Spain proposes 100% tax on non-EU homebuyers to tackle housing crisis
Spain, like many other countries, is in the throes of a housing crisis — but a new plan to tax foreign homebuyers could help solve that. The country is planning to impose a 100% tax on homes bought by those who are not from the European Union.
With foreign homebuyers and mass tourism seen as contributing to the problem in Spain, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez proposed a package of measures, which includes taxes, aimed at alleviating a shortage of homes, high rents and rising house prices across the country on Monday, Jan. 13.
Sanchez said house prices in Europe have gone up 48% over the last decade — almost twice as much as household income — which he said risks dividing society into two classes: “rich owners and poor tenants.”
The measure includes 12 housing reforms. The package includes a plan to tax tourism apartments “like a business.” It also suggests a proposal to levy a 100% tax on the value of homes bought by non-EU residents, as well as tax relief to landlords offering affordable rent and more protection for existing tenants.
The prime minister also announced plans to build more public housing and launch a program to renovate empty homes to rent out at affordable prices.
Venezuela’s Maduro to be sworn in as opposition leaders urge mass protests
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is set to be sworn in on Friday, Jan. 10, for his third presidential term. Opposition leaders are urging their supporters to demonstrate against his administration, claiming he overwhelmingly lost the election last July.
Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who is in hiding, spoke with The Wall Street Journal. She called on people to join her on the streets of Venezuela and around the world on Thursday, Jan. 9, in protest.
Machado is an ally of opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez. He ran against Maduro in July. Tally sheets from electronic voting machines posted by the opposition indicate Gonzalez won the election with twice as many votes as Maduro. The American-based Carter Center observed the election and has said the tally sheets are legitimate.
However, Venezuela’s National Electoral Council, loyal to Maduro, declared Maduro the winner just hours after the polls closed but didn’t provide any vote counts. Venezuelan troops then quashed protests. Opposition leader Gonzalez fled to Spain and Machado went into hiding.
Gonzalez has now left Spain and earlier this week went to Washington, D.C., where the Journal reports he met with President Joe Biden.
He thanked the Biden administration for its support in the struggle for a democratic recovery in Venezuela. The country is currently in the midst of food shortages, high inflation, low wages and a poor education system.
The U.S. has said it recognizes Gonzalez as the rightful president-elect. The Venezuelan defense minister rejected that notion and said this week the National Armed Forces of Venezuela would recognize Maduro as president.
Another government official said Gonzalez will be arrested if he returns to the country, which sets up possible additional clashes as early as Thursday, Jan. 9.
Over 10,400 migrants died trying to reach Spain by sea in 2024: Report
At least 10,457 migrants died trying to reach Spain by sea this year, an average of 30 deaths per day. The statistics were compiled by Spanish migration rights group Walking Borders, which said that is the most amount of deaths that it has recorded since it began tracking migrant deaths at sea back in 2007.
The report, published on Thursday, Dec. 26, shows overall deaths rose nearly 60% compared to 2023.
Walking Borders said most of the tens of thousands of migrants fleeing violence, poverty or persecution set sail from West Africa for the Canary Islands this year.
The group blamed poorly constructed boats, dangerous routes and limited rescue resources for the dramatic rise in migrant deaths at sea.
The aid group is urging the Spanish government to do more to protect and rescue migrants at sea, calling the fatalities “a profound failure of rescue and protection systems” and the latest figures “an unacceptable tragedy.”
The Canary Islands, which saw a record number of migrants for the second year in a row, said it’s overwhelmed by the surge of migrants. In October 2024, thousands of protesters demanded action to curb the number of migrants entering the Canaries illegally.
Spanish officials noted that more than 60,000 migrants, a nearly 15% increase from last year, reached Spain by boat in 2024.
The overwhelming majority of migrants reportedly came through the Atlantic route, which is notorious for its dangerously strong currents. Officials said human smugglers take the longer and more dangerous route to avoid detection by authorities.
Walking Borders said it saw a “sharp increase” this year, particularly in boats departing Mauritania, which is in northwest Africa.
In February 2024, Spain promised the African nation around $218 million to help authorities combat human smuggling operations and keep migrants from departing the nation on boats.
Explosion sinks sanctioned Russian cargo ship off Spain’s coast
A Russian cargo ship tied to the country’s Defense Ministry sank in the Mediterranean Sea following an explosion in its engine room, leaving two crew members missing. The ship, named the Ursa Major, was reportedly on its way to Vladivostok, carrying two large port cranes and empty containers, according to the crew. The incident occurred about 57 miles off the coast of Spain.
Spanish rescue crews initially responded to the distress signal, rescuing 14 crew members and bringing them to safety in Cartagena. However, a Russian warship later arrived at the scene to take over operations. Video footage released on social media shows the vessel heavily listing before sinking.
The Ursa Major is operated by a company under U.S. sanctions for its ties to Russia’s military. Ukrainian intelligence has raised suspicions about the ship’s activities, claiming it may have been transporting military equipment from Russian bases in Syria following the collapse of Bashar Assad’s regime.
These allegations, if true, could point to efforts by Russia to withdraw military assets from the region. Moscow has not yet commented on whether it will withdraw from Syria.
In a related development, another Russian vessel, the Sparta, reportedly broke down near Portugal. Ukrainian officials say it was en route to Syria to collect additional military equipment. The crew repaired the issue, and the ship has since resumed its journey.
The incidents come on the heels of another maritime loss for Russia — its third oil tanker sank in the Black Sea less than a week ago. Together, these events are drawing attention to Russia’s maritime activities, and raising questions about its ability to maintain a military presence beyond its borders.
Berlin to see first regular-season NFL game in 2025, more to come
The NFL is set to make it’s first-ever regular season appearance in Germany’s largest city, Berlin, in 2025. The game, which will be the first of three in Berlin in the next five seasons, will be played at the historic Olympic Stadium.
The league has played four games in Germany since 2022, two in Munich and two in Frankfurt, including this season’s matchup between the Carolina Panthers and the New York Giants, but this will be the first in Germany’s capital.
In a press release, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said over the last few seasons the league has built up a following of more than 20 million fans in Germany
“Germany has a rich tradition in American football and the NFL has a long history with the city of Berlin… now we’ll make a historic return to the city playing a regular season game for the first time as we open the next chapter in our relationship,” Goodell said.
That history goes back decades, with the league having played a preseason game in the Olympic Stadium 34 years ago. The historic venue was also home to the Berlin Thunder of NFL Europe from 1990-2007.
So it’s full speed ahead with overseas games, but Deutschland is just part of the plan. Earlier this year, the league announced a return to London with at least two games next season, and has also said they will play in Madrid. The plan is to fill out the other international sites in the coming months.
There is no word on the teams that will be taking those flights across the pond, but the full NFL schedule — with matchups and dates — is typically released in May.
Insured losses from natural disasters top $100B for 5th straight year
Hurricane season in the United States has been over for about two weeks but the damage totals are still coming in. Around the world, disaster costs have mounted.
For the fifth straight year, insured losses have topped $100 billion globally, according to the Swiss Re Institute. Those are financial damages covered by an insurance policy.
The institute says two-thirds of the $135 billion in insured losses came as a result of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, as well as a high frequency of thunderstorms in the U.S.
Helene was a Category 4 storm in September. It pounded the Southeast with more than 40 trillion gallons of rain, according to AccuWeather. That led to destructive flooding that washed away roads, bridges and buildings in mountain towns in western North Carolina.
Hurricane Milton came next in early October, roaring ashore just south of Tampa, Florida. Massive flooding, storm surge and vicious winds did the most damage. The chief economist at Swiss Re says economic development continues to be the main driver of the rise in insured losses from floods.
The Biden administration has sent a $100 billion request to Congress to help Americans affected by the major disasters in 2024 and 2023. However, the legislative year is winding down with the Senate slated to adjourn next Friday, Dec. 20.
It’s not just the United States. The Institute says $10 billion in insured losses were attributed to Europe, where storms led to flooding in places like the Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, Spain, Romania and Italy.
Spain approves 4 days paid climate leave in wake of deadly flooding
Deadly flooding in Spain last month has had such an impact that it’s now leading to changes in the Spanish workforce. Spain’s Council of Ministers passed a measure on Thursday, Nov. 28, that guarantees four days of paid climate leave for workers in the event of dangerous weather.
The measure is designed to protect commuting workers during natural disasters and extreme weather conditions. The legislation must now be certified within a month by Spain’s lawmakers. Flooding in late October 2024 turned Spanish streets into rivers and killed nearly 230 people.
Many employers were criticized for requiring employees to continue working despite warnings from the national weather agency.
Restaurant workers were reportedly working through the first few hours of the flooding in Valencia, and hundreds of workers became trapped in business parks. Companies contended that government officials left them with little information on conditions and issued alerts too late.
The new law will “regulate in accordance with the climate emergency” to minimize risks to employees during severe weather. The paid leave would take effect when civil protection agencies advise residents to stay home, and remote work is unavailable during unsafe weather.
The new rule also mandates that companies develop specific risk-prevention procedures for climate emergencies, and inform employees of these measures.
Officials said employers will face “the full force of the law” if they deny employees their rights. Though specifics on the legal ramification are yet to be known at the time of this report.
Spain’s climate leave reportedly drew inspiration from a similar rule in Canada linked to alerts about natural disasters and life-threatening weather.
Crowd throws mud at Spain’s king and queen after deadly flood
Recovery efforts continued in Spain following severe flash floods but public frustration erupted over what many called a slow and disorganized response. In Paiporta, Spain, outrage over the handling of the crisis boiled over during the weekend of Nov. 2, leading to tense encounters with the country’s royalty and officials.
During a visit to survey the damage, Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia faced protests and even physical hostility. As they moved through Paiporta, angry residents shouted insults, calling the monarchs “murderers.”
The crowd also threw mud and objects at the royal couple.
At one point, a bodyguard sustained a head injury after being struck by an object. The situation escalated as the royals walked down a pedestrian street. Bodyguards and police struggled at times to push past the crowd.
Despite the hostile atmosphere, King Felipe took a moment to engage with some protesters. At one point he even embraced a few protesters in a show of empathy.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who also visited the region, became another target of the crowd’s anger.
As the hostility intensified, officials quickly evacuated Sánchez. Spanish media reported stones were thrown at his car as he left, and the crowd chanted, “Where is Sánchez?” after his departure.
Emergency teams continued searching parking garages and tunnels, hoping to find survivors or recover bodies. The flood’s death toll had already exceeded 200.
In a video posted on the royal family’s Instagram, the king acknowledged the public’s “anger and frustration.”
Paiporta Mayor Isabel Martín expressed shock at the violence but told the BBC she understood the residents’ desperation. In response to the outcry, Prime Minister Sánchez ordered an additional 10,000 troops, police officers and civil guards to aid in the recovery. He said it was Spain’s largest peacetime deployment ever.
The floodwaters had swept through parts of the Valencia region following heavy rains on Tuesday, Oct. 29, leaving communities cut off from food, water and electricity.
More than 200 now confirmed dead in Spain after devastating rainfall
Spain is dealing with its deadliest natural disaster in decades. More than 200 people are now confirmed dead and dozens more were reported missing after massive flooding in the Valencia area.
Officials said the death toll is expected to rise as workers were fighting to rescue those who were trapped.
Crews were having trouble accessing certain spots because roads were collapsed, so they had to use helicopters and boats.
An extra 500 soldiers joined the search and cleanup efforts.
Since Monday, Oct. 28, residents have struggled to clear mud and trees from streets.
The high water also swept away buildings and cars.
More rain is expected over the weekend. Meteorologists said the huge amount of rainfall was likely the result of a sudden cold drop.
Harris, Trump look to win the West with 4 days until Election Day
As the presidential campaign heads into the final weekend, former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris swing through the western U.S. to sway undecided voters. And crews in Spain search for survivors after a year’s worth of rain fell in just hours. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Nov. 1, 2024.
Harris, Trump look to win the West with days until Election Day
With just four days to go until Election Day and more than 65 million ballots already cast, the candidates are making their final stops on the campaign trail. On Thursday, Oct. 31, both nominees visited the western United States to make their case.
Republican nominee former President Donald Trump spoke at campaign events in New Mexico, Nevada and Arizona, while Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris held rallies in Arizona and Nevada.
At an event in Glendale, Arizona with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, Trump repeated his stance of there being “an enemy within” the United States — a comment Harris has criticized in her speeches.
“If you have a smart president, somebody that knows what’s happening, you’re going to be fine,” Trump said, “But we do have an enemy from within. We have some very bad people, and those people are also very dangerous. They would like to take down our country. They’d like to have our country be a nice communist country or a fascist in any way they can, and we have to be careful of that.”
In Henderson, Nevada, Trump said Harris would not be able to handle the presidency, calling her “a child” when it comes to understanding the economy. He also announced former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. would be working on “health and women’s health” if he’s reelected.
While in Reno, Nevada, Harris continued her warnings to supporters about another Trump presidency, calling trump “increasingly unstable” and “obsessed with revenge.”
“In less than 90 days, either he or I will be sitting in the Oval Office, and listen, here’s what we can imagine, right, we’ve all seen on TV — you’ve seen the Oval Office — just visually imagine what that day will be,” Harris said. “Because, if elected, Donald Trump on day one would walk into that office with an enemies list. When I am elected, I will walk in with a to-do list on behalf of you.”
The vice president told the crowd that people are “exhausted with Trump’s rhetoric.” She also appealed to female voters, criticizing Trump’s comments that he would “protect women” saying, “Trump does not respect the freedom of women.”
Harris’ Nevada rally was interrupted by protesters at times, but the vice president said it was “OK” and “we’re fighting for the right to be heard.”
Friday, Nov. 1, both candidates will hold rallies in Milwaukee, Wisconsin as the final weekend of the 2024 election cycle begins.
‘Avengers,’ LeBron endorse Harris; Jake Paul backs Trump
Some famous faces put their names behind their pick for president on Thursday. Members of the cast of Marvel’s “Avengers” film franchise assembled to show their support for Vice President Harris while YouTube star Jake Paul backed former president Trump.
Actors Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo and others gathered together in a social media video supporting Harris. NBA superstar LeBron James also backed Harris in a post on X saying, “When I think about my kids and my family and how they will grow up, the choice is clear to me. Vote Kamala Harris.”
Social media influencer turned boxer Jake Paul put his endorsement behind the Republican nominee. In a video posted to his YouTube channel, Paul laid out his reasons and asked his followers to do their own research.
“Regardless of your emotion, I’m just presenting you with facts,” he said. “Do I think Donald Trump is a perfect human being? No. I don’t think anybody on this planet is a perfect human being, myself included. To be frank, I’m not concerned with Donald Trump’s ‘character flaws’ or what he’s done in the past. What I’m concerned with is how good a president is he, because that is his job and that’s what’s going to affect the people of this nation.”
Why I Am Not Suspending My Campaign Let me be clear: Despite the immense pressures and intense assaults on my campaign and character, I intend to hold the torch and finish this race – to and after November 5th! The escalating corruption of the US political system and the… pic.twitter.com/CQrcOTX9vi
West accused the Pennsylvania secretary of state of improperly keeping him off the ballot for not filing all the required paperwork. The state’s top court agreed with the secretary of state, but a federal judge said while it does seem like Pennsylvania’s rules make it harder for third-party candidates to get on the ballot, it’s too close to Election Day to re-print ballots and re-test election machines without increasing the risk of error.
Flash floods claimed the lives of at least 158 people, with 155 deaths confirmed in the eastern Valencia region alone. Spain’s minister for territorial policy said Thursday dozens of people are still missing but they don’t have an exact number of how many.
Army specialist charged in female soldier’s murder at Missouri base
Her body was found in a dumpster at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri last week. Rancy, who’s with the 5th Engineer Battalion, is also charged with obstruction.
The Department of Army Criminal Investigation Division, which is the primary federal law enforcement agency of the United States Army, is overseeing the probe.
The department has not specified a motive for the killing. It is also unclear if Rancy and Roque knew each other.
OpenAI adds search and summary function to ChatGPT
Google has some new competition. OpenAI has added a search function to its artificial intelligence bot ChatGPT.
Paying subscribers are now able to activate a mode on ChatGPT that makes it respond to queries by searching the internet for the latest information and summarizing what it finds. The search capabilities are powered by Microsoft’s Bing search engine and will draw information from articles by publishers OpenAI has deals with, including The Wall Street Journal owner News Corp. and the Associated Press.
While this function is only for paying subscribers for now, OpenAI said it plans to bring search to all users eventually.