New Zealand lawmaker calls for Muslim flight ban A New Zealand politician has labelled young Muslim men a terrorist threat who should be banned from Western airlines, sparking condemnation from Prime Minister John Key on Tuesday.
12 February 2013
Gay rights mostly out of reach in central, eastern Europe Ania and Yga have been inseparable for the last 17 years, living together as a couple in the Polish capital Warsaw but their love is seen as second class in this deeply Roman Catholic country.
11 February 2013
Irish lawmakers vote to liquidate Anglo Irish Bank Irish lawmakers voted through emergency legislation to liquidate the former Anglo Irish bank early Thursday, as part of a deal to ease the eurozone country's massive debt burden.
07 February 2013
US lawmakers introduce gun trafficking bill Lawmakers from both parties unveiled a bill Tuesday cracking down on "straw purchasers" who traffic firearms to criminals, the first in a series of new gun control measures expected in Congress.
06 February 2013
British lawmakers approve gay marriage in historic vote British lawmakers voted in favour of controversial legislation allowing gay marriage on Tuesday despite fierce opposition from members of Prime Minister David Cameron's own party.
06 February 2013
Obama signs sweeping US defense spending bill President Barack Obama has signed into law a $633 billion US defense spending bill that funds the war in Afghanistan and boosts security at US missions worldwide.
03 January 2013
US adoption groups voice concern over Russia ban US adoption agencies expressed deep concern Thursday after President Vladimir Putin backed legislation making it illegal for Russian children to be adopted by Americans.
22 December 2012
Uruguay takes step toward legalizing abortion Uruguay took a step toward legalizing abortion on Tuesday as lawmakers in the lower chamber of parliament narrowly passed a bill allowing the procedure under certain conditions.
26 September 2012
US judge nixes terror detention law A New York federal judge shot down part of a controversial anti-terror law Wednesday that journalists and scholars worry could see them locked up indefinitely for speaking their minds.
Arizona governor limits immigrant benefits On the day undocumented migrants lined up across the US to apply for deportation deferrals, Arizona's governor ordered state agencies to deny them driver's licenses and other benefits.
20 August 2012
Japan lawmakers to approve long-awaited tax hike An unpopular bill to double Japan's sales tax and partially plug its gaping debt hole is set to be passed by lawmakers Friday in a triumph for the prime minister that could also herald the end of his job.
11 August 2012
Gay taboo turns to pride in Vietnam Communist Vietnam is considering legalising same-sex marriage, which would catapult it to the fore of gay rights in Asia, where traditional values dominate many societies and sodomy is illegal in some.
07 August 2012
Senators revive US cybersecurity bill, with changes A group of US senators has revived stalled cybersecurity legislation by offering compromises to address civil liberties concerns, an effort quickly endorsed by President Barack Obama.
Canada bans foreign strippers Foreign strippers will no longer be permitted to bare their breasts and shake their booties in Canada, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said Wednesday.
05 July 2012
Bangladesh's Hindu women fight for divorce rights Unlike her Muslim compatriots, Tarulata Rani is unable to inherit anything from her family, cannot divorce and cannot claim maintenance from her absent husband -- all because she is a Bangladeshi Hindu.
01 July 2012
Education deposits will become an option in KazakhstanKazakhstan citizens will be able to deposit money for their children’s education. A new draft law on the State Education Savings System has been presented by the Ministry of Education and Science of Kazakhstan.