Liberated town turns to Islamic law until end of Syria chaos Judge Mahmud Aqeed listens sympathetically to the woes of a tenant locked in a dispute with his landlord before turning to Islamic sharia law for a ruling in this liberated, rebel-held northern Syria town.
British university launches legal fight over visa status A London university on Monday announced it was launching legal action over the government's decision to revoke its right to sponsor visas, a move that threatens thousands of students with deportation.
04 September 2012
Brazil abortion stirs controversy A Sao Paulo court allowed a woman to abort a four-month-old malformed fetus despite Brazil law only granting abortions in cases of rape or when the mother's life is in danger.
03 September 2012
Australia passes law to send boatpeople offshore Australia's parliament has passed a law allowing it to transfer asylum-seekers arriving by boat to other countries, despite objections that refugees could be held indefinitely in remote camps.
17 August 2012
Ecuador grants Assange asylum in confrontation with Britain Ecuador granted political asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on Thursday, setting up a diplomatic confrontation with Britain, which angrily insisted it would extradite him to Sweden.
17 August 2012
US migrants sign up to Obama deportation deferral Long lines of undocumented immigrants sprang up across the US on Wednesday as thousands took advantage of President Barack Obama's decision to grant many of them temporary residency.
16 August 2012
Former Blackwater fined $7.5 mn over US arms case The security firm formerly known as Blackwater has agreed to pay a fine of $7.5 million to avoid US prosecution for smuggling arms, the Justice Department said in a statement Tuesday.
09 August 2012
US police federation chief urges stricter gun laws A US police federation chief called for tougher checks on gun buyers Thursday, almost a week after a shooter used four weapons, including an assault rifle, to kill 12 people at a cinema in Colorado.
27 July 2012
America resigns itself to gun law stalemate Despite profound soul-searching over the Colorado shooting rampage, there is no political willingness to end the long stalemate over the toxic gun law issue, particularly in a US election year.
25 July 2012
UK immigration laws spark Pakistan wedding boom New British immigration laws have unleashed a stampede to wed and a frenzy of English lessons for Pakistanis desperate to migrate as new restrictions come into effect.