Australia marks national day with protests

Australia on Tuesday marked its national day with protests, calming words and scaled back activities due to virus concerns and restrictions. People across the country celebrated or acknowledged Australia Day, which opponents have dubbed "Invasion Day" because of historical wrongs committed against Indigenous people. About 4,000 protesters gathered in small groups in Sydney's Domain, despite threats from police that those attending could face fines and imprisonment for breaching coronavirus crowd rules. Outdoor gatherings are currently restricted to 500 people in the state of New South Wales. In Canberra, Prime Minister Scott Morrison marked the day by attending a flag-raising and citizenship ceremony. Morrison said the 26th of January had changed the country forever. The usually vibrant Sydney Harbor was virtually empty as most of the events were either scaled back or cancelled.