Pangolins in Crisis: Brent Stirton, South Africa; 1st place, Natural world and wildlife. “Pangolins are the world’s most illegally trafficked mammals, with an estimated one million trafficked to Asia in the last 10 years. Their scales are used in traditional Chinese and Vietnamese medicine, and their meat is sold as a high-priced delicacy. As a result, pangolins are listed as critically endangered and anyone who trades or consumes them is breaking the law. This body of work exposes the trade, while exploring aspects of illegality and celebrating the people who are trying to save these animals”. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Sony World Photography Awards 2020)

A wild elephant eats garbage containing plastic waste at a dump in Sri Lanka's eastern district of Ampara on June 3, 2023. Sri Lanka is set to launch a nation-wide clean up of plastic waste ahead of new laws banning the sale of single use plastics, the Environmental ministry said, after a spate of deaths of elephants and deer in the island's northeast after foraging at open garbage tips filled with plastic waste, whilst shrinking habitat has led to jumbos raiding villages looking for food. (Photo by Ishara S. Kodikara/AFP Photo)

View of the “Sunset Lake” hot spring with it's unique colors caused by brown, orange and yellow algae-like bacteria called Thermophiles, that thrive in the cooling water turning the vivid aqua-blues to a murkier greenish brown, in the Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming on June 1, 2011. Yellowstone National Park, was established by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Grant on March 1, 1872. The park is located primarily in the U.S. state of Wyoming, though it also extends into Montana and Idaho and was the first national park in the world. It is known for its wildlife and its many geothermal features, especially the Old Faithful Geyser. (Photo by Mark Ralston/AFP Photo)

Afghan artists perform a re-enactment of the lynching of Farkhunda, a 27-year old woman, to protest against her killing in Kabul, April 27, 2015. Farkhunda, who was killed by an angry mob in front of police in the Afghan capital in March for allegedly burning a copy of Islam's holy book was wrongly accused, Afghanistan's top criminal investigator said on March 22. The killing has fuelled anger about the weak rule of law and corruption that is crippling the country's instutitions. (Photo by Omar Sobhani/Reuters)

Winti spiritual leader Ramon Mac-Nack (2nd L) looks on as as his bride Melissa Karwafodi (2nd R) hands a gourd to a Maroon priest (L) as they are wedded in the first Winti marriage ever to be held in public, in district Para, Suriname, November 16, 2015. The Winti religion, which formed centuries ago out of elements of different religious traditions that African slaves brought with them to Suriname, was considered a form idolatry and prohibited by law since the days of slavery until it was finally officially recognized in 1971. (Photo by Ranu Abhelakh/Reuters)

For a long time the laws of Canada have explicitly banned gambling in any form. This may be the reason why the country does not have so many gambling establishments as the USA - but their quality surely makes up for the quantity. The first Canadian casino was opened in Dawson City, Yukon, in 1972 - it was the first one after gambling has been banned in the country in 1892. The Diamond Tooth Gertie's Gambling Casino did not operate for long, though. The first permanent commercial casino was opened in 1989, and it was the first of many - there are currently 75 casinos operating on Canadian soil.

Kenza Drider, 32, announces her candidacy for France's 2012 Presidential election on September 22, 2011 in Meaux, France. Drider is the first French Muslim woman to wear a niqab and run for President despite France's nationwide ban on the face veil, which today saw 32-year-old mother of three Hind Ahmas and Najate Nait Ali both being fined after being caught wearing the niqab in public in the Parsisan district of Meaux back in May when the law first came into force. (Photo by Franck Prevel/Getty Images)

A pet horse tethered on land known as “The Cracker” in Tipton that may be seized by bailiffs on October 10, 2011 in Dudley, England. Horse lovers in Tipton are battling the local council over the tradition of keeping their horses tethered on public land near their homes. Locals say tradition that has been in existence for generations and believe it stems from the age of the canal when many local men used their horses to tow canal barges along the industrial Black Country canals. After a spate of horses running free Sandwell Council are now enforcing the law and impounding tethered horses. Locals are planning their next protest with a horse drive to the council headquarters to try and save their traditions. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)