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Cuban political activist Yoani Sánchez says police not allowing her to leave her home

HAVANA (AP) — Cuban activist Yoani Sánchez said on Sunday that an alleged policeman dressed in civilian clothes is stopping her from leaving her home in Havana.

The accusation comes in the wake of protest in the city of Moron, where a group partially destroyed the local headquarters of the ruling communist party as the island struggles with energy blackouts and food shortages.

Sánchez confronted the man in a video published a video on Facebook and argued he was violating her rights. She also said two women who do not live in her building were roaming around since the officer arrived.

“This is in the lower levels of my building and I have come across this civilian dressed in plain clothes who has not identified himself, has his face covered, seems very afraid of being seen, and claims that he will not let me leave,” Sánchez said.

“I am a citizen who has not committed any crimes, is not being judged in a court, does not have a restraining order or house arrest. So, why won’t you let me leave?” the activist said.

In January, Sánchez said she was detained by agents wearing badges of the Cuban Department of State Security while she was heading to a reception at the residence of the chief of mission of the United States.

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Australian watchdog files legal action against Telegram, saying it failed to remove violent content

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australia’s online safety watchdog has filed legal action against messaging app Telegram, saying the platform failed to remove extremist content including videos of white supremacist mass shootings in Buffalo, New York, and the New Zealand city of Christchurch as well as Islamic State group beheadings. The United Arab Emirates-based app, which reports having 1 billion users worldwide, faces a fine of up to 54.6 million Australian dollars ($38 million) if convicted in the Australian Federal Court for “alleged failure to detect and remove pro-terror material,” eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said Thursday. The civil action is a test of Australia's 2021 law requiring tech platforms to work to keep illegal and pro-terrorism material off their networks. Telegram denied the claims. “We reject these allegations and will contest them in court,” a spokesperson said in a written statement sent on Telegram.
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