Banned

Most-banned book was Sold, a 2006 novel by Patricia McCormick about sex trafficking in IndiaSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxThe American Library Association (ALA) has reported a record high in the number of books banned in US libraries.In 2025, 5,668 books were banned – representing 66% of the total number challenged – with an additional 920 censored through access restriction, such as relocation on the library shelves. Continue reading...

Government amendment to children’s wellbeing and schools bill to replace existing guidance with statutory banA ban on mobile phones in schools in England is to be introduced by the government to ensure that “critical safeguarding legislation” is passed.The government will table an amendment to the children’s wellbeing and schools bill in the House of Lords after the bill was held up by peers on opposition benches. Continue reading...

Exclusive: ministers consider restricting pesticide-based treatments, which can get into waterways and harm wildlifePet owners across the UK could be banned from buying flea treatment for cats and dogs under new government rules.Ministers have begun an eight-week consultation on letting only veterinary practitioners or pharmacists give out the potent, pesticide-based flea treatments, to ensure “correct usage”. At the moment, the flea and tick treatments can be bought from any pet shop. Continue reading...

ASA rules ads on Instagram and Daily Mail website broke ban on promoting items high in fat, salt and sugarLidl and Iceland have become the first companies to have ads banned after the introduction of rules cracking down on the marketing of junk food in the UK.The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has been policing the ban on ads featuring junk food on TV before 9pm, and in paid online advertising at any time of the day, since 5 January. Continue reading...

Amendment calling for step-incest to be included in ban on harmful content tabled by Conservative peer Gabby BertinThe government has agreed to ban the production of porngraphy depicting sex acts between stepfamily members following a vote in the House of Lords.An amendment calling for step-incest to be included in a ban on harmful content was tabled by Conservative peer Lady Gabby Bertin, who led a review into pornography regulation that was published last year. Continue reading...

Lanre Bakare on the UK government’s decision to revoke Kanye West’s visa after Wireless festival booked him as a headlinerWhen Kanye West was announced as the headliner for Wireless festival in London this summer, the backlash was immediate.“He’d been on a campaign of four or five years of antisemitic trolling,” Lanre Bakare, the Guardian’s arts and culture correspondent, tells Nosheen Iqbal. “Embracing neo-Nazi imagery, pushing out far-right conspiracy theories about Jewish people.” Continue reading...

Peter Achterstraat says protections are essential as apartments increasingly become ‘the only place people can afford to buy’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe New South Wales productivity commissioner wants exorbitant commissions for strata managers banned “sooner rather than later”, with apartments expected to make up half of all Sydney homes by 2041.The NSW government is yet to commit to implementing the recommendations contained in Peter Achterstraat’s report. He has advised outlawing commissions on insurance premiums and other services. Continue reading...

Kiis FM could face cancellation of radio station licence if ban breached, regulator saysAny Kiis FM radio program hosted by Kyle Sandilands and or Jackie “O” Henderson must not air strong sexual content for the next five years or ARN Media could face penalties as serious as the cancellation of the radio stations’ licence.However, the penalty from broadcasting authorities has come two weeks after the Kyle & Jackie O Show was taken off the air and Henderson’s contract with ARN was terminated. Continue reading...