Teen birth rates in the U.S. hit a record low
The rate of births among 15-to-19 year olds declined by 9% in 2016 compared to 2015 a record low for that age group, according to the report from the Centers for Disease Control.
2017 C.E.
Minneapolis City Council approves $15 minimum wage
The Minneapolis City Council approved a $15 minimum wage Friday, a move years in the making that will affect hundreds of businesses and thousands of workers across the city.
Parliament in Germany approves same-sex marriage
Lawmakers in Germany voted on Friday to allow same-sex marriage after a brisk but emotional debate in Parliament, setting the stage for the country to join more than a dozen European nations including Ireland, France and Spain in legalizing such unions.
Qinghai province in China ran on 100% renewable energy for 7 days
For seven continuous days, over 5 million citizens living in the Qinghai Province in northwest China survived on 100 percent renewable energy, according to the State-run Xinhua News Agency.
111 terminally ill patients took their own lives in first 6 months of California right-to-die law
The End of Life Option Act made California the fifth state in the nation to allow patients with less than six months to live to request end-of-life drugs from their doctors.
Paraguay to pass renewable energy law this year
Paraguay is preparing to issue its first legislation to support the development of renewable energy sources, including solar and wind power, by the end of 2017.
Nordic states support UN Sustainable Development Goals
Leaders of the five largest Nordic countries recently announced support of the Nordic countries as a whole for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agreed under UN auspices.
Pakistan issues its first passport recognizing a transgender designation
Instead of having “male” or “female” listed on their official documents, Pakistani transgender men and women can have a “X” under the sex category.
World’s biggest coal company closes 37 mines as solar prices plummet
Coal India, the world’s biggest coal mining company and producer of 82 percent of the country’s coal, announced the closure of 37 mines that are financially “unviable.”
France to ban all new oil and gas exploration licenses
France plans to terminate the granting oil and gas exploration licenses at home and in overseas territories, as the country aims to increase the share of renewables in the nation’s energy mix.