India warns Pakistan of rising floods as 1.8 million displaced
India has warned Pakistan of “high floods” along the Sutlej River as northeastern regions prepare for another intense monsoon spell, with nearly 2...
Meta Platforms said it will suspend all political, electoral, and social issue advertising across the European Union starting in October, citing "unworkable requirements" under the bloc’s new transparency rules.
The EU’s Transparency and Targeting of Political Advertising regulation (TTPA), which aims to combat foreign interference and disinformation, officially entered into force in April 2024, with most provisions taking effect on Oct. 10.
In a statement, Meta — which owns Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads — said the legislation “introduces significant operational challenges and legal uncertainties” and would pose “an untenable level of complexity and legal uncertainty for advertisers and platforms operating in the EU.”
Under the new rules, political advertisements must include a transparency label disclosing key information, such as the sponsor, links to elections, the amount spent, and the targeting techniques used.
Meta noted that it has enforced political ad transparency measures since 2018, including requiring advertisers to undergo an authorisation process and storing political ads in a public archive. However, it said the new rules go too far.
“Because of the restrictions,” Meta added, “people will be seeing less relevant ads on our platforms.”
The company clarified that political figures and users in the EU will still be allowed to post and debate political topics on its platforms.
Google had already announced a similar move in November 2023, also opting to ban political ads across the EU in response to the TTPA.
The changes apply only to Europe.
The European Commission has launched several initiatives to counter foreign interference, including investigations under the Digital Services Act (DSA), which requires platforms to address illegal content and disinformation.
In April, Meta’s Facebook and Instagram platforms became subject to formal DSA proceedings over suspected violations related to deceptive advertising and political content. That investigation is ongoing.
Concerns over election interference have mounted in Europe.
On 6 December, Romania became the first EU country to cancel an election due to foreign interference, following reports of disinformation campaigns on TikTok.
AnewZ has learned that India has once again blocked Azerbaijan’s application for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, while Pakistan’s recent decision to consider diplomatic relations with Armenia has been coordinated with Baku as part of Azerbaijan’s peace agenda.
A powerful eruption at Japan’s Shinmoedake volcano sent an ash plume more than 3,000 metres high on Sunday morning, prompting safety warnings from authorities.
A day of mourning has been declared in Portugal to pay respect to victims who lost their lives in the Lisbon Funicular crash which happened on Wednesday evening.
The UK is gearing up for Exercise Pegasus 2025, its largest pandemic readiness test since COVID-19. Running from September to November, this full-scale simulation will challenge the country's response to a fast-moving respiratory outbreak.
A Polish Air Force pilot was killed on Thursday when an F-16 fighter jet crashed during a training flight ahead of the 2025 Radom International Air Show.
Czech police have arrested a 51-year-old man long suspected of driving a high-speed racing car on public motorways, a case that has captured public attention since 2019.
Max Verstappen secured a commanding victory at the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday, taking his first win since May and the third of his season.
India has warned Pakistan of “high floods” along the Sutlej River as northeastern regions prepare for another intense monsoon spell, with nearly 2 million people already displaced, officials said on Sunday.
In a historic showdown, Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz defeated Italy’s Jannik Sinner at the U.S. Open final on Sunday, earning his second Grand Slam title of 2025 and a record $5 million first prize.
Hamas said Sunday it received a new U.S. ceasefire proposal through mediators and is ready to resume negotiations.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment