Mexico City begins 2021 with ban on single-use plastics

A new bill prohibiting gender reassignment has passed its first reading in the Russian lower house. It’s a further attack against LGBTQ rights in Russia.

Joel Oenga from Kwale County in Kenya is taking care of the environment by recycling waste. He makes furniture from plastic ropes from the Indian Ocean and dumped cement bags.

The parlors are one of the few remaining avenues for women to earn an income and socialize away from home. The Taliban now want them shut within a month.

Legislation outlawing gender reassignment has passed its final reading before Russia's lower house of parliament. The Kremlin has been clamping down on LGBTQ people over the past decade.

Kenyan President William Ruto lifts a ban on logging, saying his government will still push ahead with plans to plant 15 billion trees over the next decade, but climate experts warn his decision could be catastrophic. Meanwhile, concerns grow in the Horn of Africa as Russia announces a halt to the Black Sea grain deal. Finally, the EU inks a deal with Tunisia to stem irregular migration despite criticism of Tunis's human rights record, including treatment of sub-Saharan migrants.

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson broke the record for the highest paycheck for a single movie. Actors in Hollywood are either paid in full up front, or receive an initial portion, with a percentage of the movie's earnings promised.

Second-hand shoes from abroad are highly coveted in Kenya. They're cheap to buy and high in quality. But the government wants to ban the imports of such leather products in two years. President William Ruto's administration says it hopes to strengthen the local leather industry this way. However, those dealing in used shoes are up in arms - as are consumers.

President William Ruto says he lifted the ban on logging to create jobs for Kenya's youth. But climate activists are pushing back on what they see as his doublespeak on climate justice.

A top court in the semi-autonomous territory has turned down an effort to ban the protest song "Glory to Hong Kong." The anthem emerged from the city's widespread pro-democracy protests in 2019.

Given the increasing pressure on housing, the Belgian state secretary for asylum and migration, Nicole de Moor, wanted to prioritize women and children. The decision has been criticized by human rights organizations,

After just one month in office, French Education Minister Gabriel Attal decided to ban Muslim abayas in public schools. How do other European countries compare?

The Icelandic government said whalers will face stricter conditions and increased supervision. Animal welfare activists said Iceland missed an opportunity to "do the right thing."