Author: staff
Spanish National Police dismantled a group in the Canary Islands that used Santería rituals to exert psychological control over followers, charging large sums of money for ceremonies involving animal sacrifice and consumption of dangerous substances, authorities said Tuesday. Four people in Tenerife and one in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria were arrested on charges of illicit association, animal abuse, fraud, injuries, crimes against public health and false documentation, police said in a statement. Group leaders targeted vulnerable people and manipulated them through deception and instilling fears, including supposed spiritual threats, according to the investigation. Members paid large sums for rituals…
Since returning to power in 2023 for a fourth term, Fico’s Smer party has taken steps to dismantle anti-corruption institutions, including abolishing the Special Prosecutor’s Office, which handled high-profile corruption cases, and disbanding NAKA, an elite police unit tasked with fighting organized crime. The ruling coalition has also cracked down on independent media and amended the constitution to grant Slovakia’s national law precedence over EU law in “cultural and ethical matters.” The Fico administration — which bypassed a presidential veto after using a fast-track procedure to push through the bill — is not backing down yet in the whistleblower office dispute.…
Two German men died and a third remains in critical condition at Elche General Hospital following a brutal beating on Monday evening in the La Marina district near El Pinet beach, Spanish authorities said Tuesday. Guardia Civil surrounded the house in an isolated area of La Marina urbanisation, where two Polish men, believed to beresponsible for the attack, remained barricaded overnight. No arrests were made as of Tuesday morning, police said. A neighbour alerted authorities around 6:00 pm on Monday after witnessing people attempting to load two bodies into a car boot on Camí del Molar path, according to local…
Britain’s most dominant media outlets are failing to “join the dots” between net zero and climate change, as researchers call out a wave of “problematic” coverage. A new analysis commissioned by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) found that a growing proportion of articles in UK national newspapers focusing on ‘net zero’ are omitting any reference to the climate crisis despite their inherent link. Researchers say the findings point to a “divorcing” of climate change from the solution of preventing emissions rising, and come amid low levels of understanding around what net zero means. The UK’s drive to net…
Before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Vlad’s life revolved around art. His days were carefree: he painted in the mornings, strolled through Kyiv at lunchtime, and spent his evenings visiting exhibitions and events. For the Ukrainian artist, 2021 felt like another cultural renaissance in Kyiv, a city buzzing with talented creatives. Then came 24 February 2022, when Russia launched its all-out war against Ukraine. In 2023, Vlad joined the Ukrainian Air Force, where he still serves today. Despite the ongoing attacks, the destruction around him, and the constant fear for his own life and that of his…
After Russia last week brushed off German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s call for a Christmas сeasefire, Zelenskyy warned that Moscow is planning massive attacks over the holiday period. “The military must pay attention directly, protect as best they can — it’s not easy, because there is a shortage of air defense [equipment], unfortunately. And people need to pay attention — a lot of attention these days, because these ‘comrades’ can strike: nothing is sacred,” Zelenskyy said in an evening post on Telegram on Monday. The strikes on Tuesday morning injured five people in the capital Kyiv, reported Tymur Tkachenko, the head…
By Euronews Published on 23/12/2025 – 11:07 GMT+1 Four men were arrested following clashes at an opposition Democratic Party (PD) rally in the Albanian capital Tirana, after Molotov cocktails were thrown at officers guarding the prime minister’s office, police said. Seven others face investigation without detention, according to authorities. Among those under investigation is Ervin Minarolli, PD’s organisational secretary, who police said failed to identify persons responsible for ensuring the smooth conduct of the rally as required under Albanian law on public gatherings. Monday’s protest took place on the central Martyrs of the People boulevard, outside Prime Minister Edi Rama’s residence,…
Uzbekistan’s private airline Qanot Sharq added a Airbus A321neo XLR to their fleet, becoming the first operator of the aircraft type in Central Asia. Jahongir Rustamov, Director of the Flight Safety Department at Qanot Sharq, described the delivery as a landmark moment not only for the airline. “This aircraft is unique not just in our country, but across all [Central Asian] states,” he said. Efficiency of the aircraft The new Airbus A321neo XLR arrived in Tashkent following a direct delivery flight from Hamburg, Germany and is the longest-range single-aisle aircraft currently in operation, capable of flying up to 8,700 kilometres.…
Winter is in full swing, and so is Europe’s ski season. Alpine resorts have opened, and skiers across the continent are hitting the slopes over the holiday break – if they can afford it. Lift pass prices continue to rise, making ski holidays unaffordable for many. But not everywhere. There is one ski resort in the French Alps that – out of necessity rather than choice – is offering skiing entirely free of charge this winter. Yes, you read it correctly: free skiing for everyone. We’re talking about Saint-Colomban-des-Villards, a small village in Savoie, located at 1,100 metres above sea…
Published on 23/12/2025 – 9:16 GMT+1 The world’s most famous and elusive street artist Banksy has confirmed that he is responsible for a new mural that appeared in London yesterday. Painted above a garage and depicting two stargazing children lying down and in winter gear, the artwork appeared on the side of a building in Bayswater, west London. Banksy posted two photos of the artwork on his official Instagram account. An identical image also appeared at the foot of the Centre Point tower in Tottenham Court Road, central London, but the graffiti artist did not post that version on his…