Opponents of Maryland's new same-sex marriage law have obtained enough signatures to challenge the legislation in a referendum, according to an unofficial count posted on Maryland's State Board of Elections . The count suggests that...

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday signed into law a controversial bill which greatly increases penalties for protesters who violate demonstration regulations. It was passed by both houses of...

The Mongolian Election Commission on Thursday voted to ban former Mongolian president Nambar Enkhbayar from the upcoming parliamentary election due to allegations of corruption and abuse of power during his former presidency. Enkhbayar's corruption trial began on...

Louisiana Governor Bob Jindal signed a bill on Friday increasing abortion restrictions in the state. The bill was approved by the Senate in April as a measure to ensure informed consent...

A former associate of deceased Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was convicted in absentia on Thursday of embezzling money and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Mohammed Rashid , along with two other businessmen, was...

Egyptian lawmakers reached an agreement on the composition of the constitutional council on Thursday after a controversy over the political balance threatened to halt drafting of a new constitution. Egypt's Supreme Administrative Court in April effectively suspended ...

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on Thursday urged the Pakistani government to continue to work to improve its human rights situation. In particular, Pillay stressed that the government must work to...

The Brazilian government on Monday issued an official apology to more than 120 former detainees of Brazil's military dictatorship, which ruled the country until 1985. It was made at a former holding facility in Rio De Janeiro during a...

The US House Committee on Foreign Affairs voted Thursday to approve a bill that would impose sanctions on Russian officials linked to the 2009 death of Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky ....

The Chinese Ministry of Information and Technology revealed its proposed changes to Chinese Internet law that seek to limit the ability of users to post anonymous comments on micro-blogs and forums. The...