Culture news Director Jafar Panahi sentenced to prison by Iran Revolutionary Court Iran has sentenced acclaimed filmmaker and Cannes Palme d’Or winner Jafar Panahi to one year in prison and imposed a travel ban for allegedly engaging in “propaganda activities” against the state. The verdict, delivered in absentia, was confirmed by his lawyer Mostafa Nili. 02/12/2025
Culture news Trump’s FCC Chair to testify to Senate after Jimmy Kimmel suspension FCC Chair Brendan Carr, who appeared to pressure broadcasters to take Jimmy Kimmel’s show off air, is set to testify before the Senate Commerce Committee next month. His perceived actions have been criticised by both sides of the political aisle. 02/10/2025
Culture news New report reveals identity of the most banned author in US schools The alarming new report by PEN America, titled "The Normalization of Book Banning - Banned in the USA, 2024-2025", offers a window into the extensive climate of censorship in the US. 01/10/2025
Nepal Nepal's army imposes curfew after protesters set parliament on fire Protests first started last week after the government ordered the shutdown of 26 popular social media platforms it said had not complied with local registration regulations. 10/09/2025
Culture news Margaret Atwood comments on 'The Handmaid's Tale' Alberta book ban Margaret Atwood is taking aim at Alberta’s new rules on school libraries and has even posted a new short story which satirizes the censorship at play. 02/09/2025
Culture news Watch Kneecap play Paris gig despite pro-Israeli protestors The Irish rap trio took to Paris' Rock en Seine stage following weeks of tension and had the last word when faced with pro-Israel supporters. 25/08/2025
Tech News Russia blocks calls via WhatsApp and Telegram Russian authorities have long engaged in a deliberate and multipronged effort to rein in the internet. 14/08/2025
Tech News Cyber gulag: How Russia tracks, censors, and controls its citizens Going online in Russia can be frustrating, complicated, and even dangerous. 05/08/2025
Culture news Smithsonian denies White House pressure over impeachment display The museum says an “updated” display covering all US impeachments will be installed soon – amid growing criticism it’s erasing history to appease Donald Trump. 04/08/2025
Cinema Why is this children’s classic Britain’s most complained about film? Supercalifragilisticexpialido-WHAT?? How did the 1964 classic 'Mary Poppins' become the most complained about film of 2024 in the UK? 28/07/2025
Culture news Massive Attack announce alliance of musicians speaking out over Gaza The band announced a "movement" of artists who have spoken out over the Israel-Palestine war and have faced attempts of censorship. "We write as artists who’ve chose to use our public platforms to speak out against the genocide occurring there & the role of the UK Government in facilitating it.” 18/07/2025
Culture news Superman kissing scenes cut by India's censor board sparks backlash Critics have slammed the move as hypocritical, pointing out that the board routinely allows graphic violence and misogyny in Indian films while censoring consensual intimacy in Hollywood ones. 15/07/2025
Culture news Algerian court upholds writer Boualem Sansal’s 5-year prison sentence The novelist’s case has united European lawmakers, who have demanded Sansal's release. His case has raised alarm over freedom of expression in Algeria, and his supporters now hope military-backed President Abdelmadjid Tebboune will grant a pardon on Saturday, when Algeria marks Independence Day. 01/07/2025
Culture news Cancelled ‘Beauty and the Beast’ book 'finally' released in France The modern retelling of the classic fairytale was commissioned and then cancelled by the French Ministry of Education. Artists and politicians expressed support for the book's release. 18/06/2025
Art What are the 20 most controversial album covers of all time? Don’t judge an album by its cover... Easier said than done for some. Following the controversy surrounding the album image for Sabrina Carpenter’s new album, we look at the most controversial album artworks which landed the artists in hot water with the censors. And, in some cases, the taste police. 18/06/2025
Culture news Iran summons French diplomat over praise of Palme d'Or-winning film Iran's Palme d'Or-winning director Jafar Panahi was cheered as he arrived home after his Cannes win. However, the national press and political reaction has been more muted. Iran has also summoned a French diplomat over praise of 'It Was Just An Accident'. 27/05/2025