2 Drug Companies Can Legally Start Selling Cocaine, Heroin, and MDMA

At least two companies in British Columbia, Canada, say they’ve received exemptions from the federal government allowing them to produce and distribute cocaine, heroin, MDMA, or magic mushrooms.  But it’s not clear under what circumstances the companies will be able to sell the drugs, and B.C. Premier David Eby said he was “astonished” to hear the announcement.  On Thursday, Sunshine Earth Labs, a psychedelics manufacturer … Continue reading 2 Drug Companies Can Legally Start Selling Cocaine, Heroin, and MDMA

Alarm grows in Iran over reports that hundreds of schoolgirls were poisoned

Concern is growing in Iran after reports emerged that hundreds of schoolgirls had been poisoned across the country in recent months. On Wednesday, Iran’s semi-official Mehr News reported that Shahriar Heydari, a member of Parliament, cited an unnamed “reliable source” in saying that “nearly 900 students” from across the country had been poisoned so far. The first reported poisonings happened in the city of Qom … Continue reading Alarm grows in Iran over reports that hundreds of schoolgirls were poisoned

Russia claims Ukraine crossborder sabotage raid; Kyiv denies

Russian officials accused Ukrainian saboteurs of crossing into western Russia and attacking local villages Thursday, an accusation that Ukraine denied, warning that Moscow could use the claims to justify stepping up its own assaults in the ongoing war. The exact circumstances of the incident reported in the Bryansk region were unclear, including what the strategic purpose of such an attack might be. If confirmed, it … Continue reading Russia claims Ukraine crossborder sabotage raid; Kyiv denies

Protests erupt in Greece following deadly train collision

Demonstrators poured into the streets of Greece after a head-on collision between two trains killed dozens and left scores injured, amid anger over the country’s poor record on railway safety. Protesters clashed with police in the Greek capital Athens after a passenger train carrying more than 350 people collided with a freight train on Tuesday evening in Tempi, near the city of Larissa, leaving at … Continue reading Protests erupt in Greece following deadly train collision

Situation ‘critical’ in Bakhmut as retreat contemplated

Russia and Ukraine locked horns on Thursday following Moscow’s accusation that a Ukrainian sabotage group had crossed the border into Russia’s Bryansk region and had fired at civilians and taken some hostage in one village. Ukraine rejected the accusations, saying Russia was behind a “deliberate provocation” but also claimed anti-government Russian partisans were behind the attack. Back in Ukraine, Russian forces appear to be tightening … Continue reading Situation ‘critical’ in Bakhmut as retreat contemplated

UK could mass vaccinate chickens to prevent avian influenza

The UK government is actively considering vaccinating the country’s poultry flock against bird flu in a bid to curb the worst-ever global outbreak of the virus and prevent it turning into a new pandemic in humans, i can reveal. In what would be a major change of UK policy, government officials and scientists are looking at overturning a ban on vaccinating tens of millions of … Continue reading UK could mass vaccinate chickens to prevent avian influenza

Finland begins construction of Russia border fence

Finland has begun construction of a 124-mile barrier fence on its eastern border with Russia — enacting a security plan developed after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an invasion of neighboring Ukraine.  The Finnish Border Guard said the fence will be 10 ft. tall with barbed wire and surveillance equipment installed on top. It will not span the entire border with Russia but will be … Continue reading Finland begins construction of Russia border fence

US imposes sanctions on 3 companies, 2 individuals for ‘illicitly’ generating income for North Korea

The US Treasury Department on Wednesday imposed sanctions on three companies and two individuals for “illicitly” generating income for the North Korean government. The sanctions come after months of internationally condemned missile launches by Pyongyang – the most recent of which took place last month. North Korea’s “unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs threaten international security and regional stability,” Under Secretary of … Continue reading US imposes sanctions on 3 companies, 2 individuals for ‘illicitly’ generating income for North Korea

Man found carrying around a mummified corpse up to 800 years old in a food delivery bag in Peru

A mummified corpse up to 800 years old was found in a food delivery bag in Peru, authorities in the South American country have said. Photos released by the Directorate of Culture in the southeastern city of Puno show a skeleton in the fetal position, lying in a red bag with a reflective inner lining, commonly used by food delivery companies. It bears the logo … Continue reading Man found carrying around a mummified corpse up to 800 years old in a food delivery bag in Peru

Death toll keeps rising in Greece’s deadliest train crash

Rescuers searched for survivors Wednesday in the mangled, burned-out wreckage of two trains that slammed into each other in northern Greece, killing at least 43 people and crumpling carriages into twisted steel knots in the country’s worst-ever rail crash. The impact just before midnight Tuesday threw some passengers into ceilings and out the windows. “My head hit the roof of the carriage with the jolt,” … Continue reading Death toll keeps rising in Greece’s deadliest train crash

As Russian forces bear down on Bakhmut, Ukraine admits situation there is ‘more and more difficult’

Officials in Kyiv conceded that the situation is rapidly deteriorating around Bakhmut, a besieged mining city in Donetsk in eastern Ukraine that Russian forces have been hellbent on capturing for months. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday night that the situation in the Bakhmut area “is getting more and more difficult.” “The enemy is constantly destroying everything that can be used to protect our positions, … Continue reading As Russian forces bear down on Bakhmut, Ukraine admits situation there is ‘more and more difficult’

Kim Jong Un orders ‘fundamental transformation’ of agriculture amid reports of N.K. food shortages

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un urged government officials to engineer a “fundamental transformation” in agricultural production, state media reported on Tuesday, amid fears that the country’s food shortage is worsening. Kim said hitting grain production targets this year was a top priority and emphasized the importance of stable agriculture production during the second day of the seventh enlarged plenary meeting of the 8th Central … Continue reading Kim Jong Un orders ‘fundamental transformation’ of agriculture amid reports of N.K. food shortages

Argentine fishermen find remains of missing man inside shark

The remains of a man who had disappeared in southern Argentina earlier this month appear to have been found inside a school shark that was captured by local fishermen. The family of Diego Barría, 32, recognized his remains due to a tattoo that was visible, Daniela Millatruz, the law enforcement officer who was in charge of the search, told local news media. Barría had last … Continue reading Argentine fishermen find remains of missing man inside shark

Putin orders Ukraine border tightening as drones hit Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday ordered officials to tighten control of the border with Ukraine after a spate of drone attacks that Russian authorities blamed on Kyiv delivered a new challenge to Moscow more than a year after its full-scale invasion of its neighbor. One drone crashed just 100 kilometers (60 miles) away from Moscow in an alarming development for Russian defenses. While Putin … Continue reading Putin orders Ukraine border tightening as drones hit Russia

As drones strike Russia, Putin directs for increased border security measures

On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed officials to strengthen border surveillance with Ukraine following a series of drone assaults that Russian authorities attributed to Kyiv, posing a new obstacle to Moscow over a year after its complete takeover of the neighboring country. A single drone’s crash just 100 kilometers (60 miles) from Moscow is a worrying development for Russian defense systems, the Associated Press … Continue reading As drones strike Russia, Putin directs for increased border security measures

The number of deaths in the Italy shipwreck has increased to 62

The death toll in the Calabria region of Italy has risen to 62 after rescuers retrieved two more bodies from the sea. The victims were on board a wooden sailing boat carrying refugees that crashed into rocks. Following the boat accident off the coast of Italy’s Calabria region on Sunday, many victims’ bodies, including children, were recovered either washed up on a tourist beach in … Continue reading The number of deaths in the Italy shipwreck has increased to 62

American citizen confirmed dead in West Bank terror attack

On Monday, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides confirmed on Twitter that a U.S. citizen was killed in a terror attack in the West Bank. “Sadly, I can confirm that a U.S. citizen was killed in one of the terror attacks in the West Bank tonight,” Nides tweeted. “I pray for his family.”  According to the Israeli army, the attackers on Monday fired at an Israeli car … Continue reading American citizen confirmed dead in West Bank terror attack

North Korea holds rare meeting on farming amid food shortage

State media reported on Monday that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un commenced a significant political conference focused on agriculture, coinciding with external analyses indicating that the country is experiencing a severe food shortage, the Associated Press reported. Due to the pandemic’s impact on farming and imports from China, South Korean experts have calculated that North Korea is currently lacking approximately 1 million tons of … Continue reading North Korea holds rare meeting on farming amid food shortage

Argentine fishermen find remains of missing man inside shark

Local fishermen have captured a school shark in southern Argentina, inside which the remains of a man who had gone missing earlier this month seem to have been discovered, the Associated Press reported. According to Daniela Millatruz, the law enforcement officer overseeing the investigation, the family of 32-year-old Diego Barría were able to identify his remains by a visible tattoo. Local news media reported that … Continue reading Argentine fishermen find remains of missing man inside shark

Brazilian favela ‘shack’ wins ‘house of the year’ award

At first glance, it is a house like dozens of others in the crowded favelas of Brazil. But this seemingly modest dwelling of 66 square metres (710 square feet), with its exposed brick walls, has just been recognised as the “house of the year” in an international architecture competition. The house honoured by specialised website ArchDaily belongs to Kdu dos Anjos, a 32-year-old artist living … Continue reading Brazilian favela ‘shack’ wins ‘house of the year’ award

China alleges US ‘endangered peace and stability’ by flying aircraft through Taiwan Strait: report

China is accusing the U.S. of threatening “peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait” after a U.S. P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft traveled through the region on Monday, a report says.  The declaration comes as Beijing says it “has sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction” over the waters separating its mainland from Taiwan, but the U.S. and the island’s leaders argue that the area is an … Continue reading China alleges US ‘endangered peace and stability’ by flying aircraft through Taiwan Strait: report

In Mexico, more than 100,000 protesters rally against changes to election agency

More than 100,000 people gathered in Mexico City on Sunday to protest against an overhaul of the National Electoral Institute, which oversees Mexico’s elections. Last week, with the support of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Mexican lawmakers approved making changes to the agency, cutting its budget and staff and weakening its power to punish those who violate election law. Federal one-party rule ended in Mexico … Continue reading In Mexico, more than 100,000 protesters rally against changes to election agency

Magnitude 5.6 quake hits Turkey in latest major aftershock

A magnitude 5.6 earthquake has hit eastern Turkey, killing at least one person and wounding dozens while causing some damaged buildings to collapse. Monday’s earthquake became the latest major tremor to rock southern Turkey as the region rebuilds from earlier massive quakes that killed more than 50,000 people across southern Turkey and northwest Syria. The latest quake was centred in the town of Yesilyurt in … Continue reading Magnitude 5.6 quake hits Turkey in latest major aftershock

China accuses U.S. of ‘disinformation’ over warnings it’s considering sending artillery to Russia

China on Monday accused the United States of “disinformation” and a “double standard”over warnings that it is considering sending Russia artillery and ammunition for its war in Ukraine. Beijing is promoting peace talks while it is Washington that is stoking the conflict, the country’s foreign ministry said, after Western officials raised growing concerns about China’s intentions. “On the Ukraine issue, China supports an objective and … Continue reading China accuses U.S. of ‘disinformation’ over warnings it’s considering sending artillery to Russia

Brazilian pool hall mass shooter killed by cops, accomplice surrenders

One of the two gunmen seen in horrifying video slaughtering seven people, including a 12-year-old girl, in a Brazilian pool hall has been killed by police — while the other surrendered. Ezequias Souza Ribeiro, 27, and Edgar Ricardo de Oliveira, 30, fled Tuesday after going on the rampage inside the pool hall in Sinop City, in the state of Mato Grosso. They lost 4,000 reais … Continue reading Brazilian pool hall mass shooter killed by cops, accomplice surrenders