Russia suppresses protests of Navalny’s incarceration
Protests have been planned all over Russia in response to opposition leader and anti-corruption campaigner Alexei Navalny’s incarceration. Navalny was arrested last Sunday upon returning to Russia from Germany after recovering from poisoning that he claims was perpetrated by the Kremlin. Russian universities and colleges are urging students not to attend rallies and are threatening expulsion if they do. According to Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesperson, “It is only natural that there are warnings … about the possible consequences related to noncompliance with the law.” According to the Associated Press, the Russian government plans on taking “elaborate measures” against the protests. Social media platforms in Russia may be fined if it is found that they encouraged minors to protest.
Google threatens Australia over proposed tech regulations
On Friday, Google announced that they may restrict access to their servers in Australia if a proposed legislation that would make tech companies pay for news content becomes a law, according to the Associated Press. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, unphased by the company’s threats, continues to push against the influence of U.S. tech companies interfering with smaller businesses in Australia. In response to the threat, Morrison said, “Australia makes our rules for things you can do in Australia. That’s done in our Parliament. It’s done by our government. And that’s how things work here in Australia.” The proposed legislation would require tech companies to pay for news content from smaller media companies.
Presidential challenger claims coup in Uganda
While under house arrest, Ugandan presidential candidate Bobi Wine claims that the incumbent president, Yoweri Museveni, has staged a coup and made “a mockery of democracy.” Wine claimed that Uganda is controlled by “a small group of gunmen” under Museveni’s presidency. In the recent election, Museveni won with 58% of the vote while Wine claims that the military illegally casted and changed ballots and prevented voters from entering polling stations. Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, claims that Wine is a foreign agent.
Sri Lanka reopens for tourism
After a 10-month closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on Jan. 21 Sri Lanka has reopened tourist attractions to foreign travelers as the two international airports in Sri Lanka began taking commercial flights again. Travelers will be required to stay within what Sri Lanka calls a “travel bubble” for the duration of their trip. According to CNN, this means travelers will have to stay within their resort or semi-quarantine for two weeks, depending on the duration of their trip. All tourists must be tested for COVID-19 72 hours before their flight to Sri Lanka. As of last Thursday, Sri Lanka had over 55,000 COVID-19 cases and 274 fatalities.
