The Indian government banned Thursday 18 Over the Top (OTT) streaming platforms for alleged obscene and vulgar content. Additionally, 19 websites, 10 apps, and 57 social media handles of such OTT platforms were also banned nationwide. The Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) stated in a press release that it collaborated with various intermediaries [...]
Japan’s Sapporo High Court affirmed on Thursday that the country’s current ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. This ruling from the High Court upholds the Sapporo Lower Court 2021 decision that found the ban unconstitutional. However, Thursday’s rulings are the first time a High Court in the country has gone as far as to declare [...]
The Hong Kong Court of First Instance upheld pro-democracy activists Chow Hang-tung, Tang Ngok-kwan and Tsui Hon-kwong’s convictions of failing to comply with notice to provide information under Article 43 of the China-imposed National Security Law. Schedule 5 of the Implementation Rules of Article 43 states that the Commissioner of Police may serve a notice [...]
The Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared on Wednesday two Russian diplomats as personae non gratae, requiring them to leave Austria by March 19. The ministry did not provide any details as to why the two diplomats were asked to leave Austria. In an official statement, the ministry accused the two diplomats of engaging in [...]
The European Parliament of the EU passed on Wednesday the first-ever Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act. The act passed with a majority of 85 percent of lawmakers in favor. It aims to mitigate the risks associated with AI, while ensuring that AI systems uphold privacy, human dignity and fundamental rights. The act is also part of [...]
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced Wednesday that Denmark plans to draft women into the country’s armed forces for the first time. Under current law, only men are required to register for the draft. Frederiksen cited a desire to achieve “full equality between the sexes” as one of the drivers behind the proposed reform. According [...]
Russia’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday announced sanctions against 227 US citizens. The group comprises an eclectic mix of individuals, from elite university professors to security and aerospace executives. According to the Foreign Ministry’s statement, these individuals were targeted for their roles in the development, implementation, and justification of Washington’s “policy of Russophobia,” in addition to [...]
Mexican journalist Jaime Barrera, known for his roles as the host of a news program on local TV channel Televisa Guadalajara and as a commentator on a political opinion program, was released after being abducted earlier this week, his daughter announced Wednesday. Barrera, 56 years old, was kidnapped on Monday afternoon in the city of [...]
The Deflagration Accident Disposal Headquarters of Hebei Province, China, issued a statement on Thursday apologizing for blocking media correspondents from reporting on an explosion that occurred in a four-story building located in Hebei Province, near Beijing, China, while pledging to actively establish a robust communication platform with the media and protect journalists’ rights. Following the [...]
In a revelation sourced from Reuters on Wednesday, a recent United Nations investigation has concluded that an Israeli tank strike resulting in the death of 37-year-old Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah in Lebanon last year violated international law. The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) conducted an inquiry into the incident, revealing that two 120mm rounds [...]