Human Rights

New Delhi, Feb 25 (PTI) Weeks after a spat with Twitter, the government on Thursday announced the tightening of rules governing social media and streaming companies, requiring them to take down contentious content quicker, appoint grievance redressal officers and assist investigations.

24 Feb 2021; MEMO: US President Joe Biden's administration said today it would continue its international re-engagement by seeking election to the UN Human Rights Council where it will press to eliminate a "disproportionate focus" on ally Israel, Reuters reported.

Under former President Donald Trump Washington quit the council in 2018 but the Biden government has already returned as an observer.

25 Feb 2021; MEMO: The head of the Palestinian National Independent Assembly, Munib Al-Masri, said a London- based law firm has been hired to prosecute the British government over the Balfour Declaration, which established the UK's support for a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine and the violations committed by Britain during its mandate over Palestine.

New Delhi, Feb 22 (PTI) A Delhi court on Monday sent 21-year-old climate activist Disha Ravi, arrested in connection with allegedly being involved in sharing a "toolkit" on social media related to the farmers' protest, to one-day police custody (PC) to be confronted with co-accused in the case.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Pankaj Sharma sent Ravi for custodial interrogation after police said she was required to be confronted with co-accused in the case which has transnational ramification.

Lucknow, Feb 24 (PTI) Amid protests by the Opposition, the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly on Wednesday passed by voice vote a bill aimed at curbing religious conversions by fraudulent or any other undue means, including through marriage.

The Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill, 2021 seeks to replace the ordinance promulgated in November last year that provides for imprisonment up to 10 years and a maximum fine of Rs 50,000 for violators.

Anantnag, 24 Feb  2021: 2 unidentified Kashmiris have been killed on Wednesday by Indian security forces in Anantnag district of the Indian Administered Kashmir, Indian officials said.

24 Feb 2021; MEMO: Further doubts have been raised over Israel's killing of Ahmad Erekat. The 27-year-old was shot dead in June at an Israeli military checkpoint near the town of Abu Dis, east of Jerusalem. Israeli police claimed that Erekat was a "terrorist" conducting an attack.

23 Feb 2021; MEMO: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed a range of issues with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, including partnership and human rights, the State Department said Tuesday, Anadolu Agency reported.

The two diplomats discussed a "strong strategic partnership" between the two nations on security and counterterrorism cooperation over the telephone, said agency spokesperson Ned Price in a statement.

Srinagar, Feb 23 (PTI) A special court rejected the bail application of PDP leader Waheed Parra on Tuesday, saying the charges against him were "grave, serious and heinous in nature" and that a preliminary analysis of evidence collected so far show he was aiding militancy in Jammu and Kashmir in the garb of a politician.

New Delhi, Feb 23 (PTI) Donning traditional turbans and singing songs of the peasant movement, farmers protesting at Delhi borders against the three agri laws on Tuesday marked the Pagdi Sambhal Divas.

Called by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), the day-long event was inspired by the Pagdi Sambhal Lehar of 1906.