News Room
Belarus state intimidation continues abroad, UN experts find
Belarus is increasingly terrorizing its citizens abroad, including by forcing people with expired passports to renew their documents in their home country where they may face arrest, according to a group of independent UN experts. DPA reports that the three-person expert panel appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2024 presented its report on…
Sleep in total darkness to maintain heart health, researchers say
Photo credit: Yahoo health Many a pop song has nudged us to turn the lights down low, but for cardiovascular health, the better choice seems to be keeping them off entirely, with new research suggesting that pitch-black is best for sleep. DPA reports that, according to researchers at Tulane University in New Orleans, who looked at health data spanning three…
Police crackdown on protests against constitutional change in DR Congo
Protests in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have spurned violent clashes as police cracked down. Al Jazeera reports that police fired tear gas as hundreds of people protested in the capital Kinshasa on Tuesday against proposed constitutional changes that critics worry could allow President Felix Tshisekedi to seek a third term in power. The…
European Parliament to open office in Ottawa
The European Parliament is to open an “antenna” office in Canada’s national capital as Prime Minister Mark Carney looks to deepen ties with the 27-member bloc. CBC News reports that in a news release on Monday, Robert Metsola, president of the European Parliament, said: “Europe and Canada share values, interests and a commitment to the same…
One dead and 25 missing after migrant boat sinks near Gavdos
Photo credit: Reuters One person has died and 25 others remain missing after a boat carrying migrants sank near the Greek island of Gavos, south of Crete on Sunday. The Greek Herald reports that the Hellenic Coast Guard said 51 people were rescued from the water following the sinking, which occurred about 38 nautical miles…
Voting starts in Philippines’ south after three killed in election violence
Photo credit: Reuters Voting began on Monday in the Philippines’ Muslim-majority south under heightened security after three people were killed and 15 wounded in violence on the eve of the historic election. Reuters reports that the vote is seen as a crucial test of efforts seeking to bring lasting peace and development to a region once…
Sweden’s tough asylum system draws Europe’s attention
Photo credit: Yahoo Sweden has transformed its asylum system into a tightly managed return process, combining dedicated centres, faster removals, and cash incentives as European governments seek ways to reduce migration. Newsmax reports that the Swedish Migration Agency, the government body that decides asylum and residence cases, says it assigns rejected asylum applicants whose expulsion decisions have…