The Indonesian government has suspended the operational registration (TDPSE) of TikTok, a move that could theoretically block access for its over 100 million accounts. The suspension was enacted because TikTok, owned by China’s ByteDance, failed to provide complete traffic, streaming, and monetization data for its live stream feature, as requested by the Communications and Digital Ministry. Violation: The Ministry’s official, Alexander Sabar, stated that TikTok violated its obligations as a private electronic provider by providing only partial data. Reason for Request: The data was requested for supervision after officials found that accounts linked to online gambling activities were exploiting the…
Author: Raja Zahid Khanzada
West African nationals deported by the United States to Ghana under President Donald Trump’s program are now stranded and in hiding in Togo after being forcibly transferred there without documentation. The Loophole: The US deported the individuals to Ghana as a “loophole” to bypass protections they had secured in US immigration courts, which had prevented their removal to their home countries due to fear of persecution (e.g., political risks, criminalization of same-sex relations). Deportee Status: Many of the individuals were green card holders or had been granted asylum in the US, and some are married to US citizens. Mistreatment and…
The Indonesian government has suspended the registration of TikTok as an electronic systems provider. This suspension, which could potentially block access for its over 100 million accounts in the country, was imposed because TikTok failed to hand over all requested data related to its live stream feature. An official from the Communications and Digital Ministry, Alexander Sabar, stated that the ministry requested the company’s traffic, streaming, and monetization data for supervision purposes. TikTok, which is owned by China’s ByteDance, did not provide the complete data, citing internal procedures. The ministry determined this omission was a violation of the company’s obligations…
Parallel investigations by Israeli newspapers and the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab have revealed that Israeli-funded online campaigns in the Persian language are using fake social media personas and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to achieve two primary goals: boosting the public image of Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s last Shah, and destabilizing the Iranian regime. Key Findings: Pahlavi Promotion: An Israeli-based operation, funded by an entity with Israeli government support, employed native Persian speakers and AI tools to run fake accounts. This campaign actively worked to amplify Pahlavi’s image and monarchist narratives, coinciding with his high-profile visit to Israel in…
The Sindh government has recently introduced significant amendments to the traffic laws under the Motor Vehicles Ordinance, 1965 (Clause 121-A, 12th Schedule), to enhance road safety and curb traffic violations. The key change is the implementation of a Demerit Points System along with substantially increased fines.
SAN FRANCISCO, US—A broad coalition of labour unions, employers, and religious groups filed a lawsuit on Friday seeking to block US President Donald Trump’s unprecedented attempt to impose a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas for highly-skilled foreign workers. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in San Francisco, marks the first legal challenge to a proclamation Trump issued two weeks ago as the Republican administration moves to drastically tighten restrictions on high-skilled immigration. Plaintiffs, including the United Auto Workers union, the American Association of University Professors, a nurse recruitment agency, and several religious organizations, argue that the President’s power to…
TOKYO, JAPAN—Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) elected hardline conservative Sanae Takaichi as its new head on Saturday, putting her on course to become the nation’s first female prime minister. The move is expected to inject significant uncertainty into both financial markets and regional diplomacy. The LDP, which has dominated post-war Japanese politics, selected Takaichi, 64, amid a crisis of confidence. The public, frustrated by rising prices, has increasingly been drawn to opposition groups promising stimulus and stricter controls on immigration. With the ruling coalition holding a majority in parliament, Takaichi is the clear favourite to win the prime ministerial…
KARACHI, PAKISTAN—The Sindh Police have formally requested Interpol and British law enforcement agencies to share the detailed log of a tracking device fitted in a high-end vehicle that was reported stolen from the United Kingdom and recently located in Karachi. The black Range Rover Sport was stolen on November 11, 2022, from Harrogate, UK. Earlier this year, in February, its embedded tracker system provided a location ping that placed the luxury SUV on Korangi Road in Karachi. Subsequently, Interpol issued a letter alerting Pakistani authorities, including the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in Islamabad, the Karachi Police, and the Anti-Vehicles Lifting…
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN—A high-level federal government delegation successfully signed an agreement with the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) on Saturday, bringing an end to days of widespread unrest and violence in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif immediately welcomed the development, asserting that “all issues have been resolved amicably.” The agreement follows two crucial rounds of talks after negotiations between the JAAC, the AJK government, and federal ministers previously broke down last week over core demands, notably the abolition of elite privileges and the reserved seats for Pakistan-based refugees from Indian-administered Kashmir. The political stalemate had quickly devolved…
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN—Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar on Friday expressed firm confidence that ongoing issues with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), a key government ally, would be amicably resolved through dialogue. Addressing the National Assembly, Senator Dar called for an immediate “ceasefire,” urging both sides to halt verbal attacks. He assured the House that the concerns raised by PPP members—who had staged a temporary walkout earlier to protest remarks made by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz against PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari—were neither serious nor unresolvable. He committed to addressing the matter within the next few days. Dar…
