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Washington state lights up as marijuana legalized
Pot smokers lit up in Washington state Thursday as recreational marijuana became legal in a historic first for the United States, clouded by the fact that federal law still bans the practice.
07 December 2012
Mexico gay rights groups cheer court's marriage ruling
Mexican gay rights groups voiced hope Thursday that a Supreme Court ruling against an Oaxaca state law that banned same-sex marriages will lead to similar decisions across the nation.
07 December 2012
Poll finds growing US support for same-sex marriage
Support is growing in the United States for marriage equality, two polls showed on Wednesday.
06 December 2012
Australia readies for first plain pack cigarettes
All cigarettes sold in Australia will be in identical, plain packages from Saturday in a world first after the government overcame legal challenges from the tobacco industry.
02 December 2012
British newspapers back PM's opposition to press laws
Britain's newspapers on Friday praised senior judge Brian Leveson's report into media ethics but warned its recommendation to introduce new laws could "suffocate the free press".
01 December 2012
Chilean senate approves controversial fishing law
Chile's senate approved a proposed new fisheries law Thursday amid opposition criticism that it would award fishing concessions to just a few families.
01 December 2012
Majilis approved law on state educational deposits
Kazakhstan Majilis approved a law to introduce a state educational deposits system in Kazakhstan.
28 November 2012
New law to ban India's 'untouchable' toilet cleaners
With both hands holding the basket of human excrement on her head, widowed grandmother Kela walks through a stream of sewage, up a mound of waste and then dumps the filth while cursing.
21 November 2012
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.
20 November 2012
Anti-gay marriage protesters rally in Paris
Thousands of Catholics and other opponents of French government plans to legalise gay marriage and same-sex adoption marched in Paris on Sunday.
20 November 2012
Musicians blast bill to trim Pandora royalties
A group of 125 leading musicians is calling on the US Congress to kill a bill backed by online broadcaster Pandora that would slash royalties on Internet radio.
18 November 2012
Singapore eases death penalty policy
The Singapore parliament has passed legal reforms abolishing mandatory death sentences in some drug trafficking and murder cases, giving fresh hope to dozens of inmates awaiting execution.
16 November 2012
Death sparks criticism of Irish abortion laws
Ireland's tough abortion laws came under fire on Wednesday following the death of an Indian woman after doctors allegedly refused her a termination because it was against the laws of the Catholic country.
16 November 2012
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.
15 November 2012
Nazarbayev signed convention on protection of kidnapped children
Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev has signed a Law On ratification of the convention on civil-legal aspects of the international kidnapping of children.
14 November 2012
From pot to gay marriage, US voters have lots to decide
From legalizing marijuana and gay marriage to wiping outdated segregation laws off Alabama's state constitution, US voters have a lot more to decide next week than simply picking the next president.
01 November 2012
Singapore may bin phone books over privacy fears
Singapore is considering stopping the publication of free telephone directories listing residential and office numbers as privacy concerns mount.
25 October 2012
From pot to gay marriage, US voters have lots to decide
From legalizing pot and gay marriage to wiping outdated segregation laws off Alabama's state constitution, US voters have a lot more to decide next month than simply picking the next president.
25 October 2012
MP accused Kazakhstan Economic Ministry of lobbying for tobacco companies
The deputy was outraged at the new draft law on taxation presented in the lower chamber of Kazakhstan Parliament.
23 October 2012
Britain to get 'tough but intelligent' on law and order
British Prime Minister David Cameron will on Monday call for a "tough but intelligent" approach to law and order, advocating a combination of tough prison sentences and lighter rehabilitation methods.
23 October 2012