0 Have your say With a year of global political turmoil behind us, it is not easy to look ahead and hope for anything much more upbeat in world news during the coming 12 months. Citizens of many countries across the globe are set to take to the polls to elect – or re-elect – a government or president. While some of these elections will pass without controversy, others may see a shake up of national politics, with international effects.However, beginning on a positive note, celebrations will this year be held across Europe to mark the 30th anniversary of the fall of Communism. The Berlin Wall fell in November 1989, allowing thousands of east Germans freedom to visit the West. Hungary, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia and Romania all followed suit and moved from Communist regimes, with the latter the only country to violently overthrow its government, led by dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, who was executed on Christmas Day the same year.Returning … [Read more...] about 2019 world news preview: Elections and asteroids could dominate headlines
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Russian media watchdog launches probe into BBC World News channel
Lifestyle / Entertainment by Press Association 21/12/2018, 12:02 pm FacebookTwitterWhatsAppEmail Send us a story Sign up to our Daily newsletter Russia’s media watchdog has launched an investigation into the BBC’s websites and World News channel over alleged violations of Russian law. The move comes the day after the UK regulator Ofcom warned it was considering sanctions against the Kremlin-backed broadcaster RT for breaching impartiality rules. The Tass news agency reported that Roskomnadzor was now mounting an inquiry to establish whether BBC content available in Russia complied with the law there. In a statement, the watchdog said: “Roskomnadzor is launching a probe into the BBC World News channel broadcasting programmes in Russia, as well as into the BBC’s websites, in order to figure out whether their content is consistent with Russian laws.” The BBC said that it operated in Russia in “full compliance” with the laws … [Read more...] about Russian media watchdog launches probe into BBC World News channel
Russian Media Watchdog Roskomnadzor Launches Probe Into BBC World News in Russia
READ MORE: BBC Confirms Channel Has Been Craving Proof of Russian "Role" in Paris Rallies Commenting on the case, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stressed that the inspection should have been done long ago. © Sputnik / Mikhail VoskresenskiyRT Says Disappointed Over UK Regulator Finding It “Broke Broadcasting Rules”Roskomnadzor said earlier in the day that it had begun an investigation to verify the media outlet’s compliance with Russian law. The decision comes after the British Ofcom said that RT had breached the regulator's broadcast rules by failing to provide impartial news coverage in 7 programmes that it aired in March and April, a decision at which RT, in turn, has expressed its disappointment. … [Read more...] about Russian Media Watchdog Roskomnadzor Launches Probe Into BBC World News in Russia
UPDATE: Watchdog to check BBC World News, BBC online news in Russia
(Adds comment in last paragraph) MOSCOW, Dec 21 (PRIME) -- The Russian communications watchdog has started checking he Russian office of BBC World News, and its Internet resources for compliance of its materials with the local laws in the wake of a threat of U.K. regulator Ofcom to impose a fine on channel RT for biasness, the watchdog said on Friday. “Following the situation with the decision of U.K. regulator Ofcom on violation by channel RT of broadcasting rules, the communications service has launched control measures for channel BBC World News, broadcasting on the territory of the Russian Federation, and for resources of BBC in the Internet to check for compliance of their materials to the Russian laws,” the service said. The authority will announce results of the check additionally. On Thursday, Ofcom found violations of the principle of unbiasedness in work of RT and could impose a fine on the Russian channel. The Russian president’s press secretary Dmitry … [Read more...] about UPDATE: Watchdog to check BBC World News, BBC online news in Russia
How this cat website harnesses feline power to bring attention to world news
Cats have been ruling the internet for as long as anyone can remember, and now a scientist is harnessing online’s love of all things feline to bring attention to world news.Justinas Butkus has created News By Cats which adds a moggy element to stories making the headlines. The 27-year-old, who currently lives in Wellington, New Zealand, came up with the idea just as he completed his PhD in physics.“I realised how detached from the real world events I was. Instead of spending the little free time I had for news I preferred fun and silly content such as cat memes,” he told Press Association. “Internet cats are great for entertainment and holding our interest so why can’t we employ them for useful things like keeping up with what’s going on in the world?!”Headlines have included: “Melania Trump in hospital: undergoes kidney opurration” and “US Geological Survey raises Hawaii’s volcano alert: prepurr for major … [Read more...] about How this cat website harnesses feline power to bring attention to world news