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The European Union has imposed an arms ban on Syria, besides a freeze and visa ban on 13 top Syrian officials, including the brother of President Bashar al-Assad. Fifty-four Somalis trying to escape Libya are feared dead after an overcrowded boat with hundreds aboard capsized off the coast of Tripoli.

Using a mixture of humor and bravado, Twitter users flouted a ban on reporting early Canadian election results on Monday, running the risk of a C$25,000 fine ($26,300) and mocking an outdated law.

The 20-kilometer evacuation zone around the crippled Fukushima nuclear reactor complex has been declared a no-entry zone by the Japanese government, stating that the 'plant has not been stable'.

The Bahraini government has delayed plans to ban two principal opposition political parties -- al-Wefaq and the Islamic Action Society --on the heels of criticism from the U.S. government.

The French government has officially started enforcing a ban on the wearing of veils. The new law has enraged some Muslim groups who claim they are being “stigmatized,” while supporters of the ban say it is needed to better integrate foreign immigrants into the broader society.

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has been handed a two-match ban by the The FA after he swore into the cameraman during Manchester United's 4-2 win at West Ham United.

Most of the countries have withdrawn their travel restriction recommendations against Egypt, which went through a phase of political turmoil and social unrest early this year that ousted Hosni Mubarak.

The European Commission has adopted a roadmap of 40 concrete initiatives for the next decade to build a competitive transport sector that increases mobility and cuts emissions. Under EU's ambitious plan, the Commission wants cities cities across Europe to be free of conventionally fuelled cars by 2050.

In a weird twist in the tale, the Egyptian government has approved a law criminalizing strikes and protest marches in the country, raising questions from various quarters whether this was the outcome expected by millions of Egyptians who passionately fought for the ouster of Hosni Mubarak's oppressive regime.

Stung soundly by the turn of events in Egypt, where it lost one of a few friendly governments in the region, Israel has swung back into action by calling for the banning of Muslim Brotherhood.

Sen. Harry Reid D-NV called on state legislators to ban prostitution in Nevada on Wednesday.

President Barack Obama and his administration have called unconstitutional a part of the 1996 federal law that calls the government to define marriage to be a legal union between one man and one woman. The administration will not defend Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act in two pending legal cases, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, said on Wednesday.

They thought the act was too risky.

Ivory Coast presidential claimant Alassane Ouattara will extend until March 10 the period of the ban he has called on cocoa exports to try to unseat his rival, a spokesman for his government said on Tuesday.

Starting Wednesday, drivers in New York face one of the stiffest bans imposed by the nation on usage of handheld cell phones while driving.

Ivory Coast's presidential claimant Alassane Ouattara said he will extend indefinitely a one-month ban on cocoa exports if his rival does not leave power by the end of that period next week.

LG, Sony are indulging in patent wars over PS3

EU member states failed to relax a travel ban on Iran's foreign minister in time for him to attend this weekend's Munich security conference, but plan further discussion on whether to let him visit the bloc in future, an EU official said Friday.

While airlines are cancelling flights and countries are flying travelers back home, Russian Federal Air Transportation Agency might ban charter flights to Egypt.

Thousands of Egyptians defied a ban on protests by returning to Egypt's streets on Wednesday and calling for President Hosni Mubarak to leave office, and some scuffled with police.

Egypt said on Wednesday it would ban demonstrations and detain protesters, seeking to draw a line under unprecedented protests against President Hosni Mubarak's rule.