Spain plans to introduce a tax of up to 100% on properties bought by non-EU residents, including those from the UK, to address the housing crisis. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced the measure to prioritize housing for residents and combat property speculation. In 2023, non-EU residents purchased 27,000 homes in Spain, often for profit rather than personal use. Sánchez also unveiled other housing initiatives, including … Continue reading Spain plans 100% tax for homes bought by non-EU residents

Sydney’s Manly Beach and nearby beaches were closed on Tuesday after marble-sized white and gray debris washed ashore. Authorities are investigating the debris, similar to substances found on Bondi Beach in October, which were later identified as decomposed cooking oils, hair, and food waste. The Northern Beaches Council is coordinating with New South Wales’ Environmental Protection Agency to safely remove and test the material, NBC … Continue reading Sydney beaches shut once again over mysterious debris washed on shore

Australian scientists have confirmed a new, larger, and more venomous species of the deadly Sydney funnel-web spider, nicknamed ‘big boy.’ Growing up to 9 cm (3.54 inches), it has longer fangs and larger venom glands than its common counterpart. First discovered near Newcastle in the early 2000s, the spider has been named Atrax christenseni after spider expert Kane Christensen. Despite its potent venom, the existing anti-venom for … Continue reading Bigger and more venomous species of funnel-web spider discovered in Australia

Alleged sabotage of undersea cables in the Baltic Sea has heightened tensions in NATO’s northern theater, prompting allied leaders to boost surveillance and military presence. NATO chief Mark Rutte condemned the attacks on critical infrastructure, citing recent incidents like the Christmas Day damage to Estonia’s Estlink 2 power cable and internet cables. Finnish authorities linked the suspected sabotage to the Eagle S, a ship reportedly part … Continue reading Baltic Sea undersea ‘sabotage’ sets stage for escalating NATO-Russia contest

North Korea fired a ballistic missile on Monday, traveling 1,100 kilometers (685 miles) before landing in waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. South Korea’s military, which detected the launch in advance, condemned it as a serious threat to regional stability. Japan confirmed the missile landed outside its exclusive economic zone without causing damage, the Associated Press has reported. The launch comes weeks before Donald … Continue reading South Korea says North Korea fired a ballistic missile into the sea

A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck southwestern Japan on Monday, prompting a brief tsunami advisory for Miyazaki and Kochi prefectures, which was lifted before midnight. Minor damage included a small landslide, ruptured water pipes, and one man injured in Kyushu. A 20 cm (0.7 ft) tsunami was recorded at Miyazaki Port. Experts noted possible aftershocks but found no immediate connection to the Nankai Trough, a region … Continue reading Tsunami alert lifted after magnitude 6.6 earthquake rattles southwestern Japan

Serbia’s striking university students protested outside the Constitutional Court in Belgrade on Sunday, citing civil rights violations under the populist government and secret service pressure. The rally began with a 15-minute silent commemoration for victims of a canopy collapse in Novi Sad, which killed 14 people and sparked daily anti-corruption protests. A similar rally was held in the southern city of Nis. Students blame corruption … Continue reading Thousands of students protest in Serbia against violation of civil rights, spy agency crackdown

The black boxes from a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 that crashed in South Korea on December 29 stopped recording four minutes before impact, complicating the investigation into the crash that killed 179 of 181 people on board. The plane skidded off the runway in Muan after a bird strike and landing gear failure, striking a concrete localizer structure. Officials are investigating the black box failure … Continue reading Black boxes from South Korea plane crash failed to record final 4 minutes: Officials

Tens of thousands protested in Bucharest, Romania, against a court decision to annul last month’s presidential election after outsider Calin Georgescu emerged as the frontrunner. Demonstrators demanded the election resume from the second round, accusing authorities of undermining democracy. The Constitutional Court cited illegal use of AI, undeclared funding, and digital technologies in its ruling. Georgescu, who gained popularity on TikTok, denies wrongdoing and has … Continue reading Tens of thousands protest in Romania’s capital against annulled presidential race