UKRAINE: Russian and Ukrainian forces have both carried out torture of civilians held in connection with their war, the United Nations human rights office said today.

Hundreds of victims and witnesses were interviewed for a report detailing more than 900 cases of civilians, including children and elderly people, being arbitrarily detained.

CZECH REPUBLIC: Czech police said today that they have broken up an international ring suspected of smuggling migrants from Turkey to western Europe.

A total of 14 suspects, 13 foreigners and one Czech citizen, have been arrested in raids in recent days. 

The suspects organised a transport of at least 1,000 illegal migrants since 2021, earning at least €1 million, according to Czech police.

WHO: Nearly 36 million people in Europe may have had long-lasting health problems from coronavirus infections during the pandemic, the World Health Organisation’s regional organiser said today.

Dr Hans Kluge said long Covid remained a complex condition we still know very little about and a glaring blind spot in our knowledge.

“Unless we develop comprehensive diagnostics and treatments we will never truly recover from the pandemic,” he said.

UNITED STATES: A white woman accused of firing through her door and fatally shooting a black mother in front of her nine-year-old son was charged with manslaughter and assault in central Florida on Monday.

Susan Lorincz was arrested earlier this month following the fatal shooting of Ajike Owens in Ocala, Florida. She was formally charged with one count of manslaughter with a firearm and one count of assault.