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Sharks in Brazil test positive for cocaine, scientists say
Sharks living off the coast of Brazil have tested positive for cocaine, according to new research, the first time that the drug has been detected in free-ranging sharks.
Scientists tested 13 Brazilian sharpnose sharks in the waters off the city of Rio de Janeiro and found cocaine present in both the liver and muscle tissue of all 13 specimens, according to a paper by researchers at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation in Brazil sent to CNN on Tuesday.
The species was chosen due to its small size and the fact that it lives in a small area of coastal waters, where it is exposed to significant contaminant discharges for its entire life cycle, according to the study.
Cocaine levels were around three times higher in muscle tissue than liver tissue, according to the study, while female sharks had higher cocaine concentrations in muscle tissue compared to males.
Last Updated on August 2, 2024 by Grace Simon
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Canada lists 3 work permit requirements for foreign workers
Canada has reminded foreign workers in the country of key requirements they must follow to ensure they continue working legally.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said having a valid work permit is the first step to working legally in Canada.
The department shared the reminder in a post on its official social media account, urging foreign workers to understand the conditions attached to their permits and take action when their circumstances change.
According to IRCC, foreign workers should take the following three steps:
1. Understand the conditions on your work permit
Foreign workers are expected to understand and comply with the conditions listed on their work permits.
These conditions may determine what type of work they can do and other requirements attached to their authorisation to work in Canada.
2. Apply to extend your work permit before it expires
IRCC advised foreign workers who need to continue working in Canada to apply for an extension at least 30 days before their current work permit expires.
Workers should check the expiry date on their permit and make the necessary application early to avoid complications.
3. Apply to change your work permit conditions when necessary
Foreign workers whose circumstances require different work conditions should apply to have their permit conditions changed.
IRCC stressed that workers should ensure their work permits accurately reflect the conditions under which they are authorised to work.
The department’s reminder highlights the importance of maintaining valid work authorisation and complying with the conditions attached to a Canadian work permit.
Foreign workers are encouraged to review their permits regularly and take the necessary steps before their documents expire or their circumstances change.
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Last Updated on September 13, 2026 by Grace Simon
News
Boat carrying 267 people capsizes off northern Cyprus
“There has been a loss of life and there are injuries,” the prime minister of the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus says
Mayor describes situation as ‘very serious’
Mayor of the coastal town of Kyrenia, Murat Senkul, says the situation is “very serious”.
In a post on Facebook, he says 270 passengers and crew were aboard when the ship sank off the coast of northern Cyprus.
We’ve seen an update from Turkey’s Interior Ministry which reports 267 people were on board.
Senkul says coastal security is taking part in numerous small boat rescue operations alongside Akgunlerin Express.
Passengers rescued after boat capsizes
Rescued passengers are shown being taken ashore after the boat capsized off Kyrenia, in northern Cyprus.
A helicopter and ambulance are also pictured at the port.


‘There has been loss of life and there are injuries’ – statement
There has been casualties after the ship capsized seven kilometres (4 miles) off the coast of Kyrenia Harbour, Ünal Üstel, the prime minister of the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus says.
In a statement at the scene he says: “We are deeply saddened. There has been loss of life and there are injuries.
“We are on the ground with all our resources.”
The self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), which is controlled by and only recognised by Turkey.
Search and rescue operation under way – Turkish Interior Ministry
The Turkish Interior Ministry says a passenger ship, carrying 259 passengers and eight crew members, began taking taking on water and “was in danger of sinking at a location 4 nautical miles off Kyrenia Port”.
A search and rescue operation initiated, it adds in a statement.
The statement adds: “As part of these operations, four marine vessels belonging to the TRNC Coast Guard Command and the passenger ship AKGÜNLER 3 were deployed to the scene, while the Coast Guard Command dispatched an additional five marine vessels and two Coast Guard helicopters to the area.
“Furthermore, six naval vessels were assigned by the Naval Forces Command to support the operations being conducted in the region.
“Search and rescue efforts are being carried out meticulously and in co-ordination among the relevant units.”
A boat with some 270 passengers on board capsizes off northern Cyprus
A passenger boat with some 270 people on board has capsized off northern Cyprus, with a search and rescue under way, local media report.
Murat Senkul, the mayor of the coastal town of Kyrenia, told broadcaster CNN Turk that 159 of those aboard had been reached.
“The situation is very serious,” he said.
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Last Updated on September 13, 2026 by Grace Simon
News
FULL LIST: Nigeria, other African countries dominate world’s 60 poorest by GDP-PPP per capita
Nigeria and several other African countries feature prominently among the world’s 60 poorest countries in a 2026 ranking by Global Finance magazine, based on GDP per capita at purchasing power parity.
Burundi ranked as the country with the lowest GDP per capita in the ranking, at $994.23, followed by the Central African Republic with $1,437.72 and South Sudan with $1,467.19.
The figures are based on GDP per capita at purchasing power parity, a measure that adjusts for differences in the cost of living and inflation across countries.
Nine of the 10 countries at the bottom of the ranking are in Africa, with Yemen the only non-African country among them.
The 10 lowest-ranked countries were Burundi, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Yemen, Mozambique, Malawi, Somalia, Liberia, Madagascar and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Nigeria ranked 56th, with a GDP per capita of $9,532.92, compared with 44th position in the 2025 ranking.
Niger ranked 11th with $2,108.46, followed by Sudan at 13th with $2,427.43 and Burkina Faso at 16th with $3,060.34.
Lesotho ranked 17th with $3,211.83, while Chad and Guinea-Bissau occupied the 18th and 19th positions with $3,284.18 and $3,304.84 respectively.
Mali ranked 20th with $3,480.41, followed by Togo at 21st with $3,563.31, The Gambia at 22nd with $3,664.60 and Sierra Leone at 23rd with $3,709.84.
Uganda ranked 26th with $3,923.83, while Vanuatu, Comoros, Rwanda and Tanzania occupied the 27th, 28th, 29th and 30th positions respectively.
Last Updated on August 26, 2026 by Grace Simon