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Why the Indian Government is tackling Twitter posts rather than the pandemic

Published

3 years ago

April 27, 2021

As India records record numbers of new Covid cases, the country’s government is moving to censor social media in a bid to prevent people from seeing the full picture.

Anger is growing throughout the nation, with one Twitter user saying authorities are “finding it easier to take down tweets than ensure oxygen supplies”.

A recent blocked post by an opposition government member says the people of India will “never forgive” Prime Minister Narenda Modi “for underplaying the corona situation in the country and letting so many people die due to mismanagement.”

India saw more than 352,000 new infections on Monday and over 2,800 deaths – the highest single-day spike so far.

The U.S. is working closely with the Indian government to rapidly deploy additional support and supplies during an alarming COVID-19 outbreak. As we provide assistance, we pray for the people of India—including its courageous healthcare workers.
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) April 25, 2021

It has been confirmed by Twitter that India’s government has made an emergency order to censor tweets.

Twitter has not specified which content it had taken down, but at least 52 tweets from prominent figures have been removed to date. They were published by a range of people including opposing politicians, journalists and filmmakers.

“When we receive a valid legal request, we review it under both the Twitter Rules and local law. If the content violates Twitter’s Rules, the content will be removed from the service. If it is determined to be illegal in a particular jurisdiction, but not in violation of the Twitter Rules, we may withhold access to the content in India only.”
twitter/the washington post

Although these tweets are blocked in India, they still remain visible on the platform when viewed from other countries around the world.

To add to the panic, as case numbers continue to soar, health experts are worried that most are being undetected. This follows India’s test positivity rate has growing from 6 percent on April 1 to 20 percent by April 25.

Tedros Adhanom of the World Health Organisation says “the situation in India is beyond heartbreaking”, and the organisation is “doing everything it can” to help alleviate pressure on the health care system, and drive case numbers down.

Related Topics:covid19 Politics trending

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William Howard

William is an Executive News Producer at TICKER NEWS, responsible for the production and direction of news bulletins. William is also the presenter of the hourly Weather + Climate segment. With qualifications in Journalism and Law (LLB), William previously worked at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) before moving to TICKER NEWS. He was also an intern at the Seven Network's 'Sunrise'. A creative-minded individual, William has a passion for broadcast journalism and reporting on global politics and international affairs.

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China’s property market crisis worsens

Published

17 hours ago

November 28, 2023

ticker NEWS

The Chinese property market is currently facing a crisis, with major developers like Evergrande and Country Garden experiencing significant financial challenges.

This alarming situation has garnered global attention due to its potential impact on the Chinese and international economies.

Evergrande, one of China’s largest property developers, has been struggling with a massive debt burden, exceeding $300 billion. This has raised concerns about the company’s ability to meet its financial obligations, causing a ripple effect across the property market. Country Garden, another prominent player in the industry, is also facing mounting debt pressures, further exacerbating the crisis.

The property market’s decline can be attributed to several factors, including government policies aimed at curbing excessive borrowing, a slowing economy, and a general shift towards more sustainable and affordable housing options.

These challenges have created uncertainty in the market, leading to a decrease in property sales and declining developer revenues.

The implications of this crisis extend beyond the property sector, with potential repercussions for the broader Chinese economy. #ticker today #featured

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What life’s like for Ukrainian citizens as war rages

Published

17 hours ago

November 28, 2023

ticker NEWS

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will highlight the NATO alliance’s ongoing support for Ukraine in its war with Russia in Europe.

The war between Israel and Hamas and heightened tensions in the wider Middle East have raised concerns that Washington cannot sustain the level of military and diplomatic support it has given Ukraine since Russia’s February 2022 full-scale invasion.

Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs James O’Brien also told reporters that Blinken, who departed on Monday for Brussels, will highlight the ongoing commitment of the United States and its allies as he takes part in the first foreign minister-level meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council in Brussels.

“This is part of the process of finding a place in the alliance, which we’ve always said is Ukraine’s future,” he said. #featured

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Black Friday shoppers spent a record $9.8 billion in U.S. online sales

Published

19 hours ago

November 28, 2023

ticker NEWS

Retailers are seeing big numbers as the 2023 holiday shopping season kicks off.

Black Friday kicked off the unofficial start to the holiday shopping season.

So far, shoppers spent a record $9.8 billion in U.S. online sales.

That’s up 7.5% from last year.

Qendresa Ibrahimi, the Influencer Marketing Director with EvenSkyn joins Veronica Dudo to discuss. #InAmericaToday #featured #BlackFriday #CyberMonday #retail #sales #retailssales #holiday #shopping