Pedro Sánchez announces measure in response to anger over rising housing costs

Spain has announced plans to impose a tax of up to 100% on real estate bought by non-residents from countries outside the EU, such as the UK, in an aim to tackle the country’s housing crisis.

The measure was one of a dozen unveiled Monday by the country’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, as the government seeks to quell mounting anger over housing costs that have soared far beyond the reach of many in Spain.

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from The Guardian https://ift.tt/f6RUE2k

Concerns that dangerous fine particle pollution can become embedded in bloodstream and lungs

• Los Angeles wildfires – live updates
• Los Angeles wildfires: full report

The Los Angeles wildfires have claimed the lives of at least 24 people and have burned more than 100,000 structures. While the focus is understandably on avoiding the flames, another immediate danger lurks across the county and beyond, one more difficult to escape: smoke.

The most dangerous component of wildfire smoke is fine particle pollution, also known as PM2.5 or soot. These tiny particles, smaller than one 20th the width of a human hair, can, if inhaled, become embedded in the bloodstream and lungs. It is estimated that about one-third of all particulate matter pollution in the US now comes from wildfire smoke.

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Retired firefighter Rich Snyder rescued his neighbour when the LA wildfires spread to their street.

from BBC News https://ift.tt/MbJ9rGf

Annual fun event sees bare-legged passengers sporting array of underwear styles and colours

The annual No Trousers Tube Ride event has returned in colourful fashion as people stripped down to their underwear and hopped on the London Underground.

Hordes of bare legs were seen at Newport Place in Chinatown before heading on to the tube in their underwear of choice.

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The series will now premiere in March after devastating fires in southern California, where it was filmed.

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From bashing Keir Starmer to promoting the AfD, the X owner is not shy about intervening

A limited – at best – understanding of the continent of Europe and its component countries has not prevented the world’s richest man from intervening in the domestic politics of several of them, as well as attacking the EU itself.

Here we take a brief look at some of the occasions on which X owner Elon Musk has used his position as proprietor of one of the world’s largest social media platforms to meddle in the internal affairs of sovereign democratic states outside the US.

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from The Guardian https://ift.tt/5LFMuW6

Leon Adams was found unconscious near Grangetown train station in the early hours of 14 February 2002.

from BBC News https://ift.tt/aXjoecK