Texas abortion law passes despite protests
The Texas senate late Friday approved a bill setting some of the strictest limits on abortion in the United States, just weeks after a filibuster by opposition Democrats dramatically thwarted the measure.
Nazarbayev signs anti-torture law
The document is aimed at creating mechanism for prevention of tortures and other forms of illicit treatment to people in places of confinement.
Wales votes for 'presumed consent' organ donation
Wales will become the first country in the United Kingdom to adopt an organ and tissue donation scheme based on presumed consent after assembly members voted in favour of a bill.
Grandmother, 77, wins first China neglect case: report
The daughter of a Chinese grandmother has been ordered to visit her at least once every two months, in the first case under a new law to protect the elderly.
Gays celebrate landmark US marriage rulings
Gays and lesbians across the United States erupted in celebration Wednesday after the Supreme Court passed two landmark rulings on same-sex marriage in their favor.
US Supreme Court steps back into abortion battle
After refusing a string of cases dealing with the hot-button issue of abortion, the US Supreme Court waded back into the fray on Monday by accepting a case dealing with protests at clinics.
Frightening images won't help cut smoking: opinion
Some experts believe that the law requiring frightening images to be printed on cigarette packs in Kazakhstan will not reduce the number of smokers.
Australian court agrees, we're not all male or female
A landmark ruling won by an Australian gender trailblazer which finds that sex does not just mean male or female could have broader implications as society becomes more accepting of diversity.
Kazakhstan Senate approves draft law on renewable energy sources
Kazakhstan Senate has approved the draft law supporting use of renewable energy sources in the first reading.
Bloomberg to donors: shun US senators over gun vote
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg personally wrote Wednesday to hundreds of Big Apple donors, asking them to stop funding four Democratic senators who opposed tougher gun laws in Congress.
Immigration bill passes hurdles in US Senate
Bolstered by support from President Barack Obama, a landmark immigration bill passed a pair of crucial test votes Tuesday in the US Senate, kicking off weeks of debate on the comprehensive reform.
Nazarbayev returns pension reform draft to parliament
Executing the authority vested on me by the Constitutions, I am recommitting the draft to the parliament for revision of and voting on the timeframe of the raise of retirement age for women: President Nazarbayev.
US drops plan to allow pocket knives on flights
The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA), bowing to a chorus of outrage led by flight attendants, abandoned Wednesday its plan to allow pocket knives in carry-on baggage.
Swiss to vote on tightening of asylum law, again
The Swiss will vote Sunday on whether to approve an emergency tightening of the country's asylum law in a bid to stem the influx of refugees to the wealthy Alpine nation.
French move to ban industrial food from 'restaurants'
Worried its gastronomic reputation is being damaged by substandard eateries, France is considering banning establishments from calling themselves restaurants if meals are not made from scratch by in-house chefs.
Russia's ambitious smoking ban goes into effect
Russia's ambitious smoking ban, which aims to cut the number of smokers in half and improve public health, went into effect Saturday amid doubts that its measures can be fully enforced.
New law reignites debate over Germany's 'baby hatch'
Germany's "baby hatches", where women can safely leave their unwanted newborn, have come under fire as the government pushes a new law to guarantee a child the right to eventually know its mother's identity.
Thousands protest gay marriage in Paris
At least 150,000 demonstrators took to the streets of Paris to protest a new law allowing gay marriage, a largely peaceful gathering that later turned violent as riot police battled hundreds of right-wingers.
Nazarbayev signs law on countering pornography
Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev signed a law on countering pornography.
Japan parliament approves child abduction treaty
Japan's parliament on Wednesday approved an international treaty on child abductions after decades of pressure from the United States and other Western nations.