Instagram blocked in Turkey for second day amid censorship accusations The New Indian Express
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Instagram blocked in Turkey for second day amid censorship accusations - The New Indian Express
Russia will deliberately slow YouTube loading speeds by up to 70% by the end of next week, in response to Google's refusal to comply with the demands of the Russian authorities, Russian lawmaker Alexander Khinshtein said on July 25.
Khinshtein, the head of the State Duma's Information Policy Committee, claimed that the move is "not aimed against Russian users, but against the administration of a foreign resource that still believes that it can violate and ignore our legislation with impunity."
Russia's crackdown on freedom of speech, particularly regarding information that contradicts its narratives about the full-scale war, has intensified since 2022.
In April, a Moscow court rejected an appeal from Google's parent company, Alphabet, to remove an almost $50 million fine imposed on the company for its failure to delete information that Russia deems to be discrediting its armed forces and promoting extremist content.
YouTube users in Russia could see loading speeds on desktop computers dropping to 40% already by the end of this week, Khinshtein warned.
"This measure will only affect desktop versions. It will not affect mobile communications for now," Khinshtein said.
Khinshtein said that the summer period was chosen as the time to "bring YouTube to its senses," as most users are on vacation and will be using mobile devices to access videos rather than their desktops.
Khinshtein claimed that the measure is designed to show YouTube that Russia "has moved from persuasion to concrete steps," and the move is the consequence of YouTube's "anti-Russian policy."
Russian independent news outlet Meduza said that Russian officials had warned on July 12 of possible slowdowns in YouTube loading due to Google's "technical problems." A source reportedly told Meduza that Russia's federal censorship agency was already deliberately slowing the website's speed.
The same day, Russian pro-state outlet Gazeta.ru reported that the Russian government plans to block YouTube entirely in September.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov denied the supposed plans to restrict the website, saying that according to "official statements from relevant companies," the equipment in question has "not been updated for over two years."
Read also: Ukraine war latest: Russia will be soon forced to scale down attacks, Ukrainian commander says
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Russia to slow YouTube speeds after Google refuses to comply with censorship - Yahoo! Voices
Kelly is a former librarian and a long-time blogger at STACKED. She's the editor/author of (DON'T) CALL ME CRAZY: 33 VOICES START THE CONVERSATION ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH and the editor/author of HERE WE ARE: FEMINISM FOR THE REAL WORLD. Her next book, BODY TALK, will publish in Fall 2020. Follow her on Instagram @heykellyjensen.
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Editors Note: since publication, a couple of small clarifications have been made.
Advanced Placement (AP) courses have been part of high school curriculum since the early 1950s. There were initially 11 subject areas in which high school students could take courses similar to those found in 101-level college classes and, if they passed a standard test with a high enough mark at the end of the year, earn college credit for the work. The AP curriculum has given college-bound high schoolers an elective opportunity to skip the fundamentals when they enter their higher educational institution and not only save money, but save time and create space to study more subjects during their time at university.
The number of students taking AP tests has grown dramatically, especially in the last decade. This is in part due to readiness by students and in part because there are so many more subjects offered as part of the program. As of writing, there are 38 different AP subject areas ranging from art to language, science to math, literature to social sciences, history, and more.
It should, at this point, be little surprise to hear that these courses and their accompanying curriculum have become areas where politicians and parents eager to dismantle public goodsschools and libraries specificallyare turning more and more attention.
AP African American Studies, launched in the 2022-2023 school year, has been one of the prime targets. The course, developed in order to better educate and promote the history and contributions of African Americans throughout US history, was piloted at fewer than 70 high schools before its much wider launch to over 800 in the 2023-2024 school year. Due to both racist beliefs and racist legislation targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, the course has been challenged in several states and either revoked or preemptively banned in districts throughout the country. Indeed, this era in book banning was marked by a right-wing moral panic over Critical Race Theory (CRT) and ongoing rhetoric around how books like The 1619 Project made white kids feel bad.
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In early 2023, Floridas governor, Ron DeSantis, demanded that the course be revised to fit the requirements the state places on the kinds of books and materials that can be taught in public schools (this debate had been happening in the state legislature since its announcement in 2022). This led to Illinoiss governor, J.B. Pritzker, to fire back, stating that, unlike Florida, Illinois would not demand changes to the curriculum and planned to allow students to take the course exactly as it was planned. This high-profile debate was about the AP course, but it also was not about the course at all. It was about who has the power to determine what hundreds of thousands of high school students would be allowed to access based on what their state government decreed appropriate or inappropriate.
Without a lot of pressindeed, the South Carolina Department of Education Supervisor Ellen Weaver has done a lot of things without national press attention given to others whove done equally damaging thingsthe state of South Carolina eliminated AP African American Studies courses in public schools this year as well (students may take it as an elective in individual high schools, but it would not be supported at the state level meaning students may not get credit toward graduation requirements for taking the course). The reasons listed are unclear, though what is clear is the underlying belief by Weaver and her department that the course doesnt teach accurate African American history. Arkansas, in the days before the 2023-2024 school year began, also dropped support for the course.
These courses have been subject to cancelation at the local level, too. Harford County, Maryland, has been debating whether or not to allow the AP African American Studies course to happen in their district. The board canceled the course in June, claiming it was too divisive, then this month, reversed their decision. A story about the increasing popularity of the course in Montgomery County, Maryland, counters what the board in Harford initially said; what neither points to more succinctly is that the popularity of the course corresponds with the course being out of its pilot stage and open to wider enrollment (and, of course, student interest).
Its not only the AP African American Studies course struggling under right-wing legislation. Others are as well, for reasons similar to those relating to the AP African American Studies course and for reasons of the changing targets of this current wave of censorship. As we moved from the CRT rhetoric to the pornography rhetoric, so, too, we see the issue at heart in other AP courses.
Elmbrook School District (Wisconsin), is comprised of the Village of Elm Grove and City of Brookfield, two Milwaukee suburbs. Currently under debate in the district is whether or not two texts selected for the AP Literature curriculumtexts that have been part of the curriculum following board-approved policies for at least a decadeare pornographic and thus, inappropriate for the classroom.
In a meeting of the Teaching and Learning Committee, two of three members voted to amend the AP Lit curriculum by eliminating The Handmaids Tale and The Kite Runner. They argued that the books were pornographic and they would never want their own children to read them. The titles being taught in the classroom with minor students would be inappropriate. In the history of the books being taught in the district, no parents have opted their child out of the books. AP Lit is an elective upper level course, meaning the majority of students are 17 or 18. Two of the three members of that committee are supported and backed by WisRed, a group whose sole purpose is to elect conservative people into positions of power and turn Wisconsin red. That includes Sam Hughes, backed by this group as well to the tune of over $6,100; hes also backed by the 1776 Project PAC. (There is a third board member not on the committee, Linda Boucher, who is also backed by WisRed).
The final decision has yet to be made, though it likely will in August. The full school board, minus the board president who was on vacation, discussed the AP Lit curriculum at their July meeting, which you can watch here beginning at minute 43. Most speakers defended the books, and their prepared statements are well worth listening to (one parent talked about how he read both books and found The Handmaids Tale tame, given the accusations against it). But also among the individuals are those who showed up to provide public comment are those with a specific political agenda and philosophy in mind. Jacki Rynish-Knapp, who speaks at the 1:22 mark, suggests removing the books from curriculum is fine because the books will still be available elsewhere. Jackie is friends with Nicole Hunker, who lost her bid to become an Elmbrook School board member earlier this year.
Then, theres Jacob Melin. Hes not a district resident but brought a couple of questions to the board. What Melin doesnt mention is that hes an aide to Wisconsin State Assembly member Tom Michalski, one of the sponsors of a state parental rights bill in 2023 and coauthor of failed Assembly Bill 308, which would criminalize librarians and educators for possessing obscene material.
If these books are of concern and, in the words of those seeking to remove them, potentially illegal, then why have they been approved and used in the curriculum so long before without complaint?
The situation in Elmbrook, like those replicated throughout the country, isnt about protecting young people. Its about scoring political points on the backs of those very students. When your targets are those who have no voting rights and whose voices are constantly undermined, derided, and ignored, theres no actual game being played. This is simply power begetting power, with the intention of making it impossible for others to better themselves and push back.
Like public libraries and higher education more broadly, of course programs like the AP are a prime target for censorship. These stories are not one-offs, but almost certainly, over the next year, as public education is further dismantled by right-wing politics and voucher entitlement programs, AP courses will continue to be picked apart, watered down, or eliminated altogether in the name of appropriateness, whatever the flavor of that idea is that moment.
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The Ongoing Censorship of High School Advanced Placement Courses: Book Censorship News, July 26, 2024 - Book Riot
Week of July 22, 2024 | Iran Unfiltered is a digest tracking Iranian politics & society by the National Iranian American Council
Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei emphasized the importance of constructive interaction between the parliament and the incoming Pezeshkian administration. Khamanei made the remarks in a recent meeting with members of Irans Parliament that included Masoud Pezeshkian, the newly elected president from the 14th presidential election.
Khamenei stated to the twelfth Parliament that the success of the elected president in governing the country equates to success for all. He stressed the need for a united front, particularly on significant national issues, to ensure a single, cohesive voice that would deter those looking for signs of division. During his address, Iranian media paid special attention to the images of Masoud Pezeshkian and Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf seated together in the front row, signaling potential unity between the two former rival candidates for the presidency.
Khamenei stressed the importance of the Parliament approving the new cabinet proposed by President Pezeshkian. He urged swift action, stating that a prompt confirmation would benefit the country by enabling the government to start its work without delay.
Following the official ceremonies, including the inauguration and confirmation set for July 30, Pezeshkian will formally assume his duties as Irans new president. The twelfth Parliament will then face the task of granting confidence votes to his proposed ministers.
Ayatollah Khamenei called on the elected officials to be deeply committed to the Islamic Republic and maintain a national perspective, avoiding political and factional entanglements. Mohammad Javad Zarif, head of the Transition Steering Council for Pezeshkians administration, reiterated this sentiment in a recent interview, emphasizing the goal of forming a national unity government despite potential ideological differences.
In immediate reactions, Ghalibaf posted on social media expressing Parliaments support for the new president and commitment to cooperation. Pezeshkian also thanked the Supreme Leader for his support, underscoring the importance of a unified voice for Irans progress.
In another part of his speech, Khamenei defended the Strategic Action Plan to Lift Sanctions, a contentious piece of legislation enacted during the eleventh Parliament amid the Rouhani administrations final months in office. He dismissed criticisms of the law, praising it as a significant and correct move despite objections. Khamenei argued that while sanctions could be lifted honorably, neutralizing them was even more crucial.
During the recent presidential campaign, both Zarif and former President Hassan Rouhani criticized the law as an obstacle to lifting sanctions and reviving the nuclear deal (JCPOA). However, in a debate, Pezeshkian clarified his support for the law within the framework set by the Supreme Leader, countering claims of opposition.
The law, passed by the eleventh Parliament in December 2020 following Joe Bidens election victory in the U.S., mandated the Iranian government to resume 20% uranium enrichment, reduce IAEA inspections, and increase low-enriched uranium stockpiles if U.S. sanctions were not lifted. This legislation, passed after the Israeli assassination of top Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhhrizadeh and enacted during Bidens first month in office, escalated tensions over Irans nuclear program and moved Iran further away from compliance with the nuclear deal President Trump exited.
As the new administration under President Pezeshkian takes shape, the focus will be on collaboration and unity within Irans political landscape, aiming to navigate the challenges ahead.
A public session of the Iranian Parliament descended into chaos after a representative protested the lack of consideration for his urgent proposal to lift internet censorship. Mohammad Qasem Osmani, representing Boukan in the Iranian Parliament, raised an objection during the session, stating: I submitted an urgent proposal to the Presidium. This proposal has gone through all necessary steps, but Mr. [Mohammad Bagher] Ghalibaf vetoed it. By what right did you do this? Mr. Ghalibaf, you swore on the Quran to uphold the internal regulations of the Islamic Consultative Assembly.
Addressing Ghalibaf, the Speaker of Parliament, Osmani said: This is not a military barracks; this is the Islamic Consultative Assembly. This is the House of the Nation. As a representative of the people, I drafted this proposal in their interest, and it followed the urgent procedure as per the regulations. Why did Mr. Ghalibaf veto it? He continued: Shouldnt the Presidium adhere to the parliamentary regulations? If I, as a representative of the people, cannot speak, who will voice the peoples concerns? Nikzads reference to the parliament not being a military barracks alluded to Ghalibafs long history as a commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) before serving as the Mayor of Tehran and later as the Speaker of Parliament.
In Ghalibafs absence, the session was chaired by Ali Nikzad, the Deputy Speaker. Nikzad responded to the protesting representative, saying: The attribution you made to the Speaker is not correct. Currently, there are 30 urgent proposals with the Presidium, and each must be addressed in due time.
Following Nikzads remarks, several representatives politically aligned with the Speaker approached Osmanis seat, engaging in a heated discussion. The argument was eventually resolved with the intervention of Hamid Reza Haji Babaei, another Deputy Speaker.
Internet censorship is a critical political and social issue in Iran, frequently discussed in public debates and election promises. During his campaign, President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian stated his opposition to the current state of internet censorship and made promises to improve the situation.
However, critics of Pezeshkian argue that policymaking in areas such as lifting censorship does not fall within the Presidents jurisdiction and that such promises should not be used to sway voters. Pezeshkian, in his first speech after winning the election, asserted that he has not made any promises he cannot fulfill. Operating outside of the Presidents direct oversight, the Supreme Council of Cyberspace, comprising various government bodies, along with the Working Group for Determining Instances of Criminal Content, operating under the Attorney General, holds extensive authority over internet censorship in Iran.
Russia has announced the completion of a Comprehensive Cooperation Agreement with Iran, which is now ready to be signed. Andrey Rudenko, a Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia, informed the official news agency TASS that the drafting of the agreement, which took two and a half years, concluded following final expert consultations in Moscow last month.
Iranian media had previously reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Irans President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian had emphasized the importance of maintaining relations at the highest level in a telephone conversation. Putin expressed hope that the agreements reached during Ebrahim Raisis administration would continue. Pezeshkian accepted Putins invitation to attend the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, this fall, and indicated that Tehran is prepared to sign the agreement at the summit.
Although details of the agreement have not been disclosed, Kazem Jalali, Irans ambassador to Moscow, stated in an interview with IRNA last December that the agreement covers a wide range of areas and includes mutual respect and territorial integrity of both countries. He also assured that the agreement is not secret or private and indicated that the text of the agreement, after being approved by both governments, would be submitted to the parliaments of the two countries for ratification.
About 40 days ago, the state news agency RIA Novosti quoted Zamir Kabulov, a senior Russian Foreign Ministry official and special envoy of Vladimir Putin to Afghanistan, stating that the comprehensive cooperation agreement was temporarily suspended due to issues faced by Iranian partners. However, shortly after this announcement, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov clarified that Moscow and Tehran are still pursuing the agreement, though the timing of certain events might change. He emphasized that Russia intends to develop its relations with Iran.
Kazem Jalali also refuted the suspension news as incorrect, stating: Our efforts have been focused on signing this agreement by officials of both countries in 2024. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov later attributed the delay to administrative hurdles on the Iranian side.
In recent years, Iran has strengthened its ties with Russia and China through membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS. Iran also signed a 25-year comprehensive agreement with China. Concurrently, the cooperation between Iran and Russia has intensified following the Ukraine war, with Moscow utilizing Iranian drones to fatal effect.
Notably, President Putin did not attend Ebrahim Raisis funeral and will not be present at Pezeshkians inauguration. Previously, IRNA reported that Putin informed Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, that the Russian State Dumas Speaker would attend Pezeshkians inauguration next week in Tehran.
Hossein Zafari, spokesperson for Irans Crisis Management Organization, has announced that the organization is on high alert for an impending heatwave in several regions of the country. Zafari stated that provinces have been instructed to prepare for severe heat in the coming days. He also emphasized that the Ministry of Energy has been advised to consider closing government offices and high-consumption factories if necessary to manage energy use effectively.
In response to the heatwave, working hours for government offices, organizations, banks, and municipalities in some provinces have been reduced in the coming days with some provinces declaring Saturday a holiday. Sadegh Ziaeian, head of the National Center for Forecasting and Crisis Management at the Meteorological Organization, previously warned of rising temperatures over the weekend. He predicted that temperatures in Tehran could reach 102-104 degrees Fahrenheit on Saturday and Sunday, with parts of Khuzestan expected to hit 122 degrees. He also noted that sections of Kerman, Khuzestan, Bushehr, and Sistan and Baluchestan provinces could see temperatures climb to 122 degrees or higher in the next two days. According to Ziaeian, July temperatures in Iran have been 1.3 degrees higher than the 30-year average, with residents expected to experience a 5-8 degree increase in the coming days. He specifically warned residents of North Khorasan province, who will see the most significant temperature rise.
Maziyar Gholami, director general of Tehrans meteorological department, noted that the highest temperature recorded in the capital in recent years was 109.4 degrees Fahrenheit, with the highest provincial temperature reaching 114 degrees. Ziaeian expressed hope that temperatures would drop and return to normal by Monday.
Additionally, Ziaeian, revealed that the organization has not received funding for implementing the Crisis Management Laws objectives in the past five years. He also mentioned that critical data for pollution forecasting was last provided in 2017.
Ziaeian criticized this situation, stating: To forecast air pollution, we need current traffic data and emissions inventories, not data from seven years ago. During a joint meeting with members of the Crisis Management Organization, he highlighted the vital role of meteorology in crisis management. He noted that the Meteorological Organization is a key member of the Crisis Management Headquarters, with 90% of its services dedicated to crisis management. However, financial challenges and the lack of access to essential data layers for predicting weather-related hazards remain significant issues.
Air pollution has become a severe problem in Iran over the past few decades, affecting residents of both large and small cities. Despite this, the government has yet to implement substantial and scientific measures to address the issue, which claims thousands of lives annually according to official statistics.
Iran and Sudan have officially exchanged ambassadors, nearly 10 months after re-establishing diplomatic ties. This marks a significant step in the renewed relationship between the two countries following an eight-year hiatus.
Sudans military leader, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, received the Iranian ambassador, Hassan Shah Hosseini, who presented his credentials at a port on the Red Sea, away from the conflict-ridden capital, Khartoum. Concurrently, Sudan dispatched its new ambassador, Abdulaziz Hassan Saleh, to Tehran.
The Sudanese government issued a statement highlighting the meeting and the symbolic importance of this diplomatic exchange. This move signifies the latest effort to mend ties that were severed in 2016 when Sudan cut relations in solidarity with Saudi Arabia, following attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran by protestors outraged over the execution of Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr in Saudi Arabia.
In a reflection of shifting alliances, Iran and Saudi Arabia restored their relations early last year with Chinas mediation, prompting Sudan to reconsider its stance and renew ties with Iran. However, Bahrain, a close Saudi ally, has not yet resumed relations with Iran.
Sudans Foreign Minister had previously visited Tehran to offer condolences after the death of Ibrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash, setting the stage for this recent diplomatic development. Hussein al-Amin, Sudans Deputy Foreign Minister, described the exchange as the beginning of a new phase in bilateral relations.
Since the 2019 military coup that ousted long-time leader Omar al-Bashir, Sudan has been embroiled in a devastating civil war. The conflict pits al-Burhans army against the Rapid Support Forces led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, al-Burhans former deputy. This war has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and displaced millions, creating a severe humanitarian crisis.
The conflict has drawn in various international players, with Egypt and Turkey supporting Sudans army, while other Arab and Islamic countries back the Rapid Support Forces. In December, Sudan expelled UAE diplomats over allegations of support for the Rapid Support Forces, though the UAE maintains it is neutral.
Notably, in March of this year, Reuters reported the use of Iranian-made drones in Sudans civil war, further suggesting that regional rivalries are playing out in the Sudan war. Additionally, Sudan has sought closer ties with Russia, with experts noting Moscows reassessment of its relationships with Sudanese militias. The diplomatic breakthrough between Iran and Sudan represents a critical juncture as both nations navigate complex regional dynamics and seek to strengthen their positions amid ongoing conflicts and shifting alliances.
Saeed Rad, a distinguished actor who began his significant presence in Iranian cinema in the early 1970s and starred in several key films of Irans New Wave movement, passed away on July 22 at the age of 80. In recent days, reports about his deteriorating health had been released by his family and friends. Nega Rad, his son, confirmed his fathers passing on the morning of Monday, July 22.
Hooshang Golmakani, editor of the Film monthly magazine, mentioned on July 21 that he had visited Rad at a nursing home some time ago, where he remained bedridden. Golmakani noted, The Saeed Rad I saw that day on the bed bore no resemblance to the man we remember from even recent years.
Born on October 26, 1944, in the Sanglaj neighborhood of Tehran, Ahmed Saeed Haghpour Rad had his first cinematic appearance as an extra in the film The Conquerors of the Desert. His first major role came in Amir Naderis Goodbye Friend.
Rads notable performances include roles in Kamran Shirdels The Morning of the Fourth Day and Amir Naderis The Imperative. His character Ali Khoshdast in The Imperative, accompanied by Fereydoon Foroughis song Dadares, remains one of the most memorable roles in Iranian cinematic history. This film was a significant work of the New Wave cinema and a standout example of pre-revolution street films, a genre popularized by directors like Naderi and Fereydoon Goleh. Rad also collaborated with renowned directors such as Masoud Kimiai in The Stone Journey and The Red Line, and Nasser Taghvai in The Dead End.
Having quickly risen to stardom, Rad appeared in over 30 films within less than a decade, most of which were part of commercial cinema. After the revolution, Rad starred in films such as Dadshah and The Purgatory, but his career faced a major setback when he was banned from acting after his role in the blockbuster The Eagles, directed by Samuel Khachikian in 1984, which is considered by some to be the highest-grossing film in Iranian cinema history. Following this, Rad emigrated from Iran.
Returning to Iran after 15 years in 1999, Rad starred in Ahmad Reza Darvishs film Duel. He received the Best Actor Honorary Diploma for his role in The Receiver at the 2011 Fajr Film Festival.
Rad continued to work in cinema, television, and home video, with his most significant role in the 2010s being in Ebrahim Hatamikias Che, where he portrayed Valiollah Fallahi, the commander of the Islamic Republics ground forces in the early years following the revolution.
In 2014, during the opening ceremony of the 32nd Fajr Film Festival, Rad reminisced about pre-revolution actors such as Mohammad Ali Fardin and Behrouz Vossoughi. His comments provoked anger from media outlets and officials opposed to the then-administration, leading to Hojatollah Ayoubi, the head of the Cinema Organization of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance at the time, publicly stating that honoring pre-revolution actors was not the official stance of the Ministry.
Saeed Rad, who had a career spanning over four decades in Iranian cinema, ultimately passed away approximately 24 hours after his family provided an update on his health. The National Iranian American Council (NIAC) extends its condolences to Mr. Rads family and friends, as well as to all those who have enjoyed his remarkable performances in Iranian cinema over the years.
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Khamenei Urges Cooperation Between New Government and Parliament, Iranian Parliament Session Turns Chaotic Over Effort to Remove Internet Censorship,...