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☆ In Germany, Fighting the Far Right Poses a Conundrum for Democracy
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Erika Solomon | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

For Germany — a country that knows something about how extremists can hijack a government — the surging popularity of the far right has forced an awkward question. How far should a democracy go in restricting a party that many believe is bent on undermining it? German politicians have become increasingly alarmed that someday the party could wield influence in the federal government. Its popularity has grown despite the fact that the domestic intelligence services announced they are investigating the party as a suspected threat to democracy. History hangs heavy over Germany as well — the Nazis used elections to seize the levers of the state and shape an authoritarian system.

Locations: Germany, Poland, Hungary

☆ Opinion: Russian elections weren’t always like this
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Opinion Ekaterina Kotrikadze | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Editor’s Note: Ekaterina Kotrikadze is a news director and anchor for the independent Russian TV channel Dozhd (TV Rain). They couldn’t win elections, but they could participate, they could speak to independent media and convey their ideas to a significant audience. Thousands of people protest against the parliament elections in Moscow, on December 24, 2011. The Central Election Commission of Russia, of course, did not allow Nadezhdin to participate in the elections. While we cannot make the upcoming elections free, we can cover this circus as honestly as possible.

Persons: Ekaterina Kotrikadze, Kotrikadze, Read, Vladimir Putin, Ekaterina Kotrikadze Denis Kaminev, Putin, Boris Nemtsov, Vladimir Kara, Murza, Nemtsov, Yuri Kadobnov, Kara, ”, Alexey Navalny, Boris Nadezhdin, Alexander Zemlianichenko, Russia — Organizations: CNN, Faculty of Journalism, Moscow State University, Union of Right Forces, Getty, Putin, Commission, YouTube Locations: Russian, Europe, Netherlands, Russia, Moscow, AFP, Ukraine, Amsterdam

A leading state television channel opened with its host railing against the West and NATO. THE KREMLIN MEDIA DIETThe Kremlin regularly meets with the heads of TV stations to give “special instructions on what can be said on air,” said Ovsyannikova. State television broadcasts dull debates between representatives of Putin's opponents. GRANULES OF TRUTHRussian propaganda is “sophisticated and multifaceted,” said Francis Scarr, a journalist who analyzes Russian television for BBC Monitoring. Even those soothed by the Kremlin’s propaganda also could long for a real choice at the polls.

Persons: Alexei Navalny, Vladimir Putin, Putin, whittle, ”, PUTIN’S, Anna Politkovskaya, Evan Gershkovich, “, Marina Ovsyannikova, Sam Greene, Half, Jade McGlynn, —, Francis Scarr, McGlynn, Greene Organizations: West, NATO, NTV, Russia, Center for, Levada, King's College, Putin, State, BBC Monitoring, Kremlin Locations: Ukraine, Russia, State, Victoria, Russian, Crimea, Soviet, Washington, West, Ukrainian, Avdiivka, King's College London, RUSSIAN

9 to 0 — I’m going to say that again — 9 to 0, ruled that states can’t keep Donald Trump off their ballots. It’s how — Trump has said to his loyalists, I am your retribution, so maybe we should just look at this as a blueprint for retribution. He’s going to end up — when he gives his big convention speech, he’s going to end up making promises on economic policy, domestic policy, and so on. ross douthatSo here’s why I’m sort of — Carlos, especially to your point — like, trying to focus us on the sharpest possible conflicts. But if most of the country’s political and emotional energy is instead focused on Trump himself, rather than real, actual debates, then I think Trump is winning, period, and the country is losing.

Persons: carlos lozada, polgreen Wow, ross douthat, lydia polgreen, Kiefer Sutherland, carlos lozada Totally, michelle cottle Perfect, lydia polgreen You’re, Kiefer, I’m Ross Douthat, michelle cottle I’m Michelle Cottle, carlos lozada I’m Carlos Lozada, Lydia Polgreen, michelle cottle Chin, Biden, lydia polgreen It’s, —, can’t, Donald Trump, Grover Cleveland, michelle cottle, Jesus, Donald Trump’s, Carlos Lozada, it’s, Carlos, ross, carlos lozada You, “, Trump, Nikki Haley, carlos lozada Yes, He’s, United States — carlos lozada, carlos lozada Harold Meyerson, ”, Harold — carlos lozada —, michelle cottle —, — Trump, Trumpism, lydia polgreen Trump, carlos lozada —, part’s, michelle cottle You’re, Lydia, let’s, Michelle, — ross douthat Michelle, michelle cottle Oh, Hillary Clinton, — ross, lydia polgreen Get, michelle cottle Mexico’s, Mike Shear, Julie Davis’s, ” ross douthat, carlos lozada Michelle, michelle cottle I’m, George Floyd, I’m — ross, polgreen, I’m, — michelle cottle, he’s, lydia polgreen I’m, Dobbs, ross douthat Carlos, we’ve, unquote, carlos lozada Well, carlos lozada He’s, — carlos lozada Boo, Matt Iglesias, That’ll, that’ll, Peter Navarro, doesn’t, there’ll, lydia polgreen There’ll, carlos lozada Ross, there’s, ” michelle cottle, lydia polgreen Couldn’t, John Roberts, Peter Baker, Susan Glasser’s, Maggie Haberman’s, — michelle cottle Beat, ross douthat —, It’s, Asli Aydintasbas, she’s, Ross, Viktor Orbán, Joe Biden, ideologues, ross douthat Lydia, — carlos lozada, ross douthat Go, nope — ross, Miley Cyrus, it’s Truman, I’ve, lydia polgreen There’s, Bilbo, Martin Freeman, michelle cottle Big, michelle cottle Carlos, We’ve, carlos lozada You’re, We’ll, lydia polgreen Bye Organizations: New York, Republican, New York Times, Siena College, Trump, Heritage Foundation, Leadership, GOP, Republicans, HHS, Department of Health, Human Services, Department of Life, CDC, Department of Justice, Justice Department, National Guard, of Homeland Security, Democrats, Politico, America, United States Constitution, Swans, East, Brooklyn, Northwest Missouri State University, carlos lozada Business Locations: New, America, Douthat, ”, Washington, United States, lydia polgreen Get Mexico, Francisco, China, Turkish, Turkey, Manhattan, Brooklyn

Kremlin political critics, turncoat spies and investigative journalists have been killed or assaulted in a variety of way s. The Russian opposition has lost its brightest star with Navalny's sudden death in a prison colony. “This is a very difficult loss for the Russian opposition,” he told The Associated Press after his death. While Navalny was the first leader to build a national Russian opposition, there were other opposition factions who didn’t like him or his organization. While Navalny’s team continued to publish successful investigative reports, they ultimately suspended the protests and said they would switch to different tactics. OPPOSITION IN EXILEIn the meantime, the Russian opposition faces a future largely in exile without one of its brightest leaders.

Persons: — Alexei Navalny, Vladimir Putin, “ You’re, ”, Navalny, turncoat, Putin, “ Alexei Navalny, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Graeme Robertson, ” Khodorkovsky, Garry Kasparov, Mikhail Kasyanov, Vladimir Kara, Murza Jr, PUTIN, “, Nigel Gould, Davies, PUTIN Putin, Robertson, Khodorkovsky, Navalny’s, “ Putin Organizations: Kremlin, Associated Press, University of North, Chapel Hill, Corruption Foundation, Corruption, International Institute for Strategic Studies Locations: Russia, University of North Carolina, London, Russian, Ukraine, British, Belarus, Eurasia, Moscow, Germany

Russian President Vladimir Putin used an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson to urge Washington to recognize Moscow's interests and persuade Ukraine to sit down for talks. Most of the interview, released Thursday, focused on Ukraine, where the war is nearing the two-year mark. It was Putin’s first interview with a Western media figure since his full-scale invasion of Ukraine two years ago. Two journalists working for U.S. news organizations — The Wall Street Journal’s Gershkovich and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Alsu Kurmasheva — are in jail. Asked by Carlson whether Russia would release Gershkovich, Putin said Moscow is open to talks but repeated that the reporter was charged with espionage, an accusation Gershkovich has denied.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Tucker Carlson, Putin, Evan Gershkovich, Volodymyr Zelenskyy's, “, ” Putin, John Kirby, Carlson, Gershkovich, Vadim Krasikov, Zelimkhan, Krasikov, We’re, Evan Organizations: Fox News, NATO, Ukrainian, Kremlin, Kyiv, Putin, House, Radio Free, Street Locations: Washington, Ukraine, Russia, Moscow, Germany, Poland, Radio Free Europe, U.S, Russian, Caucasus

☆ US, Russia Clash at UN Over North Korea, Patriot Missiles in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

Ambassador to the U.N. Robert Wood traded the accusations at a U.N. Security Council meeting on Ukraine, requested by Moscow. "To date, Russia has launched DPRK-supplied ballistic missiles against Ukraine on at least nine occasions," Wood told the 15-member Security Council, using the North Korea's formal name: the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). "Russia and the DPRK must be held accountable for their actions, which undermine long-standing obligations under UN Security Council resolutions," he said. Russian investigators said last week that they had evidence showing that Ukraine's military shot down the military transport plane with U.S.-made Patriot surface-to-air missiles. Senior Ukrainian U.N. diplomat Serhii Dvornyk accused Russia of misusing the Security Council "for disseminating fakes."

Persons: Michelle Nichols UNITED, Russia's U.N, Vassily Nebenzia, Robert Wood, Wood, Nebenzia, Serhii Dvornyk, Michelle Nichols, Ronald Popeski, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS, Reuters, United, U.S, Security, Democratic People's, UN, North, ., Russian Air Force, Security Council, Senior Ukrainian Locations: United States, Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, Washington, Russian, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, DPRK, Pyongyang, North Korea, Iran, U.S

☆ Activist Rubric nominates two directors at Xperi. Here’s how the firm may help enhance shareholder value
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-27 | by ( Kenneth Squire | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Business: Xperi is a technology company that develops software solutions and has the following four main business segments. Rubric is a deep value, long/short investor that will become active in situations that require it. The problem is a culture that is not focused on shareholder value. Accordingly, Rubric Capital nominated Conrad and Lacey for election as directors to the company's board at Xperi's 2024 annual meeting. There is a big difference between settling for two additional directors on a seven-person board and replacing two incumbent directors on a five-person board.

Persons: Xperi, David Rosen, Rosen, Tobii, Conrad, Lacey, Ken Squire Organizations: Smart, TiVo, SAC Capital, Tobii, 13D Locations: New York, Swedish

☆ US Envoy Slams Hungarian Govt for 'Disregarding' Interests of NATO Allies
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Dec. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - The U.S. envoy to Budapest sharply criticised the Hungarian government on Tuesday for "disregarding" the interests of its NATO allies and strengthening ties with Russia at a time when its allies are isolating it. In a speech at AmCham to U.S. companies that have invested in Hungary, Ambassador David Pressman said Hungary has thrived as a member of the European Union and NATO, allowing companies run successful businesses in the Central European country that joined the EU in 2004. "Yet today, we are increasingly seeing an Ally that relies upon its NATO Allies, but feels comfortable disregarding the interests of those same Allies and our Alliance, including during a time of war in Europe," Pressman said. Sweden's NATO membership is pending ratification byTurkey and Hungary. Budapest opposes Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but Orban has kept up close relations with Moscow - partly due to Hungary's continued energy dependence on Russia.

Persons: David Pressman, Ally, Pressman, Vladimir, Putin, Viktor Orban's, Orban, Orban's, Krisztina, Marguerita Choy Organizations: U.S, NATO, European Union, Central European, EU, NATO Allies, Alliance Locations: BUDAPEST, Budapest, Russia, AmCham, U.S, Hungary, Europe, Ukraine, Washington, Moscow, Turkey

☆ Putin fears the wrath of soldiers' wives as the Kremlin tries to 'pay off' potential protesters, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Russian soldiers and their wives are becoming increasingly unhappy with long deployments. The outlet reported that the Kremlin believes most wives are more concerned about the paycheck than their husbands returning from war. AdvertisementThe report comes after the wives of deployed soldiers held a rare public protest in Moscow on November 7. In its latest briefing note, the MoD cited that On 27 November 2023, a prominent online group for soldiers' wives published a manifesto against "indefinite mobilization." Recent requests by soldiers' wives to hold protests in Moscow and St. Petersburg have been denied.

Persons: —, RkeSEZILBt — Slava, @Heroiam_Slava, doesn't, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Ella Pamfilova Organizations: Service, Ministry of Defence, MoD, Kremlin, Levada Locations: Russian, Moscow, London, St, Petersburg, Afghanistan, Chechnya, Ukraine

CNN —Almost three years on from its bloody coup, Myanmar’s military junta is facing the biggest threat to its hold on power as it fights wars on multiple fronts across the Southeast Asian nation. Junta airstrikes and ground attacks on what the Myanmar military calls “terrorist” targets have killed thousands of civilians to date, including children, and displaced about 2 million people. Stringer/AFP/Getty ImagesCNN has reached out to Myanmar’s military spokesperson for comment on the recent fighting but has not received a response. Stringer/AFP/Getty ImgesIn the jungles of southeast Kayah state, fighting has raged near the state capital Loikaw. Video filmed and published by the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force appears to show Myanmar army soldiers surrendering to rebels at Loikaw University who are filmed treating their injuries.

Persons: ”, Matthew Arnold, ” Arnold, Min Aung, Aung, Suu Kyi, “, Bo Nagar, Stringer, Myint Swe, Chin Shwe Haw, Nan Diya, Lalmalsawma Hnamte, Lin Lin, Ye Myo Hein, May, – “, Karen, Chin state’s Matupi, Tian Junli, Arnold, Myanmar’s, it’s, Suu Organizations: CNN, United Nations, National Unity Government, Junta, Myanmar, UN, Administration Council, Burma National Revolutionary Army, National Liberation Army, Alliance, Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, Arakan Army, ”, Getty, Reuters, Loikaw, Karenni Nationalities Defense Force, Loikaw University, Resistance, Burma People’s Liberation Army, Brotherhood Alliance, United States Institute of Peace, Wilson Center, Border Guard Forces, China, Global Times, PLA Southern Theater Command Locations: Myanmar, Myanmar’s, Suu, Yangon, Mandalay, Burma, Namhsan Township, Shan State, AFP, Arakan, China, ”, Shan, Chin, Muse, Rakhine, Pauktaw, Lashio, Kayah, Mizoram, “, Sagaing region, Asia, Kawkareik, Karenni, Sagaing, India, Thailand, Bangladesh

AMERICUS, Ga. (AP) — Rosalynn Carter will make her final journey to the Jimmy Carter Presidential Center on Monday as her family begins three days of memorials for the former first lady and global humanitarian who died Nov. 19 at the age of 96. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden, longtime friends of the Carters, lead the dignitaries expected to attend the Atlanta service. Some well-wishers began honoring Rosalynn Carter soon after her death, including an uptick in visitors to the Presidential Center campus. At the campus's Rosalynn Carter Health and Human Sciences Complex, there will be a wreath-laying ceremony attended by the current leadership of the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving. A brief service of repose is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. — before public access — once her remains arrive at Carter Presidential Center.

Persons: — Rosalynn Carter, Jimmy Carter, Rosalynn Carter's, Joe Biden, Jill Biden, Jimmy Carter's, ”, Kim Fuller, we’re, Rosalynn Carter, Brendan Green, ” Green, Carter's, Carter, Kamala Harris, Doug Emhoff, Glenn, Carters, Fuller, ” Fuller, Sudhin Thanawala Organizations: Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum, Maranatha Baptist Church, White House, Maranatha, “, Presidential Center, Medical, Georgia Southwestern State University, Georgia Southwestern College, Carter Health, Human Sciences, Carter Institute for Caregiving, Carter, Luke’s Episcopal Church, Peachtree, Glenn Memorial Church, Emory University, Emory, Methodist, Plains Methodist Church, Associated Press Locations: AMERICUS, Ga, Sumter County, Georgia, Atlanta, Plains, caregiving, Maranatha, Chicago, Americus, St, Luke’s, Peachtree St

Russia has added the spokesman of U.S. technology company Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, to a wanted list, according to an online database maintained by the country’s interior ministry. The interior ministry’s database doesn't give details of the case against Stone, stating only that he is wanted on criminal charges. In March this year, Russia's federal Investigative Committee opened a criminal investigation into Meta. It alleged that the company's actions following Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022 amounted to inciting violence against Russians. In April 2022, Russia also formally barred Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg from entering the country.

Persons: Andy Stone, Stone, Meta didn't, Mediazona, ’ ”, couldn't, X, Mark Zuckerberg Organizations: Meta, Tass, federal, Russian, Facebook, Twitter Locations: Russia, Russian, Ukraine

☆ Putin fears the wrath of soldiers' wives, as the Kremlin tries to buy-off potential protestors, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Russian soldiers and their wives are becoming increasingly unhappy with long deployments without rotation. AdvertisementThe Kremlin is concerned that the disgruntled wives of conscripted soldiers unhappy with long deployments could become a significant political headache, reports say. The Kremlin believes that most wives are more concerned about the paycheck than their husbands returning from war, the outlet reported. The report comes after the wives of deployed soldiers held a rare public protest in Moscow on November 7. AdvertisementRecent requests by soldiers' wives to hold protests in Moscow and St Petersburg have been denied.

Persons: —, RkeSEZILBt — Slava, @Heroiam_Slava, doesn't, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Ella Pamfilova Organizations: Service, UK Ministry of Defense, Russian, St, Levada Locations: Russian, Moscow, The, London, St Petersburg, Afghanistan, Chechnya, Ukraine

☆ Slovak parliament confirms government promising to halt Ukraine military aid
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Slovakia's newly appointed Prime Minister Robert Fico attends the new cabinet's inauguration, at the Presidential Palace in Bratislava, Slovakia, October 25, 2023. REUTERS/Radovan Stoklasa/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 21 (Reuters) - Slovakia's parliament confirmed Prime Minister Robert Fico's government on Tuesday, backing a policy agenda that promises to halt state military aid to Ukraine, slowly reduce budget deficits and impose a new bank tax. Fico's governing coalition combines his leftist, socially conservative SMER-SSD party with a smaller leftist party and a small nationalist party. The coalition adopted its policy programme last week, and parliament supported it in a vote of confidence on Tuesday. The programme promises a special tax on banking profits and measures to cut interest rates on mortgages.

Persons: Slovakia's, Robert Fico, Radovan Stoklasa, Robert Fico's, Fico, Zuzana Caputova, Jason Hovet, Jan Lopatka, Timothy Organizations: REUTERS, European Union, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Bratislava, Slovakia, Ukraine

☆ Slovakia's New PM Fico Stops Talking to Some Media Amid Rift
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

(Reuters) - Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico stopped communication with four leading domestic news outlets on Monday after accusing them of failing to provide truthful information, widening a rift with some independent media groups. Fico became prime minister for a fourth time last month at the head of a leftist-nationalist coalition after an election in which he attacked liberal policies, Slovakia's Western allies and media that is critical of him and his SMER party. "As long as the cited media outlets do not begin to fulfil their legal obligations, Prime Minister R. Fico is interrupting any communication with them," the government office said in an emailed statement. While he had not barred journalists, halting communication contravened laws ensuring that media are kept informed by the authorities, he added. Pavol Szalai of Reporters Without Borders said Fico was subjecting Slovakia's democracy to a "crash test".

Persons: Robert Fico, Fico, Jan Kuciak, Kuciak, R, Dennik, Matus Kostolny, Kostolny, Beata Balogova, Jason Hovet, Gareth Jones Organizations: Reuters, Slovak, TV, Facebook, Borders, Government

Kurmasheva was detained on Oct 18, becoming the second U.S. journalist detained in Russia this year, after Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was arrested on espionage charges in March. She is being held in a detention center, awaiting a trial that could sentence her to up to five years in prison. “Alsu was well aware of the risks that were associated with a possible trip to Russia,” Butorin added. Independent media and journalists in Russia have faced immense pressure after the Kremlin sent troops to Ukraine in February 2022. through passing her notes censored by Russian authorities.

Persons: Pavel Butorin, Alsu Kurmasheva —, —, ” “, ” Butorin, “, ”, Kurmasheva, Evan Gershkovich, Alsu, “ Alsu, ” Kurmasheva, Brittney, U.S . Russia hasn't, Butorin, she’s Organizations: U.S, Free, Associated Press, Wall Street, Kazan International Airport, Protect Journalists, Radio Free Europe, Independent, Kremlin, Analysts, U.S . State Locations: PRAGUE, American, Russia, Prague, Tatarstan, Bashkortostan, Ukraine, Moscow, U.S . Russia, U.S ., United States, Litvinova, Tallinn, Estonia

☆ Jim Cramer picks Disney as best of the major media stocks
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Julie Coleman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

CNBC's Jim Cramer on Friday ranked major media stocks, choosing Walt Disney as the best of the bunch. "After earnings season, it's worth reassessing the independent media plays, because some of them are doing much better than expected," Cramer said. Walt Disney " this quarter, Cramer said, reporting better-than-expected earnings after years of struggling. Cramer said CEO Bob Iger has taken control of Disney's narrative, expressing confidence that this quarter is a turning point. To Cramer, Disney is likely to deliver on its cost-cutting promises or at least "die trying."

Persons: CNBC's Jim Cramer, Walt Disney, Cramer, Bob Iger, Disney Organizations: Fox Warner Bros, Paramount, Comcast, CNBC

The Consequences of Elon Musk’s Ownership of XNow rebranded as X, the site has experienced a surge in racist, antisemitic and other hateful speech. Research conducted in part by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue concluded that anti-Semitic tweets in English more than doubled after Mr. Musk’s takeover. Keeping X at the center of public debate is exactly Mr. Musk’s goal, which he describes at times with a messianic zeal. Even worse, the article argued, Mr. Musk’s changes appear to be boosting the engagements of the most contentious users. A month into Mr. Musk’s ownership, the platform stopped enforcing its policy against Covid-19 misinformation.

Persons: Elon Musk, ”, “, Musk’s, —, Musk, Tim Chambers, ” Mr, Chambers, Tesla, lockdowns, Thierry Breton, Mr Organizations: Elon, Twitter, “ Twitter, Hamas, Dewey, Group, Defamation, Research, Institute for Strategic, Commission, Kremlin, Pentagon, Tufts, Rutgers, Montclair, 4chan, Harvard Kennedy School, Covid, Media, Mr, Commission's Digital Services, Services, Defamation League, European Union Locations: Musk’s, Russia, China, Israel, Ukraine, Iran, guardrails

☆ CEO of China's Weibo tests new real-name policy on his own account
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

File photo: The logo of Chinese social media app Weibo is seen on a mobile phone in this illustration picture taken December 7, 2021. The comments by Wang Gaofei, whose microblogging platform is China's equivalent of X, caught the attention of local media and several Weibo users, amid concerns over growing censorship and government scrutiny over the country's internet. In Wang's case, the display of his name on his account was first pointed out by a user, leading him to respond that he was testing out this policy on his own account first. "Long-time followers (of my account) all know that (I) try to first use (new) functions myself," he wrote. He also suggested users could delete followers to avoid being subjected to the policy.

Persons: Florence Lo, Wang Gaofei, Wang, Eduardo Baptista, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: Weibo, REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Rights BEIJING, China

The individuals' accounts varied but were consistent in describing heightened scrutiny of overseas travel even after China reopened borders in January. Reuters is reporting these measures and the scope of some post-COVID travel curbs for the first time. NEW LIMITSRestrictions on personal foreign travel have long applied to senior government officials and state executives with access to confidential information. MAPPING CONNECTIONSChinese authorities are also scrutinising personal foreign ties, according to a document seen by Reuters, one of the 10 people who discussed travel curbs and three other state-enterprise workers with knowledge of the matter. Thomas said the travel curbs in particular would have implications for China's interactions with the world.

Persons: Carlos Garcia Rawlins, Xi, Neil Thomas, Thomas, Wang Zhi'an, Engen Tham, Julie Zhu, Kane Wu, Xie Yu, Martin Quin Pollard, David Crawshaw, Vidya Ranganathan Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Asia Society, Center for, State, Information Office, Communist Party, China Construction Bank, China Development Bank, National Council for Social Security Fund, Municipal Eco, Communist, Communist Youth League, Ministry of State Security, U.S . Central Intelligence Agency, CIA, Beijing, Thomson Locations: China, Beijing, Rights SHANGHAI, HONG KONG, Center for China, Washington, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Hong Kong, Singapore, Ningbo, Wenzhou, Japan, Italy

☆ NewsClick: Indian police raid news site critical of Modi's government, fueling fears for press freedom
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Rhea Mogul | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Those questioned include reporters, editors and contributors linked to NewsClick, an independent news website known for being fiercely critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. Some of those taken for questioning reported the raids on Twitter, now known as X, as they were taking place. India, with a population of 1.4 billion people, is the world’s largest democracy and one of the largest media markets in the world. Media personnel outside the Delhi Police's Special Cell in New Delhi, India, on Oct. 3. Altaf Qadri/APBut the Modi administration has been repeatedly accused of intimidating the press, stifling free speech, and censoring independent news organizations.

Persons: Narendra Modi’s, Prabir Purkayastha, Amit Chakravarty, Bhasha Singh, “, Abhisar Sharma, Modi, Anurag Thakur, ”, Altaf Qadri, Digipub Organizations: CNN — Police, Police, Twitter, Delhi, Cell, Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, CNN, Information, . Media, of India, Press, Amnesty Locations: New Delhi, Delhi, Odisha, India, Mumbai, Laos, Djibouti

☆ Thousands gather in Warsaw for opposition rally ahead of tight election
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( Justyna Pawlak | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/6] Overview of crowds and city skyline during the "March of a Million Hearts" (Marsz Miliona Serc) opposition rally, two weeks ahead of the parliamentary election, in Warsaw, Poland October 1, 2023. The opposition is hoping Sunday's march becomes the biggest in decades and galvanises voters to participate in the election. Some carried banners saying "PiSexit" or "The cat can stay", referring to the pet animal of PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski. And we have been denied this money because someone has decided to destroy democracy in Poland," Warsaw mayor Rafal Trzaskowski told those at the rally. Reporting by Justyna Pawlak, Marek Strzelecki and Kuba Stezycki; Editing by Hugh LawsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Agencja, Slawomir Kaminski, Donald Tusk, Hanna Chaciewicz, Tusk, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, PiS, Rafal Trzaskowski, Justyna Pawlak, Marek Strzelecki, Hugh Lawson Organizations: REUTERS Acquire, Rights, European Union, Law and Justice, European, TVP, Warsaw, Thomson Locations: Warsaw, Poland, EU, Otwock, Public, Brussels

Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) speaks at a committee meeting after assuming the chairmanship of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at the U.S. Capitol on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., September 28, 2023. REUTERS/Craig Hudson/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Sept 30 (Reuters) - The chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee vowed on Saturday to block military aid and arms sales to Egypt if it does not take concrete steps to improve human rights in the country. Much of the aid has been withheld in recent years over concerns about human rights abuses under the government of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. But President Joe Biden's administration announced this month it had decided to waive human rights restrictions on $235 million of the aid, citing security benefits to the U.S. It is currently withholding $85 million of the aid, a fraction of the $1.3 billion a year allocated for Egypt.

Persons: Ben Cardin, Craig Hudson, Gregory Meeks, Bob Menendez, Menendez, Cardin, Abdel Fattah al, Joe Biden's, Matt Spetalnick, Patricia Zengerle, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Senate Foreign, U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, U.S . Senate Foreign, Democratic U.S, Representatives Foreign, State Department, Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Democratic, Washington, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Egypt, Washington, Israel

☆ Senior Senate Democrat Threatens to Block Military Aid to Egypt on Human Rights Grounds
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Matt Spetalnick and Patricia ZengerleWASHINGTON (Reuters) -The chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee vowed on Saturday to block military aid and arms sales to Egypt if it does not take concrete steps to improve human rights in the country. Senator Ben Cardin issued the threat in a statement, saying "it is imperative that we continue to hold the government of Egypt, and all governments, accountable for their human rights violations." Much of the aid has been withheld in recent years over concerns about human rights abuses under the government of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. But President Joe Biden's administration announced this month it had decided to waive human rights restrictions on $235 million of the aid, citing security benefits to the U.S. It is currently withholding $85 million of the aid, a fraction of the $1.3 billion a year allocated for Egypt.

Persons: Matt Spetalnick, Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON, Ben Cardin, Gregory Meeks, Bob Menendez, Menendez, Cardin, Abdel Fattah al, Joe Biden's, Patricia Zengerle, Daniel Wallis Organizations: U.S . Senate Foreign, Democratic U.S, U.S, Representatives Foreign, State Department, Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Democratic, Washington, Egypt Locations: Egypt, Washington, Israel

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