5 things you need to know this morning: June 26, 2024

Start your day off right with five things you need to know this morning.

Five things you need to know

1. WHO warns of 'silent threat' of physical inactivity

The World Health Organization has warned of the "silent threat" of physical inactivity, with the situation in Canada worsening in recent years. According to the UN agency, 37.2 per cent of Canadians were physically inactive in 2022, up from 31.1 per cent in 2010 and 25.6 per cent in 2000.

The highest rates of physical inactivity were observed in the high-income Asia Pacific region (48%) and South Asia (45%), with levels of inactivity in other regions ranging from 28% in high-income Western countries to 14% in Oceania.https://t.co/okHRC7oIhX pic.twitter.com/gmaXfI993j

— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) June 26, 2024

2. Former Liberal MP 'seriously' considering run against Trudeau

A former Liberal MP has revealed he has been approached to throw his hat in the ring as a replacement for Justin Trudeau. Frank Baylis said he is "seriously" considering the requests, telling CBC there has been "a demand" for "a more centrist viewpoint" in the governing party.

Our story for @CBCPolitics :
Former Liberal MP considering leadership run in the wake of party's byelection defeat #cdnpoli https://t.co/fRIZFcTpT2

— Raffy Boudjikanian (@CBCRaffy) June 26, 2024

3. Wikileaks founder Assange now a free man

Julian Assange is now a free man after more than a decade of being hunted by the US government. The founder of Wikileaks was sought by US authorities for publishing classified documents, as well as publicizing a video showing American forces killing journalists in Iraq.

Julian Assange embraced his wife and father as he was welcomed home by a gathered crowd in Canberra, Australia.

The WikiLeaks founder had pleaded guilty to a single felony in a U.S. court in the Northern Mariana Islands on Wednesday and left a free man. https://t.co/dSUvDqvbuh pic.twitter.com/qBmv5ybFww

— ABC News (@ABC) June 26, 2024

4. Opioids even more powerful than fentanyl spreading across Canada and Europe: UN

The UN has warned that drugs that are even more powerful than fentanyl are spreading across North America and Europe. Nitazenes, which are synthetic opioids, have been detected in Canada, the US, UK and elsewhere.

Nitazenes spreading across Europe and North America - UN https://t.co/sGKiY4ly0l

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) June 26, 2024

5. US airman charged with kidnapping and raping girl under 16 in Japan

A member of the American air force has been charged with kidnapping and raping a girl under the age of 16 in Japan. The alleged incident occurred in Okinawa, an island chain hosting tens of thousands of US troops.

Japan's Foreign Ministry took months to report to the Okinawa Prefectural Government that a U.S. airman had been indicted for sexually assaulting a minor. https://t.co/GaIns4w7FS

— The Japan Times (@japantimes) June 26, 2024