European Union countries have agreed to extend the temporary protection status granted to people fleeing Ukraine until March 4, 2028. This decision aligns with the EU's commitment to support Ukraine and its people for the necessary period. The Council announced that extending protection for another year will provide greater clarity and predictability for all those escaping the war.
Furthermore, recognizing both the need to protect displaced persons and Ukraine's need for defense against illegal Russian aggression, EU countries have stipulated that temporary protection will only be provided to individuals who fulfill their military duties in Ukraine. This measure additionally sets requirements for aid recipients.
This decision, which is expected to be officially adopted by the EU Council in the coming weeks, extends the current regime for another year. Initially, this regime was set to expire in March 2027. Thus, stability is guaranteed for more than four million Ukrainians who have been benefiting from this protection since Russia's invasion in February 2022.
According to the agreement, only new applicants for temporary protection must prove fulfillment of their military duties in Ukraine. This requirement does not apply to those already benefiting from this regime in European Union countries. Proof can be provided by documents issued by Ukrainian authorities, such as a passport with an exit stamp or another document in paper or electronic form confirming fulfillment or exemption from these duties.
The EU's temporary protection regime grants displaced persons rights such as the right to reside, access to the labor market, housing, medical care, social support, and education for minors. According to the European Union, as of May 31, 2026, approximately 4.38 million people who left Ukraine are covered by this mechanism.
The European temporary protection mechanism, established in 2001 after conflicts in the Western Balkans, was first activated in March 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Council also stated that the European Union is developing a strategy for the transition out of this regime. Mechanisms are planned to allow eligible beneficiaries to obtain long-term residence permits, for example, on grounds of work, study, or family reunification, as well as measures to support sustainable return to Ukraine when conditions permit.
The French Parliament approved a bill on Thursday that establishes the right to euthanasia and assisted suicide. The law was passed with 291 votes in favor and 241 against.
A woman prevented the attempted kidnapping of her newborn niece at a maternity ward in the state of Piauí, Brazil, last week. The suspected individual in the incident is a nurse from the facility who was on her day off.
According to the source G1, the suspect tried to take the baby in a bag, but she was stopped by the aunt. The event took place at the Dona Evangelina Rosa Maternity Ward in Teresina on July 6th.
On the day of the alleged kidnapping, the nurse, who had worked at the hospital for two years, was on vacation but decided to come to work. Video footage from surveillance cameras shows a woman identified as Auricélia Rocha with an infant in the maternity ward corridor. She allegedly told the mother of the newborn, who is only 14 years old, that she needed to take the child for examinations, including a diaper test.
The nurse entered the room with the baby, and sensing something was wrong, the aunt decided to wait for her at the door. A few minutes later, Auricélia Rocha left the room without the baby, taking a large bag, and went into the restroom. The aunt, Daniela, felt something was amiss and followed her. Daniela told the program 'Fantástico' from G1: 'She goes into the bathroom, I am already watching this situation. I feel that this is not right.'
According to the aunt, the suspect came out of the restroom dressed differently. Around 1:45 PM, about 15 minutes after the nurse took the baby from the mother's room, Daniela approached her, pulled out the bag, and saw her niece inside. She stated: 'When I pulled it out, the baby was there. I asked: 'Woman, for God's sake, what are you doing with this girl in this bag?'. I immediately took the baby out and called for help.'
Auricélia Rocha was detained and is subject to pre-trial detention. José Alberto Alencar, Director of Administrative and Financial Affairs of the Dona Evangelina Rosa Maternity Ward, expressed regret over the incident but denied any accusations of a security system failure. The case is being investigated as an attempted kidnapping.
Police found a room prepared for an infant in the nurse's home, containing diapers, clothes, a bathtub, and a crib. According to delegate Hugo Alcântara from the Civil Police, the investigation established that Auricélia's family believed the nurse was pregnant, although the woman never provided tests confirming pregnancy. Investigators also reported that relatives thought Auricélia was pregnant despite the lack of medical confirmation. Her defense also claimed that the nurse was diagnosed with schizophrenia and was taking psychiatric medication.
Approximately 1500 residents of the informal settlement of Boxwood Road in Kenville, Durban, face daily difficulties due to the lack of proper basic sanitation services, a situation common in many communities across the country.
The settlement was established in 1998, and for the past two years, residents have been forced to use buckets for flushing in communal toilets. Currently, only one permanent building with sanitary facilities is available, which, according to plans, should serve this densely populated area. However, in reality, this facility has four women's toilets, three men's toilets, and two showers.
The situation is worsened by the deteriorating condition of the sanitation facility itself: broken doors and missing toilet lids are found everywhere. Furthermore, in some cases, pipes leak for months, causing significant frustration among inhabitants.
Zandile Zulu, a community member since 2014, requested the replacement of the roof and complete modernization of the entire complex. Nikive Moalusi described how burst sewage pipes created 'a huge mess' in the living space. She noted that Bab Butelezi usually provides temporary solutions to prevent sewage from entering people's huts, but the problem invariably returns.
Zacharia Butelezi, who has been the community leader and toilet caretaker since 1999, is forced to personally monitor the cleanliness of the premises. He reported that he now buys his own cleaning supplies because the dirty toilets negatively affect his nearby spaza shop.
Butelezi has repeatedly informed municipal officials about the ongoing problems, but his requests were ignored: officials visiting the site only took notes and left without bringing about real changes. The eThekwini Municipality has not responded to the submitted questions. Nevertheless, signs of improvement have emerged: Ward 34 Councillor Andrew Akkers announced that the municipality has allocated and approved a budget for updating sanitation facilities in his ward, including Boxwood Road. Work is planned to begin next month.
