The Daily Populous

Sunday October 13rd, 2019 morning edition

image for Blizzard Doesn't Respect the Human Rights of Its Customers, Major Rights Organization Says

Blizzard’s censorship and sanctioning of a Hearthstone player who expressed support for Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protesters is a human rights issue that demonstrates the video game company doesn’t respect the humanity and basic rights of its customers, a prominent international human rights organization said Friday.

“As a major online gaming and user communications platform, Blizzard has a duty to respect human rights in its operations,” Peter Micek, a lawyer for Access Now, wrote in an open letter to Kotick.

“Blizzard’s recent actions indicate inadequate policies and practices in this area, showing a lack of respect for freedom of expression.”.

“By penalizing a player for speaking up in support of protesters exercising their right to freedom of expression as well as assembly and association, Blizzard demonstrates a lack of respect for the human rights of its users,” he added.

It is hard to overstate how quickly this has gone off the rails for Blizzard.

Access Now is a major human rights organization that regularly works with the United Nations, pushes back against authoritarian governments, and protects activists all over the world.

It is, simply put, a hugely influential force for good in the battle to protect the human rights of people all over the world. »

JRR Tolkien snubbed by 1961 Nobel jury, papers reveal

Authored by bbc.co.uk

JRR Tolkien was passed over for the 1961 Nobel literature prize after the storytelling in his Lord of the Rings trilogy was described as second rate.

Newly-released documents - declassified after 50 years - show that he was nominated by fellow author CS Lewis.

The Nobel prize jury said "the result has not in any way measured up to storytelling of the highest quality". »

Uganda announces ‘Kill the Gays’ bill that will impose death penalty on homosexuals

Authored by mazechmedia.com

Uganda’s government announced plans Thursday to reintroduce a bill which would impose death penalty on homosexuals in the East African country.

Same-sex relationships are considered taboo and gay sex is a crime across most of the continent, with punishments ranging from imprisonment to death.

Uganda faced worldwide condemnation after the original “Kill the Gays” bill was signed into law in 2014. »

Exclusive: Giuliani associate linked to Yanukovych's stolen cash

Authored by aljazeera.com
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In January last year, Kislin lobbied the former US Ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch, to help him unlock millions of dollars that had in fact been seized in a major criminal inquiry.

Biden's father, Joe, is Trump's main Democratic rival in the 2020 US presidential election and was former US President Barack Obama's point man on Ukraine.

Fuchs alleged he and his entourage watched the inauguration on television at a hotel bar instead.Â. Fuchs and Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Guiliani [Al Jazeera]. »