By Guardian Nigeria 21 March 2022 | 2:38 pm A Moscow court on Monday banned Facebook and Instagram as “extremist” organisations, after authorities accused US tech giant Meta of tolerating “Russophobia” during the conflict in Ukraine. A Moscow court on Monday banned Facebook and Instagram as “extremist” organisations, after authorities accused US tech giant Meta of tolerating “Russophobia” during the conflict in Ukraine. The Tverskoi district court said it had agreed to a request from prosecutors for the two social media platforms to be banned for “carrying out extremist activities”, but that Meta’s WhatsApp messenger service would not be prohibited because it is not a public platform. The move is part of sweeping efforts by Moscow to crack down on social media amid its military action in pro-Western Ukraine. During Monday’s hearing, Russia’s FSB security service accused Meta of working against Moscow’s interests during the conflict. “The activities of the Meta organisation are directed against Russia and its armed forces,” FSB representative Igor Kovalevsky told the court, Russian news agencies reported. “We ask (the court) to ban Meta’s activities and oblige it to implement this ruling immediately,” he said. After President Vladimir Putin sent troops into Ukraine on February 24, authorities blocked access in Russia to Facebook and Instagram, as well as to Twitter. Meta had announced on March 10 that the platforms would allow statements like “death to Russian invaders” but not credible threats against civilians. But in what appeared to be damage control, Meta’s global affairs president, Nick Clegg, later said the laxer rules would only apply to people posting from inside Ukraine. Latest 5 mins ago The United States imposed sanctions on Monday on Sudan’s Central Reserve Police (CRP) force for human rights abuses. 10 mins ago Boeing shares dove early Monday following the fatal crash of one of its jets in China, where the US aviation giant was poised to soon resume deliveries of the 737 MAX. 26 mins ago Russia on Monday summoned the US ambassador in protest after President Joe Biden branded Russian leader Vladimir Putin a “war criminal” for Moscow’s actions in Ukraine, saying he had endangered ties. 31 mins ago Mali’s former prime minister Soumeylou Boubeye Maiga, who was being held on suspicion of corruption, has died, his family said Monday. 32 mins ago A Federal High Court in Calabar has dismissed the terrorism, treasonable felony, and cybercrime charges against journalist Agba Jalingo. Jalingo, the publisher of an online newspaper, CrossRiverWatch, was arrested in August 2019 for accusing the Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade, of diverting N500 million state funds. He was charged for terrorism, treasonable felony, and…
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