luring foreign oil firms back into the country and ending the state's 75-year-old monopoly following a heated debate.
13 December 2013
Australia's top court overrules gay marriage in capitalAustralia's High Court on Thursday struck down gay marriage in the nation's capital where dozens have wed under a landmark law, ruling that parliament must decide whether to approve same-sex unions.
13 December 2013
US House votes to get tough on child abductionThe US House of Representatives voted Wednesday to punish countries that do not promptly return abducted children, upping pressure in an issue that has soured relations with Japan and other allies.
12 December 2013
India's top court upholds law criminalising gay sexIndia'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.