A generational prohibition on tobacco went into effect in the Maldives on Saturday, the country’s Health Ministry said. Maldives is now the only country in the world with such a ban. The measure will apply to anyone born after January 2007. The policy received backing from President Mohamed Muizzu earlier this year. A statement from the Health Ministry said … Read more
Facebook Tweet Email Link Kabul, Afghanistan Reuters — The Taliban administration on Wednesday announced an internet ban across a swathe of northern Afghanistan, “to prevent immoral activities,” provincial government statements said. The hardline Islamist movement has previously voiced concern over pornography and flirtation between men and women online. It is the first such internet ban … Read more
LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (AP) — Slovenia on Thursday banned separatist pro-Russian Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik from entering the small European Union country. The Slovenian government’s decision followed Dodik’s refusal to step down from the position of the president of a Serb-run entity in Bosnia despite a court ruling that removed him from office. Dodik in … Read more
An Australian state will ban fish-shaped soy sauce containers, under a wider ban on single-use plastics. The iconic containers have become a staple in many Asian restaurants and takeaways around the world. “Each fish-shaped container is used for just seconds, yet remains in the environment for decades or centuries if littered,” Environment Minister and Deputy … Read more
The River Seine in Paris was shut down due to pollution concerns just a day after it was declared safe for swimming for the first time in over a century over the weekend. Swimming spots located near iconic Parisian landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame were opened to the public on Saturday after … Read more
He also announced that age verification will soon be imposed in France on sites selling knives online, similar to measures that currently apply to pornographic sites. “A 15-year-old will no longer be able to buy a knife online. That means we’re going to impose massive financial sanctions and bans,” he promised. Earlier, Prime Minister François … Read more
An Iranian spokesperson called the move a sign of a ‘supremacist and racist mentality’ dominating US policy. Iran has sharply criticised United States President Donald Trump’s travel ban on its nationals and those of several countries, calling it “racist” and a sign of deep-rooted hostility towards Iranians and Muslims. Trump earlier this week signed an … Read more
Ryan Garcia returns from a doping suspension to beat Rolly Romero with a unanimous points decision in New York. United States boxer Ryan Garcia was knocked down once on the way to a unanimous decision defeat to Rolly Romero in his return from a doping suspension in a welterweight bout held in New York’s iconic … Read more
The group that seized power in Afghanistan in 2021 is removed from Russia’s list of banned ‘terror’ organisations. Russia’s Supreme Court has suspended its ban on the Taliban, which it had designated for more than 20 years as “a terrorist organisation”. The latest move is aimed at normalising ties with the de facto rulers of … Read more
Romania hit back, saying that the Russian opposition has no access to legal institutions and “opponents are executed a few meters from the Kremlin.” Georgescu, powered by a successful TikTok campaign, scored a surprise win in the first round of Romania’s presidential election in November — but the vote was later annulled and Georgescu was … Read more