Censorship and cancel culture

Please review each article prior to use: grade-level applicability and curricular alignment might not be obvious from the headline alone.

FILE - This combination of photos shows logos of X, formerly known as Twitter, top left; Snapchat, top right; Facebook, bottom left; and TikTok, bottom right. (AP Photo, File)
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Nepal internet crackdown part of global trend toward suppressing online freedom

Barbara Ortutay, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview
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Nepal internet crackdown part of global trend toward suppressing online freedom

Barbara Ortutay, The Associated Press 5 minute read Friday, Oct. 10, 2025

Nepal's crackdown on social media companies, which led to protests and police killing at least 19 people, is part of a yearslong decline of internet freedoms around the world as even democracies seek to curtail online speech.

The Himalayan country’s government said last week it was blocking several social media platforms including Facebook, X and YouTube because the companies failed to comply with a requirement that they register with the government. The ban was lifted Tuesday a day after the deadly protests.

What's happening in Nepal mirrors “this broader pattern of controlling the narrative and controlling of stories emerging from the ground,” said Aditya Vashistha, an assistant professor of information science at Cornell University. “This has happened several times in the neighboring countries India, Pakistan, Bangladesh. So this is nothing new — in fact, I would say this is taken from the playbook, which is now very established, of trying to control social media narratives.”

Not just Nepal

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Friday, Oct. 10, 2025
Riot police use water cannon on protesters during clashes outside parliament building in Kathmandu, Nepal, Monday, Sept. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Protests against Nepal’s social-media ban grow more violent as demonstrators set buildings on fire

Binaj Gurubacharya, The Associated Press 6 minute read Preview

Protests against Nepal’s social-media ban grow more violent as demonstrators set buildings on fire

Binaj Gurubacharya, The Associated Press 6 minute read Thursday, Sep. 25, 2025

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Protests against Nepal’s short-lived ban on social media grew increasingly violent Tuesday as demonstrators set government buildings and politicians’ homes on fire and attacked some leaders. The prime minister resigned amid widening criticism of the country’s political elite.

The resignation appeared to have little effect on the unrest. Tens of thousands of protesters remained on the streets late in the day, blocking roads and storming government facilities. Army helicopters ferried some ministers to safe places.

A day earlier, demonstrations led by young people angry about the blocking of several social media sites gripped the capital, and police opened fire on the crowds, killing 19 people.

The ban was lifted Tuesday, but the protests continued, fueled by rage over the deaths and accusations of political corruption in the nation wedged between China and India.

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Thursday, Sep. 25, 2025
FILE - Tom Hanks arrives at the 15th Governors Awards Nov. 17, 2024, at The Ray Dolby Ballroom in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)

Trump celebrates West Point alumni group canceling award ceremony to honor Tom Hanks

Michelle L. Price, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Trump celebrates West Point alumni group canceling award ceremony to honor Tom Hanks

Michelle L. Price, The Associated Press 5 minute read Monday, Sep. 15, 2025

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump celebrated news on Monday that an alumni group from West Point canceled an award ceremony set to honor Tom Hanks, with the president calling the famous actor “destructive” and “WOKE.”

Hanks was scheduled to receive the 2025 Sylvanus Thayer Award on Sept. 25, but the U.S. Military Academy's alumni association canceled the ceremony last week, according to news reports.

“Important move!” Trump said in a post on his social media network Monday. “We don’t need destructive, WOKE recipients getting our cherished American Awards!!! Hopefully the Academy Awards, and other Fake Award Shows, will review their Standards and Practices in the name of Fairness and Justice.”

West Point, its alumni association and a representative for Hanks did not immediately respond to messages and calls seeking comment Monday.

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Monday, Sep. 15, 2025
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith speaks at a press conference in Edmonton on Oct. 31, 2024.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
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Alberta bans sexual images in school library books under revised order

Jack Farrell, The Canadian Press 6 minute read Preview
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Alberta bans sexual images in school library books under revised order

Jack Farrell, The Canadian Press 6 minute read Friday, Sep. 19, 2025

EDMONTON - The Alberta government made good Monday on its promise to revise its school book ban, stating that from now on written descriptions of sex are OK, but images and illustrations of sex are not.

Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides told reporters that visual depictions had been the government's main concern from the start.

When asked by reporters why the government wasn't concerned with written descriptions of explicit sexual material, he said, “An image can be understood and conveyed at any grade level with any degree of comprehension.

“Whereas, of course, vocabulary and understanding progresses and develops throughout the school year."

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Friday, Sep. 19, 2025
BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS Former Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back Willard Reaves, 66, (left) announces his intention to become the leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party while former party leader and former Legislative Assembly Member for River Heights Jon Gerrard joins him on the steps of the main entrance to Manitoba Legislative Building in Winnipeg, Man., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025.

Former Blue Bomber Reaves launches Liberal leadership bid

Erik Pindera 3 minute read Preview

Former Blue Bomber Reaves launches Liberal leadership bid

Erik Pindera 3 minute read Sunday, Sep. 7, 2025

Willard Reaves aims to become the leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party.

Reaves, a star Winnipeg Blue Bomber in the 1980s who also played a stint in the National Football League, announced his intention to run for leader of the longtime third-place party outside the Manitoba Legislature on Sunday afternoon.

“It’s time to get to work,” said Reaves, 66.

“I will be the best leader that this province can ever have, because my passion is about the people, not the parties.”

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Sunday, Sep. 7, 2025
Senior Investigative Officer with Saskatchewan RCMP’s Major Crimes Branch Ashley St. Germaine speaks during a press conference regarding an ongoing investigation in Richmound, Sask., in Regina, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Heywood Yu

Health officials declare ‘Queen of Canada’s’ compound a threat to public safety

The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Health officials declare ‘Queen of Canada’s’ compound a threat to public safety

The Canadian Press 3 minute read Monday, Sep. 22, 2025

RICHMOUND - Provincial officials in Saskatchewan say parts of a former school that was serving as a compound for the self-proclaimed "Queen of Canada" and her followers have been declared unfit for human habitation, and the residents have been ordered out.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority says in an email that occupancy of the building in Richmound is prohibited under Section 22 of the Public Health Act, on the basis that the premises is a multi-person residence and is not connected to the municipal sewer system.

The email says an order was issued for anyone who was currently occupying the building to vacate, although it notes the order covers the building only, and not trailers on the site.

Police arrested the group's leader, Romana Didulo, property owner Ricky Manz and 14 others on Wednesday in the village west of Regina, after obtaining a search warrant to enter the site.

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Monday, Sep. 22, 2025
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, right, stands with new Minister of Education and Childcare, Demetrios Nicolaides, following a swearing in ceremony in Calgary, Friday, May 16, 2025.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
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Alberta government postpones release of revised school library book ban

Jack Farrell, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview
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Alberta government postpones release of revised school library book ban

Jack Farrell, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

EDMONTON - The Alberta government has postponed the release of its revised school library book ban to Monday.

The government had promised the new ministerial order for Friday afternoon, with a technical briefing for reporters set earlier in the day.

After the briefing was supposed to start, media were informed by email that it had been rescheduled.

“We are taking the time needed to ensure that the revised ministerial order is clear for all school boards," Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides later said in an email in response to questions about the postponement.

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Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025
FILE - People walk past a campaign poster starring Sydney Sweeney which is displayed at the American Eagle Outfitters store, Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura, File)

American Eagle counts new customers after Sydney Sweeney ad frenzy and shares soar

Michelle Chapman, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

American Eagle counts new customers after Sydney Sweeney ad frenzy and shares soar

Michelle Chapman, The Associated Press 4 minute read Monday, Sep. 22, 2025

Shares of American Eagle Outfitters spiked 34% Thursday after the teen clothing retailer said the frenzy surrounding its Sydney Sweeney ad campaign drew new customers during its most recent quarter.

American Eagle rolled out its new new ad campaign starring 27-year-old actor over the summer. The fall denim campaign sparked a debate about race, Western beauty standards, and the backlash to “woke” American politics and culture.

Negative reactions centered on ads that used the word “genes” instead of “jeans” featuring the blonde-haired, blue-eyed actor known for the HBO series “Euphoria” and “White Lotus.”

But American Eagle did get noticed, executives said late Wednesday in a call after the Pittsburgh retailer posted second quarter earnings.

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Monday, Sep. 22, 2025
FILE - An entrance to the Arizona PBS offices in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication in Phoenix is seen Friday, May 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Katie Oyan, File)

The defunded Corporation for Public Broadcasting will get one of TV’s biggest prizes

Mark Kennedy, The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

The defunded Corporation for Public Broadcasting will get one of TV’s biggest prizes

Mark Kennedy, The Associated Press 2 minute read Saturday, Sep. 20, 2025

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting will be honored with one of the television's top prizes even as it winds down its nearly 60-year work after the U.S. government withdrew funding.

The organization, which has helped pay for PBS, NPR, 1,500 local radio and TV stations as well as programs like “Sesame Street” and “Finding Your Roots,” will be awarded the Television Academy's Governors Award, which honors those who have "made a profound, transformational and long-lasting contribution to the arts and/or science of television.”

It will be handed to Patricia de Stacy Harrison, the longest-serving president and CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards ceremony on Sept. 7.

“For more than half a century, CPB has been a steadfast champion of storytelling that informs, educates and unites us and ensures public media remains a vital space where diverse voices are heard and communities are served,” Television Academy Chair Cris Abrego said in a statement Tuesday.

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Saturday, Sep. 20, 2025
Margaret Atwood pauses for a photo after posing on the red carpet for the Scotiabank Giller Prize in Toronto, on Monday, Nov. 13, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
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Margaret Atwood takes aim at Alberta’s school library books ban with satirical story

The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview
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Margaret Atwood takes aim at Alberta’s school library books ban with satirical story

The Canadian Press 3 minute read Tuesday, Sep. 23, 2025

EDMONTON - Margaret Atwood is taking aim at Alberta's controversial ban on school library books containing sexual content with a new, satirical short story after the famed author's novel "The Handmaid's Tale" was yanked from some shelves due to the province's sweeping new rules.

In a social media post on Sunday, Atwood said since the literary classic is no longer suitable in Alberta's schools, she has written a short story for 17-year-olds about two "very, very good children" named John and Mary.

"They never picked their noses or had bowel movements or zits," she said at the beginning of her story.

"They grew up and married each other, and produced five perfect children without ever having sex."

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Tuesday, Sep. 23, 2025