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Barbers in Afghanistan's Helmand Province are now prohibited from shaving men's beards and playing music in their shops, according to a statement issued by the province's Taliban-led department of virtue and vice. The new regulations mark the latest in a series of restrictions placed on the people of Afghanistan based on the Taliban's strict interpretation of Islamic Sharia law. Source

BEIJING -- China will reduce the number of abortions performed for "non-medical purposes," the country's cabinet announced in new guidelines issued on Monday. The State Council said action would also be taken to avoid unwanted pregnancies and to encourage men to "share responsibility" in preventing them. Source

NEW DELHI -- Thousands of Indian farmers blocked traffic on major roads and railway tracks outside of the nation's capital on Monday, marking one year of demonstrations against government-backed laws that they say will shatter their livelihoods. Source

Hamadi Hamisi and his family spent 10 years trying to survive on meagre rations in a refugee camp in Kenya, living in a mud house with a bamboo roof. This year in Fredericton, as newly arrived refugees looking for a place to live, they stood in a dark, dank basement apartment, where mould grew on the walls, there was no proper ventilation, and the single, tiny window in one of the three bedrooms was broken. Source

As the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation approaches, Alana Hogstead has decided as a small-business owner to close up her shop in honour of the day. Hogstead co-owns Martha's Music in Camrose, Alta. Source

Students from kindergarten to Grade 12 across Canada have been back in class for a few weeks now — but that doesn't mean a complete return to normal, as some schools report COVID-19 outbreaks among students and staff. While every province and territory defines the term "outbreak" differently, all have released plans that outline how public health officials will help schools manage an outbreak on a case-by-case basis. Source

When her Canadian wife was offered an exciting new job in Thunder Bay in the summer of 2019, Christy Tashjian and her family made the big decision to move from Texas to northwestern Ontario. Trained and working as a nurse practitioner in the United States, Tashjian told CBC News that she didn't think it would be a big deal to transfer her licence and get her registration to work in Ontario. Source

As authorities continue their second week of searching tens of thousands of acres of swampland for Gabby Petito's fiance, Brian Laundrie, they are also seeking out new evidence in the investigation. FBI agents returned to the Florida home Laundrie shared with his parents Sunday, as seen in video shot by CNN. Source

ATHENS, GREECE -- A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.8 struck the southern Greek island of Crete Monday morning, killing one person and injuring several more, authorities said. The quake sent people fleeing into the streets, while schools were evacuated. Source

Moulin Rouge! The Musical, a jukebox adaptation of Baz Luhrmann's hyperactive 2001 movie, won the best new musical crown at the Tony Awards on a Sunday night when Broadway looked back to honour shows shuttered by COVID-19, mourn its fallen and also look forward to welcoming audiences again. Source