Turkey imposes advertising ban on Twitter, Periscope, Pinterest
The law allows authorities to remove content from platforms, rather than blocking access as they did in the past.
Reuters, Istanbul
PUBLISHED ON JAN 19, 2021 11:18 AM IST
Turkey's Information and Communication Technologies Authority has imposed advertising bans on Twitter, Periscope and Pinterest under a new social media law, according to decisions published in the country's Official Gazette on Tuesday.
The law, which critics say will muzzle dissent, requires social media companies to appoint local representatives in Turkey. On Monday, Facebook Inc joined other companies in saying it would be appointing such a representative.
YouTube, owned by Alphabet Inc's Google, said a month ago it had decided to appoint a representative.
The decisions in the Official Gazette said the advertising bans went into effect from Tuesday. Twitter, its live-streaming app Periscope, and image sharing app Pinterest were not immediately available to comment.
The law allows authorities to remove content from platforms, rather than blocking access as they did in the past. The move has caused concern as people turn more to online platforms after Ankara tightened its grip on mainstream media.
In previous months Facebook, YouTube and Twitter had faced fines in Turkey for not complying with the law. Companies that do not follow the law will ultimately have their bandwidth slashed by 90%, essentially blocking access.
Amazon tweaks its app icon after 'Hitler moustache' comparison
Posted by Kunal Gaurav | ANI, Washington
PUBLISHED ON MAR 02, 2021 10:33 PM IST
- The new design is very similar, but the adhesive tape strip has been redesigned to look nothing like a moustache.
BRICS bank grants over USD 1 billion Covid-19 assistance loan to China
PTI, Beijing
PUBLISHED ON MAR 02, 2021 10:31 PM IST
This is the second emergency loan for the same amount approved by the NDB to help China fight the pandemic.
Coronavirus variant infected many already recovered from Covid-19: Study
By hindustantimes.com | Edited by Kunal Gaurav, New Delhi
PUBLISHED ON MAR 02, 2021 10:10 PM IST
- The researchers estimated that the variant evades 25-61 per cent of protective immunity arising from infection with previously circulating variants.
Aim to vaccinate 40% citizens by end of July: China
Reuters, Beijing
UPDATED ON MAR 02, 2021 10:12 PM IST
Zhong Nanshan, a coronavirus expert who helped shape China's COVID-19 response, said on Monday the current ratio of vaccine doses administered per 100 people in China is 3.56, much lower than those in Israel, United Arab Emirates and the United States.
Sri Lanka offers to develop new port terminal with India, Japan amid differences
PUBLISHED ON MAR 02, 2021 09:41 PM IST
- Caving in to pressure from labour unions, Sri Lanka decided on February 1 to scrap the agreement signed with India and Japan on developing the East Container Terminal (ECT) of Colombo port.
China's ex-finance minister says nation's fiscal situation 'extremely severe'
ANI, Beijing
UPDATED ON MAR 02, 2021 09:15 PM IST
Lou offered his sharp critique in December but the assessment has only been made public more recently, with just days to go before China's political elites meet for their annual legislative session.
Doctors, teachers, a fortune-teller amongst Myanmar's new wave of detainees
Reuters
PUBLISHED ON MAR 02, 2021 08:24 PM IST
- Some detainees are survivors of prison under the former junta. Some were taken from their homes, hundreds were seized by riot police and soldiers who charged down protests against the coup
US rights activist, former Clinton advisor Vernon Jordan dies at 85: Report
Posted by Kunal Gaurav | Reuters, Washington
PUBLISHED ON MAR 02, 2021 08:13 PM IST
Jordan's role as a Washington insider took him all the way to the White House, where he was a close friend and adviser to President Bill Clinton in the 1990s.
US announces sanctions on Russian officials, businesses for Navalny's poisoning
Posted by Kunal Gaurav | Bloomberg
PUBLISHED ON MAR 02, 2021 07:42 PM IST
- The sanctions are the first ordered by President Joe Biden against Russia and will help set the tone for his relations with Putin.
Taliban collecting funds openly, Pak govt turning blind eye: Report
ANI, Islamabad
UPDATED ON MAR 02, 2021 09:25 PM IST
Afridi said, "Whenever there are important meetings of important organisations like the United Nations and FATF, these terrorists and terrorist organisations are banned but the moment these meetings are finished, they resurface".
Merck to help make Johnson & Johnson's single-shot Covid-19 vaccine: Report
Posted by Kunal Gaurav | Reuters
PUBLISHED ON MAR 02, 2021 07:29 PM IST
US-based Merck halted the development of two of its own coronavirus vaccines in January to instead focus on its two Covid-19 treatments.
Sri Lanka approves new port development with India and Japan
AP, Colombo
PUBLISHED ON MAR 02, 2021 07:15 PM IST
Sri Lanka halted the 2019 agreement for India and Japan to develop and operate the crucial East Container Terminal at Colombo Port after weeks of protests by trade unions and opposition parties.
Covid-19: Which countries have most number of fully vaccinated people?
By hindustantimes.com | Edited by Kunal Gaurav, New Delhi
PUBLISHED ON MAR 02, 2021 07:08 PM IST
- The number of fully vaccinated people are nowhere near the number of doses administered since most of the countries are using Covid-19 vaccines that require a two-doses regimen.
Multiple sclerosis patient sues Austria over health impact of climate change
AP
PUBLISHED ON MAR 02, 2021 07:06 PM IST
- The case being filed next month before the European Court of Human Rights is supported by the environmental group Fridays for Future, which is helping to crowdfund the legal costs.
Media watchdog seeks German investigation of Saudi crown prince over Khashoggi
Reuters
PUBLISHED ON MAR 02, 2021 07:00 PM IST
Prince Mohammed has denied any involvement in Khashoggi's killing. Other Saudi figures named in the RSF filing could not be reached for comment and the Saudi government's media office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.