Belarus faces sanctions after arrest of Belarusian journalist

Published

5 years ago

May 25, 2021

European nations and countries around the world are calling for action after Belarusian activist Roman Protasevich was arrested onboard a Ryanair flight yesterday.

The EU has agreed to ban Belorussian airlines from European skies and also promised further economic sanctions.

UN rights office is calling for Belarus to immediately release journalist Roman Protasevich and his girlfriend held after forced plane landing.

The diversion of the plane which was travelling from Greece to Lithuania is being called “state-sanctioned hijacking”.

26-year-old Protasevich was “super scared on his detention” and reportedly told other passengers onboard the aircraft that he would be sentenced to death.

Opposition blogger and activist Roman Protasevich / Image: REUTERS

International pressure is mounting on Belarus – with the President of the European Council, Charles Michel labelling the incident as “an international scandal”.

The EU is preparing to meet to discuss possible sanctions for Belarus officials, including the country’s President Alexander Lukashenko.

Numerous countries have moved to avoid Belarus airspace following the incident.

Ryanair boss, Michael O’Leary says it was clear that the intent of the Belarusian authorities was to remove the journalist and his travelling companion.”

Ryanair flight ordered to land by authorities. Image / AP

The airline boss also believes some KGB agents were offloaded from the aircraft as well.

It comes as a video was released by authorities of Protasevich himself speaking about his capture.

In the footage, a battered and bruised Protasevich says he confesses to his charges and is cooperating with the investigation.

Lithuania’s Prime Minister says ‘It is an unprecedented attack against an international community”.

Russia bans WhatsApp and promotes state-backed messaging app

Kremlin blocks WhatsApp, urging citizens to use state-backed MAX; critics warn of surveillance, prompting protests in Moscow.

Published

16 hours ago

February 13, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Kremlin blocks WhatsApp, urging citizens to use state-backed MAX; critics warn of surveillance, prompting protests in Moscow.

The Kremlin has officially blocked WhatsApp, urging Russians to switch to MAX, a state-backed messaging app. This move comes after Meta refused to comply with local regulations, sparking debates over digital freedom in the country.

Critics warn that MAX could be used for government surveillance, though authorities deny these claims. The ban highlights Russia’s growing control over foreign tech platforms and its push for locally regulated alternatives.

Activists in Moscow have staged protests calling for an open and unregulated internet, while the public reacts with a mix of concern and resignation.

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News

U.S. secretly sent 6,000 Starlink terminals to Iran after protests

US covertly sent 6,000 Starlink terminals to Iran amid protests, aiding internet access despite government shutdowns and crackdown violence.

Published

17 hours ago

February 13, 2026

Harvey Vargas

US covertly sent 6,000 Starlink terminals to Iran amid protests, aiding internet access despite government shutdowns and crackdown violence.

U.S. officials report that the Trump administration covertly sent around 6,000 Starlink satellite internet terminals into Iran following widespread protests. The move was designed to bypass strict internet blackouts imposed by authorities in Tehran.

The terminals reportedly enabled activists and dissidents to reconnect with the outside world during periods of severe digital restriction, raising fresh questions about foreign involvement and cyber strategy.

As geopolitical tensions simmer, the revelation underscores how connectivity has become a powerful tool in modern conflict.

#Iran #Starlink #DonaldTrump #MiddleEast #GlobalPolitics #TechNews #InternetFreedom #BreakingNews

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News

Anthropic secures 30 billion in fresh funding as valuation surges

Anthropic raises $30B, doubling valuation to $380B, boosting global AI race with support from GIC, Coatue, Microsoft, and Nvidia.

Published

17 hours ago

February 13, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Anthropic raises $30B, doubling valuation to $380B, boosting global AI race with support from GIC, Coatue, Microsoft, and Nvidia.

Anthropic has secured a staggering $30 billion in fresh funding, catapulting its valuation to $380 billion and cementing its place among the most valuable AI companies in the world. The raise marks the second-largest private technology funding round ever, trailing only OpenAI’s $40 billion deal.

Major backers in this latest round include Singapore’s GIC and Coatue Management, alongside existing heavyweight partners Microsoft and Nvidia. The scale of the investment underscores intensifying global competition in artificial intelligence as capital continues to flood into the sector.

Anthropic’s valuation has more than doubled in just five months, fuelled by rapid enterprise growth. The company now works with eight of the Fortune 10 and boasts more than 500 customers spending over $1 million annually, highlighting surging demand for advanced AI tools across corporate America.

#ArtificialIntelligence #AI #Anthropic #TechNews #VentureCapital #BigTech #Innovation #Startups