Nepal bans TikTok citing ‘indecent materials’

Nepal has one of the world's highest rates of cataracts and subsequent blindness, with devastating consequences for the country's poor subsistence farmers. But one surgeon has been working to change that, running treatment camps for years in remote parts of the country. Now, with fresh funding from an ex-convict-turned-tech multimillionaire, he's able to perform the life-changing surgery on ever more people and has ambitious plans. We take a closer look.

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.

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.

Senegal blocks TikTok in widening clampdown on dissent

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."

Blacklisting the Wagner Group would put it on the terror list with al-Qaida, meaning that it would be a criminal offense to be a member of or support the mercenary outfit under UK laws.

Apple's market value has tumbled by some $200 billion in the wake of reports that Beijing has banned iPhones among government employees. We take a closer look. Also, Chinese car manufacturers make inroads into the European market, and New York City cracks down on Airbnb.