Brazil had temporarily banned Telegram after it failed to cooperate in an investigation into neo-Nazi chat groups. The company says it prioritizes the privacy of users. A federal judge in Brazil on Saturday lifted the suspension of Telegram, an encrypted messaging app. Last week, Brazil had ordered a temporary ban on the app over its failure to cooperate in an investigation into neo-Nazi chat groups. A complete blockage "is not reasonable" given its impact on the freedom of communication for those not involved in the probe, stated Judge Flavio Lucas. However, the daily fine of 1 million reais (about $200,000, €181,000) for non-compliance continues to be in place. Brazil's eye on social media regulation Four people in two schools were shot deadin Espirito Santo state of Brazil in November by a former student with a swastika pinned to his vest. The court stated that the 16-year-old is believed to have been a member of extremist channels on Telegram where tutorials on murder and bomb manufacturing were disseminated. Telegram was asked to provide authorities with details like names, tax identity numbers, profile photos, bank information and registered credit cards of channel members of two neo-Nazi groups accused of inciting violence in schools. Brazil has seen a rise in school violence in the last one year. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva made regulation of social media platforms a key consideration in a meeting with ministers and Supreme Court justices earlier this month. The court also pointed out Telegram's "past clashes with the judiciary" and stated that "cyberspace cannot be free territory." Telegram's focus on privacy After the court temporarily suspended the app, Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov said that it was "technologically impossible" to provide the data. Durov also emphasized that it is Telegram's mission to protect privacy and free speech. The social media company brands itself on discretion and said that its special secret chats use end-to-end encryption. In an online FAQ, the company states that it has never shared user data with any government. Co-existing with the Kremlin In the past, Telegram has been blocked by other governments including Iran, China and Russia. The company based in the United Arab Emirates is run by Durov, an ethnic Russian who has managed to co-exist with the Kremlin despite its crackdown on speech and Western media after the invasion of Ukraine. Telegram is used by so-called "patriotic" hackers loyal to the Kremlin to organize cyberattacks on Ukrainian and NATO targets. The other side uses it to fight back. Intelligence agencies and security researchers focusing on ransomware gangs, cybercriminals, disinformation purveyors, terror groups, regularly track groups on Telegram.

India raised concern on Monday at the Security Council about the suspension of the UN-brokered Black Sea Grain initiative, saying that this move is likely to further exacerbate the food security, fuel, and fertilizer supply challenges faced by the world. Indian diplomat R Madhu Sudan said the Black Sea Grain deal had provided a glimmer of hope for peace in Ukraine and helped contribute to lowering the prices of wheat and other commodities. "The initiative had resulted in export of more than nine million tonnes of grains and other food products out of Ukraine. We believe the exports had contributed to lowering prices of wheat and other commodities, evident from the drop in the FAO Food Price Index," said Madhu Sudan, Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of India to the UN, at the UNSC briefing debate on Ukraine. "The suspension of the Black Sea Grain initiative is expected to further exacerbate the food security, fuel and fertilizer supply challenges faced by the world, particularly the Global South," he added. The UN-brokered Black Sea Grain Initiative was signed during a ceremony in Istanbul in July. Under the deal, ships transporting grain from three Ukrainian ports travel along an agreed corridor to markets worldwide. This UNSC debate comes after Russia requested the meeting following its decision to suspend participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative "for an unspecified period of time", announced this past weekend, in response to alleged Ukrainian attacks against its ships. Counsellor Madhu Sudan said India supports the engagement of the Secretary-General with the parties on renewal and full implementation of the initiative, including facilitating of exports of food and fertilizer from Ukraine and Russia. "The Black Sea Grain initiative and its successful implementation over the last four months is consistent with India's long-standing position that diplomacy and dialogue is the only solution to end this ongoing conflict that has resulted in serious consequences for the region and beyond," he said while adding that India continues to support all efforts, including that of the Secretary-General, to end the conflict. On Monday, UN officials told the Security Council the landmark agreement to export grain and related foodstuffs from Ukraine must be kept alive amid the ongoing war and the global cost of living crisis. "Ukraine's grain exports are not a food aid operation. They do operate as a huge lever on price, with positive ripple effects throughout the world. New security allegations are a cause of grave concern to the Secretary-General and many Member States are worried now that the deal is in trouble," said UN's Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths. According to UN News, Ukraine and Russia account for roughly 30 per cent of the world's exported wheat and barley, one-fifth of its maize, and over half of its sunflower oil. Russia is also the world's largest exporter of fertilizers, accounting for 15 per cent of global exports.  Source: ANI

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal today (Sunday) said the government extended BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia's jail suspension for another six months considering her plea in this regard.    "Considering an application submitted by family members of Begum Khaleda Zia, the government extended her imprisonment suspension for another six months, upholding the previous conditions," he told reporters at his ministry conference room at Bangladesh Secretariat.    Kamal, also a veteran freedom fighter, said the government extended Khaleda Zia's conditional jail suspension for the fourth time.  The Home Ministry issued a gazette notification to this end, saying the order will come into effect from September 25 for the next six months.    The decision was taken as per section 401 (1) of Code of Criminal Procedure. According to the notification, Khaleda Zia will receive treatment staying at her own residence in Dhaka and will not be allowed to travel abroad during the jail suspension period.    Earlier on March 25, 2021, the government had extended the imprisonment suspension of Khaleda Zia for six months. On September 25, 2020, the 76-year-old BNP chief was released from jail for six months upon an executive order considering her age and humanitarian ground, following an application by her family.    On October 29, 2018, Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 sentenced BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and three others to seven-year imprisonment each in the Zia Charitable Trust graft case.    The court also fined them Taka 10 lakh each, in default, they have to suffer six months more in jail. Source: BSS AH

The stay order on suspension of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia’s punishment is going to be extended. In this regard the law ministry has sent the file of approval to the home ministry. The information was delivered by Law, Justice and Parliament Affairs Minister Anisul Huq on Monday. The minister said, we have sent the file after giving our recommendation to extend the stay order of the punishment for another six months. Now home ministry will take rest of the decisions. Begum Khaleda Zia was awarded 17 years imprisonment after being convicted in connection with the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case. She had been imprisoned since February 8, 2018. The government on March 25 last year released the 76 years old former prime minister for six months on the basis of conditions after 25 months of serving the jail term. Later the stay was extended for more six months which is going to be concluded on March 25. On March 2 this year Khaleda Zia’s brother Shamim Iskander appealed before the home ministry to extend the stay on suspension of imprisonment. Appeal was also made whether the punishment could be cancelled or not. AH    

Bangladesh star cricketer Shakib Al Hasan said the suspension imposed by the ICC was a lesson for him to understand life in a better way.  Shakib is currently in the USA, spending time with his family. He flew to USA in March during the initial outbreak of coronavirus in Bangladesh. He and his wife Umeey Ahmed Shishir was expecting their second child. On April 24, they were blessed with a baby girl.  The all-rounder was banned for two years in October 2019 for to failing to report several corrupt approaches that were made to him. As the one year of his suspension is suspended, Shakib is expected to return to cricket in October 2020.  “I am in the USA currently. I have been passing times with my family since March. I was unable to stay beside my wife when she gave birth to our first child. But this time around, I am with her. But it feels bad that I’m unable to play now. It will take five to six months to end my ban. If cricket resumes before that, I will not be able to take part,” Shakib said in a live session with Deutsche Welle.  “I’m not available to play, and will not get a chance within the next five-six months. It really hurts a lot. But this incident of my life is a good lesson for me. Many things happen in life that we ignore or give less importance to, which is not an ideal way to live life. I think this incident taught me this,” Shakib added.  Shakib put up a tremendous performance in the World Cup 2019 in England. He scored 606 runs in eight games with two centuries and five half-centuries. He finished with the best average among players who amassed more than 600 runs in the event. Along with this, he scalped 11 wickets.  He insisted that he is eager to restart from where he left off. He said: “My main focus is to go back to playing again. And I want to restart from where I left off, which is my lone challenge now.” While answering a question about his plan for the next World Cup, Shakib said: “We always have a plan to do well. We also had some plans in the previous World Cup. Some of those worked well while some proved to be inappropriate. The next World Cup will take place in the subcontinent, which will create a big chance for us. I believe every cricketing nation should be aware of us as the World Cup is in the subcontinent.” Source: UNB AH

State and the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) will appeal against the High Court (HC) order of BNP nominated candidate from Jashore-2 constituency in the upcoming parliament election, Sabira Sultana’s conviction suspension. ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam said this to the newsmen on Friday. He said, ACC and the state will appeal against the HC order on conviction suspension on Saturday. On Thursday, the single bench of High Court led by Justice Md. Rais Uddin delivered the order after hearing the case of Sabira Sultana on her plea to suspend the sentence and conviction. On that day senior lawyer A J Mohammad Ali took part in the hearing for Sabira Sultana. Lawyers Aminul Islam and SK Golam Rasul accompanied him. Lawyer ABM Bayejid stood for the ACC in the hearing. After the order lawyer Aminul Islam said to the newsmen, High Court has suspended the conviction and sentence of Sabira Sultana following appeal. As a result of the order Sabira Sultana can participate in the next general election. He said, following the order of Thursday, those who are convicted up to two years and whose appeal is in process in the High Court, if they appeal for suspending sentence and conviction, if the High Court suspends sentence and conviction, then they can participate in the election like Sabira Sultana. Earlier the double bench of High Court dismissed the appeal of five BNP leaders for suspending their conviction. In that order the court said, according to the article 66 (9) (gha) of the constitution if anybody is awarded more than two years sentence or conviction and if there is ongoing appeal against the sentence or conviction then he cannot participate in election while the appeal is pending in the High Court. AH