Alexey Navalny, a Russian opposition leader and vocal critic of President Vladimir Putin's government, was sentenced to 19 years in prison on Friday for promoting "extremism". He was already serving a nine-year sentence for parole violations, fraud, and contempt of court. Navalny's team has denounced the charges as politically motivated and the international community has called for his immediate release.
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On Friday, Ukrainian sea drones attacked the Novorossiysk naval base on the Black Sea, one of Russia's largest ports, damaging a Russian warship. Videos and a Ukrainian intelligence source suggested that one of the Russian warships had been damaged, forcing a temporary halt to all ship movement at the port. The incident marks the second night in a row that Ukraine has shot down Russian drones, and the extent of the damage and casualties is still unknown.
Andrew Tate, an internet influencer charged with rape, human trafficking, and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women in Romania, won an appeal on Friday to be released from house arrest and instead be put under judicial control measures. The exact restrictions were not made public, and Tate's spokesperson said the decision was to allow him to prepare for his defense. The outcome of the case remains to be seen, but Tate's release has sparked debate among his supporters and detractors alike, and it remains to be seen how the judicial control measures will affect his ability to use his platform.
Somalia's Minister of Youth and Sports has apologized and suspended the chair of the national track and field federation after a seemingly untrained female sprinter, Nasra Abukar Ali, represented the African country at the World University Games in China and finished 10 seconds behind the winner. The incident has sparked outrage among Somali citizens and raised questions about the selection process for athletes representing the country, prompting the Minister to promise to investigate the matter and take appropriate action.
Mexican officials have reported the discovery of a body along a floating barrier recently installed in the Rio Grande by Texas authorities. The barrier was installed last month across from Eagle Pass, Texas, and is designed to make it more difficult for migrants to cross the river. Human rights groups have criticized the barrier, saying it puts migrants in danger and violates their rights. The Mexican government is investigating the death, which is the first reported since the barrier was installed.
China's internet watchdog, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), has proposed new regulations to limit the amount of time children spend on their smartphones, including restricting internet usage to one hour per day for those between 8 and 15 and two hours for those between 16 and 18. The regulations, which are open for public comment until June 10, are part of a broader push by Chinese authorities to protect minors from the potential harms of the internet.
Jamaica's national women's soccer team, the Reggae Girlz, made history on Wednesday by advancing to the knockout round of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. The team's captain, Khadija "Bunny" Shaw, shared emotional words with Brazilian soccer legend Marta, and thanked the team for pushing forward despite being knocked down. The Reggae Girlz are the first Caribbean team to qualify for the Round of 16 in the Women's World Cup, and their success has been celebrated around the world.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Grégoire Trudeau have announced their separation after 18 years of marriage. The couple, who have three children together, shared the news on social media, saying they remain a close family with deep love and respect for each other. They have been a fixture in the public eye since their marriage in 2005, but have not yet announced any further details about their separation.