U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order promoting the use of plastic drinking straws, reversing policies aimed at reducing single-use plastics. The move comes as several countries enforce bans on non-biodegradable plastics.
The new order, signed on Monday, encourages federal agencies and consumers to purchase plastic straws, undoing a Biden-era initiative to phase out all single-use plastics on federal lands by 2032.
Trump’s policy shift contradicts a global trend of plastic bans, following the United Nations' 2018 call for a worldwide cleanup of plastic pollution. Multiple countries have since restricted or banned single-use plastics, citing environmental damage and food contamination risks.
Among the nations enforcing bans:
Nigeria (2024) – Nationwide ban expanded from government offices.
India (2022) – Prohibited plastic straws, cups, and cigarette packs.
France (2021) – Banned plastic straws, cups, and cutlery.
England (2020) – Banned plastic straws and stirrers.
Kenya (2020) – Extended restrictions to include plastic straws.
China (2020) – Announced a phased ban on single-use plastics.
Several U.S. cities, including Seattle, Los Angeles, and New York, had already introduced restrictions on plastic straws before the federal reversal.
Environmental advocates warn that Trump's policy may increase plastic waste, while supporters argue it protects consumer choice and business interests.
President Donald Trump is pushing a radical plan to cut $1 trillion in federal spending and shrink the U.S. government. With Elon Musk leading the effort, the White House faces legal challenges and economic concerns over the impact of its cuts.
Elon Musk criticised the U.S. bureaucracy on Tuesday, arguing that unelected officials hold too much power. Speaking alongside President Donald Trump, he defended his push for government oversight after a judge blocked his department from accessing Treasury payment systems.
Russia has released American schoolteacher Marc Fogel, who had been detained since 2021, following an unannounced diplomatic visit to Moscow by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff. President Donald Trump confirmed Fogel’s release, describing it as a goodwill gesture from Russia.
NASA has swapped the capsule for its upcoming Crew-10 mission, using a previously flown SpaceX Crew Dragon instead of a delayed new one. The move brings forward the launch date to March 12, allowing an earlier return for two astronauts stranded aboard the ISS.
Egypt has rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal to resettle Palestinians outside Gaza, affirming that no land will be allocated for relocation. Instead, Cairo plans to present a comprehensive proposal to rebuild Gaza while ensuring its residents remain.
President Donald Trump is pushing a radical plan to cut $1 trillion in federal spending and shrink the U.S. government. With Elon Musk leading the effort, the White House faces legal challenges and economic concerns over the impact of its cuts.
Elon Musk criticised the U.S. bureaucracy on Tuesday, arguing that unelected officials hold too much power. Speaking alongside President Donald Trump, he defended his push for government oversight after a judge blocked his department from accessing Treasury payment systems.
Russia has released American schoolteacher Marc Fogel, who had been detained since 2021, following an unannounced diplomatic visit to Moscow by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff. President Donald Trump confirmed Fogel’s release, describing it as a goodwill gesture from Russia.
NASA has swapped the capsule for its upcoming Crew-10 mission, using a previously flown SpaceX Crew Dragon instead of a delayed new one. The move brings forward the launch date to March 12, allowing an earlier return for two astronauts stranded aboard the ISS.
Egypt has rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal to resettle Palestinians outside Gaza, affirming that no land will be allocated for relocation. Instead, Cairo plans to present a comprehensive proposal to rebuild Gaza while ensuring its residents remain.
The Sarandí stream in Buenos Aires, Argentina, turned bright red on Thursday for unknown reasons, raising concerns among authorities and residents. The waterway, which flows into the Río de la Plata, is under investigation to determine the cause.
Uzbekistan’s flag carrier has announced airline’s plan to purchase a dozen of aircrafts from Boeing and Airbus, marking a significant milestone in upgrading and expanding its fleet.
Azerbaijan has halted activities of “Russian House” in Baku according to local media reports on Thursday, following accusations of espionage. This is being described as an escalation of tensions between the two countries.
Elon Musk has called for the shutdown of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and Voice of America (VOA), arguing that the U.S.-funded media outlets serve as government propaganda tools and waste taxpayer money.
A major fire erupted near Istanbul’s historic Spice Bazaar in the Eminonu district on Thursday, quickly spreading to nearby buildings. Emergency teams, including firefighters and medical personnel, were dispatched to control the blaze and ensure public safety.
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) continues to provide stunning insights into the universe.
The risk of an asteroid impact on Earth has doubled within a week, though there are currently no plans to build a deflection spacecraft for the 90-metre-wide space rock.
President Donald Trump is pushing a radical plan to cut $1 trillion in federal spending and shrink the U.S. government. With Elon Musk leading the effort, the White House faces legal challenges and economic concerns over the impact of its cuts.
Elon Musk criticised the U.S. bureaucracy on Tuesday, arguing that unelected officials hold too much power. Speaking alongside President Donald Trump, he defended his push for government oversight after a judge blocked his department from accessing Treasury payment systems.
Russia has released American schoolteacher Marc Fogel, who had been detained since 2021, following an unannounced diplomatic visit to Moscow by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff. President Donald Trump confirmed Fogel’s release, describing it as a goodwill gesture from Russia.
President Donald Trump is pushing a radical plan to cut $1 trillion in federal spending and shrink the U.S. government. With Elon Musk leading the effort, the White House faces legal challenges and economic concerns over the impact of its cuts.
Elon Musk criticised the U.S. bureaucracy on Tuesday, arguing that unelected officials hold too much power. Speaking alongside President Donald Trump, he defended his push for government oversight after a judge blocked his department from accessing Treasury payment systems.
Russia has released American schoolteacher Marc Fogel, who had been detained since 2021, following an unannounced diplomatic visit to Moscow by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff. President Donald Trump confirmed Fogel’s release, describing it as a goodwill gesture from Russia.
NASA has swapped the capsule for its upcoming Crew-10 mission, using a previously flown SpaceX Crew Dragon instead of a delayed new one. The move brings forward the launch date to March 12, allowing an earlier return for two astronauts stranded aboard the ISS.
Egypt has rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal to resettle Palestinians outside Gaza, affirming that no land will be allocated for relocation. Instead, Cairo plans to present a comprehensive proposal to rebuild Gaza while ensuring its residents remain.
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