Morocco Islamists under fire over women abuse billA 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.
France to allow armed guards on ships to ward off pirates: PMFrance 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 10:00
French MPs vote to penalise sex workers' clientsFrench 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.
Belgium close to agreeing euthanasia for childrenEleven 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.
Croatia gays say marriage referendum major setbackAfter 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.
Pro-EU Ukrainians mass in biggest rally since Orange RevolutionPro-Western Ukrainians on Sunday held the biggest protest rally in Kiev since the 2004 Orange Revolution, urging the government to sign a historic pact with the European Union and clashing with police.
26 November 2013 10:01
Loud US reaction to in-flight phone proposalThe complaints started getting loud almost immediately after US regulators said they were considering allowing cell phone use on airplanes.
23 November 2013 12:10
Venezuelan president tries out new emergency powersVenezuelan President Nicolas Maduro exercised new emergency powers for the first time Thursday, signing decrees limiting business profit margins and tightening regulation of imports.
22 November 2013 15:09
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.
Ukraine to debate Tymoshenko bill to save EU dealUkraine's parliament on Tuesday was set to debate a bill to let jailed former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko go abroad for treatment in a last-ditch attempt to save a crucial deal with the European Union.
19 November 2013 17:48
Obama implores supporters for help on health law crisisPresident Barack Obama delved into his grass-roots organizing past Monday, appealing to his most faithful supporters to help him out of the political maelstrom over the botched rollout of his health care law.
19 November 2013 11:44
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.
18 November 2013 17:25
China's reform pledges: the main pointsChina's Communist Party leaders this week emerged from a closed-door meeting in Beijing bearing a raft of promises on issues from the controversial one-child policy to the scope of the death penalty.
