In August, under pressure from international human rights groups and various foreign governments over human trafficking violations, the Senegalese government began enforcing a 2005 law against using children to beg on city streets.

Traditionally, most of the Islamic schools for boys are supported by donations from the faithful, but in the big cities the practice has been used by some teachers for personal gain. The forced begging involves an estimated 50,000 children, some as young...

In Mecca, Saudi Arabia, one minute after midnight on Aug. 11, 2010, the beginning of the holy Islamic month of Ramadan was marked by the start of the world’s largest clock. The Mecca Clock sits atop the 2,000-foot-tall tower five of the seven-tower Abraj Al Bait complex, scheduled to be completed in fall 2011.

Each of the clock’s four faces is 151 feet in diameter and will be covered with millions of pieces of glass mosaic. Each side bears the words “Allah is greatest,” and 21,000 LED...

When in Riga or Jurmala, Latvia, you can rent one of 100 bikes from one of 11 BalticBike stands shown on a map on the website www.balticbike.lv.

First, register (also in English) online or by calling +371 67788333 (must have credit card). When you find a bike, call the same number, enter the number of the bike into your mobile phone, and the unlock code will be sent to your phone. Return the bike to any stand and call to end your rental charge.

Rentals cost LVL0.70 (near $1.34...