Ban

Indonesia passes criminal code banning sex outside marriage

Sex outside marriage will carry a jail term of up to a year under the new laws, which take effect in three years.

BBC reports the raft of changes come after a rise in religious conservatism in the Muslim-majority country.

Critics see the laws as a "disaster" for human rights, and a potential blow to tourism and investment.

Several groups of mainly young people protested against the legislation outside parliament in Jakarta this week. It is expected the new laws will be challenged in court.

Samoa's Opposition without leadership following Parliament ban on Tuilaepa

Tuilaepa and the HRPP's secretary Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi were suspended indefinitely without pay on Tuesday from Parliament following a formal complaint by the Deputy Prime Minister, Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio.

The complaint led to a report with the recommendation they both be suspended.

Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa told Parliament an indefinite term of suspension is appropriate to monitor Tuilaepa and Lealailepule's behaviour and set a precedent for future reference.

The pair have also been denied their usual privileges payments during their suspension.

Wimbledon bans Russian and Belarusian tennis players

The decision by the All England Lawn Tennis Club means Grand Slam champions Daniil Medvedev from Russia and Belarusian Victoria Azarenka will not be able to participate in the June 27-July 10 tournament.

In a statement the AELTC said it had to play its part in the efforts of government, industry, sporting and creative institutions to "limit Russia's global influence through the strongest means possible."

Montoya banned for four games for homophobic slur

Montoya received the suspension at the NRL judiciary on Tuesday evening after referring to North Queensland winger Kyle Feldt as a "fa***t".

While Feldt lay on the ground awaiting treatment during the Warriors' 25-24 win on Friday, Montoya yelled: "Get up Kyle, you fa***t".

In a statement from the Warriors Montoya said he was "fully remorseful."

Montoya had pleaded guilty to a contrary conduct charge.

"I acknowledge and accept that the comment I made on Friday night is completely unacceptable," said Montoya.

Former President Blatter banned for additional six years by FIFA over financial wrongdoing

It is the second time Blatter has been banned by FIFA and the latest verdict comes just seven months before his initial six-year ban from all football-related activities was set to expire.

FIFA confirmed Blatter and Jérôme Valcke, the former secretary general of the organisation, have been suspended for an additional six years and eight months and fined CHF1 million (£780,000/US$1 million/€900,000) for financial wrongdoing.

Jepkosgei banned after giving fake evidence for missed test

Jepkosgei, who is ranked 27th in the world in the women's 800m, missed a doping test on March 18 and offered fake evidence in the form of a forged document to explain the whereabouts failure, the AIU said in a statement.

The 29-year-old had informed the AIU that she missed the test because she had been at Kapsabet County Referral Hospital, where her sister had been admitted after being involved in a serious car accident.

Jepkosgei is the latest in a long line of Kenyan runners to run foul of anti-doping rules in the past few years.

Barbarians banned

The breach arose when players left their hotel rooms and had dinner in a restaurant without the permission of organisers.

Alex Lewington, Fergus McFadden, Juan Pablo Socino, Chris Robshaw, Richard Wigglesworth and Jackson Wray were given five-week suspensions for leaving the team's biosecure bubble twice and giving a false account of events during the RFU investigation.

Russia bids to overturn global ban

RUSADA was declared non-compliant with World Anti-Doping Agency [WADA] standards over inconsistencies in anti-doping data discovered during an investigation.
Athletes will not be able to compete under the Russian flag at the 2020 Olympics or the 2022 Winter Games, while Russia's place at the 2022 World Cup is also in jeopardy.
WADA said on December 9 it had given Russia three weeks in which it could launch an appeal, and RUSADA supervisory board chairman Alexander Ivlev was quoted on Thursday as confirming there would be a challenge to the decision.

Tuvalu bans single use plastic from August 1

It's hoped the new measures will ease pressure on an overflowing rubbish dump on Fogafale where most of the population lives.

Single use plastic bottles under 1.5 litres, plastic plates, cutlery and food wrap are among the items which will not be allowed in to the country from 1 August, according to the Director of the Department of Environment Soseala Tinilau.

Compliance with plastic bag ban to be checked in Samoa

A notice from the Ministry of National Resources and Environment said the inspection would take place on 30 January and would mainly focus on retail outlets.

It warned that failure to comply could result in a fine of over $US3800.

Exempt from the prohibition are plastic bags used to package frozen goods such as meat and ice cubes, the ministry said.

Also exempt are bags used for local products including chips, kekesaina or Chinese cake, ava, biscuits, coffee, tea, sugar, flour and cocoa.