Protecting refugees in Europe: UNHCR calls for a ‘year of change’

After years of shifting policies and heated debate, UNHCR said that the ambitious but achievable recommendations would provide a common and workable asylum system within the EU through sustainable reform and revitalized financial support for host countries.

EU Takes Hungary to Court for Non-Compliance with EU Asylum Rules

The European Commission has made a decision to refer Hungary to court "for non-compliance of its asylum and return legislation with EU law".

US child migrants: 2,000 separated from families in six weeks

Almost 2,000 migrant children were separated from their families at the US border over six weeks, officials say.

Berlin court upholds ban on headscarves for public school teachers

A Berlin court upheld a law that prevents Muslim teachers from wearing headscarves in public schools.

U.S. cigarette makers ordered to post warnings on packs, websites next month

 U.S. cigarette manufacturers must begin posting warnings next month about the dangers of smoking on websites and product packaging, a federal court said.

Beijing Warns Taipei Against Over US' Taiwan Travel Act Adoption

A spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the Chinese State Council has warned Taiwan that if Taipei continued relying on foreign support, it might face undesirable consequences after US congressmen passed a bill encouraging bilateral visits by US and Taiwan officials.

Israel suspends actions that led to closure of Christian holy site

Israel on Tuesday suspended tax measures and other actions that led to the rare closure of the church built at what is seen as the holiest site in Christianity, shut down all week in protest.

China: Planned lawsuit targets tourists who posed in Japanese uniforms

A law league in the eastern Chinese city of Nanjing plans to file a public interest lawsuit against two men for posing in front of war ruins in Japanese army uniforms.

French gov't presents new migration, asylum rules amid criticism

French government on Wednesday unveiled a new bill to better handle migration crisis and asylum requests, saying it would balance between efficiency and humanity amid growing critics from human rights groups and even from its ranks.

Polish senate passes Holocaust bill slammed by Israel

Poland's senate has passed a controversial Holocaust bill, which was designed to defend the country's image abroad but has instead sparked a diplomatic row with Israel.

Saudi women to be allowed access to sports stadiums from next year

Saudi Arabia will allow women into three sports stadiums for the first time from next year, authorities have said, in a landmark move that would open up the previously male-only venues to families.

Israeli AG decries bill to protect prime minister from prosecution

Israeli Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit criticized a bill Tuesday that would grant serving prime ministers immunity from criminal prosecution as "unacceptable."

Mexican Senators call on US Congress to pass gun control legislation

Mexican Senator Marcela Guerra on Tuesday called on the US Congress to analyze initiatives to control the sale of weapons following the US city of Las Vegas massacre that left 59 dead and over 500 injured Sunday night.

France's hard-left leader Melenchon brings supporters to street against labor reform

Jean-Luc Melenchon, leader of hard-left "Unbowed France" party, on Saturday took tens of thousands of supporters to streets in Paris to protest against President Emmanuel Macron's decrees to make labor code more flexible, a day after the reform was enacted.

Bundestag passes law to fine social media companies for not deleting hate speech

German lawmakers have approved a controversial law that would impose high fines on social media companies like Facebook, Twitter or YouTube for failing to swiftly delete posts deemed to exhibit hate speech.

European Commission fines Google $2.7B in antitrust ruling

The European Commission fined Google Inc. a record $2.7 billion on Tuesday for breaching antitrust rules in favoring its own search services over its competitors.

Poland passes law on demolishing Red Army monuments

The lower house of Poland’s parliament, the Sejm, voted on Thursday to introduce amendments to the country’s de-communization law, envisaging the demolition of Soviet-era monuments, including memorials in honor of the Red Army.

Japan's Diet enacts law allowing emperor to abdicate

Japan's parliament passed a law Friday allowing Emperor Akihoto to become the first monarch to abdicate the throne in 200 years.

Facebook told it must remove hate speech postings by Austrian court

A court in Austria has ruled that Facebook must remove postings deemed as hate speech.

Eating cats and dogs banned in Taiwan

Taiwan has banned the eating of cats and dogs, as pressure grows to improve animal welfare after a spate of cruelty cases that stirred public outrage.