We asked an expert how China’s Internet censorship really works Wang Zhao / AFP / Scanpix / LETA In March 2021, the Russian authorities launched another attack on Western Internet services. Following its attempt to throttle Twitter , the federal censor, Roskomnazor, threatened to block the network in Russia entirely unless it removes certain “illegal content” (which includes, as it turns out, the accounts of independent media outlets).

The Tverskoy District Court of Moscow sentenced 36-year-old businessman Timur Salikhov to two years in a penal colony on charges of using violence against a National Guard officer at a protest rally in support of politician Alexei Navalny on January 23. As RIA Novosti clarifies , this is the first real term in the case related to the winter protest. As Salikhov himself said, the verdict was passed on March 16.

Updated. Facebook explained the failure as a technical malfunction and stated that it had already been fixed. Facebook has crashed. Access problems are reported on downdetector.com, which monitors Internet service activity. In addition, failures occurred in the work of Instagram and WhatsApp, which are owned by Facebook. When you try to access these applications from mobile devices, they write about the inability to update the feed. Desktop versions of sites also work intermittently.

A Moscow district court has fined Russian film director Vitaly Mansky 10,000 rubles ($135) for conducting a one-man protest with a pair of blue boxer shorts outside the FSB headquarters in December 2020. Lawyer Alena Borisova from the human rights group Pravozashchita Otkrytki told MBX Media that lawyers have yet to see the statement of reasons from the judgement, but they have no doubt that it’s “boilerplate.” “We will certainly challenge this decision, she added.

Growing up in Russia, Olga Filimonova dreamed about outer space. Now she works for NASA and helps send rovers to Mars. Olga Filimonova’s perosnal archive Olga Filimonova grew up in Petrozavodsk, a small city in northwestern Russia. Ever since she was a child she dreamed about outer space and was fond of mathematics, but when she didn’t get into the math program at St. Petersburg State University she switched to studying English.

The Biden administration's first talks with China turned into a skirmish. We analyze how the year of the fight against the pandemic went in Russia. The security forces came to the editorial office of MBKh Media and the offices of Open Russia Good evening, This is Meduza's daily newsletter about the important news of the day. Let's start with the best news: our planet is reliably protected from an alien invasion - after all, Arnold Schwarzenegger himself is on guard !

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on the resignation of Russian Ambassador to Belarus Dmitry Mezentsev. It is still unclear who will become Mezentsev's successor as ambassador. Mezentsev himself was appointed Secretary of State of the Union State of Russia and Belarus. Mezentsev has been Ambassador to Belarus since April 2019. Prior to that, he was a senator from the Sakhalin region, and even earlier - the governor of the Irkutsk region.

The Meshchansky District Court of Moscow imposed a fine of 10,000 rubles on director Vitaly Mansky for picketing with blue shorts in front of the FSB building, which he held on December 22, Alena Borisova, a lawyer for Pravozashchita Otkryka, told MBKh Media. The reasoning part of the decision, she added, the lawyers have not yet seen, but they have no doubt that it is “template”. “We will certainly appeal this decision,” she added.

Wang Zhao / AFP / Scanpix / Leta In March 2021, the Russian authorities began another offensive on Western Internet services. From the slowdown of Twitter, Roskomnadzor moved to threats to even block this social network on the territory of Russia in case of refusal to remove a “prohibited content” (under which, as it turns out, they are also referred to as accounts of non -state media). For many reasons, the “great Russian firewall” is impossible according to the Chinese model in Russia.

President Joe Biden said he would speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin one way or another, commenting on his proposal to have a discussion. "I'm sure we'll talk at some point," the US president said. Asked about new sanctions against Russia, Biden said they would be introduced "in due course." On March 17, 2021, Biden's interview aired on ABC, in which he responded positively to the question of whether he considers Putin a murderer.

Telegram channels now feature voice chats. This was reported in the messenger's blog. The number of voice chat listeners in channels and public groups is unlimited. As emphasized by the company, “thanks to this, every Telegram channel can now become a full-fledged radio station.” Voice chats will be able to be saved as podcasts, listeners will be able to raise their hand to participate in the discussion, and speakers will be able to join the chat on behalf of their channels.

Norway's police have launched an investigation into Prime Minister Erna Solberg, suspecting her of violating anti-COVID measures. At the end of February, Solberg celebrated her 60th birthday with relatives at a ski resort for two consecutive evenings. On the first day, 13 of her guests gathered for dinner in her absence (Sulberg herself was at the doctor), and on the second day, she and her guests continued the celebration in a rented apartment.

The Russian Investigative Committee has received an appeal from a community organization seeking an inquiry into the song “Russian Woman” by singer-songwriter Manizha, who will be representing Russia at the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam in May.

Yan Tsapnik only wanted to leave work early, namely, from the filming of the series “Knee”, which tells about the life of actor Sasha with a height of 135 centimeters. However, one of the crew members came to the site late, which (supposedly) led a tsapnik from himself.

Psychiatrists have declared self-described shaman Alexander Gabyshev mentally unfit, reports MBX Media, citing coordinator Alexey Pryanishnikov from the human rights group Pravozashchita Otkrytki. Gabyshev underwent a psychological and psychiatric evaluation within the framework of an ongoing criminal investigation into his alleged use of violence against an officer from the Russian National Guard. Pryanishnikov believes that now, Gabyshev may be sent for compulsory treatment yet again.