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Industry Minister Mélanie Joly at a press conference in Montreal about a federal push to attract top global researchers in Canada on Dec. 9, 2025. The federal government is stepping up efforts to strengthen Canada’s position as a global leader in innovation by attracting top-tier research talent. Ottawa has announced new initiatives designed to bring world-class scientists, scholars, and innovators to Canadian institutions, with a particular focus on Canadians currently working abroad. The strategy emphasizes creating competitive opportunities in universities and research centers, offering funding packages, and fostering collaborations with international partners. By encouraging Canadian researchers overseas to return home, Ottawa hopes to reverse the “brain drain” and ensure that Canada benefits from their expertise. Officials highlight that this move is not only about filling positions but also about building a vibrant ecosystem of discovery and innovation. The goal is to accelera...
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Lithuania Confronts Hybrid Threat as Balloons Disrupt Airspace

 

                                            The Belarus-Lithuania border in Kurmelionys, Lithuania

Lithuania has declared a state of emergency after repeated incursions of balloons launched from neighboring Belarus disrupted civil aviation and raised national security concerns. The government announced the measures following weeks of incidents in which meteorological balloons carrying contraband cigarettes forced Vilnius Airport to close multiple times, stranding thousands of passengers.

Officials in Vilnius accuse Belarus—an ally of Russia—of orchestrating these balloon launches as part of a hybrid warfare campaign aimed at destabilizing the Baltic state. Lithuania’s Interior Minister emphasized that the emergency was declared not only due to aviation disruptions but also because of the broader threat to human life, property, and national security.

Under the emergency order, Lithuania’s military, police, and border guards will be granted expanded powers to stop and search vehicles, restrict access to certain areas, and conduct document checks in an effort to counter the balloon incursions. Authorities have already intercepted several balloons carrying thousands of packs of smuggled cigarettes, underscoring the scale of the operation.

Belarus has denied responsibility, accusing Lithuania of provocations, but Vilnius insists the incursions are deliberate acts of disruption. As a NATO and EU member, Lithuania views the situation as part of a wider regional instability linked to Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.

The declaration highlights the growing tension along the Belarus-Lithuania border and signals that the Baltic nation is prepared to take extraordinary measures to safeguard its skies and citizens.

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