International Desk

Warning: This story contains distressing content 

Conflict has escalated in the Democratic Republic of Congo this year, driven by ethnic tensions and access to mineral resources.

The conflict has been marked by murder, violence, and forced displacement. Over 6.9 million people in the Congo were displaced by the end of 2023, and 7,000 have been killed since January this year.

For International desk this week, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Aotearoa African Foundation President Red Tsounga about the ongoing violence in the Congo and what more the international community can do to support those who have been displaced.

The recent wildfires in Los Angeles drew attention to the hundreds of firefighters who came from California’s prison system.

The California Department of Corrections has claimed their “Fire Camp Program” is voluntary but this has come into question by prison reform advocates and ex-incarcerated individuals.

Advocates have called for stronger protections for incarcerated workers, especially as climate change creates a need for an expanded labour force to respond to natural disasters.

For our inaugural International Desk, 95bFM’s segment focused on breaking and under-reported news from around the globe, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Brock University’s Dr Jordan House about this programme and its potential in other jurisdictions such as Canada.

International Desk reports on British Prime Minister Boris Johnson facing severe pressure on his leadership as more Conservative MPs are supporting a no-confidence motion after it was revealed he attended lockdown-breaching parties.

International Desk reports on the growing migrant crisis at the border between Belarus and Poland, which comes in the wake of the European Union placing sanctions on Belarus and Minsk saying they would retaliate.

Justin spoke to University senior lectuerer Dr Jennifer Mathers on the geopolitics of the crisis, and the University of Warsaw's Professor Renata Mieńkowska-Norkiene on the side of local politics.