Pictures of Odesa, as it tangles with a complex web of Russian and Ukrainian heritage

The European Commission has reported a significant increase in unsafe products detected in the EU, primarily from China, with over 4,000 alerts in the past year, the highest since 2003. Cosmetics represented 36% of these dangerous items, often containing harmful chemicals like BMHCA, which is banned in the EU. To address this surge, the commission proposed holding e-commerce firms accountable for unsafe products, ending the customs duty exemption for low-value imports, and establishing an EU...

SummaryMike de Jong, a former British Columbia cabinet minister, is running as an Independent in the federal election for Abbotsford—South Langley after being rejected as a Conservative candidate, a decision he attributes to dissatisfaction with the party's nomination process. His candidacy has raised concerns about the Conservatives' internal decisions, which are believed to contribute to their declining public support against the Liberals. De Jong, who previously supported Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, campaigned for a year...

Aftab Baig, 47, from Glasgow, has been sentenced to four years in prison for fraudulently claiming over £710,000 in Covid-19 business grants by posing as a manager at Greggs. In May 2020, he contacted Leeds City Council with a fake corporate email, requesting business rates numbers for the city’s 32 branches to apply for grants intended to support small businesses during the pandemic. Although most of the funds were recovered, over £90,000 remains outstanding, and...

SummaryOn October 3, Francesca Bouaoun discovered that over 800 mature trees had been removed from West Island, part of Ontario Place in Toronto, to prepare for a new water park and spa by a European company. This controversial decision has sparked protests from residents who favor preserving the area as public space, while supporters argue for commercialization to generate revenue and maintain the site. The impending redevelopment, which has been adjusted based on public feedback,...

International students at Michigan public universities, whose immigration status was abruptly terminated, are seeking legal relief to avoid deportation. The students, from China, Nepal, and India, filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security, claiming their F-1 visas were revoked without proper notice, despite having no criminal records. A federal court is considering their request for a temporary restraining order, with the judge acknowledging the urgency of the situation. Full Article

The director of Gaza's Kamal Adwan hospital, Hussam Abu Safiya, has been detained by Israeli forces under "inhumane" conditions, facing "physical and psychological intimidation," according to his lawyer. Arrested during a December 27 assault on the hospital, which Israel labeled a Hamas "terrorist centre," Abu Safiya is being held as an "illegal combatant" and has reportedly suffered torture during interrogations, along with health issues and a lack of medical care. A social media campaign, including...