Sudanese protesters arrested, Hong Kong film crackdown, Brazil lawmakers urge Bolsonaro criminal Covid charges

Yahoo Finance's Akiko Fujita breaks down today's top stories from around the world.

Video transcript

AKIKO FUJITA: In our worldview today, security forces in Sudan have arrested three prominent pro-democracy activists as the military government looks to silence protests following a coup. The detentions came after demonstrations and strikes Tuesday to oppose the military's action. Meanwhile, deposed Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and his wife have now been released and returned home after he was forcibly removed from office on Monday. The military takeover threatens to reverse Sudan's two-year transition to democracy. At least half a dozen people have been killed in coup-related demonstrations.

Hong Kong's legislature has approved a new bill banning films that undermine China's national security law. Under the amended Film Censorship Bill, investigators can search any person and any location without a warrant if they're suspected of showing a film that violates the law. A conviction carries a sentence of up to three years in prison and a fine of up to $130,000. The law is just the latest step to quiet opposition under the national security law that passed last year. No word yet on how the new changes will affect US streaming services like Netflix operating in Hong Kong.

And lawmakers in Brazil have voted to recommend criminal charges be filed against President Jair Bolsonaro over his handling of the pandemic. The Brazilian commission alleges Bolsonaro's government willfully allowed COVID-19 to spread across the country, killing 600,000 people. In a 13-page report filed, lawmakers say Bolsonaro's actions amounted to crimes against humanity. They're now recommending nine charges be filed against the leader. The findings will now be sent to the chief prosecutor, who, by the way, was appointed by Bolsonaro. Brazil has the second highest COVID death rate in the world after the US.