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Kampala, Uganda – It’s the eve of Uganda’s highly contested presidential election, and the country is partially shut down.

The national communications authority has suspended public internet access, the sale and registration of new SIM cards, and outbound roaming services.

On the streets of the capital city, the move has triggered anger and frustration — especially among young people who rely heavily on the internet for work, communication, and opportunity.

Marvin Masole says he mostly uses WhatsApp to communicate and to do business.

The 27-year-old university graduate has tried repeatedly to find a job — and failed.

Frustrated, he is now looking for opportunities abroad.

“Many of us use WhatsApp. Without internet, we are stuck,” he tells Al Jazeera.

“There are people out there earning money online. I feel if we had a youthful president, he would not have authorised the shutdown. He is marginalising us.”

Masole is gathered with friends at a food stall in downtown Kampala. The group share a famous “Rolex” – a chapati rolled with egg – a popular street delicacy in Uganda.

The oldest person among them is 37 years old. Most are in their 20s.

This mirrors the national average – more than 70 percent of the country is under the age of 35.

But for decades, this youthfulness has not been reflected in the upper echelons of power.

For all their lives, Masole and his friends have known only one president — Yoweri Museveni, now 81, who is seeking a seventh term after nearly four decades in power.

Tension and uncertainty

More than 21.6 million voters have registered for Thursday’s election.

But for many young Ugandans, the disconnect between them and Museveni’s policies feels both generational and political. They are educated, digitally connected, and facing high unemployment — and many say their voices do not translate into power.

But for other young Ugandans, the generational divide between them and the president does not translate into an ideological one.

Scovia Tusabimana strongly supports the president and his policies. She believes his leadership has benefitted the country.

“I was five years old when Museveni came to power. I’m an orphan. I couldn’t afford school,” she tells Al Jazeera.

“The president introduced universal primary education. He has built roads and hospitals.”

When asked about the internet shutdown and reports of campaign violence against the opposition and its supporters in the run-up to the polls, she says: “I’m not happy with the way things have been going, but I believe there is a reason why.”

Masole says that in an ideal world, he would want to see a peaceful and harmonious transfer of power after the vote.

Yet Uganda has not experienced a peaceful handover since independence in 1962.

For years, elections in Uganda have been clouded by uncertainty and tension.

During the last polls in 2021, election-related violence and a crackdown by security forces left more than 50 people dead, according to rights groups.

Before and since then, Museveni’s government has been accused of fiercely cracking down on its critics.

In recent months, opposition politicians and activists have faced escalating harassment, including arbitrary arrests and detentions on what they describe as politically motivated charges.

Civil society organisations are also under growing pressure, facing tighter regulations and increased surveillance aimed at limiting their ability to influence and comment on the political process.

During campaigning for this year’s election, leading opposition candidate Bobi Wine also warned that the state plans to arrest him again.

This comes as political analysts and observers predict that Museveni is almost guaranteed to win another term – a victory his competitors will likely say was rigged.

‘I dream of a country with good hospitals’

Out on the streets of Kampala, many people say they want to vote — but worry about what comes after the ballot is cast.

Okiya Abdul, a former teacher, says he wants a peaceful outcome. But he insists that the will of the people must be respected.

Frustration and disillusionment run deep, particularly among first-time voters who are questioning whether the ballot can still deliver change.

Sam Muzaale owns the food stall in downtown Kampala.

A former security guard, he worked his way up selling Rolex chapatis. He now employs several people. And for the first time, he plans to vote.

“I dream of a country with good hospitals and enough medicine, schools with teachers, and lower taxes — because taxes keep going up,” he tells Al Jazeera.

Masole, still frustrated by the internet shutdown and lack of opportunities, says he is unsure what the coming days will bring.

“The president knows how to use the military and police to bring peace. He knows how to restore order. I think he will find a way to stabilise the situation,” he says.

“What I fear is what will be done to bring back that stability.”

It is a concern shared by many Ugandans — a desire for peace and harmony, alongside anxiety about the cost of maintaining it.

Jan. 13 (Asia Today) — South Korea’s People Power Party has shown little sign of regaining support despite an apology and a reform package tied to the Dec. 3 emergency decree, with polls showing the gap widening between the conservative party and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea.

Political observers said Tuesday that public sentiment appears to be moving in favor of President Lee Jae-myung and the Democratic Party, while the People Power Party has stagnated or slipped in successive surveys.

In a poll commissioned by the Energy Economy Newspaper and conducted by Realmeter from Sunday through Thursday among 2,530 voters nationwide age 18 and older, party support stood at 47.8% for the Democratic Party and 33.5% for the People Power Party. The Democratic Party rose 2.1 percentage points from the prior week, while the People Power Party fell 2.0 points, the poll found.

Analysts cited what they called a “Yoon Suk-yeol factor” as a key reason the conservative party has struggled to draw a positive response. While People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk’s reform plan included an apology over the martial law declaration, critics said it did not clearly address how the party would define its relationship with former President Yoon Suk-yeol.

They said the plan offered no direct message on accountability, political separation or future ties beyond expressing regret and leaving past issues to the courts and “history’s judgment.”

Some observers also questioned whether Jang’s personal reform push has enough political impact to shift voter views. The measures he announced last week focused on an apology over martial law, a youth-centered party vision and a proposed party name change, but did not spell out what the party would abandon or where it would draw clear lines.

Political commentator Park Sang-byeong said an apology alone is not the same as taking responsibility, adding that he saw no visible political decision-making behind the message.

— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

© Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.

A MAN has shared the reality of holidaying in Lapland’s coldest snap in a decade – including cancelled activities and how even his eyelashes are froze.

Lapland in Finland is currently experiencing one of the coldest snaps in a decade with temperatures plunging to as low as -40C.

Even for a region known for its snow, the current weather is significantly below the average causing hundreds of flights to be cancelled.

Caleb Chaplin, 28, told Sun Travel he feared he wouldn’t even make it to the winter wonderland as Amsterdam Airport (where he was getting a connecting flight) was closed until the night before he was due to fly.

However, the airport reopened on the Wednesday night, allowing the Australian – who has lived in London for three years -and his friend to reach Finland.

He said: “It was fine for us but I knew a lot of other people that couldn’t actually get into Lapland itself.”

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Lapland is usually associated with kids and Christmas, but the destination has a lot for adults too and isn’t just about the festive period.

He said: “We had a few adventures booked for like snowmobiling and stuff like that.

“They all got cancelled due to temperatures being too cold.”

In addition to snowmobiling, the duo were meant to head off husky sledging and see reindeer – but the bone-chilling temperatures were even too harsh for them.

Though, each time something was cancelled, the pair received a refund either immediately or within 24 hours.

Caleb added: “We then tried to book three different snowmobile tours, with the third finally getting accepted.

“Eventually we got to snowmobiling on a Friday, which we had to have like three different pairs of socks, three gloves, three different layers for.

“It was so cold, we even got frost on our fingers – my thumbs felt like they were going to come off.

“It felt like they had frostbite underneath my two pairs of gloves and the gloves that they give you.

“In fact, they gave us overalls and an extra pair of gloves and it was still cold.

“I had heat warmers in my gloves and heat warmers in my shoes – it was an unreal experience.

“But being -35C for a long period of time, they’re not used to these temperatures at the moment.”

Average temperatures for Lapland during January sit around -14C and if they reach -30C it is usually only for a couple of days, however the even chillier drop has been going on for around 10 to 12 days.

On New Year’s Day, temps sat around -38.4C and by January 5, a new low was recorded in Eastern Lapland of -39.9C.

On January 9, the cold worsened, hitting -42.8C in Savukoski – the coldest temperature of Lapland’s winter so far.

Caleb even joked that when he spoke to his parents, who live in Sydney, they were experiencing 39C, while he was experiencing -39C.

He continued: “Most of the instructors had frost on their noses.

“So they were wearing heat warmer gloves and had them under their balaclavas too.”

The 28-year-old did share though how staff were doing all that they could to help people, including giving them additional clothing, to ensure they still had a good Lapland experience.

The bar manager has been documenting his trip on his Instagram account, @calebchapin, where he has even ventured out for runs in the snow.

He revealed: “Two minutes after running your face is pretty much covered with frost or snow – my face, eyes, eyelashes were all frozen.”

The snow hasn’t ruined Caleb’s holiday though – he has managed to see the Northern Lights most days and added that “it’s just been a once in a lifetime opportunity”.

“The scenery of everything is like a white Christmas, it’s incomprehensible to look at,” he added.

Over the weekend, flights in and out of Kittila were cancelled, with one flight out of Rovaniemi also cancelled on Sunday.

Caleb also mentioned how there are no car rentals available and that Rovaniemi Airport was packed when they landed.

Flight compensation rules

A look at your rights if a flight is delayed or cancelled, when your entitled to compensation and if your travel insurance can cover the costs.

What are my rights if my flight is cancelled or delayed?

Under UK law, airlines have to provide compensation if your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late.

If you’re flying to or from the UK, your airline must let you choose a refund or an alternative flight.

You will be able to get your money back for the part of your ticket that you haven’t used yet.

So if you booked a return flight and the outbound leg is cancelled, you can get the full cost of the return ticket refunded.

But if travelling is essential, then your airline has to find you an alternative flight. This could even be with another airline.

When am I not entitled to compensation?

The airline doesn’t have to give you a refund if the flight was cancelled due to reasons beyond their control, such as extreme weather.

Disruptions caused by things like extreme weather, airport or air traffic control employee strikes or other ‘extraordinary circumstances’ are not eligible for compensation.

Some airlines may stretch the definition of “extraordinary circumstances” but you can challenge them through the aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Will my insurance cover me if my flight is cancelled?

If you can’t claim compensation directly through the airline, your travel insurance may refund you.

Policies vary so you should check the small print, but a delay of eight to 12 hours will normally mean you qualify for some money from your insurer.

Remember to get written confirmation of your delay from the airport as your insurer will need proof.

If your flight is cancelled entirely, you’re unlikely to be covered by your insurance.

Stormy weather across the UK also caused lots of flights to be cancelled last week after Storm Goretti closed airports.

Plus, why bad weather could make your flight faster – and land up to an hour earlier than planned.

Hadramout governor says ports and airports will soon be operational after Saudi-backed government forces ousted secessionists from the south.

About 400 tourists are stuck on the Yemeni island of Socotra after flights were grounded because of clashes on the mainland between government troops backed by Saudi Arabia and secessionists with links to the United Arab Emirates.

Over the past few days, flights in and out of Yemen have been largely restricted during heavy fighting between rival armed factions loosely grouped under the Yemen’s fractious government, which is based in the southern port city of Aden.

The Socotra islands, 380km (236 miles) south of the mainland, are under the control of the United Arab Emirates-backed Southern Transitional Council, which has clashed with Yemen’s Saudi-backed government in the provinces of Hadramout and al-Mahra.

Yahya bin Afrar, the deputy governor for culture and tourism on Socotra, the largest island in the Socotra archipelago, said that “more than 400 foreign tourists” are stranded after their flights were “suspended”.

A local official, who spoke to the AFP news agency on condition of anonymity, said that 416 people of different nationalities were stranded on Socotra, including “more than 60 Russians”.

An unnamed Western diplomat said that “British, French and American” nationals were also among the stranded tourists.

Highly unstable region

In a post on X on Sunday, Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Maciej Wewior, said Polish tourists were stuck too, adding that flights to Socotra by an Emirati airline had been suspended until Tuesday.

“Socotra is located in a highly unstable region, where an armed conflict has been ongoing for years. Currently, the security situation has further deteriorated. Due to the intensification of military operations, airspace has been closed,” the post said.

A travel agent in Socotra said at least two Chinese nationals were also there.

Tourists stuck on the island, many of whom went there to for New Year’s celebrations, are now reaching out to their embassies for help to be evacuated, according to another Western diplomat.

“Their relevant embassies have reached out to the Saudi and Yemeni governments to seek their evacuation,” said the diplomat.

The airport in Aden has been functional since Sunday, after disruptions that lasted for several days.

Pledge to restore order

Yemen’s civil war entered a new phase last month when secessionists with the UAE-backed STC extended its presence in southeastern Yemen with the aim of establishing an independent state.

But this week, the Saudi-backed “Homeland Shield” forces took back the oil-rich southern governorates of Hadramout and al-Mahra, which make up nearly half of Yemen’s territory, from the STC rebels.

In the past, the opposing forces were allied under the umbrella of the Aden-based  Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) – the governing organ of the internationally recognised government – against the Houthis, who control most of northwestern Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa.

On Friday, Salem al-Khanbashi, the governor of Hadramout, was chosen by the government to command the Saudi-led forces in the governorate.

In an interview with Al Jazeera Arabic on Monday, al-Khanbashi said that ports and airports in the governorate would soon be operational, stressing the need to restore service at the Seiyun airport in northern Hadramout.

He pledged to re-establish security and stability, saying meetings will be held with all political and tribal groups to form a united front to protect the governorate against future attacks.

Compensation will be extended for damage to public and private property caused during the STC’s advance. The authorities are focused on getting electricity, water and health services up and running again, al-Khanbashi said.

EUROSTAR passengers have been left stranded for hours due to a power supply fault with holidaymakers urged not to travel.

Journeys between the UK and France are cancelled or seriously delayed as a result of the problem with the overhead power supply in the Channel Tunnel.

Eurostar said it strongly advised all its passengers to postpone their journey to a different date.

The high-speed train operator warned passengers to expect severe delays and last-minute cancellations due to the power supply problem.

London’s St Pancras International station is crammed with waiting passengers near the departure area as they wait for updates.

Disgruntled passengers took to social media to vent their frustrations.

One traveller even claimed they were “stranded on the Eurostar for four hours”.

Another called the delays “absolutely ridiculous” after being stuck on a train for five hours.

He was travelling to Brussels but is now back in London, which he said “ruined new years plans”.

Others reported several trains stuck in the tunnel itself.

Some are stuck in lines of traffic waiting to board Eurostar, with one posting on X: “Going nowhere. Power failure apparently. One way to end the year!”

Eurostar said in a statement on its website: “Due to a problem with the overhead power supply in the Channel Tunnel and a subsequent failed Le Shuttle train, we strongly advise all our passengers to postpone their journey to a different date.

“Please don’t come to the station unless you already have a ticket to travel.

“We regret that trains that can run are subject to severe delays and last-minute cancellations.

“Please check for live updates on the status of your train on the train status and timetables page.”

Delays are being reported on both LeShuttle terminals – that’s the service that takes road vehicles on trains across the Channel.

On the UK side, there is a delay of around three-and-a-half hours to the booked time.

Meanwhile, at the terminal in France, the delay is currently around two hours.

National Rail is also advising passengers to reschedule their journeys.

It says the on-going power issue is very likely to lead to severe delays and last-minute cancellations between London St Pancras International and Paris.

“There is a problem with the overhead power supply in the Channel Tunnel,” National Rail say.

“Trains are likely to be subject to severe delays and last-minute cancellations.

“Check before you travel as your journey could be disrupted. We strongly advise all passengers to postpone their journey to a different date.”