Third-country nationals seeking asylum in the EU often lack knowledge of the local language, culture and legal system, making accessible legal advice and representation vital for ensuring their right to asylum and access to justice. While the 1951 Refugee Convention does not define asylum procedures, these preliminary stages determine whether protection is granted. The pact on migration and asylum, in force from June 2026, addresses this through two key regulations – the common procedure regulation and the asylum and migration management regulation – that aim to standardise procedures and strengthen fair access to legal aid across Member States. The common procedure regulation outlines rights to legal counselling, assistance and representation. Applicants may choose their own lawyer or request free counselling during the administrative stage, and free assistance and representation during appeals. Legal advisors must have unrestricted access to applicants and case files, even during detention. The asylum and migration management regulation defines how responsibility for asylum applications is allocated among Member States, guaranteeing free legal counselling during this determination process and legal assistance and representation when appealing transfer decisions. European case law confirms that legal aid is fundamental to effective judicial protection. The Court of Justice of the European Union and the European Court of Human Rights emphasise that access to legal aid must be practical and effective under Article 47 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and Article 13 of the European Convention on Human Rights, respectively. Experts point to several legal aid challenges for asylum seekers. Legal aid systems vary widely between Member States, producing unequal access and outcomes across the EU. Impartiality concerns persist, particularly with regard to state-employed counsellors. Border and fast-track procedures constrain lawyers' time and access to clients, undermining effective defence. Experts caution that complex procedures and uneven national capacities may perpetuate gaps in protection. Thus, while the new regulations under the pact enhance EU‑wide standards, their success depends on Member States' Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

[allAfrica] MOnrovia -- The government of Botswana has announced the death of former President Festus Mogae at the age of 86. Serving as the nation's third president since independence, Mogae was widely acclaimed for his commitment to good governance and his management of the diamond-rich country's economy during his decade-long tenure.

The attacks cast fresh doubt on efforts by Washington and Tehran to reach a negotiated settlement that would end hostilities.

Vivek Ramaswamy built a political brand casting racism as an obsession of Democrats. As a Republican running for Ohio governor, he’s facing racism on the right.

The secretary of state was in Italy to help smooth relations between the U.S. and the Vatican after President Trump’s repeated criticism of Pope Leo XIV.

Actor-politician Vijay's TVK party emerged as the single-largest force in Tamil Nadu, winning 108 seats. Despite this, Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has paused an invitation to form the government, citing an «unestablished majority.» This has triggered a constitutional showdown, with legal experts debating the governor's discretionary powers and the necessity of a floor test before an invitation.

With the LDF's victory in Kerala, the race for Chief Minister heats up. A leaked list, shared by the BJP, suggests K C Venugopal might be favored by a majority of Congress MLAs. However, one MLA claims his preference was omitted, raising questions about the consultation process. V D Satheesan and Ramesh Chennithala are also contenders.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut criticized Donald Trump's congratulations to PM Modi on the West Bengal election results, calling them premature and misplaced. Raut asserted that state elections are an internal matter and alleged the polls were conducted amid fear and systemic pressure, questioning the Election Commission's impartiality.

Senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari has been formally elected as the leader of the BJP legislature party in West Bengal. This development paves the way for him to become the state's first BJP chief minister. The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for May 9 at Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata.

8 mai 2026=Une année de croissance remarquable, portée par des fondamentaux solides et une exécution rigoureuse. Points clés opérationnels • Grâce à notre engagement constant en faveur de l'amélioration de l'expérience client, à nos investissements continus dans notre réseau et à l'intégration de la numérisation dans l'ensemble de nos activités, nous avons enregistré d'excellents résultats. Notre clientèle a augmenté de 10,5 % pour atteindre 183,5 millions de clients, soit la plus (...) - ECONOMIE / SUJET_ECRIT_MAISON

Libreville, le mardi 05 mai 2026 – Le Ministre du Logement, de l'Habitat, de l'Urbanisme et du Cadastre a tenu une séance de travail avec le Ministre de l'Économie numérique, de la Digitalisation et de l'Innovation, Mark Alexandre Doumba. Objectif : accélérer la digitalisation du cadastre et des procédures de régularisation foncière au Gabon. Vers une modernisation complète des procédures foncières Au cœur des échanges, le Ministre du Logement a présenté les priorités de son (...) - ECONOMIE NUMERIQUE / SUJET_ECRIT_MAISON

A video of a woman seen cycling with a leashed dog running behind her on a busy road has sparked outrage from netizens. The footage of the Shiba Inu along Serangoon Road near Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital was posted in the Facebook group Shiba Inu Club Singapore on Wednesday (May 6).«It has come to our attention that one Shiba owner tie the poor Shiba and cycle along the busy road. If anyone happens to know this lady, please let us know,» captioned the post by Evan Lim.Lim told AsiaOne that the video was recorded at 6.18pm on the same day.He said that he was shocked and worried for the dog, which was forced to keep up with the cyclist's pace.«In the first place, the owner should not be doing this on a busy road. This is exposing the dog to unnecessary danger,» said Lim.«Why would a pet owner or any human expose their beloved pet or animal to this?»He and his friends reported the incident to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and the National Parks Board (NParks).In the comments section, netizens expressed anger over the dog owner's actions.

A Guillemard Road food stall holder was arrested for allegedly peddling duty-unpaid cigarettes from his shop following enforcement operations by Singapore Customs. In a Facebook post on Friday (May 8), Singapore Customs said it conducted two separate operations, at Circuit Road on April 23 and Guillemard Road on April 29, against peddlers of duty-unpaid cigarettes. A 62-year-old Singaporean man, a food stall owner, and his 48-year-old female accomplice were arrested during the Guillemard Road operation for allegedly peddling such cigarettes from his shop.During the Circuit Road operation, two Singaporean men aged 68 and 70 were arrested for allegedly peddling duty-unpaid cigarettes at a void deck. Over 97 cartons and 498 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes, as well as $875 cash suspected to be proceeds from sales were seized.The total duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) evaded amounted to about $19,000. One man has been charged in the State Courts while the other three are under investigation. 

SINGAPORE — A young woman and a young man met in church, and they became acquainted with each other over their common interest in military-related items.That interest landed both of them in jail, after she bought a live round from him. The 5.56mm-calibre round is similar to those used by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).On May 8, the woman, Jermaine Lim, 23, was sentenced to four months' jail and fined $1,000 after pleading guilty to possessing a live round without a licence.Another charge for 3D-printing a gun was taken into consideration during her sentencing.The man, Javier Tan, also 23, was jailed for three months and fined $1,000 in January 2025 for abetting Lim.Lim was arrested in a drug raid in December 2024 when the police seized the live round and various 3D-printed items, including the gun.She told the police she had obtained the live round from Tan, which led to him also being arrested.The court heard that Tan had obtained the live round from a Republic Polytechnic schoolmate sometime in late 2021 or early 2022.

The former president received 124 votes from lawmakers representing the Progressive Bulgaria coalition

EU personal sanctions involve the freezing of individuals’ bank assets in Europe, if such assets can be located, as well as bans on entry into EU member states

According to the agency, the vessel's transportation of oil could «undermine the interests of the Iranian people»

According to the Finance Ministry’s preliminary estimate, federal budget revenues for the first four months of 2026 amounted to $156.52 bln

According to the report, sirens have sounded at the facility

Nigeria’s army says it has freed the remaining group of 23 children and other hostages abducted from an orphanage in Kogi State Read Full Article at RT.com

Countries across Africa held memorial marches, tree plantings, and cultural events ahead of WWII Victory Day on May 9 Read Full Article at RT.com

DMK MP Kanimozhi has requested Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to change parliamentary seating arrangements, moving DMK MPs away from Congress. This follows the end of their two-decade alliance in Tamil Nadu after the recent poll results. The DMK accused Congress of betrayal for supporting another party to form the government, warning of widespread electoral consequences.

Two Indian nationals aboard a cruise ship have tested positive for hantavirus, but health officials assure there's no immediate threat to India. The virus, primarily spread by rodents, does not transmit easily between humans. Global health authorities are monitoring the situation, with the public risk deemed very low.

Actor-politician Vijay's TVK party emerged as the single-largest force in Tamil Nadu, winning 108 seats. Despite this, Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has paused an invitation to form the government, citing an «unestablished majority.» This has triggered a constitutional showdown, with legal experts debating the governor's discretionary powers and the necessity of a floor test before an invitation.

The Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) has hailed winning the coveted OCCUR’s Regulator of the Year Award for 2025 and the Winston Hay Award for Most Outstanding Consumer Protection Initiative as a rare and meaningful validation of its much-vaunted position in the region.

About 60 Jamaican non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are set to receive training under the Fulbright Specialist Programme, an effort to strengthen their ability to secure funding and better communicate their impact.

Jamaica’s tourism sector could soon undergo its biggest legislative overhaul in decades, with Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett announcing plans to repeal and replace the Tourism Act as part of a sweeping restructuring of the industry.

Concerns are growing over the use of social media platform TikTok as a marketplace for the sale of endangered Jamaican species, with conservation biologist Damion Whyte urging the authorities to make every effort to find and prosecute individuals who engage in the practice. 

More than 20 people, including several residents and students, banded together to move a seven-storey-tall tree in Serangoon after it fell and blocked a pedestrian path and a road on Thursday (May 7). Hong (transliteration) told Shin Min Daily News that he witnessed the incident at Block 326 Serangoon Avenue 3 at around 5pm while on the way to pick his child up from school. Shu Pili (transliteration), a nearby resident, told the Chinese daily that the tree had been planted in front of the HDB flats more than 16 years ago. The 53-year-old building consultant was on his way home from work when he suddenly heard a loud crash. He then saw the fallen tree and rushed to help. Shu added that many nearby residents came to help, with some bringing saws to cut the trunk and make it easier to move, while others helped to direct traffic. He said that some students from Zhong Hua Secondary School, who were waiting at the bus stop after school, also joined in to help. The fallen tree was eventually moved, thanks to the Good Samaritans.  

A 30-year-old fishery worker died after being struck by lightning on Tuesday (May 5). In response to AsiaOne's queries, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said they received an alert regarding a workplace incident at around 4pm that day. The fishery worker was struck by lightning at a fish farm in the waters off Lim Chu Kang coast, said an MOM spokesperson, who added that the employer of the incident site is F20W.The police also said they were alerted to the incident at 691 Lim Chu Kang Road.The man was conveyed unconscious to Woodlands Hospital. Based on preliminary investigations, the police do not suspect foul play. Both MOM and the police are investigating the incident, the authorities said. «As a general safety measure, workers should immediately seek shelter when alerted of any potential thundery shower. Workers should wait for at least 30 minutes after thunder is last heard before resuming outdoor activities,» said MOM.[[nid:735017]]dana.leong@asiaone.com 

A 53-year-old male tipper truck driver is assisting with ongoing police investigations after the tipper truck he was driving self-skidded and landed on its side in Jurong on Thursday (May 7).The accident happened at the junction of Jurong Town Hall Road and Teban Garden Road at about 4.50pm. Map showing where the tipper truck overturned. GRAPHIC: Google Maps, Social media A photo of the accident shows two tipper trucks in the direction of Teban Gardens Road, with one truck lying on its side.A recovery vehicle is seen along Jurong Town Hall Road, closing off the left-turning lane towards Teban Gardens Road.Both lanes of the two-lane road towards Teban Market Place were also closed off to traffic.Police investigations are ongoing. [[nid:734992]]