The United States has barred the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) from participating in Government programmes for an unprecedented 10 years – when the maximum debarment is usually three years. One expert says the accompanying letter is “effectively” a full admission of
In 2021, the Taliban prohibited young girls in Afghanistan from attending school past the sixth grade due to beliefs that female education didn’t comply with their interpretation of Islamic law, or Sharia. Although the Taliban faced global pressures to allow girls to
Belarus’ authoritarian president on Tuesday banned citizens from renewing their passports while staying abroad, which could force those who fled the country amid growing repression to return to maintain their travel documents. An estimated 200-300,000 Belarusians have left the country in the
China has banned seafood imports from Japan as the island country has started its controversial process of releasing nuclear radioactive wastewater into the Pacific Ocean, Chinese customs authorities said Thursday. The ban started immediately and will affect all imports of “aquatic products”
Two years after President Biden oversaw the United States military’s exit from Afghanistan, a move that effectively handed over control of the country back to the Taliban, its leaders continue to deny Afghan girls and women access to education and employment. This
The Iraqi government is rolling out a ban on terms related to LGBTQ groups and gender ideology. The Iraqi Communications and Media Commission (CMC) issued directives to national news outlets and social media companies banning LGBTQ-related terms such as “homosexuality” and “gender,”
Malaysia’s government said Thursday that all Swatch products that contain lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer elements — including watches, wrappers and boxes — were banned, warning that anyone found with one could be jailed for up to three years. The ban
Officials in Chihuahua, Mexico, voted to ban live musical performances with lyrics that degrade or discriminate against women last week. Those who violate the restriction could face fines from 674,000 to 1.2 million pesos, or the U.S. equivalent of $39,000 and $71,000.
The Miss Italy beauty pageant has announced that it will not allow transgender competitors, and all entrants must be “a woman from birth.” “Since it was born, my competition has foreseen in its regulation the clarification according to which one must be
The French government has banned firework sales ahead of Bastille Day celebrations as the country still reels from widespread anti-police riots. “In order to prevent the risk of serious disturbances to public order during the July 14 festivities, the sale, carrying, transport