The UK House of Commons voted Tuesday to advance the “Tobacco and Vapes Bill” that would make it illegal for anyone born in 2009 or later to buy tobacco and add restrictions to vaping. Legislators voted in favour of the bill in a 383 to 67 vote. Rather than banning smoking outright, the restrictions apply to [...]
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Canada imposes additional sanctions on Belarus officials over ongoing human rights violations
Canada announced on Monday that it would impose additional sanctions on 21 Belarus officials under the Special Economic Measures (Belarus) Regulations. These sanctions come in response to the ongoing human rights violations occurring in Belarus since the 2020 presidential election. According to Global Affairs Canada’s statement, the sanctions serve as a response to the systematic [...]
A Nigerian court on Friday sentenced Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju, a transgender woman who has gained notability in Nigeria as a social media personality, to six months imprisonment on Friday following an earlier conviction of “spraying,” a practice where people throw money into the air, according to reports from local media. Though considered common practice in [...]
Europe and Palestine human rights groups sue Germany over arms exports to Israel
The European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR), along with Palestinian human rights organizations Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), Al Mezan Center and Al-Haq, filed a lawsuit on Friday at the Administrative Court of Berlin to block German arms exports to Israel amid its war in Gaza. The lawsuit, brought on behalf of [...]
Belgium prime minister announces investigation into alleged Russia interference in EU elections
Belgium’s Prime Minister Alexander de Croo announced in a press conference on Friday that Belgium has opened an investigation into alleged Russian interference in the upcoming EU parliamentary elections. The Prime Minister specified that the Belgian intelligence received information from Czech authorities that revealed pro-Russian activity in the EU involving several types of espionage networks. [...]
Islam, Albania, and European Integration: The Vague Role of National Identity in Albanian Secularism
Every Eid-Al-Fitr, the Albanian Muslim community organizes a collective prayer in Tirana’s public square, a crowded event filled with people adoring and worshipping their God, ideals and morals. While attending as a spectator, one can witness a scene colored with feelings of tranquility, peace and harmony. Since the prayer is done in the direction of [...]
Argentina police clash with anti-government protesters over government spending cuts
A confrontation between Argentine authorities and anti-government protesters, incensed by President Javier Milei’s economic measures, reached a boiling point on Wednesday. As tensions flared, police forcefully dispersed protesters blocking the capital’s crucial thoroughfare. Milei became the focal point of protests by social organizations in Buenos Aires, resulting in the arrest of 11 individuals and leaving [...]
The General Court of the EU revoked on Wednesday the restrictive measures imposed on Mikhail Fridman and Petr Aven, two Russian billionaires, between February 2022 and March 2023. The two were originally sanctioned in connection with Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. Mikhail Fridman and Petr Aven are significant shareholders of Alfa Group, a cooperation that [...]
Peru reverses decision to revoke visa exemption for Mexican citizens
Peru’s Foreign Ministry reversed a previous decision on Wednesday to require visas for Mexican visitors. In a press statement, originally published in Spanish, officials stated the rationale for the reversal was a potential negative impact to the country’s tourism sector and a commitment to the free movement of people and goods. The decision to abandon [...]
Norfolk Southern reaches tentative $600M settlement in train derailment class action suit
Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) announced on Tuesday that it had reached a tentative settlement of $600 million in a class action lawsuit regarding the February 2023 freight train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. According to the NSC news release, the settlement “is designed to provide finality and flexibility for the class members.” Class members would [...]