Renaissance paintings and a gingerbread exhibition: photos of the day – Thursday

A recent study indicates that minor adjustments to the political content in the 'for you' feed on X can lead to significant increases in political polarization among users within just a week, a shift that historically would have taken three years. The research highlights how even subtle boosts to posts with anti-democratic sentiments can alter users' perceptions of opposing political groups.

Europol has seized over 8 million counterfeit and potentially harmful toys from shops and markets across 26 EU countries in a pre-Christmas operation. The confiscated items include fake dolls, building bricks, toy cars, and educational games that may pose health risks to children.

Irish author Sally Rooney has informed the High Court that she is unlikely to publish new works in the UK while the ban on the activist group Palestine Action remains in place, citing her public support for the group as a potential reason for her books disappearing from UK stores altogether.

The State Library of Victoria is facing significant job cuts, with a proposal to reduce its workforce by 39 positions, including a decrease in reference librarians from 25 to 10. Staff have criticized management for prioritizing 'digital vanity projects' over the library's core functions, which have been central to its 171-year history.

A catastrophic fire has engulfed the Wang Fuk Court residential complex in Tai Po, Hong Kong, resulting in a death toll that has risen to at least 94, with hundreds reported missing. The fire, which began on external scaffolding, has continued to blaze for over 24 hours, prompting extensive rescue operations as emergency services struggle to reach those trapped in the upper floors.

Shellfish exports from the Menai Strait have significantly declined post-Brexit, impacting Welsh mussel farmers who are now focusing on the future. The mussels, freshly harvested from the waters, are being processed in hopes of revitalizing their business amidst challenging market conditions.

Twenty years after the first face transplant, patients like Isabelle Dinoire have faced severe challenges, including complications and fatalities, raising concerns about the procedure's safety and efficacy. Dinoire's experience began on 28 May 2005, when she woke up in a pool of blood after a personal crisis, highlighting the drastic measures some patients have taken before undergoing such surgeries.

More than 733,000 women and girls are currently incarcerated worldwide, with their numbers rising at a faster rate than men, primarily for non-violent offenses. This statistic, reported by the Institute for Crime and Justice Policy Research, highlights a significant global issue, especially as the actual total is believed to be higher due to incomplete data from certain countries, including China.