US House passes bill banning abortion after 20 weeks The US House of Representatives approved a Republican measure Tuesday restricting abortion to the first 20 weeks after conception, one of the most stringent pro-life bills in the past decade.
20 June 2013
Border security dispute puts US immigration bill at risk A huge US immigration bill inched forward Tuesday in the Senate, but Republicans warned that the landmark reform risks stalling or even dying in Congress unless backers agree to further tighten border security.
19 June 2013
Quebec moves to allow assisted suicide The government of Canada's mostly French-speaking Quebec province on Wednesday unveiled legislation allowing terminally ill patients to kill themselves with a doctor's help.
Australian PM brought to tears in parliament Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard's tough exterior cracked Wednesday as she choked back tears while introducing a bill into parliament on disability reforms.
15 May 2013
Vermont OK's small amounts of pot Vermont's legislature on Monday voted to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana, making the New England state the 17th to relax restrictions on the drug.
15 May 2013
Vermont legislators approve 'death-with-dignity' bill Legislators in the US state of Vermont approved a "death-with-dignity" bill Monday enabling terminally ill patients to take their own lives with lethal medication requested from their doctors.
14 May 2013
Philippine holds elections vital for Aquino reforms The Philippines held elections Monday seen as crucial for President Benigno Aquino's bold reform agenda, as deadly violence and graft-tainted candidates underlined the nation's deep-rooted problems.
13 May 2013
Immigration tops British government's agenda for the year The British government will set out its legislative programme for the coming year on Wednesday, with immigration top of the agenda in a Queen's Speech aimed at people who "work hard and want to get on".
08 May 2013
French parliament adopts landmark gay marriage law French lawmakers on Tuesday defied months of angry protests to approve a bill that is to make France the 14th country worldwide to legalise same-sex marriages.
France to approve gay marriage but debate to rumble onFrance's parliament will finally approve a bill to legalise gay marriage on Tuesday after months of protests that have shown no sign of abating in the run-up to the historic vote.
23 April 2013
Protesters in final bid to block France gay marriage lawTens of thousands of opponents of government plans to legalise gay marriage marched in Paris Sunday two days before a final vote on the bill, which has provoked fierce and sometimes violent protests.
22 April 2013
France's opponents of gay marriage fight to the end France's bitter debate over gay marriage is set to reach a potentially explosive climax on Sunday, two days before a bill legalising same-sex unions is due to be finally approved.
21 April 2013
France's Hollande blasts 'homophobic' violence French President Francois Hollande on Thursday hit out at "homophobic" acts by opponents of a same-sex marriage bill following violent protests that included an attack on a gay bar.
19 April 2013
Obama slams 'shameful' defeat of US gun reform Bristling with anger, President Barack Obama branded Wednesday's defeat of his gun reform drive in the US Senate as "shameful," and accused lawmakers of caving in to the powerful firearms lobby.
18 April 2013
New Zealand set to legalise gay marriage New Zealand is poised to become the first Asia-Pacific nation to legalise same-sex marriage in a parliamentary vote that gay rights advocates on Tuesday hailed as a milestone for equality.